Razi has been digging into the past of the Alliance for years, but now she has found the Oefric origin world she has a problem. The world is disintegrating at an alarming rate so if they are going to find the origin of this species, they have to work quickly. Ailan and Eckhar are her assigned assistants and despite their being unfamiliar with dig sites, they have one other trait that irritates her, they claim that she is their own. A fall and interference from a determined AI change her attitudes toward her new mates in a way she cannot deny.

Excerpt:

Basic training in the Alliance had given her the basics of interspecies mating habits, but even with the reproductive clause in her contract, she had never expected to be on the receiving end of a courtship. It had never occurred to her that the Alliance would enforce the requirement that Terrans find matches in the handful of compatible species.

The Oefric that were here with her were prospects, chosen from over a hundred candidates, several of whom were of the Oefric species. They were just the best matches out of the bunch.

Eckhar was a historian, Ailan an anthropologist, both of which were complementary to her Alliance training as an archaeologist. It was a good match on paper, but she still wasn’t keen on the idea of taking two men as spouses.

The day before yesterday they had met for the first time when they landed. Yesterday had been a planning and settling-in day, she was staying in her shuttle, they in theirs. Today would be their first day working together.

Razi smiled and when all was set and put away, she returned to her companions.

“Okay, shall we get what we came for and preserve what we can?”

“You might be able to get what you came for…” Eckhar started, but Ailan covered his mouth with one hand.

Ailan grinned. “Yes, let’s get to work.”

Eyeing them suspiciously, Razi grabbed her equipment and entered the ruins, starting near the great crevice that was threatening the structure.

She was into her notes for two hours before she looked around for them. Ailan was within earshot. “How did your people realize that their world was going to shift?”

“Our animal forms are very sensitive to alterations in electromagnetic currents. When they had enough information, it was decided that evacuating was the best option.” He came closer as he spoke.

“I see. I am guessing that there aren’t many records from back then.”

He chuckled and sat next to her. “Not really. In five thousand years, most records turn into myth. We are as eager for this information as you are. We have no idea what really happened or how we came to our new home world.”

She chuckled. “That must suck.”

His grin was engaging and she spent a little too long on watching the chiselled plane of his jaw and the clear cut of his lips. He winked as he caught her looking.

“Sorry. I can’t help it. I haven’t been this close to one of your species before.”

“Ask anything that comes into your thoughts.” Ailan gave her a wicked grin.

She laughed and asked the question just as Eckhar came running toward them. “Fine. Are you allergic to wearing shirts or is it just your audience?”

Ailan barked a laugh and was going to answer when the ground shifted under her and a harsh rumbling took over her senses.

She stood and turned to run, but before she took three steps, the floor under her feet gave way and she was falling. Hoarse shouts from the surface followed her while she flipped end over end and collided with the walls.