Page 10 of A Mate for Haax

“Okay… can Traxx… I think you said that was his name,” she smiles with a nod of agreement, “can he read your desires?”

A devilish look slips into her caramelized, golden eyes. “Oh, shit. If that was the case, we’d probably never get out of bed.”

My face flushes at her forward comment. Her voice fades to a hushed stillness as we slow behind Madera. She approaches a steel door at the end of the second corridor we turn down and waits. “These are the usual human guest quarters. They are stocked with more appropriate clothing. While you are in the compound, you must dress as a Grekarian.”

“It is customary.” Madera says it at the same time as Rhea. Only Rhea gives me a funny face instead of the serious look currently planted on my alien host’s.

I look Rhea over, wondering curiously where her Grekarian clothing is hiding. She follows the path my eyes have taken and must have read the look on my face. Leaning in, she lowers her voice. “It is customary, but I kind of do what I want. The only time I really dress, how would you say, appropriately,” she uses hand quotes, “is when Traxx has to meet someone of importance. I promise it’s not as bad as you think it might be. The girls here aren’t those string bean, mean girls you ran into during schooling. We all have a little extra to love.”

She walks us over, directing me to the closets lining the left side of the room. A sharp gasp escapes my mouth, and I open the doors to the closet. Before me lay hundreds of robes in an assortment of neon colors. Go figure, right?

“I, personally, went with blue and purple to match Traxx’s skin tone. Apparently, it is a great honor for us to wear their own colors. Tell me a little about your mate. Is he Grekarian? I know there are several different types of aliens here at the compound.”

“He’s part Sepharon and part Grekarian. He is covered in blue and green scales.”

“Hmm… I’ve not heard of that combination. I will have to pick Traxx’s brain later about that kind. In the meantime, I would suggest that neon green robe with the blue tie. I promise it will definitely get you lots of action.”

Madera harrumphs behind us, and I can't help the snicker that sneaks out at the sound. She’s like an old school grandma who thinks things should be done a certain way, and that's the law. Or at least in their idealized world.

My mind immediately goes to the old granny from Madagascar at Grand Central who keeps whacking the lion, Alex, over the head with her purse, calling him a bad kitty. I shake my head, the smile never leaving my lips.

It may not be so bad here. Before, I was nervous about leaving my family and friends behind, but maybe I’ll meet new ones here. I’ve just met Rhea, and she’s awesome.

I pick out a few more robes in different patterns but the same colors.Rhea pulls the clothing from Madera’s hand and shoves them into a bag.

“I can help her back to the room, Madera. I’m sure we can manage to figure it out.” Rhea says perkily.

“No, you are under my protection. Do you remember what happened last time you were not following orders?” She gives Rhea a raised eyebrow.

“Ugh, fine. You know you’re a party pooper, right?”

She tiffs. “I do not know what this said party pooper is, but I do not care, either.”

We start our way back to the room when a large blue and purple scaled alien starts walking our way. By the smile on my new best friend's face, this must be the infamous Traxx she mentioned several times already. He comes up with a wickedly sinful grin spreading his mouth wide and pinches her bum. “Mate, are you giving Madera a hard time?”

She looks at him in mock offense. “Absolutely not! I am the picture of innocence.”

He shakes his head, and I take a minute to look him up and down. He looks a lot like Haax, but now that I’m up close, I can see the minute differences.

“Traxx, this is Esme. She’s new here. I was trying to help a fellow newbie fit in better than I did at the start.”

He nods his head at me in greeting.

He follows behind us as we walk. A few minutes later, my own handsome alien appears; a grim look upon his face. I’m assuming that means the meeting he had to run off to probably didn’t go very well.

The males introduce themselves to each other, there’s a certain familiarity there, and I wonder what it is. My question is quickly answered, though, when Haax tells me Traxx is the former Commander of the Flighten. They look the same age, though. What age do these guys retire?

Once his eyes find mine, the corners of his lips curve into a grin. “Esme, I was looking for you.” His tone is teasing.

So, I give it right back to him. “Oh, I hadn’t realized your meeting was over. Rhea and Madera were showing me the clothing options for my stay.”

He gives a knowing smile. “Ahh… I shall look forward to seeing you in it then. In the meantime, there is something I need to discuss with you, and I would prefer to do it in the privacy of our room.”

I incline my head in compliance with his request, and we say our goodbyes before turning and walking in the opposite direction of where we were headed.

Haax scans his hand on the door panel, and it opens. He says he plans to program my hand as well, but he hasn’t yet. I have to cut him some slack, though, since he really hasn’t had much time.

He directs me to the bed as soon as we’re inside the room with the door relocked. “I have found out today that the Necorium have gone off the grid, following this morning’s attack, and my scouts cannot manage to find any trace of them.Prince Axxon has commed us and is telling me that I need to return planetside so we can discuss the course of action going forward.”

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