York (The Vorge Crew Book 3) Read online

  “Sara? You’ve gone silent. Have I said something to upset you?”

  She met York’s beautiful gaze. “No. I’m always learning something new here.”

  He grinned. “Cathian, my captain and best friend, can only get his life-lock pregnant while in heat every three years.”

  She pondered that. “Does that mean they only have sex when he’s in heat?”

  He chuckled. “They have sex often.” His humor faded. “It’s why I’m always alone. The Pods keep to themselves. Midgel, our cook, spends all her time alone, too. Dovis, my other best friend, just found his mate. They lock themselves in their cabin to have sex when they aren’t working. Raff is single, but he doesn’t like to talk. And Marrow is spending all her free time searching for her own mate, contacting other planets on our comms to talk to different males.”

  “They’re the rest of the crew on your ship?”

  He nodded as a look of misery crossed his face again. “I am hoping that once Nodo and I are alone, she won’t be so distant. It was rough on all Parri when our planet began to die. Some of us accepted our new circumstances but others are still bitter. Time should help her heal. I’ll help her as well. Mass evacuations took place just over three years ago. It’s difficult, knowing you are without a world and dependent upon others to share theirs.”

  “I’m so sorry.” The idea disturbed her.

  He nodded. “My people lost everything. I was lucky to find a job with Captain Cathian on The Vorge. Nodo and her family ended up here. There’s a Parri settlement, but they aren’t happy living on Relon. They were given an old section of town to call their own. Her family used to be wealthy, but now they’re considered indigent. She wants to live in comfort again.”

  “She was terrible to you. You deserve better, York. I still think you should wait to find someone else.”

  He sighed, staring into her eyes. “I’m suffering depression all the time. Parri are social by nature. My friends kept me from feeling loneliness but now they have their females to occupy their free time. I need a mate, too. The choices are few for my kind. The Parri have been shoved into overpopulated settlements on various planets or become homeless wanderers.” He gave a sad smile. “Refugees aren’t exactly on any female’s wish list as an ideal male. I live on a vessel. I was fortunate that Nodo even agreed to be my bond mate.”

  Sara let the topic drop. He looked miserable enough without her pointing out yet again what a bitch Nodo was. Maybe the alien woman would be nicer once she didn’t have her friend around. Sara highly doubted it, though.

  The hover transport slowed and lowered, coming to a stop. The doors opened and the other passengers exited. She glanced around, seeing familiar buildings. The trip was over.

  “This is my stop.”

  York got up and offered his hand. “Mine, too. I’ll walk you to your home to make certain you get there safely.”

  She reached up and clasped his hand. It felt good in hers, comforting and warm. “Thank you. The shelter is close.”

  They walked side by side down the street. He kept hold of her hand and slowed his pace to a stop in front of the building she’d indicated was her destination.

  “Sara?”

  She looked up him. “Yes?”

  He paused, glancing around, seeming almost nervous before looking back down at her. Finally, he said, “Thank you for talking to me. I’ve enjoyed our conversation.”

  “Me too. Thank you for escorting me home.”

  “I wish you luck on Relon. Are you going to be searching for a mate?”

  She shook her head. “I don’t think so. Not for a while, anyway. I’ve got a lot to learn before I make any life-altering decisions.”

  He gave a nod, glancing away again. “I will wait until you go inside before going to my lodgings. I wish we could talk longer. The bonding ceremony isn’t until nine in the morning, but I need to pack my belongings. Once the ceremony is over, Nodo wants me to take her shopping, and then a shuttle will fly us up to The Vorge.” His gaze returned to hers, his expression almost…wistful. “Be safe and well, Sara.”

  “You too. Good luck, York.”

  She turned away reluctantly and left him in front of the building. He was the closest thing to a friend she’d made since reaching Relon, and he was leaving the planet in the morning.

  Bonding to a bitch.

  She shook her head, waved her wristband at the lock on the door, and it slid open. She turned back for one last look at York. He watched her silently. Sara lifted her hand in a final wave before entering.

  Inside, various alien women were talking amongst themselves. Most of them ignored her or shot her distrustful looks. She went to her bunk in the sleeping section of the building and rested, waiting for dinner. When the bell finally rang, she followed everyone to the dining hall, getting in line. A few of the women whispered, gossiping about her just loud enough for her to overhear the insults.

  “I’m not some plant sent here to pick out targets to be kidnapped,” she loudly declared to one of them, getting fed up. “I was sold by my own kind. Understand?”

  “Humans are vile beings,” the woman hissed, flashing a row of sharp teeth. She reminded Sara of a shark with limbs. “Untrustworthy slavers!”

  Sara was already beginning to hate her new life. The women didn’t trust her and the men kept offering her money to sleep with them. Was that her future? What she’d have to deal with year in and year out?

  It finally became her turn, and she got her plate of food then carried it to a table. No one sat with her. They grouped together, staying away. She lowered her head, eating quietly.

  York kept entering her mind. He had the kindest eyes she’d ever seen. He also seemed to be a really good person, and so desperate to no longer be alone. His refugee status wasn’t a problem as far as Sara was concerned. She didn’t have a home world anymore, either. Earth had betrayed her, and there was no going back. That still stung, and she knew it would for a long time.

  Tomorrow morning, he’d bond to Nodo the bitch, get treated like crap, and end up miserable. It wasn’t fair that such a nice guy had that kind of future awaiting him. Then again, she didn’t deserve her rotten fate, either. She’d been a good person all her life. Never stealing or treating others badly.

  Nice people got screwed in the end, she decided.

  Tears filled her eyes but she blinked them back. Self-pity wasn’t going to do a thing but make her eyes puffy and give her a runny nose. She finished her meal and went to the classroom in the basement of the building.

  Two instructors waited. Tonight, they taught the women about various neighborhoods on Relon, and which ones would be safest for them to move into when they got their own apartments. When the class ended, Sara approached one of the Relon males.

  He looked at her with a smile. “You have questions?”

  “Yes. What can you tell me about a Parri?”

  He cocked his head. “Did you visit their settlement?”

  “No, but I met one. He’s getting bonded. I was curious about that.”

  He studied her. “Why?”

  “Is it possible for a Parri to bond with a human?” The question burst out of her unexpectantly, but she didn’t regret asking.

  He glanced down at the pad in his hand, tapping it. “There have been two records of Parri and human bonding filed in the last three years. Neither has been revoked.” He looked up at her. “I would assume it’s possible.”

  “What does bonding to a Parri require?”

  He looked down at his pad, tapping it once more. He read from the screen, “Fluid exchanges during sexual encounters with the pair.” He turned the pad her way.

  Sara gaped. It was a picture of a naked Parri male, his face blurred out, but she got a full-frontal view. Their bodies looked human, except bigger, and were that same light blue—every inch of them. The male in the picture was aroused, and she couldn’t help but feel a tinge of trepidation. That was the biggest cock she’d ever seen. It looked long and thick