Thade: Vaxxlian Alien Mail Order Brides (Intergalactic Dating Agency), #3

By Sue Mercury and Sue Lyndon

That awkward moment when the hunky alien you just met proposes marriage...

Alien warrior and single father Thade needs a human bride. He travels to Earth, hoping he'll be matched with a sweet human who will help him raise his four energetic children. When the first human matched to him backs out of their mating contract, he's forced to seek out a bride on his own. But the moment he meets Alana, the golden-haired beauty who's supposed to watch his offspring while he goes out on the dating scene, he realizes his search need not go any further. She's the only human for him--even if she doesn't agree yet. One way or another, he's taking her back to New Vaxx with him.

Alana is shocked when she shows up at her newest babysitting gig to find out she's supposed to watch four alien children--three of whom are taller than her. She's stunned speechless when their hunky father proposes marriage to her within minutes of her walking through the door. Thade seems like a nice alien and a loving father, however, she has her whole life planned out on Earth. But as she gets to know him better, she cannot imagine watching him leave her planet with another woman as his bride. Could she really find happiness on a faraway world?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sue Lyndon
• Release date: Jan 8, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393253235

Book preview

Chapter 1

Thade gazed at the towering buildings that dominated the New York City skyline. The air transport made a slow descent to a landing pad situated near a wooded area that was surrounded by more tall structures. His daughter, Yulna, who was nestled in his arms, sighed in her sleep and he hugged her tighter. His three sons, twins Krezz and Flatt, and the oldest, Xerrn, stopped bouncing around in their seats long enough to peer out the windows of the transport, their gazes lit with interest.

Finally, he thought, with a building sense of relief. They had finally arrived on Earth after a long journey through the stars that had left both him and his offspring feeling restless in the confines of their quarters aboard the Hostanna, the large interstellar ship that had brought them safely to this alien planet.

Five hundred Vaxxlian warriors, Thade included, had traveled to Earth to collect their new mates, human females to whom they had already been matched courtesy of a new mail order bride program. After the Hostanna had landed at a military base in a place called Ohio, the Vaxxlian warriors had boarded smaller air transports that would bring them closer to where their respective mates lived. Thade stared at the skyline, hoping to quickly locate his bride, a female named Andrea, and bring her back to the safety of the Hostanna. He had no wish to linger in this strange city.

Why is there a layer of smoke hovering over the buildings? Xerrn asked.

It’s smog, Thade explained. Pollution.

Is that why your new mate signed up for Vaxxlian Alien Mail Order Brides? Krezz asked. To escape the smog?

I have not yet met the female, Thade replied, so I cannot say for certain.

What’s her name again? Flatt asked.

"Her name is Andrea. The mail order bride program only revealed her name and location to me shortly before the Hostanna arrived on Earth. He shot each of his sons a sharp look. I expect the three of you to remain on your best behavior while in this city. You are not permitted to run off and go exploring but must stay with me at all times. This is an alien world and from what I’ve heard about Earth, many areas are unsafe."

Xerrn puffed out his chest. I am not afraid of any danger, Father. I will protect my brothers as we explore the alien city.

Thade eyed his oldest son, a young male of eight years. He was taller than most of the human soldiers stationed at the military base where the Hostanna had landed but a short while ago. He’d also recently begun warrior training and Thade was both proud of and impressed by the boy’s fighting skills. However, the fact remained that Earth was a foreign place and there was no telling what unknown dangers might be lurking around unfamiliar corners. He had no wish for his children to run about unsupervised on this reputedly treacherous alien planet.

I appreciate your determination, Thade said, choosing his words carefully, so as not to offend his oldest son, "however, I wish for you and your brothers to stay by my side until we return to the Hostanna with my new mate. I’m counting on you and your brothers to help me protect Yulna and Andrea. An honorable Vaxxlian male always ensures the females in his family remain protected."

I understand, Father, Xerrn replied. I will help you protect the females in our family. He sat taller in his seat and glanced around with a suspicious gleam in his gaze, as if expecting danger to fall upon them at any moment.

Thade repressed a smile as he looked upon the boy. His mother—Thade’s late mate, Prista—would be proud of the young man Xerrn was growing into. A sense of peace settled over Thade, if only briefly, for he believed Prista was watching over them from the afterlife. In fact, he had thought he’d seen her figure in the early morning mist on New Vaxx, the planet the Vaxxlians had recently settled, though he hadn’t mentioned it to his children, fearing he might upset them.

The boys had all remained stoic in the aftermath of the destruction of Vaxxlia, their home planet, though he knew they still grieved the loss of their mother. Yulna, however, had been inconsolable for many moon cycles after Prista’s death, and sadness fell over him as he recalled her heartfelt cries as she called out for her mother, not quite old enough at the time to understand the meaning of death.

He sent up a silent prayer to the Star God, asking for his offspring to be blessed with an honorable female who would care for them as if they were of her own blood. He hoped the female to whom he’d already been matched possessed a patient and loving heart. He cared more about how the female would treat his offspring than how she would treat him, though he also found himself hoping her heart would eventually soften to him, despite the fact that they would begin their union as complete strangers.

The transport finally touched down upon the landing pad with a gentle thud and the ten warriors seated near the ship’s exit rose to their feet. Thade and his offspring, who were huddled in the back row on a bench seat, remained where they were until the other Vaxxlian males disembarked the vessel. Finally, once there was more room to move around, Thade stood with Yulna still in his arms, sound asleep. He nodded at his sons and the boys headed for the exit ramp. Once the five of them stepped outside, the boys all wrinkled their noses.

"Father, New York City smells like a huxxina beast’s excrement," Flatt observed.

Krezz broke into bawdy laughter, and Thade noticed the corners of Xerrn’s mouth twitching, though his eldest son didn’t make a sound, as if he were attempting to behave in an adult manner.

Stay close, my sons, Thade said with a wary glance around. He wished he had his trusted blaster attached to his hip, but the humans had forbidden the Vaxxlian warriors from arming themselves.

Where does Andrea live? Xerrn asked as they followed the other warriors toward a line of waiting solar taxis.

An apartment in a place called Tribeca, Thade replied with a glance at his wrist comm, which contained information the mail order bride program had provided him with regarding Andrea—her name, age, address, and personal interests. The solar taxi driver will take us to her home.

A short while later, they found themselves crammed into the back of a taxi on a busy city street. The vehicle moved slowly, stopping frequently with the stilted flow of traffic. Just when Thade was ready to suggest they abandon the solar taxi in favor of walking to Andrea’s apartment building, the driver pulled to the side of the road and announced their arrival.

Thade transmitted the requested amount of galactic credits to the driver and stepped out of the taxi, his sons shuffling close behind him. Finally, Yulna roused in his arms and blinked sleepily up at him. He smiled down at his daughter, his heart warming at the sight of her light green eyes that were so much like her mother’s. But her eyes soon fluttered shut and she snuggled back against him, apparently not yet ready to wake up.

Please let this work, he thought, with a glance at the building. His daughter needed a mother, and while his sons tried to pretend they were strong and could take care of themselves, he knew they would benefit from the attention of a maternal figure.

As Thade approached Andrea’s apartment building with his children, two human males exited the structure through a narrow glass door. He grabbed ahold of the door before it could slam shut. He stood back as his sons entered and followed them inside soon after. The building gave him an odd feeling, but he put the strangeness down to nerves.

She lives on the second floor, Thade said with a nod toward the staircase. The number twenty-five should be displayed on her door. Though he couldn’t read all numbers in English, he had memorized this particular number and had showed it to his sons.

I’ll find it! Krezz said excitedly, rushing up the steps before Thade could stop him.

Not if I find it first!