Mission Read online

  “We will bring a camera here and take a vid. If the local governments want to act, we will have to let them.”

  He nibbled at her neck, his long tongue twisting along her skin.

  She sighed before trailing her hand over his jaw to his neck, and then, she leaped onto his back. He stepped slowly as they left the small hollow, and when she was settled and moving with him once again, he began to gallop.

  Back at the house, she dismounted and moved away from him while he changed. “What do you make of that?”

  “I am guessing that it was a place where newly mated couples could spend a night with inspiration.” She shrugged. “I would probably do about nineteen of those. There are three I am just not flexible enough for.”

  He grinned. “We have already checked sixteen off the list.”

  “I am going to need alcohol for those last five.”

  He laughed and put his arm around her waist. “We are in no hurry. I am more than willing to work with those we have tried, over and over until they are perfect.”

  She chuckled and headed into the house with him. “Nothing is ever perfect.”

  “I look forward to proving that endlessly into the future.”

  Jewel was about to comment when she got a ping. “Sorry, honey. I have to go to work.”

  Three days and two missions later, they arrived at the festival grounds in the traditional green of the Killieean spring festival.

  “You are a pretty good pilot, Jewel.” He was only a little pale.

  “You are a pretty good liar, Stormyo.” She linked her arm with his, the skirts of his festival garb swished around his ankles. His bare chest and arms were comparable to any of the partially clothed W’lyn who were circulating through the city streets.

  They got their fair share of attention as resident aliens, but as they were dressed appropriately, the W’lyn only got within scenting range before they smiled and nodded.

  Stormyo blinked. “We are a mated pair.”

  “Yes. This crowd just confirms it. Usually, the W’lyn are willing to try anything on for size, but they stay away from bonded sets.” She smiled.

  “You picked that up in six weeks?”

  “You would be amazed at how fast I learn things.” Jewel chuckled and they located the Guardians. The party began, the music poured out of instruments and the dancing commenced.

  * * * *

  “Beryl, when you have had the child, do you want to try dancing like that?” Toyo whispered it in her ear.

  Beryl watched Jewel and Stormyo moving in sensual synchronization. They twisted, turned, passed and came together again with a sexual tension that excited those around them.

  “Toyo, I don’t think that I have ever been able to move like that. Jewel has more active combat experience and far less public embarrassment than I do.”

  Stormyo lifted Jewel and slowly let her glide down his body. She hooked her leg behind Stormyo’s back as she came down, and there was suddenly a rash of the same move in the W’lyn dancers.

  They whirled, gleamed with sweat and twisted together over and over.

  Beryl was exhausted just watching them. Her growing girth was as tiring as keeping up with the supplements was.

  Drovin spoke to Wren. “Can you dance like that?”

  She chuckled and patted his cheek. “I think the only woman who could dance like that is right there on the dance floor, dancing with the only partner who could make her dance like that. There is something rather wild and exciting about him.”

  Beryl nodded and spoke to Wren, “I think it’s the horns.”

  Polly chipped in, “Or the eyes. You could fall into those eyes.”

  Nanette tilted her head. “I am partial to the shoulders.”

  The Guardians growled in unison and the ladies grinned.

  Beryl patted Toyo’s hand. “If you help me learn to dance like that, I will make the effort next time I am in shape to try it.”

  “Perhaps something more sedate for now?” He brought her hand to his lips.

  “Very wise.”

  The couples took to the floor and swirled with the other dancers. They might not be as acrobatic as the fighter and the peacekeeper, but they were in good company with the men who matched them, body and soul.

  * * * *

  Sitting on Stormyo’s lap, Jewel sighed. “That was fun. I haven’t even tried to do some of those moves until tonight.”

  “I have to say that if we weren’t in public, I would be trying number eighteen right now.”

  She bit her lip. “You think you could hold me upright that long?”

  “I am willing to try. There is no harm in a failed attempt.”

  “I don’t know. If I got too slippery and fell, I think you would be in pain for a while. I would make sure of it.”

  He chuckled and sipped at their wine, handing her the cup. “Fair enough. Do you think your sister will enjoy her gift?”

  Jewel laughed. “I think she is getting something that she can’t get on Earth.”

  Epilogue

  Amanda Springs took the huge box from the man in dark glasses in the dark SUV.

  The address on the top of the box read, Amanda Springs, Sister of W’lyn Guardian Jewel Springs, Terra, Sol System.

  Amanda’s hands were shaking as she put the box on her coffee table and she found the closures on it. She cracked the seals and opened the lid, frowning at what she saw. She pulled the large piece of leather out and put it on the couch. The width was over two feet, the length two and a half. The edges were folded over and it was a deep burgundy with gold trim.

