Koop's Spark (Gracian Mates Book 2) Read online

  Now—even if there hadn’t been any sparks on this planet—the Gracian males had something to fight for. It had been a few yarns since a decent battle had taken place, and although the couple of fights with the Lesh over a few weeks had been quick, it felt good to be doing something for once.

  Several weeks after they had rescued the human females from the Lesh, Captain Trian had issued a ship-wide communication confirming the rumors about the women. He’d also issued a Gracian ship-wide message informing other Gracians that human sparks were being found. Since then, four other Gracian ships had arrived to help with the protection of the planet known as Earth.

  Word had spread quickly when the first two sparks had been found amongst the kidnapped females. Hope flooded the men as they circled Earth in their cloaked ships. Warriors couldn’t wait to be planet-side so they could try to find their own sparks. The Lesh had returned several times, trying to get rid of the Gracians, but with more Gracian ships arriving, Earth’s space had been quiet.

  The captain himself had found a spark amongst the females, and rumors had started she was fecund with the first Gracian-human youngling. They were also waiting on another young female, Bell, to have her baby. The youngling wasn’t from a coupling between her and Knut, a security officer, but with the transference of his DNA through his energy, the youngling was sharing both human and Gracian properties.

  Returning his thoughts to the task at hand, Koop glanced over the plans on his chrono screen one final time. He’d been ordered to find materials to make a suitable habitat for the human females in one of their hangers. Amelia, Trian’s spark, had given Koop a rough estimate of what the women would like and need. He had already started a process to have the entire hanger covered with something the humans called turf, as well as having lighting installed to simulate day and night. Amelia had also suggested adding piping atop of the hanger so rain could be imitated.

  Glancing down at his timepiece, Koop noticed it was nearly time for him to meet the human female called Maggie. He’d been told that on Earth she had designed buildings, so this would be an interesting project. Gracian buildings had been conformed to the area they were built in. In the great forests of Honji on Guaturn, the houses were built in the tall trees. In the vast mountains of Dervious, where Koop’s family had lived, their domiciles were built deep in the caves.

  Koop had noticed that on Earth the buildings rose tall in the sky. They were built on empty plots of land, and it seemed as if the builders hadn’t given any thought to the environment around it. Great chunks of forests had been ripped from the earth to produce more housing. Koop hoped both he and Maggie could produce an area that would conform to both Gracian and Earth customs. He was excited about the project.

  Koop had also learned that the captain thought this project might give Maggie something to keep her mind busy. She hadn’t taken being kidnapped or being on the ship very well. She had been sedated several times and was suffering severe anxiety attacks. Hover, their head medic, hated placing the female to sleep. They hoped that working on this project would keep her balanced enough that she might settle down some.

  “Haven’t you left yet?” A female’s voice came from over Koop’s shoulder. “You shouldn’t keep a lady waiting.”

  Koop turned in his seat to see Amelia sitting in Iryano’s chair next to Trian. It had become a usual sight over the last few weeks to see the captain’s spark join him on duty. It wasn’t professional, but it would seem the captain of the Gemorph would give his spark anything she requested, and if that meant bringing her to the bridge, then so be it.

  “Knowing Koop, he’s probably reviewing his work for the twentieth time before he meets with her, although I’m sure it’s perfect,” Iryano said from where he was sitting in Basup’s chair.

  Basup was a fellow bridge officer who had gone off with another Gracian captain, Fortua. They were looking for the traitor Pausey, who had kidnapped a human female they’d rescued named Zoe. Nothing had been heard from the Jupion crew for weeks.

  “I just want to make sure I haven’t overlooked anything. If she’s as intelligent as you say, I don’t want to look stupid in front of her.” Koop held his head high. He had to admit to himself though that he was methodical about numbers and details. That was why he was a deck officer. And he knew more about what and whom was aboard this ship and where it was than any other Gracian. Well, besides the captain.

  “Stop stalling and get going.” Iryano chuckled.

  “Yes, get going,” Trian said. “I’m hoping this project will help the females settle in a lot more. Not being able to return home is hard for them.” After a momentary pause, he added, with a somber tone, “I’m glad none of them have young that are left to grow up without their maters.”

  Koop stood and nodded to his captain and walked toward the door. With the promise of more sparks that might be found, Koop hoped that he and Maggie could work together and get the job done and that they would get along. He had yet to spend any time around one of the human females apart from Amelia.

  * * * *

  Maggie had been pacing her cabin for so long she was beginning to get tired. She felt confined, hot, stuffy. She so badly wanted to feel the fresh city air on her cheeks. But no, she was stuck on the damn alien ship with nowhere to go.

  Stopping, she gazed through the large window at the stars and moon and planet Earth. They were so close she felt like she could touch them. Shock reverberated through her body as it had many times since waking aboard the Gemorph; she was on a spaceship with great big, hulking, alien men.

  When Maggie had woken in the medical bay two months ago with twenty-one other women, she’d panicked, screaming to go home. Her thoughts were constantly on her twin sister. May was the one who had always dreamed of seeing the stars. May would be beyond excited if she knew where Maggie was. Maggie also knew her sister would be missing her and frantic with worry. Nothing would stop May from searching for her sister until the day she died.

