by Tana Stone
“So, you don’t think I was foolish to sneak onto the ship?”
He cocked an eyebrow at her. “I did not say that. But what I needed to tell you is…” He paused and drew in a breath, “…how much I care for you. More than that. I love you, Bexli.”
The world seemed to shift on its axis as she looked deep into his eyes. “You do? This isn’t just about the baby, because I don’t want—“
“It’s about you.” He stopped her in mid-sentence. “I think I have been falling in love with you since the moment you sat in front of me on that jebel and argued with me all the way across the sands.”
Her mouth fell open. “Really? I wasn’t all that nice to you back then.”
“I know.” He grinned down at her. “It didn’t matter. I was drawn to you like I’ve been drawn to no other female before.”
“I thought you were following me because you thought I was helpless. I thought it was some overprotective Dothvek thing.”
“I was overprotective, but not because I thought you were helpless. Because I could not stand to be apart from you.” He gave a small shrug. “And I could not stand any other male being near you. You were mine. You are mine.”
Normally, Bexli would have bristled at being referred to as anyone’s property, but she loved the way it sounded when Tommel called her his. And because she could sense his emotions, she did feel like his—like she was a part of him as much as his own body was. “You don’t ever have to worry about other guys. I am yours.” She put a hand on her stomach. “And so is this baby.”
He closed his hand over hers, looking down at her flat belly. “I love you more than I thought was possible.” He looked up and kissed her softly. “Both of you.”
“I love you too, you bossy barbarian.” Bexli glanced over her shoulder and saw that the others had left the room, and had even taken the chancellor’s body with them. “And you know what I also really love?”
His pupils darkened, making his eyes more gold than green. He dropped his hands to her ass and lifted her so that her legs circled his waist, the rigid bar of his cock pressing into her. “I think I have a very good idea, my beautiful, insatiable mate.”
Thirty-Two
Tommel held Bexli’s hand tight as they walked off the ship, the steel ramp vibrating under their feet. He knew that the battle was long over, but even so, he clutched his blade in his other hand.
Glancing down at Bexli, he couldn’t stifle a grin. Her usually smooth, iridescent hair was tousled around her head and her cheeks were suffused with color. The female definitely looked like she’d just been fucked, which she had. If she was going to be so insatiable for her entire pregnancy, he wasn’t sure if he’d be walking by the end of it.
He quickly scanned the flat terrain around the ship, spotting K’alvek and his mother in what appeared to be serious talks with a small group of Cresteks, including the guard who had taken out T’Kar’s father, the Dothvek priestess, and Danica. T’Kar stood with Holly and another group of Cresteks that he assumed—from their shaggier hair and lack of robes—were more members of the Crestek resistance.
“Bex!” Caro rushed up and pulled his mate into a hug. “I was so worried about you, especially when Rynn and Pog came out, and you didn’t.”
The color in Bexli’s cheeks deepened. “I’m fine. Tommel and I were…”
“Save your excuses,” Tori said, joining them. There was blood smeared across her shirt, and the tips of the metal sticks holding up her hair looked suspiciously wet. “We can all guess what you were doing.”
Bexli ignored the comment and gestured to K’alvek and the Cresteks. “It looks like we won the fight. What’s going on over there?”
“Now that the Chancellor is gone and Zatvar is dead, it seems like the Cresteks want more than a cease-fire.” Tori jerked her head behind her toward the high stone walls. “They’re even talking about free trade and movement between the clans.”
Tommel eyed the Crestek city with suspicion, even though he noticed the city gates stood open, and residents were spilling out. His people had been at war with the Cresteks for so long, it felt impossible to think of them as anything but the enemy. Then again, maybe it was time for everyone to abandon old barriers and move forward.
Vrax came up and wrapped his big arms around Tori from behind. “As long as I do not have to live in their city, I am fine with peace.”
Tori flinched at first, then relaxed into his embrace. “You have an issue with a city, but not a spaceship?”
The warrior peered up at the massive ship and pulled Tori into him. “I have a lot of happy memories of the ship. Especially the device called a ’shower.’”
