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CAPT. CULL I crack my neck as I glance around the packed room. Familiar and unfamiliar faces are everywhere. Males I have fought beside or served under are packed in with the nameless males I don't know, but I haven't greeted a single one. My mind is too busy. My blood is practically boiling with adrenaline. Through the single orange door is the ballroom we will dine and dance with the females. And one of those females will be my mate. It is too much to think about. I tilt my head again and let out a deep sigh. I anxiously begin to straighten my familiar uniform. At least I am out of those civilian clothes. I don't have my wristband or my daggers but at least I am in clothing I find comfortable. "Capt. Cull," a voice calls and I look up to meet eyes with Capt. Moor from across the room. He smiles and cuts through the thick group of Cok Commanders. "Hey, Moor. Congrats on being a champion," I say as he reaches my side. He nods in response to my greeting and straightens his un
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ZURI POV"I am sure you do not remember my name, but I am Captain Nole. While you gave us information about your fellow Earthlings, you did not tell us about yourself, Jia from Earth," he says, and I look had Jia.She seems surprised by the large Bronkark's interest in who she is and that hurts my heart a little. Does she not deem herself worth mentioning?My mind makes a decision for me in that second and I am on my feet before I am really sure of what to say.When Jia looks up at me in surprise I smile down at her and place my hand on her shoulder. My brain takes me back to the night we all shared our stories with one another and I instantly remember the sadness on Jia's face when she told us about her life before the Harvest. She told us about how her parents eventually stopped visiting and how her family sort of moved on as if she was already dead. She had felt so unloved and lonely."Well not anymore, Jia. You have us," I think as I turn my attention toward the orange male."Jia
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ZURI POVAs the conversation dies down and the food disappears from everyone's plates my nerves return. The third and final portion of the evening is fast approaching and I am already mentally exhausted. We already did witty combat with the females. We met and ate with the males who have analyzed our actions the entire time we have been eating, and now we have to dance with people we might spend the rest of our lives with. I take a deep breath and glance toward Fiadh. The food on her plate has been pushed around, but I can tell she didn't eat much of it if she ate any at all. I know she ate a few snacks while we were meeting the females earlier but I worry about her. It's clear she is the most frightened out of all of us and if I am feeling nervous she must be terrified right now. After a few more minutes the dishes are removed from the table by the Keas and we look toward the announcer in expectant silence. He gives the long line of champions and females an excited smile, but we d
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ZURI POVAs the song ends Cull gives me a longing look while offering me his arm. "Allow me to escort you back," he says while watching my face and I nod. The past two minutes have been perfect and I don't want them to end, but Cull looks as if parting from me is physically hurting him. He walks me back to where Fiadh is and stops a few feet away."I hope you know I meant every word I have spoken to you. I plan on fighting for the right to ask for your hand. I pray I do well enough that you see I will be a good mate," he whispers before reluctantly leaving me standing there. I turn back toward Fiadh with a hot face and wide eyes. That was wonderful. It was everything Baalee described. The males truly seem to worship their chosen partners. "Better partners this time," Krystal asks, and I look up at her with a smirk on my face. She giggles at me and Xiu, who looks like a tomato. "I think I like the Shikazs males," I say in a flirty tone and we all giggle. Even Xiu chuckles lowly
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CULL POV"If the females would stand and move toward that wall please," the announcer finally says and I watch as Zuri looks at her friends. The Earth females cautiously get to their feet and I get another chance to look over her amazing frame. The style of Zuri's dress is different from her fellow Harvestees. It is more modest and hides most of her smooth brown skin, but its form-fitting design does show me her curves. Her breast size isn't huge but rather nicely portioned with her small waist, and her rear end is big. I haven't seen very many females with the same sized bottom. Most females I have seen seem dainty and evenly portioned. If they have a smaller chest they have a smaller bottom. If they have a larger chest they have a larger bottom. With Zuri, it seems the heavens crafted her with a smaller chest and a larger bottom. Something I didn't realize I would find so appealing. I take a deep breath as Zuri's eyes sweep the male side of the room. I secretly hope she will
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CAPT. CULL POV I take a deep breath. There is no sense in panicking. This night is meant to be fun and enjoyable. There are an even number of females to males at the tournament. I will leave here with a gorgeous female whom I can build a life with. I turn my sights toward a group of females I didn't think I would approach but ever since seeing Zuri I have come to realize maybe I would be attracted to one of them. The only thing I have reservations about is their usual desire to have large families. The three remaining Vaals are all pretty but I set my sights on the one who has simliar features to Zuri's."Good evening would you honor me with a dance," I ask trying to sound clear and respectful.If Zuri is lost to me than this female might be my mate. She smiles and a small twinkle comes to life within her eyes as she accepts my arm. "It would be a pleasure to dance with you Capt. Cull. My name is Ri," she says sweetly and my mind instantly warms up to the idea of mating her.
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ZURI POV I shyly glance toward Cull as we follow the other couples out of the ballroom. We were rather close to the exit when the song ended, so we were among the first to leave. I don't see any of my friends leaving yet, but that's okay. I feel safe with Cull. Safe, but slightly weird... He seems so happy and proud to be escorting me back to my room, but I somehow feel undeserving of his happiness. He has promised quite a few things tonight and he doesn't even know me. I haven't promised him a single thing and it makes me feel a little dirty... As if I am using him. I know if he asks for my hand I am going to say yes. He is the only male I liked tonight and I feel like we could end up falling in love quickly. So should I tell him I would choose him if another male asks for my hand? Or do the females keep quiet about things like that? Baalee said that even if I chose a champion I might not end up with him. Cull would have to beat the other guy to earn my hand. Should I put that k
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I nervously smooth my dress and look at my reflection again. This dress is more revealing than my dress from yesterday, and it makes me a little self-conscious. In my homeland, I never wore anything that showed this much skin. We, as a people, tend to be conservative in our choices of fashion. "Are you okay," Baalee asks as she eyes my troubled expression. I turn away from the mirror and meet her bright-colored eyes. I know she and the other two females worked hard to make me look like a princess again, but this just isn't me. "It's very revealing. The slit is high, and the deep v-neck makes me nervous," I answer honestly, and Baalee nods. "I'm sorry. The mesh is covering your chest so none of your skin is out... It looks lovely, but I do understand. I am sorry I can't change the pattern," Baalee says and I nod. The royal blue fabric draped around my body is beautiful and extravagant, but that doesn't make me comfortable. She is right about the deep v-neck being attached
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