by Laurie Roma
Orion smiled at his two friends who looked quite uncomfortable. “You might get a chance to find out, since Blaiz had been approved to replace me as ambassador.”
“I can’t believe they actually agreed,” Blaiz said, sounding a little winded.
“Of course they did,” Orion scolded. “All eleven advisors ruled in your favor. You are a seeker, and my recommendation. They will hold the ceremony in a few weeks once we are back home. You remember what I had to go through when I got appointed, don’t you?”
Blaiz sighed. “Damn, I forgot about that. That was a long day.”
Orion felt Morgan’s confusion through their bond and explained. “When I was chosen to represent the D’Aire as an ambassador, the Conclave held a small ceremony to appoint me. However, the day before the ceremony, I had to meditate in the Cavern of Silence—one of the most sacred places on our world.”
“It’s hot, damp, and totally creepy, because if you even whisper in there, it echoes so loud that your ears hurt,” Daven said with a wince.
“How would you know? You’ve never been in there,” Orion argued.
“I remember what you told us.”
“It’s a beautiful, peaceful place,” Orion corrected. “There is a pool of water that glows a bright green, and the cavern walls sparkle as if were made of precious gems.”
“It sounds pretty,” Morgan said.
Orion smiled. “You, my love, might be one of the few humans to see it for yourself. Since you are coming home with me, I suggest we speak to your regents to ask for you to be made an ambassador yourself.”
Morgan’s eye widened. “Me? Why in all the worlds would they make me an ambassador?”
“It’s an option to consider if you want to remain an officer in the Alliance.”
Shaking her head, Morgan reached for his hand. She hadn’t worn her gloves today, so she reveled in the feel of his bare skin against hers. “I want to focus on my new life with you. I don’t need to keep a tie to the past.”
Orion squeezed her hand. “When we return, you and I can both help my brother run the palace. I’m sure he will gladly hand over some of his duties to us.”
“Speaking of duties, we should leave if we want to get to the grand opening ceremony on time,” Blaiz reminded them.
They finished and paid for their meal, then made their way up to the top level of the space station on one of several elevators. As they stepped off the elevator into a large lobby, Orion noticed two massive doors were opened at the other end of the room that lead into the main chamber.
He started forward, but Morgan stopped him before he could follow the crowd of people through those doors, pointing to one side of the grand, double staircase that lead up to the second level.
“We’ll be able to see everything better from up on the balconies,” she told him.
The males followed her upstairs, and they entered the impressive main chamber. The large, circular space rivaled the most elaborate of ballrooms, and had the most spectacular view. The balconies ran around the back half of the room, but the entire front of the room had been made of thick, treated glass that made it look as if it wasn’t even there. The glass ran up above the balconies, until it met the metal ceiling, but the far side of the room made it seem as if people could reach out and touch a star.
“This is the showpiece of the station,” Morgan explained. “When the main room here isn’t being used for special events, the lower level is filled with chairs and couches so people can relax and enjoy the view. There are a few smaller meeting rooms up here on the balcony, but most of this was supposed to be specialty shops.”
“Why are they all empty?” Daven asked.
“The commander had to cancel the contracts with the shopkeepers, because we don’t know if it’s safe yet to have citizens here. Hopefully, when we reach an agreement with the Xenon, all of these stores will be filled.”
Orion looked down at the large room below and saw a sea of people waiting for the ceremony to begin. The four of them passed groups of people who were already on the balcony, and stopped when they reached an empty space. A stage had been set up in front of the glass window. Commander Jacobson and two regents were already sitting behind a podium that had been placed in the front of the stage.
When Regent Everett Marks stood up and walked to the front of the stage, the crowd went silent. He began to speak, and after several minutes, Daven whispered, “This guy sure likes to talk. I hope this ends soon.”
Orion leaned down and said, “I thought you said your friend, Olivia, was supposed to be giving the speech?”
“She was…or is. I think this is just an intro, and she’s going to speak next. I hope it’s soon, because I think a few people down there have passed out from boredom.”
