Knollig: A Terraneu Novel ( Book 2) by Stormy McKnight Read Free Book Online

with the rest of them. Silently prowled around the room,
restless and still obviously angry. When the others had made to greet her, he
had worked his way closer and closer until with the last member of the Council
in front of her, his brother Knaleg…he was just to her left. He had stiffened
when Knaleg had taken her hand, and his face was getting redder the longer
Knaleg talked.
    Mairi gently withdrew her hand from Knaleg and
looked around at Knollig. Raising an eyebrow questioningly, before she could
say anything, he had bowed low in front of her. When she tilted her head just
so, they were a breath apart.
    “I am Knollig.” His husky voice trembled down her
spine, “A Council member here on Terraneu.” He took her hand from her lap, “It
is a great pleasure to formally greet you Mairi.” He brushed his lips against
her hand, “Your grandfather is doing us a great service, and you are an honored
addition to the community.” He turned her hand over and rubbed it against his
cheek, placing a kiss right into the most sensitive spot on her palm!
    “Th…” Mairi had to clear her throat. “Thank You.”
    “There, now we can get down to business.” Thian
broke the silence that descended around the room. Knollig released her hand,
gave her a small smile and worked his way to his seat. She and Amber swung
their chairs around to face the table.
    “Yes, to business.” Kniam stated, hitting the table
with a little hammer. We will be transmitting this meeting so that all of the
other males will know what is being said. “Also, we will be talking out loud so
the Earth females can hear.” His mate gave him a huge smile, and he cleared his
throat loudly. The five Council members bowed to Kniam, then he sat in his
chair. The others followed suit and took their seats.
    “Is there anything that you feel you haven’t been
informed of Mairi? Any gaps in your understanding of why you are here? What has
been done to your body medically? Where this is?” Kniam asked her.
    Mairi thought for a moment, “I think I understand
everything Kniam, thank you for your concern.”
    Thian broke in, “You understand that the females we
are bringing in six months are hopefully going to be mates for the men here?”
Before Amber could correct him he hastily added, “Yes Amber…I know. Not right
away. They are going to be given time to adjust, and get to know the men…then
they can decide if they want to be mates.”
    Mairi nodded that yes she understood. She did have
one question, “What if they don’t want to.” All the men froze, confusion on
their faces.
    “Don’t want to be mates?” Asteen asked.
    “I know that some women may not wish to be tied down
to a mate, which I am all for leaving them their choices. I meant what if they
don’t want to wait to be mates?” Mairi clarified.
    Kniam answered for the others, “It would be wise to
establish a solid relationship before agreeing to be a mate with a male. Our
males have not had the same experiences as the men of Earth. If a female
chooses to stay single, that is their decision and we will respect that. It
will however be very difficult to change your status once you agree to be
mates. We haven’t decided on an exact process, but it will have to be harder so
that the females know it is a serious commitment.”
    When Mairi opened her mouth, Kniam cut her off, “We
are talking about the same thing correct? Mates are forever, like a marriage?”
    “Yes.’ Mairi stated, “We are talking about the same
thing, to take one man, move to New Haven…have a mate. What if they don’t want
to sleep around with other men?”
    Kniam looked puzzled, “The women will all have the
choice of dating or …” he looked to Amber and she supplied, “hooking up,
jumping in the sack…mattress mamboing.” He gave her an exasperated look, “Yes.
The females from Earth will be allowed to do all those things. They can have
multiple partners, they can take a male then decide against keeping