York (The Vorge Crew Book 3) Read online

  Nodo gasped loudly. “Get away from my bond mate!”

  Sara ignored her, peering into York’s beautiful blue eyes. “You said some of your crew were bonded to humans. I know we don’t know each other well but I promise I’ll be nice to you. I won’t be anything like her.” She waved her hand at Nodo. “Pick me instead. I’ll be your mate.”

  Nodo snarled. “This pathetic alien is attempting to lure my future bond mate away. Call a guard!” She screeched louder. “Guard!”

  York appeared stunned for a heartbeat or two but recovered quickly—and smiled. “I wanted to ask you yesterday when I walked you home, but you said you weren’t looking for a mate. What changed your mind?”

  Sara began to tell him but Nodo’s friend stepped closer, drawing her attention.

  “Ugly alien! Scat!” The yellow woman tried to shoo Sara away, waving her hands as if she didn’t want to touch her.

  Sara shot her a scowl before staring back at York. “You’re lonely. I’m all alone, too. And neither one of us wants to be unhappy. We can make it work—together,” Sara said quickly. The strangers around them had backed off, and Nodo was screeching for a guard again. “I’ll bond with you, York. Please say yes!”

  Loud footsteps sounded, and Sara turned her head, fear lancing through her as two Relons in police-type uniforms rushed toward them. One of the males reached out to grab her arm, but York suddenly lunged, stepping in front of her.

  “Leave the human alone. She’s going to be my bond mate.” York’s voice came out deep and clear.

  “What?” Nodo gasped.

  York turned, gently placed his hand on Sara’s lower back, and pulled her closer to his body. “I don’t want to bond with you, Nagway.”

  Sara grinned. She couldn’t see around his bulky body but she heard the screech coming from his other side.

  “That’s not my name!” The blue bitch sounded outraged.

  “Now you know how it feels.” York stepped away from her, pulling Sara with him. “I revoke my offer to bond with you.”

  “You promised to buy me clothes, to take me off this horrible planet! You’re going to give me a better life!”

  “And I thought you’d be nice. You’re not.” York turned, keeping Sara against him, and met her gaze. “Let’s do this.” He smiled again.

  Sara grinned back. “Let’s.”

  “Yard!” Nodo yelled.

  He turned his attention to the police. “You should take her away. I don’t want some outraged Parri female scaring my timid human.”

  Sara didn’t correct him. Maybe it was best he thought of her that way until after they were bonded.

  She watched as the police herded an angry and outraged pair of females away from the building. Nodo yelled threats at York, promising she’d tell her father about what he’d done and make him pay. She even screamed about getting him fired from his job.

  That last threat worried Sara. “Can she do that? Get you fired?” She didn’t want him to suffer in any way.

  York shook his head. “No. What really made you decide to bond to me, Sara?”

  Another loud screech came from Nodo down the street. “He said he’d buy me new clothes! I want my clothes! Do you hear me, Yavor? You owe me an expensive wardrobe!”

  Sara bit back a laugh, not feeling one ounce of pity for Nodo. “I had to save you from that. Isn’t that reason enough?”

  He chuckled. “Yes. And I’m grateful.”

  “You don’t even have to buy me clothes,” she boasted with a grin. “I have a few other sets where I live. We could swing by the shelter to pick them up.”

  “Do you like them?”

  Sara shrugged. “They were assigned to me.”

  “Do you have any personal belongings at the shelter that matter?”

  “No. I left Earth with the clothes I had on that day. They wouldn’t allow us to get any of our possessions.”

  He held out his hand to her. “Then I’ll buy you clothes. It will be a privilege. Parri enjoy spoiling their females.”

  “I’m not like her, York. You don’t need to do that.”

  “You need clothing, Sara. Allow me to provide for you as your bond mate.”

  He really was as nice as she’d thought. She gripped his big hand and relaxed for the first time since leaving Earth. Maybe it wouldn’t be a huge mistake after all to marry an alien.

  The doors opened at nine and York led her inside the records department. It took some time to find the right office for bonding ceremonies, and the robed Relon male scowled when he saw the bracelet on her wrist.

  “What is this? She’s under the protection of the shelter for freed slaves.”

  Sara released York’s hand and tapped in the code she’d been given when the bracelet had been put on, taking it off. “Not anymore.” She placed it on the desk. “I want to bond with York.”

  The Relon leaned in closely to peer at her face. “I detect no fear or stress. This is your free will? The male isn’t threatening you?”

  “No. I mean yes. No, he isn’t threatening me. Yes, I want to do this.”

  “Understood.” The Relon took out a pad and held it toward them. “Place your hand on here.”

  York went first. The Relon read off the pad after York pulled his hand away. “One hundred percent Parri. You work for the Tryleskian ambassador. Your last health scan was only a few days ago when you applied to find a bond mate through the matching agency.” He paused, glanced at Sara, and then eyed York. “This is not the Parri female who chose you.”

  “Sara is better.”

  The Relon looked at Sara, holding out the pad. “I see. Your turn. The male is healthy, has never bonded before, and is free to join with you. No arrest warrants or criminal history.”

  She was impressed with the information the Relon clerk shared with her. They sure didn’t give any information about grooms on Earth. She placed her palm on the pad.

  He pulled it back, reading what it had returned on her. “Rescued from a slaver transport. Born on Earth. One hundred percent human. Medical cleared her as heathy and gave her all updated vaccines and a translation implant.” He glanced at York. “No previous life records of any kind are available from her home planet. The medical scans taken have shown she has all reproductive organs in place.” He stood. “Let’s find out if she’s compatible. Blood samples now.”

  It was both odd and impersonal when each of them were jabbed in the finger with some alien needle attached to yet another pad, but the Relon deemed them compatible. She had questions about what exactly that meant, but he shoved still another pad at them, asking for their handprints after extracting promises that they swore not to maim or kill each other. York had to swear not to sell her, possibly because of how she’d ended up on the planet. They each pressed their hands to the pad and the Relon retook his seat.

  “Your bonding is recorded. Take her to exchange fluids to seal the bond. You have three days to contact records if you wish to nullify.” He hit a button. “Next!”

  Sara was dazed. That was it?

  York led her out as another alien couple entered the room. They didn’t speak until they were back on the street. York stopped, peering at her. “Are you feeling regret?”

  “No. That wasn’t what I was expecting. I’m just a little stunned over how fast it happened. I thought it would take longer. That’s not a bad thing, though.”

  “How do humans record their bonding?”

  “It doesn’t matter. We’re not on Earth. When the clerk said we’re compatible after talking about my reproductive organs, does that mean we can have children together?”

  He nodded. “Yes.”

  That revelation left her feeling uncertain. He was a big alien. She wasn’t sure she’d survive if she ever got pregnant. Parri babies were probably larger than a human one would be.

  York bent forward a little, catching her attention. “It will work out between us. I would never hurt you in any way, Sara. Are you worried about sealing our bond?”