Page 20 of The Monster's Mate

“Why?” I ask, genuinely puzzled.

“I don’t think she knew that I had to stay here, and she was trying to let me know that some things would stay familiar if I went to your planet. That tomatoes exist in both lands, though they’re called something different.”

I snort. “Maman lied through her pointed teeth. Did she also give you a sob story about desperately wanting females and only being unlucky enough to birth three males?”

“Yes?” Lucy blinks, surprised. “You don’t have tomatoes?”

“Nothing close,mieka.” I can’t help but chuckle. “You know how and why River, Isabel, and Maman wanted to get away from Pimeon?”

“Why?”

“Maman got the two of them hammered and took them to a house of ill repute where males are employed to pamper females, including giving them a—how shall we say—a happy ending?”

She sucks in her breath, her eyes rounded.

“Thankfully it didn’t get that far since someone got word to Bronan and Tiran. They fetched their tipsy females, leaving me with our drunken maman. The next morning, she snuck out to gather the other two and contact Mikhail about their plans to make sure Isabel’s affairs were in order. Maman knew it would distract Tiran and Bronan from her taking the two for massages if a new issue arose.”

A smile breaks across her face. “You know your mother well.”

“There is no one else like her. You are lucky she’s taken you under her wing. You’ll have her on your side for life.”

And one day, she will know another life. This, I’m sure of.

But then there is a pounding at her front door and the small box that she is holding drops to the floor.

Her cheeks are pale, and her eyes are wide and terrified.

Chapter Six

Lucy:

Skiden stands just inside my bedroom door where he can’t be seen from the living room.

“It’s all right. I’m right here. Nothing will happen to you,” he whispers.

I do feel better with him in the house. It’s not just because I’m no longer alone but because I know he’s strong and protective and I just feel safe with him here.

And I shouldn’t. I should stand on my own two feet.

I take a deep breath and slowly peel back the mini-blinds. The scrape sounds so loud and I freeze, afraid they can hear it on the other side of the window. My heart is pounding and my index finger shakes as I hold the blind, then slide it just the barest millimeter more. I lean forward to peer through the window blinds to see… Samantha’s stupid grinning face.

“You scared the hell out of me!” I yell, opening the door, ushering her inside and closing it behind her. “You should have used the secret knock!”

She’s still grinning from ear to ear. “Why? I know you’re not alone. I saw the vase in the window.”

Oh.

I turn to yank the offending blue glass from the windowsill, never realizing that Skiden steps out of the doorway because Sam said she knows I’m not alone. He has no idea she thinks Isabel is home.

“Holy shit,” Sam says.

Poor Skiden gives her his best smile, but it simply shows his jagged teeth.

Sam quickly pushes me behind her and holds up her fists.

Skiden starts laughing, so I lean up to whisper in her ear, “Samantha Merende, meet Skiden, Isabel’s brother-in-law. Kinda. Isabel was here yesterday with her daughter River and her mother-in-law, Skiden’s mom, but they left this morning. Skiden stayed behind to make sure I’m safe and that no one knew there were visitors here.”

And Sam is stuck staring at my strange alien and all his differences.

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