The Breeding Prize - Aya Morningstar Page 0,43

try to hunt you something with a high fat content, if that is what you desire."

"It's an expression," Kula says. He's lounging down on the grass, his head resting on a bundle of leaves. He yawns lazily.

"It just means you're providing for me," Annabelle says, holding tight to my hand. "Be careful though. Please."

"Kula," I shout. "Get up. You need to stand watch. No lazing about."

Kula sighs and stands up. "I'll keep her safe. Don't you worry, brother."

Seventeen

Annabelle

Raiska leaves, and I feel nervous without him. I know that Kula will do everything he can to keep me safe, but I know he won't go as far as Raiska would. Still, Kula sits next to me and makes conversation with me. He understands human culture, and human females, a lot better than Raiska does. He's been among us longer, and being married to Ellie has probably given him a lot more experience at dealing with the needs of human women.

In this case, he can sense my unease, and he is trying to keep my mind off of the situation by making smalltalk with me.

"What's your favorite dish on Earth?"

"Um, probably grilled cheese."

"Grilled cheese?" He raises an eyebrow at me.

"I know it's not sophisticated or anything, but it's something I grew up eating. Whenever I was hungry growing up and my parents weren't around, it was something I could make easily and quickly. I used to make it with just crappy white bread and pre-sliced cheese product, but as I got older I tried to elevate it."

Kula perks up at that. "Yes. I watched a lot of cooking shows on Earth. They like to elevate and deconstruct. This inspired my cooking in the restaurant as well."

"I found this white bread recipe translated from Japanese. I don't know how well you know different Earth cultures, but Japanese people are really into good, homemade white bread. I got the recipe down perfect, and I make two loaves at night, freeze one, and eat the other the next day. I use good aged cheddar cheese, and I put the sandwich onto the pan with tomato slices and basil in it. It tastes so good."

I hear Kula's stomach audibly rumble, and he laughs. "Lakria has amazing ingredients, but we are lacking an herb similar to basil. If the council ever establishes contact with Earth, I will prioritize getting a fresh supply of basil at my restaurant, and I will try to make this elevated grilled cheese available for you. As a comfort food."

"That would be nice." I force a smile, because from the way he's speaking to me, it implies that I might have to stay on Lakria forever. It wouldn't be the worst thing in the world, but it would mean that I couldn't see my friends or family again. Possibly forever. Kula, Ellie, and Raiska could become a new kind of family for me—and their kids—and the kids that Raiska and I would have. It would be a strange thing, considering how quickly I had to leave my homeworld.

"The council was truly considering making contact, human," Kula says. "If that happens, you could travel freely back to Earth. The Ulkar have ascended and are no longer a threat..."

He trails off there as I bite my lip and try to hold back tears.

"Sorry," he says. "They are no longer mounting active invasions of entire worlds, as they did when they exterminated the mother race of Raiska and me, but they are not exactly leaving humanoid and three-dimensional species completely alone. The Breeding Games..."

"Do you think we will be able to get away?" I ask.

Kula looks over his shoulder, as if he's expecting to see Philos walking up to us right now. "I think our best hope is to get to a more favorable place to defend, and to stay alert. Forgive me for speaking so bluntly, Annabelle, but you and Raiska should also pick up where you left off in the hotel room that night where I jokingly cockblocked him. Just give me the word, and I will find an excuse to go somewhere far away where I cannot hear your screams and moans, and—"

"Too much detail, Kula."

"Apologies. Still, the cleanest solution is for Raiska to get you pregnant. This will end the Breeding Games."

"Raiska said there is something wrong with him. He's cursed or something."

"I will talk to him. I was able to get Ellie pregnant even with no bond. His cock is functional, is it not?"

I blush and look down, not wanting to