Daven coughed to cover his laughter as Blaiz muttered, “Regent Marks is an ass.”
Morgan turned to him in surprise. “Why do you say that?”
Shrugging, Blaiz said, “He’s a self-entitled prick, who loves his position more than he cares about doing his job. Orion, you agree, don’t you?”
Orion shifted on his feet, then sighed. “He is not my favorite person.”
Another few minutes went by, and finally, Regent Marks introduced Commander Jacobson. Morgan shook her head as there was a stilted round of applause from the audience. “He makes it sound like no one here knows who she is. She’s been commander here since the entire crew boarded.”
Olivia stood up and walked over to the podium. She scanned the crowd, then said, “Alpha Station: X21 is officially open. Thank you for coming.”
The crowd when wild, yelling and clapping as Olivia left the stage. Morgan burst out laughing. “Hold on, let me catch her before she leaves. I’d like to tell her we’re bonded, and introduce you to her.”
Morgan hurried from the balcony and down the stairs just in time to catch Olivia coming out of the doors below. She caught the commander halfway to the stairway leading down to the lower level. “Hey! Nice speech, Commander.”
Olivia turned, grinning. Her smile disappeared as she saw Morgan. “You look nice, but why are you out of uniform?”
Morgan looked down, since she’d forgotten she was wearing a dress. “About that, there is someone I want you to meet. A few days ago, I discovered that I’m Ambassador Orion D’Sil’s keeper. I…I think I’m going to leave with him to live on his home world.”
“Holy nova, you’re bonded? I’m so happy for you, Morgan! Go, enjoy your life with him, and don’t look back. You fucking hate your job, so there’s no reason for you to stay here. But I expect you to call or visit every once in a while.”
“I promise, I will.” Morgan got a little choked up as she hugged Olivia, then pulled back. “I love him, Olivia. I never knew I could feel this way about anyone. I wish you the same happiness I’ve found with Orion.”
Olivia smiled, then froze as her gaze tracked over to look at something behind Morgan. “Ah…why don’t you stop by my office before you leave. I’ve gotta go now.”
Bemused, Morgan watched as her friend walked away. Understanding struck when the two Tavish brothers hurried after Olivia. She smiled and turned around, intending to head back upstairs to join Orion.
People were flooding out of the main chamber, and Morgan had to weave her way through the crowd in order to get back to the staircase. She’d just reached the steps when someone grabbed her arm, jerking her into the hallway that led to the restrooms. Her breath left in a rush as her back was slammed up against the wall, and her eyes widened when Lorn T’Mir sneered down at her.
“You stupid little human,” he snarled in disgust. “You told Orion not to endorse me as ambassador, didn’t you?”
Morgan didn’t need to read him to tell how much he hated her, but his revulsion and rage began to seep into her like an oily, malevolent invader. The bond she had with Orion kept her from getting overwhelmed, but her own temper still flared to life. She jerked away from Lorn, and glared at him. “Get your fucking hands off me!�
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Pushing past him, she headed out of the hallway, not wanting to be trapped with the angry male. He grabbed her again right before she was out in the open, but this time he gripped her shoulder hard enough to bruise.
“Not so fast, you human bitch. I’m not done with you yet. I know it was you. I’ve heard you’re an empath, and you can’t keep your nose out of everyone’s business.”
She jerked away from him as an angry snarl filled the air. Morgan turned to see two of her friends coming toward them. The twins, Rhen and Sabar Torven, had come to X21 to set up a trading post in preparation for the Xenon joining the Alliance. Sabar pushed a Tarin female behind him as he and his brother stepped forward. Both males’ amber eyes were burning with anger as they stared at Lorn.
“Watch your fucking mouth when you speak to her,” Sabar growled.
“And if you touch her again, we’ll have to rip your hands off,” Rhen added.
Lorn sneered at them. “Mind your own business, cats.”
“Our friend is our business,” Sabar corrected.
