“Can you make something for me so that I can fly?” She chuckled. “Not specifically for me, but I know that Nova likes flying and would love something small and portable.”

  “You want me to make something for someone else?”

  “Well, I don’t really have any particular interests that don’t involve a gym, so yes.”

  He smiled. “Deal. Now, can we formalize the contract?”

  Lily got to her feet. “Yes.”

  He rose to his feet and took her by the hand.

  As they walked the halls, she asked, “How long is the bond term?”

  “One hundred years or one heir.”

  “One hundred?”

  He squeezed her hand carefully. “I told you that there would be alterations to your body. Longevity is just one of them.”

  “I need a hobby.”

  Nebel nodded. “Yes, you really do.”

  Chapter Six

  Nova blinked slowly. “You have to stop doing that.”

  Heboren laughed and kissed her forehead. “You needed it. It is best if you can sleep through the alterations.”

  She felt an ache inside and looked up at him. “It doesn’t feel right.”

  He slid his hand between them and massaged her belly. “First point of order is to make room for me. Then your stamina will increase, and your body will get stronger.”

  “So, it is literally...”

  “Rebuilding you. Shaping you. Working on your cells to increase your longevity.” His fingers were helping the ache inside her. “It is a process.”

  Nova swallowed. “Is it going to change me from being human?”

  “No. It is merely working on the existing framework of your DNA, with some additions to make joining more comfortable.”

  She muttered, “It was comfortable.”

  “For you. I was holding back. The more you moved over me, the deeper I wanted to go.” Heboren sighed. “That would have been bad. Very bad.”

  “So, they built self-control into all the Hmrain?” She leaned her head and rested her forehead against his chest.

  “Sadly... no. They destroyed their consorts in their excitement.” He sighed. “A few learned to be careful but still have strange impulses where their partners are concerned.”

  “Ah, I am very glad you are of the careful variety.”

  “As am I. Now, we need to get some food into you and a shower. Probably shower first.” He chuckled and got them out of bed, carrying her carefully.

  The shower was thorough, and Nova was tingling after he finished cleaning every nook and cranny... twice.

  He took a gauzy dress out of the wardrobe and handed it to her with a smile. “The only thing left is the contract, and that is going to be settled before you eat.”

  The black and gold dress outlined her body faithfully. It was just on the edge of opaque. She nodded. This was part of the position. She now represented a Hmrain everywhere she went. She was his chosen person or compatible person. Close enough.

  A set of slippers and a kiss that made her wish they had more time, and they left his quarters.

  Na’ith was waiting and cleared his throat. “Overseer, while you were... resting... Overseer Nebel arrived.”

  Nova felt Heboren tense.

  “Where is he?”

  “He has identified Lily as his consort, and after nearly crushing her at their meeting, he is now speaking with her on the observation deck.”

  Nova gasped, “She’s alright?”

  Na’ith nodded. “She recovered, but it was tense. The med team had to deal with Nebel first.”

  Heboren asked, “Why?”

  Captain Na’ith smiled. “She cracked his arm in four places.”

  Heboren stared. “Nebel’s arm. She fractured Nebel’s arm?”

  “She did, Overseer.”

  Nova murmured, “Why is that so weird?”

  “Hmrain are very difficult to injure. Nebel is nearly impossible to hurt. It must have been those arms of hers.”

  Nova cleared her throat. “Arms? Her arms looked normal.”

  Heboren said softly, “Her biological limbs were removed due to trauma. The hands she has now are implants. Nebel designed them. It must have been her signal that drew him out. He rarely needs to leave his world. He must have been travelling for months.”

  “Wait. Those are artificial? They look real.”

  Na’ith smiled. “The skin is hers, but the substructure is a construct. Unfortunately for me, they do seem to be a match.”

  Nova blinked. “What am I missing?”

  Heboren smiled. “Lily is an impressive woman, but she is not for me, and you are. Shall we complete our contract?”

  Nova looked at Na’ith and saw a wistful expression in his eyes. “You like her.”

  He shrugged. “The Hmrain take precedence.”

  Heboren patted his shoulder, and they made their way to the contract kiosk. From what Nova remembered, most ships had one so that staff could enter into contracts for anything from major to minor events.

  Heboren brought up the basic contract, and they spoke quietly to create a contract that suited both of them.

  “A hundred years or a child?”

  He inclined his head. “That much is standard for my people. If you have a child, you are free to go with a considerable credit account.”

  She looked at the number and swallowed. “Considerable is right.”

  She looked at him creating an image of him holding a little baby with his skin and a tuft of blonde hair, waving goodbye as she left. “Stop crafting images.”

  He chuckled. “Apologies, but you have already decided what our offspring would look like, so I was just having fun.”

  He knew she was going to sign.

  She sighed and wrote in one stipulation.

  “What is gifting day?” Heboren frowned.

  “Around my world, there are gatherings and celebrations that involve family coming together at least once a year. I want that.” She pulled images of her family getting together. Laughing and mocking. Quiet moments curled together in front of the fire. Skiing, running through the snow, laughing, and the overwhelming feeling of joy.

