Viper's Hope (Anguis Defenders Book 1) (20 page)

Ophidian considered Hope for a moment.

"I have seen a change for the better in Prognatus Viper." Ophidian smiled.

"Really how so?" Hope asked curious of what he was talking about.

"Before the Morbo attacked the Anguis, Viper wasn't nearly as serious. Like many of our people, the loss of much of his family changed him. But Viper took on a greater burden than most. He's made it his mission as the Prognatus, and our future Rex, to see to it that the universe is purged of the Morbo."

"That's an awfully heavy weight to shoulder." Hope frowned.

Hope knew Viper took the loss of her planet personal, she could only imagine how he handled his own family's murder. Viper was a good man, he gave up a lot to serve not just his own people, but the entire known universe. Viper deserved some happiness himself. Hope's heart swelled at the thought that she brought him a measure of respite.

"I never realized how important such frivolous things were." Ophidian smiled at the playing children.

Hope nodded.

The trio moved on looking around the market district, taking in the shops and gardens. Hope enjoyed the abstract statues and took comfort in the cooling mist that wafted from the fountains that dotted the numerous island green spaces. All the while the streets continued to fill with overly curious citizens.

By lunch time Hope was socially exhausted from all the smiling and greeting of strangers. It was freaky being recognized by so many strangers. They found a restaurant and sat in an out of the way corner. There was a large screen nestled on the cafe wall showing what was going on, on Anguis Prime and Anguis Minor. Hope watched as the Anguis version of news showed the new human colony, discussing the numbers of other human refugees that would soon arrive.

Hope felt a deep sense of relief as she thought about her sister that would be part of that group.

"I hate the Purists." Ophidian growled as he stared at the screen.

Hope glanced up from her drink to see an older Anguis man with a sour face on the large screen. It was the Purist leader Wyvern.

Hope didn't judge the Anguis harshly because it had a few bad apples. She was pretty sure the Anguis would've been even less welcome on Earth than humans were here. In fact some of the revived humans were down right nasty when dealing with the Anguis.

"Everyone has its racists." Hope shook her head. "I still think we should put the ungrateful humans in our bunch back to sleep. They'd probably be happier and it would certainly put a stop to all their hateful belly aching. What do you think Tara?"

"Hope you know that's not ethical." Tara shoved her.

"Ethics schmethics."

Ophidian chuckled at their antics. "No Tara is right." He smiled at Tara. "More would just turn up. Idiots are everywhere."

Hope turned back to the screen. The Purist faction leader was ranting about how the Anguis were foolishly wasting resources that might be better served shoring up Anguis defense against future attack. The man didn't appreciate the Anguis assisting several species' colonies, but he focused most of his ire on her people since their refugee camp was located on Anguis Minor.

Hope realized the crowd of people she'd seen at the far end of the street earlier were probably Purist protesters as she listened to Wyvern rail against humans.

"It is bad enough that we are supporting yet another species which is clearly weaker and has little to contribute to our society, but now our new Uxorem is a human foreigner." The racist spat out the word human like it was a curse. "I have sources that inform me that the foreign Uxorem refuses to acknowledge the mating which is a slap in the face to any of us who can only hope to find a mate. But if this insult weren't enough, I also have proof that our Prognatus allows the human female to dominate him." Wyvern growled in disgust.

Hope watched as the image of her and Viper wandering the courtyard at the camp changed to the one in their private quarters on the ship. Viper was tied up as Hope rode him like a bucking bronco.

"How the hell?" Hope gasped.

"Disgusting!" The Purist continued. "I ask you, is this the kind of leader that will bring the Anguis into the next millennium?"

Hope just sat there with her jaw hanging open.

"Holy Shit Hope!" Tara exclaimed.

"I am sorry ladies but we need to leave." Ophidian stood up and started escorting them out.

The Anguis were staring in shock as the three of them exited the restaurant and headed back towards the shuttle.

"Great, just great." Hope groaned.

She was a pariah among the Anguis and now featured in her very own porno.

"Well that's an image I'll never get out of my mind." Tara tried to tease.

"This is not good at all! That man basically painted me as public enemy number one, and Viper as hen pecked, lacking a backbone." Hope worried her lip.

Anguis was a society where men were men. Something like this could really damage Viper and his family's image.

"I know, I'm sorry." Tara replied.

"It's worse than that. Someone on the ship is leaking security footage to the Purists." Ophidian growled.

