Strange Love (Galactic Love, #1)

by Ann Aguirre

On Earth, she had been nobody, but maybe she could be somebody on Barath.

“They would massage my neck ruff, causing me to lubricate. I would stimulate them in turn, until their claspers extruded. Then they would penetrate me and collect spermatophores, the more the better.”

received clarification, I must…” Words failed him because she was touching his neck ruff again. Now that he knew she had full cognizance of what that overture signified, Zylar’s body responded reflexively, lubricating in preparation for more. That felt glorious, and his head went fuzzy with the pleasure of her soft strokes. No Barathi partner would have been so tender or careful, and they could not have touched the webbing at all for fear of causing harm, so her delicacy provided another level of sensation, curling through his nerves, until he couldn’t contain the hiss, and that only seemed to encourage her. She kept caressing him, and the lubrication continued, until he could feel it on the flesh beneath his chitin. Zylar had never heard of anyone becoming this aroused and not mating, so he had no idea if self-denial would be painful. Even if it was, he couldn’t bring himself to ask her to stop, not when she seemed so invested in this exploration.

Taking that as her cue, she performed the introductions, though it was a little hard to hear with the raucous sounds of sex and the whoops from those experimenting with colorful crystals in the chemical-enhancement corner. There were back rooms, dark and secluded rooms, and Beryl didn’t dare imagine what was going on in there.

“My motives were twofold,” Helix said calmly. “I wanted to procure you a companion and to preserve my own existence. Before our departure, I ran numerous simulations related to this final Choosing, but I could not find any probabilities that offered a significant chance of successful outcome. Until I found some hidden data files in Ryzven’s secret database that provided scant information on Aerth and the combative lifeforms native to that world. They were reputed to be volatile yet extremely loyal.” “You thought a human might allow me to succeed?” If Ryzven had been quietly collecting intelligence on humans, unknown to the Council, did that mean he had some fetish? That explained his unusual obsession with Beryl.

Zylar stilled. “That’s why you were so cranky with Beryl? Because she reminded you of your own wrongdoing? You’re developing a conscience. You care about your own life. You took steps that you shouldn’t have been able to because you wanted me to be happy. And now, you’re worried that you’ve hurt Beryl. Helix, you’ve become a person, a sentient being with all inherent emotions.” “How revolting,” said Helix. “Feelings are messy, illogical, and rather inconvenient.” “Then…do you have the coordinates? For her homeworld.” How much deception was possible for an evolving AI? Had he fooled the workers in Technical into thinking he had lost data when he hadn’t? “Yes. But I needed to close the door on the possibility that she could return home. If she had kept that in mind as a failsafe, she would not have been as committed to the Choosing…or you. Statistical projections of success diminished in the simulations when she knew Barath wasn’t her only hope.” Rage boiled up inside him, so fierce that if he could have assaulted Helix physically, he would have done it. “This…no. I understand why you did it, but it’s morally wrong. Love is not about controlling someone and taking away their choices. I don’t want her to stay with me because she’s making the best of a bad situation.”

Beryl waved a hand, impatient. “If I have this straight, Miralai made it look like Ryzven overdosed, to cover up the poison, in case of inquiry. In return, she gets her freedom and a fresh start. Catyr gains two nest-guardians and a clutch? And you…” “I have two potential new loves to help me heal, and a family waiting for my care,” Kurr said simply. “Since we ranked so highly, and Miralai is so recently bereaved, the Council will likely approve our request. They will not wish for her clutch to be penalized for their sire’s transgressions.”

Zylar sucked in a sharp breath. Suddenly he understood so much—not the details perhaps, but he had the big picture, and this, this was a glorious revenge indeed, layers on layers of dishonor and disrespect. Ryzven’s progeny would never hear of him and their deeds would glorify Kith Ka’mat.

“You understand, I can’t take you to visit. Not easily. I might have been able to manage a covert drop-off, but your people…” “Aren’t ready for first contact. I know. And I’m good with that. I do miss food from home, but you’re worth that sacrifice. Worth any price I have to pay, in all honesty, because meeting you is the best thing that ever happened to me.” His chitin felt too small, as if it couldn’t contain this much joy, this much pleasure. Adoration and arousal warred within him, so intense that he struggled to speak. His neck ruff quivered with each soft stroke, and he stopped fighting the yearning. The plates parted, revealing his shameless, explicit need. “I took away your homeworld,” he said softly. “But you gave me the universe.”