Star Mate Matched, Margo Collins [the unexpected everything .TXT] 📗

“And of course, you remember Captain Jalek.”

The general nodded and saluted.

“General, Commander,” Jalek said, his pink skin turning an even darker shade in his pride, “please allow me to introduce Lucy Gray, my human match from the planet Earth.”

His human match. It was an elegant way to sidestep the whole mate issue while our females were deciding. I tucked the information away to use later when introducing Nora.

After greeting Lucy, the general sat down, and we all followed suit.

“Thank you all for joining me here today,” the general said. “I had initially planned to conduct a surprise inspection on the Lavelek. However, rumors of the miraculous discovery of genetically compatible females on planet X-320—otherwise known as, I believe, Earf?”

“Earth,” Lucy corrected him gently.

“Earth.” The general pronounced the term carefully, as if wrapping his mouth around the strange syllables.

Lucy gave an encouraging nod.

“Rumors of this find are spreading quickly through the fleet. As Fleet General, I have decided to exercise my privilege to begin the process of claiming a mate for myself.”

Lucy and Nora exchange a covert glance. I wasn’t sure anyone else noticed, but I was certain I saw in it a reluctance to assist the general.

This is not going to be as easy as Galatov expects.

The general was still speaking. “Therefore, before we get down to the business of fleet security, I wanted to take the opportunity to ask Lucy and Nora a few questions.”

Beside me, Nora’s entire body stiffened up. I doubted anyone else sensed it, but my mate was uncomfortable. Less than two sundrops before, I had vowed to myself never to allow that to happen—and yet, here I was, unable to protect her from my own Fleet General. I had to force my beast to remain silent.

“What would you like to know, General Galatov?” Lucy asked politely. The dark-haired human woman had natural social graces. I could tell why Jalek liked her—even if she was far too thin for my tastes.

“Captain Jalek’s report notes that your people are in the process of poisoning your planet,” the general continued.

Nora raised her eyebrows, but Lucy gave an acknowledging nod. “I suppose we are, yes.”

“Excellent. I would like to know which region is suffering the most damage and would therefore provide females most likely to be grateful for removal from this Earth.”

This time, the glance between Lucy and Nora was overt. Nora leaned forward with her elbows on the table. “I am not certain you will find any woman who would be grateful to be taken away from her life without warning.”

The general frowned, his expression confused. “And yet, the two of you are here.”

“Yes, but Dax saved me from a mugger,” Nora explained.

“And Jalek saved me from criminals who were about to shoot me,” Lucy added

“Hmm. I see.” The general turned to me and continued. “Commander Dax, you will send your best man—preferably Lieutenant Commander Braxen, as he and I have served together extensively before—to X-320, where he will find my genetic match and save her from one of the many and apparently varied threats on her planet.”

He turned his attention to Braxen. “Once you have secured my mate’s safety, you will inform her that it was done at my command. Then bring her back to me, where I will reap the rewards of her gratitude.”

“That’s not exactly—” Lucy began.

At the same moment, Nora said, “I don’t think—”

“Good. It is settled.” The general gave a decisive nod. “Thank you for your help, Lucy and Nora,” he said, his tone a clear dismissal.

I started to intervene but paused. Better to let the general make his own mistakes and sort them out than to have him blame me if something went wrong.

I hope it’s better this way, at least.

Jalek murmured something to Lucy, and she stood up. “Let me show you the ship, Nora. We can stop by their canteen—the Drovekzians make a wonderful kind of tea. I think you’ll like it.”

“Sure.” Nora stood up to join her, and I was pleased when she walked all the way around the table to avoid the general.

My mate had excellent self-preservation instincts. She would make an admirable Commander’s partner.

“Now,” General Galatov said as the females left the room, “tell me more about this Karlaxon sabotage you encountered.”

Chapter Twenty-One

Nora

I was glad to get out of there. I almost hated to admit it, but General Galatov intimidated the hell out of me. From what I could tell, his markings were like those of a cheetah—complete with a spiky ring of fur across his shoulders—but in a bright blue with dark blue spots.

He was huge, too, even bigger than Dax and the other Drovekzian soldiers I had seen so far.

That wasn’t what frightened me, though. It was his expression, the look in his eyes—like he wanted to own me.

For the first time, I found myself completely thankful that Dax was the Drovekzian who had found me. With him, I had the option to go home if this didn’t work out.

I suspected that the general would not be so accommodating.

“I feel sorry for the poor woman who gets picked up to be the general’s mate.” Lucy’s sidelong whisper echoed my own thoughts.

“I know, right? I feel lucky Dax found me.”

“Really? He’s a little frightening, too.”

I laughed. “Your Jalek isn’t exactly the perfect picture of a domesticated cat.”

“My Jalek…” Lucy’s voice trailed off thoughtfully. “He says you and Dax aren’t formally mated yet, either. Canteen’s this way.” She pointed down a hallway, and I followed her as she turned.

“We’re not formally mated, no. Why aren’t the two of you?”

“I made Jalek promise to give me thirty days to make up your mind.” She led me into a small canteen with oversized tables and chairs and held up two fingers to the orange-striped Drovekzian behind the counter. “Two honahets, please. Are you hungry?” she asked me, but didn’t wait for an answer. “I’m starving. And two of those…” she rolled her hands around as if holding a giant, oblong shape,