Page 11 of Alien Spare (Cosmic Mates #9)

“I’m surprised you’re not at a charity event,” Karma said. Her sister had a very full schedule of royal duties, and she was always busy. Out of the blue, Kismet had invited her to lunch at a café in a nearby town outside the palace.

“Jaryk has an engagement, but I bowed out to spend some sister time with you. We don’t see each other as much as we used to.”

“We’re married ladies now.”

“And you’re working on a special project .” Kismet winked.

“You’re reading more into that comment than you should,” she prevaricated. The palace physician had removed her birth control implant two days ago and confirmed Kaldorans and humans could produce offspring. Last night, they’d officially launched Project Baby.

Normally she shared everything with her twin, but she drew the line at her sex life. “Mind your own bedroom,” she said.

Unoffended, Kismet laughed. “I’m so glad you’re getting along. The man is crazy about you.”

“Yeah, he is, isn’t he?” She smiled happily. “I’m crazy about him, too.” She sighed. “The universe will provide, if you let it.”

To her credit, her sister didn’t roll her eyes, the way she sometimes did in reference to the mystical. “When we signed up for Cosmic Mates, we could have ended up on different planets. I’m grateful our lives are running parallel—in short order, we both married alien brothers,” Kismet said.

“Twins!” they said in unison and hooked pinkie fingers like they used to when they were kids.

“Thank the Goddess it worked out this way! Much as I love Falkor, I would hate to be separated from you,” she said.

That sly smile was back on Kismet’s face.

“What?” Karma said.

“You love him.”

“Well, of course I do. I wouldn’t make a baby with him if I didn’t!”

“Ha! I knew it!” her sister pounced.

“Okay, fine. We’re trying for a baby,” she admitted.

The server brought the food they’d ordered—savory golden “grapes” covered in green sauce with a side of alien fruit.

Karma speared one of the golden orbs and ate it.

A crispy coating covered the outside; savory meat filled the inside.

“Delicious! Good choice!” she commended her sister, who’d ordered the meal. “How did you know what to get?”

“I asked the queen to recommend a place and a dish.”

“Oh, good. I don’t know what much of anything is yet. Falkor is teaching me.”

“I wondered why he announced the names of the food at dinner the other night.”

“That’s why. Queen Myka made a good choice. Do you see her often?”

“Every now and then. Jaryk confers with his parents, and I sometimes accompany him.”

“I haven’t seen the queen or king since the wedding.” She doubted her husband had either. She sensed distance between him and his parents, although he was very close to his brother. “It’s good your relationship with the queen is progressing,” she said wistfully.

“I like her a lot. She’s much less formal, rather motherly in private. She can’t take Mom’s place, but having her around helps.” She sighed. “I miss Mom a lot.”

“Me, too.” Destiny Kennedy lived on Earth. There was no telling when or if they’d ever see her again. “I wish she could visit—” Karma frowned at the sight of a woman sitting in the corner. She was only able to catch a glimpse before the woman turned her head. Where do I know her from?

“What are you looking at?”

“That woman with the hat pulled over her eyes.” Her back was to them now.

Kismet twisted in her seat to look. “Who is she?”

“I can’t place her, but I think I know her from somewhere.”

“Where?”

“If I knew where, I’d know who.”

“Maybe you encountered her in the palace?”

“Maybe.” She shrugged. “I’m sure it will come to me—at three o’clock in the morning.”

Kismet laughed.

Most likely she had encountered her on one of Falkor’s business jaunts.

She’d met a lot of people—vendors, factory workers, retail clerks.

Falkor frequently toured his manufacturing plants and stores.

Everyone was eager to show off and give the prince a “tour,” not realizing he owned the company.

She wished she could tell Kismet about his business, but he hadn’t given her the go-ahead.

She was so proud of him, and she hated how he’d unjustly acquired a reputation as a reprobate playboy.

“Good afternoon, ladies!”

She jumped at a familiar voice. “Soton?” What is he doing here?

