|01: I Have To Find Her.

Kindred Warriors are mostly known to be ruthless, possessive, and brutal throughout the galaxy. They are creatures of the universe, the heavens, and the most underrated species known to exist. Driven by instinct and the need to mate. Kindreds are a force to be reckoned with.

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ZIONs POV…

The moon is bright as she sits high up in the clear, inky sky, with flecks of stars scattered across the horizon. I can feel it in my royal bones that tonight's the night I'm going to find my mate. My heavy combat boots slide across the soil as I finally come to a halt after running through the woods on the outskirts of planet Earth's city. 

Thrusting my chin forward, I close my eyes and slowly inhale through my nose. Her scent is strong as it assaults my senses, which means I am close. Closer than I was last night before my brother tracked me down.

As I lean against the old tree to catch my escaping breath. I offer my silent prayer of appreciation to the moon goddess and the stars that protect her. Soon, a thunderous growl of another Kindred warrior can be heard as it bounces off the trees, followed by another. Only this time, it sounds closer than the last. This means Jaja is eating up the distance I put between us like wildfire losing control. 

Curse his gift of speed.

I push off the tree, weaving in and out of every obstacle that stands in my way until I come to a complete standstill. My twin hearts gallop in my chest as my shoulders rise and fall with every ragged breath I take. 

I stare across the gravel road at the small house that has seen better days. A painful snarl departs from my lips to learn that my mate is living in such dire conditions. The sound of footsteps slowly approaching me from behind causes me to look over my shoulder.

“We shouldn't be here, brother. This is violating the treaty we made with the humans.” Jaja informs me as his eyes glow a brilliant shade of sapphire blue through the darkness.

“Mine.” I hiss possessively, ignoring his warning. 

Standing tall at seven feet two — at the very least, with widespread shoulders that have me turning sideways as I enter doorways. I return my attention to the house. One of my prominent strengths is that I can move swiftly with an animalistic grace that misrepresents my beastly physique. But my greatest downfall is that I can not seem to keep my distance from my faceless mate. 

I have no idea what she looks like or what her name is. All I know is that the connection I feel for her consumes me entirely. I can not eat, sleep, or think straight, and it's driving me insane. 

“I don't know how much longer I can keep away from her.” I openly confess, “her scent is addictive — intoxicating.” I raise my head, sniffing the air, breathing in her scent as I let it contaminate my soul.

“Not now,” Jaja warns me. “Patience my brother.” 

Jaja is tall like me, his physique is strong if not stronger, and his spiky silver hair accentuates his sapphire blue eyes. He is not only my brother. He is my living and breathing conscience that keeps me on the straight and narrow. I probably would have been trialed and executed for treason straight after taking my position as the Alpha King.    

“I can't take it any longer. I ache for her, brother. And it's killing me slowly.” I openly declare as my twin hearts thump against my chest, creating a beautiful and cruel melody that is solely formulated for my human mate. 

“But you haven't seen her, brother. How do you know you will be physically attracted to her, and I will never understand how you can find a frigid human so alluring? Attractive and Desirable?” My poor brother Jaja cannot seem to apprehend the infatuation I have grown accustomed to for a female I haven't yet met.

“Her scent is like bathing in a pool of zubuya.” [honey].

“Are you sure she is the one?” Jaja asks as he takes another look at the house.

The light turns on, illuminating one section of the yard in the darkened atmosphere. I can hear her humming from where we stand, and I know Jaja can hear her too. The sound of her voice and the beating of her heart creates a beautiful symphony, engraving her voice in my mind.

“I know she's the one,” I growl without a shred of doubt in my low, rumbling voice that speaks volumes. Inhaling the air, I take in a large breath, my eyes half-lidded with desire as bared fangs grow from my teeth canines. “She's the one,” I mutter, feeling my eyes glow brilliantly in the darkened night. “She's ripe for the taking, and I want her now.” My voice rumbles through the air, and I can sense Jaja feeling his knees buckle beneath him. 

I am superior, king, Alpha, and commander to him. I seldom assert my power, and when I do, my Kindred warriors become helpless under my rule. Jajas' capacity to exert control over his body deteriorates to the point of becoming non-existent.

Jaja violently fights his body for control. “Don't you think you should wait, brother? You will scare her and lose her at the same time.” His voice is strained with pain as he continues with his inner battle for dominance.

“I've waited long enough.” I mutter murderously, “she is mine, whether she accepts me or not.” I plow a curled hand into the tree I'm standing next to and send it flying across the road. 

“Not now, brother, I beg you. The council won't be pleased if they hear that you lost control of your desire. It makes you look weak, pathetic, and unworthy to rule our planet.” Jaja bows his head as he openly speaks to me.

He is the only person who I let get away with such a crime of speaking his mind so candidly. If it were anyone else, they'd be headless before they could finish their sentence.

“Screw the council.” I hiss. “None of them are mated, so how can they possibly know the agony I've been going through these past couple of night's without having her?” 

“If you are not in control of your desires, you will hurt her, possibly kill her,” Jaja says in a hushed tone. 

Spinning around to face him, “kill her?!” I wrap my long fingers around the base of his neck and pick my brother up off the ground. I'm losing the last restraint of my tranquility as rage slowly consumes me, and his feet dangle off the ground. “I don't want to kill her. I want to take her, bind her to me, and -”

Suddenly, my mind returns to my bonetta, and I release my brother as I return my attention towards the house and start to approach it with heavy footsteps. “Mine… she is mine. And I want her now. I need her now like I need air, brother.” The pull is becoming unbearable enough to cloud my judgment.

“Brother, wait!” Jaja splutters, trying to catch his breath. “Wait until she has been served the papers tomorrow. One night. One more night, and she will finally be yours.” He rises to his feet from his kneeling position. “Don't violate the treaty, brother, please. I beg of you.” His voice is raspy and rough.

I don't answer my brother. Instead, I throw my head back, releasing a thunderous growl filled with frustration and rage that can be heard miles away. My body goes rigid as the light in the house goes out, and the muscles in my neck become achingly tense. 

“This way, brother,” Jaja whispers with caution as he tugs on my upper arm, urging me to follow him. “You can't stay here, or you'll do something you'll possibly regret and lose her forever.” 

Resisting the urge to push my brother away, who is always here to save me from myself. I cast one final glance back towards the house. A possessive fire licks my caramel tinged skin, setting fire to my entire body. 

“Mine, bonetta, and tomorrow I will claim you for myself.”  I ramble as I let Jaja drag me away. 

Mine…