  He reached out, and his thumb wiped the tears the memories brought. “They are all gone?”

  “As far as I know. They didn’t make it to the station while I was there. We were told it is best to assume that they are missing and gone forever.”

  He looked at her and nodded. “We will inscribe the names on a memorial.”

  She nodded. “Sounds good.”

  They finished a few more details, and she signed, marked, and did an ocular scan to confirm her identity. He did the same, and that was it. They were contractually bound for the next century. Despite his assurances, she wasn’t sure what she would look like on the other side of the contract.

  He drew her to her feet and held her against him. “Consort Nova. We begin today.”

  She nodded. “Can we check on Lily?”

  “We will find Nebel and ask him why he is here. We do not casually visit our siblings.”

  He wrapped his wing around her, and they walked to the door. When it opened, Lily and Nebel stood on the other side of the door.

  Nova stared at the lean Hmrain and his golden body. He looked like he was sculpted out of muscle and metal. Lily and he were holding hands. Lily looked very nervous and rather embarrassed, but she held Nebel as tightly as he held her.

  Heboren raised his brow. “Nebel, what are you doing here?”

  “I came on board to apologize, was met with your captain and my mate, and am now going to hash out a bond contract with her.” Nebel smiled, and his stunning face was pleasant.

  “I own her bond right now as a rep for the education station.” Heboren looked at his brother with narrow eyes. “How much are you offering?”

  “Twenty million.” He was calm with a slight smile.

  Nova looked at Lily’s blush and Nebel’s calm expression. “Nice.” She grinned.

  Heboren sighed. “The offer is suitable, but now, I feel a little cheap.”

  Nova wrapped her arms around one of his. “Don’t worry; I will take it out of your hide.”

  He looked at her and grinned. “I look forward to that.”

  Nova looked at Lily. “Are you going to be good?”

  Lily inhaled and exhaled slowly. “I think so. I may end up with body piercings, but I think I will be okay.”

  Nebel pulled her in close. “I will take care of her. She will not come to injury at my hand again.” He turned to Heboren. “You will return when we have finished our negotiations? We need your authorization as you are acting as the bond house.”

  Heboren nodded. “We will get Nova a meal; you know how to call me.”

  Nebel chuckled. “Of course, little brother.”

  Nova looked at Lily’s calm expression and her grip on Nebel’s hand. It looked like another Hmrain just beat the odds.

  * * * *

  Lily walked in and took a seat in the chair that Nova must have just vacated. Nebel brought up the basic contract and smiled. “You were right about the piercings. When your skin becomes impervious to puncture, it will make adding jewellery easier if you already have the piercings. One of the drones is bringing a kit. They will be flat and nearly invisible. You don’t need to worry about them being obvious if it is not currently your culture. It is mine.”

  She looked at him. “But, you don’t...”

  “It is very difficult to pierce my skin. It is astonishing that you managed to break me.”

  “I was fighting for my life.”

  “I know, and I am sorry. I am still very impressed though.” He smiled. “Now, what am I allowed to pierce versus what I want to pierce? First discussion.”

  She leaned back with narrowed eyes. “What do you want to pierce?”

  “Ears, nose, eyebrows, this little curve right here.” He tapped her upper lip. “Nipples, navel, and your sex.”

  She blinked. “That’s a lot. Can I refuse?”

  “Which are particularly distasteful for you?”

  “Anything around my mouth. I knew folks with lip and tongue piercings, and it always... I never could imagine having one, let alone remembering how to talk with a tongue piercing.” She frowned. “Also, where exactly in my sex?”

  “If you display it, I can point.”

  “You want me to...” She paused. “Here?”

  He shrugged. “It will help me to be precise.”

  She sighed. “This is not a pointing kind of angle. More horizontal than vertical.”

  “Then, sit on the edge of the table and show me.” He paused. “Please.”

  “There is actually a lady in the bond group who did piercing for a living.” She moved around the table and blushed as she gathered the skirt up and out of the way.

  “I shall have to consult with her as to appropriate locations and maximum sites,” he murmured as she sat on the edge of the table and parted her thighs.

  He reached out with one finger and parted her folds. “Are you always this slick?”

  She blushed. “Um, no. That is a recent development.”

  He slowly trailed the tip of his finger down and then up. “What is this?”

  “Urine exit.”

  He blinked. “Interesting placement. What about this?” His finger continued upward, and he flicked her clit.

  Lily gasped and clenched her thighs around his hand. “Sensitive.”

  He looked at her and smiled. “I will have to double-check the files of your species, but that is very promising. Can we pierce that?”

  She blinked. “Uh, the hood, yes, the actual bundle of nerves... I would try and find a way to tear your dick off. That is a world of pain I cannot imagine.”

  “Right. Clear boundary.”

  There was a light knock on the door, and she flipped her skirt down and then released his hand. Nebel was chuckling. He licked his finger, and his brows lifted. “That is... are you in heat?”

  She snorted. “It happens a lot. You get used to it.” She eased away from him and resumed her seat. He opened the door, and a drone flew in with a case in its grip. It hovered near Nebel, and he took the case.

