by Lucee Joie
“I hope they find one of these fliers and find out about what is happening. They may not know that it is us doing it but it might give them hope that they will see us again.”
Marir squeezes my arm once more before moving on.
Danika comes to sit by me. She looks concerned. “How are you feeling?”
“I am fine,” I say even though I am exhausted. The relatively sedate act of organizing the fliers today has worn me out and I am embarrassed that such an easy task should do that to me.
“You’re not fine, I can tell,” she says as she continues to fuss over me.
“I don’t need to rest just yet,” I say as the radio crackles to life.
“Danika? Can you hear me?”
Danika rushes forward and speaks into the radio.
“Shirley?” she says. “Is that you?”
“We’re getting ready to land.”
Danika actually squeals with the news and I smile at her enthusiasm.
We have given the location via an encrypted line. Still, those in the room that are tasked with guarding us step to attention. They march outside and Danika quickly follows. They may be ready for danger but Danika obviously doesn’t care. Grabbing my cane, I struggle to follow her. My gait is slow, labored, and if anything should happen to her, I will not be able to help. I swallow back my fear, having to put my trust in our support members instead.
Even with my slow gait, I manage to get outside and position myself next to Danika before the ship sets down. The action of landing blows air out in all directions and it whips around us as we stand. My knuckles are white on the walking stick as I struggle to remain upright.
Danika is grinning so wide that I wonder how her face manages to stay together. If it weren’t for the wind, I would think there were tears in her eyes. Reaching out, I take her hand and she darts a grin in my direction.
As soon as we received word from the Prennia, Lacey enacted the online content. As we wait for the vessel to land, outlets across the galaxy are now receiving our message. Some of these outlets are publications, who will have received a press release. Whether or not they publish the information depends on how deep into the pockets of the Galactic Union they are. However, there is also a failsafe set in motion that will see a shortened release published to all the comment sections on their published articles.
As the doors to the Prennia open, I imagine that there is a flurry of activity online right now that will see people starting to talk about whether or not the information is true. I can feel my excitement rising at the prospect of a mutiny forming at this very moment.
“Shirley!” Danika calls and rushes over to embrace the woman.
Prince Ece approaches and I brace myself. Even knowing that he is a part of our team now I am still fettered with learned responses. After my initial hesitation, I carefully step forward, leaning heavily on my walking stick.
“Thank you for allowing us access to land,” Ece says.
“It was the least I could do after Danika tended to me,” I say, trying to sound friendly.
“Please, come inside, have something to eat,” Marir says, reaching out to Shirley and beckoning the group forward.
As she leads Shirley and Ece inside, I watch as a mass of women swarms out of the ship. There are so many that I lose count of them. They are smiling, looking around, and taking in their new surrounds. I watch as they gaze around, awe presenting on all of their faces to varying degrees. I can’t help but smile at them. Danika leans in, resting her head against my shoulder. She wraps her arms around my waist, supporting me as I sag into her.
“How happy do they all look?” she asks. “And it’s all thanks to you and your kind for allowing them to land here safely.”
I stand taller, straightening, and turning to her. “No, it is because of you that they are here. If you hadn’t helped me when I needed it, hadn’t shown us just how wonderful you and your kind are, Marir would never have let you set down here. No, all of the credit falls to you.”
I lean in and kiss her. Our lips meet and my world shrinks down to this single moment. Regardless of what happens next, there will always be this embrace.
“I love you, Danika,” I breathe through the kiss.
Danika opens her eyes and stares at me as she breaks away. “I love you too, Bivir.”
I never want the moment to end.
“No!” the word is abrupt, short, and I turn as soon as I hear it, confused as to what is happening, what chaos is encroaching in on our moment.
Missy is at the back of the crowd, having finally exited the Prennia. I only know her from pictures online and she is easily recognizable with her long black hair.
She is being held by two Qorcin. I squint in confusion at the scene as Missy struggles against her captors. The slow dread that has been coiled in my belly since news of that strange incident onboard the Prennia rears up now and I am terrified by the implications. Still, it is also somewhat of a strange relief to finally know the outcome.
“Stop!” Ece shouts and both he and another Ochek I assume to be Horgeer rush towards Missy. They are pulled up short, though, when one of the Qorcin puts a gun to Missy’s head.
“Step one foot closer and I will remove her brains.”
I watch as Ece and Horgeer freeze. The Qorcin are not a race to be messed with. Squeezing Danika’s hand, I wrap my other arm around her, sheltering her from the situation. Not that that will do anything to protect her against this fearsome breed should they decide to attack.
“Where are you taking her?” Ece asks as they back up into the Prennia.
“She will make a fine ransom when we return her to the emperor.”
I gasp in horror at the situation and watch as the hatch slams shut. Then, the Prennia whizzes to life and takes to the sky while we all stare up at their departure.
I turn to Danika. I may have my one true love but the Union is obviously not going to allow us to settle into our good life just yet.
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Are you curious about Lacey’s story? Find out how she wound up in Area 51 today!
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OTHER BOOKS BY LUCEE JOIE
Warrior of the Stars (Galactic Union #1)
Defender of the Stars (Galactic Union #2)
My Area 51 Alien Prize
My Cocky Farmer
Bite Me
COMING SOON
Empress of the Stars (Galactic Union #4)
Zilzah’s story (Galactic Union #5)