He'd gone from casual but alert to a hyper-vigilant, scary bodyguard. Hope was reminded of the secret service as she hung her head and scurried behind Ophidian into the shuttle.

Hope turned to the shuttle window and watched the scenery pass as tears streamed down her cheeks. Being discriminated against because of something you can't control hurt enough. Add having your dirty laundry aired on television and it quickly soured your day. But the worst part was how it affected Viper. This was the last thing he deserved.

She almost felt better as they made it back to the colony. The thought of seeing Viper again calmed her as the three of them entered the meeting area of the community center. Hope stopped as they walked through the doors of the conference room. Viper, Adder and Hyla sat looking tense.

"What was that? You let her bind you and mount you! I must insist that you put your foot down and have the mating ceremony Viper!" Hyla screeched. It was as excited as Hope had ever witnessed a woman of their species get.

"I refuse to press the issue mother." Viper said angrily. "I want to find amare with my mate!"

The way Viper said amare, it hinted at an emotion he was looking for in his relationship. Hope instantly hearkened back to her worries earlier that day. She didn't want to lose Viper, but what if he already felt there was something missing, and was only doing what was expected of him? Hope felt certain they had that something special. Was she the only one? The thought that he found her lacking hurt deeply?

Hyla huffed in reply.

Adder shook his head.

"Filius, the Anguis are a giving people. For the most part they are willing to help other species even though it costs us. It is proving to be a shock though that their Prognatus has found a mate among a foreign species. Add to that fact that you have not formally mated and your unusual interaction." Adder explained. "I am afraid this may turn the tide against us and the humans. I fear it could adversely affect the human colonist, especially when the new refugees arrive."

Hope put her hand to her mouth to stifle her dismay. She didn't think Viper should be compelled to mate her any more she should him, especially if he didn't feel amare for her, whatever that was. But the situation was worse than Hope anticipated. Not only was Viper's family's leadership in question but the safety of her fellow humans was in jeopardy.

If they held the ceremony, the Anguis people would be appeased, her people would be safe. Hope's heart ached. It seemed there was only one way forward.

Viper, Adder and Hyla looked her way. If looks could kill, she would've dropped dead at Hyla's feet. She'd thought on the shuttle that this day couldn't possibly get any worse, she was wrong.

13 A Match Made in the Heavens

Viper

"Hope!" Viper called out in dismay.

Her eyes were red, and he knew she had been crying, the unusual human custom that only occurred when they were sad or hurt always leveled him. Hope didn't need to overhear what just occurred here. He looked to Ophidian.

"It was all over the vids in the restaurant at the market. We also had protesters at the west end." His Imperator reported.

"Dammit. Ophidian, I trust only you to look into the security breach." Viper growled.

He took Hope's hand and led her to a seat at the table, then poured her a glass of water. She looked paler than usual and more delicate, almost lost as she sat staring blankly.

"I'm sure that our advisors can do something. We'll hold a public conference." Adder stated soberly.

"I'll do it." Hope said quietly and Viper was glad she was willing to speak to the people.

Many Anguis were intrigued even riveted by the unusual humans. As much as Viper didn't want Hope in the spotlight she was their spokesman by default.

"Thank you for being willing to do the conference." Viper said as his thumb caressed the back of her hand.

"Not that. I agree to do the ceremony with you." Hope replied as she looked at him.

"Finally she makes sense!" Viper's mother announced.

"Hope lets discuss this in private." Viper wanted to make it official with Hope, but this wasn't the way. She'd been forced into mating him, he wouldn't have her forced into the ceremony that cemented it.

"There's nothing to discuss." Hope replied, defeat in her voice.

"I want to be with you Hope, but for the right reasons, when you are willing. This would be as bad as our first night together. Dammit, I won't tie you to me like this!"

"We said one day at a time well that day has come Viper." Hope said sternly.

Viper just shook his head.

"We're going to give you two a minute." Adder said as he and the others made their exit.

Viper pulled Hope to her feet and wrapped his arms around her.

"What are you thinking little Lepus?"

"I don't want you to be forced to settle for me. I always wanted more from a relationship. The sum of our relationship shouldn't be based solely on the desperate need to fuck."

"I understand and agree." Viper replied, he turned Hope to face him, looking deep into her watery blue eyes. "I am not settling for you. I've never fully explained the nature of Anguis mating. I'm sorry for that. I didn't want to scare you away."

