The Alien's Equal (Drixonian Warrior #7) - Ella Maven Page 0,59

She turned a glare on Nero. “Who are you and what have you done with our grumpy, cynical Justine?”

Nero’s arm wrapped around my shoulders. “My little bird is too tired to be in a bad mood. I’m sure tomorrow she’ll be back to her old self.”

A bunch of aw’s rang out at his term of endearment.

I nodded. “He’s right. I’ll be rolling my eyes at all of you in no time.”

“Go sleep the day away,” Val said, putting on her nurse voice. “We’ll have someone deliver food to you in Nero’s hut so it’s ready when you want it.”

I squeezed her hand. “I’d love that.”

Her gaze took me in. “Do I need to check you over?”

“I’ve been seen by the good doctor Shep. The injuries I had seemed to have healed quickly once…” I wiggled my wrist.

Val smiled. “I remember that.”

“Oh!” I shouted, startling Val. “That reminds me, did you get a chance to talk to Sax?”

Her expression softened. “Yes, he told me about Gram, I—” tears welled in her eyes, and I regretted bringing up a time in her life that was terrifying. “I wished I could see him again to thank him. He saved our lives.”

“I know what you mean. He saved ours too.”

“The Uldani will hold an election to determine a council, and I know Gram will have a place at the head of the table.” Nero squeezed my shoulder. “I’m sure there will be a time we see him again.”

Val wiped at her eyes and nodded. “Now go sleep. When you wake, we expect a debriefing. Sax already has a bug up his ass about someone else having a better escape story than him.”

I laughed as I wiggled my eyebrows at her. “Let me tell you … ours is a doozy.”

Nero

When I opened my eyes, my hut was lit only by the light of a flickering lantern. I lifted my hand to reach for Justine, but the furs beside me were cold. A faint scratching sound reached my ears and I rolled my head to find my mate curled up in one of my chairs, a fur draped over her lap as her hand moved across a piece of paper.

Her expression was serene, and her hair was pulled back onto the crown of her head, where it sprouted out of its tie in all directions. When she lifted her head and met my eyes, a wide smile crossed her face. “You’re awake.”

When we’d returned to my hut, we’d both taken a turn in the cleanser and then fallen asleep immediately. I’d been weary to my bones in a way I’d never been before. The sight of my mate went a long way to soothe my sadness.

“I am,” I sat up, wincing at my still sore body, and reached for the tray of food on the table near me. I could see Justine had already nibbled a bit. “Did you get enough to eat?”

She nodded. “Val brought enough to feed an army.”

“What are you drawing?”

A red tinge flushed across her pale cheeks. “Something for you.”

“For me?” I popped a guara slice in my mouth and chewed the tangy, refreshing fruit. “Let me see.”

“I’m not done yet.”

I beckoned with my fingers. “Let me see anyway.”

She pouted. “I don’t like showing my art until it’s finished.”

I kept my hand held out, waiting patiently. I stuck my lip out in a pout like I’d seen Bazel do.

“Fine.” She rolled her eyes with a soft laugh and unfolded herself from her chair. She wore a sleeveless shirt with straps over her shoulders and a pair of what the women called underwear. The lantern light made her golden loks glow. She placed a knee on the furs and plopped down beside me. Setting the paper in my lap, she pointed to it. “I tried to draw Corin.”

My mouth went dry, and my head spun as it cast back to memories I’d shoved to the far recesses of my mind. Just from my description, she’d managed to draw my village where I’d grown up with Daz and Sax, complete with the sturdy moke tree that grew in the center of our village.

I’d swung from those branches and carved my initials in the trunk. In front of that tree, I’d told my mother about my dreams, and she’d told me I could achieve them. I always thought I’d return again in this lifetime. But now … I’d only see my mother in my dreams, and I’d only touch that tree in my imagination. I