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“Dickie, whoarethese men?”ItwasMotherFrances’ voice this time. “Andwhy haven’t you sent them away?”
“Don’tknow who they are—they’re insisting on talking to theMexicangirl in the kitchen.”Clearlyher brother-in-law-to-bestillcouldn’t remember her name,Celiathought with irritation as she finished wrapping her finger.
“Oh, you meanCelia?Theymust be here about her little design business,”MotherFrancessaid. “Celia, my dear?” she called, raising her voice. “Docome out here for a moment, won’t you?You’rewanted.”
Celiamarched out of the vast kitchen, giving her brother-in-law and sister-in-law-to-be both a cold look as she went.She’dhad just about enough of them and their rudeness.They—
Butthe thought died before she could finish it as she saw who was standing in the doorway.
TwohugeKindredwarriors—theyhadto beKindred, since they were both seven feet tall and extremely muscular—were staring at her.
Oneof them was a bit taller with black hair and dark eyes.Hehad a neatly trimmed beard and mustache and his thick hair was pulled back at the top showing a high forehead.Hisnose looked like it had been broken at least once and his eyes were wary, which gave him a foreboding look.
Theother warrior was maybe an inch shorter with silvery gray hair—not salt and pepper like aging people get though—he looked to be only a few years older thanCeliaherself.Itwas more like his hair was a variation of blond that leaned towards silver instead of gold.Hiseyes were a warm hazel-green and his hair was worn loose and shaggy around his handsome face.Hehad no beard but there was stubble on his face, as though he might have forgotten to shave.
Bothwarriors were dressed in the standardKindreduniform—tight black trousers, tall black boots, and long-sleeved, button-down uniform shirts.Thebuttons were gold and the thick, satiny fabric of the shirts was emerald green that somehow complimented both their eyes.
Thetwo of them looked related, she thought—it was something about the way their eyes had such long lashes and tilted down, giving them a sensuous, bedroom look, or maybe the way their mouths were shaped.Werethey brothers?Cousins?What?
Celiastared at them both, her heart pounding like crazy in her chest.Shehad never seen either of them in her life…and yet, sheknewthem.Somehowshe recognized them—buthow?
“Hello,Celia,” the one with silver hair said, smiling at her. “We’vecome to take you home.”
“Takeme home?”Celiastared up at the hugeKindredwarriors uncertainly.Wherehad she seen them before?Whywere they so familiar? “Dios—what are you talking about?”
“Backto theMotherShip,” the dark warrior growled.
“Yourname finally came up in theBrideDraft,” the lighter one explained. “It’stime for ourClaimingPeriod.”
Celiafelt all the breath leave her lungs at once.She’dbeen called in theBrideDraft?Butthat was impossible—wasn’t it?
Almostfifteen years earlier, theEarthhad been under siege by a malicious group of aliens calledTheScourge.Theyhad threatened to overrun the planet and take all the humans as slaves…that was until theKindredshowed up.
Thehuge, seven-foot-tall warriors fought and defeated theScourgeand they continued to protect theEarthnow.Theyhad only asked for one form of payment—brides.Becausetheir race was 95% male, theKindredwere always looking for new compatible species to mate with.Andit turned out that humans wereverycompatible.SoaBrideDrafthad been created, which every woman was required to join when she turned eighteen.
Celia’sname had gone into theDraftlike everyone else’s, but she’d never thought anything of it.Thatwas because you had about the same chance of being called as aKindredbride as you had of winning the lottery.Itwas like voting—a civic duty you didn’t think twice about.
Butyou weresupposedto take your nameoutof theDraftwhen you got engaged or married.AndsoCeliahad assumed that her name had been removed—Peterhad sworn he would take care of it the same night he’d presented her with the massive square-cut diamond ring.
Soshe stared up at the two huge warriors and shook her head.
“Idon’t understand—there must be some mistake.I’mengaged to be married in a month,” she told them. “Myname shouldn’t evenbein theDraftRegistryanymore.Youmust have the wrong woman.”
Thedark one gave her an intense look.
“Youknow damn well we don’t have the wrong woman,Celia,” he growled. “Youknow because the three of us have beenDream-Sharingfor fuckingmonths.”
Dream-Sharing?Celiastared up at him, not sure what to say.Couldit be that all the strange dreams she’d been having of the people she couldn’t remember when she woke were aboutthese two?
“What’sthis?Isthere a problem?”Petersuddenly appeared by her side and thenMotherFrancestook the other side.
“OhPeter, thank goodness you’re here!” she exclaimed. “I’mnot quite sure butIthinkthese two are claiming thatCeceis supposed to go with them?”
“Whatfor?Isshe being arrested for something?”Peterasked blankly.
“Firstof all, don’t call her ‘Cece,’” the silver-hairedKindredsaid, frowning. “It’sdisrespectful andCeliadoesn’tlike it.Second, we’re not here to arrest anyone—we’re here toClaimour bride.”
“Yourbride?”MotherFrances’shands fluttered to her pearls. “ButCecebelongs tomyPeter!He’sgoing to marry her onChristmasEve.We’reall here to plan the ceremony!”
