Page 35 of A Monster’s Future

“I hope not. Maybe I should go and say hi.”

I gritted my teeth. If the bitch tried, I’d punch her.

Grtirr’s fingers wrapped around mine. “Do not be jealous, my mate. I only have eyes for you.” His tone was teasing, and there was a twinkle in his eyes.

I gawked at him. Jealous? I wasn’t jealous!

“Hey! I’m not—” Then, realizing that they could understand me, even though they couldn’t understand Grtirr, I lowered my voice to a whisper. “I’m not jealous.”

But it was no use. He was already grinning in that way that told me his mind was made up and there was no way for me to change it.

“How much time do we have before the rendezvous?” I asked, changing the topic.

“Another galactic hour or so.”

“No one’s looked for us here yet.” I glanced around the concourse, curious at the many signs offering spa packages and couples’ retreats. “Let’s go for a walk.”

We stood and wandered down the “street,” the warmth of the cafés on either side of us. The spa district stretched ahead, a maze of signs and frosted glass doors. Some advertised “Luxury Hydrotherapy,” others promised “Zero-Gravity Massage.” What the hell even was that? The scents of fruit and flowers drifted from the doors, mingling with the smell of coffee.

We kept walking past the spas and into the health and fitness sector. Gyms lined the corridor, their glass walls revealing rows of people working out. Some lifted weights, their faces twisted in concentration. Others ran on treadmills, their feet pounding in sync with the unheard music from their headphones.

We were getting just as many curious looks as we were before, but now we were also getting gym bros enviously admiring Grtirr’s near-perfect physique.

“I still do not understand this form of training,” Grtirr grumbled. “It does not hone the skills or get the body ready for spontaneous movement like hand-to-hand combat does.”

We continued walking and passed several martial arts studios. His mood shifted instantly. He slowed, watching the fighters through the windows, his expression sharp with interest. Two skilled practitioners sparred on a mat in one of the studios, and Grtirr didn’t look away until the match ended.

“Hard to tell you’re a medic,” I teased.

“I am a medic, but I am also a strong fighter.” He steered us toward a wide-open area where moving stairs descended to the lower levels. A massive transparent elevator stood with its doors open, and two transports were filing in.

“And a mechanic too?” I asked, thinking of the hovercraft.

“It is good to have many, many skills.” The look in his eyes turned downright wicked. “I am also skilled inside the mating nest.”

My face burned hot enough to fry an egg. I stumbled over my own feet, coughing to cover my flustered reaction. Thank fuck nobody around us spoke Kadrixan. I shot Grtirr a sharp glare. The smug bastard just looked way too pleased with himself.

“You liked what we did last night. Do not lie.”

Suddenly, my traitorous brain decided to replay all the sexy things he’d done to me back in our room. Every filthy, delicious detail. My body betrayed me too, reacting immediately, heat pooling low in my belly. And I knew, knew, he could scent my desire.

So much for making him work for it. Hell, at this rate, I’d be lucky if I didn’t jump him right here.

It wasn’t fair. None of this mating crap was fair. This whole thing was stacked against me. His pheromones were cheating, plain and simple. But even without them, we had oodles of chemistry. And now that Grtirr wasn’t acting like a hyper-controlling asshat 24/7, he was actually… well, he was fun to be around. I liked him. The grumpy, serious medic had been just a front to drive me away because he didn’t want a bond.

I guess fate was laughing at both of us now.

And now that I knew he’d been fighting the bond this whole time? Yeah, that explained a lot.

I’d known from the moment Grtirr had sunk to his knees in the mess hall that fighting this mating bond was a lost cause. But the truth was really, and I meant really, settling in now. Grtirr and I were mates.

Like forever and ever after, the end, kind of mates. Like, this was it, either we make it work, or else.

But that didn’t mean I’d go easy on him. He still owed me a nest. And a proper mating flight to said nest. I’d been fantasizing about those two things ever since I’d known about the Kadrixans and their mating rituals. I wanted a nest, made just for me, filled with treasure. And Grtirr had it easy too, because I loved all things pretty and sparkly. The mountains were covered in pretty and sparkly things. Mated women talked about all the gemstones littering their nests because they were some of the only things of value the Kadrixans could find.

And then there was the mating flight. Kadrixan women didn’t have wings like their men, and so the ritual of carrying their mate up to their nests by wing was born. Not only was it super romantic, but it was also the ultimate proof of their strength, since Kadrixan nests were built high up in the mountaintops.

I was a simple woman. I wanted two things: a well-thought-out nest, and a mating flight. These things were non-negotiable. After fucking things up so royally, Grtirr better make them legendary.