  The puzzle was put aside as she pulled out a dress in deep red. She held it up, and the silky fabric had semi-circles cut out on either side and over the thigh. It was a fun dress but it wasn’t really practical. The multi-coloured shawl under the dress was far more practical, and it wrapped around her shoulders with a sinfully smooth feel.

  A small dome with a slot was sitting at the bottom of the box.

  A note was attached to a small box of crystals. It read, Close your blinds, Amanda. It will make the images clearer. When that is done, put the first crystal in the small slot.

  Following the directions written in Jewel’s hand, she closed the blinds, and when the room was dim, she did as instructed and a light blazed with Jewel’s features in the center of the projected space.

  “Hello, Amanda. Since you wanted something you couldn’t get anywhere else, I have sent you a collection of the things that I have come across in my travels. They are included in the crystals I have sent you.

  “First off, I would like to tell you that you are a sister-in-law. I wasn’t intending to find love out here, but I got stuck with it anyway.”

  A deep voice behind Jewel said something that Amanda couldn’t understand, but she was shocked to see her sister grinning with joy in her eyes.

  “That is Stormyo. You will see him as he features heavily in the vids I sent you. It has been a crazy year and it isn’t over yet. Everything I have sent you has been authorized, but you still might want to pick and choose who you show it to. Not all folks are keen on human women marrying aliens, but as you know, I really didn’t have a choice.”

  Jewel sighed and surprisingly huge arms wrapped around her from behind. “Anyway, on with the show.”

  The room went dark and images of alien landscapes sprang up. Several flying vehicles were in frame, and to her shock, Jewel was on one. They were heading toward a smouldering spaceship and one particular flier was in the lead. Amanda gasped when she saw Jewel in a uniform that included some kind of sticks attached to her legs.

  They landed and Jewel dismounted, running toward the smoke and the crowd of unidentifiable creatures pouring out of the ship. The creatures slowed and walked briskly to one side as Jewel ran into the ship.

  Amanda sat with her hand over her mouth as she watched a history of her sister’s work as a peacekeeper in front of her. When the first crys
tal was over, she slipped in the second. It was more action, more activity as a peacekeeper.

  The third crystal was a shock. Amanda watched the images of her sister in gowns and formal wear, and the fighting of the aliens in the arena.

  When Jewel wrapped her arms around the winner with his deer-like features and impressive physique, Amanda understood the first object in the box. It was the fighter’s armour.

  Suddenly, going into space didn’t seem completely insane after all. It seemed that this man had broken through Jewel’s calm and it had taken someone extraordinary to manage it.

  With the final crystal, the vid of Jewel acting as Guardian made Amanda smile and the tour of her and her home had her laughing outright when Stormyo swept Jewel up, kissed her and turned off the recorder.

  Amanda sat in the gloom. The day had gone to night and, with the vid having run its course, there was no light in the room.

  Sighing, she turned on a small lantern and looked at the box. She was going to have to show their parents, but she had no idea how they would take Jewel’s spouse. It would have to be adapted to because all things changed. Jewel had found out what could penetrate her calm and that was a moment to celebrate.

  Amanda held up the breastplate to her for comparison and smirked. If Jewel had the nerve to sleep with what could wear this, her bravery was unlimited. Amanda wanted to be just as brave when she grew up. It just didn’t seem to be happening any time soon.

  She made a note on her phone for the following day. Fill out application to become a Volunteer.

  Sometimes in life, you had to jump, and this was one of those times.

  Author’s Note

  What to say about Mission? I have had a chat with my cover artist about putting animals on the covers. If she does, then I have to. Sigh. So…deer shifter.

  I have used Hirn in a few books, but they are extinct. They won’t be showing up much.

  The next book is titled Naked. I have no idea what form that nudity will take. Emotional? Physical? Spiritual? Or how she likes her hamburgers? Tune in and see.

  Thanks for reading,

  Viola Grace

  [email protected]

  http://www.violagrace.com

  About the Author

  Viola Grace (aka Zenina Masters) is a Canadian sci-fi/paranormal romance writer with ambitions to keep writing for the rest of her life. She specializes in short stories because the thrill of discovery, of all those firsts, is what keeps her writing.

  An artist who enjoys a story that catches you up, whirls you around and sets you down with a smile on your face is all she endeavours to be. She prefers to leave the drama to those who are better suited to it, she always goes for the cheap laugh.

  Listening to readers has gotten her this far, and with her 300th short story looming before the end of 2014, she will continue to listen in the future.