by Milly Taiden
They each took a hand. Gerri eyed the group and winked. “In the immortal words of Betty Davis, fasten your seatbelts, ladies. It’s going to be a bumpy night.”
The pool glistened in a turquoise so beautiful, it rivaled any in the Caribbean. “It’s almost time, so when I say jump, we jump together.” Gerri nodded to Ivy, hoping she got the message. If the other two hesitated, it was up to them to pull the couple into the portal.
“No! I can’t swim!” Riley’s eyes were frantic and she tried to jerk her hand back. “You’re a crazy old bat! Henley! Get us out of here!”
Gerri’s eyes met her panicked gaze and she shook her head. “It’s not water, Riley. It’s a portal. A wormhole I’ve opened for the purpose of moving between dimensions. Between galaxies. It’s how we need to travel in order to meet Alivia and Cassandra. They are on a planet called Nova Aurora with their mates. I know this seems unthinkable, insane even, but I assure you, it is none of the above.”
“I don’t believe you.” Riley hesitated, but Henley reached across and squeezed her hand, surprising everyone.
“It’s going to be fine, Ri. What’s the worst that can happen? We land in a circle of blue light and the joke is on us, but if Ms. Wilder is telling the truth, think of the adventure! It’s the chance of a lifetime.”
Henley grinned and for the first time since they met, Gerri smiled back at her. “You know, for someone who has been a royal pain in my ass for the past twenty-four hours, that’s the best thing I’ve heard all day.”
The shimmering glow stilled until the pool was crystal clear. On the other side was a gorgeous landscape of purple forests and a medieval looking structure in the distance. “Okay, ladies,” Gerri warned, “it’s now or never. JUMP!”
The four women held fast to each other and closed their eyes, jumping in unison. There was no splash and Riley sucked in a breath, shocked there truly was no water. A cool burst of air hit them and gravity took hold with a pulling sensation, like the draw from the open end of a vacuum hose, only massive.
“Hold tightly, girls. This is where it can get a little freaky.” The dull initial pull changed to a hard sucking motion. They were wrenched forward while at the same time swirling at high speed. Pressure built in Ivy’s chest and she coughed, trying to suck in a breath.
“There’s. No. Air.” The words choked out and she lifted a hand to her throat.
Gerri shook her head. “It’s your imagination, Ivy. There’s plenty of air. The portal is pressurized. You need to relax and take slow, even breaths.”
There was no sound. Only the intense pull and the incredible speed. The three girls gasped at how their hair floated around them as though underwater.
“I’m going to vomit,” Riley cringed, swallowing hard against the thick, airless feel.
“No, you’re not. It’s just the pressure. Hold on. We’re almost there,” Gerri replied.
The portal shimmied and slowed and the thick density faded. The blue glow returned to the pool of light, shrinking inch by inch until it disappeared completely into the chrome egg. Gerri closed her palm over the silver oval and put it inside her pocket.
“Well, that went better than I expected. When the last gal came through, she fainted. I had to have one of King Alyx’s men carry her to her room and it took three days for her to recover.” She smiled. “Anyway, welcome to Nova Aurora, ladies.”
The door slid open and each walked out, each peering around as if expecting an army of little green men.
“King Alyx?” Henley asked, helping Riley.
“Yes, he’s the ruler here.”
“Taking the king’s name in vain is a treasonable offense, matchmaker.”
All eyes turned at the sound of the deep, rumbling voice. The man was massive as he stood waiting for them in the anteroom just outside the portal exit.
“Alyx! I didn’t expect you’d greet us yourself.” Gerri’s reply was as surprised as the look on her face.
The man took three long strides and opened his large arms, engulfing the petite woman, lifting her off her feet. “Next to my wife, you’re my favorite earthling, so why wouldn’t I be here when you arrived?”
Ivy’s eyes went wide at the sight of the muscled shifter. Gerri mentioned alien shifter males were huge and sexy as sin, but damn! She licked her lips and spared a glance for the other girls. Dumbstruck, it was obvious they were just as taken with the substantial piece of eye candy. She laughed to herself. As if traveling to a total other galaxy wasn’t enough.
