I nod. “They are into sister wives, like to mate a lot. But that also makes them self-conscious about their malehood and hormonal. They need to get it out of their systems, so delays in mating are frustrating.”
“Noted.” Teol drums a finger on the table. “I think this is going to be a fun race now that I’ve met you.”
“We’ll see about that.”
“Just tap me in if you need assistance. I’m an MAMA instructor. Just got out of a stint with Cylene and the Nytheralinas.”
“MAMA?” I ask.
“Mixed Alien Martial Arts.” Teol grins. “I’d be happy to give you some free lessons while we’re here.”
“Aren’t you going to bebusy?” I ask.
“Maybe. Won’t know until an hour from now.” Teol lights up her wristband and pulls up a video, then rotates it so it’s upright for me.
It’s hard to keep up with all of her moves as she fights a woman she calls Cylene on the screen. Both are extremely fast, agile, and powerful.
“You’re a badass,” I mutter. “Why are you here?”
She puffs out a breath. “Not getting any younger. Besides, after seeing Cylene and her children, I realized I wanted a piece of that alien pie for myself. Not hers, of course, but my own. I’mthinking shadow warrior, something dark and brooding, snarky, and a bit of a hard case.”
“Sounds like trouble to me,” I admit.
Teol looks out the window at the arena. “Could be, but sometimes, those have the best hearts, once you break the walls around it.
“Anyway, you wanna kick this joint, do some training before the race outside?” she glances around. “I’m a bit suffocated by all the giggles andpinksin here.”
“Sure. I’m not trained, but I’m scrappy.”
Teol gets up. “Like to live life on the edge?”
Of space? She has no idea.“Anything to get my mind off of being carried off by a strange alien.”
Teol offers me a fist. “I’ll watch your back if you watch mine. Cool?”
I bump her fist, feeling better about the race. “Go easy on me. I’m usually on my own.”
Teol nudges my shoulder with hers. “Not anymore.”
5: Elix
I’ve checked every way into the Alien Bride Race. The only thing I can do is get myself assigned as her personal security detail. I don’t have a contract, so I have to forge one. I don’t like breaking the law, but I’m not letting those greedy fucks lay one hand on her.
I cannot let the few good people who inspire hope in the lost like me be used and broken, or their kindness will be viewed as weakness.
I must get inside the lunar shield. Many have done so without permission in recent years, so I’m faced with extra security precautions.
Outside the windows of my ship, I look out at Earth’s only moon base, surrounded by opalescent shields. Two Terran patrols orbit the moon along with an Alien Bride Race cameradrone, no doubt broadcasting the pre-race feed. I watch it on one of my dash screens.
Zariah’s responses to her questions don’t surprise me. But I wonder what she said when they cut the camera.
Starships glint in the light of the sun as they enter the shield, all staying close to the few privileged human females lucky enough to grow up so safe and secure.
My screens blink green as they pull up the documents necessary for me to become assigned to protect Zariah. If I can’t get in on my own, I’ll have to hitch a ride like a leach in a suit—the old-school way. But I will get to her, whatever it takes.
A window flashes with the laws I can bend to get in. In my line of work, I don’t always workwithinthe law.
I copy the regulations into a file I store in my wristband in case anyone challenges me. Then I fill out the ship inspection report, contract with Zariah, and all items I have to claim.