  The drone chirped and flew out of the room. Nebel closed the door, and they were alone again.

  “I will ask that female about the lower piercing. You are willing?”

  Lily paused. “I will find that piercing far less uncomfortable than anything in or around my mouth.”

  “Interesting.” He nodded. “The funds will be held in trust for you, and upon completion of the stipulations, they will revert to you.”

  “But there is a mention of an allowance.” She frowned. “Will that be deducted from the bond?”

  “No, that is a price I pay to see you properly outfitted. The clothing that you will be wearing will be designed to fit each occasion. Then, there are the other adornments we were discussing. Also, if you wish any additions to your implants, they can be added as well.”

  Lily looked at her hands. “Like what?”

  He shrugged. “What do you want them to do?”

  “Shoot lasers? I don’t know. Hey, can I get wings that I can put on? Functional ones?”

  Nebel smiled. “I look forward to the design sessions with my engineers.”

  Lily blinked. “Right. You are responsible for housing me. Maintaining me.”

  “Of course.”

  “And I am responsible for...”

  “Maintaining me, so to speak.”

  She blushed. “Right.”

  “It is clearly outlined in the next paragraph.”

  Lily read, and her face got hotter and hotter. It was certainly blunt. She was required to make herself available to her overseer at every waking moment. A rejection was not an option. She was making a blanket agreement to be available for sex for a century, and the price was enough to buy herself and any surviving Terrans a really nice home to live in while they tried to start over.

  She looked at Nebel, all gold and lean. His golden feathers were neat and smooth. His hands could shape metal.

  “Do you want anything else from me?” She looked at him. His eyes widened in surprise, and his brows rose.

  “Many things, but I will pace myself. There is a record of my willingness to wait until you have completed your adaptation to me. I do not wish to injure you.” He smiled. “But we will play. Also, if you wish to have wings, we will set some additional piercings with filaments in place.”

  “Filaments?”

  “Yes, if we put wings on your back, they will need contact points so your body can control them. Installing the filaments now will save lasering through your skin later.” He added that to the contract.

  They discussed placement, and she agreed to the secondary placement before her skin thickened up. It was surreal. She was negotiating for an alien overlord to put filaments in her body so she could get cybernetic wings at some point in the future because her skin would be able to stop bullets. Not odd at all.

  When she signed her name on the contract, Nebel smiled. That smile made her stomach flip. Part of her already liked him, and it was the part that she didn’t usually give a vote to.

  Nebel signed his part of the contract and smiled. “Now we find Heboren and get him to sign, and then it is off to find that Terran who knows where to insert the needles.”

  “Right. I did agree to that.”

  “You did, sweet one. Now, let’s find that brother of mine.”

  He wrapped his arm around her and followed it up with a wing wrapped around her. She was secure and protected as per section two, paragraph three. He was a creature of his word.

  Peggy, the piercer, was working quickly and efficiently. Nebel held Lily’s hand as the small, flat earrings and other jewellery were embedded in her skin. There were a few crew and staff standing nearby and taking notes as the tray with the implants was gradually emptied.

  Lily covered her eyes as the numbing wipe cleared the hood of her clit, and then the small pressure followed by pain as the needle was withdrawn and the jewellery was put in place.

  Her navel was the last thing, and it was a relief. Her body was aching and throbbing. The filaments on her back had been the first things to go in, and they were now only light tingles along her spine and ribs.

  The units that sped up regeneration felt like a tanning bed, but she felt better when it was over.

  Nebel gently covered her with a light sheet and gathered her into his arms. “Finally, we can get you where you belong.”

  She looked at him and felt dizzy. “Where is that?”

  “Anywhere I am.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead.

  “The one part you didn’t pierce.”

  He chuckled and carried her to his shuttle. “Heboren had his crew bring your clothing to my ship for a speedy departure. I think he is just trying to get me away from his territory. I make him look bad.”

  She laughed softly. “You certainly sound like siblings.”

  “While we compete when it comes to gaining a partner, we are generally passive toward each other. That was one thing our designers made sure of. Warring Hmrain was never something they wished for the universe.”

  She saw the drones flying around them, doors opened, codes accessed, and lights came on as he walked through the door of his ship.

  The drones whirred around them, sealing the ship and closing up after them.

  “We are going now?”

  He chuckled. “Yes. We are leaving the Deadly Star and returning to my vessel. Once we reach the warship, we will begin our bonding.”

  As he walked through the shuttle, it began moving under his feet. Lily could feel it through Nebel. “Who’s flying?”

  “The ship. I told the drones what I wanted, and they notified the ship. My home will be listening as well.”

  “I had a cell phone like that.” She felt herself shaking in his arms.

  “Ah, Peggy did say you might be shocky. It was far more piercings than she had done before. I do believe she will be quite popular on Hebor. They adorn their ears and nipples frequently. Oh, and for some, there are tail piercings.”

  He didn’t head to the command area. He walked into a bedroom and set her down on the mattress before crawling in next to her and cuddling her. His wing covered her, and she was suddenly warm and safe. The shaking eased, and he kissed her forehead again.

 

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