“Yeah, me too.” Sadie looked at the rock pile. “I hope they’re able to salvage it. I don’t like the thought of never returning to Earth for a visit.”
“It is most unfortunate,” Finn said. “We had only recently convinced the elders to leave it open on a trial basis. Things were looking up for portal travel. One of the last pieces of the puzzle was Ivar’s coming home.”
“We saw the defected dragons,” Ivar said. “They are safe and happy. I had brought proof of their survival with me, but…” He gestured at the cave-in. “I am afraid the evidence is now lost.”
“Your word on the matter will have to be enough,” Rafe said.
“How bad is the rock slide?” Ivar asked. “Maybe we can undo the damage.
“It doesn’t look good,” Rafe said. “Montague’s men caved in the palace tunnel before they left for Earth. And it appears like this explosion finished the job. We will have to start over with the excavation. Only this time I don’t know if anything can be recovered. It is possible that the blast destroyed the portal forever.”
“You know how the people are. Half of them will see this as the will of the gods and won’t want to unbury it.” Finn scratched the back of his head and sighed in frustration. “We were so close.”
“Now my brother is home perhaps we can discuss the offer from that new corporation,” Rafe suggested.
“What was it called again?” Finn frowned. “Alien kidnapping bridal service delivery?”
“They call themselves Galaxy Alien Mail Order Brides,” Rafe corrected. “I’m telling you. It might be the future of bride procurement.”
Ivar shook his head. “If the people did not go for portal travel, I doubt they will agree to a service that brings women to them pre-chosen.”
“The gods are not going to love that,” Finn drawled. “And I know my people won’t. The Draig want little to do with alien visitors. I can’t see them ever going for a plan like that, not in a thousand years. They will probably hate the idea more than portal travel.”
“It’s an option,” Rafe said. “And we don’t have many left.”
“We should begin the journey back to the palace.” Finn motioned that they all should start walking. The guards saw their movement, and a couple of them came to join the royals while two stayed next to the rocks. “You know our parents are panicking.”
“I am thrilled that you’re safe Ivar.” Rafe fell into step next to his brother. “So much as happened this last year. There’s so much to tell you, and there’s undoubtedly so much for you to tell us. Our parents are at the Draig Palace. However, I am sure that the moment the palace tunnel caved in they started their journey here. You can imagine our mother’s anxiety about your disappearance. She burned up all her fuel inside the council hall of the elders at the Draig palace.”
“She did what?” Beth whispered to Ivar.
“Exploded,” Sadie said. “Almost deep fried me. Queen Lassairfhina, your new mom, is an alien called a Feenik. Think something like a phoenix. They explode into a ball of fire and burn off all of their weight when they get overly emotional.” Sadie gave a small laugh. “I’m seriously jealous of that diet. When I get emotional, I only gain weight.”
Ivar held Beth’s hand in his and slowed his steps, so the others walked ahead of them. He smiled down at her. “Where were we before they interrupted us?”
“You mean the part when we were making out?” Beth laughed. She really, really wanted to be kissing him right now. “I don’t think this is the right time and place for that.”
“I meant the part where you said you loved me.” He pulled her next to him, so she was against his side as they walked. “And I love you.”
“We found this among the rocks,” a guard said, joining them. He held up Beth’s painting. The frame was broken, and the canvas singed.
“That’s beautiful,” Sadie said. She looked at Beth. “Did you do that?”
Beth nodded. “I’m a painter.”
“The most talented painter I have ever seen,” Ivar bragged.
“Wait until you see the collections at the palaces.” Sadie grinned. “There is a piece from Earth brought here by my sister-in-law that I think you’re going to flip over.”
18
Epilogue
“You heard the prince. Move a quarter of the way back!” Finn ordered. The soldiers instantly obeyed, running down the rectangular field. They were in the courtyard clearing beside the Var palace.
“Quarterback,” Ivar clarified in frustration. “Finn, I said quarterback, not move a quarter of the way back. These Earth words are not translating correctly.”
