by Zara Zenia
"I promise," he tells me, giving me one last kiss for the night.
And then I'm off to shower again. The time I spend alone beneath the hot, flowing water is so strange. It's nice to have that time by myself, since I've been with one mate or another since arriving on this planet. That's except for the times when I've been with my cousin or her mate. How am I meant to get a bearing of myself if I'm never allowed any time alone?
That's not what this is about, comes a voice.
Was that my own thought? It's suspiciously like something that's been planted in my mind. I wonder If Kurt has been listening to me. The thought doesn't upset me like it possibly should. He's only looking out for me. It's nice to be away from solitude, most of the time. Then I start to feel lonely. Maybe being alone isn't on the cards for me. And would that really be such a horrible thing? There are much worse fates. Like the one I was setting up for myself all alone in that room back on Earth.
Mom wanted this for you for a reason. That thought definitely comes from me, I'm sure of it. I think... And it's true anyway. She did want me to have more of a life than I was giving myself. Maybe she felt bad, like she wasn't able to provide for me what I needed. This is for the best. I believe that with my entire heart now.
Chapter Forty-Five
Stephanie
Once I'm done in the shower, I take each of the other two guys. One at a time, of course. I am not ready for some alien gang bang at this point in my life. Maybe that will come in time. I actually hope so. But not tonight. Once we're all finished and satisfied, I think in amazement that I have been able to handle so much sex.
"Are you alright?" asks Kurt, noting my discomfort. "It doesn't, hurt, does it?"
"No, I'm fine. I'm sure this is nothing most girls don't experience after their first few times." I do realize that most girls don't sleep with four guys, one after the other, within a week of losing their v-cards. That's just part of my strange adventure I suppose. We all go and lay together on the plush carpet of the common area floor. It's best to be together in a central area instead of choosing one of the bedrooms.
"I've never felt this whole in my entire life," I tell the four of my mates.
"Does that mean you're willing to stay?" asks Liam. "Tell the truth. You wouldn't expect anything less from any of us."
"Yes. I want to make this work. I'm willing to try. That doesn't mean I'm making any promises, but let's do our best to live in harmony with each other. How does that sound?"
The four of my new mates agree to that. There's a sense of real harmony between us all. I know that word has been thrown around a lot lately. This really feels like it though. My life has never been this way, and I am not willing to let that go. Not without making an effort.
Chapter Forty-Six
Stephanie
We spend the first few days living in the palace getting to know each other better. "This has been such a wonderful time," I tell my four mates as we each breakfast together. There's a dining room, but we don't like to use that for breakfast. It's more of a place for sit-down dinners and more formal things like that.
"Are you going to tell us about whatever it is you've been planning?" Liam says to Kurt.
"What are you talking about?" Kurt asks, acting like he doesn't know what Liam's talking about.
"Something about a dinner?" Liam replies. "I don't think you're as good at keeping secrets as you are finding them in our heads." It's a joke and taken as such. There are no hard feelings between the two of them.
"Well, I was going to tell you all in my own time. Since you've forced it out of me... yes, I have planned a formal dinner. You're all invited of course."
The next evening, there is indeed a dinner. Eva, Katie's sister, comes along too. She brings all of her mates with her. There are four of them, just like there are four of mine. It's amazing to be with someone who has their own little harem. That's not a word I like to use openly, but I do think it sometimes.
"You are so beautiful," I say to Eva. "Katie means the world to me. I wish I could have known you as a kid too." Eva being older than Katie never spent much time with me when I was a kid.
"Well, it may be too late for that. How about we become friends now instead? We seem to have some things in common that no other Earth girls do," she says. She gives me a very cheeky wink.
The two of us laugh. It's great that we've been seated beside each other. Katie is on my other side. It wouldn't have been fair to choose just one or two of our mates each to seat beside their women. The guys are getting along just fine without us anyway. I almost feel like I'm missing out on some of their special bonding, with the way they pal around. That's not for me though, in the end. And I have special connections with each of my mates that they can't get from anyone but me. Plus, I'm the one who gets to have four times the fun in that regard. My face grows red as I get Eva's meaning.
"Do you mean we've got four things in common each?" I say to make the joke keep going. I love talking with someone who understands what it's like to have four mates, alien mates.
"You will fit in just fine here," she says to me with a playful little nudge of her elbow.
I can tell Eva and I are going to be close now, just like I am with Katie. This is what it's like to be truly part of a large group. I've never felt so much like I belong before. It's such a great feeling that I could almost cry. But I'm far too happy to let even one single tear build up in my eye.
After the whole group of us sit down and eat, I send a message to Earth.
"It won't be an instant message, so you can't actually talk to your mother in real time," says Katie. "But just say what you want to say, okay?"
"Thanks, Katie. Well, okay then. Hi Mom, it's so nice to be able to talk to you. I know I haven't been keeping in contact. There was so much going on in my life that I didn't know how to talk about it. I wasn't sure you'd understand. Then I realized that it's you who wanted this life for me. Without anyone else making the decision, you pushed me with your own thought for what my life could be like. That's why I want you to be a part of a very special announcement."
