Page 39 of Viken Command

The difference between this meeting and the one with Alarr was glaring in my mind. Alarr had touched me. Crowded into my space. Made me shiver and want instantly. Oran had noticed everything, ordering me a cloak when I’d barely shivered. And Teig? That kiss had made me forget to be afraid.

But this? It was like they were bowing to a princess, like I was brittle, made of glass, and about to break. But then, maybe I was.

“Told you they should bow to you.” Queen Leah spoke from behind me, and I jumped, startled. I’d forgotten she was still here.

Kayson moved his thumb over the back of my hand in a soothing gesture but remained kneeling before me. “I have been told of your prior mate’s deception, Whitney. Of his betrayal. I vow to you now never to lie to you, never to deceive you. We vow to place you, your safety, your happiness and your pleasure first in all things from now until the day we die.”

Fuck-fuckity-fuck. Intense. He knew exactly what to say, what my issues were. Was that because Warden Egara had told him what was going on? Or was he just that way? The way I’d imagined the alien males were supposed to be? Honorable? Devoted? Possessive? And he wasn’t bad to look at. In fact, they were all hot as hell. If I hadn’t met Alarr, Oran and Teig first, I had no doubt I would have been blissfully happy with Kayson and the other two.

Now? I wasn’t sure. But I wasn’t ready to give up on this new life. I didn’t want to go back to Earth, not that it was an option. I didn’t want to fail. I couldn’t go home. This was my home now. And these males were my new mates.

I looked at Leah. “I’m not ready for this.”

My new mate rose and used two fingers to gently turn my head toward him. I had to look up, way up, even farther than when I’d been standing before Alarr.

“We are content to wait for the claiming until you are ready, mate. Whatever you need, we will provide. We are yours.”

Oh God. What was I going to do now?

He was beautiful. Perfect. They all were.

Yet I didn’t want him or the other two. Not at all.

Leah’s hand came down on my shoulder. “Give yourself some time, Whitney. It’s okay.” She squeezed me and released her hold. “Well, I guess it’s time for some talking and getting to know each other. Follow me to the gardens, people. I’ll order brunch.”

Kayson placed his hand on the small of my back and escorted me as I followed our queen, my other two mates falling in behind us. I was with the queen and her guards, my three new mates. My best friend here was queen of the planet. I was surrounded by a fortress and more guards than I’d ever seen in one place. I was protected and safe.

And every time I blinked, I imagined that Alarr had been the one to arrive on that transport pad, kneel before me and beg for forgiveness. I imagined Oran and Teig on their knees behind him, vowing never to lie to me again. I imagined the hand on my back belonged to Alarr, that he was here, loving me, living up to the dream of him I’d been carrying in my heart.

And I hated him more.

10

Alarr, Viken United, Transport Room

When we stepped down from the transport pad within the palace walls on Viken United, we were met not with the kings’ guards as I’d expected, but by the three kings themselves. Identical triplets, their different colored uniforms and lengths of hair made them easy to identify—each from one of the sectors. As they came through the sliding door, the disapproving glares on their faces were identical as well. Oran, Teig and I paused in our motion to step down from the transport pad and bowed at the waist. The kings did not look well pleased to see us, and I had a good idea that whatever our mate had told Queen Leah had not been in our favor. Not that we deserved any.

After the formality of showing respect was complete, I stood and met the gaze of King Drogan, the only one of the three who had personally met Whitney while at the Trixon resort. “I’m surprised there isn’t a security squad ready and waiting to lead us to the brig for what we’ve done to our mate.”

King Tor arched a brow. “I heard about Commander Helion locking you three up in the I.C. brig. It sounds as if you have already spent more than enough time in a cage. Your time away does not punish you three, but your absence has been difficult on your mate.”

“Unfortunately, our absence was unavoidable. However, we gave Doctor Helion what he needed. T

he mission debriefing is complete, and you should have his report within a few days. Our part in this mission is over. We are free to collect our mate. And Whitney is our mate. We have come to take her back to Battleship Zeus with us.” I wanted no doubt as to our purpose in coming here. We were here for Whitney, and we had no intention of leaving Viken United without her.

King Tor, with his intense gaze and equally forceful demeanor, stepped forward. “She is no longer your mate. She contacted the Interstellar Brides Program on Earth and formally rejected the match to you, Captain Alarr.”

I clenched my hands into fists, ready to punch him in the face for uttering those words alone, but he didn’t stop speaking, and his next words were like a dagger in my heart.

“Another has already arrived to claim her.”

I looked to Oran and Teig, both looked as distressed as I felt. Helion had wasted precious time. If we’d been able to chase after her when we’d wanted, we’d have had the opportunity to explain. To apologize.

Slowly, I shook my head, my focus not wavering. “She was matched to me first. She is mine. We have treated her falsely, and we will apologize. We will make things right, and we will finally claim her as we should have upon her initial arrival.”

King Drogan laughed, crossed his arms over his chest. “You’ll need to do more than apologize. Groveling will be in order.”

“Begging, too,” King Lev added. “If your female is anything like Queen Leah, prepare yourselves to work for her forgiveness. Mates from Earth are passionate, as you know. Unfortunately, that passion translates with equal force outside of bed play.”

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