Tori elbowed him, and he made a dramatic show of doubling over. “When we are all living on board, you cannot confuse a shower with hydro-therapy, or we will run out of water.”
“You intend to live on the ship?” Tommel asked, once Vrax had straightened.
The Dothvek put his hands on his hips, the dark bands around his arms prominent. “I got a taste of a life in space, and I liked it.” He winked at Tori. “Besides, my mate needs someone to help her with security.”
Tori sucked in air. “I did an outstanding job as security chief by myself.” She studied the brawny barbarian and flashed him a grin. “But I don’t mind someone else working under me.”
Vrax chuckled low. “And you know I don’t mind being under you.”
Tori swatted him, but grinned.
“Rukken and I are ready to take off whenever.” Caro looked lustfully at the gunmetal-gray hull of the ship. “I’m dying to try my hand at flying this baby.”
“Rukken will leave with you?” Tommel asked. He did not know the Dothvek well anymore, since the warrior had been exiled for so long, but he had enjoyed fighting beside him.
Caro glanced over her shoulder at where Rukken stood talking to Kush. Even though he now wore leather pants instead of a loincloth, he still had a wild look about him. “I think he’s looking forward to a fresh start. A really fresh start.”
Tommel watched as the meeting between the Dothveks and Cresteks dispersed with a series of bows on both sides. K’alvek and his mother walked toward him, their heads together in hushed conversation, Danica holding K’alvek’s hand and the priestess seeming to glide by Kyrana’s side.
When they had joined them, Tommel met Kyrana’s eyes and saw her gaze rest on his hand holding Bexli’s.
She smiled, her eyes telling him how pleased she was.
“I hear there is a peace to celebrate.” Tommel’s gaze shifted to K’alvek. “What agreements have been made between you and the Cresteks?”
“Not between me.” K’alvek nodded at his mother. “I think it is time our clan was led by a female.”
“Now you’re talking.” Tori smiled at Kyrana. “It’s about time the Dothveks had a tough leader.”
“Thank you.” The Dothvek female inclined her head at Tori. “My son insists he does not want the mantle of leadership.”
K’alvek slipped an arm around Danica’s waist. “I have other plans, but for the first time in a very long time, I know my clan will flourish.”
“The son of K’alron speaks more truth than he knows,” the priestess said. “The offworld females have restored the energy balance of our planet. The sickness is a thing of the past. Soon, both Cresteks and Dothveks will be blessed with many offspring.”
Kyrana lifted a hand toward the walled city. “We were told that many Crestek females are already heavy with child.”
The high priestess gave a small smile. “Not only Cresteks. Two of my Dothvek priestesses are also carrying.”
Tommel couldn’t help stealing a glance at Bexli and her flat belly where their baby was growing. Normally, talk of babies would have him gritting his teeth and trying to forget, but now, all he felt was happiness. He would never forget what he had lost before, but he would honor their memory by finding joy when his thoughts wandered to the past.
When he looked back up, his eyes caught on the gates. “A
re we enemies no longer?”
“It takes too much energy to hate,” Kyrana said. “The enmity has poisoned both clans for too long. Besides, there is much we can learn from each other. We have agreed to a joint council to draw up a formal resolution that can guide our peoples forward in peace.”
Tommel cut his eyes to K’alvek, who had spent so long plotting revenge against the Crestek for a crime they had never committed. “And you? Can you abandon your feelings?”
K’alvek gazed down at Danica when he spoke. “I have learned a great deal about opening my heart. There is now very little room for hate inside me.”
Tommel knew exactly what he meant. His love for Bexli and their baby had crowded out his fear and anger until there had been nothing left of it.
“You do not need to worry about us, Tommel,” Kyrana said. “The peace will hold. You can leave without worry.”
“Leave?”
“Our people will now spread among the stars.” The priestess held her arms open wide. “The goddesses did not intend for us to be tied to the planet forever.”
“So, the prophecy about offworld females saving our world?” Tommel asked. “The one you assured me did not concern these females?”
