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Which was why she was in the My Single Alien office, begging for help.

Vegas looked stunned as she stared at Hayley. “I just need to get this clear; you’re taking time off to claim a Retar.”

Hayley nodded. “It happened so quickly. We’ve been friends for a while, but I’ve grown... fond of him. Now, he’s in real danger. If I don’t act fast, he could be killed.”

Nell sat forward in her seat. “Do you love him?”

“I, erm, well, I mean I like him very much. I can’t pretend I’m not fond of him. It’s early days. Love is a big word. It’s a big deal to love someone.” Who was she trying to kid? Hayley had adored Elias ever since that first talk she’d given when they’d met and he’d quizzed her for ages. He understood her passion and supported it. She couldn’t imagine not having that in her life. Hayley wanted to experience everything with Elias. She needed to show him love and intimacy weren’t things to be afraid of. She wanted Elias to embrace his passion and needed him to do that with her.

A smile crossed Vegas’s face. “This Retar has gotten under your skin.”

Hayley ducked her head. “I didn’t mean for it to happen. Diadora warned me not to fall for an alien. She said everyone else had.” She stopped speaking and glanced guiltily at Nell and Vegas.

Vegas waved a hand in the air. “Don’t worry. I can imagine what Diadora said. I expect she thinks we’re all idiots and had our heads turned by hunky aliens. She told you that you shouldn’t be distracted, and your work had to come first, second, and third. I bet she even made disparaging comments about our children.” She stroked a hand over her belly.

“You’re pretty accurate. I think Diadora loves Ivy’s child and your soon-to-be baby; she just doesn’t like to show it.”

“Of course, she loves kids,” Nell said. “Diadora’s not fooling anybody. But she is serious about work. There is never a gray area when it comes to maximizing profits and productivity. She won’t be happy about you getting involved with a Retar.”

“Elias is not in our system. Technically, I’m breaking no rules by claiming him as mine,” Hayley said.

“Those aren’t the rules I’m concerned about.” Vegas took a sip of her herbal tea. “You do know what you’ve committed to by stating this formal claim for Elias?”

“Yes, well, I think so. I just know I had to do it to keep him safe. This is the only option.”

“You’re having doubts about going through with it?”

Hayley shook her head. Actually, she doubted herself, not her feelings for Elias. What had she been thinking when she’d offered to potentially fight to the death? She couldn’t doubt her convictions. She’d meant every word she’d said to Elias. She couldn’t see him hurt.

“A contested claim for a male Retar is a big deal,” Vegas said. “Their society is matriarchal. The women basically control everything. There are a few notable exceptions, one being their current king, and the males in the royal family have some power and authority. But they are in the minority, and their status comes directly from their mothers. If you’re born into royalty, you are untouchable.”

“Princess Isolt certainly thinks so.” Hayley grimaced. “She’s been doing all kinds of disgusting things with her mates.”

“Which is not acceptable by our standards, but to the Retar royal family, it’s the norm.” Vegas set her mug down. “Getting back to what you’ve signed up for. Are you ready to have a Retar in your life permanently?”

“Well, I mean, I like Elias.” Hayley clasped her hands together, her palms sweaty. “I don’t want him not to be around me.” Every time she tried to say how she felt about Elias, her brain cramped, and her ability to speak complete sentences vanished.

Nell smiled cautiously. “You’ve claimed him. If this goes your way, he is yours. You will own him.”

“Like a slave?” Hayley shook her head. “I don’t want that. I’ll release him from any obligations. I don’t want Elias to stay with me because he feels he has to.”

Nell shook her head. “That won’t work. If you do that, it will be a signal you have rejected him. He will become an outcast because his female considered him an unsuitable mate.”

“Oh! You mean, if I win this claim, Elias will be with me forever?” Hayley’s cheeks flushed at the possibility. Her gorgeous Retar by her side for the rest of her life? That sounded both terrifying and amazing.

“From the sounds of it, I don’t think you’ll find it a struggle.” Vegas grinned. “You seem into each other. But Nell is right. You win this fight, and Elias is yours in every respect, and you can’t cut ties with him. It will cripple him if you do.”

“How will I know if he’s staying with me because he loves me or because he feels obligated because of my claim? That’s not what I want.” Panic flared in Hayley’s chest. She hadn’t known that’s what Elias signed up for when he told her about this claim. Surely, he’d never have told her about it if he didn’t want that to happen.

She shook her head. This was the only way to keep him alive. If she didn’t do this, Elias’s life would be over. Maybe that’s why he’d done it. This wasn’t about love. He’d been desperate.

“The claim has been made, so unless you relinquish it, you must go through with it,” Vegas said. “You’ll have to figure out the rest when you win him.”

“I’m not giving Elias to Princess Isolt,” Hayley said. “I’ll make sure he knows he doesn’t have to stay with me.” She hoped he would want to stay but wouldn’t force him to. She’d never be like Princess Isolt, trying to bend his will because it suited her own desires.

“Okay, assuming Princess Isolt doesn’t relinquish her claim on Elias, you will fight for him,” Vegas said. “Can you fight?”

“I haven’t got a clue.” Hayley looked down at her small hands. How would these do someone damage?