The Alien's Equal (Drixonian Warrior #7) - Ella Maven Page 0,63
Rex has become if he’s still alive.”
That news had been a blow to me when Nero explained what the Uldani commander had confessed to. They’d always known experimentations were a possibility based on what they’d done to Sax—trying to inject him with a drug that triggered an impulsive mating reaction. But the idea they had altered Drixonian warrior bodies to turn them into better soldiers… I’d shuddered, imagining some fucked up Wolverine shit. If Rex was still alive … what was he like? Did he know who he was? What did he look like? And most of all—how many warriors were out there who’d been changed?
“We have to be there for them as best as we can,” Frankie said, straightening her shoulders and giving us all a serious look. “I think they didn’t care much about this being a temporary home when it was just them. But now four warriors are looking at chits on the way, and they all want to build a lasting home like the one they had. It’s up to us to show them that home is wherever we are together. Whether that’s here or another planet.”
We all nodded. I liked when Frankie led. She could be a little silly and flighty at times—her mind seemed to go off on tangents often—but she had a huge heart, and she always seemed to know what to do when it came to people. Like Tabitha, she was socially smart, and I always looked to her to show me how to act when it came to feelings. With Nero was the only time in my life that interacting with another person came naturally. Maybe it was because we were so in tune. Being in each other’s heads sure helped.
I glanced up when I spotted movement among the group of warriors. They stood, as if their meeting had ended, and each made their way to the fire—and their respective mates. I wondered where Hap and Shep were, but then it wasn’t unlike them to hole up in their hut alone.
Nero sank down onto the log next to me and wrapped his arm around my shoulders. “Hi, little bird.”
“Hi, mate,” I answered.
His eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled. It never failed to put him in a good mood when I called him that. “What have you females been discussing?”
Over my dead body would I tell him we were worried about them. As Frankie said, we needed to show them this could be a home. “Oh, just stuff. Some decorating ideas for the dining hall. Some kitchen improvements.”
His eyes went soft and he brushed my nose with his. “That all sounds good.”
I gazed around the fire to see Naomi cradled on Gar’s lap while Ward rubbed Reba’s swollen feet. Val lay on her side, head resting on Xavy’s lap while he stroked her hair. Anna and Tark talked quietly about Bazel’s antics for the day, while Miranda and Drak cuddled so close they looked like one person. Frankie stood between Daz’s legs, his hands encircling her belly as he pressed a kiss right above her protruding belly button.
In the distance, I saw Hap and Shep playing with Luna, and Rufus slept on his giant paws on the doorstep of the hut where Bazel slept.
I pressed a kiss to Nero’s temple. This was all we needed. This was home.
Nero
A banging woke me from a deep sleep. I blinked my eyes open as Justine grumbled next to me. It’d been a late night around the fire, and while I hadn’t overindulged on spirits, I had on food, which left me feeling groggy and bloated.
“Nero!” Xavy yelled from the other side. He couldn’t barge in anymore because I’d locked it from the intruding flecker.
“Coming, give me a minute,” I hollered.
The doorknob rattled as Xavy fought to get inside. “I hate this lock!”
“Well I hate you interrupting my time with my mate!” I stumbled to the door, unlocked it, and threw it open. “What do you want?”
He was dressed, but barely. His pants were wrinkled, like he’d pulled them on from the floor, and one boot was untied. “Daz said we have to report to the gate. We have visitors. It’s Gram.”
My heart pounded. This couldn’t be good. He said he’d mind his own business and how two rotations later he was at our gates. Our warriors who’d stayed behind returned home yesterday. “Is he alone?”
He shook his head. “He has two more Uldani with him?”