Fated: Genetically Altered Humans, #19

By Rena Marks

Glimpses of the future continually taunt him.

 

Nero knows what will happen, will happen. That's never been an issue. The issue for him is convincing others of his visions. Especially the woman he knows will become his mate.

 

Harmony Richards doesn't have time for luxuries like relationships and children. A career woman, she devotes her life to her job as Assistant to the President of Earth's Global Government.

 

But when Nero finally gets his chance with Harmony—will his secret visions of her private thoughts tear them apart?

 

* The story behind the series: When futuristic Earth finds alien DNA and creates a new species of hybrids in hidden labs, Dr. Robyn Saraven helps the "creatures" escape. She uses her connections to establish their own city on Earth-Ground where they can learn, grow, and avoid the corruption and greed that created them. *

 

 Each book can be read as a standalone, but will be richer if read in order.

 

Other books in the Genetically Altered Humans Series:

Book 1—Xeno Sapiens

Book 2—Earth-Ground

Book 3—Siren

Book 4—Beast's Beauty

Book 5—Almost Human

Book 6—Forbidden Touches

Book 7—Coveting Ava

Book 8—For Everly

Book 9—Assassin's Mate

Book 10—Sextet

Book 11—Tempting Tempest

Book 12—Falling For Trance  

Book 13—Damaged Goods

Book 14—Alien's Bride

Book 15—Dual Lives

Book 16—Reson's Lesson

Book 17—A Mate For Max

Book 18—Dragon's Mate

Book 19—Fated

 

"Another winner! Rena Marks' xeno sapien novel series has given us a new story of integrity, intrigue, and love."

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rena Marks
• Release date: Aug 11, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201331757

Rena Marks

Welcome to my Worlds! Rena Marks is a bestselling author with over eighty-five novels under her belt. She combines her love of science fiction with paranormal romance because no matter what happens in real life, a happy-ever-after never disappoints. Come get lost in my worlds for a few hours!

Book preview

Prologue

NERO STOOD IN front of the creepy old castle, a stuffed dragon in his hand. He scowled at the toy. It looked ridiculous. Lily had assured him a gift would not be remiss, but what child would want a gift of a creature they would one day become? It was crazy.

Still, he had a purpose for coming here and the fact that Amber and Cavan had just had their baby? Perfect excuse.

Behind him, he heard a voice.

Nero?

He whirled to see Cavan, standing naked, which meant the dragon shifter had just been out flying. If nothing else, the last couple of years since Cavan and Amber had become residents of Xenia had taught them all that. If you saw Cavan naked, he’d been shifting.

Uh, yeah. I’m here to see the new baby. Javan. Or something like that.

Javus, his father corrected.

Nero winced. He wasn’t doing so great. Surely he should know the little one’s name, considering he came all this way and brought it a present. Come to think of...shouldn’t he know what it was? Human? Dragon? Male? Female? He was honestly flabbergasted.

For the first time, he felt a sense of guilt over using the visit the baby excuse.

"It’s not new anymore, Cavan muttered. He’s a month old."

Of course. He was subtly letting Nero know the kid was male. But at Nero’s silence, because what more could he say, Cavan sighed.

Come on in.

Nero followed him up the ancient stone steps, some cracked in spots. Why the family would choose to live in the decrepit old mansion—with parts of it falling to ruins—was beyond him.

A chill ran over him as soon as he passed through the doorway. He shook it off, though. Later he’d delve into where it came from.

A sitting area was just beyond the front entryway and Cavan’s mate, Amber, rested in a massage chair, face down. Her uncle—the artist—was wiping at the back of her neck with a rag. Then he took a bit of an oily substance and applied it gently to the newly established tattoo.

It was three names.

J effery

C av an

Clet us

The letters in the center of the tattoo were inked a different color, spelling out a fourth name. Magical.

That was how she’d reached the baby’s name. Javus. She’d combined the names of every male in her household. Her favorite males comprised the little one’s name.

Cavan pressed a kiss to the top of his mate’s head.

How’s it look? she asked him.

As beautiful as you, he said softly. Nero is here. He brings a gift for Javus.