There's a hush that falls over the dining room.
"I want to announce that I am pregnant. That's right, we are going to be having a baby. As soon as I give birth, I want to bring the baby to visit you, Mom. There is also another very special person from your life who I know you have missed dearly. He made me promise not to tell you, but I have to tell you. Mom, please don't hate him for keeping it a secret, but Dad is living here on Etwan."
"She knows that," says Katie quietly to me. "She didn't want to force him to reveal his vampirism to her. She doesn't care about that though." That's some news I could have used earlier. After standing there like a stunned fish for a moment, I start to regain my composure and speak.
"And since Katie says that won’t surprise you, I’m going to say Dad will be coming with me to visit you. I want us all to be a family together again. I know he wants to stay with you, he just wouldn’t admit it." I couldn't ask for anything more in my life. I know Mom will get this message and be happy with my words, with the good news. Even the stuff about Dad. Apparently she's been waiting for him to build up the courage to tell her about what really happened. I also now realize that Mom hasn't been mourning the death of her husband like I thought. She's just been lamenting that he's been away. I feel like less of a brat for not being there for her after his apparent death.
Epilogue
Stephanie
After I have my baby boy, I head back to Earth to see my mother as promised. I'm so very tired, but it really helps to have four amazing men to take care of me. I don't think I've changed more than a few diapers in this whole time. They just won't let me, and I'm not going to complain a bit about all the sleep I've been getting. No woman alive would turn down such a wonderful situation. I get to spend my quality time caring for little Ethan, that's what we decided to name him.
"Mom, I want you to meet some very special men. These are my mates." They've all co
me down to Earth, alone with Dad, for a family gathering.
"Wow, I was hoping to get a new son-in-law, but I didn't expect you to bring four of them home," Mom says with a big smile. She's shocked, that's pretty clear. But she takes it much better than I had expected.
"Sorry for making it a surprise like this," I say. "I just couldn't resist wanting to see the look on your face."
"Oh, you're such a sneak," she says. "I can't say I blame you, Stephanie. Just look how handsome they are! Okay, you're going to have to go slow with their names. My memory's not as great as it used to be. And I might be in a little bit of shock still."
Dad couldn't handle seeing his widow, so he decided to remain on Etwan, which makes me sad. He was just too ashamed of what he'd become. "I’m so sorry Dad isn't here," I tell my mother while holding her in a big hug. That hug just turns into a comforting embrace, staving off the sadness instead of sharing in our joy.
"It's not your fault. And it's not his fault either. He'll come back one day, when he's had time," Mom says.
I know what she must know too. He's out there somewhere right now, and he'll come back in his own time. I shouldn't have pushed him like I did. Things will work out in the end, just like they have for me. I look at my men and smile, feeling a joy in my heart that I will hold on to for forever.
Thank you for reading! If you liked this series, then you will definitely like my other series, Aliens of Dragselis. Book 1 is Zaruv, and it features alien dragon shifters! Click here to read now!
About Zara Zenia
Zara Zenia writes steamy, sexy, and suspenseful sci-fi romances! You will find her writing alien romances from intergalactic planets, bionic romances, superheroes and time travel romances too.
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Also by Zara Zenia
Trilyn Fairy Tales Series:
Alien Prince Charming (Book 1)
Alien Prince’s Mermaid (Book 2)
Beauty And The Alien Beast (Book 3)
Alien Aladdin (Book 4)
Valiant Alien Tailor (Book 5)
Alien Sleeping Beauty (Book 6)
Alien Rapunzel (Book 7)
The Vada Wars Series
Claimed By The Alien Warrior King (Book 1)
Claimed By The Alien Warrior Kedun (Book 2)
Claimed By The Alien Warrior Oszul (Book 3)
Claimed By The Alien Warrior Kezon (Book 4)
Aliens of Dragselis Series:
Zaruv: A Sci-Fi Alien Dragon Romance (Book 1)
Karun: A Sci-Fi Alien Dragon Romance (Book 2)
Ragal: A Sci-Fi Alien Dragon Romance (Book 3)
Pavar: A Sci-Fi Alien Dragon Romance (Book 4)
Rizor: A Sci-Fi Alien Dragon Romance (Book 5)
Royally Blue - Celestial Mates:
Blue Alien Prince’s Mate: A Sci-Fi Alien Romance (Celestial Mates)
Alien Gladiator’s Mate: A Sci-Fi Alien Romance (Celestial Mates)
The Blue Alien’s Mate: A Sci-Fi Alien Romance (Celestial Mates)
Blue Alien Prince’s Captive Bride: A Sci-Fi Alien Romance (Celestial Mates)
Blue Alien Prince’s Mail-Order Bride: A Sci-Fi Alien Romance (Celestial Mates)
Reverse Harem Romance Series:
Fire, Blood, and Beauty (Book 1)
Fangs, Flames, and Allure (Book 2)
Bite, Blaze, and Enchangement (Book 3)
Sleepy Hollow Academy Series:
Magic and Misconduct (Book 1)
Spells and Shenanigans (Book 2)
Hexes and Havoc (Book 3)
Cruxes and Crime (Book 4)
Alien Abduction Series:
Alien Zookeeper’s Abduction (Book 1)
Alien Mate’s Abduction (Book 2)
Alien Captive’s Abduction (Book 3)
Alien Auction House Series:
Sold To The Alien King (Book 1)
Bought By The Alien Prince (Book 2)
Owned By The Alien Prince (Book 3)
Warriors of Orba Series:
Benzen: A Sci-Fi Alien Romance (Book 1)
Jarick: A Sci-Fi Alien Romance (Book 2)
Voland: A Sci-Fi Alien Romance (Book 3)
Draygus: A Sci-Fi Alien Romance (Book 4)
Ethazol: A Sci-Fi Alien Romance (Book 5)
Khargals of Duras Series:
Rock My World
Diablo Falls
First Fangs
Standalones:
Bionic Outlaw’s Baby: A Secret Baby Sci-Fi Romance
Zaruv Preview
Preview:
Book 1 of the Aliens of Dragselis Series: Zaruv: A Sci-Fi Alien Dragon Romance
Chapter 1-Zaruv
Tick, tick, tick, tick. My eyes darted across the emerald table, meeting those of my youngest brother. The incessant tapping continued, much to my chagrin. Every time the heavy, golden, ring on his middle finger brushed against the table, the noise rang out across the silent ship. He was going to start a fight without ever lifting a fist in anger.
