Close Remembrance E-Book

Anna Zaires

• Herausgeber: Anna Zaires
• Kategorie: Fantasy und Science-Fiction
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2018

Beschreibung

Close Remembrance

Leseprobe

Close Remembrance

The Krinar Chronicles: Volume 3

Anna Zaires

♠ Mozaika Publications ♠

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is purely coincidental.

Copyright © 2013 Anna Zaires

www.annazaires.com

All rights reserved.

Except for use in a review, no part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission.

Published by Mozaika Publications, an imprint of Mozaika LLC.

www.mozaikallc.com

Cover by Najla Qamber Designs

http://www.najlaqamberdesigns.com/

e-ISBN: 978-0-9883913-4-5

ISBN: 978-0-9883913-5-2

Contents

Part I

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Part II

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Part III

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Epilogue

Excerpt from The Krinar Captive

Excerpt from Twist Me

Excerpt from Capture Me

Excerpt from The Thought Readers by Dima Zales

Excerpt from Oasis by Dima Zales

About the Author

Part One

Prologue

The Krinar walked down the street in Moscow, quietly observing the teeming human masses all around him. As he passed, he could see the fear and curiosity on their faces, feel the hatred emanating from some of the passersby.

Russia was one of the countries that had resisted the most—and where the toll of the Great Panic had been the heaviest. With a largely corrupt government and a population distrustful of all authority, many Russians had taken the Krinar invasion as an excuse to loot at will and hoard whatever supplies they could. Even now, more than five years later, some of the storefronts in Moscow were still bare, their taped-over windows a testament to the tumultuous months that had followed their arrival.

Thankfully, the air in the city was better now, less polluted than the Krinar remembered it being a few years ago. Back then, a heavy smog hung over the city, irritating him to no end. Not that it could hurt him in any way, but still, the K far preferred breathing air that didn’t contain too many hydrocarbon particles.

Approaching the Kremlin, the K pulled the hood of his jacket up over his head and tried to look as human as he could, paying careful attention to his movements to make them slower and less graceful. He didn’t delude himself that the K satellites weren’t watching him at this very moment, but no one in the Centers had any reason to suspect him. He’d made it a point in recent years to travel as much as he could, frequently appearing in major human cities for one reason or another. This way, if anyone cared to profile his behavior, his latest expeditions would not cause any alarm.

Not that anyone would bother profiling him. As far as everyone was concerned, those Krinar who’d helped the Resistance—the Keiths, as they’d been called—were safely in custody, and poor Saur had been blamed for erasing their memories. It couldn’t have worked out better if the K had planned it that way himself.

No, he didn’t need to conceal his identity from the Krinar eyes in the sky. His goal was to fool the human cameras stationed all around the Kremlin walls—just in case the Russian leaders became alarmed before he had a chance to visit the other major cities.

Smiling, the K pretended to be nothing more than a human tourist as he did a leisurely lap around Red Square, the soles of his shoes grinding into the pavement and releasing tiny capsules that contained the seeds of a new era in human history.

Once he was done, he headed back to the ship he’d left in one of the nearby alleys.

Tomorrow, he would see Mia again.

Saret could hardly wait.

Chapter One

“Oh my God, Korum, when did you have a chance to do this?”

Mia stared at her surroundings in shock. All the familiar furniture was gone, and Korum’s house in Lenkarda—the place she had begun to think of as her home—looked very much like a Krinar dwelling now, complete with floating planks and clutter-free spaces. The only thing that remained from before were the transparent walls and ceiling—a Krinar feature that Korum had allowed from the very beginning.

Her lover grinned, showing the familiar dimple in his left cheek. “I might’ve snuck away for an hour or so while you were sleeping.”

“You went all the way from Florida to here just to change the furnishings?”

He laughed, shaking his head. “No, my sweet, even I’m not that dedicated. I had to take care of a couple of business matters, and I decided to surprise you.”

“Well, color me surprised,” Mia said, slowly turning in a circle and studying the strange sight that had greeted her upon their arrival back in Lenkarda.

Instead of the ivory couch, there was now a long white board floating a couple of feet off the floor. From what Korum had explained to her once, the Krinar were able to make their furniture float by using a derivation of the same force-field technology that protected their colonies. Mia knew that if she sat down on the board, it would immediately adapt to her body, becoming as comfortable as it could possibly be. A few other floating planks were visible near the walls, with a couple of them occupied by some type of indoor plants with bright pink flowers.

The floor was also different—and unlike anything Mia had seen in any other Krinar houses. She tried to remember what those other floors had been like, but all she could recall was that they were hard and pale, like some type of stone. She hadn’t paid them too much attention at the time because Krinar flooring materials didn’t seem all that different from something one would find in a human house. However, what was under her feet right now had a very unusual texture and an almost sponge-like consistency. It made Mia feel like she was standing on air.

“What is that?” she asked Korum, pointing down at the strange substance.

“Take off your shoes and see,” he suggested, kicking off his own sandals. “It’s something new that one of my employees came up with recently—a variation on the intelligent bed technology.”

Curious, Mia followed his example, letting her bare feet sink into the cushy flooring. The material seemed to flow around her feet, enveloping them, and then it was as though a thousand tiny fingers were gently rubbing her toes, heels, and arches, releasing all tension. A foot massage... only a thousand times better. “Oh, wow,” Mia breathed, a huge blissful smile appearing on her face. “Korum, this is amazing!”

“Uh-huh.” He was walking around, seemingly enjoying the sensations himself. “I figured this would appeal to you.”

