Enticed by the Alien Warrior (Warriors of Agron #8) - Hope Hart Page 0,30

the ship doesn’t actually require a control chip, and we can get off this planet without it.

“Are you okay?”

I blink, realizing Sarissa is now sitting in front of me. “I’m fine.”

She tilts her head, but I can’t bring myself to explain what I’m feeling. She warned me not to get attached to Arix. And now I’m considering risking all our futures just to keep his butt planted on his throne? Ridiculous.

And yet resentment sits hot and heavy in my stomach. It’s easy for Sarissa. She doesn’t care about anything.

I push that away. Great. A heaping spoonful of guilt has been served along with the tension and resentment. Sarissa has had an incredibly hard life. She’s deeply wounded. It’s not fair to blame her for this.

We’re all silent as we get off the boat. Rakiz has arranged for some of his warriors to meet us with mishua, and from the look of the large pen they’re setting up, he’s obviously building some kind of stables here, which will make traveling back and forth across the water a lot easier.

Arix pulls me to him, helps me onto a mishua, and slides up behind me. I blush as Korzyn narrows his eyes at us, but he’s already turning his attention to Sarissa, who is attempting to convince one of the guards to let her ride alone.

Good luck with that, cuz.

Korzyn stalks over to Sarissa and throws her over his shoulder. She curses, but he ignores her, the expression on his face making it clear she has gotten on his last nerve. He hands her to one of the guards, who lifts her onto a mishua and mounts behind her.

I almost smile as I catch Sarissa’s eye. She is definitely going to make the commander pay for that little move.

She glowers at him most of the way to the camp, and it’s obvious she’s thinking up the best revenge. I attempt to ignore how good Arix’s arm feels around my waist, but I end up slumped against his chest, falling into a light snooze.

“You were snoring,” he tells me when the mishua makes a sound and I jerk awake.

“Was not,” I say, feeling my cheeks heat.

He grins at me for the first time since his uncle died. I scowl, ignoring the relief that flashes through me like lightning at the sight of his smile.

“Maybe you shouldn’t keep me up all night, then.”

He raises one eyebrow. “Are you complaining?”

Someone makes a gagging sound, and my cousin’s voice reaches my ears. “Give it a rest, you two. We’re here.”

Arix stares at Sarissa like she’s a new, unusual species he’s never seen before, and I can’t help but laugh. He helps me off the mishua and strides away to speak to Rakiz, who is standing at the camp gates.

“So.” Sarissa leans in close. “I’ve come up with a few ways to make the commander feel very, very sorry for his actions today.”

She tilts her head, watching Korzyn order the guards around, and I sigh.

“Girl, you need church.”

She smiles. “Wasn’t there something in the Bible about doing unto others as they do to you? I liked that part.”

I frown because I’m pretty sure that’s not what it says, but she’s already striding away, looking like she’s about to start some shit.

“Viv!”

I spin, mouth dropping open. Nevada is now standing next to Rakiz, a bundle in her arms.

“Oh my God! You had the baby!”

I bounce over to her, and she laughs as I lean close.

“Vivian, meet Danica.”

“Wow. She looks just like you.”

Danica opens her eyes, and they’re all Rakiz. “Wait. I take it back,” I laugh.

Nevada pushes a blanket aside, revealing tiny, chubby baby shoulders.

“Wow.” I run one hand down Danica’s shoulder, gently tracing the same blue-green scales Arix and the other Braxians have, only in miniature.

My chest clenches with a longing I’ve never felt before.

Arix leans close, his body hard against mine as he peers down at Danica, ignoring Rakiz’s obvious tension.

“You are blessed,” he finally says, raising his gaze to Rakiz, who nods, satisfaction burning in his eyes as he stares at his mate and baby.

“I am,” he acknowledges, meeting Nevada’s gaze for a long moment. She smiles and then tilts her head, returning her attention to me.

“Now that you’re back, maybe Beth will finally agree to go through with her mating ceremony. Zarix is muttering about how he’s ready to tie her up and hold her down for it if he doesn’t get to finally make it official soon.” Nevada winks at me, and I laugh.