“Zhoryan is there?” A deep voice questioned. And then Kayzon strode into view. His eyes widened as he took in their positions on the bed. He lifted his chin. “Zhoryan.”
“Kayzon.”
“I did not see this coming. Did you see this?” Kia said. “I thought she hated him.”
“No,” Kayzon shook his head, laughing. “I did not expect this pairing. I thought Zhoryan would go to the enteral fires, unmated.”
“Zhoryan and Janet?” Kia sputtered. “Impossible!”
Her shoulders slumped. Zhoryan shook his head and reached over and pulled her into his arms. “Janet of One is my Bride,” he announced. “We accidentally tested mating compatibility while on the island and discovered we were mates. I have claimed her per Xylan law and planted my seed in her womb and started my line.”
Her jaw dropped. “Stared your line?”
“Girl, you’re pregnant,” Kia announced.
“You’re okay with this?” she asked him.
“I’m delighted.”
A goofy smile spread across her face. “Okay.”
Zhoryan glanced at his friend. “Tell Dago Cho that Janet has acquired her Gravian strength. I will assume responsibility for her training. She is now House Ulmath and will learn to act accordingly.”
“I will?” she smirked.
He stared at her with hooded eyes and ran a claw along the side of her cheek. “You will.”
Kia clapped her hands and squealed. “You’re Gravian now too? I’m not the only one. Yay! Mom and dad are going to be so happy, especially if they know Zhoryan’s in charge of you now.”
Janet rolled her eyes.
“And you know this probably explains why some co-worker of yours has been sending messages to New Earth government complaining about you attacked him and wanting you kicked off the mission…”
Zhoryan let out a snort of disgust. “I will take care of that.”
“How?” she asked, genuinely curious to hear his solution.
“All of them are going back unless you decide differently. Only you will continue on to Kolothan University, and you will decide who goes with you.”
She blinked. “I’m still going to the University?”
“Of course, why wouldn’t you?”
“Uh,” Kia broke in, “Because you just knocked her up. She’s married and pregnant now and she figures your super-important career will come first. How can she focus on her education if you’re taking her all over the four sectors and she’s trying to take care of you and a small child?”
His claw went to her stomach. “I will do whatever it takes to make sure you can continue your education. I will move for you. I will attend our child. I would never compromise your career to further my own. You are brilliant and I want that nurtured.”
She literally started to weep. Right there in front of everyone.
“Oh wow,” Kia whispered. “That’s the most beautiful declaration I’ve ever heard.”
“But, but…what if the High Command or your House won’t let you keep me and stay in the military?” she blubbered.
“Then I won’t remain in this position and I’d go wherever you went. Ulmath is lucky to have a Gravian of ancient lineage added to our bloodline. And the High Command knows you have to remain with me, or I’ll go insane. My life has changed. My Bride and offspring will now always come first.”
“You…you wouldn’t decide to break this off?”
His brow furrowed. “I don’t understand.”
“Divorce? You wouldn’t divorce me to save your career or to—”
Kayzon growled from the screen. “This would never occur…”
Kia elbowed him. “Honey, stay out of this. It’s their relationship.”
“I don’t know this word,” Zhoryan answered. “There isn’t a translation in my language.”
“Divorce is when a mated pair decide they don’t want to be together anymore. They break their bond and separate, as if the mating never happened.”
He looked shocked and disgusted. “This happens in your species? Is this what you are planning, to break our bond?”
“What? No. We are not divorcing. I don’t want that. I want to stay with you until the day I die. Right, isn’t what you’re expecting?”
“You are mine,” he snarled, and slammed a claw against the button on the night table and the vid blinked out.
Then he rolled on top of her, spread her legs wide and notched his erection at her sopping wet entrance. “You are my Bride. We are not breaking our bond. We will have many offspring and remain together as long as days turn into time.”
“Okay,” she agreed, wrapping her arms around his wide shoulders.
“And your new training starts today. First, I’m fucking you. Then I’m taking you to the holo deck for swim lessons. I am going to personally teach you how to swim.”
