Page 4 of My Monster, My Choice

I smile at her, and it wobbles with relief that only another mom can understand. “Thanks, Dori.”

ChapterOne

CHRISTINA

Aweek later, I find out the alien was telling the truth. President Montgomery comes by, says he’s decided he’ll take me to visit Tera but only if I come immediately. Of course, I do and when we arrive, he insists I stay in the car when he gets out at Eden. I’m antsy, because this is my first view of my daughter in years. I can see her—so close and yet so far—standing with a group of other women while a cluster of the tentacled aliens stand across from them in some kind of ceremony. All of the women wear metal collars with a colored stone at the throat, marking them as the troupe, I imagine.

The Britonians stand between the two.

Goddess, she’s beautiful. It’s almost impossible not to remain hidden. When President Montgomery finally opens the car door, I can’t contain myself any longer. I take off at a dead run, skirts swishing, and when she sees me, she runs too.

We meet in the middle, clinging together and swinging with the force of our running. I can’t stop kissing her and to their credit, the aliens stop whatever process they’re doing while we greet each other.

But the process is exactly what Elex had mentioned.

Tera became a citizen of Earth again by changing her address to the facility where Kenny stays. On top of that, she’s told that she’s next up in the Match Program. And when she’s matched to Relion, her best friend, she’s so angry she slaps him right out in the courtyard. We take a ten-minute break to calm her down, heading indoors, where she admits that she wants a marriage instead of a mating so a wealthy old husband will take care of Kenny.

Sweet child.

While I don’t want her to feel horrible that she’s been used by the president, I have to tell her that Kenny is well taken care of. That I’ve been working overtime for six years while living on the grounds. That I can pay his tuition myself, even without the huge discount I’m allowed.

I beg her to take these six months as a vacation and forgive her best friend and thankfully, she agrees. It’s only then that I notice the stone at her collar is different from everyone else’s. It’s lost its color. But there’s no time to ask why.

When the portal closes upon Tera and Relion’s departure, everyone is in a daze over the drama the recent match had.

“Tera will be fine,” Anya says. She’s the third mating of our Earth females. Tera had introduced her as the leader of their dance troupe and her best friend. Jaire, comes to stand at her side—the one who had been annulled from her sister during the third mating because he’d married Anya. He’s wearing the same uniform as the others, a purple silk that almost matches his skin tone, with gold threading and buttons. A sword is strapped to his back and there’s a belt at his waist with sheaths for knives that fit between his tentacles. He’s obviously in love with her since his tentacles reach for her constantly.

“She may be angry with Relion for not letting her marry, but she loves him. I wish you could have seen them together before all this,” Anya says.

“They really are perfect for each other,” Sydney says.

All the other girls nod their heads.

I smile shakily because it’s just what I need. Reassurance that my baby girl will be fine. There’s so much relief to hear that this is a love match. I couldn’t stand the thought that Elex might have been interested in my daughter.

I would have supported it if she loved him, of course. But I’m secretly relieved he’s not with her.

Then he approaches. Just like before, a zing of awareness hits my midsection at the same time his delicious scent fills my nose. Cologne? He’s gorgeous and familiar, like an old friend, even though I’ve only met him once before. His skin color isn’t as dark as Jaire’s and his eyes aren’t as light. Jaire’s have a ring of light gold around the iris.

Elex’s are dark, purple pupils that seem to glow, but surrounded by dark, jet-black irises. Sexy. Focused on me. He holds out his hand for me to shake and I extend mine into it for the second touch I’ve ever shared with the man.

He’s staring at me like he’s never going to let me go.

“Welcome to Eden, Christina,” he murmurs, and his deep, exotic accent sends a curl of desire into my belly.

Wow. I thought he was strange when I first saw him, but the strangeness is no longer apparent. Perhaps because there are so many other Adroki here, he’s no longer the odd man out. In any case, now it’s just heat and power. Strength and…sex appeal. I haven’t felt drawn to a single man since I was a teenager and now, I’m drawn to a strange alien.

“Thank you.”

“Thank you for trusting me.”

He was right. So right. Of course, I hadn’t known that until President Montgomery pulled up at the gates two hours ago. I’d glanced at Dori before I left and saw her slipping to the file cabinet to enact the paperwork we’d agreed upon to keep Kenny safe in my absence.

I glance toward President Montgomery. He’s busy arguing with the Britonian who leads the Match Program.

“Please allow me to keep you safe now that Relion is keeping Tera safe,” Elex says softly. I’m not sure exactly what he’s asking but it seems to be important. “Trust me?”

“I do.”