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Chapter One: Luan

Loric, my mother’s adviser, and my pain-in-ass watcher, was a pushover for the most part, so I didn’t think I’d have any problems convincing him or my mother to delay another cycle of the mating ceremony once again. There were more important things to worry about, like how Krelis was trying to devalue our jewels so that they could scam us out of giving more food imports.

Sure, we could survive off of eating some of the more edible jewels, but they were hardly what I would call delicious, and as more and more of our population is mixed with outside species, the more and more varied nutrition our offspring require to survive.

It just isn’t sustainable, and our already complicated mating rituals only increase the stress on our slow population growth.

“Are you thinking about the Krelis again?” Loric asked, lifting a brow and shaking his head.

His blue skin was finely chiseled, which most of my friends have told me is delicious. If only he were part of the mating games more often, they would have devoured him. I can admit he is quite attractive, even his sapphire jewels down his arms are impressive.

Almder, our leader, and my mother, would not have chosen him as an adviser if he were not skilled, and powerful in both mind and body. The more jewels displayed on an estreld’s arms the more powerful they were. It is the way the land has blessed our species to absorb more of the moon's rays.

Papers were spread out on the desk of Loric’s office while he worked on his next diplomatic game plan to assist Almder.

In frustration I slammed the book in my hands closed before replying, “Of course I am, not only is food tastier from the krelins, but they know our offspring are becoming dependent on their supply for nutrition and they are trying to rob us!”

I stood, storming across the room, and rushed out the open door to head directly to the library for another book. There had to be something that could help me figure out a way to reverse the pressure from the planet Krelis and regain control of our trade market.

Something perhaps in the journals of the almder’s before my mother. One of them had to have dealt with unreasonable trade mongers before.

Loric casually strode alongside me, his longer legs able to help him catch up to me without effort.

“Do you not trust our Almder?” 

There he went again, trying to make me feel ashamed, or guilty for even trying to help. Of course, I trusted my mother, but she had enough on her plate already with making sure our population didn’t go extinct after a few more generations. It’s only because of the last five cycles of Estreldez opening up the mating ceremony to offworlders that we were seeing any uptick in offspring.

“There’s only so much one estreld can do,” I insisted, “and my mother doesn’t have to do it alone.”

He had to know I’m right about this. He’s seen how hard I work to learn what I can to fill my mother’s role of Almder one day.

“She doesn’t,” he objected, obviously offended by my statement. He was her adviser, and he did help her, but what did that have to do with whether or not I should help?

“You know what I mean.” I wasn’t going to tip toe around Loric of all beings, I’ve known him since we were both offspring ourselves. He was like a brother to me, but like a brother… he got on my nerves. He followed me through the halls and unfortunately, we were stopped by one of my mother’s other advisers, Mabel.

“Luan, Almder has summoned you,” she informed.

I pursed my lips, not wanting to be distracted from my task, considering every shipment was another chance for Krelis to withhold for more payment. It wasn’t Mabel’s fault that my mother was impatient.

Nor was it her fault that the mating ceremony was coming up soon.

Ten male mates were chosen every planetary rotation of the moons around Estreldez to lead the mating ceremony. Some are from Estreldez, and others are chosen from far away planets to port in, under diplomatic award, to increase the odds of fertility. Many of Estreldez’s females participate in the mating games after they feel the pull of their shoulder glands pulse, letting them know that they are likely to be ready to release their eggs. I’ve never once felt such a pull, and I’m several cycles past the age of mating, as my Almder would say.

The Almder is the leader of our clan on Estreldez, and my mother, I conceded internally with a groan. I couldn’t stop her plans for me indefinitely. I’d avoided the Moon Mating Ceremony for many cycles, and she’s graciously allowed me to watch instead. But, my mother was becoming more testy of late about my participation and I’m pretty sure it had to do with Loric.

He’s always lurking around like a glorbin flighter, those creatures are always flitting about when they see something shiny. Our whole planet was shiny, our specialized trade was our abundance of jewels, which the glorbin flighters gladly eat for breakfast. The jewels are fun to toss at them, especially if they are fast enough to catch them. And I’m equally entertained by teasing Loric about my interest in the ceremony when he’s been talking about it so much recently. He’s been acting more unusual and dropping many hints over the last moon cycle, trying to convince me that joining the mating ceremony may be something that I would enjoy.