Beth shared a look with her sister-by-marriage, Jenna. The woman had been a bookkeeper in Kansas City before she met Rafe. Well, met was putting it mildly. He had shifted, scared the crap out of her, and she’d dinged her head on a lamppost trying to get away. Rafe and Finn had panicked, and when she woke up, she was on Qurilixen.
“Should we help them?” Jenna asked.
“Don’t you dare,” Eve ordered. Her husband, the oldest dragon-shifter prince, Kyran stood next to Ivar, shaking his head and giving contradicting orders in a failed effort to help explain the rules he didn’t quite understand. “This comedy of errors is better than real football.”
Beth loved her new castle home. The large building was so stark against the green-blue sky. The red walls of the palace were constructed of locally made brick and appeared like something straight out of an epic fantasy movie. Square towers made up the four corners with narrow chimneys alongside them. Gray smoke came from the tops, creating four cloud-like lines in the sky. Banners featuring a big gold cat on a purple backdrop hung down the towers’ sides, and sky bridges connected the tops of them with long open walkways. Beth loved walking across them. The air was so crisp at fourteen stories high.
Several balconies wrapped the main structure, one on each of the second to fifth stories. They were cut into the building rather than sticking out. White gauze covered sections of them to shade them from the sunlight. Shadows moved behind the gauze as people walked past.
“Get ‘em, Fire Breathers. Go, team!” Sadie yelled as she rejoined them, drawing Beth’s attention back to the game. Sadie handed Eve a bowl of small fruit for the group to share and then sat down next to them on the blanket.
“You can do it, Furry Claws!” Jenna yelled, her voice a little softer than the others. The women laughed at her, and she shrugged. “I forgot what we’re called.”
“The Fuzzy Wuzzies Kitten Heads,” Eve said.
“We’re the Fierce Tiger Claws,” Beth corrected, before yelling, “You got this Tigers!”
It was a beautiful day out, and the Draig royal family had joined them at the Var palace. Officially, it was to discuss the idea of an alien bridal delivery service, but that meeting wasn’t for a couple of days. Digging out the portal turned out to be complicated. The entire cave system had collapsed, and basically, a mountain sat on top of the portal. It was unknown what condition they’d find it in if they could even find it under all that rock. Either way, the project would take years, perhaps decades to complete.
Beth eyed Ivar’s back. He waved his hands in the air as he tried to explain, yet again, the finer points of football to his men. She never thought she would love someone so much. Having jumped into the portal after him was the best decision she had ever made—her leap of faith.
“Oh, you have to finish telling Beth about our husbands’ first trip to Earth,” Jenna said, laughing as she had obviously already heard the story.
Eve nodded. “OK, so I was working as a kickass rock singer living the nightlife when our four boys show up at one of my shows. Apparently, it was their first time on Earth looking to pick up women. And mind you they had done the research beforehand, so they were really confident in their decisions. Kyran sauntered up to me all decked out like some 1950’s version of the urban cowboy—you know, those guys who act country but have never seen a cow. He told me he was a cowman, not a boy.”
“Oh, no,” Beth covered her mouth, laughing as she looked at Kyran. He appeared so dignified in his royal tunic shirt.
“Sadie, you would have been proud. Finn was dressed up like a great warrior,” Eve continued, “also known as a ninja. I kid you not he was head to toe covered in black, mask and all, and look like he was getting ready to rob the place.” She lifted her hands and made chopping motions with her arms. “He even did the moves.”
Beth laughed harder, falling over to lean on Jenna. Ivar turned at the sound and grinned at her.
“I’ll have to ask him to show those moves to me later,” Sadie said, dabbing at her eyes as she laughed so hard that she teared up.
“Then there was Rafe. Jenna, your man was wearing white bell bottoms with a matching long-sleeved sailor shirt.”