That was Pavar’s thought. He had a way of stirring the pot to his liking. Young and wild, my twenty-five-year-old brother shot me an easy grin. At once, I felt my anger giving way to amusement. It was damn near impossible for me to stay angry at his hotheaded ways. The youngest of five brothers, Pavar always seemed to play on the line between prince and prisoner.
“If you continue to act like this, you will be the death of us all,” I said finally.
He cocked his head and the tapping finally stopped, “Come now, Zaruv. We both know that the Dragselian people are not going to change their ways. The system has worked for thousands of years.”
“It’s flawed and you know it. Hell, I would even venture to say that the other brothers know it too. None of you want to speak up though. Even now, we are all heading to our exile and still, you won’t speak against the old ways.”
“It’s not my place to speak ill of them. Nor is it yours.” Came Karun’s steady voice.
He stepped into the ship’s hull and nodded toward me as a sign of respect. As the second oldest son, I held the honor of being charged with my younger three brothers. We all knew that the day of exile was coming, but now that it was here, old struggles seemed to be flaring up. It didn’t help that we’d been stuck in the small passenger spaceship for the last two weeks. No amount of preparation could ready one for spending so much time in close quarters with their siblings.
Pavar glared at Karun while nodding in respect toward his elder brother. “We are heading to Artax, where we are sentenced to live out our lives away from our home and our people but you still support the rule?”
“I do,” replied Karun confidently. “The system, though flawed, has worked well long before we were here. It will continue to work long after we are gone.”
“You make Artax sound like a prison,” I interjected. “Artax is a resort planet, dear brother. We are going to live out our lives with more Dragselian woman and servants than we can handle. Yet you seem to find a way to make it sound terrible.”
“That’s because it is! I want to be back home on Dragselia, not billions of light years away from it.”
“You are so ready to start a fight when our father has not even been dead a week. You mourn the loss of your comfort, but not the man who provided it. You should be ashamed, Pavar,” Ragal said.
My two brothers sat down at the table with myself and Pavar. Looking around at them I saw the stark differences between them. Each one of them had a different personality that had its flaws, but also its winning qualities. I could think of no better warrior than Karun. His strength, speed, and agility were almost matched with my own. An anger boiled below the surface though. He hated the exile even more than Pavar, though his loyalty to the
Dragselian way ran deeper than his disdain.
“We are not far from Artax now, I think you will sing a new song once you see what waits for us there, Pavar,” Karun said
“Karun, you won’t win. I would encourage you to let it go now before a war of our own starts,” interjected Ragal.
“I agree,” I said while nodding to Ragal. “There is nothing that we can do about it now. Pavar, you may voice your concerns among us brothers, but once we reach Artax, there will be no room for that hostility.”
“Why not?” Pavar fumed.
I started to speak, but it was again Ragal who answered. “Because Artax is a haven of Dragselian. To speak against your king would be unforgivable.”
“Maybe that’s what I need to do then, at least I wouldn’t be living a lie.”
Karun sighed and shook his head, “Then we will be forced to live with your death. You will be painted the selfish, spoiled brat that you are.”
Pavar leaped up, but I raised my hand in a command for him to sit. He begrudgingly listened. This wasn’t the first time that he’d tried to start a fight in the close quarters and I knew it wouldn’t be the last. I didn’t worry about Ragal. His level head and passive nature wouldn’t allow him to partake in such a pointless fight. It was the others that I was worried about. Karun was a fighter and Pavar was an instigator but Ragal only wanted peace to reign out over all others. I smiled at him as he sat silently, looking out at the stars as they flew past us.