5 Kikila

The Alien Bride Race Security Department has filled with guard teams, pilots, and officers. I've told them what I've heard from my father, but they haven't detected anything on their end. Nevertheless, they're concerned about not having all of the intel.

They're a private company that works in conjunction with Earth and the Sol Federation to provide the service to all who wish to enjoy it. But it does not come without its risks. So they agree to post extra patrols in the orbit.

"That will be fine for now. But we should reassess at the next break." Ms. Rosy Raucus, which I can only assume is a cover name for her real one, thanks me for the information but looks upset by the news. "Now we have a race to start, right?"

She gets up from the chair she's in with a bit of a struggle and motions toward the elevator. On instinct, I give her an arm to hang onto. She takes it and smiles up at me with wrinkled lips painted ruby red.

I tap the button and the doors open. When they're shut again, she slumps.

"Sometimes, I hate the politics and twinkle toes prancing around bullshit we have to do just to have some damned fun."

I purse my lips to keep from laughing.

"I was quite wild in my youth," she remarks.

I have no doubt.

"Survived three husbands before I found a good one. And that's where the inspiration of this whole organization came from." She gazes up at me, and I suddenly feel much taller. "Know what I learned?"

I shake my head. "No, ma'am."

"Men tease us and tackle us because that's their way of telling us they want contact. But it's rough because they're men. You'll know he's the one when he struggles to look at you or maintain contact, yet he stays close."

She points a finger in the air. "This thing happens to these alien males when they meet their match, too. When they get really worked up, they either steal glances and hold on, or they steal touches and maintain eye contact. Soldiers tend to be the former and dignitaries the latter.

"After ninety years of putting this on, I'm pretty good at spotting the rotten ones and kicking them out. But I'm handing the duty off in a few years. I think it's time I retire."

I choke at the idea. Nearly a century of work is a long career.

"You on the longevity stims?" she whispered.

"No ma'am. I believe in letting life run it's natural course."

She nods as we step out of the elevator. "Good. While they've kept me around for a long time, I have outlived far too many friends, including the love of my life. That has been the hardest part."

"Did you meet your mate here?" I ask as we cross the lunch hall and walk toward the race arena.

"Of course." She blushes. "But he wasn't a contestant. He was one of the new security detail. Wonderful Lasarien."

"But aren't they extinct now?"

She gives me a pained look that makes me regret asking. "No children. But boy did we have fun trying."

I smile, and it evokes one from her.

"Now, I know why you're here, Kikila, hoping to escape your controlling father. But I don't want you to worry about anything. I want you to try to have fun. Even if there is trouble—"

"Bunkers, escape pods, my ship, security patrols, and a ton of prime soldiers in one place," I offer.

She motions me toward the other women and releases her arm from around mine. "You really are a trained guard, aren't you?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Remember that most of them also have their own security and armies nearby."

That's exactly what I'm worried about. It's a high concentration of prime female humans and alien males. All the Nebulous Empire would have to do is take out the moon, and it would thrust our entire federation of galaxies into chaos.

Women in race suits clutter the fields, some eagerly leaning on the railing, ready for their chance at a million big ones. Others hang back, chatting with their friends, seemingly uncaring of the start time.

Rosy gets up on the podium and begins her speech, but I'm not paying attention to anything she says. Roan's discovery of ships on the horizon has me concerned. He's got a keen eye for things hiding in the shadows. And if marrying him would've been an option, I would've taken it. But I know Draeke would've just moved his attention to Roan and tried to take him out to steal me. I'm certain it's less because Draeke wants me as it is a ploy to stay in my father's back pocket until he can take his place.

Rosy doesn't really outline a plan as much as she talks about the race's history, and its purpose. They don't tell us what to do except run.

A massive troop transport hovers closer to the shields, making the women around me cheer and jump in excitement.

To my surprise, as I look up at the large ship, undoubtedly full of males from all different solar systems, I know there's one up there that will claim me as his, even if just for a few days. The idea makes my heart beat stronger and my palms sweat. The deep bass rumble of the engines shakes me inside, adding to my anticipation.

The railing holding us back from the fields blinks faster and faster.

Of course, I'll have the power to choose him or another as the week progresses. But the notion of someone wanting me for me, and not who I am or my father is, intrigues me.

Thumping trance music blares out of the speakers on the Abr complex's exterior. Women rush the railing as it blinks green.

