by Laurie Roma
“Hi, Morgan! I didn’t see you sneak in. And I see you’ve got yourself some good looking wind riders with you. Welcome to Asylum,” she said cheerfully to the males. “I’m guessing you’re here for the grand opening?”
“Shay, this is my keeper.” Morgan gestured toward Orion, then she introduced Shay to the males.
The Krytos’ eyes went wide. “Holy shit storm, you’re mated?”
Morgan grinned at her friend. “Weird, right?”
Orion bristled beside her and squeezed her hand. “Why is it weird?”
“Because she usually avoids males like the plague,” Shay explained before Morgan could. “Damn, girl. Congratulation, he’s hot.”
“Careful, he’s mine,” Morgan warned with a laugh.
“Oh, I know. But I’m not blind,” Shay said with a wink. “Let me get your order before I get myself in trouble.”
They gave her their drink and food orders after she told them the specials for the day. After she left, Blaiz stared at Morgan from across the table. “I thought females got jealous when another expressed interest in their male.”
“Oh, we do, but…” Morgan pointed toward the bar. “Do you see that male she’s talking to? And the two guys standing near the entrance? Those extremely possessive, large males are her mates.”
Orion smiled at her. “That may be, but I still know that you didn’t like her complimenting me.”
She sniffed delicately. “So? I seem to recall you took exception to Daven kissing my hand earlier.”
“And that will be the last time that ever happens,” he promised darkly.
Daven and Blaiz laughed, then tried to hide their amusement as Shay returned to their table with their drinks. After her tray was empty, Shay tucked it beneath her arm and lowered her voice to a whisper. “Do you know who those Dragon Warriors are?”
That had Morgan’s head jerking up so she could scan the room. “What? I didn’t know there were any here. Where are they?”
Shay pointed to two cloaked figures with hoods over their heads that were sitting at a table a few feet away from the loud group of Reema males. From her vantage point, Morgan couldn’t see their faces because of their hoods, but she did notice that they seemed to have a large number of glasses in front of them. It was also strange, because it didn’t seem like either of them were talking. They were just sitting there, each of them taking a few sips from a glass before moving on to the next one.
“What’s with all the drinks?” Daven asked before anyone else could.
“At first I thought they were just weird when they ordered every drink we have, but I figured we’ve had stranger requests in here, so I brought them what they asked for…after they slapped a huge pile of credits on my tray. I was about to leave their table when one of them looked up, and I have to admit, it shocked me to see that her eyes were glowing.”
Orion nodded. “The Dragon Warrior eyes are unmistakable.”
“I wonder…can they get intoxicated?” Blaiz asked, studying their table.
Shay’s eyes widened in horror, but Morgan rushed to assure her, “As far as I know, it’s almost impossible for them to get drunk. And it would take a lot more than what they have there… like, a cargo container more.”
“Good,” Shay said with relief. “Because if those two tore it up in here, it would be a total shit show.”
“I don’t think we have to worry about that.” Orion glanced across the room. “I wonder who they are, though.”
Morgan bit her lower lip. “We have no Dragon Warriors on our list of visitors for the grand opening. The ones I know aren’t coming. I just spoke to my friend Alexis a few days ago. She just gave birth to twins, and she’s on Tartarus right now. Is the other one female, too?”
Shay turned to glance at the two cloaked figured in question. “Might be, but I’m not sure. As long as they don’t make trouble, I’m fine with them drinking as much as they want. Crap, they’re almost done with this round. I have to bring them another tray of drinks now. I’ll be back with your food in a few.”
After she left, Blaiz asked, “Do you think the Dragon Warriors are here because of the Xenon?”
“It would make sense,” Orion said. “If both of those races have been around as long as I believe, they might have a history we don’t know about.”
Out of the corner of her eye, Morgan saw someone enter the sanctuary. She smiled when she realized it was Olivia. “That’s Commander Jacobson. She’d a good friend of mine, and she’s totally going to freak out when she finds out we’re bonded. Let me call her over so I can introduce you.”