  Maggie’s urge to be on that blue and green planet below was beyond want, it was need. She didn’t want her twin to suffer, and she also had a business to run, people who relied on her to pay their wages so they could live. But no amount of pleading, threatening, or begging swayed these Gracian aliens to allow her to return home.

  Maggie wasn’t blind to the fact that the Gracian worries were appropriate. She could understand why they didn’t want the rescued females to return home. What if one of them told their tale to others? How would the people of Earth react to learning there was life in the stars? What if they knew humans had been kidnapped for years? Of course, it could simply be put down to conspiracy and nothing would happen. But there were always ifs…

  Maggie knew without a doubt she would tell her sister what happened to her. She couldn’t keep a huge secret like that from her. They knew each other too well. Maggie shook her head. The people of Earth had no idea what was out here in space. Even now, four other cloaked Gracian ships protected Earth. Each of them carried hundreds of alien warriors, all hoping to find their salvation with the human women.

  One of the other women who’d been kidnapped had been voted to be the women’s leader as well as given a title—Legatum—by the Gracians. She also turned out to be the captain of the Gemorph’s spark. She acted as a kind of ambassador. Amelia kept the women up-to-date with everything that was going on and tried to make sure everyone was as comfortable as possible.

  Maggie was stubborn, and she knew it. Even with the news Amelia shared, all Maggie wanted was to return home, be with her twin, and carry on with her daily life. But most of all, she wanted to let May know she was okay and safe.

  But as time went by, Maggie knew she’d be just another missing person. Her business would be shut down by now, nothing left bar her sister to miss her. Maggie hoped May didn’t spend years searching for her and make herself ill in the process.

  Several times Maggie wondered if her ex-husband would care if she was found or not. Probably not, being he wouldn�
�t have to pay her half of everything they had owned. That fact just made Maggie feel even more guilty, because May had given Maggie the money to start her business and now she’d never be reimbursed for it. Also, the dream of having children and a happy family were fading into the sweet cloudy, distance the longer she stayed on the Gemorph.

  A week ago, Amelia had come to the medical bay where Maggie had once again been sedated after a severe panic attack that led to a small disagreement when several hulking male aliens wouldn’t allow her to find a way off the ship. Amelia asked if she would work with one of the Gracians on a housing project. Immediately, Maggie’s mind kicked into gear. Designing stuff was what she did. Working would offer her some relief from constantly thinking about her sister. Amelia had taken her to a huge hanger and showed her the immense space she had to work in.

  “How about a nice green area, a park of sorts, in the middle with small cabins or something around the outside?” Amelia suggested. “We’ll need an area that we can use to teach the Gracians how to act on Earth as well. They’re going to have to be amongst our people at some point, and they need to be able to pass as human.”

  “A park? How would they keep the plants green and healthy?” Maggie’s mind was already running through ideas as she asked the question.

  “With the technology these guys have, I’m sure they can do that and more. They even have a hologram room like the Enterprise does.”

  “Who was your favorite character?” Maggie asked without thinking. She hadn’t watched much television, because she was always busy, but the one show she had watched was Star Trek.

  “Riker of course.” Amelia giggled. “I even have my own Riker now, without the beard though, and him being an alien.” Amelia’s cheeks flushed pink. “Who was yours?”

  “I didn’t have one favorite, although I liked Data, because he was always trying to find a way to be more human, and the crew of Voyager too. They were a bit like me I suppose—trying to find a way home.” Maggie smiled.

  For a while Maggie relaxed with Amelia as they talked about Star Trek. Maggie briefly marveled at the thought that she was currently starring in her own episode of Star Trek.

  “So, will you work with Koop and create an area we can call homeish?” Amelia asked.

  Maggie nodded. “It will keep me busy.”

  Amelia pulled Maggie in for a long hug. “I know you miss your sister. I’m sorry this has happened to us. But I’m sure she will be okay.”

  Maggie pulled away from Amelia and sighed, her eyes filled with unshed tears. “I just wish there was a way to let her know I’m alive and well.”

  Amelia opened her mouth to speak, but Maggie knew what the young woman would say, and she stopped her.

  “Don’t,” Maggie said. “I know I can’t go home, but sometimes it’s hard to remember that. My mind gets into a frenzy and I can’t seem to make myself understand that I can’t go home. My sister is the only family I have left. She is the other half of my soul.”

  A tear dropped from her eyes and fell down her cheek. Wiping it away, Maggie raised her chin.

  “I will work with Koop,” Maggie said. “Maybe this project will stop my mind from wandering away with itself.”

  Amelia grinned and pulled Maggie back in for another long hug.

  The door bell sounded through the cabin, bringing Maggie from her thoughts. Immediately, her heart pounded, both with excitement of doing something and meeting this Koop. She hadn’t really spoken much to the Gracian males, only the medical staff. This was going to be a new experience for her. Turning from the large window she’d been looking out of, she walked to the cabin door and pressed a button to open it.

