Grace Goodwin - Surprise Mates

Those words were like being shoved into a freezing cold shower. Cerberus wasn’t stupid enough to take an already claimed woman. He might be the Wicked Witch of the West of space, but he wasn’t dumb. He wanted an unmated human. One nobody’d go after.

That would be… me.

I raised a hand to stop Maxim from continuing on the topic, which was a total Debbie Downer. “I have no intention of doing anything crazy. I promise to stay inside the palace at all times.”

Maxim, Ryston, and Kiel stared at me skeptically while the ladies smirked, but I spoke the truth. I had no interest in being Cerberus’s side piece. The idea made me ill. I’d take the guards Maxim or any of the guys decided to assign me. I was fine with being safe. If the guards were hot and could fuck me against a wall or on any horizontal surface in the palace while watching over me, I’d be totally satisfied.

Oh yes, I would, and I was sure more than once.

Caroline, Rezzer, and little CJ and RJ arrived on the transport platform we’d just vacated, and I waved to the twins. It was still weird to have them magically appear from one second to the next. They came down off the platform, and the twins clapped with excitement, then wiggled to be free. At not yet two years old, they were eager to explore. Younger than Tanner and Emma, they weren’t quite ready to be separated from their parents. Or their parents weren’t quite ready to be separated from them. They’d spent many hours at playdates with Tanner and Emma, as had all the children. They all called me Aunt Woocy, too. It was too damn adorable. They loved me, and I loved them back.

It should be enough. So why did I feel empty?

“Why is everyone staring at Lucy?” Rezzer asked, leaning to let CJ down. She ran off like a streak and right for the transport controls. Rezzer dashed after and scooped her right back up. She fussed but he gave her a zerbert and she giggled. “Can we get to the palace before this one sets the controls and sends us all to Sector Zero?”

With Maxim in the lead, we exited the transport room. The ladies hung back with me, but the guys looked over their shoulders to make sure we followed.

“This is going to be the best time ever,” Lindsey said. “But we need to hurry. The surprise party is supposed to start in three hours. That’s not very much time to get ready.”

Caroline nodded and I saw that little RJ’s eyes were drooping, his head on her shoulder. Transport was exhausting, and his small body was probably ready for nap time. His sister—she was a pistol and would probably run until she tipped over—was climbing over Rezzer’s shoulders so she could see better. “I’m so glad you organized babysitters. A party with fancy dresses and Lucy’s gorgeous makeup work…”

“Yeah, I’m going to feel like a princess,” Rachel added. “You really need to set up a spa, Lucy.”

I laughed. “On The Colony? All the guys are grumps, and there aren’t enough ladies.”

“Maybe a retreat like the Trixon Resort,” Rachel countered, wiggling her eyebrows. “Whitney told me they even have sexual instructors there in case you want to try some new things and aren’t sure how to—you know—get started.” Her guilty giggle was contagious, and soon every one of us ladies was grinning.

“You’re obsessed, mate,” Maxim replied. “We didn’t satisfy you enough this morning?”

Rachel flushed. “I’m thinking of a business for Lucy,” she countered. “It would be a hit.”

“Lucy’s right. Not on The Colony. Maybe Prillon Prime,” Maxim said, making me wonder what the planet was like. “The females here enjoy pampering.”

“I think you’d be surprised what a nice massage could do for a grumpy warrior,” Rachel insisted.

“We are willing to allow you to demonstrate, mate.” Ryston’s suggestion was filled with heat. She laughed.

“We’d never get that far.”

Maxim leaned in and lifted Rachel’s face to his for a kiss. “As for feeling like a princess, mate, Jessica is an actual royal, and you are the wonderful Lady Rone of The Colony.” Maxim gave her a very heated look, and I had to wonder who hadn’t gotten enough this morning.

I was just Lucy Vandermark. Mateless but with sexy underwear.

Lindsey smiled. “I for one am looking forward to dressing up and having some adult time. Tonight we have the big surprise party, brunch with the ladies tomorrow, a full day of lounging around and relaxing, and then, day three, an actual royal ball . Huge dresses. Music from home. Dancing. Earth food for days. Girlfriends to talk to. We might never want to leave.”

Kiel scowled and Maxim growled. “You will return with us to The Colony,” Maxim commanded Rachel.

“She’s teasing you boys.” After Rachel gave Maxim an air-kiss, she flung her arm around my shoulder. “Let’s get the party started. Because… what happens on Prillon Prime…”

“Stays on Prillon Prime!” All of us finished the sentence together, giving me hope that I might find a hot guy willing to spend this weekend peeling off my undies with his teeth.

The guys turned to look at us with our shouting.

Yeah, this was going to be fun.

Ambassador Lord Niklas Lorvar, Prillon Prime, The Palace

“SURPRISE!”

Queen Jessica, with her mates behind her—Prime Nial and Lord Ander—stopped dead in her tracks as she came into the ballroom, her eyes widening like dinner plates and her mouth dropping open. Once the initial shock was over, she covered her face with her hands and laughed. Male clapping joined squeals of feminine laughter and shouting as a clutch of human women surrounded her like Hive on a downed fighter.

“Stop scowling, Niklas,” Sambor scolded while he, too, clapped slowly, his rough hands coming together like slow-moving thunder.

I watched the stunned happiness on the queen’s face as she realized many of her fellow Earth brides had come from their home planets to Prillon Prime to celebrate her birthing day. I’d heard one of the females had organized it with the queen’s mates, obviously having kept it all a secret. We’d received an invitation, something I knew, as ambassador, not to decline.

My duties to Prillon Prime were of the utmost importance to the entire Coalition Fleet. And part of my job was to maintain an excellent working relationship with both Prime Nial and his second, Lord Ander.

Turning down an invitation to their mate’s private celebration was not an option—no matter what pressing matters awaited mine and Sambor’s attention. Criminal activities on Rogue 5. Cerberus Legion’s new interest in human females. Dr. Helion and the Intelligence Core’s attempts to extract information from a Nexus unit we were holding in captivity. Important things for the safety and security of everyone present, and everyone in the Interstellar Coalition of Planets. Instead of taking care of these issues, I was supposed to remain here for several days, sneaking away for meetings, only to return for more celebrations, which I’d been informed were to include a sweet baked item from Earth called cake and listening to strange Earthen music for hours upon hours. I had never listened to human music, but knowing how chaotic and unpredictable humans were as a whole, I did not have high hopes that their music would be tolerable to Prillon ears.

“We should not be here, Sambor. There is too much work to do.”

“We already must transport off planet for meetings twice during the celebration days.” Sambor still clapped his large hands, and he had a smile on his face. “That’s more than enough. What’s the point of fighting all the time if we don’t enjoy ourselves once in a while?”