“You might want to wait on that. She doesn’t look happy,” Orion pointed out.
Morgan had raised her arm to call her over, but lowered it when she got a good look at her friend’s expression. Olivia looked ready to do battle, and her sights were set on Axton Tavish, who had just come out from behind the bar. Morgan flinched when one of the Reema reached out and slapped Olivia’s ass as she passed by their table.
When Axton let out a roar of rage and charged across the room, Morgan whispered, “Oh, shit…”
“Damnation,” Orion breathed, then he winced. “I’d heard that the Reema could grow back their limbs, but I’ve never seen someone rip one of their arms off before.”
“Should we call for security?” Daven asked. “Or perhaps a cleanup crew?”
Morgan shrugged. “I’m sure security will show up sooner or later. Stuff like this happens all the time. I wouldn’t worry about it.”
Orion, Daven and Blaiz stared at her in shock, but their attention was pulled back to the other side of the room as the other Reema stood up. When Axton struck the first Reema using his own bloody arm like a baseball bat, all hell broke loose.
“He’s beating that male with his own arm,” Daven said in awe. “That’s just—”
“Disgusting,” Blaiz interjected. “And very resourceful. I like his style.”
Morgan sipped her drink and watched the chaos with fascination since she’d never been around a fight without being affected by the raging emotions before. She wanted to laugh when Orion, Blaiz and Daven began to critique the brawl as if they were spectators at an event.
When the Reema with the missing arm stumbled back into a one of the cloaked figures, all the fighting stopped when he simply burst into bloody dust. As the two figures at the table slowly stood up, they pulled back their hoods to reveal two gorgeous, black-haired Dragon Warriors who looked so similar that they had to be related. The females exchange words with Axton, Zade, and Olivia, but they spoke so low that Morgan couldn’t catch what was being said.
Then, suddenly, both Dragon Warriors disappeared.
Morgan blinked. “That’s not something you see every day. What the hell just happened?”
“You mean the exploding guy or the Dragon Warriors disappearing?”
She waved her hand in the air. “I’ve seen the disappearing act before. Someone exploding…that’s new.”
Orion rubbed a hand over her thigh. “That’s apparently what happens when you piss a Dragon Warrior off.”
“Stars, Olivia looks like she has her hands full.” Morgan watched as her friend stomped out of the sanctuary with Axton hot on her heels.
Blaiz grinned. “Watching that guy explode was kind of badass.”
“And gross,” Daven added. “Looks like security is late to the party.”
As the elite security officers rushed to collect the wounded Reema, Shay appeared carrying a stacked tray. She set the tray down on a neighboring table before placing their plates in front of them. “Axton said this is on the house as a mating gift.”
“You mean the male who ripped that guy’s arm off?” Daven asked dryly.
“That was pretty fun to watch, wasn’t it?” Shay asked, beaming at them. “Isn’t he awesome? That’s why we love our alpha. He’s so subtle when he’s angry. Enjoy your food!” She laughed as she walked away from their table.
Morgan took pity on them and explained
. “Subtle isn’t a word that describes Axton, and they take pride that he isn’t. He’s the alpha here, even though he doesn’t like people calling him that. He basically lives by his own set of rules, but he takes care of his people, and can be a really good male to know.”
Daven frowned. “I’m sure that’s true, yet all Krytos alphas seem to be slightly…”
“Psychotic?” Blaiz snorted. “But that’s what makes them so entertaining.”
“That’s one way of putting it.” Orion paused to take a bite of his food and chew before saying, “All of the alphas I know have very strong personalities. It’s what makes them leaders.”
“Crazy leaders of more crazy Krytos,” Daven muttered around a mouthful of food as he watched one of Shay’s mates slam his fist into the face of one of the Reema that had been mouthing off before security could take him away.
