granted permission to grow a batch of pod-babies from the last of the preserved Imberian DNA. It was only right to preserve their culture along with their bloodline.
As part of the agreement, Rexx was now sworn to protect the baby, just as Abigail had taken an oath to raise him.
Rexx himself had needed an exceptional career record in order to be offered the opportunity to care for the child.
And he was sure Abigail Shaw was exceptional too, or she would not be here. Many women had applied to adopt these babes. If she had been chosen over the rest, there was a good reason for it.
Though a career as a teacher was humble, perhaps she had won awards and honors in her field as well. He would learn soon enough.
The dragon hummed in his chest, delighted that they had such an accomplished mate.
She’s not our mate.
But the dragon only chuckled.
“So where is our new home?” Abigail asked, rousing him from his inner battle.
“Across the mountains,” he told her. “It is very far, but we’ll get there in only a few days because of our transport.”
“A train,” she said, nodding.
“Not just a train,” he said. “The Iron Peregrine - the fastest track vehicle in the system. It has a Bhimani drive, just like a spacecraft, since solar cells won’t work on an overcast moon like Lachesis. It has top-of-the-line accommodations for travelers of many planetary types, and then of course, there are its topographical abilities.”
“Ah, yes, my grandfather ran the Peregrine back on Terra-8,” she said proudly.
Abigail Shaw…
Gods of the realm, her grandfather must be Sebastian Shaw.
How had he not made that connection right away? He felt foolish explaining the train to the granddaughter of the man who invented it.
Everyone knew the story of Sebastian Shaw. He had been brought up humbly on Terra-8, where he had dreamed up the Peregrine. Through sheer determination, Shaw managed to work his way through the engineers academy, delivering transports on the night shift to make his tuition payments.
He was an inspiration to anyone with a good idea and the drive to make it a reality.
And the Peregrine was worth it. The Shaw family’s assets numbered in the billions of credits now.
So Abigail had earned her right to adopt by virtue of her money, not her own accomplishments.
But in her bloodline ran the same dedication that had made her grandfather such a success. Rexx could respect that.
“You’re going on a train,” Abigail enthused to Rio, who replied to her in abject gibberish that she pretended to understand, nodding sagely in agreement. “Yes, Rio. Well said.”
The only thing Rexx couldn’t understand was her temperament. Obviously, a wealthy heiress could be a teacher if she chose, but Shaw had been known for his cool head and ruthless business acumen. This woman was as soft as warm gingerbread.
“Everything okay?” she asked him, looking up from the babe, who promptly tried to grab her coppery hair.
“Fine,” he said. “Just thinking about where to take you for a new dress.”
“Oh, anywhere is fine,” she said. “I’ll manage.”
He frowned. She had arrived in such an elaborate get-up. Surely a Shaw would be discerning in their dress.
But she had clearly forgotten about it. She was gazing down at Rio like he was worth more than any fortune in the system.
Rexx was in complete agreement with her there.
The dragon flung itself against the bars of his control, desperate to claim what was his.
Not yet, Rexx told him. Patience.
He had been a good soldier this long, in spite of so many challenges.
Surely, he could find a way to resist the mate bond long enough to figure out whether or not claiming the girl was forbidden.
***
Thanks for reading this sample of Rexx!
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Rexx: Alien Adoption Agency #6
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Tasha Black lives in a big old Victorian in a tiny college town. She loves reading anything she can get her hands on, writing paranormal romance, and sipping pumpkin spice lattes.
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