Then he slid inside of her in one smooth motion, his jaw locked and his body tight as he moaned out his pleasure.
Oh gods. Long, hot and enormous. Her fingers dug into his biceps. “I love you,” she breathed. “And I plan on loving and taking care of you until the end of my days.”
He tracked his fangs along her neck and pumped into her hot channel. “I know, my Be’Ih…I know.”
THE END
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Acknowledgments
The core plot of Zhoryan’s Game (the hunter becomes the hunted) comes from my careful adaptation of a story I admire - “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell. Prior to my life as a full-time romance author, I was a High School English teacher and I taught this story for years to my Freshman English classes. And now my dream has come true, turning the story I loved teaching and had basically memorized, into the genre I adore. I worked my ass off merging that short story into this Science Fiction Romance novella and I hope you enjoyed the results!:)
If you glance at the Wikipedia page for “The Most Dangerous Game” you’ll see adapting this amazing story is a time-honored tradition. I’m not the first author, director, etc. who has become enthralled with this fast-paced story from 1924 and felt the need to translate it for a modern audience.
If you would like to compare the original to the novella you just read, because you want to see how the two are similar and how they’re different (I’d be curious if I were you!), then here’s the link to the short story, “The Most Dangerous Game,” which is free online. Or you can listen to the audio on Youtube.
I hope you enjoy the exquisite language and the nail-biting action as much as it did!
Thank you so much for taking the time to read Zhoryan’s Game. The 6th book in the Alien Bounty Hunter series, Daxon’s Hostage, (which is NOT an adaptation. Lol) is ready for preorder!
xoxo
Michele
Alien Bounty Hunters Reading Order
Kroga’s Bride (Prequel+Glossary Available for FREE with newsletter sign up.)
Rayzor’s One
Joyzal’s Prize
Kayzon’s Wish
Syrin’s Mate
Zhoryan’s Game
Daxon’s Hostage
*The Virgin Warrior Bundle (ABH #1-3) includes an all-new extended epilogue featuring a meet-up between Rayzor, Joyzal and Kayzon.
*Kroga of Seventy-Five also makes an appearance in Warriors’ Embrace, The Swirl #3.
Daxon’s Hostage
ABH #6 - Releasing October 15th!
Daxon of Seven is trying to take make it through the first day of a new job. After being kicked out of the Illibrium mines, he’s starting a brand-new career as a Bounty Hunter. And with his ferocious size and mighty fists, he figures he’ll be a great fit. On day one he starts his ship, leaves dock and finds a stowaway.
A deli
cate New Earth female is sleeping in his bunk. Meanwhile, some rich idiot is screaming, red-faced through the holo vid that she’s his bride and he wants her returned, immediately.
He should give her back—rich idiot has powerful friends. Except he’s inhaled her scent and he’s 99% certain this tiny human is destined to be his mate. Therefore, this precious cargo is his.
And if anyone feels different…they’ll have to go through Daxon first.
Daxon’s Hostage is Available Now for Preorder!
About the Author
Michele Mills lives in California and leads a life of quiet, G rated desperation with her husband and two sons. In an attempt at a fulfilling, R rated inner life that does not include Disney movies and Nickelodeon; Michele reads and writes filthy romance and, well...filthy romance. And she wouldn’t have it any other way.
Please join my FB group, Michele’s Smutty Sci Fi, for sneak peaks, giveaways, and oversharing.
Also by Michele Mills
Alien Bounty Hunters
Kroga’s Bride
Rayzor’s One
Joyzal’s Prize
Kayzon’s Wish
The Virgin Warrior Bundle
Syrin’s Mate
Zhoryan’s Game
Daxon’s Hostage
The Catastrophe Series
Die For You
Kill For You
Live For You
Reverse Harem Romance (The Swirl)
Cyborgs’ Claim
Warriors’ Claim
Warriors’ Embrace
In the Stars Series
The Alien Assassin’s Stolen Bride
Zhoryan's Game Page 11