Captured: Warriors of Hir, Book 1 (14 page)

“Not much further,” he warned with a look at the uniformed g’hir nearby. “There are enough peacekeepers here in the marketplace but we will not venture past this district without my clanbrothers.”

Jenna suppressed a sigh.
At least I’ll get to see the market.

As they turned the corner in that direction, Jenna gasped at finding herself face to face with a large insectoid creature. Horrified, she would have fled if not for Ra’kur’s hand at the small of her back.

“It is a xenari,” he murmured. “They are allies of the g’hir. She will not harm you.”

After a moment, her fright eased up enough to notice that the thing—the xenari—wore a shimmery dress over her dark gray exoskeleton and that her enormous multifaceted eyes seemed to be looking back at Jenna with polite curiosity.

“Good day, Mata,” the xenari said.

Or rather
buzzed
.

Just like with Hironian Jenna could hear the actual sound the xenari was making but in her head she understood the words.

“Good day,” Jenna stammered.
Oh, crap, he said it’s a she.
“Uh, Mata.”

Ra’kur inclined his head and in turn the xenari returned the gesture. After a moment of watching the enormous bug-like being warily, Jenna did the same.

Still, she couldn’t keep from watching as the xenari went on her way.

“She startled you,” Ra’kur said. “I should have cautioned you that there were other races who visit the capital city.”

“Yeah, I, uh,” Jenna began faintly, “didn’t stop to think I wouldn’t be the only alien in town.” She glanced in the direction the xenari had gone. “I could understand her.”

“The linguistic chip is standardly implanted and there are a number of other intelligent races that the g’hir have allied with.”

“But none of those allies are . . . compatible?”

“Some are more pleasing to the g’hir eye than the xenari, though they are a very cultured race, but no.” His gaze on her was warm. “None like you.”

Most shops and stalls for clothing were of course geared toward men but there were a very few places that catered to women.

Delighted, Jenna let the smiling elderly proprietor of one such shop dab a few of the perfumes on her wrist.  She couldn’t detect any fragrance but the g’hir had a much better sense of smell than humans and the shopkeeper was eager for her opinion. She raised her arm to sniff to see if she noticed anything at all when she met the gaze of a richly dressed g’hir woman just arriving at the shop.

The alien female was well over six feet tall, her ridged brow far more delicate than the males fanned out around her. Her honey blond hair was thick and hung to her waist but she’d braided and decorated the front with jewels. Her radiant eyes were shown off with some kind of sparkly makeup of the same bright green shade. She wore blusher too and shimmery lipstick—no wallflowers here. The bones of her face were also finer than the males, her fitted gown showing off every curve of her rounded, feminine form.

Even in her wispy, frilly gown Jenna suddenly felt underdressed.

“Who are you?” the woman demanded.

Jenna blinked. She’d been stared at all day but no one except Ra’kur had spoken to her.

The woman looked her over. “
What
are you?”

Jenna’s nostrils flared at the woman’s rude tone and Ra’kur tensed beside her.

“Jenna McNally,” she said coldly. “Human. I know
what
you are so I guess that just leaves
who
.”

The alien woman’s lips parted at having been addressed in kind.

I guess when you’re a gorgeous female g’hir, you get used to a lot of people talking sweet to you.

Jenna folded her arms. “You have a name, don’t you? Or did you leave it back home ’long with your manners?”

The woman’s eyes widened then she gave a sudden, delighted laugh, her delicate fangs flashing in the sunlight.

“My apologies, Mata,” she said, her eyes crinkled with humor. “Indeed, I was impolite. I am Si’hala, of the Yir clan enclosure.” She indicated the warrior at her side. “My mate, Lihr.”

Jenna offered Lihr a nod then felt her cheeks heat when she realized she had to introduce Ra’kur. She could hardly call him her boyfriend and “mate” didn’t sound right either. They hadn’t even talked about what was going to happen next. “This is Ra’kur.”

“Of the Erah enclosure,” he supplied.

“I have heard of your clan,” Lihr growled, his spring green eyes respectful. “The Erah lands are in the Araki territory.”

Ra’kur inclined his head. “Yes. In the Zun Mountains.”

“Good hunting there?” Lihr asked.

Si’hala looked round at him. “
Hunting?
”

“I am making good acquaintance with an honored warrior, Si’hala,” Lihr said with a narrowed glance.

“Very good hunting,” Ra’kur said, and even Jenna could tell he was trying to smooth things over.

“There is a new alien female standing right in front of us and you are talking about
hunting
?” She looked at Jenna and gave a headshake. “Males! Are they different on your world, human?”

Jenna threw Ra’kur an impish look. “Not really. But,” Jenna continued, turning back to Si’hala, “we really wouldn’t want them to be, would we?”

The g’hir woman sent a fond glance at her mate and her pretty fangs flashed again. “No, I suppose we wouldn’t.”

Si’hala jerked her chin toward Jenna but addressed the shopkeeper. “Are those the new scents from the Ki territory?”

The elderly g’hir stepped forward quickly. “Yes, Mata.”

Jenna held up her arm to sniff again. She could detect a very faint flowery scent from one of the samples he’d placed on her arm; it smelled a little like jasmine.

“I like the middle one.” Jenna held her wrist out to the g’hir woman. “What do you think?”