Her feet in paradise, Mia watched as he made a slow circle around the room, his tall, muscular body moving with the cat-like grace common to his species. Sometimes she could hardly believe that this gorgeous, complicated man was hers—that he loved her as much as she loved him.

Her happiness was so absolute these days it was almost scary.

“Do you want to see the rest of the house?” He stopped next to her and gave her a warm smile.

“Yes, please!” Mia grinned, as eager as a kid in a candy store.

Three days ago, during one of their evening walks in Florida, she’d mentioned to Korum that it would be nice to see his house as it was before he ‘humanized’ it for her sake. As thoughtful as the gesture had been at the time, Mia was now used to the Krinar lifestyle and no longer needed the reassurance of familiar surroundings. Instead, she wanted to see how her alien lover had lived before they met. He’d smiled and promised to change the house back promptly—and he’d obviously taken that promise seriously.

“Okay,” he said, staring down at her with a slightly mischievous look on his beautiful face. “There’s one room that you haven’t seen at all yet, and I’ve been dying to show you...”

“Oh?” Mia raised her eyebrows, her heart starting to beat faster and her lower belly tightening in anticipation. His eyes now had a golden undertone, and she guessed that whatever it was he wanted to show her would soon have her screaming in ecstasy in his arms. If there was one thing she could always count on, it was his insatiable desire for her. No matter how often they had sex, it seemed like he always wanted more... and so did she.

“Come,” he said, taking her hand and leading her toward the wall to their left.

As they approached, the wall did not dissolve as it usually did. Instead, Mia felt herself sinking deeper into the spongy material beneath her feet. Her feet were absorbed first, then her ankles and knees. It was like quicksand, except it was happening right in the house. Giving Korum a startled look, she clutched at his hand. “What—?”

“It’s okay.” He gave her palm a reassuring squeeze. “Don’t worry.” The same thing was happening to him too; she could see the floor practically sucking him in.

“Um, Korum, I don’t know about this...” Mia was now buried up to her waist, and her lower body was feeling decidedly strange—almost weightless.

“Just a few more seconds,” he promised, giving her a grin.

“A few more seconds?” Mia was now chest-deep inside the weird material. “Before what?”

“Before this,” he said as their descent suddenly accelerated and they fell completely through the floor.

Mia let out a short scream, her grip tightening on Korum’s hand. At first there was only darkness and the frightening sensation of nothingness beneath her feet, and then they were suddenly floating in a softly lit circular room with solid peach-tinted walls and ceiling.

As in, literally floating in mid-air.

Gasping, Mia stared at her lover, unable to believe what was happening. “Korum, is this—?”

“A zero-gravity chamber?” He was grinning like a little boy about to show off a new toy. “Yes, indeed.”

“You have a zero-gravity chamber in your house?”

“I do,” he admitted, obviously pleased with her reaction. Letting go of Mia’s hand, he did a slow somersault in the air. “As you can see, it’s a lot of fun.”

Mia laughed incredulously, then tried to follow his example—but there was no good way for her to control her movements. She had no idea how Korum had managed to somersault so easily. She was moving her arms and legs, but it didn’t seem to do much for her. It was like she was floating in water, only without any sensation of wetness.

She couldn’t tell which way was up or down; the chamber was windowless, and there was no clear distinction between the walls, floor, and ceiling. It was as though they were in a giant bubble—which probably wasn’t all that far from the truth. Mia was no expert on the subject, but she imagined it wasn’t easy to create a zero-gravity environment on Earth. There had to be a lot of complex technology surrounding them and negating the gravitational pull of the planet.

“Wow,” she said softly, drifting in the air. “Korum, this is amazing... Is this something other Krinar have too?”

He had managed to get to one of the walls, and he used it to push off, propelling himself back in her direction. “No—” he reached out to grab her arm as he floated past her, “—it’s not something many of us have.”

Mia grinned as he pulled her toward him. “Oh yeah? Only you?”

“Perhaps,” he murmured, wrapping one arm around her waist and holding her tightly against him. His eyes were turning more golden by the second, and the hardness pressing against her belly left no doubt of his intentions.

Mia’s eyes widened. “Here?” she asked, her pulse speeding up from excitement.

“Hmm-mm...” He was already bringing her up (or was it down?) to nibble at the sensitive area behind her earlobe.

As always, his touch made her entire body hum in anticipation. Arching her head back, she moaned softly, liquid heat moving through her veins.

“I love you,” he whispered in her ear, his large hands stroking down her body, pulling down her dress. It drifted away, but Mia hardly noticed, her eyes glued to the man she loved more than life itself.

She would never tire of hearing those words from him, Mia thought, watching as he pulled away for a second to take off his own clothes. His shirt came off first, then his shorts, and then he was fully naked, revealing a body that was striking in its masculine perfection. The fact that they were floating in the air added an element of surrealism to the entire scene, making Mia feel like she was having an unusual sexy dream.

Reaching out, she ran her hands down his chest, marveling at the smooth texture of his skin and the rock-solid muscle underneath. “I love you too,” she murmured, and watched his eyes flare brighter with need.

Bringing her toward him, he turned her so that she was floating perpendicular to him, her lower body at his eye level. Before she could say anything, he was opening her thighs, exposing her delicate folds to his hungry gaze. “So beautiful,” he whispered, “so warm and wet... I can’t wait to taste you—” he followed his words with a slow lick of her most private area, “—to make you come...”

Moaning, Mia closed her eyes, the familiar tension starting to coil deep in her belly. Drifting in mid-air seemed to be sharpening all sensations. Without a surface to lie on or anything else touching her body, all she could feel—all she could concentrate on—was the incredible pleasure of his mouth licking and nibbling around her clitoris, and his strong hands stroking up and down her thighs.

