Ax'Lok's Mate Read online

  Ax’Lok’s Mate

  A Starlight Matchmaking Romance

  ALIEN LEGENDS Book 1

  EDEN EMBER

  Cover by Miranda Martin & Eden Ember

  Image credit: Deposit Photos

  Edited by Perfectly Plotted Books

  Copyright 2020 Eden Ember

  All rights reserved.

  This work of fiction is intended for mature audiences only. All characters represented within are eighteen years of age or older and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental. This work is property of Eden Ember, please do not reproduce illegally.

  Chapter 1

  BRIEL

  “This is it!” My friends and I stumble to a halt in front of the Starlight Matchmaking Agency. My hand covers my mouth as we stand back gawking, as if the place will open its mouth and devour us.

  Ariana’s hand grips my arm. “I knew it existed. I told you that my cousin Samantha said she’d read about it.”

  “Legendary,” Anya says as she shakes her head.

  “Okay, who’s going in?” Gemma peers at us as if we are crazy.

  “I’d just like to know if it’s true. They claim a one hundred percent match every single time.” I admit that I want to be the first one. Of all of us, I’m the one who normally steps out before anyone else has the guts to do something. When we tried flash dating, I was the one who went inside for two hours, going on ten dates before it was all over. It was crazy. But this. Starlight Matchmaking. The Starlight Matchmaking we’ve only heard about in forums. Legendary.

  “Briel, go,” Bliss says as she gives me a gentle nudge.

  “No, wait! I’ve heard weird things about this place.” Ariana shakes her head.

  “Like?” I am losing patience.

  “Like, they aren’t from this world,” she replies.

  I laugh. “Oh, come on. I’m sure it’s advertised as an out of this world dating adventure. I mean sure, if I go in and meet my Mr. Right, I’d consider it written in the stars,” I say as I turn and begin heading toward the front door.

  Ariana grabs my arm again. “I don’t know that you should. Maybe call them first?”

  “Yeah, like they even advertise their address, let alone their contact number. Exclusivity is the name of the game. If you’re lucky enough to stumble upon the place, then it’s destiny. Come on, what could it hurt? I just want to see what it’s about. I’ll let you know what it was like when I get back,” I say as I bee-bop to the door. Before I disappear inside, I turn and smile at my four best friends. Gemma nods, encouraging me to take the step.

  A woman stands just as I walk through the door, her black hair spilling over her shoulders, her light blue eyes sparkling. Hell, if I swung in that tree, I’d be attracted to her.

  “Hello, welcome to Starlight Matchmaking Agency. I’m Charsha. Are you here to inquire about a potential mate?”

  Potential mate? “Um, I just want some information about what you do here,” I say as I choose my words carefully.

  “Come, have a seat,” Charsha replies with a smile.

  She sits down behind the desk, her skin flawless, her teeth perfect. In fact, I find nothing wrong with her. It’s as if she’s a doll, like the Shari Dolls. The very dolls parents dislike because they give their little girls body complexes.

  “Are you seeking a mate? And, what did you say your name is?”

  I smile. “I’m not sure. And, Briel.”

  “You are here now, so obviously you are looking for a mate. Admitting it is the first step to securing your destiny.” Charsha says as she winks an eye.

  “I have questions. I need more information.”

  The smile stays on Charsha’s face. “If you are so curious, why not go through the process and see for yourself?” she asks.

  “I’ve heard it’s out of this world. What exactly does that mean?”

  The smile remains plastered upon her face. “If you’re open to it, why not just give it a whirl? Once you’re in the booth, you will see.”

  “I just want some information before I sign up. Like, how much does it cost?”

  “It costs nothing. The gentleman pays for it. He’s the one seeking a mate,” she tells me.

  “Why are you referring to me as a mate?”

  “If you want to know more, let's get started,” she answers.

  “But, what if I don’t want to go through with it?”

  “Then you choose the NO button. It’s easy enough. If you like what you see on the screen, you choose YES. If you choose YES, you will meet him. I guarantee your life will change dramatically if you decide to move forward. If you decide to choose NO, we close the file and you leave. That’s all there is to it,” she promises.

