Page 167 of Galaxy Circus Act One

“Then we need Mark and Susie to return to their home and grab their things, and we need to do that ASAP. The circus pod should be docking with the main ship in the next hour or two, and I want to be able to tell Captain Potter to launch us into hyperspeed as soon as it does.” Eric is wringing his hands in agitation, and Caspian slaps a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

“Relax, my friend. We’ve got this. Link and I will accompany Susie and Mark and help them with whatever they need, and Lila can show the others to their room. Find William and check on John.”

Eric sags with relief and smiles gratefully at my mate. I just want to ride him like he’s a bucking bronco for how sweet he’s being, but that will have to wait, unfortunately. Maybe we’ll go swimming, and we can let the krakens out. A wave of approval washes over me, followed by one of impatience.Damn beast can never be happy.

With that decision made, we all go our separate ways. Saxon and Xavier head in the direction of the detention cells, and we leave Cas and Link, who had both changed their appearance to something more human, behind with Mark and Susie—but not before they all give me a quick hug and kiss. Instantly, I feel better and steadier, prepared to face the job ahead.

My poor friends look to be a little shell-shocked, which I can completely relate to, but we don’t have time to talk them through it. I’ll make sure they know how to program alcohol in their replicator. Poor things are about to get a crash course in everything alien.

“If you would just follow me.” I hold out my hand and gesture for Master Gasm, Xane, Crimson, Savannah, and Ricky to follow me. “I’ll show you to your rooms.”

“Thank you, that would be wonderful. I need to change into a more comfortable body.” Aura winks at me, and I kind of just stare for a moment. Ah, right, Morpheian of course. Seriously, this still doesn’t get any easier.

“Oh my goddess, this is so exciting! The actual Galaxy Circus.” Savannah claps her hands with excitement, and Crimson smiles indulgently at her. “I can’t believe we’re here.”

“Have you ever seen it? I would have thought with Xavier being Xane’s cousin, you would have seen it before.”

“Oh no. Whenever they were in town, Xavier would come see us so he could use the—oof.” Savannah breaks off after Xane elbows her in the side. “Ow, what was that for?”

“I’m sure Lila, Xavier’s intimate, doesn’t need to hear about why he was visiting us,” Xane says quietly out of the side of his mouth, but it’s too late, and that cat’s out of the bag. Savannah frowns and looks at me.

“Oops, sorry.”

“Meh, it’s no big deal. I’ve met his harem. I saw two of them pleasuring a stingray dude who had two cocks, then said stingray dude shriveled up until he was only a mummified husk. Ah, fun times. So while I’m aware he has a harem and was not particularly picky about where he put his cock in the past, I know what I mean to him. I doubt he would disrespect me by straying now that he knows what we are to one another, and once that intimate bond is locked in, if he wants to play with my other mates, well, I wouldn’t be opposed.”

Aura grins widely and holds up their hand. “Damn, girl, give me a high five. Now that’s how you embrace the poly lifestyle. More bodies means more fun.”

“And let’s face it, there’s only one of me, and my vagina would be quickly out of commission if I was fucking four men daily.”

“Actually, Skarrian women have vaginas designed to cope with multiple lovers. Something in our feminine lubrication is self-healing.” A voice from behind us has me jumping. So far, the corridors have been fairly clear. The flight deck level where the teleporter is, and also where our suites are, isn’t really ever crowded with people, so to see someone is a surprise.

Whirling, I put my hands on my hips. “Fuck, you scared the hell out of me, but that is good to know,” I tell my friend Magenta, who is beaming widely. She has her bright pink hair pulled back in a ponytail and is wearing her GC uniform. She must have stayed behind instead of going back to the circus pod.

“Aura! I heard a rumor you were here.” She throws her arms open and runs at the Morpheian.

How the fuck did Magenta hear that? We’ve been here all of two minutes. Maybe she was stalking the corridors waiting for me anyway, sneaky bitch. Also, how does she recognize Aura? From what I can tell, this is not their normal form. They embrace like lifelong lost friends, but it doesn’t seem like there is any sexual tension. Magenta then goes on to hug the other three as well before stopping at Ricky.

“Oh, you’re new. I’ve never seen you before.” Her eyes scan the pretty cyborg before she holds out her hand. “I’m Magenta, and I’m Skarrian.” What she is really saying is I’m Magenta, and I’m slutty, but I’m almost certain everyone knows this by now.

He blushes, his skin sparkling even more than usual, and shakes her hand quickly before stepping behind Xane without saying a word.

She sighs and looks at Aura. “Adorable.”

They grin. “I know, right?”

“So how did you come to be here?” Magenta tucks her arm into Aura’s, and they take the lead. “Where are we going?” she calls back to me, not waiting for Aura to answer.

“The spare suite on our level that was supposed to be mine,” I call back, and she stops, dropping Aura’s arm and whirling around.

“Are you okay with that?” she asks. I see concern in her eyes, and I love this girl just a little more. I can’t wait for her and Susie to meet. We are going to be like the three musketeers.

I wave my hand, gesturing for them to continue. “Yeah, it’s fine, whatever. I’m using Mom and Dad’s, and it’s not like they are ever coming back.” A lump develops in my throat for my parents, even if my actual memories are fuzzy at best.

She stares at me a little longer before turning, and we continue on our way. It’s quite a walk to the last suite on the far side of the ship. I absently listen to Aura and gang explain how they came to be here, but I’m a little lost in my own thoughts, and a hand on my shoulder has me stumbling slightly.

“God, sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you,” Xane apologizes, helping me steady myself. It’s so weird looking at this warlock. He looks so similar to Xavier, but he doesn’t put off quite the same amount of power. Even when he’s powered down, Xavier crackles, but Xane’s power feels like a pleasant buzz.

“That’s okay, I was lost in my own thoughts.”