Without any warning, a powerful orgasm ripped through her body, originating at her core and spreading outward. Mia cried out, her toes curling from the intensity of the release, and then he was flipping her so that she faced him. Before her pulsations even stopped, his thick cock was already at her opening, entering her in one smooth thrust.

Gasping, Mia opened her eyes and grabbed his shoulders, the shock of his possession reverberating through her body. He paused for a second, then began to move slowly, giving her time to adjust to the fullness inside her. With each careful thrust, the tip of his shaft pressed against the sensitive spot deep within, making her gasp from the sensation.

It seemed to go on forever, those gentle and measured thrusts, each one bringing her closer to the edge but not quite sending her over. Moaning in frustration, Mia dug her nails into his shoulders, needing him to move faster. “Please, Korum...” she whispered, knowing that he wanted this sometimes—that he liked to hear her beg for the ultimate pleasure.

“Oh, I will,” he murmured, his eyes almost pure gold. “I will definitely please you, my sweet.” And holding her tightly with one arm, he reached behind her and rubbed the area where they were joined, gathering the moisture from there. Then, to her surprise, his finger ventured higher, between the smooth globes of her cheeks, and pressed gently against the tiny opening there.

Her breath catching in her throat, Mia stared up at him with a mixture of fear and excitement.

“Shhh, relax...” he soothed, his voice like rough velvet. And before she could say anything, he bent his head, taking her mouth in a deep, seductive kiss even as his finger began to push inside.

At first, it seemed to hurt and burn, the unfamiliar intrusion making her squirm against him in a futile effort to ease the discomfort. With his shaft buried all the way inside her, the additional invasion of her body was too much, the sensations strange and unnerving. Once he stopped, however, with his finger only partially inside her, the burning began to recede, leaving an unusual feeling of fullness in its wake.

Lifting his head, Korum stared down at her with a heavy-lidded gaze. “All right?” he asked softly, and Mia nodded uncertainly, unable to decide if she liked the peculiar sensation or not.

“Good,” he whispered, beginning to move his hips again while keeping his finger steady. “Just relax... Yes, there’s a good girl...”

Closing her eyes, Mia concentrated on not tensing up, although it was becoming increasingly difficult. The unfamiliar discomfort was somehow adding to the pressure building inside her, each thrust of his cock causing his finger to move ever so slightly, overwhelming her senses. His pace gradually picked up, his hips moving faster and faster... and then she was suddenly flying apart, her entire body convulsing from an orgasm so intense it left her weak and panting in its wake.

Korum groaned, grinding against her as her inner muscles rhythmically squeezed his cock, triggering his own climax. She could feel the warm spurts of his seed inside her belly, hear his harsh breathing in her ears as his arm tightened around her waist, holding her securely in place.

When it was all over, he slowly withdrew his finger and kissed her, his lips sweet and tender on hers.

And then they drifted together for a few more minutes, their bodies slick with sweat and wrapped intimately around each other.

The next morning, Mia woke up and stretched, a big grin breaking out on her face as she remembered what took place yesterday. It seemed that Korum had just begun to introduce her to the various erotic pleasures he had in store for her... and she could barely wait to experience it all. Rightly or wrongly, she was now completely addicted to him, to the pleasure she experienced in his arms, and she couldn’t imagine ever being with anyone else—especially not with a regular human man.

It was funny: she’d always heard that relationships tended to lose their initial intensity over time, but it seemed like their passion was only getting stronger with each day that passed. Partially, it was the fact that Korum was a phenomenal lover; during his two thousand years, he’d had plenty of time to learn all the erogenous zones on a woman’s body. But it was also something more, something indefinable—that unique chemistry between them that had been obvious from the very beginning.

Sometimes it scared her, the extent to which she needed him now. The craving went beyond the physical, although she couldn’t imagine going even a single day without the mind-blowing pleasure she experienced in his arms. It was as if they were attuned to each other on a cellular level—two halves of a complete whole.

Still smiling, Mia rolled out of bed. Picking up her wristwatch computer, she glanced at it to check the time. To her surprise, it was already eight a.m., which meant that she had only an hour to eat breakfast and get to the lab. Although it was Saturday, it was a workday in Lenkarda, since the Krinar didn’t follow the human calendar when it came to weekdays and weekends. Their ‘week’ was only four days in duration, instead of seven—three days of work, followed by a day of rest. Mia still thought about time in human calendar terms, however, since that’s what she was used to.

Korum was already gone, so Mia asked the house to prepare her a smoothie and ran to take a quick shower. Even that was different now after Korum’s remodeling efforts. Instead of the shower/jacuzzi combo that she’d gotten used to, the bathroom now had a giant circular stall with the same intelligent technology as everything else in the house. The water came out of everywhere and nowhere, washing and massaging every part of her body, with the water pressure and temperature adjusting to her needs automatically. She didn’t have to apply any effort to wash herself, either; instead, lightly scented soaps, shampoos, and some kind of unusual oils were applied to her hair and skin while she simply stood there, letting Krinar technology do all the work.

After the shower was over, Mia stepped out and warm jets of air dried off her body. Her hair was automatically blow-dried too, resulting in smooth, glossy curls that could’ve been the result of a session at a fancy hair salon. At the same time, her mouth was filled with the taste of something refreshingly clean, as though she had just brushed her teeth.

By the time she was dressed and done with the shower, a strawberry-almond smoothie was already sitting on the kitchen table. Grabbing it on her way out, Mia left the house and headed to work.