Amber jumped up from the sofa. Nero. Thank you for coming. Have you met Uncle Cletus?

No, he rumbled. But I would like to. Especially now that I’ve seen his work.

The human male named Cletus smiled at him. Interested in something, m’boy? I happen to have some time. My man, Jeffery, is out at your gory gladiator pits. He made a face and Nero knew the fighting arena wasn’t Cletus’s favorite place, since he’d been stalking him and all. And Amber and Cavan are taking my precious grand-nephew in for his one month visit at medbay. I’d love to have some company.

Never had the fates aligned so perfectly.

I would love to visit with you.

Before he knew it, Amber and Cavan bundled up their baby, gave him a quick glance at it, and took his stuffed dragon to set in the hovercarrier. The baby—the Javus—cooed at the dragon-toy and kicked his tiny arms and legs. He felt a sense of relief that he’d gotten the gift right, at least.

Take one more blanket and a set of clothes, Nero said, his eyes focused on the couple. He’s going to make a mess on himself.

We’ve already got a spare, Amber said, smiling at him.

This was when people usually got uncomfortable. But it was unavoidable.

It’ll happen after you change him.

Amber looked at her mate, a puzzled look in her eyes. Cavan shrugged and went to the changing table where he grabbed another bundle of clothes and a blanket. They left, leaving him alone with the human, who was now staring at him with something akin to horror. That was the way people reacted when they found out.

He sighed. I had a dream, he began. I need something. A sense of balance, I believe. One word stood out. Harmony. That is the tattoo I wish. I would like it down my arm, please.

Just the word?

A spelling. Or symbols. Make it artsy if you wish. But all caps. I wish for it to have as much oomph, as much power, as possible.

The crafty old uncle narrowed his eyes. Take off your shirt so I can see what I’m working with.

Nero pulled the bottom of his shirt up over his head, flinging it onto the seat next to him.

All right, Cletus said, studying his musculature. I’m envisioning a sort of tribal tattoo on that bicep. I can write the word harmony inside the bands. It’ll be subtle...yet stand out at the same time.

That sounds acceptable.

For the next hour, Nero was convinced that the old male uncle was as much of a witch as he was. He’d managed to wrangle out conversation from him—more conversation than Nero ever had with anyone. Before he knew it, the uncle had convinced him to attend the upcoming dance most other Xeno Sapiens were looking forward to attending.

He might regret that offer.

Amber and Cavan returned, walking up the front steps, both oddly quiet. Or, perhaps not so oddly.

How did you know? Amber asked him directly.

Nero shrugged, uncomfortable. Most people pretended not to notice. It’s what I do.

Know? Uncle Cletus asked.

Javus spit up on himself right when he was about to see the doctor. So we changed him. It got all over his blanket. And after we changed him? It happened again. Immediately. Good thing we had an extra set.

This is why you need harmony in your life? Uncle Cletus asked. You know things that happen and you feel like you need to balance that out?

Oh, no. Nero was unsure how the uncle had gotten so far off base. Harmony is going to be my mate.

Chapter One

Madam Assistant Harmony Richards of the Global Government :  

THE PRESIDENTIAL HOVERCRAFT, Air Craft One, touched down gently within the city limits of Xenia, home of the Xeno Sapien people.

Mr. President. Madam Assistant. All is clear to disembark.

The order from the head of their Secret Service had Harmony Richards and President Davis Walker rising from their seats. While the President packed up what he was working on, her gaze strayed to the windows that lined the hovercraft. She wanted to study the new race of people, but she didn’t want to appear a gawker, either.

They have no idea where we stand? Where the actual windows of the hovercraft are? Harmony asked, her attention drawn to the scene outside the windows. A crowd of people lined outside, waiting for their descent. The humans were easily recognizable, but the others...

No, my dear, President Walker said, barely glancing at the glass. The windows are all one way, blending with the metallic walls of the craft. Mirrored on the outside.

Good. She’d be able to study them all in private. 