It was the kind of thing she’d do out shopping with a girlfriend but the woman blinked and the warriors with her looked equally surprised. G’hir had different mannerisms, a different culture; hell, they were a different
species
so maybe she’d just made a social blunder.

Jenna was about to drop her arm and apologize when Si’hala stepped forward and sniffed. 

“Very nice.” She met Jenna’s eye. “It suits you, Mata.”

“You can call me Jenna.”

The g’hir female straightened and regarded her for a moment then inclined her head. “Jenna.”

Jenna felt like she was missing something here but she couldn’t ask Ra’kur right now. She looked at the shopkeeper. “I guess I’ll take it then.” Oh, crap, she didn’t have any money. She looked at Ra’kur. “Uh, okay?”

“Purchase whatever you please,” Ra’kur said, his bright eyes warm. “The Erah clan has waited long to welcome a new Mata.”

“Right,” Jenna managed, shifting her weight.

“I believe,” Si’hala put in, “that a yellow silk gown would suit you very well too.” The g’hir woman looked at the shopkeeper. “Bring us—No, never mind.” She caught hold of Jenna’s arm. “We will come inside to look.”  She gave an imperious look at the men with her. “Wait here.”

To Jenna’s surprise not only did they not protest, Ra’kur didn’t either.

Probably confident nothing will happen to us inside the shop.

“Bring us that one,” Si’hala said, pointing. “The yellow silk with the ribbon embroidery.” The g’hir female eyed her as the elderly shopkeeper hurried to fetch the dress. “How long have you been on Hir?”

“Only a few days. Actually I was injured before Ra’kur brought me here,” she supplied before Si’hala could ask. “This is my first time out of the hospital.”

The g’hir woman tilted her head. “Where is your world?”

“I don’t know actually,” Jenna admitted. “Ra’kur says it’s very far from Hir, that it takes an enormous amount of power to get here.”

“Then you are the only human here?”

Jenna frowned. She wasn’t sure where Si’hala was going with all these questions.  “As far as I know.”

Si’hala looked her over, her green glowing glance measuring. “Are there more of your kind coming, Jenna? Females?”

“Not that I know of,” Jenna said warily. “Would that be a problem?”

Si’hala lifted an eyebrow. “No, the g’hir need more females and certainly new fashions—if your people care about such things. Ours seem to keep coming up with the same things year after year.”

Jenna had a sudden image of Si’hala in the front row for Paris’ fashion week and she smiled. “Oh, well in that case, I think our people would have a lot to offer yours.”

“It is obvious,” Si’hala gave a nod at her clothes, “that your mate chose your dress.”

Jenna looked down at herself. “Something wrong with it?”

“It is a winter color.” The g’hir female sniffed. “
No one
is wearing it now.” She waved the shopkeeper over and took the yellow gown from him to hold it in front of Jenna. “Shades of yellows and greens are for spring, not purple. And you are not wearing any jewels. We will fix that as well.” Si’hala snapped her fingers at the shopkeeper and jerked her chin toward another dress, a bright lemon yellow. “Bring us that one as well.”

“So you’re giving me a fashion makeover?” Jenna asked, not sure whether to be flattered or annoyed by the g’hir woman’s efforts.

“Make
over
.” Si’hala smiled. “Yes, I will make
over
until you look good.” The g’hir woman held the lemon-colored gown in front of her and frowned thoughtfully. “This is not terrible. Perhaps once we have done something with your hair so it does not simply
hang
there it will be flattering.”

“Hey, thanks,” Jenna said, deciding to go with annoyed after all. “You know—since I can only pick between the two or face fashion oblivion—I actually like green better than yellow.”

“Do not be ridiculous,” Si’hala said with an airy wave. “
I
am wearing green. We can’t both leave the shop wearing the same color.”

“Sorry,” Jenna muttered as the g’hir woman urged her toward the fitting room.  “Don’t know what I was thinking.”

An hour, and Jenna didn’t want to think how much g’hir currency, later, Si’hala deemed her outfitted as a Mata should be. The shopkeeper promised to have the other dresses—Si’hala allowed her to purchase a few of the green ones for later wear—sent straight away to the Erah enclosure. In truth, Jenna suspected that the g’hir woman was showing her a real kindness by doing all this. The men seemed to be getting along well outside and Ra’kur’s eyes lit up when he saw her.

She ducked her head shyly at his appreciative look.  “I’m sorry we took so long in there.”

He smiled. “I am pleased you have enjoyed your time but we should return to the hospital. My clanbrothers have signaled. They will arrive there shortly.” He looked at Lihr and Si’hala. “Perhaps the Yir clan will consider a visit. My mate is new to this world and the Erah have few females in our number. I am sure she would welcome more of your companionship, Mata.”

Si’hala smiled. “I did enjoy the makeover, Jenna.”

“I did too,” Jenna said. “Thank you.”

“I am very happy to have met you,” Si’hala said warmly. “I look forward to our next meeting.”

“You think she meant that?” Jenna asked, with a final wave at the Si’hala before they turned the corner and vanished from sight.

“I am certain she did.”

“So I made my first alien girlfriend?”

“I would say so, my Jenna. But come.” He caught her hand in his, smiling down at her. “My clanbrothers await us now.”