Although she had only been gone a week, Mia found that she missed the lab environment. She loved to learn, and the challenge of mastering a difficult subject had never daunted her. Part of her initial reluctance in getting involved with Korum had been due to her fear of losing herself, of becoming nothing more than a glorified pleasure slave. But instead, she seemed to have discovered a way to become a useful part of the Krinar society, to contribute in some small way. By finding her the internship, Korum had done more than simply pad her resume; he’d also demonstrated that he regarded her as a smart and capable person—someone he could not only desire, but respect.

Arriving at the lab, Mia spent most of the day catching up on what she’d missed during her week in Florida. Despite her almost-daily chats with Adam, her project partner, she still felt like she had fallen behind on some of the latest developments. She didn’t have a lot of time to get up to speed either, as Adam was planning to leave to visit his own adopted human family that afternoon.

“How did Saret let you do that?” Mia teased. “Leave for an entire week? Korum practically had to strong-arm him to let me go for that length of time, and you’re much more useful...”

Adam shrugged. “He didn’t have much choice in the matter. I told him I’m going, and that’s that.”

Mia grinned at him, again impressed by the young Krinar. Despite his human upbringing—or maybe because of it—he could more than hold his own with the best of them.

Finally, around four in the afternoon, Adam gave her a bunch of readings and headed out to start his vacation, leaving her alone in the lab. The other apprentices were working on a joint project with the mind lab in Thailand, and they had gone there for a few days to conclude some experiment.

Mia spent the next two hours reading and then went to check on the data that was being generated by the virtual simulation of a young Krinar brain. It appeared that the latest method she and Adam had figured out was indeed a step in the right direction. The knowledge transfer was happening at a faster pace and with fewer unpleasant side effects. Hopefully, they would be able to improve it further by the end of summer—

“How was your vacation in Florida?” a familiar voice behind her asked, and Mia jumped, startled.

Turning around, she took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing pulse. “You scared me,” she told Saret, giving him a smile. “I didn’t know anyone else was here in the lab.”

Her boss ran his fingers through his dark hair. “I’m just finishing up a few things.” He looked unusually tense, and Mia thought he seemed tired—a rarity for a Krinar.

“Is everything all right?” she asked tentatively, not wanting to overstep any boundaries. Although she had been working for Saret for a couple of weeks, she felt like she still didn’t really know him. He didn’t spend a lot of time in the lab, since whatever project he was working on took him all over the world. When he was in the lab, he was usually in his office—although she’d caught him watching her a few times, apparently keeping an eye on the only human he’d ever allowed into his lab.

“Of course,” Saret said, his features relaxing into a smile. “Why wouldn’t it be? One of my favorite assistants is back.”

Feeling slightly awkward, Mia smiled back at him. “Thanks,” she said. “It’s good to be back. I was just looking at the data, and there’s definitely progress—”

“That’s good,” Saret interrupted. “I look forward to your report soon.”

“Of course. I will prepare it tonight—”

“No, no need for that. You can go home early today. It’s your first day back, and I know your cheren will be unhappy if I keep you here late.”

Surprised, Mia nodded. “Okay, if you’re sure...” Normally, Saret disliked it when his apprentices didn’t put in a full day. He’d even gotten into an argument about that with Korum when Mia had first started the internship. And now it seemed like he actually wanted her to leave... Still, she wasn’t about to quibble; she had been planning to go home in another hour anyway.

“I’m sure.” Saret smiled at her. There was something about that smile that made her uncomfortable, but she couldn’t figure out what.

“Okay then, thanks. I’ll see you tomorrow,” Mia said, walking past him. And as she did, she could’ve sworn he leaned closer, breathing in—almost as if he was inhaling her scent.

Telling herself that she had an overactive imagination, Mia exited the lab and entered a small aircraft that was sitting next to the lab building. Korum had made it for her for the express purpose of traveling around Lenkarda. Like the wristwatch he’d given her, it was programmed to respond to her verbal commands. Feeling tired after a full day at work, Mia sat down on one of the intelligent seats and ordered the ship to take her home.

Saret watched Mia leave, his hands nearly shaking with the urge to reach out and touch her.

Having her so close after her long absence had been torturous. The faint sweetness of her scent permeated the lab, and he hadn’t been able to stop himself from coming closer, from breathing it in. If she hadn’t left then, he would’ve done something stupid—like bring her toward him for a taste. And he wouldn’t have been able to stop with just a taste.

When he tried to analyze his own mind—like every mind expert should—he could come up with a dozen reasons for why he’d become so obsessed with her. First and foremost, she belonged to Korum. Even when they’d been children, Saret had always wanted Korum’s toys. His enemy had been inventive even then, altering the designs for popular games and creating something that was better than what anyone else had. Saret had hated Korum for it then, and he hated him now. Of course, he had never let it show. Korum’s enemies never fared well. It was far better to be his friend—or, at least, to act like one.

And Mia was the ultimate toy. So small, so delicate, so perfectly human. For the first time, Saret understood why her species kept pets. Having a cute creature to call your own, to stroke and touch at your whim—there was something incredibly appealing in that. Especially when that creature loved you, depended on you... She would make a very good pet, Saret thought wryly, with that thick mass of hair that looked so soft and touchable.

He was surprised Korum let her spend so much time away from him. Saret had tested him in the beginning, insisting that Mia put in a full day, just to see if that would convince Korum of the ridiculousness of having a human in a Krinar work environment. His nemesis was the last person he would’ve expected to treat a human girl as an equal. Sure, she was smart—for a human, at least—but she was also young and malleable. It wouldn’t take much effort to mold her into whatever he wanted her to be. Whatever she thought she wanted now—none of that really mattered. If she had been his charl, he could’ve easily convinced her to be happy with her role in his life, in his bed. There were so many amusements for a human girl to enjoy: all kinds of virtual and real-life spa treatments, pretty clothes, interesting recordings, fun books... And instead, Korum had her working nonstop. No wonder she still objected to being a charl. Her cheren simply didn’t know how to treat her properly.

