Holding the sheet against her chest, the woman gaped at me for a moment, then grinned. “You have to be Annie. I’m Kaylee and the big guy here is Talree.”

  Oh, hell. I’d just walked in on Casey’s cousin and her bad-tempered mate getting it on. “I’m so very sorry. I’ll just go now. No worries, I didn’t see his ginormous snake thingy,” I babbled as I backed into the hallway.

  Talree cocked an eyebrow. “Ginormous snake thingy?”

  Kaylee burst into hysterical giggles.

  “Gotta go.” Closing the door, I bolted from the casita and ran into Saul. Literally.

  He grabbed me before I could fall. “What’s got your panties in a knot?”

  “Uh. Well. I just, uh, met Talree and Kaylee. He’s a really big dude. In more ways than one.” I gave Saul a bright smile. “Let’s go check out that skinny dipping pool Casey was talking about. Our bed is kinda occupied.”

  “Occupied?”

  “Yep.” I tugged on his arm. “I think the pool is that way.”

  Saul’s gaze locked on something behind me.

  “This is the female you claimed?” A deep, growly voice inquired.

  “Yes, she’s mine.”

  I glanced over my shoulder and sighed in relief. Talree had a towel wrapped around his private parts and I seriously wanted to smack that smirk off his face. “In my defense, it was dark, and I thought you were Hothar and Casey. And, what the heck were you doing in our bed anyway?”

  Saul’s eyebrows rose in surprise. “She walked in on you?”

  “She did,” Talree grumbled.

  “My apologies. I don’t have her properly trained yet.”

  I narrowed my eyes at him. “Har. Har. Not funny.”

  Kaylee walked into the living room wearing a resort robe. “Quit teasing her. Your ginormous snake thingy gave her quite a scare.”

  I closed my eyes and groaned.

  “Ginormous?” Saul repeated.

  “Don’t ask,” I snapped.

  A giggle escaped Kaylee. “The expression on your face was priceless and it’s not often someone surprises Talree.”

  “We haven’t been properly introduced.” I held out my hand. “Hi. I’m Annie Russell and I have a bad case of foot-in-mouth disease.”

  Kaylee pulled me into a hug. “Welcome to the family. You’re gonna fit right in.”

  “Is that a polite way of saying I’m nuts?”

  “Everyone in our family is Annie.”

  I thought about all the trouble Casey got herself into and laughed. “True.”

  “Call me curious, but how long did it take my uncle to catch you?”

  “About a week.”

  “One day,” Saul interjected.

  I rolled my eyes. “I’ll admit Saul is a persistent bugger.”

  “Warlords tend to be tenacious,” Kaylee agreed.

  “Rumor has it, Talree trapped you the minute you linked minds with him.”

  “It’s not a rumor. Silly me, I thought he needed help. The next thing I knew, he was dug in tighter than a tick on a hunting dog. It was like having a rabid pit bull stuck in my head.”

  I noticed the glint of mischief in Kaylee’s eyes and decided to play along. “Let me guess. He growled whenever a man got too close to you?”

  Kaylee nodded sadly. “He did. It didn’t matter if it was the janitor or the mailman or some guy that just smiled at me.”

  “Must have made dating difficult,” I commiserated.

  “You have no idea. My first date in six months lasted all of ten minutes, before Talree sent poor Joe running from the bar screaming about monsters.”

  I patted Kaylee on the back. “Got all dolled up and for what?”

  “Exactly. No nooky. Not even a kiss.”

  Talree growled.

  Kaylee threw up her hands. “See what I mean?”

  “I do.” I leaned closer and whispered loudly, “Are his rabies vaccinations up-to-date?”

  “Enough Annie,” Saul admonished.

  I ignored him. “I’ve got your dating woes beat. I walked in on my former husband humping a geriatric granny.” I sent everyone my memories of Martha’s dimpled white butt as it bounced up and down. “To make matters worse, she kept screaming, ‘goodness gracious, great balls of fire’. I mean, who does that?”

  Kaylee burst into laughter. “Sorry, but that’s just…”

  “Awful,” I interjected.

  “Funny, and awful.”

