The Alien’s Equal: Drixonian Warriors #7

by Maven, Ella

  My mouth went dry, and my head spun as it cast back to memories I’d shoved to the far recesses of my mind. Just from my description, she’d managed to draw my village where I’d grown up with Daz and Sax, complete with the sturdy moke tree that grew in the center of our village.

  I’d swung from those branches and carved my initials in the trunk. In front of that tree, I’d told my mother about my dreams, and she’d told me I could achieve them. I always thought I’d return again in this lifetime. But now … I’d only see my mother in my dreams, and I’d only touch that tree in my imagination. I closed my eyes as the pain of seeing my past, when I so desperately wanted it to be my future, proved too hard.

  “Did I not get it right?” Justine murmured at my side, uncertainty creeping into her voice. “I’m sorry, I tried—”

  “It’s perfect,” I whispered, my eyes still closed.

  She hesitated. “Then why aren’t you looking at it?”

  “Hurts,” was all I could say.

  Paper rustled, something hit the floor, and then small hands gripped my face. I opened my eyes to look into my mate’s dark brown orbs as she straddled my lap. “Nero.” Her thumbs brushed my cheeks as her brows dipped. “What’s wrong? I thought you were just tired before, but something’s bothering you. Your aura is off. Talk to me.”

  “I’m not as good at promises as you think. To you or myself. I let down the memory of my mother.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “We can’t go home.” My voice cracked. “We can’t return to Corin.” I explained what happened in the walls of Alazar when we’d captured the Uldani commanders. I didn’t get into the gory details but told her enough of what happened to make it clear we wouldn’t be able to rebuild on Corin.

  When I was finished, Justine wrapped her arms around my shoulders and pressed my face into her neck. I held her tightly, reveling in the warmth of my mate’s body and the soft fluttering of her aura in my mind.

  “You didn’t break a single promise to me,” she said her hair smoothing over the top off my short hair. “So, don’t worry about that. But I know how badly you wanted to return home, and for that I’m so sorry.”

  She pulled back and pressed a kiss to my eyelids, then another on my nose before she nuzzled it. “But don’t think for one second that you let yourself or your mother down. She, along with your sisters, would be so proud of the warrior you’ve become. Think of all you’ve done for your brothers, for us women. Home isn’t a place, but people. And we have our people here. You have me anywhere.”

  Her fingers dug slightly into my cheeks as she continued. “I still have hope we will find a way home. But even if we don’t, you didn’t let anyone down. You have to look back at all you accomplished, and not what you didn’t. We’re all happy and safe and healthy. This clavas will soon have new babies.” She pressed my hand to her heart. “We have each other.”

  Warmth flooded my body as I closed the distance between us to press a kiss against her lips. All thoughts of promises fulfilled and failed left my mind as I focused on my mate’s words. She was right—I couldn’t focus anymore on the dead. I had to look at what I had in front of me. My cora-eternal.

  My cock plumped between us and poked the small scrap of fabric covering Justine’s cunt. The memories of our time together in Gram’s bunker sent zings of pleasure through my blood.

  My mate’s body was so soft, and the heat of her cunt seared the tip of my cock. “I want you,” I murmured as I nuzzled the thin skin of her neck. I skated the tips of my fangs along her collarbone and she sucked in a breath as her hips rolled in my lap.

  I slid the straps of her shirt off her shoulders and tugged down the front until the fabric pooled under her magnificent breasts. Drawing one of her nipples in my mouth, I sucked as her fingers dove into my hair and gripped a horn. “Yes,” she whispered.

  I rolled my tongue piercings around the hard bud before switching to the other nipple, all while Justine moaned softly above me. She reached between us and wrapped her small fingers around my cock. When she squeezed, my head fell back, and I let out a long groan. She stroked me, twisting at the head, and flicking the pierced ring. I jerked up into her hand, seeking her heat and was rewarded when she rose on her knees, her breasts, red and wet from my attentions, filling my vision.

  With a soft smile, she pushed the fabric of her panties aside and slid down onto my cock. Wet heat enveloped me, and a low hiss left my lips as I gripped her hips. I dug my fingers into her flesh, and she rewarded me with a toss of her head and a bounce. My cock sank into her to the hilt.