  My head nods. I’m too curious not to look. I might as well, after all. What could it hurt?

  “Great, step in here.” She leads me to another room, a sterile room that reminds me of a doctor’s office. “A finger please.”

  “What? What are you going to do?”

  “Oh, we need just a drop of blood. It’s to make certain that you have no DNA discrepancies for your potential match. If you decide to accept the match and then procreate, you would want to have a healthy child. Just a drop. You can still choose NO once inside the booth,” she tells me.

  Booth? Blood? I thrust my finger toward her, so willing I am to check out this booth. Will I see him there? I wince at the prick, but as soon as I feel it, it’s over. A bright red bubble of blood appears on my fingertip, which she draws into a tiny tube.

  “I’ll be right back with your match,” she promises.

  Charsha is confident of finding the perfect match for me. How does this work? She didn’t even ask me the usual questions one would expect. Like what religion I am, and what political party I support. I mean, aren’t these things important to the other person? What about my favorite color and what I enjoy doing in my spare time? Granted, I’ve had a lot of spare time with the move to the city with my friends. We graduated from the university just two months ago and have since then taken odd jobs until we find something better in our chosen career fields. It’s a struggle. My English degree hasn’t come in handy so far. Maybe Mr. Right is wealthy and will take me on a world cruise so I won’t have to work?

  “Okay, step this way,” Charsha finally says to me.

  “Already? Wow, that was fast,” I say as I follow her toward the booth.

  “The blood has all the information we need. We’ve found your perfect match.” She holds out her hand as she waits for me to step inside the booth. It’s dark with the exception of the screen inside. I swallow hard, as if I’m about to time travel.

  “Um, okay, so can you tell me about him?”

  “It’s all on the screen. You answer the questions and it advances. You can choose no in the end, and I’ll escort you to the door. It’s really quite simple,” she explains. The smile remains on her face as she closes the black curtain.

  Alrighty then. I blow out a deep breath as I focus on the screen. Why are my hands shaking? I can always choose no and the screen only has one question on it.

  Are you open-minded to the possibility of meeting your perfect match even if he’s not from Earth?

  Yep. I clicked YES. I mean, come on, who wouldn’t? I could always click no, right?

  We found the perfect DNA match. He’s an Auruidian from Auruid, from the star system Arizz.

  WTF? Are they serious? Is there a star system called Arizz? I mean, are there aliens out there?

  Do you wish to continue?

  Hell yes.

  Meet Ax’Lok.

  Click.

  OMG! On the screen is a purple man! I mean, he looks like a human, except he’s purple. But he's buff, super hot, drop-dead sexy. Is this for real?

  Ax’Lok is shy about meeting you. He’s scarred from fighting for the Auruidian military. Loyal to his family most of all, he desires a mate. Auruid has a shortage of females and the males outnumber the females 4 to 1. He thinks human females are gorgeous and can’t wait to meet his potential mate. Are you interested?

  Um. Oh. My heart pounds within my chest. I have a thing for the underdog. He’s shy and scarred. Call me a weirdo, but I like that sort of person, er uh, alien. What? Am I entertaining this idea? I mean, is this real? Surely, Ax’Lok is a human made up to look like an alien. I’m game for some fun. Besides, purple or not, he’s smoking hot. Okay, so if I want out, this is a free society. They can’t hold me to it. It won’t hurt to find out more.

  Yes. Click.

  My heavy lids flutter open. It’s like I have cotton in my ears. Wait, what am I doing? Where am I? A slight buzzing emits from the walls. I’m on a cot. Wait. Didn’t I just click yes on the screen. Something about purple aliens. I feel as if I have taken a sleeping pill.

  “You’re awake, sleepy head. You’re a lightweight with the gas,” Charsha says. “You chose well.”

  I sit up. It's coming back to me. “I...I chose well? What?” My mind races.

