Viola grace impure 02.., p.1
Viola Grace - Impure 02 - Impatient, page 1
Eva has met her match, but though he is older than she is, he will not be physically mature for sixteen years. Their solution is to put her in stasis.
She would have gone mad, but her connection to her match keeps her sane, even if he is way too short for her. When she wakes, her best friend is holding her and with his help, she will soon be back to her normal activities. If only she didn’t have the almost constant urge to peel his clothing off, she would be fine. Giving into her lust is fun, but preparing for his ascension isn’t. As much as she is enjoying romps in the sheets, shower, sofa, chairs, she has no urge to engage in a public consummation of their affection.
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Impatient
Copyright © 2010 Viola Grace
ISBN: 978-1-55487-552-8
Cover art by Martine Jardin
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher.
Published by eXtasy Books
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Impatient
A Terran Times Novella
By
Viola Grace
Chapter One
va Morris checked her reflection one more t
E im
e before she turned to leave her rooms.
Every hair was in place and the folds of her gown were immaculate.
Her hands shook slightly as she finished verifying her appearance. Today was of paramount importance to her future and she wanted everything to go perfectly.
When she opened the door to the hall, the honour guard was standing there waiting to take her to her fiancé. The guards did not even look at her, intent on their surroundings and delivering her safely. She was free to analyze their features, she sighed mentally, confessing to herself that she wanted to stroke that golden skin. Golaz were a very lovely people. She recognized the race even though details were not available for her to check in any of the Alliance databases. They were a mystery.
Her stint in the diplomatic service was going to be of use to anyone that was chosen as her match 1
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and she had long ago given up plans to find the man or creature of her dreams out here in space.
Her conversation with the Terran Representative and fifth Champion, Amy Tyrell, echoed in her mind.
“I am going to make the best deal I can for you, Eva, but you have to know that there is already a bidding war for your genetic contribution. You may not get the best looking, but I will negotiate for the best match.”
With Amy’s history as a Negotiator as a resounding endorsement of her talents, Eva had simply waited, her time spent as a translator for etiquette and social visits. She lived on Nycal station and she was always busy assisting travellers with their communication requirements.
Now, she finally had the request she was waiting for. A wedding proposal that would grant her property rights on Golaz as well as the children she wanted to have. If only she could stomach the male they had selected for her, everything would be fine.
No. She had to push those thoughts out of her mind. Amy would never have entertained an offer from someone that Eva couldn’t learn to love. She took a deep breath and concentrated on holding her head high as she walked in the protection of the honour guard.
They stopped in front of a door in the VIP wing of the station. A complicated access code opened 2
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the door and she stepped into the audience room of the Golaz royal family.
Uh oh. There were two males in royal garb in the room. One was so old as to be almost living jerky and the other looked to be about twelve.
Suddenly, Eva had the urge to strangle Her Royal Highness, Empress Amanda of the Haldis Imperium.
“Translator Eva Morris? I am Storoth Elengar, Prince to the Golaz throne.” The short blonde stood and gave her a formal bow, then reached forward to raise her hand to his lips for a kiss.
“Uh. Aren’t you a little young?”
The elder on the other side of the table snorted.
“I told him the same thing, but he insisted that if you were his perfect mate no other would do.”
“I am not as young as my appearance would have you believe. In the research I have done on your species, I realize that my looks will lead you to assume I am much younger than yourself. In truth, I am half a decade older. The Golaz mature slowly.”
That would make him thirty-two. She felt slightly less queasy. “I still don’t see the point to all of this.”
“Please sit. I have a proposal to make to you.”
She took her seat. “What’s on your mind, squirt?”
His dark gold eyebrows rose over eyes that 3
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were a fascinating shade of amber. His skin was the same rich gold as his guards, but the scowl that he gave her was all immature male.
“That is an inappropriate way to address me.”
“I know. I am checking your temper.” She sat up straight and tried to make her face take on an attentive look. “You have a proposal?”
He stood and began pacing with his hands behind his back, an earnest look on his features.
“You are here because this is the last resort and I cannot risk not having a mate when I reach maturity.”
“Why not one of your own species?”
