Collateral Trade (5 page)

Chaya sat on their bed pulling on his boots, his straight black hair brushing the length of his arms. The past few weeks were stressful, and it would not benefit him to rush his light twin.

Tian finally turned and smiled at his brother. “For some reason, I keep seeing green.”

Chaya laughed. “You just spent half an hour looking at finion leaves.”

“I was watching the flowers,” Tian corrected. The yellow blossoms were feathery and their two-foot strands danced in the wind. “No, I reach out and see green.”

“As in, skin?” Chaya scowled. “I hope we do not choose one with green skin. The council will never let her out of our chambers.”

“No, not her skin.” Tian shrugged. “It may have nothing to do with the species we find, at all.” He walked towards the wardrobe. “Would you rather study in here for a while?”

Chaya’s dark eyes flashed. “No. I don’t want our brothers to think we have lost all control.”

“Laiya and Sian pushed through the petition. They understand the unfairness.”

“They were also promoted to First Twin Council for their effort.”

“Our brothers have helped make it possible for us to find a mate. Now you want to sit on council?” Tian knew Chaya had no use for politics. He joked how his older brothers were strapped to the confines of the council chambers where things rarely changed.

Actana laws had been established so long ago that it had been difficult for Laiya and Sian to petition to retrieve the ancient scrolls. They were kept in a vault, in case they offered suggestions that could disrupt their well-structured society. Of course, the mere presence of second-set twins had accomplished that fracture.

Everything on Actana was set to a predictable set of laws and rules. Families consisted of one set of twins and a daughter. The brothers remained together for life, and the daughters mated primarily for political standing, establishing a new family hierarchy.

This worked fine for centuries, until three decades ago. The rare occurrence of an eclipse of the triple moons produced second-set twins in many families. There was no place for them in Actana society, and no mates for them. It was not that first-set twins were superior; it was more like the second-set twins were invisible.

Disruptions occurred as first-set twins mated, and dark twins from the second-set born had to hold their aggression in check. Their inherited instinct to form a family became a constant disruptive problem. This was the reason Chaya gave Tian as much time as he needed in the morning to ground himself. Tian had to refuel to send waves of calmness towards him. Chaya refused to disrespect their family, but it was becoming more difficult. They needed a mate. His body and need to dominate burned for one.

Chaya collected the Star Charts and they walked the short bridge to the gathering room. Tian unfolded his scrolls, diligently working to decipher ancient text on the correct procedure to deal with a primitive woman. Chaya studied the Star Charts. He felt Tian’s tranquil message wash over him, but it was still difficult to keep from sneaking furtive glances at Milana. She knelt between his older brothers on the other side of the gathering room. It would be five minutes before they ordered her to rise and led her to the communal baths.

Chaya shook his head, sending his sheet of black hair flying over the Star Charts and accomplishing nothing. He still could not clear his head of Milana’s graceful curves. The pads on the fingers of one hand rubbed together, imagining the feel of her soft skin. He looked up to see Laiya glaring at him, sitting straight with white knuckled fists gripping his knees and his own dark mane hanging down his broad back.

Frustration, anger, and yes, maybe a little jealousy. Not the kindest or safest ways for an Actana warrior to feel towards his brothers, but screw it.
It is what it is.

Tian could feel the rush of his twin’s emotions rising.
Calm down, Chaya. Let’s study in our pod.

We have as much right to sit in the gathering room as our brothers. At least that has not been taken from us.

It has not been taken from Laiya, either. Why get yourself all worked up over this?
Tian had been dealing with his dark twin’s rage since they were old enough to fathom the disparity of the council’s rules between first and second-set twins.

Tian waited for Laiya’s inevitable order, anticipating Chaya’s reaction and preparing to calm him down. In pods with second-set twins, older brothers calling to their mate often erupted into outbursts of frustration. So far, Tian had successfully tamed Chaya’s temper by scanning his emotions as soon as he felt them shift.

“Milana, come.”