  Saul embraced me. “I’m sorry you had to see that, darlin’.” He shuddered. “I’m sorry I had to see that.”

  “You said no secrets,” I reminded him.

  “I did. Anyone else need some whiskey?”

  Kaylee and I raised our hands.

  Talree scowled. “Does this male still live?”

  “The Tai-Kok ate him,” Saul said.

  “A fitting end.”

  “I thought so too.” I cringed when Talree’s towel slipped lower on his hips.

  “Put some pants on sweetie, Annie’s had enough excitement for one day.”

  I sighed. “In more ways than you can image.”

  With a quick tap on his bracelet, battle armor formed around Talree. “Satisfactory?”

  “Yes, thank you.” I smiled up at Saul. “Got any chocolate to go with that whiskey?”

  “I have another box of French mints in my luggage.”

  I gave him a big kiss. “You’re definitely a keeper.”

  “Those are my favorites!” Kaylee did a happy dance.

  “I’ll go get them.” Saul headed down the hallway.

  “I brought you the ownership band and child size Askole battle armor for your females,” Talree said, following him.

  “Good. Casey and Annie are trouble magnets.”

  “As is Kaylee,” Talree said.

  Kaylee and I exchanged irritated looks.

  Detja popped into the room and smiled at me in delight. “You and the General have joined.”

  I was a bit perplexed at her thrilled expression. “Uh, are you wanting to know if we had sex?”

  “What she meant is you and Uncle Saul are now bonded mates,” Kaylee explained, grinning like a loon.

  “Oh! Yes, we are, and can you believe it, Saul wants a church wedding.”

  Detja clapped her hands gleefully. “I have always wanted to plan an Earth wedding.”

  “Really?” I didn’t like that slightly maniacal gleam in her eyes.

  After organizing seven thousand bonding ceremonies, this is a challenge I look forward to.”

  Oh shit! “It’s so sweet of you to offer, but Saul and I have our hearts set on a simple church wedding.”

  Detja stiffened. “You would deny me the privilege of arranging your wedding?”

  “Annie and I will be honored to have you arrange our wedding,” Saul said from behind me.

  “But…” I winced when Saul’s fingers dug into my shoulder. “Yes, that would be awesome.”

  Detja beamed. “Excellent. I have studied your marriage rituals and with Kaylee’s and Casey’s assistance, you will have a wedding you will never forget.”

  Kaylee stared at Detja in horror.

  I was equally horrified. With my luck something awful was bound to happen. Like Tai-Kok and Rodan wedding crashers. “Wow. I’m speechless.”

  “Since the resort is still under repair, we will hold your bonding ceremony on Zarek’s warbird.”

  “Say what?”

  “The bonding ceremony is the Coletti version of a wedding,” Saul said in my head. “Smile and thank her.”

  I did as he instructed.

  Talree opened the bottle of whiskey and poured a large amount into five glasses. “To our mates. Without them, we are nothing.”

  We all raised our glasses.

  Chapter Fifteen

  When Detja went into her wedding planner mode, she was a tyrant. One minute, I was enjoying whiskey and chocolate, the next I was standing in the Overlord’s quarters. I got a brief glimpse of a massive bed and a shit load of weapons on the walls before I was shoved into an icy shower. “Shouldn’t I take my clothes off first?”

  “Not necessary,” Detja replied.

  Showering on a space ship was a unique experience. It was water, but not. When the small compartment was done spraying whatever on me, it kicked into a hurricane force dry cycle and presto! Not a drop of moisture was left. The door slid open and I staggered out. “Holy crap! That’s as bad as being caught in a Category Five hurricane.”

  “We are at war status and the ceremony must be completed today.” Detja looked as regal as a queen in a silver tunic and leggings.

  “Yes, ma’am.” How in the hell had she changed so fast?

  “Strip,” Detja commanded.

  I took one look at Detja’s steely gaze and shed my clothing. She could give intimidation lessons to the Overlord. “Seven thousand bonding ceremonies, huh? That must keep you really busy.”

  “It does.”

  “Do you ever get tired of arranging them?”