Sighing, Saret went back into his office. All the mind analysis in the world didn’t change the fact that he wanted her. And soon he would be able to have her. He just needed to be patient for a while longer.

Turning his attention back to his task, Saret brought up a three-dimensional map of Shanghai.

China was next on his list.

Chapter Two

“There’s nothing to worry about,” Korum said soothingly, placing a white dot on Mia’s temple. “They will love you, just like I do.”

Mia nervously twisted a strand of hair between her fingers before tucking it behind her ear. “They won’t mind that I’m human?”

“They won’t,” he reassured her. “They know all about you already, and they’re very happy that I found someone I care so much about.”

After she’d arrived home from work, Korum had surprised her with the news that he wanted her to meet his family as well. So now he was about to take her into a virtual reality setting where she would meet his parents. Supposedly, the environment was very lifelike, and she would be able to interact with his parents there as though they were meeting in person.

It was also on Krina.

“Are you sure I shouldn’t change?” Mia knew she was stalling, but she felt ridiculously anxious. “And won’t your mom mind that I’m wearing your family necklace?”

“You look beautiful, and the necklace is perfect on you,” he said firmly. “My mother will be quite pleased to see it around your neck; she gave it to me explicitly for that purpose—to gift it to the woman I ultimately fall in love with.”

Mia took a deep breath, trying to control her rapid heartbeat. “Okay, then I’m ready.” At least as ready as she would ever be to meet her extraterrestrial lover’s parents—who resided thousands of light years away.

Korum smiled, and the world around her blurred for a second.

Feeling dizzy, Mia closed her eyes, and when she opened them, she was standing inside a large, airy building that vaguely resembled Korum’s house in Lenkarda. From the inside, it was fully transparent, and she could see unusual plants outside. Most of the flora was a familiar shade of green, but red, orange, and yellow hues also proliferated. It was strikingly beautiful. The inside of the building had the same ‘Zen’ feel to it as Arman’s house. Everything was a beautiful off-white shade, and the sunlight streaming through the clear ceiling reflected off a gorgeous flower arrangement right in the middle of the room—the only touch of color in an otherwise pristine environment. The flowers seemed to grow right out of an opening in the floor. Along the walls, there were a few familiar-looking floating planks that served as multi-purpose furniture.

“It’s lovely,” Mia whispered, glancing around the room. “Is this your parents’ house?”

Korum nodded, smiling. He looked quite pleased. “It’s my childhood home,” he explained, reaching out to take her hand and squeezing it lightly.

As usual, his touch made her feel warm inside, and she marveled again at how authentic this virtual reality felt. Somehow, this was even more convincing than the club where he’d taken her once to satisfy her fantasy. All her senses were fully engaged, as though she was physically present here, on a planet in a different galaxy.

Inhaling deeply, Mia realized that the air was a little thinner than what she was used to, as if they were at a high altitude. She actually felt a bit light-headed, and she hoped she would adjust to it soon. The temperature was pleasantly warm, and there seemed to be a faint breeze coming from somewhere, even though they were inside the building. There was also an exotic, but appealing scent in the air. Likely from the flowers, Mia decided. The aroma was almost... fruity. She’d never smelled anything like it before.

As Mia studied their surroundings, one of the walls dissolved, and a Krinar woman walked in. She was tall and slim, with a supermodel’s leggy build and shiny dark hair. Her eyes were the same warm amber color as Korum’s. It could only be Korum’s mother; their resemblance was unmistakable.

At the sight of them standing there, a huge smile lit her face. “My child,” she said softly, her eyes shining with love as she looked at her son, “I’m so glad to see you.” Like all Ks, her age was impossible to determine; she didn’t look a day older than twenty-five.

Letting go of Mia’s hand, Korum crossed the room and enveloped his mother in a gentle hug. “Me too, Riani, me too...”

Mia watched their reunion, feeling like she was intruding on a private family moment. She couldn’t imagine what it must be like for his parents, with their son living so far away. Yes, they could meet in this virtual way, but they still probably missed seeing him in person.

Turning toward Mia, Korum smiled and said, “Come here, darling. Let me introduce you to my mother.”

Curving her lips in an answering smile, Mia approached them, noticing the way the K’s eyes examined her from head to toe. Her palms began to sweat. What was this gorgeous woman thinking? Was she wondering how her son had ended up with a human?

Pausing a couple of feet away, Mia smiled wider. “Hello,” she said, uncertain if she should reach out and brush the K’s cheek with her knuckles. She’d learned in the past couple of weeks that it was the customary greeting among Krinar females.

Korum’s mother had no such reservations. Raising her hand, she gently touched Mia’s cheek and smiled in return. “Hello, my dear. I’m so glad to finally meet you.”

“Riani, this is Mia, my charl,” Korum said. “Mia, this is Riani, my mother.”

“It’s such a pleasure to meet you, Riani.” Mia was starting to feel more at ease. Despite the woman’s luminous beauty and youthful looks, there was something in her manner that was very soothing. Almost motherly, Mia thought with an inner smile.

“Where’s Chiaren?” Korum asked, addressing his mother.

“Oh, he’ll be here soon,” she said, waving her hand. “He was delayed at work. Don’t worry—he knows you’re here.”

Chiaren had to be Korum’s father, Mia decided. It was interesting that he called his parents by name, although it made sense too. As long-lived as the Ks were, the lines between generations were probably much less defined than for humans. Although Korum had mentioned once that his parents were much older than he was, she guessed that the difference between two thousand years and a few thousand years was not all that dramatic.

