Page 8 of The Monster's Mate

“Actually, it is my baby,” Maman says, and she kicks the other two with her tentacles. “My precious, tenderhearted Skiden.”

“Ahh, yes,” Isabel says. “I can see that.”

“Uh, huh,” River agrees, eyeing me. “Too bad you can’t meet Sky. He’s a hoot. Best brother-in-law a gal could ask for.”

“Agreed,” Isabel says quickly.

There’s an awkward silence as we all crunch our chips. I think it all dawns on us that Isabel and River are sisters-in-law… and mother and daughter.

“So, you have three sons?” I ask Maman.

Her eyes light up. “Yes! Three perfect sons. Bronan is the leader of our clan, Tiran is a prized hunter, and Skiden is the sensitive soul.”

“Well, to be fair—and I’m not naming any names—one of the sons is rather spoiled,” River says, still teasing Isabel, obviously.

Isabel looks affronted. “What?” Then she catches River’s grin. “Well, maybe,” she says slyly. “I won’t name any names either, but he’s obviously not old enough to know any better.”

River grunts, so I guess that Tiran isn’t as old as Bronan.

“Anyway,” Maman drawls out while glaring at the both of them, “my baby was blessed with a wicked sense of humor. If you’re ever having a down day, he’s the man to bring you right out of the dumps.”

I’m not sure why she’s sharing this, unless it’s just to stop the other two girls from arguing over who the best brother is.

“So, what does your little one want to be when he grows up? A leader like Bronan? Or a hunter like Tiran?”

There’s silence for a minute before River and Isabel start laughing. “Oh, no, Lucy,” River gasps. “Skiden’s not a teen! He’s a fully grown, adult man. Male.”

“Oh,” I say, somewhat awkwardly. I’m not sure why I assumed he was so young.

Chapter Three

Lucy:

The entire house is quiet, but I can’t sleep. Instead, I stare at the ceiling, the same thought running through my head.

Isabel’s leaving me.

Oh, I should be happy for her, but she’s my only friend in the world and I’ve missed her. I know she’s not leavingme, exactly. She’s doing what’s best for her. But am I really doomed to spend a lifetime alone? Everyone leaves me eventually.

A shadow in the shape of a person passes across the covered windows of my bedroom. My heart pounds, just like it does every night I think I hear something outside. But this time, I take a deep breath, reminding myself there are others in the house. I’m not alone.

Quiet as a mouse, I slide out of bed and nudge aside the curtains to peek outside. In the streetlamp, I can see the faint outline of a huge man… no, not a man. He almost floats weightlessly, but then I notice it’s roving tentacles. One of them… the Pimeon-aliens. Just like Maman.

My heart races—until the sprinklers turn on. The alien yelps, spinning around like someone sprays him with a hose, and then realizes it’s an automated system.

All the fear snaps out of me. A low chuckle escapes me. As far as surveillance goes, he really sucks.

He slinks onto the back porch, leaving a trail of wet like a humongous snail, and blocking my view.

I slip from my room and hear Isabel softly snore from the sofa. They’re so tired from the portal traveling to Earth. This person in the yard must be River’s mate, or even the boyfriend that Isabel has, spying on the girls. I’ll just open the sliding doors a crack and tell him to come back in the morning.

By the time he comes to the glass doors to peer in, I’m standing there with my arms crossed over my nightgown. I hadn’t even thought to throw on a robe since the house was all girls. It makes me a little grumpy to be caught in my nightgown, but I imagine their mates aren’t going to stare too hard.

He peers into the glass and sees me standing there.

He’s massive—enormous, rounded shoulders that look too bulky to be real, cut from hard muscles like he’s made of stone. He has a powerful, broad chest, a lean waist and he wears a black leather shirt. He’s full of tattoos and his lip is pierced.

But his coloring. While Maman is a shade of purple, he’s the same color but somehow enhanced by all the black tatts. He’s fascinating.

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