  “No. Each ceremony makes our clan stronger.” Detja handed me a tunic, leggings and underwear. “Put them on.”

  I stroked my hand over the silky material. The tunic and leggings were a gorgeous teal blue with a bronze design. I quickly dressed.

  Detja handed me a pair of knee-high boots complete with jeweled knives. “The daggers signify that you are a warrior.” She pointed to a chair. “Sit.”

  I sat and pulled on my boots. “Thank you, I do appreciate you arranging all of this.” I knew I was sucking up, but I didn’t want to get on Detja’s shit list.

  “It is a privilege to serve my people.”

  “Master thief, warrior and wedding planner. Is there anything you can’t do?”

  “I am a terrible shot.”

  I bit my lip to keep from laughing. She sounded so vexed. “I’m sure you’re exaggerating.”

  “I am not. Under Zarek’s tutelage I have shown some improvement.” Detja plaited thin bronze chains into warrior braids on each side of my face. “I offer my humble apologies, as the ship is on battle status, there will only be six witnesses to your joining ceremony.”

  “It’s not a problem. I don’t have any family left.”

  Detja hugged me. “We are your family now. Never forget that.”

  “No, ma’am, I won’t.” Tears welled in my eyes. After so many years of being alone, this was more than I had ever hoped for.

  Kaylee teleported into the room wearing a dark blue tunic and leggings. “Sorry, Thor wanted to come too.”

  “Thor?”

  “My son.” She flashed me a mental image of a toddler in a miniature battle suit with a small furry spider perched on his shoulder.

  “What a little cutie and is that a Tabor?”

  Kaylee beamed at me. “It is. His name is Haki. He’s my son’s best friend. The mischief those two can get into is unbelievable.”

  “Did Thor inherit his father’s abilities?”

  “He did. He’s already teleporting.”

  “That’s gotta be scary.”

  “Very. The little scamp gets into everything.” Kaylee pulled a bunch of makeup out of a bag. “When I’m done with you Annie, you’re going to look like a vid star.”

  I snorted. “Yeah, right.” An hour later, I stared at myself in a full-length mirror. Kaylee had kept her word. I was drop dead gorgeous. “Can you do my makeup for the wedding?”

  “You betcha.”

  “Turn for me,” Detja commanded. “I want to see if I missed anything.”

  I did a slow spin.

  “You are truly beautiful,” Detja exclaimed.

  “Thank you. I get to keep the boots, right?”

  Detja laughed. “You do. Call your mate. It is time.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Do not keep us waiting,” Detja instructed and vanished.

  Kaylee smiled. “She can be a bit bossy, but her bachelorette parties rock.”

  “I didn’t know Coletti women had bachelorette parties.”

  “They didn’t until we came along,” Kaylee replied and teleported.

  Huh? Wonder how their warlords felt about male strippers? I linked with Saul. “I’m ready.”

  Poof! Saul appeared next to me in a spiffy black Coletti dress uniform. He picked up my hand and kissed my knuckles. “Darlin’ I’ve waited a lifetime for you.”

  I smiled up at him. “I’m starting to believe in happily ever after again.”

  “Good.” He gave me a long, voracious kiss. “Ready to get hitched Coletti style?”

  “I am.” There was a fleeting instant of blackness and we appeared in what appeared to be an enormous cavern. “I thought the ceremony was in the mess hall?”

  “It is. Detja created this illusion for us.”

  Color me impressed. Detja had outdone herself. The ceiling of the mess hall resembled a night sky blazing with stars. Dozens of candles dotted the walls, illuminating eight hanging tapestries. According to Casey, the warlords considered them romantic. To me and any sane female, the bloody battle scenes and the graphic pictures of women being fucked by warriors belonged in a pleasure palace.

  Casey had explained the Overlord thought the graphic sex scenes would show the nervous “brides” what masterful lovers the Coletti warlords were. But the captured alien women usually took one look at the tentacles on the warlord’s enormous dicks and started screaming. Couldn’t say I blamed them. I had come close to pulling my dagger, and Saul wasn’t a total stranger. I’ll admit his sex toys took some getting used to, but now, I loved the little guys.

