Page 49 of Alien Naga's Prize
Dan winces as if I’ve kicked him in his balls. Beside me, Azul gives a triumphant snort.
“I want to tell everyone about Starlight Lottery—Brides,” I announce. “I want all the women onBritanniato know there areother options.” I look around the bridge and make eye contact with one of the two female staff. “To meet a star-crossed mate, to have another life, a better life.” I lean into Azul, and this time the noise he makes is one which warms my heart.
“I agree,” Dan says. “I mean, my mother will agree,” he adds hastily.
Azul uncoils and pulls himself up to a height of around eight feet, towering over Dan as he presses a long, lingering kiss to my lips which I’m sure raised the temperature on the bridge by several degrees.
“I presume this means you won’t be returning toBritannia?” Dan says.
“No, I won’t.” I turn to Azul. “I want to be with you.”
Azul nuzzles into my hair, sending shockwaves through me of pure delight.
“And we will be together, little sunray, wherever you want, however you want.”
He lifts his head, and I’m caught in his dazzling gaze.
“How about we turn in Rossz and then see what else Tisel has for us?” I suggest.
“You…you want me to continue as a bounty hunter.” Azul’s brow is furrowed. “After everything which happened?”
“I healed up quick, didn’t I? Thanks to your venom,” I reply. “Anyway, I don’t wantyouto continue as a bounty hunter, I wantusto continue as bounty hunters. You’ve made me feel alive for the first time in…forever, Azul. I don’t want to stop you doing something if you want to do it.”
“You mean it?” he asks. “You want us to work together?”
“I think we make an okay team.” I nudge him in the scales with my elbow. “Even if you did fill an entire room full of vaporized narcotics.”
“I promise not to do that again,” Azul says with a fang-filled grin.
“Are you sure you can promise?” I raise my eyebrows.
Azul cocks his head on one side, the grin widening. “Not really.”
“Good thing it’s not a deal breaker.” I raise myself up on tiptoes and press my lips to his.
Azul consumes me in a long kiss which is eventually interrupted by the sound of someone clearing his throat.
My big naga turns to Dan. “Despite the fact you lied to my mate, Dan the Human, I trust you will do what’s right,” he intones. “Other humans deserve to have what my Jenna has, and Starlight Brides can work miracles.” He looks down at me. “And if it’s what my mate wants, who am I to deny her?”
Dan, despite what is clearly the risk of being ripped apart by Azul, beams at us.
“You can count on me, Jenna. It’s about time the old guard was ousted and a new, fairer regime was put into place forBritannia. Giving people the option of joining Starlight Brides will be the first thing we can do to make it right.”
“Just…let me speak to everyone first, Dan. Frankly, the wayBritanniahas been run, a ship wide announcement stating you can be married off to an alien won’t go down well.”
“Ah.” Dan’s smile drops a few watts. “You could be right.”
“My mate is always right,” Azul growls. “And I should know,” he says as I’m taken in by another dizzying kiss. “Because she’s mine.”
EPILOGUE
JENNA
“To the left,” Azul says calmly, and I duck around him to the left as requested as he fires off his blaster, taking out three of the Habosu mercenaries and clearing the path to our ship.
“And to your right,” I say, as he uncoils, and I’m able to disable the remotely operated pulsar gun which will knock out our engine given half the chance.
All around us, the planet’s surface is breaking up, great pools of lava hissing and smoking.