“Morgan? Are you well? I can feel something is wrong.”
She relaxed a little when she heard Orion’s voice in her head. “I was just about to come back up to you when Lorn grabbed me. He knows I’m an empath, and that I’m the reason he isn’t going to be an ambassador.”
“I’m coming to you, my love.”
Morgan felt comforted that he was coming to her, but she wasn’t about to back down from the asshole in front of her. Before Rhen and Sabar could respond to Lorn, she blasted him with her own wrath as she moved to stand out in the lobby
“It’s not my fault you aren’t getting the job. It’s yours. Why the hell did you want to be an ambassador when you hate humans? Oh, and by the way, I can tell you hate the Helios, too.”
Lorn bristled with his rage, and his face turned red. “You know nothing! How dare you lie to your keeper just to make yourself important! You will retract whatever you told Orion, and tell the truth.”
“I am telling the truth, and you fucking know it!”
Lorn started to lunge at her, but before he could touch her, a loud bellow of rage sounded from above. Morgan looked up in time to see Orion flying toward them. His shirt was hanging in tatters around his torso, and she realized that his wings had burst through the material.
She scrambled back just in time to get out of the way as Orion flew right at Lorn, shoving him into the wall so hard that plaster crumbled down around them. Orion slammed his fist into Lorn’s face, dropping him to the ground unconscious with one hard punch.
Orion turned, and wrapped one arm around her waist as he cupped her cheek with the other. “Are you well, keeper? I can feel your shoulder aching. Did he hurt you anywhere else?”
“I’m fine, my love,” Morgan said, trying to soothe him. She pulled his head down to kiss him, then said, “You sure know how to make an entrance.”
“All is well here, then?” Rhen asked.
She turned to smile at the two Helios males. “Yes, thank you for coming to my aid.”
Both Rhen and Sabar nodded to her, before walking away with their Tarin female between them. It was then that Morgan realized that the female with them was Laesa Fen, an artist that had recently come to X21.
Orion watched as the Helios left. “Those are the two males you were with the day I met you.”
“You saw me talking to them in the docking bay?”
“Yes, but I was too overwhelmed by your beauty to pay much attention to them.”
Blaiz and Daven rushed down the stairs as Ivan and a couple of security officers hurried across the lobby to join them. Blaiz looked down at Lorn laid out on the floor and grinned. “I bet that felt good.”
“It did,” Orion agreed.
“What happened here?” Ivan asked.
Orion stared him down as he said, “Lorn put hands on my keeper.”
Ivan sighed. “I knew he was upset when Adric told us that we were not going to be chosen to replace you, but I never thought he would do something like this.”
One of the security officers glanced over to Orion and Morgan. “What do you want us to do with this?”
“Toss him out of the airlock,” Orion ordered.
Morgan chuckled. “As much as I would like that, I don’t think we can do it.”
“Fine,” Orion growled. “Take him to Adric M’Dor. He can take him home, since there is no way I’m letting him on our vessel after what he did to my keeper.”
“I will do that, but first, I think we’ll stop at medical,” Ivan said. He gave them a small bow of his head. “I will also ask Adric to take me home so you can have time alone with your keeper.”
They watched as Ivan helped the security guards carry Lorn to the elevator. When they were gone, Morgan said, “Let’s go home.”
Orion nodded. “Yes, I want to examine every inch of you as soon as we are back in our suite. I have to make sure he didn’t hurt you.”
“No.” Morgan wrapped her arms around his neck and smiled. “I meant, I want to leave here in the morning. I don’t want to wait a few more days. Let’s go home so we really start our life together.”
Blaiz grinned. “If we get the ship ready tonight, we’ll be ready to go by morning.”
Daven let out a whoop of joy. “Let’s take care of it right now.”
As they hurried off, Morgan laughed. “Well, I guess they’re okay with the idea.”
Orion brushed his lips against hers. “I’m happy to leave tomorrow. But I still want to examine you for injuries right now, Morgan.”