  “You chose yes. That’s all it took. Remember, I told you that if you chose yes you would meet him. That’s what’s happening now. Your life is changing.”

  “Wait. I want to talk to my friends first,” I tell her. I sit up and try to move, but I’m dizzy, so I lie back down on the pillow again.

  “Just give it a few minutes. This is normal. It will pass soon,” she promises.

  “Where am I? Where are my friends?”

  “Oh, they’re on Earth. Don’t worry, I told them you were going to meet your mate. Ariana seemed a little upset, but
I assured her how excited you were about doing it.”

  “Ariana? She must be so… Wait! What? They are on Earth? Where am I?” I ask as my heart begins to race. This can’t be happening to me right now.

  “You’re on the Phantas. You chose to meet Ax’Lok, remember? You chose the YES on the screen,” she replies as if I’m completely nuts.

  “I know. I figured, you know, I could maybe meet him and then decide if I wanted to pursue a relationship with a comic book geek,” I explain.

  “Comic book geek? I’m not sure what that is. Listen, Briel, you’re on a spaceship. We’ve already left the solar system. We’re traveling to Ax’Lok’s system as we speak.”

  “You talk like there’s such a thing as aliens,” I nervously laugh.

  “Honey, we are real,” she replies.

  “What do you mean, we?”

  Her plastic smile returns. “I’m not human. I’m in costume. At least, that's how you might see it. I’m disguised as a human.” As if that were possible.

  “Come on.”

  “I have to prove it to you?”

  “Yes, if you’re an alien, prove it.”

  Before I can say anything more, she moves her hand along her face to her perfect hair and her human form fades away. A non-human being stands before me. I jump back, startled by what I see.

  “It’s okay, I’m a Glitra. We can shift, if you will, into other beings. I’ve spent a long time on Earth, learning your language and mannerisms,” she says.

  My head shakes. “This can’t be happening. You’re not real!” I reach out and touch the sparkling skin on the surface of her body. It feels like clear gel, and there’s substance to it, but nearly invisible in appearance. “Please, change back to your human appearance.” Tears form in my eyes.

  She moves her hand over her face again and soon the human form reappears. “Okay, I can understand why this would bother you a little. I’ll wear this look while we’re in flight.”

  “So, Ax’Lok is a purple alien?”

  Charsha laughs. “Yes, he’s Auruidian. Are you ready to meet him?”

  “He’s here? Like on this ship?”

  “Of course. The Phantas was in the area when you came in. They picked us up after you chose YES.” I take a quick breath as I think about how much my life has suddenly changed. True to her promise, things have moved unbelievably quickly away from what I knew just hours ago to where I am now. Knowing that Ax’Lok is on the ship not far from me causes my stomach to tighten a bit as I consider meeting him. Am I ready for this? What will he think? Why do I care? I almost laugh at myself as my mind struggles to understand better what has happened to me today.

  Chapter 2

  AX’LOK

  The frail human slept for a long time, while I paced the hall waiting for her to awaken. Ever since I paid for a bride with Starlight Matchmaking Agency, I kept my ship in the Terran System waiting. They promised it wouldn’t take long. It took three weeks, but I’m not complaining. Charsha told me to wait to meet her, though I peeked in while my human slept. Her petite frame rose and fell peacefully. I couldn’t wait to place my hand over her heart and find out if she is indeed my fated mate.

  “She’s awake and ready to meet you,” Charsha says as she leaves the room.

  I nod. My hand caresses the scar on my face, the one delivered by a Drasean Dragon in the battle of Fotrin’s Mountain. It wasn’t his fire that scarred me, but his large blunt claw. I had come in close enough to thrust my sword into his belly, causing him to lift and fly back, his claw coming out. Would Briel think me ugly with this scar?

  Inhaling deeply beforehand, I walk through the door. Her eyes peer at me, as she’s seeing me for the first time in the flesh. I smile and turn to her with my scar facing away.

  “No, don’t do that,” she whispers. Her voice! Like a sweet melody, the lovely Auruids singing in the festival. I smile.

