***
Any hopes were dashed the moment they were through the door. The large room was a piece of heaven for Xenos. It had luscious vegetation, cascades and plenty of water for the present aliens to frolic around happily. And the human population was probably half whores from brothels because they were deliberately engaged in all sorts of sexual acts with the natives.
The bearers were just more dressed and left alone a little more. A Xeno with long beautiful hair, the color of platinum, eyed him from not so far. His smile was alluring, but it was giving Riordan the shivers. He looked away.
"What the fuck is this? The last time..."
"The last time, your master whisked you away and protected you," Tasha explained. "Let's just find a corner to sit quietly."
It did nothing for his nerves that they were no longer in plain sight, as they sat on a small stone ledge. The Xenos in the room were clearly using their empathic abilities, and, in Riordan's mind, it all sounded like a mashup of whispers, a beehive hum. He watched as one bearer was pushed by a Xeno in front of his friends and made to undress. The human was pushed on his fours and the Xeno who was probably his owner mounted him as the others cheered.
"That fucker, Xana. He didn't tell me about this," he murmured.
"I thought he liked you," Tasha said apologetically.
The redhead was about to say something else when a shadow fell over them.
"Xer, you shouldn't even be at this party," Tasha said sharply.
Riordan felt his teeth clenching as he looked at the intruder. Xer didn't seem, however, the same arrogant bastard from last time.
"I won't let you unsupervised at this kind of party. No matter what father says," he said stubbornly.
"Don't even think about getting close to me," Tasha hissed. "People will talk."
Xer came closer despite the warning. Riordan watched him carefully. The young Xeno seemed stressed out.
"Anyone who sees us together will think father let me in charge of you," Xer said and slithered his way behind them, in the water, only to emerge back and place his head on Tasha's shoulder.
There was warmth and tenderness irradiating from the young Xeno's being. Maybe that was what the prospect of being a parent did to these strange creatures. Xer seemed vulnerable, and protective at the same time as his arms circled Tasha's waist and rested atop his belly in a possessive gesture.
"Stop being all over me like this," Tasha protested. "People will..."
"Let them talk," Xer cut him short. "You are mine."
"Are you nuts? We even have an audience."
"He already knows." Xer shrugged, not even sparing Riordan a glance.
"How do you know that?" Tasha asked, alarmed.
"I didn't, but you just confirmed it."
A sly mofo, Riordan thought.
"Tasha is carrying my egg." Xer suddenly turned towards Riordan and looked at him with shiny eyes. "We are going to have the most beautiful Xenolite on the planet."
Riordan was lost for words.
Tasha slapped Xer upside the head.
"Are you going to yell it over the speakers?"
"No. But I had to tell someone." Xer turned his attention on Tasha. "Much better now."
"Riordan, can you leave us alone for a minute? I need to talk some sense into this boy," Tasha said. "Don't go too far. It will only take a second."
Riordan nodded and stood up. They really needed to talk stuff through, that was for sure.
***