Page 9 of All You Need is Alien Love (Tentacular Tales #4)

CHAPTER FOUR

The officials overseeing the Blood Duel took Captain Starblade and his crew into their custody while Lord Vardox and Khamos Atasham made their way to the formal arena.

Vardox wasn’t surprised to find the stadium filled with eager onlookers hoping to witness a gruesome battle to the death.

It probably helped that Vardox had attained a rather high degree of notoriety on an intergalactic level. No doubt some were eager for his demise, while others were betting on his victory.

A holographic view screen materialized above them, and the MC for the event, dressed in his official robes, addressed the crowd.

“Galactic greetings to one and all! Here in the hallowed Hall of High Wolfham, we shall witness the formal Blood Duel between Lord Loki Vardox of the Masnoks and Captain Khamos Atasham of the Katnu Clan. Both parties have signed the necessary documents and agree to abide by the rules of this battle to the death. Only one winner will emerge victorious. Let the duel begin!”

The screen blipped out of existence and the audience cheered. Vardox could practically feel the bloodlust raging around him. It only added more fuel to the fire of his own determination. He would save his precious captain. Khamos’s life was the price, and Vardox was more than willing to pay it.

In fact, he was looking forward to it.

He flung off his cloak, letting all ten of his tentacles out to play.

Like all Masnoks, Vardox could adjust the abilities of his tentacles depending on whether he was using them for pleasure or for battle.

Gone were the more nubile, soft tips he would use to tantalize his sweet captain.

In their place were deadly sharp hooks he normally kept retracted.

They dripped with a lethal poison Masnoks naturally produced.

Vardox rarely went so far as to use this biological advantage he was born with, preferring to employ his wits and weapons instead.

But Khamos Atasham had threatened what Vardox cherished most in the universe and for that, he would die.

The Katnu pirate, who’d swaggered in brimming with overconfidence moments ago, took several steps back as his one good eye studied Vardox’s writhing tentacles warily.

“Shall we begin your punishment for daring to take what’s mine?” Vardox asked, allowing his eyes to turn red.

He didn’t wait for an answer before he let out a bellowing Masnok battle cry that silenced the entire stadium of onlookers and launched his opening attack.

— The Tentacular Tales of Captain Starblade , Ch. 161

Kai

“Where’s River?” Mom asks when she opens the door.

“What am I, chopped liver?”

She rolls her eyes and pulls me in for a quick kiss on the cheek. “Hardly. It’s just rare to see you two lovebirds apart. You’re still in the honeymoon period, you should be all over each other.”

I follow her into the kitchen and my dad gives me an understanding smile—he knows my mom’s interrogation style of conversation—before handing me a glass of wine.

I mouth a silent “thank you” then turn to face my mother. “River’s having a BFF night with Evan. With everything that’s happened over the past few weeks, they haven’t been able to spend much time together.”

Mom nibbles on some cheese on the charcuterie board my dad has laid out for us while he finishes cooking dinner. “Evan’s a good egg. He’s feisty and a lot less tenderhearted than my son-in-law. That young man would shank anyone who tried to hurt River, and that makes him A-OK in my book.”

I don’t doubt her. Evan may be small in stature, but my instincts tell me he knows how to fight dirty and win when he has to.

“I’m doing my best to be a supportive spouse. As much as I’d like to keep River to myself, I know he needs to have time with the many other people who love and care for him.”

Dad squeezes my shoulder. “Glad to hear it. I’m so proud of you and all the work you are putting into being a good mate to River.”

I flush, warm pleasure curling like a satisfied tentacle in my chest. “Thanks, Dad. It’s all River’s doing. He’s helped me grow and become a better man, a man who deserves to be with him. I don’t intend to do anything to lose the gift of his love and companionship.”

My grandma comes strolling into the kitchen rubbing her stomach. “What’s for dinner? I’m starved.”

Dad chuckles. “One of your Earth favorites. Shepherd’s pie.”

Grandma Iris rubs her hands together with glee. “That’s my boy!” Then she turns to me, a gleam in her eye that makes me instantly wary. “The countdown is on. Are you and River ready for the Sanctioning Ceremony?”

I fight back a groan of irritation. At this point, I just can’t wait to get the damn thing over with. “Don’t worry. We’ve been preparing for weeks now. Besides, this isn’t some kind of test we have to pass. With or without the ceremony, River is my mate and I’m his.”

