“Well, I’m certain the fact that bonding with a Feline type Monstrum like yourself regenerates a female a good fifteen to twenty years doesn’t hurt,” Sylvan said dryly. “Why didn’t you mention that in the first place? Now we have older females signing up for the Bride Draft in droves—your warriors will have more Mature Elites than they know what to do with!”
Rarev shrugged.
“We didn’t know that the regeneration effect would be so pronounced in human females. Remember, no Monstrum had bonded with a human before we found our way into your universe.”
“Well, let’s just hope the good publicity continues,” Em said. “It certainly makes my life easier not to have protestors picketing outside my flat every morning.”
“I’m just happy that my people are able to call brides without the humans protesting so much,” Rarev remarked. “And I’m happy I have a bride of my own,” he added through their link.
“Speaking of brides, have you finalized the plans for your wedding?” Sylvan raised his eyebrows.
“Yes. We’re going to be married at Westminster Abby—we’ve been granted a special dispensation by the Queen herself, as thanks to the Monstrum for saving the Earth from the Darklings.”
“Well! That is an honor!” Sylvan looked impressed.
“A very great one,” Em agreed. “High-end designers are vying to design my gown—it’s going to be ‘The Wedding of the Century’ according to the Press.” She gave Rarev another sly smile. “It seems that Monstrum are suddenly in fashion.”
“My warriors have been asked to come out as escorts and bodyguards for many fashionable females,” Rarev acknowledged. “We accept the requests if they seem sincere. As Emilia says, anything we can do to build goodwill among the humans is a good thing.”
“And to think—it all began when you declared your love publicly and asked Minister Oxley to be your wife at that Christmas Eve press conference,” Sylvan remarked. He shook his head thoughtfully. “I do wish my people would have thought of something like that, back when the Kindred first came to Earth. We kept to ourselves too much, which gave the humans cause to fear us.”
“I think they were afraid of us at first, too,” Rarev purred. “But now they know that we wish only to Claim the brides our minds have aligned with.” He squeezed Em again affectionately. “As I have Claimed Emilia.”
“And as I would like to Claim you again,” he sent through their link. “And by ‘Claim,’ I mean I want to bond you to me all over again. This time I want to be face to face so I can look into your eyes when my shaft and my spines pierce you.”
Em could feel herself blushing at this intimate mental dirty talk, but she tried not to show it.
Commander Sylvan, however, had sharp eyes.
“I think I’ve kept the two of you here long enough,” he said, smiling. “I believe you’re on your way to take a tour of the Monstrum Mother Ship, Minister Oxley?” he asked Em.
Em nodded and smiled.
“Yes, Rarev has promised me a special tour of the Sacred Grove.”
“After we take a tour of my sleeping quarters,” the big Monstrum purred in her head.
“Yes, after that,” she promised, feeling her cheeks get hot again.
“Well then, I’ll wish you both a good day and thank you for coming.” Sylvan rose and offered his arm to Rarev for a warrior’s clasp. “I’ll see you again soon, I’m sure.”
“Hopefully not because any of my warriors have run into trouble,” Rarev said. “It is my wish and my prayer that the Monstrum Kindred will be fully integrated into Earth society very soon.”
Sylvan nodded gravely.
“I wish that for you too, my friend. But with humans, you can never tell—they can be a rather fickle people. So be careful, will you?”
“I will.” Rarev nodded.
Em knew what Sylvan was saying was true. Humans were fickle and what was in style today could be cast aside tomorrow. Still, for now at least, the Monstrum Kindred were able to call brides from Earth with a minimum of fuss and that was good.
She had her wedding to look forward to and the Press and the tabloids had never been so nice to her before. But honestly, Em didn’t care about any of that.
All she cared about was the warrior beside her and the fact that they would be together forever.
The End?
Of course not!