Loric watched me with that smug expression on his face, almost like he was saying I told you so. How would he know if my mother was calling to tell me to stop researching and join our mating ceremony this cycle? I glared at him, before taking Mabel’s arm and being led to the assembly cove.

The room opened up into an open-air courtyard carved from our favorite stone of black tarnpul, the strongest of our mineral deposits, and the most reflective of the moon’s rays. Shaped in a cone, lifting up from the ground on all sides to create a dish that helps focus the moon’s light for us to absorb. This was where only the chosen came to have a better chance at successful mating during the ceremony. I cringed at the thought. I’ve had to sit with my mother during these displays to show my support and I never understood why I had to watch front and center, when the whole thing was recorded for the whole planet. I could easily watch from my room if I wanted. There was no need to be so close you could see the seams of a male’s shaft open to fill their mate. I shook my head to rid myself of the thought.

“Where have you been hiding?” My Almder stood from her seat wearing her traditional robes draped over her pale white skin, her jeweled arms and chest on full display.

“If I were hiding then I wouldn’t be here,” I grumbled.

She was always so dramatic, when she found I’d been avoiding her advisers. Loric was different, he’s always following me when he’s not meeting with my mother to tattle on me.

My mother sighed, waving off the advisers that were gathered in the assembly. All except Loric left. “This is not the time for word play, My Jewel. You are well aware that we have another Moon Ceremony coming up, and it’s time you join the others in a show of support, and to hopefully one day provide our clan with another heir.”

I gulped heavily, this was not the conversation I wanted to get into. Every Moon Ceremony was always the same, she’d ask if I felt any ‘tingles’ in my shoulders to signal my readiness, and then I’d say, ‘no’, and then she’d smile, pat me on the head and say, ‘One day, my daughter.’ And that was that. There was no serious conversation about joining, or that I should join.

One day couldn’t be today, couldn’t be now.

And she was the only person that could make me.

Not just as my mother, but as the leader of the Estreldez. The leader of our clan.

My Almder.

“I do not feel any—“

She cut me off. “Not all feel the urge until they meet a compatible mate, and even then, participation increases the odds of that happening. How do you think it looks to our clan that you have been of age for many cycles and have not shown your support but to watch?”

“You watch,” I countered accusingly.

Narrowing her eyes at me she continued, “I’m much too old to participate any longer. I was blessed to have secured a female as an heir, and it is my burden that I was not able to provide you with siblings.” The irritation faded from her, replaced with a sadness that made my stomach clench. I did not want to remind her of the loss she had endured with my siblings.

For every one of them she lost, she had plucked a jewel from her back and displayed them on the crown she wore. Offworlders would think my mother was displaying her wealth, but it was her greatest loss that she clung to in mourning. No other Almder had ever worn anything more than a simple crown of tarnpul, which for us was displaying our power. The jewels, they are remembrances of her children. That was why I am her favorite jewel, the one that survived.

The one she was now sentencing to join the Moon Ceremony.

I shook my head, unbelieving that she would force this upon me.

“I’m not ready…” I choked out.

“Jewel of Estreldez, it is not if we are ready to serve but that we are able. I do not wish to burden you with this task, but our clan needs hope. And seeing you participate will give them that. Will you deny them that small kindness?”

Pressing my lips together I glanced over to see Loric staring at me, and even his blue eyes were watching me with a sense of hopefulness. Was that what our planet has come to? The mating games were all voluntary, my mother never demanded anyone participate. But she was asking it of me?

There was no denying her request.

I was participating in the next cycle’s Moon Ceremony, and I could only pray that my eggs remained fully attached at all times. It would be embarrassing to have them release, and my wings sprout for all to see. That’s what happened when a female Estreldez was fertile, and there would be no backing out of the games if that happened. My mother wouldn’t hear of it, I would have to choose one of the mates provided, and if they weren’t from our planet…

I would never see them again.

Chapter Two: Vareo

I rubbed my face in disbelief, re-reading the transmission once again. I’d heard of rich psychopaths before, but this was too good to be true. Being a system pirate wasn’t always easy work, most of the bounties were extremely illegal to the Lunar Administration, but they were spread pretty thin these days, and the pay was better than the regular bounty fare. Whoever this rich fucker was, they were offering enough credit to make me tattoo their face on my left asscheek if that’s what they wanted.

