Matrix took the more mature route and simply acknowledged K’hor’s claim with a respectful nod before addressing her once again. “You believe our size will frighten the others?”
Juniper eyed him up and down again, earning another chuckle from him and a growl from K’hor.
Rolling her eyes at her mate, she answered Matrix. “Well, let’s just say that some of the women may be wary.”
Juniper’s answer made Sparx pause, quickly becoming serious as the smile fell off his face. The one thing he never wanted the women to doubt was their safety. They were more precious to Djaromir than the stones they mined. “You are aware that we’d never hurt you, correct?” he asked, watching her closely. “None of us would ever bring harm to you or the others.”
“K’hor said the same thing.” Juniper smiled up at the Djaromir next to her, the trust in her voice ringing clear for everyone listening to hear.
Sparx eyed the couple, again feeling a tug of jealousy at the obvious link between the two before shaking it off. No good could come from emotions like that. Especially when he needed to focus on coming up with a plan on how to convince the other humans to stay.
Or at least how to get more of them.
“I am sure you and your men need rest after the journey here,” K’hor said, clapping Matrix on the back, before repeating the same with Sparx. “I will make sure your usual quarters are readied, while we consider how to approach the situation regarding the females.”
“It will be decided though,” Matrix warned, taking the words right out of Sparx’s mouth.
“Hamuir may be the largest of our cities, but Fyeir and Gunninng will not be denied the bounty the stars have blessed Djaromir with.”
Chapter Three
Six months later…
“When are they scheduled to arrive?” Sparx questioned his second in command, not waiting for an answer before making his way towards the tunnels.
“The Phaetons said within the hour, sir,” Colby answered as he pulled on his cloak. “I still find it hard to believe the day has finally come.”
“It has taken much longer than we wanted or expected, Colby,” Sparx said with a snort. Bitterness bristled up his spine at the reminder of time they’d wasted to the bureaucracy of Earth. “Never mind the fact that we were unable to convince all of the women we rescued to stay. I’d hoped to have our own bride volunteer system set up long ago. Long enough for us to already have at least a few pregnancies of our own to announce.”
“Lady Juniper did say it might be harder for their government to convince women to come to a planet where they’d have to live in caves—”
“With the amount of ore we’re supplying Earth, I expect them to find at least the number we’ve agreed upon,” he interrupted. As more time passed, the situation felt more desperate.
Warlord K’hor and his mate, Lady Juniper, had been bartering with Earth in exchange for brides. Like the Phaetons, the people on Djaromir had access to items Earth wanted. Instead of the advanced tech and medical knowledge the Phaetons had to trade, Djaromir had the ore they mined. Ore that was rich in minerals Earth could use as a clean-burning fuel. Something they apparently were desperate for that the Phaetons couldn’t provide. Their planet was also rich in precious stones. Fyeir specifically was overflowing with the colorful baubles, due to the depths it reached under the crust of Djaromir; many of the tunnels shimmered with the reflections off the faceted gems that studded the stone walls. The shiny rocks were visually appealing to the miners, but they held no real value in Djaromir.
Earth, on the other hand, placed a high value on the baubles that were plentiful in Fyeir. They couldn’t seem to get enough of the jewels that they’d spent year’s struggling to haul away as the refuse of their hard labors.
In a way, the Djaromir had still purchased their mates…or at least access to their potential mates.
“I still don’t understand why they’re only sending ten brides per city, but that was the number K’hor was able to secure per month, so that’s how many we will expect. Hopefully more, once they can see the women are cared for and happy…” Sparx’s voice trailed off as thought of all the trouble he and his fellow Djaromir had gone through to try to show the potential mates arriving how much they were wanted. Needed.
Although he hated that it had taken so long to get things resolved with Earth, that gap in time had given them the time to prepare for the women before they arrived. Time they apparently desperately needed, according to K’hor’s mate, if he were to quote her. Juniper and some of the other women started by ordering things from Earth they couldn’t create on Djaromir. Pillows, diet coke, and chocolate were shipped in via Phaeton shuttle to serve as creature comforts for the women. Before he knew it, there were pillows covering the stone chairs once carved by his ancestors. At first, he’d protested the excessive amounts of rugs and bedding the women had ordered.
It wasn’t until Juniper explained that some humans had issues using animal products that he realized she was talking about the furs the people of Djaromir used in their everyday lives. According to her, some women preferred their blankets to not have a face. It was a strange way of thinking, in his opinion, but he kept his mouth shut about the bedding and rugs after that particular argument. They didn’t simply stop at shopping though. The mated females also coached the miners a bit, giving hints on how to act around the arriving women.
“We’ve followed Lady Juniper’s instructions in preparing the rooms for the volunteers. She was very specific regarding their accommodations, and I believe they will be pleased with our efforts.” Colby held up
