Page 38 of Stealing Jia

Trayon’s tentacles rose.“Pretty ship?”

“Owh. Owh.”Cason jabbered and thwacked his bowl of blood worms, flinging the bloody contents all over Zarek.

I started in horrified fascination as a blood worm slid slowly down Zarek’s cheek.

“Bloos. Bloos.”

Merda! I grabbed my napkin and jumped to my feet. “I am so sorry. Let me clean it off.”

“Sit!”Zarek commanded.

I sat.

Trayon chortled.

I shot him a sidelong glance. “You think this is funny?”

“You have been on my ship less than a day and no matter where you go pandemonium follows.”

I gave him the evil eye.“Why don’t you void our mating contract then?”

“Askole warriors thrive on chaos, and I never know what you will do next.”

Cason grabbed a worm off the table and offered it to Zarek. “Bloos. Bloos.”

Zarek took it. “Rodan children are feral creatures who would never share their food. The fact Cason just did is very unusual.”

LooLoo said Cason was different from the other Rodan,”I said.

“His brain patterns are also quite unique. I plan on having his DNA tested,”Trayon advised.

“A wise decision.”Zarek stood and dozens of worms rolled down his bloody armor. With a grimace Zarek teleported away.

Cason held out his arms to Trayon. “Geepa.”

Trayon picked him up. “Not Geepa. Father.”

“Geepa.”Cason patted his chest.

I laughed at the resigned expression on Trayon’s face. “He’s just a baby. He’ll get it in time.”

“While you finish your meal, I will take him to sick bay for the DNA test and start his conversion.”

“How long before werendezvous at Proxima Centauri?”

“Twelve hours.”A knot of apprehension formed in my gut. The thought of meeting my father gave me the heebie-jeebies. A part of me wanted to run. Another part of me was excited and hopeful.

Trayon kissed me with a passion that left me breathless. “Do not worry. Your father will fall in love with you as I have.”

I gaped at him.“You love me?”

“I do.”

“But you’ve known me for less than a day.”

“You are my chosen,”Trayon answered, like that was all I needed to know.

Was I his soulmate?Probably not.“I’ve done things I’m not proud of.”

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