Viper felt so deeply for Hope he feared the depth of his building affection would drive her away. The intensity of his lust and possessiveness had certainly threatened to do that.

"So tell me." Hope asked looking desperate and insecure.

Viper suddenly realized while he'd been wooing his subeo and doing his damnedest to care for her physically, he hadn't truly told her how he felt about her, the feelings that moved him.

"The Anguis believe that the pheromones that drive mating come from more than just a biological need. We believe that the body responds to what the heart and soul recognizes in the other person." Viper stroked Hope. "Among my people we call this harmony of mind body and soul, amare. I always hoped to achieve amare with my mate and I think this is what you are looking for too." Viper ran his hands up Hope's back. "When I look at you I revel in the beauty and the perfection of creation that I see reflected in you, including your quirks, your unique humanity. It makes me appreciate and honor my own spark of the Divine." Viper paused as he brushed Hope's cheek. "I think amare is what is growing between us, and I don't want to snuff it out by pushing you."

"Oh Viper that's so beautiful. We call that love." Hope sobbed.

"I understand Hope, really I do. Amare takes time to build." Viper continued. "Even though many of us believe that when we mate we've found amare, I personally believe it's like a newly forged blade in its roughest form, it must be honed, before it is sharp and can withstand the battles set before it. And even at that it must be cared for so it doesn't become tarnished or dull." Viper said into the top of her head as he rubbed his cheek through Hope's silken hair.

Viper wanted Hope desperately but he would wait if pushing her meant he lost the potential deeper bond he felt forming between them.

"I've had the best few weeks of my life, despite what has happened." Hope looked up at him. "I've never experienced such passion or joy. I care about you so much." Hope hiccuped as tears streamed down her cheeks. "When I first saw you I felt like something monumental was on the horizon. I chalked it up to the fact you were so different, alien, but now I'm certain a part of me recognized I was staring at my future."

Viper lifted Hope's chin and kissed her. It wasn't a sensual kiss, just simple, but it still held a host of emotions he couldn't express in words. Hope's admission made him almost ecstatic.

"I have treasured our time together too and feel blessed to have found you."

"Viper if this is how things are going between us, I can easily see myself spending a lifetime with you." Hope's blue eyes sparkled as she gave him a shy smile.

"I don't want you to feel obligated to rush Hope. It's not the way I want us to be." Viper insisted. "I want you mind, body and soul, but on our terms, no one else's."

"That's funny because I don't want you to be obligated to mate me, some foreign girl, because of some hormone thing, even if I am a hot piece of ass." Hope smiled.

Even though Hope joked Viper could see how vulnerable she'd been feeling. Because she wasn't Anguis, she'd been thinking that the mating was a biological prime directive that obligated him. Viper's hand brushed across his mark on her neck. It pained him that Hope had worried or questioned the nature of how he felt about her. They should've talked about this sooner.

"Hope, I couldn't have asked Kadru for a better subeo. You are an amazing female, strong, kind, and wildly sexy." Viper growled.

"I don't know I might have gotten the better end of this deal." Hope ran her hands up his chest. Viper nearly groaned as a shiver worked through him.

"I'm having all but ONE of those tapes we recover destroyed." Viper said with a wink.

Hope punched his arm, but the smile was back on her face.

"Goddess I love it when she rough-houses with me." Viper smiled inwardly.

"So it's decided, as soon my family gets settled we have the ceremony."

"We will combine it with your traditions." Viper insisted. If Hope was going to do this, they would include her customs as well. "Tell me about your mating ceremony."

"Basically the woman wears a fancy dress, and the man wears a suit. The couple stands up in front of their family and friends where they exchange rings and declare their love for everyone to see."

"That is not so different. Whatever you want or need is yours." He'd give Hope the moon and the stars if she only asked.

"Oh that reminds me. I got you something." Hope fished through her bag and pulled out a chain with an ancient Cerradont tooth.

"This is awesome, thank you. Do you know how old this is?" Viper asked as he admired the rare fossil then put it on.

"No, the little old couple said it was antique and from a very big cat." Hope shook her head.

"It's probably about 100,000 years old, at least. These were the last of the gigantic species on our planet."

"Wow, I had no idea."

Hope opened her mouth and touched her own canine comparing the two. Viper laughed as he led Hope out of the conference room. He felt like he was flying, not even the recent security breach and turmoil dampened his mood at the moment. Hope had agreed to be his. She was still nervous, but she had agreed.

Viper looked at his parents and Ophidian talking in the hall.