“What’s the job?” Carmen asked from behind me, slinking her arm around my neck. Her tongue licked at my ear, and I grinned thinking about all the other things that tongue could be capable of. We’d never gone that far, but that never stopped her from teasing. She was the one that got me into this career path to begin with, and I knew she’d sooner shoot my nuts off than let me touch her.

That was fine by me, but the long cycles alone had my mind idled with urges that were tough to ignore, and that’s exactly why Carmen did it. I ignored her, and pinched her cheeks to focus her on the screen.

She would have tried to kick my ass, but she was just as stunned as I was at the price tag on this black market lister.

“That has to be a glitch,” she finally said.

“You could leave me the fuck alone with that kind of credit.” The offer was enticing, the only problem was whether it was legit or not.

“With that kind of credit, you’ll have paid off your debt, and have credit left over to buy your own small planet.” I swiveled in my chair to see the glitter of profit in her eyes. She could finally get off my heap of metal, and tell her bosses, the necia of Necias Delta Fal, I’m a free agent.

Necia were a fiery bunch of alien outlaws, where their main trade of their planet was basically being mercenaries for hire. How I got involved with them wasn’t exactly my choice, but I blew my chance at escaping when I was a boy.

“If it’s real,” I added, trying to bring reason back into both of our credit hungry egos.

“Even if it isn’t, you have to show proof to Jax that you’re going to pay up, or she’ll gut you.”

“I thought that was your job?” I gave her a wry smile, and she gave me a wink in return before her extra finger bones sliced from her flesh, and dug into my throat. I shook my head, feeling her grip loosen, unable to follow through with her threats just yet. I wondered, however momentarily, that I could have thought of Carmen as more than a thug. She was pretty by any standards, dark hair hung short at her shoulders, hazel eyes that changed color depending on what she wore, and a tight jumpsuit that revealed all her curves. But necia were a rough breed, and it would be easy for her to morph her bones from her skeleton into weapons like a creepy pin cushion. I would have shivered at the thought, but any movement would have given me an extra close shave.

“Don’t test me, Vareo. I’ve been kind to you, haven’t I?”

My Adam's apple bobbed, feeling the pressure of the sharp bone. But, this wasn’t the first time she threatened me, and she needed me for the credits. I was worth more alive, and I’ve long since found her threats towards me to be more bark than bite. Easing the weapon of her extra finger bones away from my skin with my own fleshy finger, I smiled.

“Kind as a krelin’s horn up my—“ It was the kindest endearment I could ever muster for her.

“Don’t be crass.” She shoved my face with the palm of her hand back towards the screen that was flickering due to the repairs that my ship badly needed. Those credits were tempting. “Go screw a few Estreldez females and bring back their prized jewel. Even if the job’s a scam we can milk them for what their worth, or sell the jewel on the black market, and take whatever the buyer has for trying to fuck us.”

“Aren’t you the picture of propriety,” I mocked her eagerness to send me out to pimp myself to an alien planet so I could steal their treasure. That was a first, but it was the only way we’d gain access to the planet Estreldez. They weren’t open for tourism, and kept strict closed borders. In fact, it was only recently that they even allowed offworlders to join their mating ceremony. Though, really even that was a very select few.

Which had me doubting whether we could even get the job.

“How are we supposed to get an invite?” I wondered out loud.

“Maybe that’s why the credits are so large. Figure it out.”

Carmen sauntered off to go comm Jax about the job. She wasn’t going to let me turn this down. Somehow, I had to find a way onto the invite list. As much as having my go with a bunch of alien women might have been appealing, the idea of having children that I’d never see again was not. My dad was never around as a kid… I swore I’d never have children if I couldn’t be around for them.

I’d have to steal the jewel and get off planet before the mating could ever be consummated. Get my credits, and I never have to see Carmen, Jax, or any other necia outlaws again. Glaring at the screen, and all of those zeros at the end of the credits meant certain freedom, but I highly doubted the necia would give up easily even after they got their credits. They probably never expected anyone to make enough credits to pay off their debts when the costs kept on rolling in to cover the operations overhead. Plus, I wasn’t dumb. They weren’t known to play fair, and just like they’d screw over the client if they didn’t hand over the agreed upon sum it was just as likely they’d do the same to me.

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Releasing January 31st, 2023

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