From across the room Chaya’s eyes snapped up from the Star Charts. The young woman rose from her knees, wobbling slightly.
Dammit, Laiya. You should have her trained better by now. If she was ours…

She isn’t. And how can they train her properly if they are constantly guarded and watching your reactions? Chill out.
Tian glanced up from the scrolls and waved tranquility towards his twin before resuming his reading. Who was he kidding? The script blurred together in the shape of Milana’s figure.

Chaya’s grip tightened on the charts while he continued to stare at her. Eyes lowered, she crossed the floor to Laiya, silently holding her wrist cuffs out and waiting for his leash. Chaya’s balls filled with the weight of his frustration at her sign of submission. Nipple clamps forced her tightened nubs to protrude further, clearly outlined by the short flowing shift she wore.

Laiya’s eyes were dark with angry warning, and a deep protective growl vibrated softly through the gathering room. Sian’s hand reached out to rest on Laiya’s shoulder while Tian sent sensations of calmness into Chaya. It was the choreographed dance of an uncomfortable scene the brothers experienced every time they were together.

Sian, his blue eyes deepened with Chaya’s threat, concentrated on washing compassion into Laiya and reminding him that this was not Chaya’s fault. It could have been them born as the second twins and denied a mate.

Tian struggled against the threatening blast of desire building in Chaya.
Please, we can’t apologize again.

They do not have to flaunt their good fortune in front of us.

Even without twin-speak, Tian could feel his brother’s rage.
Calm down, Chaya. Please. They are only calling for their mate.
Tian felt his brother’s frustration and arousal stagger under the weight of his psychic assault, and he finally lifted his eyes from the scroll.

Laiya gave Chaya one last scathing look and led Milana from the room. Just before following them out the door, Sian turned to his brothers. “We know you are no threat to our mate, but it is difficult to watch you stare at her.”

With the girl out of sight and Tian’s consistent wave of tranquility, Chaya’s senses calmed. “I would feel the same,” he admitted. “You know I mean no disrespect, Sian. Congratulations on your appointment to First Twin Council. You have made our family proud.”

“And you, Chaya?” Sian asked. “Can you feel pride for our accomplishment?”

Chaya forced a smile. “Don’t push it, Sian.”

Sian nodded, pleased that the altercation was avoided. He followed his mate and dark twin to the lift that would lead to the ground. As a light twin, he sensed his younger brother’s frustration, but his duty was to calm Laiya and their mate. Tian could deal with Chaya.

“I can’t wait to leave,” Chaya muttered.

“And who has allowed us this chance? It was Laiya and Sian who successfully petitioned to open the vault,” Tian reminded him. “Our brothers do understand our struggle, Chaya. They have purposely curbed training Milana in front of us, and keep her covered outside their pod.” Tian searched the page for his last coherently transcribed phrase.

Chaya set the Star Charts down. “What kind of chance are we given, though? Searching through space for a primitive?”

“Mmm, but this might not be a bad thing. We are finally going to be able to do something first twins can’t. As we can hold no rights in council, we do have the obligation to return with a suitable species.”

Chaya’s eyes darkened. “Our selection will be limited to feral illiterates. She may never train properly to be presented in public, and that’s if her looks are passable. The council controls the last word on whether she will disrupt our society too badly to ever leave our private chambers.”

“Chaya, it is an opportunity for us. Before the vault was opened, we had no hope for a mate. We were considering voluntary exile.” They had been weeks away from leaving to the outlands with other second-set twins who could no longer handle the disruption they caused their family.

Chaya leaned back in his chair, getting comfortable for the first time since Milana walked into the room. “The council only agreed because of the fighting between first and second-sets.” He lifted an eyebrow, but there was a mischievous gleam in his dark eyes. “If you had not kept stopping me from going after Laiya, they might have voted to open them years ago.”

“You don’t think straight when you’re near our brothers.”

“I’m
not
jealous,” Chaya stated for the hundredth time.