"Do you all have things handled?" Viper inquired.

"I'm working on it." Ophidian reported.

"Well we have a mating ceremony to plan, find me only if there's an emergency."

Viper couldn't be sure but he thought his mother did a little victory dance.

"Do you think she's going to be as happy when she hears it's going to be a mixed ceremony?" Hope whispered with a giggle.

"You are rotten to the core female." Viper said as he lifted her off her feet and tossed her over his shoulder.

Hope squealed and slapped Viper's ass as they left the community building heading for their private pod.

"Film this, assholes!" Viper chuckled as he stalked across the park, Hope squirming on his shoulder.

Hope

The next few days were a whirlwind. Hope wondered if she'd lose her mind on several occasions. The Purist protests still continued but the announcement that their mating ceremony was only on hold till her family arrived seemed to assuage the bulk of the people.

The amusing and disturbing twist being that a large, very large portion of the male population got off on the idea of a female being wild and mounting them in the bedroom. So not only did they have racist protesters around town, they now had throngs of horny men hoping to catch the eye of a human female. Viper had gone so far as to have a fence installed around the colony.

There were even rumors that a women's lib movement had started up, arguing that females had the right to be anyway they wanted in the bedroom particularly since males could be so dominant. That had Hope grinning. Unfortunately all of it just gave poor Viper and Adder more to worry about, and Hyla another reason to frown at her.

Tara, JP, and Acris helped Hope plan for the ceremony while Viper played interference with all of Hyla's demands. Hope had let her future mother-in-law make a lot of decisions, but Hope still had a few things she wanted to choose for herself. Her dress being one of them.

Ophidian was their regular bodyguard when they went to the seamstress to have her dress made. JP was a great artist, so he was able draw what Hope wanted for the dress maker. Hope was a bit sad her older sister, Faith, couldn't be there, but to get everything done she had to start without her.

"But she's here now, sort of." Hope smiled as she looked at the hibernation unit.

"What was that?" Viper asked as he held her hand.

"Just thinking about all the things Faith has missed. I can't wait for her to wake up and I'm dreading it at the same time."

The three of them sat in the living room of of her sister's new home. Tara had the hibernation units brought in so it would be more private. All the preparations were made to awaken Faith, Hope's brother-in-law, Cody, along with her niece, Charity, and nephew, Justice. Now they just waited.

Hope snickered at her family's names.

"What is so funny?" Tara asked as she checked their vitals.

"I was just thinking how crazy Faith was to keep up the little naming trend our hippy parents started." It made Hope smile.

She and Faith had lost their parents seven years ago to a car wreck, shortly after she graduated college and Charity was born. Justice reminded Hope of her dad. Her parents would've been over the moon with their grand-kids. They would've no doubt liked Viper too with their accepting 'live and let live' attitude.

Viper looked at the children with interest.

"So the female, Charity, is seven years and the male, Justice, is four?" He asked and Hope nodded. "They are so small."

"We aren't as large as you."

"Is this what you looked like when you were young?" Viper asked as he studied her niece. She was pretty cute with her blonde curly mop.

"Yeah, I guess."

Viper smiled sweetly at them, then turned to her.

"I guess I better go before they wake up."

Hope felt bad when he made to leave. Of course she'd gotten used to Viper's not quite human characteristics and she couldn't wait to introduce him to her family, but she had to remember this was going to be very rough for them. She recalled Tara's response when she awoke. Viper dwarfed her by almost a foot and a half not to mention he looked dark and savage. He'd probably scare the piss out of her family, at least till they got to know him.

It was so sweet he thought of them, having far more experience at waking poor rescued souls. Despite the logic Hope still didn't want Viper to go. She sighed in frustration.

"Are you the Boogeyman?" Hope heard her nephew say.

She and Viper turned to Justice.

"Well I guess the cat's out of the bag." Tara whispered as she carefully observed the children for distress.

"No." They all replied simultaneously as Justice sat up, staring at Viper with big wide eyes.

"Don't be dumb Justice. I told you the Boogeyman's not real. He's one of the X-men. Right Aunt Hope." Her niece said groggily.

Tara almost laughed as she checked on Faith and Cody. It was taking the adults a bit longer to wake up, but that was normal.

"Charity don't call Justice dumb please." Hope asked Charity as she wiped the sleep from her niece's eyes.

"Are you a good guy or a bad guy?" Justice asked Viper as he climbed out of the hibernation unit.