Free Rykhan (Book 1 of Mate Search Series) by J.A. Hornbuckle Page A

a point of speaking in the more formal
Picari dialect, they did not care if others overheard but kept
their voices low nonetheless.
    “These females seem different than the ones on
the sites we studied.” Wyst’s frustration came through his tone.
“And act different than those on the vid feeds we
received.”
    “The vids were of females engaged in sexual
pleasure. The ones on the sites are looking for mates.” Rykhan was
frustrated as well but not for the same reason as his
warrior-brother. As soon as he had walked into the vast room dotted
with small tables, he had felt her. Had absolutely known beyond any
doubt that his mate, his legitimate and true other half had been
present. Moreover, when he had seen her, had caught the light
floral scent of her skin, had been hard-pressed not to gather her
to him and escape the confines of the event.
    “There’s a difference? Does that mean that
these Earth females who are seeking a pairing won’t want to join
with us?” Wyst’s voice growled in low rumble with every question he
threw at his warrior-brother.
    However, Rykhan did not allow the other male’s
demanding tone to temper his reply. “No and for you to ask means
you need to do more research.”
    Wyst had been instructed to study the culture
of Earth, or more specifically the Phoenix portion of the state of
Arizona in the United States of America in the northern hemisphere
of the planet Earth just as he and the other males on their quest
had. True, Wyst was not a scholar and preferred to be in motion
rather than simply sitting and analyzing data. Nevertheless, it was
not Rykhan’s job to ensure what the other warrior knew or did
not.
    That was up to Bronsyn, their quest leader and
as far as Rykhan was concerned, Wyst needed to take his questions
to the older man. Allowing Rykhan to get on with plotting how to
ensure he left this ridiculous meeting with his one true mate in
tow.
    “How can I pore over all the
information, Rykhan, when it is so dissimilar to the females I’m
meeting here tonight? I mean, my tailpor was at the ready when we
entered the room but as soon as I began talking with them,
breathing in their aromas, my excitement left and I felt almost
physically ill. Did they lie about themselves on the dating
websites and video-feeds?”
    Rykhan’s eyes took in Wyst’s posture
and knew the male was not over-exaggerating, because he had felt
the same at the beginning of their first venture out. At first, he
too had felt his tailpor ’s excitement in anticipation
of meeting the females of Earth face-to-face. As he had moved
through the tables though, their voices grated on his nerves,
seeing greedy eyes move over him and the other males as if judging
Nutrolian cattle until his desire had left him.
    Most of the humans in attendance did not smell
particularly pleasant. As if somehow knowing that their body odor
was offensive, many of them added some kind of overlaying scent to
confuse the nose. In the case of the Picari Alliance warriors,
whose sense of smell was only one in their arsenal of skills as
Protectorates, it was all too much. When combined with the
aggressive approach of some of the females, Rykhan had felt his
stomach turn.
    Until he had caught a whiff, just the barest
aroma that had both teased and settled him at the same time. He had
moved with the other males, in and around the tables, as he had
tried to determine which female projected the luscious
scent.
    Once his eyes had zeroed in on her, he had not
been able to keep them away for any length of time.
    She seemed unaware of him, as she had
interacted with the others. Her inattention to him had only allowed
his gaze free reign as he studied her. There was no denying she was
beautiful but Rykhan could not determine exactly what set her apart
from the other beauties in the room. Was it her creamy skin not
covered in as many of the artificial colors the other females wore?
On the other hand, perhaps it was the sparkle of her smile she
seemed