Queen of Their Colony (Kindred Tales)

“Well, I’ve got an entire year of being pregnant in front of me,” Terra remarked. “But I’m kind of glad I’m not showing just yet—it would be awkward at the wedding.”

“Yes, well, nobody is going to be looking at the bride when you stroll in with three Monstrum warriors around you—that’s for sure,” Kat said, chuckling.

“I don’t want to steal Mindy’s thunder,” Terra protested. “I don’t wish her or Gregoryory ill—really I don’t.”

Which was absolutely true. If her ex hadn’t divorced her, she never would have found her way to V’rone and Tem and Rive. Already she loved her colony much more than she’d ever cared for Gregoryory—there was just no duplicating the soul bond she had with her Monstrum mates. In fact, it almost seemed like her ex-husband had been kind of a placeholder for her until she could meet her guys.

So Terra didn’t want to upset anyone—she was just going to attend the wedding because she’d promised to and then leave to begin her new life on the Monstrum Mother Ship. Well, after she finished out the school year. She still had another two weeks of teaching before summer break and then she was done with it forever. She was going to work with Iyanna doing scientific research and enjoy every minute of it.

“Well, I think you’re going to make quite a splash,” Kat said, smiling approvingly. “That dress really suits you and hugs your curves. Plus it’s way better than the flower gown for a wedding.”

“If you mean that it doesn’t show my panties, you’re right about that!” Terra said, laughing. She shook her head. “That poor flower gown—it really took a beating!”

“Don’t worry,” Iyanna said, smiling. “I’m nursing it back to health. It’s just too bad you lost the shoes that went with it.”

“Yes, I heard from Commander Sylvan that they got lost in a pretty bad place, too,” Kat said soberly. “Something about a giant eye called ‘The Watcher?’”

“Oh yes—it was horrible.” Terra bit her lip. She didn’t like to think about DY-12 too much—it made her nervous.

She and her guys had told Commander Sylvan and Chief Commander Rarev everything they knew about it as soon as they got back to the Monstrum Mother Ship. So at least now all the Kindred and Monstrum were on the alert. She didn’t think The Watcher could actually cross into their universe and invade Earth. That was impossible…wasn’t it?

I’m sure it is, she told herself firmly. So stop thinking about it, Terra—it’s time to concentrate on the wedding you’re about to attend with V’rone and Tem and Rive.

As though her thoughts of them had called them, she suddenly heard the colony’s voices in her head.

“Hey, little Terra—you almost ready?” V’rone’s mental voice was as growly as his regular one.

“The ship is all ready to go and we are waiting for you,” Rive informed her.

I believe the invitation says five o’clock—shouldn’t we hurry if we don’t want to be late?” Tem inquired.

“Okay, okay, I’m coming!” Terra murmured, also sending the thought through her mental link with her guys. “Geeze, you’d think it was our wedding we were going to be late to instead of my ex’s!”

“We want to see the male who gave you up and tell him what an idiot he is,” V’rone told her.

“No, V’rone—I told you—you can’t do that!” Terra exclaimed, still talking aloud as well as sending the thought through their link. “I mean it now—no calling Gregory an idiot to his face!”

Kat and Iyanna exchanged a look and started laughing.

“Well, I guess that means you’d better get going,” Iyanna said, patting Terra’s arm.

“You look fabulous, doll—go knock ‘em dead!” Kat added, grinning.

Terra flashed them both a smile.

“I will! Thank you for the dress and the new shoes.” She twirled once more, admiring the gorgeous, silky green fabric Kat had used. Then, with a little wave, she headed off for the Docking Bay where her three guys were waiting.

This was going to be a wedding to remember, she was certain.

EPILOGUE

The gossip mill was already grinding, long before Terra and her plus three entered the wedding. The wives of all the executives of Voton Tech, where her ex-husband worked, were speculating about how sad it was that her husband, Gregoryory, had dropped her for an intern.

“Of course, she was looking her age and she never even tried to slim down,” one of the middle-aged women murmured to another, as they sat in a pew and waited for the ceremony to begin. “I guess in a way you can’t blame him.”

“Karen, that’s so mean! I’d certainly blame John if he left me!” the woman beside her said. “I’ve served him notice that he needs to keep his hands to himself and he’s only allowed to have male interns from now on.”

“Yes, Lila, but my point is, Terra kept on teaching instead of staying home and taking care of herself!” Karen pointed out. “If she would have quit her job, she would have had so much more time to work out and keep in shape. Which she never did, you know. She was always plus-sized.”