He snorted. “I shall inform your warlord to be prepared.”
Prepared? For what? For me to want ice cream? Because I was pregnant?
Oh, god. Could I be pregnant already? I wasn’t on birth control. I wasn’t dating anyone back home and the pill made me feel like shit, so I just didn’t take it. The rare occasions I’d been with someone, we used a condom. Had I been so out of my mind I’d let Tazo fuck me, not once butmultiple times, without protection?
Why was I only thinking about this now? Panicking about this now?
Because I was almost killed, then kidnapped, fought over by two Atlan beasts, carted off over Tazo’s shoulder and then… he’d held my body in mid-air to devour my pussy like a man possessed. I’d been so turned on, so out of my mind, I didn’t even think about the fact that an alien could get me pregnant.
Shit. Did I want to be pregnant? I’d always wanted kids, but did I want onenow?
Rachel wiggled her hand under my elbow and linked our arms. “I knew we would be the best of friends. Anyone who doesn’t like ice cream needs their head examined.”
I agreed as I settled one palm over my abdomen and wondered if there was a child growing inside me. The possibility made my pulse race, but not with fear. I had a mate who would never leave me, never cheat on me. A new job doing something I would love. Did I want a baby?
Yes. Take away the worry about buying groceries and paying the bills and yes. I very much would love to have a child.
“Who am I?” How had my life changed so much in just a couple days?
Rachel must have heard my whisper. She leaned in and whispered in my ear. “Finding your true mate changes everything. You’ll get used to it.”
My true mate. I watched my true mate remove his tunic, his bare chest every bit as big, muscled and freaking perfect as I remembered. Shining in the light from the dome over our heads, his integrations were clearly visible and reminded me of everything the governor had just said. Those things in his skin, whatever they were, made him stronger and faster. They also, apparently, made him an outcast.
The Prillon he faced had much more obvious integrations. One of Marz’s eyes was completely silver, like liquid mercury. All around that eye and wrapping around his head to his temple, additional silver metal replaced flesh. They were all part machine. Every male sent to The Colony was a cyborg. Fascinating.
Not one of them was as smoking hot and sexy as my cyborg. I’d bet onthat.
A loud chime sounded and I lost all track of time and space as my mate transformed into his beast and charged the two Prillon warriors.
The fight was brutal. They moved so quickly I had trouble keeping track. When the sound of breaking bone, accompanied by a roar of pain, filled the arena I put my face down in my hands and couldn’t watch. I didn’t think that breaking sound was from Tazo, but I wasn’t one hundred percent sure. He was bleeding. I’d seen that. So were the other two. They pummeled one another. Kicked. Tossed their opponents around like sacks of potatoes. Ripped at each other’s skin. Rolled and wrestled and choked each other.
“This is insane.” When it had been four Prillon warriors, I’d watched it all. I’d even cheered along with the rest of the crowd.
But this wasn’t four random strangers. This was my mate. My warlord. Tazo. My heart was out there being beaten bloody, growling and roaring in pain. I couldn’t watch. Couldn’t bear it. The sight of him suffering was literally making me ill. I was going to vomit all over my new dress.
Holy shit. Was I in love with him? Already? Was that even possible?
“Are you all right?” Rachel asked.
“No. I can’t watch this. I watch him get hurt. I can’t. It’s making me sick.”
Rachel wrapped an arm around my shoulders and squeezed. “It’s okay.”
“I feel like a wimp.”
“You’re not a wimp. You’re a big softie in love with her mate, but definitely not a wimp.” She held onto me as the fight continued. I judged how things were going by the volume of the crowd. The excitement rose to a crescendo and I dared a peak through split fingers.
Tazo stood over the two Prillon warriors, both of whom appeared to be barely conscious. Blood from dozens of cuts ran over his face, body and arms as he held them over his head in victory.
He was all right. Hurt. Bleeding. A mess, but not seriously injured. At least not that I could see from here.
I had to go to him. I couldn’t tolerate seeing him hurt. In pain.
I stood and shoved my way to the edge of the seating area. All around me, massive warriors jostled and celebrated. I couldn’t move. Couldn’t go up or down the rows. Couldn’t walk forward or back. I was stuck in the crowd of huge males. If one of them accidentally stepped on me, I’d be so done.
Out of nowhere, a beast’s hands wrapped around my waist and lifted me off my feet.
I squealed in shock until I realized the hands belonged to Tazo. He lifted me over the railing and set me on the ground. My soft boots sank into the sand as I looked up at him.
