Taken Read Free Page B

mused silently. At that moment, he would have loved to have mated Silver to someone just like her. A whip across his ass would have done wonders for the other man's disposition.
    “Problems?” a cool male voice asked, as Zander made his presence known. He stood across the room, but his voice carried to him easily. Kosmas watched him approach, studying his face intently. The other man looked the same, but there was an edge to him that he hadn't had in the past. He seemed leaner and older than he had when he left Golden Harbor. Whatever was bothering Zander had left a major chip on his shoulder.
    Kosmas chose to ignore his question. “I wasn't expecting you to arrive until tomorrow night.” It was a bland, simple statement. Although they'd parted peacefully, things weren't easy and comfortable between the two men, and they wouldn't be until Zander was mated. Keely was his, but it was difficult for Kosmas, knowing that she'd once taken the other male into her bed. As territorial as he was, the thought of it made him crazy. He hated that another man knew what she looked like when she came, that another man had experienced the bliss that could be found between her sweet thighs. A muscle ticked in his jaw. He was two seconds away from decking Zander's smug ass, and the idiot didn't even realize the danger he was in.
    Several guards walked out of the space plane, their arms full of plants. Zander stopped beside him, arching an eyebrow as the men passed them by. “I decided to leave Diabolos early. It's not as if I will be missed. They haven't exactly been welcoming.” He stopped as even more bundles were brought out, taking a step back to give the guards more room. “What the hell is this?” he asked, his voice still cool but with an undertone of amusement that hadn't been there before. “It looks like a damn nursery in here.”
    “It's called Christmas,” Kosmas retorted, unwilling to explain the plants. He wasn't about to share his romantic intentions toward his mate. “It's Keely's favorite holiday, and she wants to introduce it to us. So that's what all this is for.”
    Zander looked skeptical. “Well, it seems like an awful lot of trouble, especially if you're having to bring in supplies from Earth. What exactly are we supposed to do to celebrate this human holiday?”
    “Nothing,” Kosmas replied, with a shrug. “We don't do anything except have a good time and exchange presents with our friends and family members. On Earth, they celebrate with a dinner. Here on Legionnaire, we'll do the same, though our meals will be a bit different. We'll have a blood fountain and a table set up for the mortals amongst us, so they can eat, too. We'll also have music and dancing.”
    Kosmas marked off the mistletoe on his list. “I don't fully understand this holiday, but I'm willing to try. In Keely's eyes, it's a big deal. That's all that matters to me.”
    Zander looked uncomfortable, as if he didn't like the direction the conversation was taking. “Have the concubines arrived?” he asked, his eyes slowly scanning the large area around them. “Or were they already taken in?”
    “Why? Are you interested in finding a mate?” Kosmas hid his smile, his voice dry. He knew a mate was the last thing that the other man wanted. His amusement fled, though, when one of the guards stepped out with a snowman, wrestling with it as he struggled to keep his arms around its wide girth. It didn't look heavy, but it looked very awkward to carry. A power cord trailed on the ground, the guard stepping on it an instant before he nearly tripped. Zander chortled next to him, as Kosmas looked down at his clipboard with a frown. Where the hell had that monstrosity come from? He sure hadn't put it on the list. Finally, he just shrugged it off. The more, the merrier, or so they said.
    After watching the guard walk away, Zander sneered as he answered his question. “Hell, no. The last thing I want is a mate. I was just curious after seeing all