Page 34 of Game on Askole

“And he’s a horny bastard. Kept sniffing my private parts,” Kaylee said with a grimace.

Aunt Tess threw a quick look over her shoulder. “Tihar groped you, and your warlord let him live?”

“I didn’t tell Talree. He’s a bit possessive.”

“Smart move,” Sam agreed.

“You have no idea.” Kaylee fingered the silver band around her neck.

I eyed the band. It had an intricate alien insignia on it. “What is that?”

“An ownership band,” Kaylee blurted out, then took another swallow of her beer and added, “It’s their version of a wedding ring.”

Sam slammed her bottle down. “Ownership? Like we’re property?”

“Coletti women don’t have the same rights as we do,” Kaylee said warily.

“Are you shittin’ me?” Sam rocketed to her feet in outrage. “No fucking way will I allow them to turn me into broodmare. I am an American. I have rights.”

“Duh, did you forget? We aren’t on Earth anymore. There’s no bill of rights here. Women are expected to obey their menfolk, and boy, are they in for a surprise,” I inserted.

Kaylee rubbed her forehead as if she had a raging headache. “Once the warlord does his mojo on you, it’s over.”

“Mojo?” Aunt Tess asked pleasantly, but her eyes glittered dangerously.

“It’s a bit like mind control,” Kaylee responded.

“Mind control?” They could probably hear Sam’s bellow all the way back on Earth.

Detja teleported in. I took one look at her stern, ice-queen demeanor, and groaned. The shit was about to hit the fan.

“Be quiet. Sit down,” Detja commanded with a hard mental push.

Sam dropped down onto her chair like an unstrung puppet. She opened her mouth, but nothing came out.

I stared at Detja in stunned horror. I couldn’t move or speak either.

“You misunderstand the bonding process.” Detja let her gaze rest on each of us. “Once a warlord has chosen and marked you, there is no escape. When the bond is completed, you will burn for your mate’s touch. Crave it. His body will be a source of comfort and stability. His mental touch will become as necessary as breathing. You will fight for him and with him. You will belong to your mate mind, body, and soul. Forever.”

My internal radar went on full alert. I scanned for the source.“Incoming hostile,”I announced mentally.

“Yes, she comes.” Detja immediately released her hold on us. “Prepare for battle.”

Poof! A tall, stick-thin Coletti female wearing a pointy metal hat and bronze breastplate over a screaming-red body suit appeared on the terrace and surveyed us like we were dog poop she had accidently stepped in.

“Say howdy to Lilkee, the paranoid whack job.” I waved at her all friendly like.“Lookin’ for your death bringers?”

She totally ignored me and drew her sword. Lilkee’s entire focus was on Detja. If looks could kill, Detja would be toes up.

“Lilkee,”Detja said, her voice terse and unfriendly.“Zarek is not here.”

The whack job smirked and stroked the hilt of her gem-encrusted sword.“I know. I came to see the pitiful female your half-breed son has chosen.”

“Half-breed? Pitiful?” Kaylee narrowed her eyes. “One more insult, and that skinny bitch is gonna get her ass kicked.”

“We’ll help,” I said.

Her lips curled in contempt, Lilkee examined Kaylee from head to toe.“You are nothing but a filthy little primitive whose pathetic planet Malik plans to wipe from existence.”

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