  The male that greeted her when the door opened was stunning. His eyes held an intelligence in them that told her he had seen and learned things she could only dream of. She watched him glance up and down her body before staring at her face. His apple green, swirling eyes twirled more intensely the more he stared at her. Her heart felt as if it were beating along with their movement.

  The male had long, straight, black hair to his shoulders, his nose was slightly crooked, as if it had been broken at some point, and his lips were full and pouty. He wore the standard uniform Maggie had seen the other Gracian men wear. A black jacket that fell to his hips, with tight, black pants and heavy boots that buckled up to his knees. Damn, he looked so fine he’d give her ex a run for his money.

  Just the thought of her ex was like a bucket of cold water washing over Maggie. All thoughts of licking the male in front of her from tip to toe halted. She didn’t need or want another male in her life. She’d given her husband her best years, and all she’d received in return was heartache.

  Remembering her manners, Maggie placed a smile on her face and held her right hand out. “I’m Maggie, and you are?”

  She knew his name because Amelia had told her who he was and what his duties on the ship were, but she needed to make sure the man in front of her was the one she was expecting.

  He looked at her hand with a look of confusion on his face.

  She drew it back, a blush heating her cheeks. “Sorry. It’s an Earth custom. We…uhh…shake hands when we greet each other.”

  “I’m Koop,” he said, offering up his right hand before shaking it in the air in front of them. Maggie couldn’t help but chuckle; his hand waving in the air was funny. “Did I do that wrong?” he asked, puzzled.

  “A little yes,” Maggie replied with a smile. “We normally touch right hands and shake.” She raised both of her hands and held them together in front of her and moved them up and down before dropping them to her sides. “Like that, but with your hand in mine.” She reached out to touch his large hand.

  Everything seemed to happen in slow motion. Koop’s mouth opened as if he were going to say something, and his hand withdrew a tad before their hands touched. Maggie watched a tiny, blue spark leave one of his fingers. She felt a burst of energy rush through her body and saw a look of bewilderment on Koop’s face.

  Maggie’s legs buckled underneath her, and her world became dim. The last thing she felt before darkness coated her vision was large, warm hands catching her under her knees and back, and then she had the feeling of floating in the air.

  Chapter 2

  Koop strolled through the Gemorph’s corridors until he reached the human female’s assigned cabin. Standing there he again realized this was the first time he was coming into close contact with one of the females besides Amelia. He’d gone over Maggie’s profile on his chrono screen more times than necessary, each time sucking up all the information he could, in an effort to learn as much as possible about the female. Amelia had produced a report on each of the women with their permission.

  Maggie’s personal hatred was boredom. She loved reading and being busy. It was written that she found the nothingness gave way to panic and paranoia. Her favorite treats were chocolate and coffee, and her most disliked food or sweet was anything with aniseed or liquorish in it. Koop had even looked these items up to make sure he would never mistakenly give them to Maggie. The chef was cooking quite a bit of the human food now, and a lot of it was tastier than the Gracian food.

  Maggie had been married for over ten yarns—or years, as the humans said—but she was recently divorced. Koop couldn’t understand why any male would ditch their mate. He’d read about the practice of divorce. These humans didn’t bond like his people did. They had various descriptions for their relationships from being a couple to engaged or married. Some lasted a lifetime where others lasted mere hours.

  Koop shook his head. It was nothing like how the Gracians bonded with their sparks. It was unheard of for a Gracian to leave his spark once he was mated, let alone touch or be with another woman. It just wasn’t done. If a male mated a female, then she was his and he hers. To leave a female was to let her die.

  With all the details he’d read about the female Maggie-Rose Green in mind, Koop pressed the button to inform her someone was at her door.

  Wh
en the door whooshed open a moment later, Koop’s breath left his lungs and his mind went blank. The female was stunning. She had pale skin, as if she hadn’t allowed the sun to see it. When their gazes met, he noticed she had the brightest green eyes he’d ever seen. Her long, brown hair hung past her shoulders, free of any restraint, and cascaded over the top of the white Gracian dress that hugged her ample, eye-popping figure.

  Koop’s energy flowed to his groin area, filling and engorging his cock. Visions of the beauty in front of him—naked—appeared in his mind. Her rosy lips around his cock as he filled her mouth. Her underneath him as he pounded his cock into her until they were both replete. He could already see Maggie fecund. He would have a healthy youngling with her.

  A strange feeling inside his chest made him realize who Maggie might be. Amelia had never had this effect on him. This human female had his body thrumming with energy. Could Maggie be his spark? His mind and body screamed yes!

  He watched as Maggie pasted a smile on her face that didn’t reach her eyes. She lifted her right hand in the air as if to reach for him and said, “I’m Maggie, and you are?”

  Koop glanced at her hand, wondering what he should do. Frinx! he swore to himself. Why had he not looked up some of the Earth customs? What was he supposed to do? It wasn’t as if he could touch her. His captain had warned against that in case they were sparks. These human females needed to be...what was it? Wined and dined?

  There were subtle differences between the human and Gracian females. His people’s females knew what to expect when a male was their spark. When they touched, and his energy sprang to her, she immediately accepted her mate. But not all the human females would. Amelia had said instead they liked to be dated, wooed—sometimes for quite a while—before entering a sexual relationship.