Glow Sticks

By Mia Harlan and Sapphire Winters

Welcome to the Garrnex Mating Games, where the galaxy's fiercest warriors battle to claim their prize. Today, it happens to be me.

 

Tired of my dead-end-job and crap social life, I take the first opportunity I can to ditch Earth. I'm sure it's the best decision of my life—until I'm stripped naked and dumped at the Garrnex Mating Games.

 

The brutal alien warriors in the arena fight to claim me, but only the triad of hulking Namoxi warriors remain standing.

 

Blue skin. Glowing Hair. Iridescent tattoos.

 

These three alien brothers are different from anyone I've ever known. Now that they've won their prize, they're ready to claim it, and they expect me to surrender, body and soul.

 

Glow Sticks was originally published in the Alien Embrace anthology and comes with three delicious alien mates and a happily ever after. Do not read while drinking hot beverages. Don't worry, it has all the steam you need.

 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mia Harlan
• Release date: Jan 8, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201355869

Book preview

Chapter

One

CHAPTER 1

"A re you sure you’re not making a mistake, Kira?" my soon-to-be-ex-boss, Sally, asks.

The criticism veiled as a question is actually a huge improvement over her usual yelling.

Kira, get that report on my desk by noon!

Kira, you’re late!

Kira, do you even want to work here?

To be fair, I don’t want to work here. Or anywhere, really. Which is why today’s my last day.

"I’m definitely not making a mistake," I tell Sally as I sip on the mango dragon fruit lemonade refresher I picked up on the way to work. It’s one of the only good things about having a nine to five. Well, that and lunch.

But don’t you think it’s a bit… Sally waves her best boss mug in the air with one manicured hand as she tries to come up with the right word.

I can think of a few words I might use to describe the Garrnex Mating Games.

Exciting.

Thrilling.

Hot.

Barbaric, Sally finishes.

Actually— I start to defend my life choices, but Sally cuts me off.

"You’re going to have aliens fight to claim you so they can breed you. How is that not barbaric?"

Well, actually— I try again.

Here’s the thing, Kira— Sally, being Sally, as usual. Knowing her, I’m in for a very long lecture. But if that means I don’t have to do any actual work, I’m game.

Yes? I ask as I settle more comfortably in the break room chair. It’s just the two of us in the office today—Tara’s off sick and Piper’s with a client—so this seems like a decent enough way to pass the time.

Well, for one thing, you won’t get to choose which alien you end up with. She shrugs her pale shoulders.

Or aliens, I add helpfully. A solo warrior is unlikely to defeat a group, so it’ll be at least two. Probably more than three.

That’s exactly my point. Sally sighs. You don’t even know how many, let alone who. What if you end up with the Lineya? At my blank look, she adds, You know, the ones with the giant feathers and those spikes sticking out of their bellies? I read that they spear the female’s back to keep her in place while they mate her from behind.

I bet the feathers provide cushioning, so it doesn’t even hurt, I say, kind of wishing I’d read about them too.

You don’t have feathers. Sally throws her hands in the air. And then there are those jellyfish blobs!

Bixers, I fill in, because everyone knows about Bixers. They’re one of the most unusual sentient species, and the most popular on social media. Did you know that calling them fish blobs is actually offensive?

Sally looks taken aback for a second. I’m not sure if it’s because she said something offensive, or because I called her out on it. Usually, I sit quietly at my desk, eyes glazed, so it’s a shock, even for me.

I’m sorry, Sally says, and I wonder if this is the first time in her life she’s had to apologize for something. It’s definitely the first since I started working for her three years ago. Kira, I’m still struggling to wrap my mind around the fact that we’re not alone. I understand wanting to see the galaxy, but isn’t there a better way? Like an intergalactic vacation with a sanctioned guide? Now that the treaty is signed, it’s perfectly safe.

I don’t just want to go on vacation, I tell her. Never mind that I can’t afford to go to Hawaii, let alone on an intergalactic trip that would cost tens of thousands. I don’t have my boss’s salary.

Just think about it, Kira! What if you end up mated to a Lineya or Bixers?

Well, for one thing, we’re not biologically compatible, I tell her. I doubt they’d want me.

But you’re perfectly fine letting ‘biologically compatible’ creatures fight over you? What if they’re old, or cruel, or unattractive?

I shrug. I’m not sure what there is left to say. My mind’s already made up.

Sure, Sally’s right. I could end up with mates I absolutely despise. But it’s a risk I’m willing to take. Especially when the alternative is death.

Okay, I guess that’s a little melodramatic. It’s not like I’m dying.