The Alien's Equal (Drixonian Warrior #7) - Ella Maven Page 0,14

them like that again, I’ll see you suffer for it, do you understand me?” His machets lifted for just a moment. Bosa’s gaze dropped to them, and his jaw clenched before he gave a tight nod. “Understood.”

“As for you, Justine,” he sighed heavily. “No.”

I jerked at the word. “What? What do you mean no?”

“It means you will absolutely not be entering Alazar with Nero to dismantle the Uldani’s electronic infrastructure,” Daz said with a long-suffering sigh. “What else would it mean?”

“I figured we’d have a discussion.” I crossed my arms over my chest, trying to be brave as everyone continued to stare at me. “I have skills. Machines and technology make sense to me. Give me a few days and I’ll learn what needs to be done.”

Daz looked like he was going to speak again, so I rushed to continue talking. “What do you have to lose? I heard Nero say he’d go alone if necessary. If I haven’t learned what I need to in time, then he goes himself. But if I have…” I shrugged. “Then I go too.”

Daz’s jaw clenched. “We cannot risk losing you.”

“You can’t risk losing Nero either, but you’re sending him into the lion’s den.”

Daz cocked his head with a confused frown.

I growled in frustration. “A salibri’s burrow. Where her cubs are. How does that analogy work?”

“It works well,” Nero murmured.

I decided to plead my case with him. “What do you think? Can you teach me?”

“Nero—” Daz began.

“I can teach you.” Nero ignored his drexel, which I knew was treading a thin line of disobedience. “But I decide whether you’re ready. If I don’t think you know enough, then you don’t go.”

That was a slippery slope. I felt a little like he was appeasing me when he intended to say no at the end of our time no matter what. But I’d have to deal with that when the time came. “Okay.”

“What?” Daz sputtered as he whirled on Nero. “No. I said no.”

“Please, Daz.” I let a little bit of desperation bleed into my voice. “You have to understand this is my life too. My fate depends on the outcome of this war. I can’t sit here within these walls while you do all the work. I want to be in control of my destiny. It’s only fair.” I swallowed. “I’m not mated. I’m not pregnant. And I don’t intend to be. If something happens to me, then it’s no loss.” I ignored a rumbling growl coming from Nero.

Daz leaned forward and clasped his hands together on the table in front of him. He spoke in an even, measured tone. “You mean to tell me that Fra-kee and the other women will be okay with you going on this dangerous mission?”

“It’s not up to them,” I whispered, fighting back the wave of emotion at never seeing them again. “But I’ll be fighting for them as much as I’m fighting for myself. I want them to be happy with their mates and love their babies and live a full life. I want that for them, and I want to be a part of making that happen. I know I’m able. Let me, Daz. Please.”

Daz didn’t speak for a long time. He took his time gazing around the room, meeting his brothers’ eyes one at a time. I saw a few nods. Gar didn’t react at all. Xavy looked at me like I was a hero already.

And finally, Daz looked me square in the eye. “You have five rotations.”

I nearly wilted to the floor with relief. “Thank you, Daz. Thank you.”

“And I might be drexel, but on this one, I’m sitting out. You have to break the news to the females that you volunteered for this and face my mate’s wrath.”

I swallowed, knowing that was going to suck. “I’ll do it.”

He nodded to Nero, who rose from the table and approached me with a piercing look that sent a shiver down my spine. This was the one flaw in my plan I hadn’t considered. How could I stay away from Nero when we had to spend the next five rotations side-by-side?

Fuck it. I was preparing to take on the Uldani. I had enough willpower to resist one sexy Drixonian. Didn’t I?

Five

Nero

I hadn’t been able to look away from Justine. In a room full of some of the most powerful warriors in the galaxy, she stood with her chin up and her spine straight. There had barely been a quiver in her voice. I’d always thought she was