A quiet whoosh interrupted Mia’s musings. Turning her head to the side, she saw the wall opening again. A darkly handsome Krinar man walked in, dressed in typical K clothing. Swiftly crossing the room, he raised his hand and touched his palm to Korum’s shoulder, greeting his son.

Korum reciprocated the gesture, but he seemed much more reserved than he had been with his mother. “Chiaren,” he said quietly. “I’m glad you could make it.”

Something in the tone of his voice startled Mia. Was there some tension between father and son?

His father inclined his head. “Of course. I wouldn’t miss your visit.” Then, turning his attention to Mia, he cocked his head to the side and studied her with an inscrutable expression on his face.

Mia swallowed, needing to moisten her suddenly dry throat. Chiaren’s posture, the slightly mocking curl to his lips—it was all very familiar to her. Korum might’ve gotten his mother’s looks, but he’d definitely inherited some personality traits from his father as well. She found the K to be intimidating, with his cool dark gaze and lack of visible emotion. He reminded her of Korum when they’d first met.

“Chiaren, this is Mia,” Korum said, stepping toward her and putting a proprietary arm around her back. “She’s my charl. Mia, this is my father, Chiaren.”

The K smiled, suddenly seeming much more approachable. “How lovely,” he said gently. “Such a pretty human girl you’ve got there. How old are you, Mia? You seem younger than I’d imagined.”

“I’m twenty-one,” Mia told him, aware that she probably looked like she was in her late teens. It was a common problem for someone of her petite build—a problem that would now never go away.

Chiaren’s smile widened. “Twenty-one...”

Mia flushed, realizing that he thought her little more than a child. And compared to him, she was. Still, she would’ve preferred if he hadn’t looked quite so amused at her age.

“Mia, dear, tell us a bit about yourself,” Riani said, smiling at her with warm encouragement. “Korum mentioned that you’re studying the mind. Is that right?”

Mia nodded, turning her attention to Korum’s mother. She wasn’t certain how she felt about his father yet, but she was definitely growing to like Riani. “I am,” she confirmed. “I started working with Saret this summer. Before that, I majored in psychology at one of our universities.”

“How are you finding it so far? Your apprenticeship?” asked Chiaren. “I imagine it must be quite different from anything you’ve done before.” He seemed genuinely curious.

“Yes, it is,” said Mia. “I’m learning a great deal.” Feeling much more in her element, she told them all about her work at the lab, her eyes lighting up as she explained about the imprinting project.

Afterwards, Riani asked about her family, seeming particularly interested in the fact that Mia had a sibling. Marisa’s pregnancy appeared to fascinate her, and she listened attentively as Mia detailed the difficulties her sister had gone through before Ellet’s arrival. After that, Chiaren wanted to know about Mia’s parents and their occupations, and how human contributions to society were typically measured, so Mia spoke for a while about the role of teachers and professors in the American educational system.

Before long, she found herself engaged in an animated discussion with Korum’s parents. She learned that they had been together for close to three millennia, and that Riani was almost five hundred years older than her mate. Unlike Korum, who had discovered his passion for technological design early on, both Riani and Chiaren were ‘dabblers.’ Most Krinar were, in fact. Instead of specializing in a specific subject, they frequently changed their careers and areas of focus, never fully reaching the ‘expert’ level in any particular field. As a result, while their standing in society was quite respectable, neither one of Korum’s parents had come even close to being involved with the Council.

“I’m not sure how we managed to produce such an intelligent and ambitious child,” Riani confided, grinning. “It certainly wasn’t intentional.”

Seeing the puzzled look on Mia’s face, Chiaren explained, “When a couple decides to have a child, they usually do so under very controlled conditions. They choose the optimal combination of physical traits and potential intellectual abilities, consulting the top medical experts—”

“Most Krinar are designer babies?” Mia’s eyes widened in realization. This explained why all the Krinar she’d met were so good-looking. They had taken control of their own evolution by practicing a form of genetic selection for their children. It made a tremendous amount of sense. Any culture advanced enough to manipulate their own genetic code—as the Krinar had done to get rid of their need for blood—could easily specify which genes they wanted in their offspring. Mia was surprised it hadn’t occurred to her earlier.

Chiaren hesitated. “I’m not familiar with that term...”

“Yes, exactly,” Korum said, giving Mia a smile. “Few parents are willing to play genetic roulette, not when there is a better way.”

“But we did,” Riani said, looking a bit sheepish. “I got pregnant by accident—one of the few accidents of this kind to occur in the last ten thousand years. We discussed having a child, and we both went off birth control, planning to go to a lab like every other couple we knew. Statistically, the odds of getting pregnant naturally in the first fertile year are something like one in a million. Of course, this was during my musical mastery period, and I got very caught up in vocal expression, to the point that we put off our visit to the lab for a few months. And by the time the medical expert saw me, I was already three weeks pregnant with Korum.”

“I’m a throwback, you see,” Korum said, laughing. “They had no control over which ancestor’s genetic traits I inherited.”

Mia grinned at him. “Well, I think it’s pretty obvious where you get your coloring from.” He could’ve been Riani’s twin brother, instead of her son.

“It’s the ambition that puzzles us,” Chiaren said, shooting his son an indecipherable look. “It’s really come out of nowhere...”

Korum’s eyes narrowed a bit, and Mia sensed that this was likely the point of contention between father and son. She determined to ask Korum about it later. For now, she was curious about this new tidbit she’d learned about her lover. “So you’re not a designer baby, huh?” she teased, smiling at him.