Grandma Iris looks nonplussed. “I know you’re young and thinking that I’m making a big deal out of some outdated tradition, but I’m just looking out for you both. When you and River travel beyond this planet, your Earth marriage won’t be recognized in the same way as the Sanctioning Ceremony will.”

Dark matter and damn it, but she’s right.

If River and I were going to stay on Earth for the rest of our lives without ever leaving, I wouldn’t care. But I know my mate. I will never hear the end of it if he doesn’t get his grand space adventure.

“You’re right.” I run a hand through my hair and sigh. “I think the stress from this on top of the threat Layne Madison and his cronies pose is getting to me.”

Mom moves to my side and wraps a reassuring arm around me. “Try to enjoy the event as much as you can. Just think of it as a testament to your love for one another on full display for everyone.”

I narrow my eyes at her in suspicion. “Yet you’ve been strangely reticent to discuss your own ceremony with Dad.”

Mom grabs some olives, hurriedly popping them in her mouth. “That was ages ago. Nothing to tell.”

My very direct mother is suddenly having a hard time meeting my eyes.

Dad, with oven mitts on both hands and holding the steaming tray of shepherd’s pie, snorts before he carries it to the dining room table.

There’s clearly a story there but neither of them seems eager to share. I’ll have to get River to wheedle it out of Mom. If anyone can, it’s him.

We all follow Dad and dig into our meal.

As I’m serving myself a second helping, I can’t hold back from asking the one question that’s been plaguing both me and River lately. “Do we really have to abide by this antiquated abstinence requirement for the ceremony?”

Mom starts cackling. “If your dad and I had to suffer through it, so do you.”

“Ellie, darling , it’s important to be honest with our children.” My dad gives my mother a pointed look. “We both know I handled it all far better than you.”

Mom crosses her arms and huffs. “I didn’t realize it was a competition for who could hold out with no sex the longest, darling . Maybe I should test it out on you again?”

Dad’s answering grin is slow and sensual. “Do your worst. We both know I’m going to win that battle.”

Mom curses softly and Dad leans back in his chair with a self-satisfied little smirk.

Ignoring them both, I direct my best forlorn expression at Grandma Iris. “Surely this old-fashioned rule isn’t one we still have to follow in this day and age.”

The look she gives me is amused but determined. “Nice try, Kai. I won’t budge on this. You two only need to keep it in your pants for three nights. That’s nothing in the grand scheme of things.” She waggles her eyebrows. “Besides, it makes the sex afterward out of this world.”

“Fuck yeah, it does,” Mom says around a mouthful of shepherd’s pie.

Dad turns a hot-eyed gaze her way. “Indeed. How well I remember that night.”

Mom leers at him with hearts in her eyes, her grumpiness from a moment ago a thing of the past. “Me too. You gave it to me so hard I saw stars. Then I returned the favor and did that thing with my tentacle you lo?—”

“Gah! TMI, Mom!” I cry, dropping my fork and holding my hands over my ears.

Mom’s answering smirk is wholly unrepentant. “Prostate stimulation isn’t just for gay men, honey. Tentacles are beautiful things, and your Dad and I like to pleasure each other with ours. It’s part of what makes being Iyaran so awesome.”

I cover my face with my hands and moan in exasperation. “Enough, I beg you. I don’t need to know any more about my parents’ sex life.”

Grandma Iris snickers. “I mean this in the most loving way possible, but don’t be such a prude, Kai. Sex is a natural thing. Iyarans are a lusty, long-lived people. Our libidos remain healthy and active for far longer than some other species. Why, your grandfather and I still?—”

I hold up a hand and wince. “Please. No more. I accept the three-day abstinence requirement, okay?”

Her smile is smug. “Smart choice.”

She and my mom high-five one another and I have the sinking realization that I’ve just been played by my family. I will remember this and have my revenge one day.

Dad shoots me a sympathetic smile. “It’s only three days. You’ll survive. Following tradition isn’t always bad, and more importantly, it will make your grandmother happy.”

Mom stabs a fork into her food and cackles. “And, because we’re your parents and we love you, it’s only fair that you experience the same torture we all had to.”

I cross my arms. “Sounds pretty petty to me.”

She shrugs. “You say potato, I say potahtoh.”