“Put me down, you oversized fur ball, or I’ll put you over my knee and I promise you won’t enjoy it!” Gerri’s tone wasn’t nearly as scolding as it was supposed to sound.
He laughed, setting her on her feet. “Bella tells you entirely too much.”
“True. Especially since your bedroom antics could rival a skin flick.” Gerri smoothed the front of her flowy blouse, but the mischief in her eyes was nothing less than affectionate. “How are she and the baby?”
“They’re both fine and looking forward to a visit from you.”
“Is everything as I asked or are juggling kingship and fatherhood too much for a big bad lion?” She cocked her head at the big shifter, smirking at the effect he had on the three stunned girls behind her.
“Warrior-sized nerve in such a bite-sized package. You are definitely one of a kind, Gerri Wilder.” With a wink, he turned his attention toward the girls. “Looks like you’ve got a packed house with you. I’m glad you sent word this time.”
She nodded. “I had to. I wasn’t sure how well the trip would be tolerated, considering how hard it was on Bella the first time she made the worm jump, but it went better than I expected.” Gerri turned, lifting a hand toward the three of them. “Alyx Treyvaal, King of Nova Aurora, I present Ivy Grimaldi. Her cousin Cassandra is mated to Talen Arctos of your Northern Bear Clan. These other ladies are Riley Parks and Henley Rourke. They are Alivia’s friends.” She turned, nodding to them. “Alivia is mated to Alyx’s Chief of Security, Karel Yaghar.”
“Wait, are you telling me Karel is from here? I thought he was just a regular shifter,” Riley asked, surprised.
Ivy cocked her head at her. “Riley, you assumed Gerri was taking you to see Alivia. When she opened the worm hole, didn’t that clue you in that your friend had gone all Galaxy Girl?”
“So you’ve met Karel, then,” Alyx noted.
Riley nodded, shooting Ivy a look. “Yes, after he and Liv started dating.”
“Karel was visiting Earth on business for me. It was a very successful trip for him, considering he met the love of his life. Earth has proven very fruitful in that department for us, all thanks to this petite firebomb.” The king gestured with his head to Gerri.
“Okay, big guy. Flattery will get you nowhere. These girls are not here to join in the Auroran version of Match.com. The just want to see their family and friends.”
Alyx smirked. “Next, you’ll be telling me Brooklyn is for sale.”
Henley burst out laughing. “Dude, no. The saying goes, ‘If you believe that, I have a bridge to sell.’ It’s Brooklyn all right, but only because a con man in the early 1900s sold the rights to its bridge at least twice a week.”
Ivy snorted. “There’s no fix for that kind of gullible, human or otherwise.”
Riley exhaled, stealing a glance at the gorgeous shifter. “Gullible? And how would you explain our little trip through space?”
Ivy followed her line of sight and grinned. “I’d call it extra-terrestrially delicious.”
5
The look on Alyx’s face was priceless. “Uhm, yeah. I’d better stick to my own lingo, then. Clearly, my wife’s lessons in Earth slang aren’t working on this dude.” He gave Henley a pointed look and her eyes nearly bugged.
“I—I—didn’t mean anything by that. I’m s-s-sorry, Your Majesty,” she mumbled, fumbling over her words.
He winked at the shaken girl. “No offense taken, love. If being married to a feisty human has taught me anythin
g, it’s to lighten up.”
“One caveman shifter down, thousands to go.” She winked. “Remind me to thank Bella when I see her, but in the meantime, you still haven’t answered the question about my arrangements.”
The king nodded. “Alivia and Karel already reside at the palace, but as requested, I sent for Cassandra and Talen. In her condition, I didn’t think it safe for her to travel overland, so I sent a transport. The journey is a rough trek from the north, but this way they are set to arrive tomorrow morning, safe and sound.”
“All righty, then.” Gerri clapped her hands once. “I’m sure the girls want to freshen up, maybe take a nap and have something to eat. I know I do.”
Alyx inclined his head. “Of course. Your bags have already been taken to your chambers. Gerri, I trust you know the way to the guest wing, so I’ll leave you to it.” He left them in the anteroom without more than a goodbye nod.
