Page 54 of Keeping His Mate

As I cut across the path, I almost collide with Kate and Niro. “Shit! Sorry, you two,” I tell them, wiping the sheen of sweat from my brow.

“Easy there, Speedy McGee,” Kate says with a chuckle. “Where you headed?”

“Training grounds,” I say with a huff as I catch my breath. “Looking for Bruvix.”

“Ahh,” Kate replies with a knowing grin. “A late afternoon snack, eh?”

“What?” I ask, shaking my head. I know what she’s implying, and I’d have no trouble admitting it if it were true, but it’s not. “Nah, I just need to talk to him.”

She elbows Niro in the side. “Sure, sure.”

“What in the world was that for?” Niro softly scolds, rubbing his rib cage.

“Oh, that didn’t hurt. Don’t pretend like it did,” she tells him. Then she turns back to me. “We’re heading back to the caves for a few days. I need to work on some baby clothes for Vahla. But we’ll be back soon. Let Chlo know for me?”

“Okay, cool. Yeah, I’ll tell her.”

“Oh! By the way,” Kate mumbles as she digs through the bag slung over her shoulder. “Here, I keep forgetting to give this to you.” Then she hands me a thick, pink garment made from a cotton-like fabric folded into a neat square.

“What’s this?” I ask, slowly unfolding it. A gasp escapes me when I hold it up. “A jumpsuit?” It has a peter pan collar, large tortoiseshell buttons from the neck to the waist, short sleeves, and cuffed bottoms that look like they’ll hit just above my ankles. It’s perfect.

“Yeah, Bruvix said you wanted one. I guessed your measurements, so let me know if it doesn’t fit and I can fix it.”

I’m stunned. Of course, Bruvix asked her to make this for me. He heard me talking about something I wanted, and he found a way to get it for me. “Wow” is all I can say as I clutch it tightly to my chest.

“What was your personal style on Earth?” Kate asks. “So, I can make you more pieces. Were you more preppy? Or, like, Sporty Spice? Or were you more into dresses?”

I think back to the many fashion phases I went through, and what all of them ultimately led to. “I guess I would describe it as, middle-aged dad on the top and hippie art teacher on the bottom. Does… that make sense?”

Kate’s eyes lift to the sky for a moment, then she chuckles and says, “Does that mean, graphic tees and flannels paired with long skirts on the bottom?”

“Yes!” I shout. “That’s exactly what that means.”

She nods. “Awesome. And I’m glad you like the jumpsuit! I’ll make you more outfits soon,” she says, patting me on the arm. “Okay, catch ya later.”

Niro smiles, his perfectly white, sharp teeth gleaming. “Farewell, Eleanor.”

Tossing the jumpsuit over my shoulder, I jog the rest of the way toward the training grounds. Once I arrive, though, I find it empty. It’s a wide patch of dirt the size of a soccer field, so if Bruvix and Ahlvo were here, I’d see them.

For the sake of efficiency, I make my way over to the weapon shed, looking for clues. A few feet before I reach it, a familiar furry face pops out from behind a bush and gallops toward me. “Stanley!” I squeal with my arms outstretched. He races into them and starts eagerly licking my face. He sniffs my cheeks, eyes, and then the jumpsuit still draped over my shoulder. Then he sinks his teeth into the soft fabric and tugs, and I scramble to hold onto the bottom cuffs of my new jumpsuit as he tries to rip it from my grasp. Eventually, he does, and I call his name as I chase after him.

How am I supposed to explain this? “Sorry, Kate. My tr’gory puppy ate that jumpsuit you made me. Can you whip up another one?” I need to get this one back before he destroys it.

Calling his name, I order him to turn back, which he ignores entirely. Once I follow him into the trees, he vanishes, running out of sight, and I stop. This is just asking for trouble, and I can’t betray Bruvix’s trust again. I won’t. He deserves better.

A clicking sound breaks through my thoughts, and as I whirl around, I find a gun pointed at my forehead. “Don’t move, female. You're worth a sack full of credits, but I’d also enjoy cutting you open and having a look at your insides.”

I swallow, lifting my hands in surrender as the reality of my situation settles in. “Bzzsil Chi, I presume?” I ask, my voice cracking on the last word. He certainly matches the description I’ve been given by the girls. Oily yellow scales covering his wide, short body? Check. Bulbous brown knobs running down his back and tail? Check. Giant black eyes that bug out in opposite directions? Check. He’s also barefoot and wearing a short-sleeved black shirt that looks like it’s made from a blend of cheap felt and polyester, with matching black pants that brush the top of his clawed feet.

“Indeed, pretty one,” he spits, droplets of his saliva landing across my cheek. “And these are my guards.” He gestures behind him to a small army of males in drab yellow suits with bronze armor covering their chests.

This is bad.

Very, very bad.

Like,asteroid heading toward us at a trillion miles an hourbad. I am so fucked.

“Wh-what brings you here to Oluura?” I ask in a shaky voice.

---