  “Do what?”

  She flinches. “Oh my. Such a deep voice. Wow,” she breathes.

  I nod. I want to see if she’s the one. So far, I’m delighted. I need to place my hand over her heart. “Do you enjoy a deep voice?”

  “I do. And please show me your face.”

  My head lowers as I step toward her and face her completely. She smiles, her hand coming up and reaching for me. I bend forward as her hand dabs my cheek.

  “It doesn’t look like a scar.” Her sweet smile disappears. “You need to forgive me. I only just found out recently that aliens exist.”

  “What? You didn’t know?” No wonder she seems so apprehensive.

  “I didn’t! My friends and I stumbled upon Starlight Matchmaking. I guess I should have figured something was off when Charsha appeared like a doll, so perfect. And you. I thought you were visiting one of those comic book events dressed as an alien. Wow. Mind blown. And now, you’ve kidnapped me to boot?”

  “Hold on, Briel. We have done nothing you didn’t give us permission to do. I warned you by choosing YES that your life would change,” Charsha says as she steps back into the room.

  “Well, I’ve changed my mind. Take me back to Earth. I’m sure my friends are frantic with worry,” she demands.

  “No. We can’t do that. Not until you give it an honest chance. You agreed. You chose YES. I sent your friends home and they are just fine. They know you’re alright. That’s all that matters, right? Ax’Lok paid a dear price for this moment, and we aim to give him his money’s worth,” Charsha replies sternly.

  “He paid for it? He bought me?”

  “No, I bought matchmaking. It perfectly matched you and me together. I think you’ll see in due time,” I tell her.

  “You, stay out of this. Purple hot alien or not, I want to go back home now!” She slams her hand onto her lap.

  “Listen, you need to give Ax’Lok a chance.”

  “No, you listen. Take me back to Earth. Hey, I’ll date the purple man, but on my own turf,” she adds.

  “I don’t think the people on Earth are ready for that,” I reply.

  “You think?” She turns her green eyes toward me. My heart pounds hard within my chest. I want to take her into my arms and see for myself. From here, I feel the pull so strongly. I step close to her, but her eyes widen as Briel backs away from me. Perhaps she fears me still.

  “I will not harm you. Nor did I kidnap or buy you. All I want is for you to give us a chance just to see if we are truly meant for each other. If it turns out that you’re not my mate, I’ll escort you back to Earth myself,” I promise.

  “I didn’t choose to be kidnapped. I thought, you know, swipe yes, and I’d have like a blind date or something. I chose yes because I was curious. Yeah, you’re a hot purple alien, but I would prefer to see you on common ground. The next thing I know, I’m waking up on a spaceship and I am told that we’ve already left my solar system. Really?”

  “You could have just as easily chosen no,” Charsha admonished.

  “But I wanted to meet him and to find out more. You really didn’t give me much information to go on to make a choice. I mean, you could have told me that if I chose yes I’d be careening through space shortly afterward. You conveniently left out that part,” she complains.

  “Oh, but I didn’t. I specifically told you if you chose YES your life would change.” Charsha answers.

  “Anyway, just take me back home and I will think about it, on Earth.”

  I nod at Charsha to leave. “Briel, please understand, we can’t turn the Phantas around. I need fuel cells fitted for this ship. I have just enough to get back to the Ariss System, the only place that manufactures the special fuel cells that this ship requires.”

  “Seriously? You travel across the galaxy and you can’t find fuel except in your own system?” her voice shrieks.

  “You agreed to this,” I say. Starlight had assured me that they wouldn’t capture someone against their will.

  “I agreed to meet you, not to wake up on a spaceship flying through the galaxy,” she replies.

  “I’m sorry. Maybe there’s a miscommunication with the way Charsha said your life would change if you clicked the YES button.” I hate how belligerent she is.

  “I’d say so. Starlight Matchmaking needs to adjust their description. On Earth, change your life means it’s a great opportunity. One you don’t want to miss,” she informs me.

  I smile. “That sounds good, no?”