by Roma, Laurie
“They will not touch you, mate,” Thorn swore.
“I know,” she said, sending her mates a wave of assurance. The last thing she wanted was a brawl in front of all the guests.
Regent Harold Dexter, an older man who wore his arrogance like a cloak, strode up to confront them. “Officer Donovan, you are under arrest.”
Xavier, Thorn , Galan and Brydan all growled at his announcement, and Alexis knew that the older man had no clue how close he was to death by the haughty look on his face.
“If you think we will let you take our mate you are insane,” Thorn said with a mocking laugh.
“Your mate?” A woman asked as she walked up. Alexis turned and was relieved to see Regent Marie Wyland join the group. She was known to be a fair regent and an impartial voice during conflict. Her jaw dropped in shock as she finally noticed Alexis’ glowing eyes, and it was obvious that this farce was all Regent Dexter’s doing and the other council members didn’t know anything about him trying to have her arrested.
“Aye, our mate,” Galan replied harshly. “You will never take her from us!”
“She had violated—”
Regent Wyland cut Regent Dexter off before he could finish speaking. “I think we need to finish this discussion somewhere in private. This was not the time nor the place for this, Harold.”
Alexis laid a gentle hand on Xavier and Galan’s arms and felt them shaking with the need to defend her. “We need to talk to them.”
“Nay, not if they threaten you we do not,” Galan said.
“Please. I’m not scared. I know you would never let anything happen to me.”
Xavier was enraged and it took all his willpower not to lash out at the stupid fuck who dared to threaten his mate. Never before had the urge to kill taken him so strongly that he would have attacked the man in the middle of the party without a second of regret. If not for his mate, he would have torn the man to pieces and let his brothers take care of the soldiers surrounding them, but he couldn’t because he knew that would upset their mate even more. Still, despite the calm she tried to portray, the distress emanating from her was enough to make him feel feral.
That small human male had embarrassed their mate, and that infuriated him. It shouldn’t be allowed. No one should ever make his beautiful, little mate feel anything less than the priceless gem she was. He calmed a little as he felt Alexis’ faith in them and her absolute belief that they wouldn’t let anything happen to her. Focusing on that, he conceded.
Xavier sighed then turned his furious glowing eyes on Regent Wyland. “We will speak with you, but call off your guards first,” he said sharply. “We will not have anyone threatening our mate or will we react in kind. This is the only warning you will receive.”
Alexis was relieved when Regent Wyland barked out an order to the soldiers to stand down while Regent Dexter sputtered furiously. They were shown into a room the regents used as a hearing room for disputes. She was obviously on trial so Alexis thought it was fitting. She held her head up high, showing no fear under the circumstances and felt her mates approval.
Xavier, Thorn, Galan and Brydan surrounded her protectively, all of them looking at the people who entered the room through narrowed, furious eyes. She could feel the anger pouring from her mates and was holding onto her own by a very thin thread. It was wrong. This whole entire situation was totally fucked up, but she didn’t want to cause a rift between the Dragon Warriors and humans that could jeopardize future relations between the races.
So, she would see this through.
Several regents positioned themselves in a half circle, automatically taking a position of power, but that didn’t bother Alexis. She knew who was the greatest threat in the room, and it wasn’t the humans. With their magic, there was very little the regents could do to them, but Alexis was walking a tightrope to keep her mates from attacking anyone who insulted her. She could smell the fear coming off of a few of the regents and smiled in response.
Good. They should fear them.
Regent Wyland started off as she stepped forward and shot a hard look at the man who has created the drama. “Regent Dexter. Would you care to explain why you chose to make a spectacle during this celebration?”
“Officer Donovan is a disgrace as a liaison officer and should be held accountable for her actions and abuse of her position,” Regent Dexter spewed out as he waved a hand in the air. “We cannot have officers disregarding the rules and regulations so flagrantly without punishment.”
Alexis bristled at the irate tone of the regent charging her. Her only crime had been falling in love with her mates, and there were no rules in place about that. She could feel that her mates sensed that she needed to handle this herself for her own piece of mind. Feeling their pride in her swell, she took a step forward to address the panel of regents.
“You speak of rules and regulations when all I did was follow my heart. Yes, I understand that there are guidelines in place for liaison officers not to overstep their positions, but there is no rule regarding a choice to bond with any visitors on a permanent level. These males are my mates and I have chosen to bond my life with theirs.”
“You stupid girl, that wasn’t your decision to make,” Regent Dexter sneered.
“Insult my mate again and I will rip out your throat,” Xavier snarled softly as his hands changed to lethal looking claws. He took a step toward Regent Dexter, making the other man pale.
“If not mine than whose?” Alexis shot back as she placed a calming hand on Xavier’s arm. She could feel the muscles straining beneath her palm and knew it was taking every ounce of his control to stop from launching himself at the spiteful man. “Please calm yourself, my love. They can’t do anything to hurt me. I know you will protect me, but there is no need.”
“I do not like that fucker,” Xavier growled.
“Nor do I,” Alexis said and gave a little laugh to calm him. “But I really don’t want to get banished from Earth, so let’s play nice with the others. Trust me, I got this.”