“Rawr,” Jenna answered making a clawing gesture toward her husband’s back. “Anchors aweigh, matey.” When she dropped her hand, she said, “It’s better than the time he lost the bet to Rafe. My first trip back to Earth was with my new husband dressed as a pretty ballerina in a tutu. He danced for me in the streets. It was horrifyingly funny.”
“What about Ivar?” Beth asked.
“Pretty much what he has on now,” Eve said, gesturing at Ivar.
He wore a vest and tight pants with cross lacing up the sides of his legs and under his arms. The tight pants dipped so low on his hip she could see his flat stomach and hip bone. Beth couldn’t help it as her eyes roamed over his muscles.
“Oh, that’s no fun,” Jenna teased.
“But wait, there’s more,” Eve said. “The best part was when people asked, Ivar told them he was a draqueen.”
Beth laughed so hard she snorted.
Ivar threw up his hands in frustration and moved to join them on the blanket. He knelt before her and leaned over to place a kiss on her nose. “What is so amusing?”
“Nothing much,” Beth said, grinning.
“Eve was telling us about how you and your brothers pick up women,” Sadie said.
“Yeah, nothing much, drag queen,” Eve drawled.
“It’s pronounced draqueen,” Ivar corrected. “And it means royalty.”
“Whatever you say, my love.” Beth kissed him.
“I’m happy to hear it,” Ivar said, his eyes lighting up. “Because I have been telling the princes about cheerleaders, and I think—”
“Nooo,” the women denied in unison before he could even finish the thought.
“Not a chance.” Beth patted her husband on the cheek.
“Can’t blame a man for trying.” He resumed kissing her, not caring who watched. When he pulled away, he whispered, “I love you, Beth.”
“Always,” she answered, “and forever.”
The End
The fun doesn’t have to stop.
* * *
Find out what’s up with this Galaxy Alien Mail Order Brides corporation:
Spark - CLICK HERE to get it now!
The Fun Continues!
Spark
* * *
Galaxy Alien Mail Order Brides Book 1
Mining ash on a remote planet where temperatures reach hellish degrees doesn't leave Kal (aka Spark) much room for dating. Lucky for this hard-working man, a new corporation Galaxy Alien Mail Order Brides is ready to help him find the girl of his dreams. Does it really matter that he lied on his application and really isn’t looking for long term, but rather some fast action? Earth women better watch out. Things are about to heat up.
Spark - CLICK HERE to get it now!
Chapter One Excerpt
Frxsolis Settlement Airspace, Planet Bravon, Solarus Quadrant, Modern Day
“Welcome to GAMOB,” a cheery voice announced over the spacecraft’s intercom system.
Kal grinned at his two cousins in excitement. The soft rumble of the ship’s engine vibrated along the back of his seat as they lifted off Bravon’s sweltering exterior. It had been years since he and his cousins had extended joint time off from their jobs mining ash, and even longer since they’d actually left the planet.
During the cooler hours, which were inhabitable, to say the least, extendable turbines that harnessed the power of the nearby suns to sustain life below the surface dominated the planet’s horizon. Underground, the mining settlement of Frxsolis was made up of clusters of old decommissioned spaceships and hollowed tunnels. There was no mistaking or upselling Bravon as anything but a grimy mining outpost floating in an unforgiving solar system. It wasn’t exactly a known tourist destination.
“No. You can’t do it like that,” a less enthusiastic man corrected over the comm. Turbulence caused the ship to rattle. “You have to say the name.”
Vin’s dark eyes narrowed questioningly as he looked over from his seat. Kal nodded and smiled, trying to reassure him this wasn’t some half-rate tour he’d booked them on. “Don’t worry. They’re just training a new guy. Nothing to be concerned over. This is a class act operation.”
“But we have grooms too, not just brides, so that doesn’t make it very clear,” the first intercom voice reasoned.
“Grooms?” Sev leaned forward to look over his brother’s shoulder at Kal. “Why did that man say grooms?”
“Doesn’t matter what makes sense to you. They fired the last guy who tried to cut corners,” the brusquer intercom voice answered.
