Page 5 of My Monster, My Choice
A smile cuts across his face and for a moment, I’m breathless. He’s utterly gorgeous, wicked and sexy. I’d love to get to know this man some more.
“Christina!” President Montgomery barks. “We’re leaving.”
Without breaking eye contact, Elex calls out. “No, she’s not.”
Montgomery marches our way but doesn’t get too close. His secret service flank him on either side. “Step aside, Captain Mahogani. I’m sure Christina wants to get back to her son.”
A gasp escapes me and Elex’s gaze studies my lips where they’ve opened slightly. I’m not sure how the president can make such an innocent statement sound like a threat, but he manages.
“She’ll see her son shortly,” Elex says. “He’s on his way right now, along with their bags.” Then he turns to me. “I hope it’s okay that we packed your things. I instructed them to take the utmost care.”
“Her son?” Montgomery barks. “You can’t just remove a citizen from a specialized facility. Especially one such ashim. Who do you think you are?”
Elex turns to him. “His guardian.” He narrows his eyes. “I have interest in his mother, and her permission to remove him from his facility. Oh, look. There he is now,” his voice drops to a lower volume. “On the neutral territory of the annexed land of Eden. Both will be staying here until Tera returns to make her decision,” he says to Montgomery.
Just beyond the gates, an alien spaceship hovers and slowly lowers onto the landing port near the building. It’s the same type of vehicle that Elex used when he first visited me. As we watch, it lowers to the ground, and settles noiselessly before the door starts to open.
Elex turns to me. “Since Tera changed her address, I think you might feel comfortable doing the same?”
I nod, smiling at his subtle hint. Tera changing her address is what trapped her into Earth’s citizenship. I’ll need to forgo mine to avoid the president’s wrath.
“Mum!” Kenny jumps from the pod as soon as the door lifts and runs toward me on his short legs. He hugs me with both arms tight around my middle, then looks up into my face. “Where my brother, Ree? An’ Terr.”
The president’s eyes narrow as he realizes that Kenny knows Relion. And suddenly I’m very, very glad that Elex brought Kenny to me where we’re safe from him for the next six months.
“Hey, little male,” Elex says softly. “I’m Elex, Ree’s friend, along with Jaire, here.” He gestures to Anya’s mate. “We’re going to take good care of you and yourmamanuntil he and Tera return, okay?”
“Okay, I lika that,” Kenny says.
“Would you like to come with me to start fixing lunch?” Anya asks Kenny. “I’m Tera’s best friend. She’s like my own sister.”
Kenny lights up. “You knowa my sister? You lika Terr?”
“I love her.” Her voice is soft and sure as she holds out a hand to him.
He takes it, twining his fingers carefully with hers. “I can makka girrrl cheese.”
She leads him into the house, away from what’s happening.
Her mate stays and I’m aware he’s staying silent, but back-up protection from the president.
“Are you sure about this, Christina?” President Montgomery says. “If you stay on this land, I can’t keep you safe.”
His voice drips with malice and I’m angry. So angry that I had ten minutes alone with my daughter after six years of silence. That this man made promises to us that he never kept. And now he has the nerve to talk about his protection? “I don’t need your protection, President Montgomery. I have Elex.”
His lip curls in disgust. “Like mother, like daughter, I see.”
But Elex? He holds his hand out to me, palm up. When I place my fingertips in his, he lifts it and gently kisses my hand. More butterflies swish around in my belly.
“I will make every dream of yours come true, Christina,” Elex says and the utter conviction in his voice leaves me quaking at the knees. He truly believes he can give me the world.
“I will return to the facility and make sure your people had the proper permission to retrieve her son,” Montgomery barks to Mikhail. “If it is not complete, I expect that boy to be returned immediately.”
Whereupon I will be forced to leave Eden also, because I can’t leave my son unprotected.
But Mikhail smiles serenely and nods. “Of course, sir.”
His calm defuses the president’s temper. Montgomery storms off toward his limo. Elex doesn’t let go of my hand as the men in suits all pile in and the car takes off. He’s holding my hand, right there in front of everyone.