“Seems to have been true, after all,” Kyrana said with an enigmatic smile.
“What other prophecies do you know?” Tommel asked.
The priestess gave a small jerk of her head. “I cannot reveal all, although I do hope K’alvek will return soon so his mother can meet her grandchild.”
Danica’s mouth dropped open as Caro shrieked. K’alvek looked down at her, his expression stunned, then he swept her up into a tight embrace.
“Well, shit.” Tori propped her hands on her hips. “We’re going to need a ship’s doctor pretty fucking soon.”
Epilogue
Several weeks later
Bexli stretched her arms over her head as she pushed open the tent flaps and walked outside. Only one of the suns had peeked over the dunes, but even so, the Dothvek village glowed with the amber light of morning.
It was her favorite time of day—before the animals started begging to be fed, and before the fires were lit. The air had a snap to it, and she breathed it in gratefully. As eager as she was to get back to space, she also knew she would miss the fresh air of the planet. What she would not miss was all the sand that seemed to get everywhere. She wiggled her toes in the powdery substance, which still held the previous day’s warmth underneath the top layer, and smiled. Okay, maybe she would even miss the sand.
Large arms wrapped around her from behind, and a big body pressed up against her. “Come back to bed.”
Bexli leaned back into Tommel. “I didn’t mean to wake you. I wanted you to enjoy every second of our last night here.”
“I did.” He nuzzled his scruffy cheek in her neck and kissed her throat. “Until you crept out of bed.”
Tingles skittered down her spine from the warmth of his lips. “I didn’t creep.” It was hard to sound indignant when his touch made her voice tremble. “I didn’t want to miss our last sunrise.”
Tommel’s hands spanned her waist, cupping the small baby bump that had popped out over the past few days. “It is not the last one we will ever see. We will be back.”
She lifted a hand to shield her eyes as slats of light shone low across the horizon. “I know. Why do I feel like I’m more sad to leave than you are?”
Tommel rubbed his hands over the curve of her belly. “I realize that it is not so much an ending as a new beginning, and I am eager to see what this new life has in store for us.”
She laughed. “I like this adventurous, throw-caution-to-the-wind side of you.”
“I have not abandoned caution, mate. Especially when it comes to you or our baby.” He turned her so that she was facing him. “So do not think you will be putting yourself in needless danger once we are on your ship.”
Bexli held her palms up in a gesture of surrender. “I’ve learned my lesson. No taking crazy chances when I’m pregnant.”
Tommel made a noise in his throat that told her he wasn’t so sure he believed her words. He bent low and kissed her belly lightly, whispering, “I hope you are not as stubborn as your mother, little one, or I will be run ragged trying to protect you both.”
“Talking to her stomach?” Tori said as she strode up, already fully dressed, with her hair piled on top of her head. “That’s totally normal.”
Tommel glanced up at her and grinned, but he did not stand before placing another kiss on Bexli’s belly.
“You will not want me talking to your stomach when you are carrying my child?” Vrax asked, walking up behind Tori and draping an arm around her shoulders.
Tori shot him a look and attempted to shrug off his arm. “Who says I’m interested in having kids?”
Vrax pulled her into an embrace even as she tried to twist away. “I’ve seen how good you are with Rynn. You can pretend to be tough, but I know your soft side.” He chuckled low. “I know all your sides very well.”
Faint splotches of pink appeared on her brown cheeks, and she rolled her eyes. “I should have let the slavers on Kurril keep you.”
Vrax smiled wide, jerking her to him and kissing her hard. “You know you love me, female.”
She pushed him away, but she was smiling. “Are we going to stand here yapping all day or are we going to get ready to leave?”
“The ship is ready to go,” Holly said as she and T’Kar joined them.
Even though the Dothveks all wore animal skins or occasionally a garment made of roughly woven fabric, Holly had managed to procure a brightly colored top adorned with beads. Bexli suspected she’d gotten it from the Cresteks during one of the many exchanges they’d had with the other clan since the peace. Her mate, T’Kar, was dressed like the rest of the Dothveks. Despite the new open borders and free exchanges, he still preferred the Dothvek customs, and said he would never wear a cloak again for as long as he lived.