  “Come on and fly, little bird,” I murmured, staring into her warm brown eyes. “Take me with you.”

  She bit her lip and began to ride me. Her hips churned as she plunged up and down on my cock. I cupped her breasts, loving the weight of the soft skin in my hands. I plucked at her nipples, which made her cry out. Head thrown back, body arched, she flew, and I went with her. I came on a shout, and her inner walls rippled around me as she panted out my name while she came too.

  Her body fell limply on mine, and I wrapped my arms around her slender shoulders while she caught her breath, face pressed into my neck. Her hands slowly stroked my chest, and I prushed for her, the vibrations soothing me, and causing her to let out a happy sigh.

  “I love you, Nero,” she said softly. “I know that’s not a word you Drixonians use. And some humans take that word lightly, but I don’t.” She drew back and brushed her hair from her flushed cheeks. “I’ve only ever I said that word to my sister. It means everything to me. So, I need you to know. I love you. I love you more than I thought I could love someone. Thank you for being my mate, and for letting me fly.”

  I pressed a kiss to the tip of her nose as the weight of my burdens lifted from my shoulders and flew away, like dust in the breeze. “I love you, too, little bird.”

  Fifteen

  Justine

  Miranda narrowed her eyes at me suspiciously, and then turned to Frankie. “Can you ask Daz if there are body snatchers on this planet? Because some happy-go-lucky and disgustingly-in-love alien has invaded our friend. Not that I’m complaining. They can keep the old Justine. I like this one better.”

  “Hey!” I laughed as I shoved her with my shoulder. “That’s mean!”

  Miranda grinned and wrapped her arms around me. “I’m just kidding. I would totally get you back if you were body snatched.”

  “I’m just … happy,” I said with a shrug. “And it’s not even just Nero, it’s everything. The war is over. I’m damn proud of myself for my part in it, and Frankie is about to pop.”

  “I am not,” she groused. “I still have a few months left with this boulder in my belly.” She pointed to her protruding stomach, which was lopsided.

  “Are you… asymmetrical?” I asked, tilting my head.

  She rubbed her stomach with a wince. “Yes, his little head is down, but his butt is stuck under my right rib.”

  “His?” Val asked, rubbing her own swollen stomach.

  Frankie shrugged. “It’s just a guess. I feel like it’s a boy, but I could be wrong.”

  The eight of us women—now all mated, including Anna—sat around the bonfire while the warriors around us drank and roughhoused to celebrate the Uldani defeat. Many of them were subdued, but that just meant there was more to drink for those who wanted to blow off steam.

  We’d been home for four days, and most of that time had been spent sleeping and healing as we all sought to catch up on rest.

  The Kaluma returned home, and said they’d return, as they wanted to learn more about what might have happened to their stolen warrior. As much as Bosa annoyed the shit out of me, I kind of missed the jerk.

  I wrapped a fur around my shoulders and leaned into Miranda’s legs from my position at her feet in the dirt. She sat on a log above me, running her fingers through my hair.

  “So, Franke is due first, then Val, and then Reba, right?” Miranda asked.

  All heads nod
ded except for one—Naomi. Her cheeks flushed red in the light of the fire. “Um, I have news.”

  Miranda’s hand dropped from my hair as I scrambled onto my knees. “No way!” I cried

  Naomi’s eyes glistened, and a grin split her face as she bobbed her head. “I’m pregnant.”

  Squeals and cheers went up among our little group, and apparently we got so rowdy that Gar ran over immediately from wherever he’d been—surely watching his mate like a hawk as usual—to stand over Naomi with a low growl rumbling from his chest.

  We froze mid-celebration, not that we thought Gar would hurt us, but his body language clearly said back off. Naomi pushed on his solid chest. “Stop that. I just told them the news. They’re excited.”

  Gar’s expression immediately went soft as he crouched down to rub his massive hand over her belly. “How’s my daughter?” he murmured in a gentle voice I’d never heard him use before.

  “She’s like the size of a pea,” Naomi giggled. “She’s fine.”