Dad leans back in his seat, expression turning serious. “How are things going with River’s parents? I assume they’re going to attend the ceremony, but your mother and I haven’t spoken with them recently.”

I swirl my wine in my glass, mood darkening. “River was trying to make time to get to know them better, but they got some intel about Layne Madison from one of their connections and decided to go off planet to learn more.”

Mom mutters something that sounds like “oh, for fuck’s sake” under her breath, a scowl fixed on her face.

Dad winces. “I’m guessing River didn’t take that well.”

Just thinking of my mate makes me smile, but it’s tinged with sadness. “River’s far more forgiving than I am. It breaks my hearts that he’s been without his parents for so long, and even now, they haven’t done what they should to become part of their son’s life again.”

Mom reaches over and rests a comforting hand on my arm.

“Look, I don’t like how they went about things in the past either.

But I suspect they’re dealing with a lot of their own insecurities and guilt over what happened.

After being gone for so much of River’s life, it’s probably not easy for them to shove their way in.

They might be scared to try. As a parent, I can empathize with that.

” She scowls. “Doesn’t mean I’m going to let them off the hook for anything where River’s concerned, but I can imagine how they feel.

River’s a self-sufficient adult now, married even.

He doesn’t need them anymore. Not in the same way he did as a child, I mean.

They may not know how to even approach him now. ”

“Your mother makes a good point,” Dad says.

“And if nothing else, they appear to be genuinely committed to keeping their son safe. They’re not gallivanting around the universe without a purpose after so recently being reunited with River.

They’re taking an active role in helping us prepare for this next threat coming our way.

” He sips his wine, ruminating for a moment.

“If they can provide us with crucial information about Layne Madison and his plans, that will be in everyone’s best interests. ”

“I know.” I sigh but don’t hold back a faint scowl. “It’s just… River deserves so much more. I want that for him. He loves his parents and I want him to be able to have the kind of relationship with them that I have with both of you.”

Mom sniffles. “Maddox, we did good with our boys.”

“We raised them right,” he agrees.

I smile as I watch them. I really lucked out in the parents department. If River and I ever have kids, we will give them the same kind of love, care, and support my family always gives me.

On my other side, Grandma Iris reaches over and squeezes my hand.

“You’re a good man and an even better husband, Kai.

No one can doubt how much you love River.

But this is something he and his parents need to work out.

All you can do is stay by River’s side and offer him the moral support he needs. ”

I know she’s right but I want to be able to fix everything for my mate.

It’s a difficult pill to swallow when accepting that I can’t make everything right for him.

And I know River well enough to recognize that he doesn’t want me to solve his problems for him, so I’m hanging back a bit for the moment and trying my best to take my cues from him. It’s not easy, though.

“Holding back where River is concerned is so much harder than I ever imagined,” I admit.

Dad wraps an arm around Mom’s shoulder and she leans into him. “Being a team as life mates is important, but it’s equally essential to recognize and support one another’s autonomy.”

“I couldn’t have put it better, my dear,” Mom says.

“You need to trust River as an equal partner. If he needs your help, then he’ll tell you.

It’s not like he’s shy when it comes to his feelings.

Or much of anything, really.” She grins.

“I love that about him. His honesty and openness are refreshing—and just what you need from a partner, Kai. If anything, you’re going to be the one who needs to be open and honest with him about your needs.

You have a tendency to keep things to yourself and want to handle them on your own.

River is ready and prepared to back you up anytime you need him to. ”

I swallow back the lump in my throat, my tentacles coiling and uncoiling in agreement.

“Galactic gods, I know you’re right. When it comes to River, reason and logic seem to fly out of my mind and my instincts take over.”

Grandma Iris chuckles. “Of course they do. That’s what happens when you find your life mate. It will get easier over time. But I agree with Ellie, open and honest communication is one of the fundamental pillars to a successful relationship.”

My lips twitch. “In other words, I need to come out and ask him if he wants my help with his parents?”

“Bingo!” Mom cries.

My tentacles flutter happily inside me. Sometimes my parents and grandparents really do know best, so I’ll listen to them on this one.

“Thank you,” I say, my voice hoarse. “I know I don’t always tell you, but I love you all so much. Knowing I can always rely on you to tell me the truth, even when I don’t want to hear it, means more to me than I could ever say.”

My dad refills his wine glass and lifts it. “To family.”

We all follow along with his toast.

To the best family in the entire universe.