The Alien's Equal (Drixonian Warrior #7) - Ella Maven Page 0,62
daughter?” he murmured in a gentle voice I’d never heard him use before.
“She’s like the size of a pea,” Naomi giggled. “She’s fine.”
“When did you find out?” I asked.
“A few days ago, right before Gar left for the battle. Only he and Val knew. I wanted to keep it a secret until you returned. I couldn’t share the news without you here.”
I lunged forward and hugged her as tightly as I dared with Gar still crouched behind her. He rose slowly and with a kiss to the top of her head, let us be.
We chattered about how she was feeling—fine, no morning sickness—and how Gar reacted—he’d lost his mind and was even more protective than normal.
“How about you?” I asked Miranda. “You and Drak making any babies?”
Miranda shook her head. “Anna taught me how to use the rhythm method. It was how she avoided getting pregnant for five years until her and Tark were ready. Drak and I need more time, something we both agree on.” She grinned. “Plus, I’m going be busy being an aunt. We’ll have babies when we’re ready.”
I looked to Tabitha, who was poking at the dirt with a stick. “And you, Miss Tab?”
“Uh,” she shrugged. “We’re not doing a thing to prevent it, so I guess… Fatas will decide.” She rolled her eyes. “Xavy wants like … a dozen children. I told him I wasn’t birthing a baseball team, and he doesn’t know what that means, so he’s been telling everyone I’m giving him a team of balls.”
I snorted. “That sounds like Xavy.”
“Well, Anna, I’m going to need to talk to you. If I managed to avoid getting knocked up now, I’d like to get on that rhythm thing.”
Anna gave me a thumbs up. “Just knock on my door and I’ll get you set up.”
“I feel a bit like you inherited seven daughters along with Bazel,” Frankie said to her.
Anna clasped her hand. “No, I don’t feel that way. And even if that was true, I love every minute of it. I was alone except for Tark for five years, then only Tark and Bazel for another five. It’s been a blessing to have friends again.”
“I think we’d be stumbling around in leaf underwear if it wasn’t for you,” I said.
When the conversation switched to clothing patterns, I found myself zoning out and scanning the crowd for Nero. Ever since our talk, he’d been happy, but I could still sense he and his brothers were unsettled. I finally spotted them sitting by a hut in the near dark, huddled together with serious faces.
The talking around me slowly started to drift off, and I caught Frankie also stealing glances back at the group of warriors, her hand resting on her stomach.
She caught my eye and gave me a sad smile. “Daz has been unsettled.”
“I meant to talk to you guys… I’m worried about Sax,” Val admitted, her expression strained. “He’s not himself. He spends a lot of time brooding while cleaning his already spotless bike. Sax doesn’t brood!”
“Xavy either, but he’s also been brooding.” Tabitha pouted. “I’ve tried blow jobs and everything. I even offered butt stuff.”
“Jesus, Tab,” Reba muttered.
“Well, I did!” Tabitha rounded on her. “And you know what he said?”
None of us answered because none of us really wanted to know.
“He said,” Tabitha continued. “Maybe another time.” She widened her eyes. “Another time? What male says another time to anal?” By now her voice was shrill and a few warriors looked like they were eavesdropping. From the huddle, Xavy’s head went up and he narrowed his eyes at her. “Shit, he probably heard me,” she muttered.
“Well, you were yelling about anal,” Miranda deadpanned. “Pretty sure the entire clavas heard you.”
“Whatever,” Tab huffed. “My point stands. He’s not okay. None of them are.”
“They want to go home,” I said. “That’s all Nero has wanted but they have no way to get there. They don’t have a way to contact their allies, and they have no aircraft. The Kaluma’s spacecraft no longer works.”
“I think Sax is most upset about Rex,” Val said softly, leaning in so they warriors with ridiculous hearing wouldn’t hear us. “He won’t talk about it, but that’s hitting him hard. Ever since he heard his brother might still be alive, he’s held out hope for a reunion. To learn his brother might not be … the same…” she shook her head. “He is not dealing well.”
“Daz either,” Frankie agreed. “He already blamed himself for Rex’s death. Now he blames himself for whatever