by Hope Hart
Of that I’m sure. “But what if he wanted to help plan the ceremony?”
Nevada catches my eye, and we stare at each other for a moment before we both burst out laughing. Okay, so the chance that Vrex wants to have any input when it comes to our mating ceremony is low.
I’m still nervous though.
“You look beautiful,” Vivian says, and I smile at her. She’s helped me plan every aspect of this ceremony and even found me a gorgeous dress to wear. It’s a deep-crimson red that I never would’ve selected on my own. But once she bullied me into putting it on, I had to admit that the color actually works.
“I’d kill for your hair,” Ellie says. “Vrex is going to lose his mind when he sees you.”
“If I don’t barf down my dress first.”
Nevada smirks at me. “Buck up, champ,” she says. “You’re on.”
I groan, but I can’t help but laugh. “And so we’ve come full circle.”
Zoey steps up next to Alexis. “Beth has gone to let the guys know we’re ready. They’ll make sure that Vrex is right where he needs to be.”
I’m really doing this. I’m really committing myself to a fearsome warrior on an alien planet. And I can’t wait to do it.
“Okay, then,” I say. “Let’s go.”
We file into the small clearing next to the river and behind Rakiz and Nevada’s tashiv. Mating ceremonies are usually held in the larger clearing in the communal camp space. But when we filled in Rakiz on my plan, he kindly offered up the smaller, more intimate area away from prying eyes.
Beth is waiting outside the tashiv, and she beams at me, dancing in place. “He’s ready. We’ve got the chairs set up, and Rakiz is about to enter with Vrex from the opposite side.”
“Awesome.” I glance around, taking in the women who helped me put all this together. I wish Charlie were here to celebrate with us, but at least we know she’s safe. “Thank you, you guys. I couldn’t have done this without you.”
Nevada grins. “Anytime. Now we’re going to go sit down. Count to a hundred and then follow us.”
They all hug me and then walk away, and I blow out a breath as I wait. And then I follow, walking around the side of the tashiv. I have a moment to take in the clearing, and my eyes sting as my mouth drops open. Alexis and Beth have decorated the area with flowers and lanterns, and all of the warriors Vrex is on friendly terms with are here, most of them grinning as I arrive.
And then all I see is Vrex as he appears, scowling at Rakiz as they walk toward us.
Rakiz nods at me with a smile, and Vrex turns, his mouth dropping open as his gaze finds mine.
He glances around at the clearing, and then he’s stalking toward me, and tears roll down my cheeks at the look in his eyes.
Pure love.
He pulls me into his arms, and I smile up at him.
“So,” I say around the lump in my throat. “I thought a quiet mating ceremony was more our style. What do you say?”
“I say that the gods must have mistakenly given me the happiness owed to a much better male. But I’m not giving it back.”
I grin at him, and he brushes the tears off my cheeks.
“Is that a yes?”
“I’m afraid to close my eyes in case I might be dreaming.”
I give him a pinch, and he laughs. Then he brushes my lips with his, and I get the full-body tingle I get whenever this man touches me.
He pulls me toward Rakiz, and I realize a fire has been lit. Ellie explained how the mating ceremony works, and I grin, taking the golden bands out of the pocket that Vivian arranged to be sewn into my dress.
Vrex freezes as he glances back at me, staring at the bands in my hand.
“You are more than I could have ever wished for,” he says, his voice hoarse.
I grin at him. He doesn’t know it yet, but we’ll be leaving camp later today to honeymoon at his tashiv in the woods. While I love that he arranged for us to live at camp, we deserve some time alone.
I glance up at the green sky. Wherever Ilax is, I hope he can see how happy his friend is.
And I hope my dad can see how happy I am too.
The End
I hope you loved Protected by the Alien Warrior! I’m having so much fun with this series, and Charlie and her dragon are up next in Captured by the Alien Warrior!
The series isn’t ending there though— there are at least two more books coming this year, including Zoey and Tagiz’s story in Rescued by the Alien Warrior which is available for preorder now.
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