Page 130 of Galaxy Circus Act One

“Are they okay?” Xavier asks, his concern for my friends completely endearing. I sigh. He’s so wonderful.

“They seem to have had a car accident, and the female is injured, but not badly. I instructed Crimson to seal the wound,” the voice on the screen shares, and it’s too much for me. I need to know if my bestie is okay.

“Who are you and what have you done with my best friend?” I demand, and the infuriating being shrugs nonchalantly.

“Nothing… yet!”

I can feel my hands tighten into fists as the desire to bitch slap this arrogant prick into the next galaxy plays on my mind.

“Fuck!” Xavier shouts, and I’m suddenly frozen along with everything and everyone else in the room.

This can’t be happening right now. How dare he silence me? I swear when I get my hands on that warlock, he’s going to wish he never met me. It’s my bestie who is in trouble, not some random walking on the street. I watch in silence as I try desperately to break through the spell.

Xavier is breathing heavily from wrestling with Saxon, and he shoves a hand through his disheveled hair.

“Well, cousin, you look to be having fun.” The being smirks with a smile that makes me want to smack him. “Who’s the chick? Have you fucked her? She looks like she could be feisty in bed,” he asks, and I turn my ire from my warlock to the now walking dead man I can no longer see.

The guy has a set of brass fucking balls, that’s for sure, especially since he’s mocking my relationship with Xavier. He better run if we ever come face-to-face, because he’s racking up a list of offenses right now, and my protective instincts are on high alert. Our encounter will end badly for him.

“Do not talk about my intimate like she is a piece of meat,” Xavier bellows, and I feel the room shudder from the power in his words. I’m slightly mollified by his statement, and if I could smirk, I would. I bet warlock dude is crapping his pants at the moment.

“Your intimate is a human? How the fuck did that happen? She won’t be able to sustain you, Xavier. You must be wrong.” The voice is incredulous, and I start having murderous thoughts again. I wonder if I can program the transporter to deposit Htaed in his bedroom and have him crap in his sheets… or better yet, eat him.

If I have my say, I’d vote for option two. Problem solved.

I listen to the rest of the conversation as they discuss Mark and Susie, practically foaming at the mouth to be involved. Finally, Xavier does the right thing and unfreezes me, and I immediately scowl at him.

“Let me make sure I understand what just happened, Xavier. Did you cut me off mid-rant? When I was trying to ask what had happened to them?” I demand, crossing my arms while tapping my foot on the floor, waiting for his response. Xavier, to his credit, winces and starts to murmur lame excuses.

“Dude, did you give her your balls?” the asshat on screen jokes, and I whirl, turning my wrath on him. Seeing him flinch is magical, and Xavier steps up next to me, wrapping an arm around my shoulders, trying to give me comfort, but it’s a little too late, I’m fired up.

“Lila, honey, this is my cousin, Xane. He resides at the ‘bed-and-breakfast’ Susie was telling you about, the Pleasure Inn.” Hedoes bed-and-breakfast in finger quotes, and I narrow my eyes on him.

“Not a B and B?” I ask, and he shakes his head, looking a bit sheepish.

“No, it’s an alien brothel. A lot of the aliens that use Earth as a holiday destination are not compatible with humans. Aura, the brothel’s master, keeps a stable of alien sex workers and bots to cater to any need or kink.”

Mind fucking blown. An alien brothel. Now I would like to be a fly on the wall in that place. Purely for research purposes of course. I mean, I’m not that kinky…

I look between the two warlocks and instantly know the perfect way to wind the asshat up. “And your cousin is one of these workers?” I ask, making direct eye contact with Xane. I know his reaction will be priceless.

The asshat bares his teeth at me, and I feel a jolt of smug satisfaction. Hurts, doesn’t it, to have assumptions being made about you without knowing all of the facts? “Certainly not,” Xane sneers at me, not liking that the tables have turned.

Xavier sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose because he has to deal with two unruly toddlers. “Xane is one of the master’s… partners, for lack of a better word.”

“How shocking, a warlock prince and master,” I sneer, not ready to let bygones be bygones just yet, and Xavier shakes his head.

“It’s not like that. Unlike Earth, where a master or madam is considered taboo, the title is a revered and coveted spot in the galaxy. Aura, the master, is a very powerful person. Sex pays, and it pays well. Look at what everyone has told you about Link and Pleasure Bot Industries.”

“Oh, how is the gorgeous doctor? Hmm, now that is a tasty morsel.” I see red at the suggestive words coming out of the warlock’s mouth, and I can’t control the change. I don’t evenwant to. My beast pushes to the surface and forces a half shift, my tentacles flying. I’m growling and baring my teeth, trying to get at the figure on the holoscreen.

Xavier scowls at his cousin before pulling me into his arms and cooing sweet, reassuring words that have a mollifying effect on my beast. She settles down, and I allow Xavier to rain little kisses over my face between the whispered words of assurance.

“Holy shit, what is she?” Xane asks, pointing at a tentacle. “That’s… That’s not a Skarrian thing.”

Xavier huffs in annoyance while rolling his eyes. “You know Skarrians are polyamorous. One of her mates is a kraken shifter, and she’s also courting the doc, so maybe keep your goddamn opinions to yourself.”

“My apologies, Lila, that was rude of me.” Xane bows slightly, seeming genuine in his apology, and I can finally shift back to normal. My bottom half is naked, having shredded my clothes in my spontaneous shift, so Xavier waves a hand to clothe me again.