Page 68 of The Monster's Mate

“—it turns out I fell in love with both these males.” A few gasps ring out. “I accepted a mateship with them back on Pimeon, and I’m so happy, I wish every woman could find the same.”

There are shocked faces and wide eyes all around.

“Two?” One wide-eyed woman mouths to her friend.

But Samantha just grins. “I know, shocking, isn’t it? Funny how it’s normal for a man to have multiple wives but it doesn’t make any sense for a woman to fall in love with two males.” Then she gives a rather unladylike snort.

I cover my mouth to chuckle. She’s lost all that upper crust in six months.

“Heck, it was just a few years ago that we were appalled that we were being mated to aliens. With tentacles!” She gives a wink to a woman who fans herself and refuses to make eye contact. “And let me tell you, there is no cause to settle for less, if you know what I mean.” She waggles her eyebrows, then reaches for her mates, taking a hand from each of the males in hers, and raises their arms together. “Let the headlines show: I proudly choose two of them!”

I whistle loudly, and next to me, River starts clapping, which makes the other people start hesitantly clapping also. Then it grows louder and a few of the ladies take over, one even whistling too. The male standing next to her has wide eyes at her approval, then he claps a little louder.

Good for the commune folk.

It gives me an idea.

“But back to my cousin,” Samantha says. “Little Lucy was dumped off in an orphanage, her name changed so it would be impossible to get a decent job. Impossible to track her politician father… but he could track her. I’m sure a lot of you who met her six months ago wonder how she lived for seven years under the radar. Let me tell you how. Women band together to take care of each other. I hid Lucy in my mother’s basement until I met another woman who also needed to hide. Isabel couldn’t leave the house without being dressed in her traditional clothing so she took Lucy in, helping someone else when she could barely help herself. Remember Tessa, the second bride in the Match Program? Well, during her capture she was imprisoned without anyone knowing so she could be set up for the murder of two of Amos Mitchell’s wives by our ex-president. Thankfully, we have proof that Tessa was locked up at the time and didn’t do it. And those guards, who testified, now serve on Lilaina’s secret service. They kept Tessa’s pregnancy safe by allowing her to work the milk farms instead of the harsher jobs in the prison. Women help women. Let’s remember that, sisters.”

There’s cheering as she exits the stage, Mejak swinging her into his arms at the bottom and making a few of the commune women titter.

The party begins.

“Yoohoo! Sister dear,” River calls out, making me turn with a smile. I never get tired of hearing that.

She has a man with her—big and burly, with a rugged beard. Normally his musculature wouldn’t be considered fashionable, but those muscles weren’t obtained by a gym. This is a man who’s used to outdoor work.

My silly mate tightens his arms around me, as if convinced I’ll fall in love with other handsome males now that I’m free to be around other people.

“Can’t help it,” he mutters. “He’s handsome.”

“Sexy as hell,” I agree.

“He even smells good. Look a crowd of females follow him. Wears his clothing well too,” he says thoughtfully.

I lean up to kiss him. “You’re way too enamored. I’ll be watching you, sneaky.”

Skiden barks out laughter.

“This is Amos Mitchell. A new political leader representing the Rights For Men Movement. If you and Sky decide to live here a few months out of the year, or even travel back and forth like Lilaina and Juris, you’ll be working with Amos,” River says.

“Pleased to meet you,” I say, holding out my hand to shake.

“These are his wives,” River says. “Ruth Ann, Vicky Lynn, and Marjorie.”

Skiden relaxes and River winks at him.

“Amos is the one who had two other wives that were killed. President Montgomery thought to blame the murders on Tessa,” River says softly.

“I’m so sorry for your loss,” I say to Amos. “All of you.”

“Thank you.”

“Please, join us.”

He and River take seats at the picnic table while Skiden pulls up one of the special “chairs” set throughout the park for the Bronians, parks it behind me, and pulls me back to lean on his chest.

“Ladies, I heard some of you sing?” Samantha asks Amos’s wives, coming up from behind us with another person in tow. “This is Leslie, she’s in charge of the church choir. She’d love to pick your brains about the acoustics in the church if you’re willing to help her out.”

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