“I’m still very curious to figure out who those Dragon Warriors are,” Orion said. “I’m also very interested to know if they were here because of the Xenon. I believe I’ll have to meet with Adric and Iyana M’Dor tonight to discuss some of this. I especially want to talk to them about who will be replacing me after this trip.”
Blaiz sighed. “Please tell me you aren’t going to choose Ivan. I can’t stand that jackass. Maybe Morgan should read him to make sure he isn’t as fucked up as Lorn.”
Orion didn’t want his keeper to read Ivan, even though the information would be helpful. But it wasn’t necessary since he’d already figured out a way to make sure someone worthy replaced him. “Actually, I’ve already made my decision.” He met Blaiz’s gaze and said, “I want you to take my place.”
Blaiz blinked, then sputtered, “You can’t be serious.”
“I believe you’re perfect for the position, Blaiz. You’ve been with me for years, and you’ve watched everything I’ve done. You know the rules, regulations, and the protocols. It would be a seamless transition.”
“Orion, I’m not as patient as you are. Daven would be a better choice.”
“Oh, no,” Daven said holding up his hands. “I’d make a horrible ambassador. I like to help, but there’s no way I want to run the show. Plus, I’m younger than you are. Orion is right. You’d make a great ambassador, Blaiz.”
“Well, shit…” Blaiz rubbed his fingers against his forehead as if he had a headache. “I wasn’t expecting this.”
Orion let his friend think for a moment as he took a sip of his drink. “It’s your decision, but I’d like you to accept the position.”
Blaiz shook his head. “You know it’s not that simple. The Conclave always chooses individuals with influential families to represent our race. My parents worked in your palace. I don’t have the background or the—”
“Don’t do that,” Orion ordered softly. “We are family. You and Daven have been brothers to me all these years. Your council has been invaluable, and I will be forever grateful for your friendship. You have helped me stay the course when I wanted to give up. And without both of you, I wouldn’t have found Morgan.”
Orion felt the warmth of Morgan’s love wash through him as she reached over and placed her bare hand on his arm. He swallowed tightly as he imagined the darkness his life would have been had he never met her. Placing his hand over hers, he held on, wanting that physical connection with her.
“Are you sure about this?” Blaiz asked carefully.
Orion nodded. “If you want the position, I’ll tell Adric and Iyana that you are my choice. They’ll agree with me, and with their backing, the Conclave will appoint you.”
Blaiz stared down at the table for a long moment. He cleared his throat as he looked back up. “Thank you, my friend. If the Conclave agrees, I would be honored to take on the duty of becoming an ambassador.”
Orion smiled. “Good. I will speak to them tonight.”
Daven shoved Blaiz good-naturedly. “Looks like I’ll be traveling with you. Orion has Morgan to keep him in line, so I’ll have to do my best to keep you out of trouble.”
Blaiz groaned, and they all laughed. Orion raised his glass, glancing at Morgan with a wink before smiling at his friends. “Let us toast to new beginnings.”
“To new beginnings!”
CHAPTER SIX
Beginnings…
It was something she’d had plenty of recently, Morgan thought as she stared out of the observation window, admiring the beautiful starscape in front of her. She found comfort in the vastness of space, with the brilliant display of colorful stars and gases that only added to its beauty. Somehow, witnessing just how small a part of the universe she actually was helped her deal with whatever problems she faced each day.
The observation deck on the fifth level was supposed to be reserved for VIP guests only, since that was where the guest suites were located. She was the only one in the observation deck, but that wasn’t unusual. It was late, and most of the VIP guests were either in their suites or enjoying themselves down in one of the bars.
Orion had a suite on this level, and she had agreed to stay with him there after he’d asked her. She hadn’t expected Orion, Blaiz and Daven to move all of her stuff up to the suite after they’d left Asylum, but Orion had insisted. She knew he disliked her quarters, and didn’t see a reason to argue when the guest suites were so much nicer.
