Chapter Seventeen
Juliet
I wake up slowly. Leisurely. I know where I am this time. Snuggled in Shak’s embrace. After just having the most mind-blowing sex of by entire life.
Things might just be finally looking up for me. The question is, will I embrace it? Will I allow myself to finally be happy?
Maybe before big existential questions, I should focus on the basics. Like brushing my teeth. My hand slaps over my mouth. Dear God, I didn’t brush my teeth this morning. I meant to, right after I got back with the doughnuts and coffee but well… Certain distractions got in my way.
I slip out of bed carefully, not wanting to wake Shak, and hurry to the bathroom.
Hmm. I try to stretch out my body’s kinks as I walk. I feel weird. A little off.
Uh, yeah, remember how big he was? You’ll probably be walking bowlegged for a week.
I giggle quietly as I gently shut the bathroom door closed behind me. I can’t remember the last time I was this happy.
I flip the light on and turn towards the mirror.
WHAT THE FUCK?
I stumble backwards into the door.
You’re dreaming. This is just a weird dream.
I rush to the counter and stare in the mirror.
And scream.
Then I began to claw at my arms.
My skin begins to peel away, revealing shimmering golden scales beneath.
The next second the door is thrown open. “Juliet, what is wrong?”
I twirl and expose my peeling arms to him. “This is what’s wrong!” I screech in horror. “What did you do to me?”
His eyes go wide as saucers as he looks me up and down. “I did not— We did not know—”
But then a huge smile breaks across his face. “They said I could not do it. But here you are! Do you know what a miracle this is?” He kisses my forehead and then tries to kiss my lips but I jerk away and then shove him hard in the chest.
What the hell is he celebrating for? “What are you talking about?” I shout. I scratch at my neck and more skin comes away. Fuck, fuck, FUCK!
“My seed has planted. I can scent the growth hormones. You carry my progeny.”
“WHAT?!?”
“We did not expect this outcome, but the progeny must be altering you as its host to create a hospitable growth environment.”
It’s host? I back away from him. I am not pregnant. I can’t have a alien baby. And if I am… My hands go to my stomach in horror. “You have to get this thing out of me. Look what it’s doing to me!”
I turn again to the mirror, tears in my eyes at my peeling skin and the lizard-like golden scales shining through.
Shak pulls back, the happy gleam in his eyes going dark. “You do not want my offspring?”
I look at him like he’s crazy. Is he seriously asking me that right now? “We met a week ago and you’re an alien. No, I don’t want your fucking offspring!”
And the way he was talking earlier… “Was this your intention all along? To get me pregnant? You lying, manipulative bastard!”
His face is blank, though. The man who I thought was so honest and transparent now gives nothing away.
Which is enough answer in and of itself. He did. He did mean to get me pregnant. All of this was just a bullshit scam. This is what the Draci really want. To impregnate human women. Or maybe this was just an experiment. Pick the most pathetic human you can find and trick her into being an experimental incubator. Then see what happens.
I can’t stand to look at Shak right now. I push past him and head for my go bag I always had packed when I was with Robbie.
Shit. Robbie.
He didn’t just suddenly disappear.
I spin and look back at Shak. “You killed Robbie, didn’t you?”
His jaw flexes but he doesn’t look at me. “Yes.”
That’s all he says, just yes. He was the one who broke into the apartment. He’s a murderer and a manipulator. He even told me so, but did I listen? God, I’ll never learn. I’m an asshole magnet and now— Now—
I look down at my skin that’s being shed like a snake’s.
“And how did you know that his MC was at my apartment that night?” My voice is so high-pitched I’m all but screeching. “How did you know to come rescue me?”
“I was watching your apartment. From the roof of the flower shop.”
Oh shit, I’m going to be sick. “You were stalking me?!”
“Stalking? Like a hunter does prey?”
I no longer find his language confusion adorable. “Yes. Exactly like that.”
“You are not prey. I was protecting you.”
“I didn’t need—”
“You did. That male hit you and you were knocked to the floor.”
He saw that, too? I shake with humiliation and fury that he witnessed that moment— And then he got to Robbie, killed him, and didn’t tell me, so I was still terrified all the time that Robbie would be coming for me when all the while he was dead. Dead because he was hurting me…or because he was competition that Shak needed out of the way?