My back stiffened. "I assure you, Mother, it will not be you. Please leave so the doctor can continue her examination."
My father placed a hand on her shoulder and she glanced to him, just as she always did.
"I understand your possessiveness, but I will not have anyone doubt the match, son. You know the other regions. They are much more traditional."
There was no way either of my parents were going to watch me fuck my mate.
"She is not of Trion and does not know our ways. Mother, would you like to be transported to Earth, arrive naked, and submit to a mate you'd never met before? With witnesses?"
She pursed her lips but did not respond.
"It would be difficult for you to perform."
I would have laughed at the ridiculous humor of my father's words, for I would have no problem fucking my mate. Both my parents forgot that this wasn't a Trion match, even though it had been their idea. This was a brides program testing match. The compatibility percentage on every aspect of a pairing was so high that even my parents' decades-long union couldn't compare.
"But-"
"Mother. I am Councilor of the southern continent, not your son in this moment. I need you to go with Father and leave me with my mate. Once I am done here, I am going to the oasis, to Mirana for the night. I will not mate her here." I glanced at my mother. "The wait is over. You have seen her for yourself, so there is no reason to remain. Please take the transport back to Xalia. We will follow you tomorrow just as soon as I have completed the mating, then spend the week with you. I look forward to it."
Both of my parents nodded, albeit reluctantly, and left the tent. They didn't bow as was required, for while I'd just said I was to be treated as their ruler, they saw me as their son first.
"Continue, Doctor," I said. I was relieved to know my parents were content with my mate's arrival and even more so that they were gone. I didn't need them about when I had a new mate.
She offered a nod as she parted the robe again and continued her test. Once finished, she returned the tool to her bag, then met my eyes.
"She is well. The High Councilor's mate was also from Earth and the sensors have been calibrated for humans and the stress of transporting such a distance. They indicate for a human her heart rate, blood pressure, brain wave function, and motor skills are all in working order. She has no detectable deficiencies and no diseases or illnesses were indicated on the scan."
I sighed, relieved. She wasn't even awake and I was protective.
"Then why does she not awaken?"
"I have not met someone who has transported such a distance, only those across the planet. Therefore, based on her test results, I assume the trip was just taxing. Earth is many light years away."
She did have a valid point. My mate was quite small and making the journey would be tiring. I was just anxious for her to be awake so I knew she truly was healthy after what she endured. Besides, I wanted to know her eye color.
"You will need to perform the remainder of the standard mating tests yourself, specifically the neurostim exam," the doctor added.
My cock hardened against my mate's side at the thought.
The doctor stood and picked up her bag, pulling out the neurostim tool, showing it to me, then placing it on the nearby table. "You will wish to ensure she is safe to breed and responsive to sexual stimuli."
"She is my mate. I am confident that she will be responsive, for I am eager for her." I took a moment to study the doctor. "You were mated, Doctor?"
I used the past tense, for I sensed that was no longer the case. She was one of my people and I could read them well. It was my job to do so. As I was used to being alone, I'd had to learn that skill at an early age.
The doctor met my eyes. "Yes. It was a good match, but he was killed by the Hive. I understand your instant possessiveness and appreciate your … conscientiousness toward her. I remember first meeting him to be a little scary and my mate was only from the northern continent. For her-" she tilted her head toward my mate, "-as you told your parents, it will be twice as difficult."
I offered the doctor a small smile. "Then it is good that I am twice as obsessed, twice as possessive."
"Yes, it is, although I am sure she will not be well versed in our ways. She may resist you."
"Then she will learn." The unforgiving councilor roared to life within me before I could temper him. But the doctor only chuckled.
"We shall see. She will awaken soon. Just be patient until then."
"Thank you, Doctor."
She bowed and left.
I was alone with my mate, and the medical device I knew would bring her much pleasure. Parting the robe again, I looked my fill, shifting her so that I could stroke my knuckles over her soft, warm skin. The touch was not sexual and she was not completely bare to me, although my cock did rise at the feel of her, all too eager to caress, to touch, to explore my mate's body. I was in awe of this female. She was mine. Every inch of her was perfect. Just for me.
While I knew my parents loved me, they were overly attentive. I'd been born with a father as councilor and grew up familiar with leadership and the civic-minded responsibility expected of me. I never considered another role other than taking over from my father at his retirement. This one-mindedness and strong parental support allowed for me to climb through the ranks in the government. My drive had been singular and I became the planet's youngest councilor. Needless to say, my parents had been thrilled and did everything in their power to keep the leadership of our part of the planet under our family's strong supervision. But the role of councilor was … well, lonely. I had yet to find a Trion mate and my parents had become concerned. That was why I now held an Earth female in my lap. All reservations melted away from the heat of her in my arms.
She stirred, moaned, blinked once, then again. Her blue-blue!-eyes met mine, but she didn't truly see me. Not until her body stiffened and she sat up, almost hitting my chin with her forehead.
"Easy, gara."
"Who … who are you?" Her voice was soft and tentative. Delicate.
"I am Roark, your mate."
"Roark." Her eyes widened and I forgot to blink when she focused them on me. Such a color I had never seen before. Blue, as pale blue as frozen ice in a glacier, and clear as a cloudless sky. The people of Trion were darker by nature, dark of hair and eye. Her exotic beauty, pale blue eyes and golden hair, would make her much coveted by all who saw her. While she attempted to relax, I could sense her nervousness.
"It worked," she commented.
"What?"
"The transport." She nodded, her head rubbing against my chest with the slight movement. "Am I on Trion then?"
"You are. We are at Outpost Two in the southern continent. What is your name?"
"Natalie. Natalie Montgomery."
Natalie.
"Do you feel well, Natalie Montgomery?"
She took a moment, as if thinking about each part of her body. "Yes."
"Good. Then I can perform the remainder of the medical tests."
"Remainder?" she wondered.
"Yes, you slept through the doctor's initial scans and she assured me you are well, but there are a few others that must be done now that you awake."
She struggled to sit up, so I assisted, but did not allow her off my lap. When the robe slipped off a shoulder and exposed one breast, she gasped.
Her hand moved to cover herself, but I stilled her action with one of mine. "Do not hide yourself from me."
"I'm naked!" she said, stating the obvious, then frowned. Pulling the robe away from her body, she peeked down at herself, then up at me. "I … I have nipple rings!"
I couldn't help but smile at the look of utter surprise on her face. "Females on Earth are not adorned by their mates?"
"Um, a few."
I made a sound of agreement. "Mated Trion females have nipple rings. As my mate, you are also adorned with gold, and with my chain, which marks you clearly as mine."
"Chain?"
I removed her hand from her robe and the garment dropped to her waist. She looked down and gasped. I picked up the delicate gold chain that dangled and swung, perfectly displayed between her nipples and held it up so she could see the string of small disks woven into the links. Every small gold disk was embossed with the mark of my family. "This symbol is the mark of your new family, mate. You are mine, and this adornment ensures all who see you will know exactly who you belong to."
"I don't want to be tagged like a stray dog, like I'm property."
It was my turn to frown. "What is this stray dog? You are not a stray, Natalie. You are the matched mate of a councilor. You will be treated with respect and reverence. None will dare insult or belittle you. You are mine, and under my protection."