Page 36 of Doom

“Just Doom doing his regular check in,” I said with a shrug before tucking a lock of my hair behind my ear to hide my embarrassment.

“No need to be shy about being in love and being loved by one of those crazy sexy golden aliens,” Anita said with a wink, pulling out the needle from my arm where she’d just taken some blood samples. “In your shoes, I’d be flaunting it to the whole world. Do youknowhow jealous every single human female is of you?”

I chuckled and shook my head. “No flaunting for me, I love my privacy. And anyway, it’s Legion every woman is drooling over.”

“He IS ridiculously hot,” Anita said, pretending to fan herself. “Those lips, that smile, that insane body…”

I rolled my eyes in fake annoyance, amused by that far too common reaction. “You know, the Xians are ALL just as hot.”

“True, but Legion is the public face of the Vanguard. That sexy voice of his, that subtle accent no one can pinpoint, and the way he looks at the reporters and addresses them as if no one else in the world mattered, have been responsible for many exploded ovaries,” Anita argued.

I laughed, forced to admit Legion had an undeniable charm and charisma that more than likely would have messed with me, too, had my own Warrior not utterly swept me off my feet. Half of the Soulcatchers also had the hots for him—Elisa, Wrath’s Soulcatcher, being at the top of that list.

Dr. Shivani made a face at me before putting a few drops of my blood into an analyzer. While the Intergalactic Coalition and the Vanguard had been very cautious in what technology they shared with humans, on board their vessels, all the staff, including humans, were allowed to use whatever devices were available. In this instance, the analyzer provided more accurate results in a much faster time.

“The thing is, we don’t hear from the others,” Anita continued while eyeing the device. “We only see them from a distance, strutting around buck naked with that damn loin plate hiding the goods, and their weapons attachment making them look even more badass,” she added with a disgusted frown. “Do you have any idea what I—and every other woman in the world—would give to see what they’re packing?” she asked, looking at me over her shoulder.

My face heated some more, and I involuntarily licked my lips. Her jaw dropped, her face taking on a betrayed expression.

“You tramp! Stop being so damn selfish! I need deets!” Anita exclaimed.

I laughed again and shook my head. How was I supposed to tell her that my man was hung like a horse? That his penis has all kinds of ridges that enhanced my pleasure with every stroke? That going down on him was my new addiction because his cock and his cum tasted like cinnamon buns? That he emitted a pheromone that had me dripping wet and hornier than a cat in heat in three seconds flat? That the vibrations of his chest created a subtonal melody that lit up my nerve endings making me hypersensitive to every touch and every sensation? That, by itself, the hormone his fangs injected me made me climax in two seconds flat and kept me high for an eternity? That being with Doom was always like entering the gates of Heaven itself?

But more than that, no words could ever fully describe what it felt like to truly be one with someone. It transcended our physically joining through love making with the entwining of two souls merged as one.

“I don’t kiss and tell, Dr. Shivani,” I said in a falsely outraged tone. “This is a most unprofessional line of questioning. What would the AACD think of such behavior?”

She huffed and shrugged with a pouty expression. Who would have thought such a funny and laid-back woman hid behind the stern and formal-looking doctor that had briefed us about the test all those months ago?

“Fine, keep your secrets,” she mumbled with a ‘see-if-I-care’ expression that just made me chuckle some more.

I would miss her once Doom and I left Earth to settle on Khepri. At least, I would have human companionship with all the Soulcatchers that had already expressed the desire to follow their Warrior to Khepri. Then again, it was still early. According to Doom, it would still take at least a year—but more likely two—before we saw an end to this war of attrition.

The machine beeped and printed out a report. Anita picked it up, glanced quickly at the results then gestured for me to get off the examination table. Instead of heading to her desk, she walked to the comfy little seating area in an alcove that looked onto the void of space and the blue outline of Earth. I settled next to her on the light grey upholstered sofa and gazed at her expectantly.

“Standard results, nothing new under the sun, except perhaps that your man is continuing to strengthen your immune system,” Anita said. “As per the Coalition’s recommendations, we’re going to continue giving you the enzyme for the next six months, until your thirtieth birthday. However, the AACD would like you to consider stopping the treatment.”

I stiffened and slightly recoiled at that unexpected comment. “Why?” I asked, baffled. “My progress is slow but not stalled. In fact, I’d been thinking we should increase the dose before time runs out. Is there a problem?”

Anita shifted uneasily, her face losing all the playfulness from earlier. While my friend still lurked under the surface, right now, it was the Chief Medical Officer of the Alien Alliance Coordination Division talking to me.

“We realize that when this is all over, whichever way the cookie crumbles, you will be leaving Earth to be with your man,” Dr. Shivani said cautiously. “But for those of us who will be left behind, we need to be sure it will be with the ability to rebuildaftera victory.”

Understanding dawned on me.

“The Xian Warriors will never abandon Earth, if that’s what you’re worried about,” I said with confidence. “Doom said as much.”

“So, it’s true? The Coalition wants to abandon us?” she asked.

My face immediately closed off. I understood that she had responsibilities and a job to do, but I wouldn’t be used as an informant.

“I have no idea what the Coalition wants. Doom and I do not discuss political stuff. But, if we did, I wouldn’t be sharing anything withanyonewithout his prior consent,” I said sternly. “Now, what does any of that have to do with my taking the serum?”

Anita gave me an assessing look, appearing to debate whether to push the issue, but then conceded. “The Warriors are dying,” she finally said. “We do not have official numbers. However, those floating around estimate that there had been a total of 36,000 Warriors ever created, give or take a thousand. Six thousand remained to defend Khepri, four thousand continued to patrol the galaxy for other potential Kryptid invasions or attacks against their allies or unsuspecting planet. The rest, 26,000 troops, all came here to save us. But a little less than 18,000 remain here, slightly over 3,000 survived the attack on Khepri, and we have no clear numbers on the remaining Warriors on patrol.”

I felt blood drain from my face upon hearing those dire numbers. I didn’t know how accurate they were. However, they echoed the general sentiment of loss and sorrow the Warriors were attempting to hide. Every other day though the medical channels, the permanent death of one of the Xians would be announced.

“The Vanguard now has sufficient Soulcatchers for each of their Warriors,” Anita continued. “We keep creating more, especially professionals like you: doctors, engineers, military officers, butyouare ouronlyhope to give them what they truly want.”

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