“There were two matches made for me at birth and both women have been assassinated. No other of my race who is available is a suitable match.
You are the next best thing.”
“Flattering.”
“Not really. In lieu of my own kind, we found a Class Zero of a suitable race. Terrans. You seem to be rather easy to manipulate genetically and as a Class Zero, you will allow our offspring to have the greatest amount of Golaz genes in action. It is imperative to keep our transformation talent in the royal line.”
This was news to her. “Transformation?”
“I will demonstrate, Your Highness.” The elder stood and blurred in place. The spot where he stood was no longer occupied by a man, but a lion.
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Though even in this new form, he was a senior, the power in his stride was unmistakable. She smiled as he turned, winked and then shifted into his bipedal form once again.
“Thank you, Eslor.” Storoth smiled as he took in the expression on her face. “You seem surprised.”
“I have heard of the shifters but have never seen an actual shift. Thank you for the demonstration, Eslor, was it?” She nodded to the elder and he grinned and nodded back.
“Enough. This is what I propose. Since you are at your peak reproductive age for your race…”
“Hey…”
“And I will not be at my peak for another sixteen years, we have arranged cryo-stasis for you until we match up.”
Cryo? “What?”
His pre-adolescent smirk was justified she supposed. “Are you dense? Your medical reports indicate that you seem to be in good health…perhaps your species does not age as well as we had hoped.”
“Very funny, squirt. I suppose I have to agree to this?” Her mind whirled as she imagined all of the things she would have to do, all the calls she would have to make to let her people know that she was coming back in under two decades.
“Not particularly. Your government has agreed 5
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and you really have no choice in the matter. I am sorry.”
The elder had moved faster than her eye could track and the hiss of a hypospray indicated that she had been dosed.
“They have the facility to start your stasis here, Eva.” Storoth’s face was in front of her as she buckled and fell to the carpet.
“I will get even, squirt.” She felt his hands holding her head gently as blackness overtook her.
“Sixteen years and I will kick your…”
* * * *
“She seems rather aggressive, Your Highness.”
“Just mouthy, Eslor. It is her only defence mechanism after all.” Storoth stroked the golden brown strands of her hair, so like that of his own people. Her eyes, as well, were a deep brown, not unusual and if their offspring would have her colouring, it would still blend in.
“Even so, are you sure that she is the one? You may find another in the next sixteen years.”
“If I don’t? It took ten years to find her and she has been in the Alliance for five years. My line will end if I do not have a mate for my ascension. That is something I will not tolerate.” He knew that his voice was grim.
“Get the guards and help me get her to 6
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Medical. She will be out for
As his tutor, mentor and guardian summoned the guards to carry his mate to Medical, he buried his face in her hair and breathed deep. Yes, she was the one. The moment that he had been sent a scent sample, he had known and enjoying the banter with her had proved it. She was his destiny.
Now, they only needed the passage of time.
For the first time in his life, he was impatient.
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Chapter Two
nstalling his mate in the catacombs beneath the Icit y had seemed like the most prudent thing to do. Storoth was erring on the side of caution with his first two matches murdered. They had been nice girls, friendly and charming, but their families had not taken their safety seriously and death had been the result.
It was tradition for the mate-to-be to attend all formal functions and Storoth and Eslor had come up with a solution. It was a bit of a cheat, but it held to the spirit of the tradition. A holographic camera would be aimed at the still face of Eva and a projected image would attend all formal functions. The advising council accepted it as it kept Storoth from dismissing them all.
“Be careful with her containment unit. I don’t want her jostled.” He was supervising her placement. They had her reclined at a seventy-degree angle and the cameras were going into position for the body scan.
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“Yes, Your Highness.” The workers were efficient and soon had Eva’s unit supported and hooked up to its power and supply lines.
The false wall went into place around her unit.
She was safe, protected, monitored and camouflaged. There was nothing else that Storoth could think of to do.
When there was nothing left in the room that remotely looked like a stasis unit, Storoth laid down a column of wiring from wall to wall. A decoy so that anyone who did find the chamber would think that they were able to destroy the stasis unit by wrecking that cable. The chamber would only open to his hand or that of his private guard. Valen and Rosh had been in his service since birth and he trusted them with his life.
