“Yes, I would like that, but I warned you what would happen if you spoke negatively of yourself again, didn’t I?”
Mindy looked contrite and slightly ashamed. But I knew my sister. She wasn’t afraid. The look in her eyes was…eager? Had this man brought her to heel? “You said you’d punish me.”
“That’s right. After I meet your sister, y
our ass will be a fiery red before I fuck you.”
He sounded quite a bit like Zed and I had to wonder if all hotties from space were this dominant. But I knew—since she was my identical twin—that Mindy needed a mate who wouldn’t let her walk all over him. And based on the way her breath caught and her eyes glazed over, it seemed she had exactly what she needed.
“Yes, Master.” Mindy’s cheeks flushed hot, perhaps a mix of worry at being spanked and eagerness at being fucked. I actually knew the feeling.
She cleared her throat. “Violet, this is General Goran of Trion, my mate.” She smiled brilliantly and glanced up at him. She looked happy. Thrilled. In love. The term Master indicated the depth of his dominance and she seemed to thrive in his care.
I was happy for her, ached for that happiness and wanted it for myself.
“Hello, sister of my mate.” He studied me through the display and I felt Calder’s hand squeeze my shoulder. “It is remarkable, you look just like Mindy. But there are some differences.”
What could I say? It’s nice to meet you? Did you see the Marlins game last night? He wasn’t from Earth and the only thing we had in common was Mindy. Hell, they weren’t even on Earth. I was having a conversation with them light years away. They were on Trion.
And suddenly I knew exactly what I wanted to say to this man who had taken my place. “You better take good care of my sister, or I’ll come for you myself.”
He chuckled at the threat, not the least intimidated. “I see you share your sister’s fire.” He raised his gaze from me to Calder. “You will enjoy taming this one, warrior.”
The entire exchange made me mad. I couldn’t be angry at Mindy, not anymore. But I was still upset, and my rage had a new outlet. “I’m serious, General. If you hurt my sister, I will kill you myself.”
Warden Egara gasped. “Miss Nichols, you are threatening a—”
She didn’t get to finish. Goran raised his hand and even the warden responded to the dominance in him, stopping mid-sentence. “I welcome you to Trion, sister. Mindy is mine and I assure you, I will care for her, protect her and love her as a worthy male should. You will have no need for violence.” He grinned then, and I saw exactly why my sister was looking at him like he was the center of her universe. He was stunning when he smiled. “And I admire your wild spirit, Violet. It is something you share with your sister. Her passion and loyalty are just two of many reasons that I love her.”
Mindy blushed, clearly pleased with his declaration. I had to admit, not many men I knew would just say they loved a woman flat out like that. And especially not in front of strange warriors he didn’t know.
My sigh was loud. “Mindy. I don’t know what to say.”
“Violet, would you really have let me go?”
I looked away for the first time, so mad at her for leaving, I hadn’t thought about how I would have reacted if she’d told me beforehand. Would I have even let her out of the apartment? I’d have laughed at the idea of volunteering, told Mindy she was insane, that she should just wait for the right guy to come along. But now, seeing her so blatantly happy with a Trion alien, I had to wonder if I would have kept her from what she really wanted. No, needed.
“I would have locked you in the apartment, gotten you drunk on your favorite wine and plied you with ice cream until you promised not to leave me.”
She grinned. “Exactly.” Her gaze darted to Calder, but her hand was wrapped around her own mate’s wrist and I was fairly certain she was completely unaware of the way her fingertips caressed his arm.
“But you have a mate of your own, a Viken, I believe,” Goran said, his eyes falling to the hand on my shoulder, to Calder.
Mindy’s eyes widened. “What?” she screeched. “That’s why you’re at the processing center, because you’ve been matched, too? Wait.” She held up her hand, her usual gesture for taking a moment to think. “Why is your mate there?”
Zed and Axon stepped beside me so they were pressed against me on three sides.
Mindy’s mouth fell open all the way as she just stared. And stared.
“Calder is not her only mate,” Axon said, his voice clear. “I am her mate, Axon of Viken.”
“As am I.” Zed inclined his chin at the alien warrior. “Royal Elite of Viken. I am Zed. Violet is my mate.”
Mindy screeched and lifted her arms over her head as if she were a referee indicating a touchdown. I was used to this action, but her mate stared at her wide-eyed and my mates startled beside me.
“Three mates? You go, girl! You have to tell me all about it. I mean, they’re in Florida! And three! Vikens. Wow, I’ve heard really…kinky things about them. Have you…I mean are you—”
“Mate, calm yourself,” Goran said with a dark tone, although I could see the way the corner of his mouth tipped up.