“Nope.” Korum grinned. “I’m as natural as they come.”

“Well, you came out perfect anyway,” Mia said, studying his beautifully masculine features. She couldn’t imagine how he could look any better.

To her surprise, Korum shook his head. “No, actually, I didn’t. I have a small deformity.”

“What?” Mia stared at him in shock. This gorgeous man had a deformity? Where had he hidden it this whole time?

He smiled and pointed at the dimple in his left cheek. “Yeah, right there. See?”

Mia gave him a disbelieving look. “Your dimple? Really?”

He nodded, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “It’s considered a deformity among my kind. But I’ve learned to live with it. Apparently, some women even like it.”

Like it? Mia loved it, and she told him so, making him and his parents laugh.

“We should probably get going,” Korum said after a while. “It’s dinner time, and Mia needs to get some sleep before getting up early for work tomorrow.”

“Of course.” Riani gave her a warm look of understanding. “I know humans tire more easily...”

Mia opened her mouth to protest, but then she changed her mind. It was the truth, even if she wasn’t particularly tired right now. Instead she said, “It was very nice to meet you, Riani—and Chiaren. I really enjoyed talking to both of you.”

“Same here, dear, same here.” Riani gently touched her cheek again. “We hope to see you soon.”

Mia smiled and nodded. “Definitely. I look forward to it.”

“It was a pleasure meeting you, Mia,” Korum’s father said, giving her a smile. Then, turning to Korum, he added, “And it was good to see you, my son.”

Korum inclined his head. “Until the next time.”

And the world blurred around them again, causing Mia to close her eyes. When she opened them, they were standing back in Korum’s house in Lenkarda.

“I like your parents,” Mia told Korum over dinner. “They seem very nice.”

“Oh, they are,” Korum said, biting into a piece of pomegranate-flavored jicama. “Riani is great. Chiaren too, although we don’t always see eye to eye on certain things.”

“Why not?”

He shrugged. “I’m not sure. It’s always been that way. In some ways, we’re too alike, but in others, we’re completely different. He’s never understood why I spent all my time building up my company instead of just enjoying life and finding myself a mate, the way he did. And he hasn’t really forgiven me for leaving Krina and depriving Riani of their only son, even though I frequently visit them in the virtual world.”

Mia smiled, seeing shades of her own family in that dynamic. It had been difficult enough for her parents when she’d gone to college in New York; she couldn’t imagine how they would’ve coped if she’d disappeared to another galaxy. She couldn’t really blame Korum’s father for being upset, particularly if he didn’t understand or appreciate his son’s ambition.

Still thinking about Korum’s family, Mia slowly ate her stew, enjoying the satisfying combination of richly flavored roots and vegetables from Krina. Suddenly, a disturbing thought occurred to her, causing her to put down her utensil and look up at Korum.

“Would you ever want to go back to Krina?” she asked, frowning a little. “You must miss your parents, and it seems so nice there...”

He hesitated for a couple of seconds. “Perhaps one day,” he finally said, watching her with an unreadable golden gaze. “But probably not for a long while.”

Mia felt her chest tighten a little. “What about me?”

“You’ll come with me, of course,” he said casually, taking a sip of water. “What else?”

She took a deep breath, trying to remain calm. “To another planet? Leaving everything and everybody behind?”

His eyes narrowed slightly. “I didn’t say we’d go soon, Mia. Maybe not even within your family’s lifetime. But someday, yes, I may need to visit Krina and I would want you with me.”

Mia blinked and looked away, her heart squeezing at the reminder of the disparity that now existed between her and the rest of humanity. Thanks to the nanocytes circulating through her body, she would never grow old and die—but she would also far outlive her loved ones. The fact that the Krinar had the means to indefinitely extend human lifespan but chose not to do so bothered her a great deal, making her feel guilty whenever she thought about the issue.

“Mia...” Korum reached across the table and took her hand. “Listen to me. I told you I would petition the Elders on your family’s behalf, and I have begun the process. But I can’t promise you anything. I’ve never heard of an exception being made for anyone who’s not considered a charl.”

“But why?” Mia asked in frustration. “Why not share your knowledge, your technology with us? Why do your Elders care so much about this issue?”

Korum sighed, his thumb stroking her palm. “None of us know exactly, but it has something to do with the fact that you’re still very imperfect as a species, and the Elders want you to have more time to evolve...”

“We’re imperfect?” Mia stared at him in disbelief. “What’s that supposed to mean? What, you’re saying we’re defective? Like a part in a car that doesn’t function properly?”

“No, not like a part in a car,” he explained patiently, his fingers tightening when she tried to jerk her hand away. “Your species is very young, that’s all. Your society and your culture are evolving at a rapid pace, and your high birthrate and short lifespan probably have something to do with that. If we were to give you our technology now, if every human could live thousands of years, your planet could become overpopulated very quickly... unless we also did something about your birthrate. You see, Mia, it’s all or none: we either control everything, or we let you be mostly as you are. There’s no good middle ground here, my sweet.”

Mia felt her teeth snapping together. “So why not give people that choice?” she asked, angered by the whole thing. “Why not let them choose if they want to live for a long time, or if they’d rather have children? I’m sure many would go for the first option rather than face death and disease—”

“It’s not that simple, Mia,” Korum said, regarding her evenly. “Overpopulation is not the Elders’ only concern, you see. Every generation brings something new to your society, changing it for the better. It was less than two hundred years ago that humans in your country thought nothing of keeping slaves. And now the thought of that is abhorrent to them—because generations have passed and values have changed. Do you think you could’ve eradicated slavery if the same people who had once owned slaves were still around today? Your society’s progress would slow tremendously if we uniformly extended your lifespan—and that’s not something the Elders want at this point.”

