Entered in the Alien Bride Lottery by Margo Collins (best large ebook reader TXT) 📗

moment now, I would catch sight of her. I found myself gazing eagerly ahead, hoping to catch sight of the Earther females, one of whom would be my supporter, my subordinate, the mother of my children and the keeper of my home as I took to the stars, roaming far and wide to protect our world—and all worlds—from the ravages of our enemies.

Maybe this mated thing wouldn’t be so bad after all.

Chapter Three

Natalie

I came out of the transporter heaving. A tiny alien with pure white skin, a rill of skin on its back like a lizard, and a long braid of orange hair hanging out of one nostril bounced around me, squeaking.

“Oh no, this one’s ill, too. Please call maintenance for a clean-up.” It rose on its toes so it was at face height with me—as long as I remained bent over, clutching my stomach. “Are you going to survive? We need to get you to makeup and wardrobe. As soon as you stop vomiting,” it added, crinkling its nose in distaste as its rill lifted and lowered several times, making it look remarkably like a cross between a lizard and a sailing ship.

A Poltien, I thought. That’s what these creatures were called. I didn’t know enough about them to be able to tell at a glance if it was male, female, or one of the non-gendered versions. A nonbinary, I remembered from my Introduction to Galactic Life course.

I wiped the back of my hand across my mouth and breathed in and out several times until the nausea had passed. “I’ll be okay.”

“Then follow me this way, please.” The Poltien scampered ahead of me. As we walked away from the transportation room, I saw several other potential brides vomiting.

This part of the Bride Games had never been shown on Earth.

I still couldn’t believe I was here.

I mean, I guess I knew on some level that I’d gone into the lottery. I had friends who’d gotten married right before they “came of age,” as the lottery officials put it, just so they could avoid getting drawn.

Until now, I had thought that was a little excessive. Who wants to be married at such a young age? I had tons of better things to do with my life. After all, it wasn’t like you could have it annulled if your name didn’t get drawn. No—since the arrival of the Khanavai warriors and the host of other galactic species who had shown up after them, we were expected to try to make our marriages last.

Five years. That’s how long a Lottery Bride had to stay with her alien mate. And it was the minimum length a married couple on Earth had to stay together, too.

Fuck. My. Life.

And the farther we moved along the corridor, the more intense all the colors became. I wasn’t sure if I’d vomited out all of the alcohol in my system—but I was definitely working on a hell of a hangover.

“Is there anywhere I can brush my teeth?” I finally asked the Poltien leading me.

“Of course,” it answered in its high-pitched voice. “There are ablution services in your Bride’s Quarters. We’re almost there.”

Thank God—or whatever deity might be listening. I needed a toothbrush more than I needed anything. Except maybe to go home.

For an instant, I flashed on David’s expression as I was transported away from him, his green eyes sad, his face stricken.

No. I can’t go there.

I simply had to get through the games, convince everyone there that I was particularly unsuited to be a Khanavai warrior’s bride, and go home. Back to my life. Back to my studies. Back to David. My life would be normal again.

And I will never again have to worry about being drawn in the Alien Bride Lottery.

I brightened up at that thought. Once chosen, forever safe. My name would never again go into the drawing.

The Poltien led me around a corner, and I was so lost in my thoughts that I nearly crashed into the giant man coming from the other direction. The Poltien had scampered around him, but I stumbled to a stop barely an inch away from slamming my face into his chest.

Well. Okay. Into his upper abdomen.

He grabbed my shoulders to steady me as I tilted my head back and looked up, up, up into his bright purple eyes.

Holy crap, he’s huge, was my first thought. And so blue! came next.

All that came out of my mouth was a squeak worthy of a Poltien.

“Are you all right?” the giant turquoise man asked me in a deep, rumbling voice. I had to fight the urge to place a hand on his broad chest to feel it vibrate as he spoke. I glanced over to the enormous hand holding my shoulder, then followed his arm all the way up to his bulging blue biceps, where my gaze snagged. This time, my own hand was halfway toward the muscle before I realized it and forced my wayward fingers back down to my side.

“Um. Yeah, I’m okay.” My voice came out all breathless and girlish, and I gave myself an internal smack. Quit acting like a besotted fool, I reprimanded myself.

“She is late.” The Poltien, having realized I was no longer following it, had turned around to retrieve me. “And you are not supposed to be in this area. All warriors are to be in the Grooms’ Quarters. Not wandering around the Bridal Suites.”

The Khanavai warrior flashed her an unrepentant grin, and I nearly swooned. Good lord, but he was gorgeous.

“I must have gotten turned around.” But he ruined his explanation by tossing a wink at me.

My heartbeat sped up and I swallowed hard. Don’t get too excited, Nat, I warned myself. The goal is to get kicked out of the games, not flirt with the first alien you see.

“My apologies.” The warrior abruptly released me and took a step back. Cold air rushed into the space his warm hands had just covered, and for an instant, I felt bereft at losing his touch.

As the