  “When did you find out?” I asked.

  “A few days ago, right before Gar left for the battle. Only he and Val knew. I wanted to keep it a secret until you returned. I couldn’t share the news without you here.”

  I lunged forward and hugged her as tightly as I dared with Gar still crouched behind her. He rose slowly and with a kiss to the top of her head, let us be.

  We chattered about how she was feeling—fine, no morning sickness—and how Gar reacted—he’d lost his mind and was even more protective than normal.

  “How about you?” I asked Miranda. “You and Drak making any babies?”

  Miranda shook her head. “Anna taught me how to use the rhythm method. It was how she avoided getting pregnant for five years until her and Tark were ready. Drak and I need more time, something we both agree on.” She grinned. “Plus, I’m going be busy being an aunt. We’ll have babies when we’re ready.”

  I looked to Tabitha, who was poking at the dirt with a stick. “And you, Miss Tab?”

  “Uh,” she shrugged. “We’re not doing a thing to prevent it, so I guess… Fatas will decide.” She rolled her eyes. “Xavy wants like … a dozen children. I told him I wasn’t birthing a baseball team, and he doesn’t know what that means, so he’s been telling everyone I’m giving him a team of balls.”

  I snorted. “That sounds like Xavy.”

  “Well, Anna, I’m going to need to talk to you. If I managed to avoid getting knocked up now, I’d like to get on that rhythm thing.”

  Anna gave me a thumbs up. “Just knock on my door and I’ll get you set up.”

  “I feel a bit like you inherited seven daughters along with Bazel,” Frankie said to her.

  Anna clasped her hand. “No, I don’t feel that way. And even if that was true, I love every minute of it. I was alone except for Tark for five years, then only Tark and Bazel for another five. It’s been a blessing to have friends again.”

  “I think we’d be stumbling around in leaf underwear if it wasn’t for you,” I said.

  When the conversation switched to clothing patterns, I found myself zoning out and scanning the crowd for Nero. Ever since our talk, he’d been happy, but I could still sense he and his brothers were unsettled. I finally spotted them sitting by a hut in the near dark, huddled together with serious faces.

  The talking around me slowly started to drift off, and I caught Frankie also stealing glances back at the group of warriors, her hand resting on her stomach.

  She caught my eye and gave me a sad smile. “Daz has been unsettled.”

  “I meant to talk to you guys… I’m worried about Sax,” Val admitted, her expression strained. “He’s not himself. He spends a lot of time brooding while cleaning his already spotless bike. Sax doesn’t brood!”

  “Xavy either, but he’s also been brooding.” Tabitha pouted. “I’ve tried blow jobs and everything. I even offered butt stuff.”

  “Jesus, Tab,” Reba muttered.

  “Well, I did!” Tabitha rounded on her. “And you know what he said?”

  None of us answered because none of us really wanted to know.

  “He said,” Tabitha continued. “Maybe another time.” She widened her eyes. “Another time? What male says another time to anal?” By now her voice was shrill and a few warriors looked like they were eavesdropping. From the huddle, Xavy’s head went up and he narrowed his eyes at her. “Shit, he probably heard me,” she muttered.

  “Well, you were yelling about anal,” Miranda deadpanned. “Pretty sure the entire clavas heard you.”

  “Whatever,” Tab huffed. “My point stands. He’s not okay. None of them are.”

  “They want to go home,” I said. “That’s all Nero has wanted but they have no way to get there. They don’t have a way to contact their allies, and they have no aircraft. The Kaluma’s spacecraft no longer works.”

  “I think Sax is most upset about Rex,” Val said softly, leaning in so they warriors with ridiculous hearing wouldn’t hear us. “He won’t talk about it, but that’s hitting him hard. Ever since he heard his brother might still be alive, he’s held out hope for a reunion. To learn his brother might not be … the same…” she shook her head. “He is not dealing well.”

  “Daz either,” Frankie agreed. “He already blamed himself for Rex’s death. Now he blames himself for whatever Rex has become if he’s still alive.”