“Kal?” Vin insisted. “Why did he say grooms?”
Both cousins stared at him. They were in the cabin of the small ship with a dozen other men. Once the shuttle was done picking up all its passengers in the surrounding quadrants, they would disembark onto the long voyage starship.
Kal purposefully averted his attention forward. His cousins weren’t the only ones feeling anxious. Kal sensed the potent recklessness in the other men on board the small shuttlecraft. It was well hidden beneath their calm exteriors, but it was there. He felt like he was seated in a tinderbox waiting for a stray flare to ignite the frenzy within.
Kal didn’t want to create a scene by answering his cousins right away. He’d planned on giving them an explanation once they were safely sailing the deep black and in their private cabin suite—far from where either of them could demand they be let off the ship.
“Welcome to Galaxy Brides where we join hearts across the universes,” the first voice stated.
“Um, no. Not like that,” the second voice corrected. “The management doesn’t like it when we shorten the name. Something about customer clarity.”
“So every time we have to say—?”
“Yes. Every time.”
“Ugh, fine,” the first man grumbled, then louder, he announced with much less enthusiasm than before, “Welcome to Galaxy Alien Mail Order Brides where we are joining hearts across the universes.”
“Better. Wait. Blast it, are you leaving the comm on between announcements?” The popping sound of the intercom microphone being shut off ended the overhead conversation.
“Why did that man say we’re on a mail order bride ship?” Vin demanded.
“Do I look like a bride to you?” Sev asked.
“Yes,” Kal and Vin answered in unison without hesitation.
Sev frowned, unamused. He was always so serious, ever since his parents died when an air lock malfunctioned in the mines. Heat from outside flooded the underground shaft on the outskirts of the settlement. Since then, he’d taken responsibility for his younger brother. He only had few pleasures in life—reading, drinking after a hard day hauling ash, and a good all-out brawl.
“It’s probably just a shuttle ride to our main ship, right?” Vin said. “Where is the layover? What’s our next ship?”
Kal picked up a magazine chip on the consul next to him. “I told you, we’re going to that remote planet called Earth. You remember it, right? I showed you those rogue transmission waves from there.”
“The one with the men wearing strange costumes and hats, kneeling in lines and shooting primitive weapons at each other while not bothering to get out of the way?�
� Sev grimaced. “I cannot comprehend any reason to fight in such an unfortunate manner unless their population is so large that is how they deal with it.”
“No one could understand what they were saying,” Vin put forth. “The language was gibberish.”
“They have women. They have food we are able to digest. They have a breathable atmosphere,” Kal pointed out. “And a big selling point is they’re so primitive that they haven’t officially discovered life forms off their own planet yet. That means no inter-alien politics like we were forced to deal with last time. We will easily blend in with the local humans.”
“Primitive? Then won’t they notice a bunch of aliens landing there?” Sev’s stern expression did not lessen. “Why can’t we go to the Larceny Casino ship again? The point of leaving the settlement is to meet women and relax. Drinks, dancers, games, and—”
“The Larceny drinks are too weak even for a non-Killian male, dancers are too expensive, and Vin was thrown out of the games last time and banned from coming back,” Kal answered. “I checked.”
“Worth it,” Vin inserted with a grin as if he remembered the destruction his fight had caused. “That man was a sun-boil, and the Larceny games are rigged.”
“Don’t worry about the details. It’s all been arranged.” Kal waved in dismissal. “All you have to do is have fun.”
Sev arched a brow.
“Blister’s sake, Sev, it is all taken care of. I promise, Killian Safety Squad Leader,” Kal mocked.
“Reassure me again,” Sev ordered.
“Earth beings are humanoid, compatible to us. That means the woman will want us,” Kal explained. “The ship we’re taking is cutting edge. Once we break into deep space, we’ll get our own suite. The Earth language is uncomplicated and will be uploaded into our brains on the way there. Earth currency and identification modules will be provided. We’re good to go. And, I’m told the city has games if you want them, just like the Larceny ship.”
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