Page 199 of Galaxy Circus Act One

“I’ve never heard you complain before,” the warlock mutters under his breath, and I don’t think most people hear it, but my hearing is better than the other cats’. I quickly recover from the revelation that the warlock and the general have been lovers in the past. That was a well-kept circus secret. There had never even been a rumble of that gossip.

“I would appreciate it,” I say, bowing my head in thanks before pushing through the door. We all enter the great building, and I let the door close behind us as Xavier drops the barrier. It’sonly slightly warmer in here than outside. The current matriarch doesn’t believe in coddling her people. If you want to be warm, you should stick to your own dwellings.

Xavier creates a ball of light in his hand, and it quickly divides into a number of individual balls which zip off to explore the building while I lead them to the receiving room. A set of guards stand on the outside. I recognize them as two of the matriarch’s sons—sons from the same litter as Natalia—and although we were once friends, I brace for an attack, but they both just nod their heads at me and open the doors.

“Go get her,” one whispers as I walk past, and a memory of him appearing on my family’s doorstep with whip marks across his back pops into my mind—whip marks his mother had given him while she had been teaching Natalia to be a leader.

William takes the lead with Eric by his side, and Saxon and Xavier follow behind with the quiet, frozen Natalia between them.

I can see Mazlan sitting on her throne at the end of the room. Next to her and back a bit is Minx and their younger sister Soshi. She’s only ten, but it looks like Mazlan has been instructing her. Mazlan smirks until she catches sight of Natalia, bound and silent, and then she stands up, lightning crackling around her as her sky blue fur stands on end.

“What is the meaning of this? Why is my daughter tied up like a criminal?” Mazlan demands, pointing a claw at William. “Explain yourself.”

“Your daughter has been found guilty of conspiracy and aiding and abetting a wanted criminal. Out of respect for you, I have allowed her to live and returned her, unlike her co-conspirator, who was sentenced to death.”

“What did this criminal do? Surely it can’t be so bad as to warrant death. My daughter wouldn’t help a murderer.”

“He conspired to kill my intimate, which is an automatic death sentence.” Xavier steps forward, shrouded in mist, and I watch as Mazlan flinches before steeling her spine.

“Only on your planet. Warlock laws have nothing to do with Iceen. Let her go.”

“Warlock laws are recognized worldwide, including on the Galaxy Circus starship where this crime took place, but as she was not directly involved, she has been spared. Be mindful, however, that she will not be spared a second time.” Xavier waves a hand and releases Natalia from her confines.

It takes her a moment to recover, but once she does and she realizes where she is, she smirks and struts up to stand next to her mother. I see her lean in and whisper in her ear before she stands back up.

“I challenge Echo to the right of being Maxsim’s mate.”

Anger infuses me, and I feel my lightning flare up, crackling around my body. I stare at her with disbelief, amazed at her cunning. She waited until we returned to challenge him because then it could be witnessed by everyone. Echo’s fear drifts into my nostrils, and it’s all I can do not to strike out with a bolt of electricity. I reach for his hand, giving it a squeeze of reassurance, and purr quietly under my breath.

“Summon the citizens of Iceen. Challenges must be witnessed, and Echo must ask for a stand-in, as is our rules,” Mazlan announces, sounding bored, but I hear a door open behind me. Mazlan looks up, and her jaw drops open in shock.

“Well then, I challenge you, Mazlan, for the position of matriarch, and I don’t need anyone to stand in for me.” Hearing my mother’s voice brings me so much relief, and I feel Echo, who has been standing next to me, sag with relief too.

Turning, I find my mother and her three mates, as well as Echo’s mother, Jalin, and three of her four mates. Echo’s omegafather is missing though, and he grabs my hand, squeezing it tight with worry.

“Astrea, I thought you were in my dungeon.”

“On what charges?” I demand, and Mazlan chuckles.

“I don’t need charges. I’m the ruler.”

“Oh, I believe you do. I shall alert the Galactic Council to the matriarch challenge. I’m sure they will be very interested to hear about your wrongful imprisonment.” Eric pulls a tablet out of his jacket and starts typing a message to the galaxy authorities, and Mazlan hisses at him.

“When I win this challenge, I will stop any citizens from Iceen from ever performing in your circus again.”

“That’s fine by me. It’s no skin off my nose.” Eric doesn’t even look up at her, deeming her threat a nonissue because my mother will win this challenge. It’s just Echo’s challenge I need to worry about.

Who are we going to find to stand in for him?

Lila

“Holy fuck, it’s cold on this planet,” I mutter to my mates, who are all huddled around me, trying to keep me warm while we wait for the citizens of Iceen to arrive for the challenges. We’ve moved to a big outdoor stadium, and no one else seems to be bothered by the frigid temperatures. They come in droves in both bipedal and cat form, all here to bear witness to the challenges about to take place. The lightning cats from the circus are standing off to the side. Maxsim’s and Echo’s families are surrounding them, and they are whispering quietly amongst themselves.

Trace, Fuse, and Sim had an amusing and awkward reunion with Minx, Natalia’s sister. The four of us watched in fascination as they introduced her to my grandpas who then proceeded togrill her. She doesn’t cower, but I can tell she’s not comfortable, so I make my way over to the group, leaving the warmth and comfort of my guys.

“You’re really going to continue to interrogate the poor girl?” I demand, interrupting Eric’s next question. “Even I can see with my small amount of alien experience that this girl is nothing like her sister. “

“Lila,” William scolds, and I raise an eyebrow at him.