  Talree, Kaylee, Detja, Casey and Hothar were seated in front of a raised platform to witness our joining.

  Saul kissed the palm of my hand. “Ready?”

  “Yes.” I admired the bloodred flowers bordering the walkway as he escorted me to the podium.

  Zarek suddenly stood on the dais at the front of the chamber. He wore an etched gold headband that denoted his rank of Overlord. Golden strands were woven into his gray warrior’s braids. His black dress tunic clung to his muscular form.

  We stopped in front of the platform. On a small ornate table was an onyx ownership band with bronze etchings. Nerves knotted my stomach. Once it was placed around my neck, there was no going back.

  “Getting cold feet?”

  One look at the love in Saul’s eyes and I shook my head. “Never.”

  “Females are a precious gift. They are our lifeline, our soul-mates. Without them, we are nothing.” Zarek spoke with authority, his gaze focused on Detja.

  She stepped up on the dais. “We share all that we are with our mates. This bond unites us for all time.”

  “Today we are gathered here to join this warrior with his chosen mate.” Zarek picked up an ownership band and held it out to Saul.

  He took it and turned to me. “Your love is my anchor. Your trust my strength. You make my life complete. I will give you all my love until eternity ends.” Saul fastened it around my neck. The warm metal band adjusted to fit my neck perfectly. “We are now one.”

  Thank God, Detja had drilled the vow into my head. I didn’t want to screw this up. I looked into Saul’s eyes. “I accept this band as a symbol of our love. It has no beginning and no ending. I am yours for all eternity.”

  Saul claimed my mouth with a kiss so carnal that I totally ignored the prickles dancing across my mind.

  An alarm began to wail, and a computerized voice called, “Battle stations. Intruders deck two. Battle stations. Intruders deck two.”

  The floor shuddered beneath out feet.

  “Well, crap. There goes our honeymoon.”

  Saul yanked up my tunic and secured a black metal belt a with a glowing red gem in the clasp around my waist. “This is your battle armor and my wedding gift to you. Tap the gem and it will protect you.”

  “Thank you. It’s perfect.” I watched as black armor formed around Saul. “Can I have a laser pistol too?”

  Saul handed me his spare. “Happy?”

  “I am.” I tucked it in my waistband.

  “Lior will escort you to the safe room,” Zarek stated and before we could protest, he added, “This is not open for debate.”

  “Yes, my lord,” Detja snapped. If looks could kill, Zarek would be toes up.

  Talree touched the side of Kaylee’s face. “Stay safe.”

  “I’ll do my best,” she replied.

  Hothar crushed Casey to his chest and murmured something in her ear.

  Lior teleported into the room and did a fist-on-chest salute. “My lord, I will guard the females with my life.”

  “Fail and you will not like the consequences,” Zarek growled as his body armor engulfed him.

  The ship shuddered violently. The computerized voice announced, “Hull breach, deck two.”

  Zarek, Saul, Talree and Hothar vanished.

  One look at the gloating expression on Lior’s face and the fine hairs on my neck stood up. “How long has Lior been head of security?”

  “Two years,” Detja replied, studying him intently.

  Casey gave a slight shudder. “Lior gives me the willies.”

  “Me too,” I agreed as Lior’s cold-eyed gaze roamed over Casey. “I don’t think he’s gotten over you kicking his ass either.”

  Kaylee added her two cents, “Talree thought it was a bad idea to make him chief of security, but Zarek insisted he needed a chance to prove himself. I was there when we rescued Lior from Malik’s dungeon. He was hours away from turning feral and tried to rip out Talree’s throat.”

  “Feral?” The image of a monstrous beast with burning red eyes, tusk-like fangs and six-inch claws popped into my mind. “Shit! How do you stop them?”

  “With great difficulty,” Detja interjected.

  “Come females,” Lior commanded. He strode off without looking to see if we were following him.

  “So, how mad will Zarek be if we don’t go to this safe room?” The question just popped out of my mouth.

  “Very,” Detja said. “But Lior’s aura is full of anger and deceit.”

  I studied his aura and wasn’t pleased with what I saw. “And lust. Lots of lust. Anyone else got their body armor on?”

 

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