Page 152 of Galaxy Circus Act One

“Did you not hear the ship-wide announcement for a compulsory meeting?” Hale whispers quietly.

“No, we must have been in the shower. Where is it?” Saxon questions urgently.

“In the dining room on the mothership. Dude, you need to get your asses here. Shit has officially hit the fan.” Hale side-eyes me before cutting off the communication.

My heart starts to race again. What could have gone wrong now? “How are we going to get up there if everyone has been required to attend? There won’t be anyone to transport us.”

Saxon presses a kiss to the top of my head. “Don’t worry, I know how to operate the transporter.” He flashes us again, moving through the ship faster than I can track, but this time, I no longer feel nauseous at the speed. My body has adjusted, and it doesn’t feel like I’m being flung around at warp speed.

We stop in the transporter room, and Saxon puts me down gently. He goes over to a cabinet and pulls out a small remote. Next, he grabs my hand, and we both stand on the transport platform. He pushes a button on the remote. I hear the transporter fire up, and within an instant, we are landing on the transport platform on the mothership. This room is empty of crew as well.

Saxon places the remote in his pocket. “We need to return it to the pod when we go back. Want to try running at full speed?”

I quickly shake my head. I am so not ready for that. “No, not yet. I want to try everything out in the arena where there is less chance of me breaking anything, anyone, or hurting myself.” I shrug, hoping he didn’t notice the hitch in my voice at the thought of doing anything Vilaxian related in public.

“Okay.” He swings me back up into his arms and flashes us once more. I can feel the pressure of the air against my face as he runs, my hair flowing behind me. It’s almost a freeing feeling.

When we stop at the door to the dining room, I hear a cacophony of voices. The doors open, and I blink in astonishment. I hadn’t been to this dining room yet. I was confined to my room because there was concern for my safety from some of Saxon’s clan. I’d like to think I could withstand a little bit more now, but I don’t doubt that I will need some instruction in self-defense from my new hubby. I can’t deny I’m looking forward to getting hot and sweaty with him, maybe rolling around on some mats and getting pinned to said mats…

“My beautiful blood rose, whatever you are thinking, you need to stop. Your arousal is quite potent, and I’m afraid it willdistract a lot of the crew from the meeting.” Saxon’s voice is low and growly, and I feel my cheeks heat in embarrassment.

Great, everyone’s going to know I’m horny. I’m not sure how I can be horny again. It has to be those damn fuck me vibes. Can’t my children give me a damn break for once? I just spent the night fucking, so surely my vagina has to be closed for maintenance.

We enter the room, and I cross my fingers, hoping that no one notices, but sure enough, the minute we step in, almost everyone turns to look at us. I move slightly behind Saxon, using him as a buffer between me and the crowd. No one is hiding their otherness today, and it’s a bit overwhelming to have all eyes focused on me.

“Ah, Saxon, Lila, so glad you could make it.” Eric waves us forward and points to a table at the front of the room. Xavier, Caspian, and Link are all seated there. Next to it is a table of lightning cats—minus the female—Nixie, and… damn it, the horny can of cat food.

Unfortunately, my eyes meet his, and he puffs up like a puffer fish, shaking his golden mane of hair like a horse and winking at me. It’s a little bit scary, because it actually looks like he’s having an epileptic fit, but Nixie soon catches a glimpse of what he’s doing and slaps him across the head. He scowls at her, but it’s enough for him to be distracted, and I hurry past him and slide into a seat with my mate and future mates. My butt hasn’t even hit the chair before Cas is dragging me into his lap, shoving his nose into my neck, and breathing deeply. His tentacles wrap around me until I am completely encased in them.

I sigh in pure bliss. Instantly, the dull ache in my chest eases, and I melt into him, enjoying being wrapped up in his love. Even my kraken relaxes, and I’m glad she’ll chill the fuck out for now.

“God, I missed you,” he says, heaving out a deep breath like he’d been holding it the whole time I was gone.

Saxon takes a seat at the table and nods to the others before turning his attention to my grandpas.

“We’ll catch you both up on what’s happening in a moment. For now, I want to reassure you that the show will continue, but there will be a short hiatus. When we arrive in Celestia, if you would like to make arrangements to return to your home planet until we reconvene, then that will be acceptable. You just need to inform us of your plans before we leave Earth’s orbit so we can arrange for transport for those who do want to depart.” He pauses for a moment, letting the words sink into every creature’s head. My curiosity is piqued by this announcement though. “All right, you are dismissed to discuss this proposal with your teams and contact your families. Once again, we thank you for your time and patience, and I hope you will all rejoin us once we resume.” William’s words end the meeting, and people get up to leave the room, the noise almost deafening.

I stay put, unable to move if I even wanted to, and William and Eric come to me. Cas releases me just enough for them to both give me a hug and a kiss before joining us at the table. I hear them welcome Saxon to the family with slaps and manly hugs. I can’t stop the smile of happiness that spreads across my lips. My little family just keeps growing and growing, and if things go the way I hope, it’ll continue. I know I’ve been on the fence about all this chosen mates, out-of-my-control stuff, but honestly, I’m freaking thrilled. To go from being a foster kid no one particularly wanted to having everyone want me is heady and intoxicating, and I can’t get enough.

I look around the table at my other potential mates. Okay, who’s next? I know I can’t mate with Xavier until his parents release the spell on me, so I guess it’s my delicious doctor.

I shiver with excitement, and I feel Caspian chuckle beneath me, his entire body moving. “Wow, I would have thought those fuck me hormones would have been well sated after yourmarathon bonding with Saxon, but I can smell how horny you are,” Cas comments quietly, and I notice how much attention I’m getting from others around the room.

The lightning cats, the Vilaxians, and both Silac and Tirrian are staring at me with an intensity that borders on scary, but it’s Nikos who once again steals the attention.

“Lila, my little starfish, why don’t you allow me to ease the ache in your loins? Obviously your mates aren’t capable of taking care of you like I can.” Saxon and Caspian both growl at his comment. Xavier just snorts in disgust, and Link smothers a chuckle. Some help they are. Assholes.

“How about you don’t,” Grandpa Will replies dryly. “Now get, all of you, I have to catch Lila up on what she missed.” It doesn’t happen quickly, but eventually, it’s just us—my two hubbies, and two fiancés, Will, Eric, and me.

“How’s Grandpa J?” I ask as soon as the room clears. It’s nice not to be surrounded by so many creatures, especially with my Vilaxian senses being so sensitive. Taking a deep breath, I listen in shock and worry as they explain what is wrong with John and the actions they have decided to take.

“So we’re canceling the tour?” I ask when William finishes.

“Yes, just until we can get John healthy again. We don’t know how long it will take, and Link says it needs to happen as soon as we can get there. You and I just need to pick up the detainee from Area 51 that Agent Smith told us about,” Eric explains. “We will leave as soon as you get something to eat and can get changed.”

Area 51? Holy shit, itdoesfucking exist. After seeing all of the creatures on this ship, it’s clear the government is lying about extraterrestrials, and now I get to see the facility up close and personal.

“I would like to check her over once more as well, just to be sure she’s okay,” Link requests, and both of my grandpas agree.