There was no one to see him walk to the wall and press his hand against it. No one to watch him activate the implant that he had insisted on. Eva?
What the hell?
He smiled. It was working. You are on Golaz—
safe and in stasis.
Great. Why am I hearing you?
Because nerves communicate faster than speech. You are hearing my thoughts in less than a second and I yours.
Neat. But I am still going to kick your butt, squirt.
I look forward to the moment that you can try.
Go and be a prince. I have some napping to do and 9
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you need to age so I am not picking on a kid.
As you wish, my lady.
Nighty night, squirt.
* * * *
Storoth sighed as he indulged in his favourite guilty pleasure. Speaking to Eva. It was long after everyone had gone to bed and only Valen and Rosh were still around. They accompanied him without question as they had for the last ten years.
Eva, are you there?
Where else would I be, squirt?
I thought you might have found a way to tunnel out by now.
Haven’t looked into it. Didn’t want to ruin my nails, short stuff.
Her constant references to his lack of stature were now amusing. She had no idea that he had grown almost two feet since they had last met. His training with his warriors was coming along as well. Speed and strength were taking shape as his body took on the aspect of an adult.
I will remember to keep standing appointments for you at the groomer when you emerge.
When will that be? How long have I been in here?
Ten years. Only six to go before my ascension.
Fabulous.
You have some maintenance scheduled for next week.
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Do I? I will have to check my calendar.
I am pretty sure you are free.
What will they do?
Take you out and put you into a new chamber.
Brush your teeth, that sort of thing.
Funny, short stuff.
I think so.
There was a matter of necessity that he needed to discuss with her, but he didn’t know how she would feel about it.
Eva.
Yes, squirt?
I am having my formal introduction to pleasure this week.
A what?
You know what I mean.
Ah. Oh. I understand. Aren’t you a little small for that kind of thing?
I have grown in the last decade.
I suppose it is all right then. Is it all right?
I thought you might have an objection as my mate-to-be.
Well, an objection wouldn’t really do me any good, now would it?
Well, not really, but I wanted to keep you in the loop.
He didn’t know how she could sigh in his mind, but she did it. A tumbling gust of air through his consciousness.
Consider me in the loop. Just spare me the squishier 11
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details. I want to keep the inside of the chamber clean.
His laugh was not only in his mind. It echoed in the chamber.
* * * *
“Be careful. I have her.” She was in his arms at last. Of course, she was also an unhealthy shade of blue and cold to the touch, but Eva was with him.
Storoth, are you holding me?
I am.
You smell good.
The pleased grin surprised the technicians working frantically to put the new unit into position. Thank you.
How was sex 101?
Fun. I understand all the fuss now.
Oh goody. Enjoy yourself, I guess.
Have you ever…
Done the horizontal mambo?
Uh…yes?
Nope. Never found a guy I wanted to get naked with.
He looked down at the pale, sickly creature in his arms. Never?
Well, not so far. Put me on a gurney and wheel me through the halls and I will go shopping for a bed buddy. The snort in her mind was unmistakable and not very ladylike.
What about me?
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We will see. Six years to go, right?
Five years, two hundred and fifty-six days.
Are you petting my hair?
Can you feel that?
Yes.
“Your Highness, it is time to place her in the new unit.” The technician was a little bemused by the tender manner in which the stasis patient was being held.
“Very well.”
I will see you in five years, two hundred and fifty-six days. He placed a gentle kiss on her lips and backed away so they could seal the unit.
You had better. If I went through all of this and you change your mind, I am going to find a way to run you through. With something dull. Possibly a spoon.
And I will deserve it. Goodnight, Eva.
Goodnight, Storoth.
* * * *
Something wasn’t right. She could feel someone else close to her. Too close.
Storoth?
He was far away, but she could hear his voice.
Eva? What is wrong?
Someone is in here with me and it isn’t you.
I am on my way.
Eva felt the urgency in his tone. She kept her mind out and scanning the area in a way she 13
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hadn’t realized that she could. Storoth had explained the implants, but this was beyond that.
She was seeking and finding other minds in her vicinity, but the closest one was hostile, angry and feminine.
