She's happy.

Was there ever a more lucky male than me? My mate was happy.

The feel of her happiness was so strong I'd almost have believed I was standing in the light of creation. And, it was from something as simple as knowing that my parents would love her. She was still skittish, but that too was lessening. My nose was filled with the scent of her and I could taste her skin on my lips from that gentle kiss she'd allowed me.

My heart was beating wildly in my chest. I felt like I'd been given the greatest gift. I snuck glances down at my female when she wasn't watching. Her cheeks were rosy, but she stayed nestled against my side as we walked. She was becoming comfortable with my closeness.

We both stepped into Kados' lab. He was so engrossed in the information on the screen in front of him he almost didn't even realize we'd entered. By the time he did turn around he looked surprised and then he looked more than pleased.

He likely suspected the same thing most other males on the ship had thought, what with our reappearance into society. I'd received many congratulations today all of them I tried to shield from Addison to keep from stressing her, as our conversation with Kayle had. "Don't," I spoke to him in Vallen, "We aren't yet bonded. Don't stress her."

He heaved a sigh, but had the good graces not to look disappointed, "I'd assumed, she doesn't smell like you. But, a male can dream."

"Your dreams consist of me bonding my mate?" I shot back as he rifled through some instruments.

He snorted, "No my dreams consist of bonding to my mate, who will remain undiscovered likely until you get to..." He waved his hand and then pulled out a small silvered item, "Ahah! You're looking for a language implant, yes? I'd expected you sooner after her displeasure with Wyland."

Addison cleared her throat, "Oh, I'm sorry continue your conversation. I didn't mean to interrupt." I found her sarcasm endearing.

Kados snickered, "Apologies. It's our mother tongue and we forget sometimes." He patted the seat in the room. It was similar to those in the medical bay. While Kados was first and foremost a scientist he was well versed in the medical field, specifically the field dealing with human biology. It was his job, after all, to understand the human genome.

My little mate hopped on up into the chair nimbly, not appearing at all afraid.

"You are here for a language implant, yes?" Kados glanced at her up and down. She was the first human female he'd ever had the opportunity to examine.

"And to get this off?" She showed him that blasted piece of metal on her wrist. Just looking at it upset me. Her leaders had tagged their females like livestock to keep track of their breeding and to exploit them.

"What is it?" Kados spun the silvered metal around her wrist, examining it.

"Nothing good," I spoke in Vallen and then corrected myself to English so Addison could understand, "Nothing good."

"It just tracks fertility cycles." Her cheeks blushed an endearing pink. I'd found that I'd become accustomed to her blushing, even now I'd begun to associate it with her wanting me.

I shifted uneasily on my feet, "They're used to exploit their females and punish them for their continued ability to conceive."

Kados bared his teeth at me and my confession, while his Urland ancestry was a little more animalistic as evidenced by his slit-gold eyes, it was an uncommon gesture for non-Sumase Val'Dornn. Kados had picked it up sometime in his youth, however, "Disgusting." He pulled his hand away from the device as if it had burnt him, "I will need to get a small laser to pry it off. we should start with the language implant."

Addison nodded and the first twinge of nerves began in her stomach.

I bottled up the feeling and sent it to Kados since her face remained impassive.

"It's a painless procedure and will be over in seconds." Just that comment helped to assuage her fear.

Kados stepped up to her, "May I touch the side of your head?"

She nodded.

He gently ran his fingers along the left side of her face, fascinated. "You will feel slight pressure. I'm going to stick a small nerve sensitive cloth over the area behind your ear. That will keep you from feeling any pain." He showed her the small packaged white patch.

Holding up the little silver device, Kados described how it would use a microscopic needle and would quickly implant the device and retract in the span of milliseconds. Addison wouldn't even be able to feel it.

She looked relieved that he took the time to explain each step to her.

Kados double checked his positioning on the side of her head with some charts he had printed out of the human brain-map. "Take a breath."

Addison sucked in a large shaky breath.

She was being brave and she'd managed to conceal it from me. I stepped up immediately and grabbed her hand. She held it in a white-knuckled grip.

The action caused Kados to smile faintly, "Let your breath out slowly."

Addison let out a tiny stream of air and immediately we both heard a quiet, "click".

Kados pulled the nerve-sensitive cloth off of her head and checked the area for any sign of blood, but it was clear. He smiled a dazzling smile, pleased with himself no doubt.

"Jesso ka'val Addison abaira? (Can you understand, Addison?)" Kados tested the implant with our mother tongue.

"No," her answer was quick.

*****A/N*****

This part may end up being short. I apologize for that. I'm sneaking in writing time between making Chipotle Guacamole and deep frying a turkey.

Also, someone drown me in all the fake words I'm making up. I've been losing track of all of them. I'll need to make a dictionary of sorts.

Anywho, I'm a sucker for languages.

Jesso ka''val Addison abaira

literally translates to Jesso: question signifier, ka'val: (fem)you , abaira: have understanding.

Thank you,

Layla