Morgan had enjoyed getting to know Orion’s friends. Although they didn’t share blood, Orion, Blaiz and Daven were definitely like brothers. Instead of making her earn her place or treating her like she was an outsider, they all accepted her into their circle.
For the first time since she’d lost her parents, she felt like she belonged to a family.
They had ordered their evening meal from the food console in their suite, and they’d spent the evening together, laughing and telling stories. It had been wonderful hearing about the adventures the three of them had together in the past, and she’d loved hearing about Orion as a young boy.
After they’d eaten, Daven and Blaiz had chosen to return to the lower decks to join in the festivities. Since most of the crew didn’t have to work tomorrow due to the grand opening celebration, the parties were expected to go all night.
Orion had contacted Adric and Iyana M’Dor earlier, and was currently meeting with them down the hall in their suite. He had invited Morgan to go with him, but she’d declined, wanting a little quiet time to herself. In the last few days, she hadn’t had any time to herself, and though she loved being with him, she wasn’t used to being with someone all the time.
When the space station had been traveling to its current position, this had been Morgan’s favorite place to come when she wanted to be somewhere quiet besides in her own quarters. She liked the open space, and since the elites on board hardly ever ventured to this section of the station, it was almost always empty.
The deck was appointed with beautifully crafted, comfortable lounge chairs and couches so people could relax and enjoy the view. It seemed like a waste, since no one was ever there. It had been built when X21 had been slated to take over for one of the older space stations. If that had happened, all of the guest suites would be filled, as would the levels that housed the crew.
Right now, the Alliance was interested in forming a treaty with the Xenon, and having a location close by Xenthian was one way to make that happen. However, Commander Jacobson had limited the amount of personnel on board until the Alliance confirmed that the Xenons were indeed friendly. Otherwise, if they were attacked, too many lives would be lost.
Morgan had taken that risk when she’d accepted the transfer to X21 in order to start a new life. Being in a city as crowded as the Capital had been a nightmare for her, and she’d hoped that she would get a fresh start on the new space station. Despite missing Earth, Morgan had begun to make a life for herself, but she still hated her job and the overload of emotions she had to deal with.
But all of that could change.
Now, she had the chance for another new beginning. Orion was offering her the opportunity to live on th
e D’Aire home world with him. Their bond gave her a filter against other people’s feelings, but she wondered what it would be like to live on a world with the D’Aire who weren’t ruled by their emotions.
It was a dream come true, so why was she hesitating?
Morgan glanced down at the large craft bag at her feet that she’d brought into the lounge with her. The bag had once belonged to her mother, and one of Morgan’s fondest memories had been watching her mother crochet at night while her father had tried to teach her how to play chess. It was an old craft that wasn’t practiced much anymore, but Morgan liked the hobby of creating things with her own hands.
She pulled out the three small baby blankets that she’d made, one which she still had to finish the final touches on. The blankets were for her friend, Alexis, who had just given birth to twins. Morgan had started making the blankets when she’d first found out her friend was pregnant, but she hadn’t known the sex of the baby.
Morgan had made one blanket that was several shades of blue with silver accents, while the other had been made with several shades of pink and silver. Since Alexis had given birth to two boys, Morgan had started on another blanket, this time using gold with the various shades of blue. She only had a few more rows to complete, then she would wrap them up and send the gifts to her friend.
Setting the two completed blankets aside, she began to work on finishing the last one. As she formed the last double row with her hooked needle, she looked down at the pretty blanket in her hands and realized that this was the reason she was still holding back…because she would never make one for her own child.
No matter what Orion said, she worried he would regret having a keeper that couldn’t give him children. No, that wasn’t right. This wasn’t about him at all…it was about her. It had always been about her wanting children, and until she accepted that it was her problem, she would never truly be free to live her life with him.
It would be foolish to let something she couldn’t change hold her back from being happy. There was nothing to stop her from leaving X21 and starting a new life with Orion. A life free of worry and doubt. The more she thought about it, the more she recognized how stupid she was being not jumping at the chance.