“We’ve got to stop meeting like this.” He winked. “For a moment, I couldn’t believe my eyes. I knew I’d be seeing one beautiful woman. I didn’t realize I’d be seeing double.”

He’s so smarmy.

“Excuse me, I don’t think we’ve met,” Kismet said.

“This is Soton. He’s…a friend of Falkor’s.” She reluctantly introduced them. “Soton, this is my sister Kismet.”

“A pleasure.” He bowed.

I don’t like this guy. “So, what brings you here?” How soon will you be leaving?

“I often come to Okron for business.” Did his chuckle sound conspiratorial? “Today, I came to see you.”

“Me? Why? What for?” She met her sister’s curious gaze. I don’t know what he’s talking about! she tried to signal telepathically. He had no way of knowing I’d be here. I didn’t know I’d be here.

“You and I have some unfinished business…involving our good friend Falkor.”

“First of all, Falkor is my husband . Second—”

“Second, perhaps we should discuss this in private,” he said. “Unless you wish to discuss personal matters in front of your sister.”

“You and I have no personal matters to discuss. Talk to my husband. I accompany him, but that’s all I do.

” She tried to signal company matters had to be taken up with Falkor without admitting he was running a business.

She helped him out, gave her opinion, and accompanied him on his trips, but she didn’t make the decisions.

“Which is what we need to speak about,” he persisted. “If we could step into the hallway. It will only take a moment.” He motioned toward the corridor leading to the café’s service entrance.

She swatted at a pesky drone buzzing in front of their table. Why did they allow those things in here? It was almost as annoying as Soton. She hated to be rude, but he refused to take no for an answer.

People were staring in their direction. Kismet watched avidly. There’d be questions to answer later.

“Fine,” she agreed, so she could speak freely and get rid of him. “This won’t take long,” she said to Kismet.

Why did the king care so much if Falkor worked? Work was a positive thing! How could gainful employment and owning a business cause more of a scandal than carousing and womanizing?

In the hall, she crossed her arms. “Okay, what is it?”

Shouts and banging came from the kitchen on the other side of the wall. Then a crash , followed by cursing. Oopsie! Somebody’s lunch will be delayed.

“You’re beautiful when you smile,” Soton said. “More beautiful.”

Her face tightened. What did one say to an unwelcome compliment?

He put her at odds with the courtesy she’d been taught, put her between a rock and a hard place.

Kaldoronics was her husband’s dream. It meant everything to him.

Being rude to his partner ran the risk of disrupting the smooth operation of the company, but she in no way wished to encourage Soton’s advances.

Unfortunately, she had a hunch even a curt thanks would be taken as encouragement.

“Anything business related needs to be taken up with my husband ,” she said.

A waiter emerged from the kitchen with a loaded tray. Giving him room to pass, Soton stepped closer, resting his hand on the wall by her head. Sickeningly sweet breath wafted across her face. Good Goddess, he’s not going to kiss me, is he? She averted her head and raised her hands to ward him off.

“This isn’t business, it’s personal.”

The server disappeared into the dining room.

But, rather than move away, Soton leaned in closer.

“Stop it. Right now.” She gave him a hard shove and ducked out of range. “I’m going back to my sister. Falkor is your friend!” She moved to go around him, but he planted himself in her path. “Get out of my way.”

“We have chemistry. Why are you afraid to admit it? It could be so good between us.” His voice was lascivious, his gaze hot.

“We do not have chemistry!” Her jaw dropped at the blatant sexual harassment. “We’re done.” I never should have come here. I knew he was a snake. “ I’m going to tell Falkor about this.”

“You’d hurt him like that?”

“He needs to know what kind of man you are.”

“What? You can’t blame me. You gave me the come-on. You were checking me out the moment we met. I could tell you and Falkor weren’t really a couple.”

“You’re insane! I don’t know what your game is, but I’m going to tell my husband.”

“Are you sure he’ll believe you? He and I have been friends for years—far longer than you’ve been married. He can’t run the business without me.”

“I’m still his wife. He loves me.”