Tian knew his twin
was
jealous of the rights their brothers held as firstborn. As dominant twin, he could not help himself. “Well, we’ll be off planet soon and take charge of our own destiny for a while.” Tian shrugged his broad shoulders, causing a ripple down his soft blonde waves. “Besides, I don’t mind being shut out from politics so much. We’re up for command of one of the battleships when we get back.” This entitlement, denied to first-set twins, became the trigger that always seemed to work. Tian knew Chaya preferred the excitement in space over the boring monotony of council rules their brothers were trapped in.

Hidden in the outlands were three space ships, the Cathisis, Fontisa and Naresis. They were passenger vessels and not built for battle like those orbiting Actana. There were small fighters on board, but the main mission and the reason for the ships’ construction was to travel and find mates among other worlds for the second-set twins.

Chaya decided the explanation in the ancient scrolls was bullshit, devised by the first-set twins to get rid of their brothers for a while. He and Tian considered an alien mate with the same trepidation as most second-set twins. Finding a mate among primitives was somewhat distasteful, much like biting into a sour grisp. It might ease hunger, but it was not nearly as palatable as the luscious vistanza. They could not imagine a true bonding with a woman who did not possess Actana females’ beauty.

Their petit women, barely over six feet tall, had full breasts capped with dark nipples and slender waists, accentuated by thin golden chains that drew eyes to round hips. Embroidered mates’ collars circled graceful long necks, and their shining black hair stopped growing when it brushed across their shoulders. How could a primitive female compare? To an outsider, their women appeared almost identical with little variation, which suited the Actana structure.

By order of the council, Tian began reading the scrolls and discussing the writings with his light father. If a primitive was to be their mate, Tian needed to gain perspective in order to deal with a woman from an outer world planet. Centuries ago, a declaration forbade advanced species from seeking mates between their worlds. It was unacceptable for a citizen from one planet to submit to another race… even if she was only a woman.

Meanwhile, Tian had to try to keep Chaya’s aggression in check. Chaya did not review the scrolls at all, not that there were many dark twin writings on the subject. Dark twins found this research unnecessary to elicit the response they demanded, as all females of any species were naturally submissive. Physical training and punishment would gain the dominance they craved.

Tian glanced towards Chaya. He was still watching the door where his brothers and Milana passed a few moments ago, though any remnant of soft brown arousal in his eyes was now gone. His eyes were almost black with intimidating wrath, which was their natural appearance. Chaya was fierce in battle, but he had successfully managed to avoid physical confrontations with his brothers.

Ah, but how will you be in full mating heat?
Tina did not realize he twin-spoke the thought, until his brother answered.

You are more rattled than I am, Tian. If we find a suitable species, how do we know we will experience a mating bonding at all with a primitive? It is more likely we will be forcing ourselves to complete our duty with a species that cowers from us.

Tian silently chuckled.
Then why is it I feel your desire with the thought? I bet your balls are heavy and your cock thick and stiff.

It is the merely residual arousal from the vision of our brothers’ mate.
In truth, Chaya could not wait to board the ship and be free from Milana’s seductive presence. With their dark father commanding the Cathisis, Chaya was confident they would find a mate that was at the very least compatible and presentable. That is, after his training and Tian instilling her dependence on his comfort.

Their dark father walked into the gathering room a moment later. “Chaya?” Danilo felt his son’s angry passion from the ground, and Laiya’s aggressive protective response was just easing when he walked by him leading his mate. As leader of their family hierarchy, it was Danilo’s responsibility to keep their pod running smoothly. “These next two weeks until launch will be difficult. It is not easy maintaining control.”

Danilo watched Tian pretend to read through the scroll, but he could feel his anxiety. With the responsibility of curbing his brother along with his own emotions, Danilo figured Tian had not absorbed a sentence in days. “Sons, it is because of the launch you are feeling this pressure. I am proud and pleased with your efforts to respect your brothers and their mate. Many families have experienced fighting, and it is tearing their hierarchy apart.”