Inside the hovercraft, the lights had dimmed. It made the outside show more clearly. There was a row of uniformed officers outside the hovercraft, both human and Xeno Sapien. She couldn’t see the features of the Xeno Sapiens, however, since they all wore helmets. But some of the ones beyond the row of security—they were unique.

In the center of the crowd stood Dr. Robyn Saraven, the head of the city. To her right was Dr. Amanda Becker. To her left was the only un-uniformed Xeno Sapien male. Because he stood out without the uniform, Harmony’s attention focused on him.

Very slowly, his gaze lifted to pick the same window she gazed from.

He stared back at the glass—right at her.

She stood there frozen, unable to move a single muscle. Surely he couldn’t actually be watching her?

She’d never seen him before. He wasn’t one of the pretty ones—the ones used to promote the city in conferences and news briefings by flashing a pearly white smile or a set of angelic wings. This man was too hard to be pretty.

His black hair was thick on top and shaved short on the sides. His skin was a metallic red and his throat looked even more so against the white dress shirt that clung to the defined muscles of his broad shoulders and chest. There was no greeting smile on his lips. In fact, there were no smile lines around his mouth, as if the man had never smiled a day in his life. His cheeks were lined with dark stubble, outlining a square, masculine jaw. 

But his eyes. One was a deep rich brown and the other was a stunning emerald green. He stared vacantly at the craft, the same way everyone else did. But he stayed focused at the same window she looked through. The window the President said they couldn’t find, as they blended with the walls of the craft.

He couldn’t see in, though. Not through the mirrored glass. She let herself study him from head to toe. Who was he? Since he stood next to the two women in charge of the city, would he be joining them for dinner? As she studied him, she could swear he stiffened.

What the—?

Could he see her? Just to test, she moved a few steps to the side and his gaze slowly moved with her.

Her heart began to race as adrenaline spiked in her chest.

Are you sure he can’t see me? she asked.

The President looked up from the briefcase he was packing. No. This is one-way glass. He just sees his own reflection.

The Xeno Sapien outside turned his head as if listening to Dr. Robyn Saraven.

Are you ready, Ms. Richards? the President asked.

Mmm. She nodded, keeping her eye on the man outside.

But as soon as the President’s back was to the window, the Xeno Sapien blinked slowly and dragged his bi-colored gaze directly back to her.

Chills rippled up her arms.

Definitely. Yeah. He could see.

She walked with President Walker to the door of the hovercraft. Slowly it opened and folded into stairs. The head of the Secret Service went first, she went next and the President followed behind her.

Her breath hitched in her chest as she realized people stared at their progression. She felt like a gauche schoolgirl, so she schooled her face to show no emotion. At the bottom of the steps, she stepped slightly to the right to take her position next to the President.

President Walker. Robyn Saraven stepped forward with Dr. Amanda Becker. Unfortunately, that left the man who’d stood to her right directly across from Harmony.

He didn’t focus on the President like everyone else did. No, this man—with his multi-colored eyes—stared at her. It was jarring and unnerving. Even for a seasoned, political figure like her, unsettling.

The greeting of the President by the leaders of Xenia faded away as she fought against squirming under the direct gaze of the male across from her. From up close, muscles rippled from underneath his dress shirt. The magnificence of his eyes was more pronounced. The brown one was centered with a gold pupil, and the deep green one blazed with heat, ignited by something raw and untamed. Barely leashed power emanated from him.

My name is Nero, he said. His voice was deep and without inflection. He was stating a fact. No more than that. It was almost like they were adversaries picking sides.

I’m—

Harmony.

It was odd not to be referred to as Madam Assistant. She bristled that he knew her first name. Oh, she’d been briefed, of course. The Xeno Sapiens all shared one uniform last name and because of that, focused more on first names than titles and names. But it was just so invasive that he stated it before she could.

And how do you know my name? she asked. Because she was going to point out that she was at a disadvantage. He knew her name, job, title, position—while she knew nothing about a private citizen of Xenia, a top-secret city. Therefore, it would be more polite to remain quiet and allow a person to give their name rather than jump the gun and take that power from them.

But his next words stunned her even more.

Because you’re mine.

All heads swiveled to them. Harmony was