Lucy, Transport Station 345, Prillon Prime

      “What happens on Prillon Prime—”

      The sizzle and hair-raising hum of transport cut off Rachel’s words. One second we were on The Colony, looking down from the raised platform at CJ and Rezzer, each holding one of their twins; the next I’m looking at some seriously burly Prillons manning the controls on Prillon Prime.

      “—stays on Prillon Prime,” Rachel finished as if we hadn’t just traveled like people on Star Trek or the wizards in Harry Potter, minus the flushing toilet.

      “Mate, what are you suggesting?” Maxim said, taking Rachel’s hand and leading her down the steps. His second, Ryston, followed closely behind. Rachel, meanwhile, held their sleepy son in her arms. He was half Prillon and big for his age. Rachel’s biceps were working overtime, but she shook her head when Ryston reached for the boy.

      Cute.

      Rachel leaned around Ryston and glanced at me. Gave me a wink to go along with her grin.

      “I saw that,” Kiel stated plainly. He stilled his own mate with a hand upon her shoulder.

      Lindsey looked up at her Everian hottie. “What?”

      “What?” he repeated. “Whenever you all get together, I get scared.”

      Lindsey laughed. “You, scared?”

      I bit my cheek because the three big aliens were staring my way. I was the unmated one of this group, pretty much the fifth—make that sixth—wheel for the entire party.

      The Everian Hunter leaned down and kissed the top of his mate’s head.

      Meanwhile Rachel pressed her lips to Max’s dark hair. The little boy slept in his mother’s arms. Pushing two, he was too little to stay behind like the older boy, Lindsey’s and Kiel’s son, Wyatt, so Max was joining a few other little ones at the party. It worked out well because Wyatt was best buddies with Tanner and Emma, who