  That news had been a blow to me when Nero explained what the Uldani commander had confessed to. They’d always known experimentations were a possibility based on what they’d done to Sax—trying to inject him with a drug that triggered an impulsive mating reaction. But the idea they had altered Drixonian warrior bodies to turn them into better soldiers… I’d shuddered, imagining some fucked up Wolverine shit. If Rex was still alive … what was he like? Did he know who he was? What did he look like? And most of all—how many warriors were out there who’d been changed?

  “We have to be there for them as best as we can,” Frankie said, straightening her shoulders and giving us all a serious look. “I think they didn’t care much about this being a temporary home when it was just them. But now four warriors are looking at chits on the way, and they all want to build a lasting home like the one they had. It’s up to us to show them that home is wherever we are together. Whether that’s here or another planet.”

  We all nodded. I liked when Frankie led. She could be a little silly and flighty at times—her mind seemed to go off on tangents often—but she had a huge heart, and she always seemed to know what to do when it came to people. Like Tabitha, she was socially smart, and I always looked to her to show me how to act when it came to feelings. With Nero was the only time in my life that interacting with another person came naturally. Maybe it was because we were so in tune. Being in each other’s heads sure helped.

  I glanced up when I spotted movement among the group of warriors. They stood, as if their meeting had ended, and each made their way to the fire—and their respective mates. I wondered where Hap and Shep were, but then it wasn’t unlike them to hole up in their hut alone.

  Nero sank down onto the log next to me and wrapped his arm around my shoulders. “Hi, little bird.”

  “Hi, mate,” I answered.

  His eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled. It never failed to put him in a good mood when I called him that. “What have you females been discussing?”

  Over my dead body would I tell him we were worried about them. As Frankie said, we needed to show them this could be a home. “Oh, just stuff. Some decorating ideas for the dining hall. Some kitchen improvements.”

  His eyes went soft and he brushed my nose with his. “That all sounds good.”

  I gazed around the fire to see Naomi cradled on Gar’s lap while Ward rubbed Reba’s swollen feet. Val lay on her side, head resting on Xavy’s lap while he stroked her hair. Anna and Tark talked quietly about Bazel’s antics for the day, while Miranda and Drak cuddled so close they looked like one person. Frankie stood between Daz’s legs,
his hands encircling her belly as he pressed a kiss right above her protruding belly button.

  In the distance, I saw Hap and Shep playing with Luna, and Rufus slept on his giant paws on the doorstep of the hut where Bazel slept.

  I pressed a kiss to Nero’s temple. This was all we needed. This was home.

  * * *

  Nero

  A banging woke me from a deep sleep. I blinked my eyes open as Justine grumbled next to me. It’d been a late night around the fire, and while I hadn’t overindulged on spirits, I had on food, which left me feeling groggy and bloated.

  “Nero!” Xavy yelled from the other side. He couldn’t barge in anymore because I’d locked it from the intruding flecker.

  “Coming, give me a minute,” I hollered.

  The doorknob rattled as Xavy fought to get inside. “I hate this lock!”

  “Well I hate you interrupting my time with my mate!” I stumbled to the door, unlocked it, and threw it open. “What do you want?”

  He was dressed, but barely. His pants were wrinkled, like he’d pulled them on from the floor, and one boot was untied. “Daz said we have to report to the gate. We have visitors. It’s Gram.”

  My heart pounded. This couldn’t be good. He said he’d mind his own business and how two rotations later he was at our gates. Our warriors who’d stayed behind returned home yesterday. “Is he alone?”

  He shook his head. “He has two more Uldani with him?”

  I pulled on my pants. “Only two?”

  “What’s going on?” Justine called.

  She padded toward me wearing only a large shirt. I pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Gram’s here.”

  “Here?” Her eyebrows rose and then she dashed off. She returned a second later wearing pants and her hair piled on her head in a tie while I was still getting into my boots. I didn’t bother telling her stay in our hut. She wouldn’t have listened anyway, and I promised I’d never ground her.

  When we left my hut, we jogged our way to the front gate, which were open. Standing just inside was Gram and two Uldani. They wore weapons, but all were sheathed, and stood at ease speaking with Daz and Sax. When Gram caught sight of me, he nodded, but his smile spread when he saw Justine.