“He earned the title the Prince of Scandal. You’re only one of many women. You think he loves you, but the novelty of being with a human will wear off, and he’ll get bored and move on to the next new thing.”

“You’re despicable!” She rushed into the dining room, unwilling to listen to any more of his lies.

“Please, let’s go,” she told her sister. “We have to go.”

“We haven’t had dessert!” Kismet protested. “And I have to pay for the lunch—”

She didn’t wait for her sister to follow but rushed out of the café.

He’s wrong. He’s wrong.

But is he? Didn’t all her relationships start out hot and tender—until the guy lost interest?

Maybe she was Falkor’s flavor of the moment, and his affection would wane like it did with all the others.

They’d been together mere weeks—Soton had known him half their lives.

Falkor trusted him enough to go into business with him, trusted him to keep his secret.

But if Soton was trustworthy, he wouldn’t have hit on me.

Where the heck was the hovercar?

She got halfway down the street when her sister caught up and grabbed her arm. “Stop. Talk to me. What’s wrong? What happened back there? Tell me what’s going on. Who was that man?”

“He’s supposed to be a friend of Falkor’s. But he hit on me.”

“What a slimebucket!”

“To say the least. I don’t want to talk about it, okay? Maybe later.” The conversation had the potential to develop into a quagmire. When she calmed down, she’d be able to better formulate what to say.

“Okay…”

They walked in silence for a while.

“You realize we’re headed in the opposite direction of the hovercar, don’t you?” Kismet said.

She stalled out. “We are?” She didn’t have a good sense of direction on the best of days—and she’d been so upset, she hadn’t paid any attention. She pivoted and retraced her steps. “What if Falkor gets tired of me?”

“Is that what that man said to you?” Her sister linked her arm through hers.

Hovercraft zipped overhead, leaving the lane clear for strolling.

Interesting shops with exotic wares displayed in the windows lined the street.

Savory—and unsavory—aromas wafted from small cafés.

Curious pedestrians glanced their way. They were the only humans on the planet, they were twins, and one of them had married the crown prince.

She doubted many knew of Falkor’s marriage.

All the better when he dumps me at the end of the year. Soton’s vile comments had wormed into her head and reopened her insecurities. She sighed. “What if it’s true?”

“Falkor loves you! I’m sure of it. Trust me.”

“I don’t have a good track record. Men like me at first,” she said. “And then they don’t.”

“Thankfully they didn’t—or you wouldn’t be married to Falkor. And he loves you.”

“He didn’t marry me voluntarily.” Unlike other Cosmic Mates marriages, they hadn’t chosen each other. If not for the royal edict, they wouldn’t be together at all. Maybe Falkor had been making the best of a bad situation. Men didn’t have to love a woman to sleep with her.

“You were forced to marry him, too—but you still fell in love with him!”

“I gave him a tarot reading.” The cards had predicted betrayal and heartache. “The cards said—”

“Tarot! Please! I’m sorry. You can’t put any credence in pictures on a deck of cards.”

“They provide guidance…”

“They provide entertainment!” she snapped.

She pressed her lips together. They would never agree, and she hated fighting with her sister.

“I’m sorry I yelled at you.” Her sister halted their walk with a quick hug.

“Listen to me. He adores you. If you never believe another thing I say, believe that. Don’t let previous broken relationships or the insinuations of a douchebag undermine your marriage.

Focus on the good and build on it. You deserve happiness.

It’s in your name. You’ve earned good karma. ”

What if I’ve earned bad karma?

“Besides, consider the source. Who is more likely to tell you the truth—that asshole or Falkor?”

Soton was an unquestionable douche. Falkor treated her like a queen.

Did she wish to live a life ruled by fear and insecurity?

No. She should trust that the Goddess and the universe intended good things for her.

“You’re right.” She gave her sister a hug. “You’re pretty good at the pep talk.”

“It’s one of my lesser-known, but exceptional skills.”

“Next to your modesty.”

“Of course.” She grinned.

I’m not going to allow Soton to undermine my marriage. I’ll let Falkor know what happened today.