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“After an epidemic
virus struck mainly the men of my race, women outnumbered men ten to one and in
some cases twenty to one. It’s been years since a woman’s had the opportunity
to choose a partner freely. Most accept the sex without commitment that men are
demanding.”
    Geile winced. “A
disgrace.”
    His brother Gregir
agreed.
    “Do other Earth
women look like you?” Kyele asked. She couldn’t help but take note of his
pretty green eyes.
    Faye thought about
his question. “Well they have the same body parts if that’s what you mean.”
    Jaron snorted. “We
know that. There have been Earth women who came through the presentation but we
haven’t seen any in person. Do they come in different colors and shapes like
the rumors claim?” He swiveled his hands in the air and Faye laughed out loud.
Men were the same everywhere.
    “Earth women,
depending on their country of origin, come in varying skin tones. Hair and eyes
are interchangeable.”
    They looked amazed
by this. Even Kyele straightened. His scar stretched across his face when he
frowned, turning otherwise attractive features into scary. Faye massaged her
throat and wondered how much longer Torkel would be. Not that the men’s
presence frightened her but she wasn’t sure what was expected of her.
    “Would you like
something to drink?” Jaron asked peering over the sofa.
    Her parched throat
craved something wet. “Yes, please.”
    He hurried to the
task and handed her an odd shaped mug with a pink frothy liquid. Faye hummed
after the first sip. Delicious with a sweet taste. She relaxed back against the
sofa and jumped in feet first. These were friends of Torkel. She wanted them to
like her. “Tell me about yourselves.”
    As they each took
turns speaking, she finished her drink and asked for another. She wasn’t
concerned at all when the room tilted slightly.
    ***
    As soon as he
entered his quarters, Torkel kicked out at the interior wall of his living
space with his foot. The material gave and cracks webbed out from the caved in
center. His actions did nothing to relieve him. He raked his hands through his
hair and stormed into his bedchamber. Of all the luck. The first and only time
a female chose him and another challenged the call.
    To think others
viewed him as unfit and unworthy for a Chosen. He’d seen the expressions on the
faces of the crowd. Disappointment and anger. For what? Because a beautiful
woman wanted him. Him, Torkel the unwanted.
    If not for the
fairness of the Commission he could have been disqualified by Axan’s words.
Instead, the news would be all over the city about today’s events at the arena.
Torkel yanked open his dresser and pulled out pants and a shirt. He almost
ripped the loitte from his hips but remembered the pleasure on his
maman’s face when he wore it.
     She’d personally
selected the black leather and lovingly sewn on the side clasps. Each hook was
made of siil and was costly to purchase. That she lined his loitte with the expensive metal showed her love for her son. Torkel couldn’t destroy
the garment.
    With great care,
he removed it and placed it on his bed. Torkel managed to get dressed without
doing more damage as rage filled him. His thoughts turned to his Chosen. Faye
Reid might want another after the presentation ceremony. He’d allowed a male to
injure her when his role declared him her protector. Indecision had caused him
to hesitate when he should have responded immediately to her cry for help.
    She was almost a
foot shorter than him, her body proportioned in slopes and valleys. Thankfully,
her figure wasn’t thin like the Enotians or he’d worry about breaking her the
first time they sex shared. Her tanned skin and dark coloring brought to mind
an exotic treasure. A woman like that could have any man she wanted.
    Torkel wondered if
she regretted her choice despite her words in the elevator. He’d tried to steel
himself against her for worry she might in fact change her mind.
    The