The Lasaran (Aldebarian Alliance #1) - Dianne Duvall Page 0,128

into a hearty hug. “Good to have you home, boy.”

“Good to be home,” Taelon replied with a smile, clapping his father on the back.

The king stepped back and turned to Lisa and the queen. His brow puckered. “Adiransia, don’t suffocate our daughter before I get a chance to greet her.”

Lisa stared. Their daughter?

The queen loosened her hold and stepped back, her nose pink, tears streaming down her cheeks.

The king shook his head and offered her an indulgent smile before stepping forward and pulling Lisa into a gentle hug. When he stepped back, he cleared his throat. A hint of color entered his cheeks. “Taelon assured us that you would not be offended by such a personal greeting.”

She smiled. “Not at all. Thank you.”

The brothers arrived then and all claimed hearty hugs from Taelon before greeting Lisa with gentle hugs, embracing her as though they feared she might break if they held her too tight.

Amusement banished much of her anxiety. All of them were very friendly and welcoming, displaying not even a hint of displeasure over Taelon marrying a woman from a planet they considered backward and barbaric and who was pretty far down the social ladder.

Her spirit lightening, she took Abby from Ari’k and turned to her mother-in-law. “Would you like to meet your granddaughter?”

The joy that filled every face warmed Lisa’s heart.

Abby paid them little attention. She had spent almost her entire life aboard a ship with no bright sunshine, no breeze, no trees, and certainly no colorful birds flying overhead. When the wind brushed against her and ruffled her hair, she squinted her eyes, then giggled and waved her arms, looking around as if trying to determine who was blowing on her.

Taelon’s mother held her, then his father, then his brothers.

Taelon arched a brow at his mother. “I see fashion has changed in my absence. I don’t believe I’ve ever seen you bare your arms before.”

Apparently on Lasara, women’s garments usually covered them from their neck to their wrists and ankles. The men’s often did, too. Yet the queen’s dress bore short sleeves and a conservative V-shaped neckline.

Pink crept into Adiransia’s cheeks as she tilted her chin up. “I’m starting a new trend.”

The king chuckled as he reclaimed Abby. “She has scandalized the masses with her pale, perfect skin.”

The queen swatted him on the shoulder, then moved to stand beside Lisa, looping an arm around her waist. “I noticed when we spoke to Lisa on the Akselian ship that our daughter likes to wear short sleeves. I wanted her to feel comfortable.”

Like her husband, she used the word daughter. And the way she gave Lisa’s waist a little squeeze in a half hug reminded Lisa so much of her mother that tears sprang to her eyes. How often had her mom stood with her like this while bantering with and teasing her dad?

Grief and gratitude both washing over her, Lisa turned to Adiransia and wrapped her up in a tight hug. Though she tried to blink them back, tears spilled over her lashes and dampened the queen’s shoulder.

Adiransia patted her back. “Did I say something wrong?” she whispered.

“No,” Taelon assured her. His big palm settled on Lisa’s back and slid up and down in a soothing caress. “Lisa’s mother died of an illness two years ago. She lost her father a year later and has no other family.”

“Oh no,” the queen murmured, tightening her hold on Lisa. “But you do have other family,” she added. “You have us.”

“Thank you.” Lisa straightened and wiped her eyes. “I’m sorry. I’m so embarrassed.”

But the men looked far from uncomfortable. The king smiled kindly while Abby took turns patting his cheek and reaching up toward the birds that flew past.

“Don’t be,” Duras said with a grin.

Levik nodded. “If anyone should be embarrassed, it’s Taelon.”

Gefen rubbed his hands together with glee. “And he will be. We have sooooo many humiliating stories to share with you.”

“So many,” the others agreed.

Taelon groaned.

Lisa laughed.

Smiling, he wrapped an arm around her and pressed a kiss to her temple. Are you okay? he asked telepathically.

Better than okay, she replied.

With her new family closing in around them—the brothers each vying to see who would be the first to share an embarrassing tale from Taelon’s past—Lisa strode toward the home in the distance, ready to begin her new life with her family on Lasara.

FROM THE AUTHOR

Thank you for reading The Lasaran. I hope you enjoyed Lisa and Taelon’s story.

If you’re curious about my Immortal Guardians family and would like to