None of us quite believed in the mate bonds at first. But after seeing three pairs of aliens and humans fall head over heels in love with each other, it’s hard to deny the truth. This mystical bond that the Kalixians believe in is real.
Lucy and I chat companionably as we walk, our heads swiveling this way and that as we observe our surroundings. The buildings in Jocia are an interesting mixture of rustic structures and extremely modern ones. It’s a juxtaposition that fits with what I’ve seen of the planet itself—largely wild forest with the single capital city carved out and rising up in the middle of it all.
“Sure beats the view back on Earth, huh?” Lucy murmurs as she nudges me with her elbow.
I blush. Yeah, she’s definitely not talking about the architecture.
The streets are busy, and it’s hard not to stare at the men walking past. I thought I got used to the sight of the Kalixian warriors while we were on the ship and living on Wauru with the Alpha Force.
But the truth is, they still take my breath away.
Some of the men are dressed in the warrior fashion, wearing nothing but a loincloth. They’re the hardest to not stare at. They’re all muscular and incredibly handsome, their bronze skin shining in the sun and horns glinting as they walk past. Others are dressed in fitted pants and tunics that seem to be the fashion of the capital city, more like what Prince Khrelan wore the one time I saw him.
Not all of them are as devastatingly gorgeous as the warriors of the Alpha Force, but I don’t see an ugly one among them.
“None of them are as gorgeous as Tycran,” Lucy adds with a small sigh. “But damn. I don’t think I knew a single guy back on Earth who could hold a candle to these men.”
I have to agree about that. The horns were a little jarring at first, but even they add to the strange beauty of these alien men.
It’s a little overwhelming, especially since there’s not a female to be seen. I know a few are still alive, but from what I’ve heard, they’re all elderly and sheltered somewhere, revered and almost worshiped in Kalixian society. I’m not likely to see any of them out and about on the street.
“So? What do you think?” Lucy glances at me. “Anybody in particular catch your eye? You should talk to one of them!”
Heat floods my cheeks, and I shake my head vigorously. “Um, not right now. Rose is waiting for us.”
Ugh. Come on, Emma. You’re never going to find a mate if you’re too shy to even look at them, let alone talk to them, I chastise myself.
I could speak to any of the men on this planet thanks to my translator implant. I don’t have any real excuse for avoiding conversation, but I can’t imagine what I would say. What would we have in common? How could I possibly interest any of these handsome alien men other than as a passing novelty?
I know several of the human women are still skeptical about the whole mate bond thing. Some of them have been quite clear that they don’t want a mate, but ever since I saw Tordax and Rose fall for each other, I’ve harbored a small, secret yearning for it. I don’t want to admit it, because I’ve prided myself on my independence all my life. I’ve always been a bit of a loner, keeping to myself and my books, losing myself in other worlds and other characters.
There, in those pages, I had adventures and romances and friendships beyond anything I could cultivate in real life—except for my one close friend, Jade, who’s the opposite of me in pretty much every way. She’s the only thing I miss about Earth, and the only reason I would want to go back.
But the possibility of the mate bond is intriguing.
The idea of having such a deep connection to someone, of having someone know you intimately in every way, is fascinating to me. I’ve found myself longing for it, dreaming about that kind of bond, even though it’s something I never thought I would experience. And the physical aspect of it…
Holy crap.
I can feel myself blush hotly at the thought. All three of the mated women have been cagey with the details, preferring to keep it private. But I can see the way their warriors look at them, and the look in their eyes when they see their men. It’s a desire that I had no idea existed in real life, a hunger I can’t imagine anyone ever directing at me.
What would it be like to want someone that deeply, that intensely? What does that kind of connection feel like?
Luckily, before Lucy can try again to get me to approach one of the Kalixian men, we reach the house Rose and Tordax share. It’s a beautiful two-story home with balconies and a flat roof that I can imagine lying on top of in the afternoon, enjoying the sun.
Rose answers the door after the first knock, her blonde hair piled atop her head. She’s wearing a red wrap dress, and I immediately notice that her pregnancy is beginning to show, her belly softly rounding.
It wasn’t long after we landed on Kalix that Tordax and Rose announced she’s expecting a baby. The news spread quickly. The first evidence that offspring can come from a human and Kalixian pairing is a huge deal, and the factions seem deeply divided about whether or not it’s a good thing. As usual, the prince hasn’t spoken out one way or another about it yet, but word among the Alpha Force is that he’s cautiously optimistic, though still unsure.
Looking at Rose’s glowing face, I don’t know how it could be anything but good.
“You guys are just in time,” she says, smiling brightly as she pulls Lucy and then me in for a hug.
“For what?” I ask, shooting a glance at Lucy. She shrugs, looking as curious as I am.
Rose leads us into the house, smoothing her hair down and beginning to quickly braid it with nimble fingers. She looks like she’s settling in well here, and it makes me glad. I was a sounding board for her back on the ship when she was first grappling with her feelings for Tordax, and I’m happy to see how content and comfortable she seems now.
“Tordax and I are heading over to the palace today. We’re hoping to get as many of the women as possible to join us.” She looks over her shoulder at us. “We plan to speak with the prince.”
I feel myself flush a little at the mention of Prince Khrelan. I haven’t seen him since we landed, of course, but the memory of those impossibly blue eyes meeting mine through the crowd has stayed with me. I’ve tried to shake it, but it’s impossible to forget. I’ve been surrounded by gorgeous men non-stop since the Kalixians rescued us, but something about him stands out from the rest.
“It’s no secret that not everyone here is accepting of us human women.” Rose sighs, pinning the braids around her head. “And no secret that the prince hasn’t fully come down on either side of the argument either.”
“I know.” Lucy grimaces. “They think we’ll weaken them.”
“Some do. Tordax says they’re not the majority, but it’s a loud faction. A lot of the ladies are nervous they’re going to be shipped away from Kalix if they’re not protected by a mate bond.”
I stifle a small snort at the idea of anyone trying to ship away the women who have bonded to one of the Kalixian males. I can just imagine Tordax, Malav, or Sorsir’s reactions. It wouldn’t end well for whoever tried, that’s for sure.
Again, I feel that familiar surge of envy. What would it be like to have a mate who protected you that fiercely, who would burn the whole world down rather than see you taken from him? It’s like something out of a fantasy, but for a few of us, it’s become very real. And I can’t help but be jealous.