Collateral Trade by Candace Smith

physical confrontations with his brothers.
    Ah, but how will you be in full mating heat? Tina did not realize he twin-spoke the thought, until his brother answered.
    You are more rattled than I am, Tian. If we find a suitable species, how do we know we will experience a mating bonding at all with a primitive? It is more likely we will be forcing ourselves to complete our duty with a species that cowers from us.
    Tian silently chuckled. Then why is it I feel your desire with the thought? I bet your balls are heavy and your cock thick and stiff.
    It is the merely residual arousal from the vision of our brothers’ mate. In truth, Chaya could not wait to board the ship and be free from Milana’s seductive presence. With their dark father commanding the Cathisis, Chaya was confident they would find a mate that was at the very least compatible and presentable. That is, after his training and Tian instilling her dependence on his comfort.
    Their dark father walked into the gathering room a moment later. “Chaya?” Danilo felt his son’s angry passion from the ground, and Laiya’s aggressive protective response was just easing when he walked by him leading his mate. As leader of their family hierarchy, it was Danilo’s responsibility to keep their pod running smoothly. “These next two weeks until launch will be difficult. It is not easy maintaining control.”
    Danilo watched Tian pretend to read through the scroll, but he could feel his anxiety. With the responsibility of curbing his brother along with his own emotions, Danilo figured Tian had not absorbed a sentence in days. “Sons, it is because of the launch you are feeling this pressure. I am proud and pleased with your efforts to respect your brothers and their mate. Many families have experienced fighting, and it is tearing their hierarchy apart.”
    Tian set the scroll aside. “Father, how will you be able to spend five years away from light father and mother?” He could not imagine such a sacrifice.
    “We have been together long enough for me to hold them inside of me, and my brother will look after our mate’s needs. Tian, being light twin does not mean you lack the strength to protect your mate. Your primary focus will always be compromise and diffusing situations, but when you find her, and if Chaya is away, you’re protective side will come to the front.”
    Chaya grumbled, “I will not be away when we find our mate.”
    Danilo laughed and clapped his son on the shoulder. “I suspect you will be within distance to protect her at all times.”
    Dark fathers coordinated flights, choosing different quadrants of primitive space to search and barter for women. These primitives’ passenger ships would be overpopulated with generations born since their departure. The vessel would be stretched to the metal seams of their physical capacity to house the increasing numbers, and supplies would be running out. Without knowledge and access to the Universal Star Charts, the primitive species would have no clear destination.
    Actana ships would approach with offers to supply fuel, replenish supplies, and offer navigation to a new world. As further benefit, the primitives need only lessen the passenger load on their cramped ship. It was a collateral trade: life and continued existence in exchange for their excess women. Even the less advanced species would recognize the value of such an offer.
    Depending on the needs and destructive propensities of the primitives they discovered, the Actana Commanders would shrewdly trade supplies and, most important, the destination planet they chose for the weary travelers to inhabit. The acceptable destinations chosen were indicated on the Universal Star Charts. The species’ new home could sustain them with an agreeable atmosphere and meager supplies. No one wanted primitives inadvertently acquiring resources to travel and run amok through their galaxy with their lack of control.
    They launched the Cathisis with a crew of dark