Kyro - A.G. Wilde Page 0,46

something. But this was not the day. For some reason, today his mood was sour. It had been sour for the last few days he’d spent following Evren and returning home, only to follow her again.

And even then, the more he stayed away from her, the more his mood went downhill.

The sickness was taking hold and he knew not the cure for it.

“Glad to see you here, Kyro. Wasn’t sure if you were over your, er, sickness or not.” Xul greeted him, placing a hand on his shoulder and touching their foreheads.

“The fever is still raging,” Kyro murmured absently.

Behind them, Crex walked in, a small human female holding on to his arm.

“Oh, hey Kyro. Didn’t know you arrived already,” the female greeted him with a smile. Her rainbow-colored strands were caught at the top of her head in much the same way Evren would catch hers and the similarity had him groaning inwardly.

“Greetings, Piper.”

“Would anyone like something to drink?” she asked already moving to the food preparation area. Of course, only Rokan replied with the affirmative. Back in their shared quarters, their cooling unit was often empty because of his excessive thirst.

As Crex turned to Kyro, jerking his head in greeting, the doorbell chimed. Crex opened it to see Yce, their psionic brother, standing there.

Kyro glanced around. So, it seemed the entire crew was heading off to the mission. Everyone except Kyris.

He was just about to ask about his brother when Xul spoke up. “Rokan is taking Kyris’ spot today. Kyris’ wings still need healing.”

Ah.

Kyro nodded.

“So what’s the plan?” Crex asked.

“Shuttle leaves in three hours,” Xul began. “We have information on the area the stasis unit would have most likely landed. We head there. Search. Return home.”

“Sounds pretty simple,” Rokan offered.

“It is,” Xul said, but his gaze moved over them all.

That was the problem. Nothing was ever simple when it came to the Tasqals.

If there was a potential set of humans buried somewhere under the sand all sleeping in stasis, the Tasqals wouldn’t just let them go.

They just had to hope the Tasqals hadn’t found the humans yet.

“The Mukkians have found an unidentified object but do not have the technology to scan it. They say it is not like any other ship debris they’ve come across.”

There was a collective silence around the room.

“If it is what we think it is, then we needed to get our asses there yesterday.”

As Piper walked back into the room, a drink in her hand, she greeted Yce and handed the drink to Rokan before heading back to the food preparation area for another.

“Congratulations, brother,” Yce suddenly said, his eyes gleaming as he looked at Crex.

Everyone followed his gaze, looking at Crex as if he would clear up Yce’s sudden compliment.

“Quiet.” Crex’s voice was hushed, and Kyro didn’t miss the nervous glance he shot in the direction of the food preparation area.

A slow frown materialized in his brow.

He couldn’t help but ask. “Congratulations for what?”

Crex glanced at Yce, giving him a look that could kill—and it might kill. One never really knew with Crex.

Yce seemed unfazed. “Piper is carrying young. I can feel its soft mind pulses.”

“Curse you and your freakish gift.” Crex’s voice was still low. “I haven’t told her yet.”

“You mean she doesn’t know?” Rokan and Xul said at the same time, voices hushed.

“No.” Crex glanced toward the food preparation area with agitation once more. “I only heard the child’s heart beating a few days ago.”

“Why haven’t you told her?” Kyro had to ask. The fact that his brother was keeping back such great news baffled him.

What he would give to have offspring of his own—something he would never have. It was a gift that should never be taken lightly.

Crex glanced around the group before his eyes settled on Kyro. “I don’t know how she’ll react.” He paused, the next few words obviously difficult for him. “I can hardly believe she accepted me. I don’t think she realizes she could bear my young.” He paused once more. “I didn’t realize.”

Neither did he. He hadn’t even considered the prospect of humans being compatible outside of their species.

Could Evren bear offspring? If she found a mate, would she bear offspring for them?

The thought of her with someone else...

Just then, a cheery Piper walked back in, a drink in hand for Yce. There was dead silence as all five sets of eyes watched her.

Catching that something wasn’t right, the little human frowned slightly, her smile wavering a little as she cast a glance in Crex’s direction.

“Everything