Free 3013: GENESIS (3013: The Series Book 11) by Laurie Roma Page B

curious to know more about
Maddox, Daimon and Tavius’ cousin.
    Kahla
shook her head. “My older sister, Zorah, and her mates, Faust and Nyle Bomar,
run Sanctum, even though I’m considered a full partner. Our parents were killed
a few years after New Vega launched. It happened when a group of rogue Krytos
tried to take over the vessel. That’s why my cousins are so paranoid about safety
measures now.”
    “The
security here is impressive,” Reva said before drinking some of her wine.
    Pia
shot her a look. “You still think that even though you were kidnapped with
Serra and Skylar?”
    Reva
shrugged. “People are assholes. It was greed and corruption that caused the
breach in security here on New Vega…not the actual protocols that are in
place.”   
    “Things
have drastically changed over the years. Maddox, Daimon and Tavius continuously
do upgrades on the systems here to try to ensure everyone’s safety” Kahla told
them. “I think it was difficult for my brothers to stay here after our parents
died, even though they love New Vega.”
    “I’m
impressed by what I’ve seen so far,” Pia said.
    “I
love it here, too, but I wish I had more freedom,” Kahla added with a sigh. “It’s
hard to have any fun when the males of my family are constantly threatening to
break the faces of any males I get close to. I still manage to do whatever I want,
but I hate having to sit through lectures afterward.”
    Mya
couldn’t help but laugh. “I know the feeling. Meeting men isn’t something I
really had a chance to do back on Earth.” She sighed wistfully as she picked up
her glass. “Sometimes I envy the D’Aire and Dragon Warriors for having fate
choose their mates for them.”
    Reva
snorted. “Fuck that. I wouldn’t want anyone to determine my destiny but me. Can
you imagine if fate stuck you with someone you couldn’t stand?”
    “I
don’t think that’s how it works, but I agree with you,” Kahla said with a laugh.
    Pia
frowned. “I thought you guys could sense your mates or something.”
    “The
Helios don’t have mates. We use our instincts to pick our companions. We rely
on our sense of smell, physical attraction, and personal preferences. If we
feel strongly about our companions, we can choose to life-lock with them. But ultimately,
the choice is still ours, just like it is for humans,” Reva explained.
    “Same
with the Krytos,” Kahla added. “Some of my race may mate to form alliances,
some for political or financial gain, but most of us look for love. If our
emotions are involved, we are fiercely protective and possessive of our mates,
and that bond only grows stronger over time. But I’m not ready for all that
yet. I can have sex with a male without having to mate him.”
    Mya
studiously avoided Pia’s gaze as she asked, “So, are Maddox, Daimon and Tavius’
parents still alive?”
    Kahla’s
expression turned sad. “No. My uncles Dalcor and Kagan and my aunt Brita were
killed the same time my parents were.” She sipped some of the sweet wine before
she said, “I really wish my cousins would mate someone soon, even though they
say they aren’t ready yet. Maybe then they would stop worrying about me so damn
much.” She paused to look over at Reva. “I received another lecture today.”
    Reva
winced in sympathy. “About what?”
    Kahla
filled Reva in about what had transpired earlier that day. As she did, she
considered how similar her own situation was to Mya Spartan’s. Kahla never
would have thought she’d have anything in common with a human elite, but Mya
had escaped the confines of her powerful family the same way Kahla planned to
one day soon.
    As
she finished explaining what Maddox had said to her during his lecture, Kahla
noticed that Mya looked down at the table and blushed every time she mentioned
her cousin’s name.
    That
was an interesting development.
    She
thought back to Maddox’s reaction at seeing Mya on the security monitors while
he’d been giving her hell