“This place is one giant anomaly,” Ivy said, looking around as they made their way from the transport bay toward the main palace. “It doesn’t know if it wants to be Camelot or Krypton.”
“You two are certainly taking this whole thing in stride. I still can’t wrap my head around the fact we are light-years from Earth.” Riley ran a hand through her hair. “Is no one else blown away?”
“Of course, they are.” Gerri nodded. “It’s only natural to feel overwhelmed, but this is real. Here we are and here we stay until you’ve had your fill of Alivia and can go home happy in the knowledge that she’s in a good place. That’s if you even want to go home. Liv didn’t, so you never know.”
Ivy snorted. “I can’t blame her. Not if her mate is half as hot as his boss.”
“Facts!” Henley chuckled. “Testify that!” Her eyes widened as they passed rows of screens set into the wall all showcasing gorgeous men and women in various stages of undress. “Holy fuck! Literally!”
Gerri grinned. “I’m glad you two are enjoying the scenery. Those are ads for sexbots. Don’t forget, this deep space thing may be all new to us, but Nova Aurora is a major port of call.”
Ivy laughed. “Are you telling us these sexbots are the galaxy’s answer to fleet week prostitution?”
“Exactly, but the ones you see here are very high end. There are different classes of sexbots depending on what the client can afford. One thing it does do is cut down on STDs.” Gerri smirked, nodding. “And yes, it has the exact same meaning as on Earth, but with different diseases.”
Riley shook her head, even more stunned. “Sexbots. Next, you’ll be telling us they have them in holographic form.”
Gerri nodded again. “They do. They’re actually a lot of fun. I like to think of it as three-dimensional Facetime. You still can’t touch, but what a show!” She winked. “Of course, nothing compares to the real thing. If you think Alyx is gorgeous, just wait. Trust me, it only gets better from here. And bigger.”
“Be still my heart.” Ivy fanned herself. “Please, God, let them be physically proportioned in every way.”
“You mean big hands and big feet, right?” Henley asked with a smirk.
“And everywhere in between, girlfriend!”
Riley burst out laughing. “And here I thought Henley was bad, but I think she just met her match. Ivy, you’re horrible.”
Ivy slung an arm around Riley’s shoulder. “Only the good die young, Riley, and my adventure junkie is buzzing.”
“Mine, too, sister.” Henley nodded, slipping her arm around her friend’s shoulder from the other side. “Stick with us, Riley, and this trip will really be out of this world.”
“You two leave Riley be. She’ll come around when she’s ready. In the meantime, a good meal and a hot shower will help a lot, and I promise to answer whatever questions you have to help settle your misgivings, but let’s find our rooms first.”
No sooner had the words left Gerri’s mouth than a young woman dressed in a flowy iridescent top and matching pants slipped from a concealed door.
“Teva!” She greeted the woman with a quick hug. “It’s so nice to see you again. How are you, darlin’?”
“I’m fine, Ms. Wilder. The better to see you again.”
“Have you been assigned to us for the duration?” she asked.
The girl nodded. “Yes. The queen asked for me specifically. I am to take care of you and your guests.”
“Wonderful.” Gerri turned to the others. “Ivy, Riley, Henley—this is Teva. She will be our liaison here in the palace. Anything you need or want, just announce it out loud and she’ll be notified.”
Ivy snorted. “What? Do the walls have ears?”
Teva nodded. “Yes, exactly.”
“Oh boy, then you’d better invest in some ear plugs, sweetie, because if all the shifters on this planet are as hot as your king, you and your eavesdropping walls are going to get an earful of Earthly delights!” Ivy waggled her eyebrows.
The poor girl flushed to the tips of her ears and Gerri rolled her eyes. “On that note, would you please show us to our rooms, Teva?”
She gulped, nodding again. “Follow me.”
They followed her down the corridor to an elevator bank. She pushed the only button at the center of the chrome wall and the doors slid open. “This lift will take you directly into your lodgings. All you need do is step in and say where you wish to go. Our transports are non-linear and will take you anywhere on the grounds or in the palace. They have been reserved for your use during your visit. Kind of like me.” She smiled at her little joke and ushered them all inside.
Riley elbowed Henley. “Like the elevator from the original Willy Wonka.”
