Wren’s stomach twisted with worry.The fighting was miles away, but still too close for comfort.
Another blast made the ground tremble, and the cold breeze carried the wail of a distant siren.
What was happening?
Chapter2
Seatedat a desk in his home library, Lorrd stared at the Vaxxlian Alien Mail Order Brides application on the glowing screen.He’d filled out the form hours ago, yet he hadn’t clicked the ‘submit’ button yet.
What was he waiting for?
A sudden noise outside the window made him grow tense, and he automatically reached for his blaster.But he wasn’t armed, and his fingers only grazed the waistband of his pants where the weapon would have been affixed during times of war.He growled and slumped back in his chair.When he heard the thumping sound outside again, followed by children’s laughter, he forced himself to take a few deep breaths.
His people, the Vaxxlians, were no longer at war.
That noise?It was just children playing.
He cursed inwardly.Would the echoes of battle ever fade?He glared at the illuminated screen.How could he apply for the VAMOB program when he hadn’t fully returned from the war?
He feared he was too battle hardened to claim a female, yet he had a responsibility to his people to help their new settlement on planet New Vaxx grow and prosper.
Now that the war was over and his people were starting over, all Vaxxlian warriors were expected to claim human females as mates.Not only was Lorrd expected to claim a human female, but he was expected to procreate with his new mate as soon as possible.
Children.Just as he couldn’t fathom taking a mate, he also couldn’t fathom having children.Would he be a good father?He had warm memories of his own father, but just as he feared he wouldn’t make a good mate, he worried he wouldn’t make a good father.What if he was too cold and distant?Children required nurturing, patience, affection, and understanding, and he wasn’t certain he would be able to provide any of those things.
There was no denying that he was lonely, however, and he couldn’t help but glance at the VAMOB application on the screen again.All he had to do was hit the ‘submit’ button and a human bride would eventually be assigned to him.
The doorbell suddenly reverberated through the house, and Lorrd clicked over to the security footage on his screen.
Balarr and Warrin, his two closest friends, stood on the doorstep.
Lorrd sighed and pushed away from the desk.He departed the library and navigated the long corridors of his house until he reached the entryway.He opened the front door and shot his friends a questioning look.They typically didn’t come calling in the middle of the day, and he had a feeling he wasn’t going to like whatever news they were bringing.
“Good afternoon, Balarr and Warrin.”He stepped aside and gestured for them to enter his house, the very house he’d recently finished constructing.The massive house that contained twelve bedrooms—enough space for a large, growing family—yet he was hesitating to take a mate.He suppressed a growl as he waited for his friends to announce the reason for their visit.
After Balarr and Warrin stepped inside, Lorrd pressed the button to shut the door, and it promptly zipped shut behind them.
The two males wore strange expressions and regarded Lorrd warily.
“Is this about me skipping warrior training this morning?”Lorrd scoffed.“I informed Commander Baxx that I would be absent today, though perhaps he failed to tell you.”He’d spent the morning helping several neighbors install solar panels on their newly built homes.The same neighbors had helped him during the construction of his abode, and it only felt right to return the favor.
“No, no,” Balarr said.“Commander Baxx told us the reason for your absence.That’s not why we’re here.”He pressed his lips together and exchanged a look with Warrin.
“Vaxxlian Alien Mail Order Brides recently matched Balarr and me with human females,” Warrin blurted, his eyes twinkling with excitement.“We are planning to depart for Earth tomorrow morning, and we were hoping that you would decide to join us.”
Warrin elbowed Balarr and gave him a pointed look, clearly expecting him to contribute to the conversation.
“The unrest on Earth has been increasing lately, and more human females are signing up for VAMOB than ever before,” Balarr said with obvious reluctance, as though annoyed Warrin had dragged him along.“If you submit your application right now, you’ll probably be assigned to a human female before the night is through.”He didn’t appear as happy as Warrin about the prospect of finally taking a human bride, making Lorrd wonder about the circumstances that had led to his participation in the VAMOB program.
Lorrd turned and stared out the nearest window.The battle raging inside him intensified.Though he was thankful his people had defeated the Irrcons—that dreadful alien race that had destroyed their home planet, Vaxxlia, killing nearly all their females and children—there were times he lamented that the war was over.
Because the urge to kill still simmered inside him.Constantly.
There were still some Irrcons left, though they'd been driven far from the sectors surrounding New Vaxx.It would likely take many moon cycles of full-speed travel in a Vaxxlian cruiser just to reach the nearest Irrcon.
“Lorrd?”Warrin’s voice penetrated his thoughts.“We must all take human mates.You know this.You know it’s expected of us.”
“I know what’s expected of me,” Lorrd said in a sharp tone.His hands curled into fists at his sides.“I’m happy for you Warrin, as I know you signed up for the VAMOB program a while ago and you’ve been eager to claim a human female.However, I am surprised by the news that you, Balarr, have also been matched with a mate.I didn’t realize you had also signed up for VAMOB.”