“And I’m going to enjoy every minute of it.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
The D’Aire home world was a magical place.
Morgan was in awe as she stared out of the shuttle at the planet in front of her. When she was in the Academy, she had learned about the D’Aire home world, but she hadn’t expected to fall in love with it the moment she actually saw it.
Because the air density was different then other planets, the world was made up of floating isles that were grouped into clusters. Some of the isles were big enough to house hundreds of D’Aire, while others were only big enough for one or two dwellings. The planet was larger than Earth, yet there were many miles between the island clusters, so it made the world seem infinitely bigger.
Anticipation made Morgan’s heart beat faster as their vessel flew toward the planet. Blaiz and Daven were currently in the control room, leaving Morgan and Orion in the lounge alone. She was sitting on his lap, curled into him with her head resting on his shoulder as she stared out of the window.
“We are almost home, keeper. It should only be an hour until we land.”
“Home…that sounds wonderful.” She hadn’t felt like she’d had a real home since she’d lost her parents and the crew of their ship when she was young. But now she had Orion, and wherever he was would be the place she called home.
“Any regrets?”
She lifted her head so she could kiss him. “Not a single one. I’m a little nervous about meeting your brother, though. But besides that, I’m just really excited.”
“Don’t worry, my love. Raiden and our entire clan will love you.”
Morgan sure hoped so. Raiden wasn’t just Orion’s brother, he was the leader of their clan, and the person the entire isle came to for guidance. Even if he didn’t like her, nothing would keep her from being with Orion. He’d just have to deal with her.
He chuckled softly as he hugged her closer. “You do not need to form a battle plan to get along with my brother.”
She sighed. “I know…I’m just being bitchy. It’s the nerves. I’m sure he and I are going to get along just fine. And if we don’t, I can just avoid him.”
He kissed her on the forehead, and stroked a hand up and down her arm. “Morgan, you are worrying for nothing. Trust me.”
Morgan knew she was being irrational, but she couldn’t help it. She did trust Orion…implicitly. Her trust in him was what made it easy
to walk away from her old life. It had been difficult to say goodbye to her friends on X21, but it was a small price to pay to be with the love of her life.
Orion leaned down to kiss Morgan, but he was interrupted when his wrist unit beeped. He looked at the display and smiled. “It’s Mya…finally. Let me transfer the call to the wall screen.”
Morgan shifted off Orion’s lap so she was sitting next to him as Mya Spartan’s face appeared on the screen. She was a beautiful woman with gray eyes and long, black hair. Morgan had been out of the Academy by the time Mya had gone there, but she had met the younger woman several times over the years through mutual friends and since Mya’s brother had been Morgan’s commander back on Earth.
“Hi, Uncle Orion—” Her jaw dropped open. “Morgan, is that you?”
Morgan grinned. “Hi, Mya. I’m Orion’s keeper. Do I get to call you my niece now?”
One of Mya’s eyebrows lifted. “Do you really want me calling you my aunt?”
Morgan winced. “Ah…no. Let’s forget about that.”
Laughing, Mya said, “Deal. This is incredible.” She paused to sniffle, and her eyes filled with tears. “Uncle Orion, you found your keeper. I’m so happy for you both.”
Orion had always felt affection for Mya, but since Morgan had unlocked his emotions, he could feel love for the young woman who had helped change his life. As he looked the screen, he noticed that Mya had a new mark next to her left eye that was different than the scroll mark on the right side of her face. It looked like an incomplete triangle inside a partial circle, and he knew that it was the symbol for the Adaro pack.
“I see you have some news to share with us as well.”
Mya reached up to touch the mark near her eye as she smiled. “I mated with Maddox, Daimon and Tavius Adaro. That’s part of the reason I called. We—”
“Mya, we need you downstairs. Maddox is about to kill your brother.”
Mya’s eyes widened as she turned toward someone off screen. “Jax is already here? I thought he wasn’t arriving until tomorrow.”