“Computer, the Marque Suite,” Teva said loudly.
“Engaged.”
The doors slid shut and with almost no movement or sound, they opened almost as quickly as they closed.
“Arrived.”
Teva walked out of the lift first and the others followed her into a sumptuous living area. Couches and plush carpets surrounded them in comforting shades, and a glass and chrome fireplace ignited the moment they stepped in. Floor to ceiling windows gave a spectacular view of the grounds, the keep, and the far turrets.
“This place is wild,” Ivy said, walking to the window.
“Holy shit! They have two suns!” Henley gestured to the twin orbs dipping low on the horizon.
Ivy turned, taking in everything before looking to Teva. “So, whose room is this?”
Teva spread her hands out. “Yours. All of you. The Marque is a three-bedroom suite. The queen thought you’d be more content if you roomed together. You have separate bedrooms, of course, but the common area here and upstairs are shared.”
“Upstairs?” Ivy asked.
She nodded. “There is a second floor complete with bar, massage room, and media center.”
At their tinkle of laughter, the walls changed hue, taking on a ghosting of pink.
“Why do the walls keep changing color? It’s freaking me out,” Riley added.
Gerri gave her a soft smile. “The entire castle is mood sensitive.”
“Mood sensitive? Are we such delicate flowers that we need comfort walls?” Riley snorted and the walls immediately changed to a dark blue. She jumped. “What the fuck?”
“That shade of blue is associated with doubt. Yellow is its direct opposite, so I suggest you relax.” The walls changed to a light butter color and Gerri lifted a hand toward the calming effect. “See? The room is trying to help you, Riley, so why not go with the flow instead of trying to fit everything into a neat explanation. Just enjoy the experience.”
A loud gong sounded and Gerri glanced out the window. “Dusk. That means the entire court is gathering in the great hall for dinner and entertainment.” She looked at Teva. “Don’t let us keep you, dear. I know you’re required there.”
The young woman shrugged. “I’ve been assigned to you, Ms. Wilder. If you’re not planning to attend the dinner, then I’m not required to serve.”
“But then you might not eat un
til very late.”
Teva lifted one shoulder. “I can always get something from the kitchens later.” A soft knock sounded from the door interrupting her. “I took the liberty of ordering Sidaii wine for you and your guests,” she said, walking to open the door. A young boy walked in and she directed him to put the tray on the coffee table in front of the fireplace.
“That was thoughtful, Teva. Thank you,” Gerri replied, watching the girl pour four glasses of the ruby red liquid.
“What’s Sidaii wine?” Ivy asked, taking a glass and holding the clear crystal up to the light. “Is it native to Nova Aurora?”
Teva nodded. “Yes. It’s a fruit wine and it’s renowned here and on our sister planet, Galaxa.”
“Galaxa?” Riley’s mouth dropped open. “You mean there are more planets like this?”
Gerri chuckled. “You sound like such a human, Riley. Earth is not the only planet that supports life. In fact, we’re the infants of the cosmos in terms of development and technology. Galaxa and Nova Aurora were formed in unison from the same asteroid kiss.”
“Asteroid kiss? Isn’t that a rather romantic way of describing what I’m sure was a cataclysmic moment?” Ivy replied.
“You’re talking about the big bang theory, right?” Riley asked.
Gerri nodded. “Yes. The real one. Not the TV show. Anyway, the sister planets were formed and it’s from here that all shifters originate. They traveled to Earth long before our recorded history and bred with humans, creating a hybrid shifter species. Different, yet similar in all ways that count. If you get what I mean.” She clicked the inside of her cheek and lifted her glass. “To new adventures, ladies, and whatever journeys they bring.”
Henley drained her glass, smacking her lips. “Man, that’s good. I took a wine-tasting class offered at the Waldorf Astoria hotel, but nothing they had tasted as good as this.”
“I’d take my time with Sidaii, Henley. It packs quite a punch. Especially for humans,” Gerri warned.
Henley smirked. “I’ll be fine, Mrs. W. It’s one of the advantages of being built like an Amazon. I can hold my liquor.” She held out her glass toward Teva for a refill and the young woman exchanged a look with Gerri.
