Page 31

Two years later . . .

Zorn

“Promise me, Lollipop,” my mate says as I head to the garage to get into my hover.

“I always do, Brownie. You don’t need to remind me,” I scold.

I love our little game. When she reminds me to wear my bullet-proof vest, it’s another of the million ways she tells me she loves me. I only scold her because it prolongs my departure so I can be with her an extra second before I go off on a mission.

“I worry about you, babe.”

“You know I’ll be careful so I can come back to you. And now,” my voice softens as I return inside the house to place my palm on her growing belly, “I’m doubly cautious so I can return to you both.”

Two years ago, I was on furlough from the army with no plans for the rest of my life except to keep fighting Draal’s enemy the Vren until I died.

I had long before given up any hope of a mate or family, or anything more than the meager happiness I eked out of being an honored soldier in the Draalian army and having a strong bond with my clutchmate.

Today I have a spectacular wife, a youngling on the way, and a more fulfilling job than I could have ever hoped for.

Glancing past Annora into the living room we share with Lumina and Zoriss, I smile at my new family. Although Lumina’s belly is bigger than my mate’s, I’m told they’re both due around the same time.

How lucky the scientists discovered a way for us to procreate even though our reproductive systems are so different.

The females tell me one of them is likely going to be the first Draalhuman mother on Earth.

I think both Annora and Lumina are hoping the other goes into labor first. They have no idea what it will be like and want to see how it works for the other.

Grace is here too and gives me a little wave. Any anger I held toward her is long gone, and the fact that she moved into the guest cottage so Zoriss, Lumina, Annora and I could be in the mansion only makes me like her more.

We put in a few walls, and now have two separate living spaces, but mostly we hang out in the living room as one big family.

Every time I glance out the large front window, I remember our double wedding when the four of us stood right in that spot amid the flowers and said our vows, making us legally mated here on Earth.

Annora and I both agree that our private Draalian ceremony was more meaningful, but I’d never tell that to Grace.

The three females like cooking together in the large kitchen. They never chide my brother and I for not cooking, though, because Zoriss and I would just offer to serve them raw meat.

I’ll comm you when the raid is over , I tell Annora after I kiss her one more time. “I love you.”

Annora

Sometimes I feel like bursting with happiness. Not necessarily at times like this, because I worry for Zorn’s safety, but he’s so delighted with his job I’d never want to take that away from him.

It’s hard to understand my initial repulsion to him because all I see when I look at him now is how handsome he is. His scales are sexy, and those little fangs? Don’t even get me started. I love when he runs them along my flesh during our bedplay.

The past two years have flown by as we explored the area in ways I never did when I lived alone. We’ve learned things about each other that make us love each other more. He’s more than my mate, he’s the finest person I’ve ever known.

Our first year together, before he was hired for the job he’s doing now, he and Zoriss were part of a task force empowered to hunt pirates and bring them to justice.

An elite cadre comprised of Earth women and all three species of aliens located and dismantled three separate rings of abductors who had sunk their tentacles into some of the highest echelons of the government.

They located many males who were brought here illegally. Many, like Zorn and Zoriss, had already found love but were living in hiding without proper documentation.

The Earth Repopulation organization, in collaboration with the Draalian authorities, amended their laws and will allow black market males to stay with the females of their choice if both parties are willing.

Once a month, the two clutchmates lead a group for males just like them who were stolen and brought here on the black market.

They testify to the fact that there are other options than rushing back to their home planet.

Their ability to help others makes them feel even more like they belong here on Earth.

For the past year, he’s been on the District’s Anti-alien Task Force, hunting women like the ones we encountered in Amity. There are pockets of them throughout the world, and most goodhearted people on Earth want to eradicate them and bring theradicals to justice.

I press my palm to my belly, knowing that our youngling will be safer because of the important work his or her father is doing.

Usually, I quell my urge to do this, but tonight I just feel like giving in to it. I run through the open garage door and hurry to the hover just as it’s about to take off.

One more kiss, love of my life. I’ll wait up for you.

I would tell you not to, but I know you’ll do what you want, Love. See you soon.