“A girl can, but not you,” I retort, and she sighs.
“I’m feeling a little less enamored with being a Skarrian than I usually am. Seeing you with all your mates makes me want the same thing. Playing the field is getting a little tiring.”
“So what are you going to do about it?”
She grimaces. “I kind of thought I had something good here on the ship, but it turns out I was the only person who thought that. None of them have returned. I guess they were only having a bit of fun. Serves me right for getting attached.”
“Are you talking about Nixie, Velorina, and Hale?”
She nods.
“Nixie couldn’t really help it. She’s now crown princess of Aquila, and her mother is a fucking sea snake who’s no better than that slug of a father, and has recently imprisoned her. As for the Vilaxians, they are probably going to join us when we stop there on the way.”
“They’ve been dodging my calls. I went to Vilax for a few days to hang out with them, but they were busy with that clan dissolution shit. I spent my time shopping and having spa treatments. Vilaxians have amazing anti-aging spa treatments.”
“Well, okay, but there are plenty of other fish in the sea. Two of those shifters for example.” I gesture back the way we came.
“Yeah, I’m not sure. If they want me, then they are going to have to do the pursuing. I think maybe I’m just too easy. I need to make them work harder.”
I spot someone I recognize and pull Magenta to a stop. “Connor? What are you doing here?” Mags gasps and shuffles behind me. That’s weird.
The Skarrian dino keeper smiles at me. “Hello, Lila. With all the mini steggies joining the show, a keeper was needed, so I volunteered. I always wanted to do some traveling.” He eyes Magenta behind me with an amused look. “Hello, Mags. It’s been a while. You’re looking gorgeous, as usual.”
She clears her throat and steps from behind me before giving him an awkward wave. “Hi, Connor. Can’t talk, we need to be somewhere. See you around.” She practically drags me away.
“An ex?” I ask her, and she groans softly. “Yes, you could say that. That man has a talented tongue, but he was as free with his love as I was. I can hardly hold a grudge for his wandering eye, but when it’s on me, I prefer for it to stay focused and not drift. He was seeing a couple of other people at the same time as me, which I wouldn’t have minded if I was invited to join the fun, but I wasn’t, so I walked away.”
“How does that work? If you’ve already slept with him before, do the five times reset after a certain period of time, or do the times you’ve already banged count?”
She giggles. “Lila, you are so fixated on the five times rule. You do know it’s five mutual orgasms, right? As long as you don’tcome at the same time, you can bang as much as you like without sealing the mating bond.”
I stop suddenly and gape at her. “Seriously?”
She stops giggling, and her expression turn serious. “Did you really think it was five times period?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, honey.” She tugs me, and I start walking again. “As long as you don’t come together, you’re fine. They could pull out once you orgasmed and come all over your body, which is one of my favorite ways to avoid sealing the bond. It also keeps my skin silky smooth.”
“Well shit. The grandpas weren’t all that clear about it. I guess I don’t blame them.” I wrinkle my nose at the thought of having to explain it to my grandchildren. It’s going to be bad enough giving my own kids the birds and bees talk. Thankfully, most of them will take after their fathers and won’t need to hear the Skarrian version of it.
“I guess it’s a little too late now anyway. I’m mostly sealed to all of them now except Brannock.”
She shudders slightly. “I completely understand why you haven’t done that one. Sex with an Aaz’axian sounds brutal.” She, of course, hounded me for the details, and I took such glee in her pale face while I gave her all the gory facts. Serves her right for being nosy.
We make it to the front of the room. Echo and Maxsim followed us the whole time, but they stayed quiet, allowing Mags and me to talk uninterrupted. They join my grandpas and other mates on the raised platform. The children are being watched by their nanny and bodyguard. We really have to get another one, or we’re going to cause Kinga to run off, or maybe stumble away sobbing with exhaustion.
Magenta leaves me and grabs a seat off to the side as I join my family. My nerves are starting to sing. What happens if theperformers and crew aren’t happy with the changes? Are we even going to have a circus after this next announcement? I look around the room and notice there are a lot of smiling, happy faces and very few grumpy ones, which is a relief.
I see Aura and their family sitting in the back, and they give me a little finger wave. I really haven’t had a chance to get to know them. Maybe it isn’t such a bad thing if there is animosity between them and my besties.
Susie and Mark are at a table on the opposite side of the room. Mark has his beautiful Celestian wings on display, and Susie is snuggled up next to him. Susie is my ride or die, and I will take her side every single day. Sitting with them is another blindingly attractive Celestian whom I don’t recognize. The three of them seem to be deep in conversation and haven’t noticed my arrival yet. The man is the very definition of golden—golden skin, long golden locks tied back at the nape of his neck, and even some kind of golden gladiator outfit that I noticed was popular on Celestia. He looks like a golden archangel warrior from an Earth religion.
“Who is that with Mark and Susie?” I ask my family, hoping one of them knows the answer.
“That is Mark’s guardian angel that his parents insisted on sending along with him. Being the crown prince of Celestia comes with responsibilities that are chafing him.” Xavier sounds amused. “But he is new to his power, and his parents don’t want to lose him again. Aarin is a general in the Celestian army and has been instructed to protect him with his life.”
It looks like the conversation turns heated. Susie watches on with wide eyes as Mark and Aarin argue, and eventually, Mark throws his hands up in exasperation. Aarin remains calm the whole time and has an expression of extreme satisfaction on his face. I’m guessing Mark lost that argument. The golden angel turns his attention to the front of the room, and I meet his eyes.He gives me a nod before his attention keeps moving, but then it stops dead. His eyes widen, and he sits up straight, mouthing words I can’t make out. I watch as he goes to stand, but a throat clearing next to me draws my attention away from the surprised Celestian.
