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Vegas shifted from foot to foot. “I trust you had a pleasant journey.”
Solan forced himself to remain calm. Endure the small talk; it was the correct thing to do. “It was adequate. My ship is reliable.”
She nodded. “It’s a great ship.”
Solan glanced at the craft. He was proud of his ship. He owned it outright. It had not been a gift from a grateful race, thankful for his protection. Solan had saved up and paid for it himself. “It is.”
Vegas adjusted the collar of her jumpsuit. “Your induction will begin tomorrow, once you and your troop have settled in.”
“I have booked a one-to-one session with the trainer to ensure this happens swiftly.”
Vegas’s eyebrows shot up. “Avril is sick.”
“Avril?”
“Oh, yes. I mean, she does the one-to-one sessions. She handles the training and inductions.”
The rush of pheromones shooting from Vegas made Solan’s nostrils flare. She smelt like the cinnamon wine they served on the outpost in the Capathian sector. Perhaps she tasted like it too.
“Who will undertake my induction?”
Color flared on Vegas’s cheeks again. “That will be me. I’m covering Avril’s training until she is recovered.”
Solan liked the idea of spending time with the enticing smelling Vegas. “That is agreeable. We can start immediately.”
“Or we can wait a few days. Avril will be back by then. She is our expert. We want to ensure you have the very best experience at My Single Alien.”
“I’m sure you’re competent.”
“A few days won’t do any harm,” Vegas said. “We have entertainment here. You and your troop can take time out to relax and get to know everything we do.”
“I’m only interested in breeding.” Solan saw uncertainty flash in Vegas’s eyes. It was a look he’d seen many times in an enemy’s eye just before he’d killed them.
“And maybe find love?” Heather smiled shyly at him. “We do more than offer you a fertile partner. We’ve had many successful pairings. We are celebrating our twentieth wedding next month.”
“Wedding?” Solan wondered if the translator was going wrong again.
Padam, Colonel Solan’s right-hand man, stepped forward. He had an insignia of three Hellitic birds on his right shoulder—the sign he was the top-ranking commanding officer. “Colonel, a wedding is a traditional ceremony on Earth. A public ceremony to show a pairs commitment to each other.”
“That’s right,” Heather said. “A couple joins together to show their love.”
Solan raised a hand. Padam instantly stepped back into line. “Love is not a concern of ours. Having healthy squib is. That is what we’re here for.”
“You don’t believe in love?” Vegas crossed her arms.
Solan admired the swell of her bosom as she did so. This female was tempting him. “It is not considered an important trait in a pair bonding.” From the tightening of her mouth, he could tell Vegas was displeased with this response.
He did not need to explain himself to her. He’d been waiting long enough. It was his time to have a fertile woman. He needed nothing else.
“I would like to complete my induction.”
“Very well. This way.” Vegas turned on her heel and strode away. “Heather will see your troop to their accommodation.”
“We need to complete a station threat audit,” Padam said.
Vegas slowed and turned back to Padam. “We have no threats here. Our own security team ensures that.”
“It’s procedure,” Solan said. “We mean no disrespect. You do not have Galaxars guarding the station.”