“I gave the engine a full diagnostic and tune-up.” Holly swept a hand through her loose, red curls. “She purrs like a kitten. Or like Pog.”
As if he knew he was being talked about, Bexli’s pet glurkin poked his green head out of the tent. When he saw everyone gathered, he began running around their feet happily. After thoroughly sniffing them, he rubbed up against Tori’s leg and sat on one of her boots.
Tori groaned. “Not this again.”
“He likes you,” Bexli told her friend, stilling the urge to laugh.
“He’s only doing this because he knows how much it annoys me,” Tori grumbled, jiggling her foot and making Pog quiver.
“Would he do that?” Bexli asked, her voice dripping with innocence.
Tori folded her bare arms across her chest. “You know he would. I’ll bet he’s just waiting until we’re onboard to leave a few pellets on my bed.”
Vrax’s eyes widened. “Hey, that’s my bed, too, now.” He bent down and ruffled Pog’s fur. “No presents for me, okay? Keep those on her side.”
Pog purred loudly, and Tori glared at Vrax. “Very funny.”
“Yep.” Holly pointed at the round puff of green fur. “That’s exactly what the ship sounds like. No spluttering. No jerking. It’s a fucking dream.”
“I can’t wait to fly it.” Caro rubbed her hands together briskly as she walked up with Rukken behind her. “It’s been so long since I’ve flown a ship that wasn’t on its last legs.”
Tori squinted at the massive spaceship parked outside the Dothvek village, its gray hull dwarfing the sea of peaked tents, and even the sand dunes. “Then you’re going to love flying a Zevrian ship. It’s all about power and speed—and weapons.”
“My kind of ship.” Vrax nudged Rukken.
“If my mate is happy, I am happy.” Rukken rested a hand on Caro’s hip.
“How could I not be happy?” Caro said. “We’re back in action with an even bigger and better ship, and a whole new crew. Let’s see them call us babes, now.”
Tori flashed her pointy teeth. “Let’s see them call us bitches, now.”
“Speaking of new crew.” Bexli saw Max stepping out of her tent and waved her over.
Max ran her fingers through her short hair—which stood up in a few different directions—blinking rapidly as she walked up to the group. It was clear she hadn’t been awake long. “Is this a staff meeting I didn’t know about?”
Holly looped her arm through the other woman’s. “No. We rarely have staff meetings. That’s another thing you’re going to love about being a part of our crew. Danica hates meetings. We do all of our strategizing over meals.”
“And sometimes over drinks,” Tori added.
“Which you cannot have,” T’Kar reminded Holly.
“Shit.” She jutted out her lower lip in a mock pout. “If I can’t drink for the next nine months or so, you’d better be ready to keep me otherwise occupied.”
T’Kar bowed his head to her with a wicked smile. “You know it would be my pleasure.”
Tori cleared her throat, thumping the toe without Pog sitting on it rapidly on the sand and making the glurkin jiggle.
“Don’t be surprised if you have to come get me in my lab,” Max said. “I’ve been known to work through meetings and meals.”
Bexli winked at her. “We are bounty hunters, remember? We’re good at grabbing you from your lab.”
Max gave a wry smile. “Oh, I remember.” She leveled a finger at Bexli. “As long as you promise not to shift into anything scary to get my attention.”
Bexli put a hand on her belly. “I will not be changing into anything for a while, so you are safe—for now.”
Holly glanced at Bexli’s belly. “Fuck, Bex. You’re definitely showing more than me. You aren’t going to give birth before we make it on board, are you?”
Bexli felt Tommel tense behind her, and she looked up at him. “No. Lycithian pregnancies are fast, but not that fast. We still have time.”
Tori rocked back on her heels. “Zevrian medicine is pretty good, and the med bay on the ship is fully outfitted, but we are definitely looking for a medical officer at the first decent outpost.”