“We will trust you, mate,” Brydan interjected. “But if that poor excuse for a male makes another attempt to take you from us, I will transport him straight into the middle of a large boulder.”
She shot a startled look at him. “Can you really do that?”
Brydan shot her a look and she saw that his glowing eyes were sparkling with veiled amusement. “I do not know, but I am willing to try.”
“Officer Donovan,” Regent Marks said gently, jumping into the fray. “We can’t have officers doing something like this without addressing the council—”
“Why not?” Regent Spartan said as he folded his arms and frowned fiercely at the others. Alexis felt gratitude sweep through her as Jax Spartan’s father spoke up on her behalf. “If they wanted to mate with her and she with them, why the hell would she have to speak to us about it?”
“This could impact all humans—” Regent Marks began.
“But that is the point…Alexis is no longer human,” Commander Sullivan Archer said as he entered the room followed by Commander Jax Spartan. Alexis could see that her two friends were furious and she was pleased when they came to stand with her and her mates, showing everyone exactly who they supported.
Gasps sounded from a few of the regents and Jax nodded his head, crossing his arms over his chest. “And she is no longer Officer Donovan either. She had already informed me of the situation and had been cleared of duty, which is how Regent Dexter knew about her mating the Dragon Warriors.”
“After the fact. She resigned after the damage was already done,” Regent Dexter argued.
“So what?” Jax fired back. “You think she should have resigned before she mated to them? What kind of fucked up logic is that?”
“Careful Commander, you are on thin ice,” Regent Dexter warned.
Jax scoffed at that. “You want to come at me, Dexter? Bring it. You might want to remember you aren’t above the law either. Challenge me at your own risk.”
; “What do they mean that you are no longer human, Alexis?” Regent Wyland asked.
“Just look at her eyes and those markings covering her arms and back,” Regent Spartan said. “It’s obvious she is different and I have to say it looks good on her.”
Alexis felt her mates love flood into her through their bond, giving her the courage to say what she had been holding back for so long. It was time for the regents to truly understand what had happened and why she had made her decision to mate with them. This was her opportunity to speak up for all the women who didn’t have a voice, and she was determined not to waste it.
“When I agreed to mate with my Dragon Warriors they converted me.” She ignored the shocked murmurs and continued. “I believe it was fated that I meet Xavier, Thorn, Galan and Brydan. The only reason you are hearing about any of this now is because I am permanently bonded with my mates and not hiding it. And you forget, Regent Dexter, I am an empath, and my gifts have only been enhanced by my conversion. Back in the hall I could sense your daughter Marianna’s satisfaction when you confronted me. You seemed fine with her flirting with them earlier this week at the dinner the regents hosted, and I have to wonder if that has anything to do with your actions tonight.”
“How dare you!” Regent Dexter roared. “I have no idea what you are talking about.”
“It is true,” Thorn growled. “I heard you speaking to your mate about how your status would be increased if we were connected to your family, but we had no interest in your daughter. We knew Alexis was meant to be ours as soon as we met her.”
“I have also heard Regent Dexter’s opinion on infertile women before, and it gives me extreme pleasure to have this opportunity to tell you that you are a disgrace as a regent for calling us wastes of resources,” Alexis announced. The room erupted with furious exclamations and her mates growled in anger.
“You go too far,” Regent Dexter seethed.
“She does not!” Galan snarled. “I have seen the memory for myself.”
“Yes, I shared that memory with my mates.” Alexis agreed then addressed the rest of the room, ignoring the man who had once made her question her own worth. “We share a mind bond and they have seen the truth. I understand that there are reasons for the protocols in place for testing and placement of elites, and I even understand the marking to designate which woman can help further the human race, but some of your rules cause more problems than they solve. To some, the star marks us as unworthy, and to others it marks us as targets. As an infertile female I have been limited to the life I could have here on Earth. In fact, all women are limited on Earth to some degree and I am glad that I had the opportunity to choose my own bonding unit, unlike most fertile women.”
“You know there are reasons for our system,” Regent Marks rebuked.
“Yes, but that doesn’t make it fair. It is easy for you to say as a man who has no idea how women feel. On the Council of Regents there are no infertile females allowed on the panel so those women have absolutely no say unless you allow it. You speak of rules and regulation, but I have worked undercover to help find those officers that have abused their positions of power to blackmail and take advantage of infertile females and it happens more than any of you know.”
“This is very troublesome,” Regent Marks murmured.
“How do you think the infertile women feel?” Alexis asked, surprising all the regents with her vicious, inhuman growl. “Even the way you have chosen to confront me about this matter shows absolutely no respect for me or my mates whereas any bonded unit would have a private audience with you. Instead, Regent Dexter chose to do this at a celebration held in honor of my mates. The fact is he would be fine with his own daughter bonding with the Dragon Warriors, but since I was worthless because I was infertile I have committed a crime in his eyes.”
“Damn their celebration,” Brydan muttered. “They can take their honor and—”
“Brydan…” Alexis murmured his name.
“We deeply regret the timing of all of this, and for the reason,” Regent Wyland said.