A speck leaps out of the transport and arcs toward the Lunar surface like it's a simple skip down a sidewalk. He lands hard, stirring up dust. As he stands and surveys the women running out into the arena, more and more males jump.

I step back at the pure insanity of the height from which they fall without damage. I've worked with a handful of golden, horned Selephatons and blue, scaled Nytheralians at the office and in space. But I have never seen this side of them.

I have never been to war. So many are soldiers. They are a rain of our most powerful and precious resource in the federation. I glance up at the patrols overhead and hope they're on stims tonight.

Rosy looks to where I stand still behind the railing. "Go, honey. Forget the past. Live in the moment. Find your forever."

I hesitantly pass her and jog out into the field that is a chaos of male aliens chasing women. A few have been caught. Some slip free and give playful continued chase.

I pass ropes courses and tree forts. In the distance, I see a hedge maze that looks interesting. A few other women run in that direction. Others aim for the mountain.

And still, males pour from the transport in every color and shape from the feathery winged Leosanti to Anlatoms, Ethariols, and Talhuskins. There are too many species to count them all.

For the first time, I'm able to truly see the reach of the Sol Federation, something my father is directly involved in even if his responsibility is Terran Earth. I am in awe of the diversity.

Fresh respect swells within me for what the remains of our human population was able to achieve after the war, centuries ago. I just wish we had outgrown Draeke types.

I get sniffed by a few males as I run. It's a tickling sensation that startles me and makes me spin around as I run, wondering if they're my guy. But they all dart off to chase other females.

I don't mind. It's a new, free feeling that I haven't experienced before.

"Have you been licked yet?" Another racer laughs. She's got hair like ink and eyes of the greenest hues I've ever seen.

"No."

She wrinkles her nose as she jogs closer to me. "Super weird. But kind of fun. They're like animals!" She growls at the sky with a big grin on her face. "I love it!"

A gold male tackles me, draws in my scent while I instinctively cover my face. Hot breath sweeps over me. When I peek up at him, I see him look up, scan the area, and bound off after someone else.

The woman who was with me stops and offers me a hand. "Wild, yeah?"

I chuckle and shake off the unusual sensation. "That's one way to put it.

Two males get in a fight over a woman with blue bands who scurries away and crouches behind a bush. The pair tumble toward the back of the green-eyed woman who's helped me up.

She can't see them. On instinct, I grab her around the waist like I would a client, shield her from their scuffle, and haul her away from them. My attempt is clumsy in the grass with as much as I'm shaking from recently being tackled myself.

She cries out as she swings over my body and tumbles into the grass.

"Are you okay?" I stammer, scrambling up. The hit pounds through my body, but I ignore it to check on her.

"Okay! I'm okay!" She rolls over and picks up her head. A smile lights up her face. "Oh, but you hooked one with that move."

What? It takes me a second to realize what she means. I turn to look in the direction she is and find a red-violet male in leather armor stop at the edge of the field we're in. He heaves a breath and glances between her and I. I'm not sure he has his eye on me or not.

"I think he's looking at you," I admit.

She rolls away and looks again. "Nope. All you!"

I check again and see his gaze burning into me with lust.

"Run, girl!" she shouts.

I'm not sure why, but I start heading away from him. The male hesitates then follows me. He's a stocky soldier with a look of need that curls deep inside me and ignites a fire I didn't know I could feel from just a look.

My friend sits up and holds a hand over her chest. "He's coming for you! Gotta make it look good! Give him a run for his money!"

She's right. The male picks up the pace, his eyes locked on mine.

"Crap!" I'm not really a fan of being tackled after the last time plus the tumble we just took. And I want to be sure the one who picks me actually wants me and not another woman. I don't want to be an easy choice. He's got to work for it.

So instead of heading to the maze, I take a turn through a short stand of trees and charge back through the other women that run the race.

When I look back, I can't see him. But I don't slow. I set my sights on the garden up ahead. If he really wants me, he won't get distracted. Fewer women race around the fountains and hedges there. But there are other males scouring the area. A dark green Retterwan with armor sneaks around a bush, then waits until a woman slinks close enough to the corner that he can jump out and snatch her up. Her surprised yelp has me laughing.

I slip into the hedges and skirt between the fountains of the garden, then peek back through the opening, watching for the male who'd chased me.

Maybe it's all part of the game, the chase.

I weave silently between the hedges around the fountains, trying to decide what to do and where to run next. I just need a few minutes to catch my breath. A laugh shakes my trembling body. I'm a mess, but I hope he finds me.