“So we are just an experiment,” Mia said, unable to keep the bitterness out of her voice. “You just want to see what happens to us, and never mind how many humans suffer in the process—”

“Humans wouldn’t be around to suffer if it weren’t for the Krinar, my sweet,” he interrupted, looking faintly amused at her outburst. “You very conveniently forget that fact.”

“Right, you made us, and now you can play God.” She could feel the old resentment rising up, making her want to lash out at the unfairness of it all. As much as she loved Korum, sometimes his arrogance made her want to scream.

He grinned, not the least bit fazed by her anger. His fingers eased their grip on her palm, his touch turning soft and caressing again. “I can think of other things I’d rather play,” he murmured, his eyes beginning to fill with golden heat.

And as Mia watched in disbelief, he sent the floating table away, removing the barrier between them. Still holding her hand, he pulled her toward him until she had no choice but to straddle his lap.

“You think sex will make it all better?” she asked, annoyed at her body’s unavoidable response to his nearness. No matter how mad she was, all he had to do was look at her in a certain way and she was completely lost, turning into a puddle of need.

“Hmm-mm...” He was already leaning forward to kiss her neck, his mouth hot and moist on her bare skin. “Sex always makes everything better,” he whispered, nibbling on the sensitive junction between her neck and shoulder.

And for the next several hours, Mia found no reason to disagree with that statement.

After the noise and crowds in Shanghai, the stark landscape of the Siberian tundra was almost soothing. If it hadn’t been for the cold, Saret would’ve probably enjoyed visiting this remote northern region of Russia.

But it was cold. The temperature here, just above the Arctic Circle, was never warm enough for a Krinar, not even on the hottest summer day. Today, though, it was actually below freezing, and Saret made sure every part of his body was covered with thermal clothing before he stepped out of his ship.

The large grey building in front of him was one of the ugliest examples of Soviet-era architecture. Barbed wire and guard towers on every corner marked it as exactly what it was—a maximum security prison for the worst violent offenders in all of Russia. Few people knew this place existed, which is why Saret had chosen it for his experiment.

He openly approached the gate, not worrying about being seen by any cameras or satellites. For this outing, he was wearing a disguise, one of a couple he had developed over the years. It changed not only his appearance, but even the outer layer of his DNA, making it nearly impossible to divine his true identity. The humans knew he was a Krinar, of course, but they didn’t know anything else about him.

At his approach, the gate swung open, letting him in. Saret walked briskly to the building, where he was greeted by the warden—a pot-bellied, middle-aged human who stank of alcohol and cigarettes.

Without saying a word, the warden led him to his office and closed the door.

“Well?” Saret asked in Russian as soon as they had privacy. “Do you have the data I requested?”

“Yes,” the warden said slowly. “The results are quite... unusual.”

“Unusual how?”

“It’s been six weeks since your last visit,” the human said, his hands nervously playing with a pen. “In the past month, we haven’t had a single homicide. In the past three weeks, there have been no fights. I’ve been running this place for twenty years, and I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Saret smiled. “No, I’m sure you haven’t. What was the homicide rate before?”

The man opened a folder and took out a sheet of paper, handing it to Saret. “Take a look. There are usually two or three murders a month and about a fight a day. We can’t figure it out. It’s like all of them had a personality transplant.”

Saret’s smile widened. If only the human knew the truth. Satisfied, he folded the sheet and put it in the pocket of his thermal pants. “You can expect the final payment by tomorrow,” he told the warden and walked out of the room.

He couldn’t wait to get back on his ship and out of the cold.

Chapter Three

The following two days passed uneventfully. Mia spent her time working in the lab and enjoying evenings with Korum, deliriously happy despite their occasional arguments. She had no doubt that he loved her—and it made all the difference in the world. One day, she hoped to convince him to see her kind in a different light, to appreciate the fact that humans were more than just an experiment of the Krinar Elders. For now, though, she had to be content with the possibility of an exception being made for her family—something she knew Korum was fighting hard to obtain.

At the lab, the other apprentices were still away, so Mia found herself frequently working alone, surrounded by all the equipment. Saret was in and out, and she would occasionally catch him watching her with an enigmatic expression on his face. Shrugging it off as some weird distrust for his human apprentice, she finished her report and sent it to Saret, hoping that he would give her feedback soon. While waiting, she continued to play around with the simulation, trying different variations of the process and carefully recording the results.

Tuesday was a day off in Lenkarda, and it was also Maria’s birthday. The vivacious girl had sent her a holographic message over the weekend, formally inviting her to the party on the beach at two in the afternoon. Mia had gladly accepted.

“So I don’t get to come?” Korum was lounging on the bed and watching her get ready for the party. His golden eyes gleamed with amusement, and she knew that he was teasing her.

“Sorry, sweetie,” she told him mockingly, twirling in front of the mirror. “No cheren allowed. Charl only.”

He grinned. “Such discrimination.”

She wore the necklace he’d given her and a light floaty dress with a swimsuit underneath—just in case the party involved any swimming in the ocean.

“Yes, well, you know how that goes,” she said, grinning back. “We’re too cool for all you Ks.”

She loved that she could banter with him now. Somehow, almost imperceptibly, their relationship had assumed a more equal footing. He still liked to be in control—and he could still be incredibly domineering on occasion—but she was beginning to feel like she could stand up to him. The knowledge that he loved her, that her thoughts and opinions mattered to him, was very liberating.

“All right,” she said, bending down to give him a chaste kiss on the cheek, “I have to run.”