“Make no mistake, we agreed to speak to you as a courtesy because our mate wanted us to, but as Alexis is no longer human you have no hold over her,” Galan added.
“Agreed.” Regent Spartan said. The hard look in his eyes dared anyone to question him, and they didn’t.
“Centuries ago our own world had rules in place that were made to counter our lack of females, but there came a time when those rules needed to be changed. Perhaps you should consider your own rules and who it is damaging,” Thorn said. “Matters of the heart have no bearing in the political arena. Alexis was destined to be ours and there is nothing you can do to change that.”
Alexis let her love flow to her mates through their bond and straightened to her full height. “I have been given a chance for something greater, to be better and a chance at real happiness. I found love and with my mates. I’d regret if this alters relations between Dragon Warriors and humans, but I won’t let you come between me and my mates. We do not plan to stay on Earth long and will be leaving soon. Still, I would like to know we will be allowed to come back and visit.”
“You will always be welcomed here, and I assure you the regents will be taking care of this matter internally,” Regent Spartan assured, flicking an icy look of distain at Regent Dexter. “This matter is now closed.”
“This is outrageous!” Regent Dexter screamed.
“Guards, why don’t you escort Regent Dexter home where he will remain until we can investigate his actions properly.”
The man shouted, making a fool of himself as two elite soldiers removed him from the room. a few of the other regents left now that the excitement was over until only Regents Spartan and Wyland were left.
“You’ve got a mouth on you, my boy,” Regent Spartan said to his son.
Jax snorted. “Who the hell do you think I learned it from, old man? I told you that asshole was going to be a problem.”
“He was voted into office.”
“By other regents and high command. If you allowed the officers to vote he would have never gained his position,” Alexis pointed out.
“This is true, and something we have to consider,” Regent Wyland said with a nod.
Brydan frowned. “You are saying that the governing body will be the ones to decide if they want to limit their power by giving the vote to the people? Is that not what had gotten you into trouble already?”
“No system is perfect, unfortunately,” Regent Spartan explained. “But it was made clear tonight that there is a need for some changes to be made. Hell, I wouldn’t mind if someone else took my place on the council.”
Jax laughed. “What, you retire? Mother would kill you if you and my other father were home with nothing to do but bug her.”
“I can’t imagine you giving up having a say what is going on,” Archer added.
Regent Spartan sighed. “I’m afraid they are right.” He turned his attention to Alexis and her mates. “I am very sorry this happened when tonight should have been a celebration of your mating. Please allow us to have you over for dinner to make up for it before you leave with your mates.”
“Sir—” Alexis began, but she was cut off as Regent Spartan cupped her face in his hands. She felt the affection the older man felt for her and smiled up at him. When she was young, she had always wished her family had been as loving as Jax’s parents were, but even the brief times she had stayed at their place during breaks from the Academy they had made her feel welcomed.
“Let us celebrate with you, Alexis.”
“I would like that,” Alexis said softly. The older man smiled and pressed a kiss to her forehead, making her mates growl in warning.
Regent Spartan chuckled. “You are going to have your hands full with these four, Alexis. Come, Jax, Sully. I want your take on what we should do about this business with Dexter. Marie.” He gestured to Regent Wyland, Jax and Archer and the four of them left the room together.
“I am
sorry that man ruined your party,” Galan said as he pulled Alexis to him as soon as they were alone. He pressed his lips lightly against hers, needing the connection with her after having their mating challenged by strangers.
“It wasn’t ruined,” Alexis countered. “I’m actually I glad I got to say a lot of that stuff. I would have never had the opportunity to speak in front of the Council of Regents like this otherwise.”
“This system is flawed,” Brydan grumbled as he pressed against her back.
“It is,” she agreed, turning her head for his kiss.
“Come here, mate.” Thorn said as he pulled her away from the others and took her lips in a long, heated kiss. When he pulled back, Xavier claimed her, lifting her off her feet as his mouth slammed down on hers.
“I did not like having them challenge our mating. No one can take you away from us. We vow to protect you always.”
“I know you will, big guy.” She smiled. “Now that the regents know that we are mated there is nothing to worry about. Why don’t we go enjoy some of the decadent food they have provided then we can go home and continue our celebration in private?”
“That is a good idea,” Galan agreed, his glowing silver eyes taking on a wicked gleam. “I say we reward our little mate for defending our mating by seeing just how many times we can make her orgasm this night.”
Her knees went weak as arousal flooded her system and she couldn’t help but grin.
That sounded like a damn good plan.
***
Epilogue
Thorn chased their mate down the long corridor of their space vessel, laughter rumbling in his chest as she turned to smile back at him as her pale hair streamed out behind her.
“You think you can escape me, mate?”
Her only response was more laughter as she kicked it in gear and ran faster.
Gods, he loved her.
It had been a month since they had left Earth, and it was almost like setting out for their first adventure exploring the stars as all four males saw it through Alexis’ eyes. Thorn loved sharing all the new experiences with her. He wanted to lay worlds at her feet and shower her with all the riches they could find on the different planets they visited. She didn’t need any of it though. Alexis said all she needed or wanted was her mates, and she showed them just how much she loved every moment they spent together.
