“Ah. Yes. I would apologize for my clan arriving first, driving back the Suhlik, saving the majority of the colony and the colonists’ lives, but no. I have nothing to apologize for.”
“You disobeyed the Council’s orders. You are unfit to lead this clan.”
Kalen huffed, attention still on Rohn’s abdomen. “You would think for such an ambitious idiot, he’d have a fancy speech prepared for his moment. It’s like listening to an amateur,” he muttered. Rohn grunted in agreement.
“I accept your challenge, Antomas. Is your clan ready to go on without you?”
“Is your clan ready for a male fit to lead them into battle?”
They drew swords. Paax’s crackled with blue energy along the edge.
With no prompting, they surged together, blades clashing. Nakia didn’t know anything about sword fights or even action movies, but it appeared as if Antomas drove Paax backward, like he led the fight. The crowd remained silent, collectively holding their breaths. Just when it appeared as if Paax’s back was to the wall, he ducked, slipping around the shorter male, and jabbed him in the side with an unseen dagger.
Antomas roared with frustration, the dagger embedded to the hilt in his flesh. He charged forward, but Paax sidestepped again, forcing the other male to face Paax on his terms. Antomas rushed in again. With an elegant step back at the last moment, Paax’s blade bit into the male. A growing red slash decorated his tunic.
“A dirty trick,” Antomas spat.
“No, it was foolish of you not to know all the weapons your opponent carried.”
They surged together again. This time Antomas kicked at Paax’s feet. The warlord lowered his blade, allowing the other male to stumble forward. He had complete control, treating the situation like a dance, meeting his partner, then releasing, then meeting again. It was almost like watching Princess that one time she caught a mouse. She toyed with the creature until it was too exhausted to run, then she devoured it, nose to tail.
Paax knocked the blade from Antomas. “I will allow you to yield, for the good of your clan. You fought well.”
Eyes wide with panic, the male rushed forward to grapple. Paax twisted the male’s arm behind him, forcing him to his knees. He brought the blade to the male’s throat—
Nakia closed her eyes. She didn’t want to see this part. She’d already witnessed one death that day. How did sunny, friendly Mercy deal with her husband fighting? Not knowing what happened every time there was a battle. As warlord, he had to lead the effort. And as warlord, he faced challengers. A lucky blow could end everything for them.
Kalen muttered about blood on his floor but otherwise kept his peace.
Antomas slumped to the ground, a pool of blood spreading underneath him.
The crowd remained silent. All Nakia could think about was Rohn’s promise to retire. Their future did not hold more of this grotesque display.
She caught her husband’s eye. Kalen closed the wound with a suture. “I want to go home,” she whispered. Anywhere with Rohn was home, and she wanted to be anywhere but there.
Chapter 20
Nakia
Finally back in their quarters, Rohn drew a bath. Carefully, as if she were made of spun glass, he undressed her. “Your leg?” he asked, removing her shoes.
“It’s fine to get wet. It’ll need to dry out after,” she answered.
While the tub filled, he put her in the shower stall to rinse off the dust of Vel Mori. Once in the hot water, he ran a soapy washcloth over her. Gently, he turned her, lifted her arms, and positioned her like a doll, all the while inspecting her for damage.
“I’m fine. I’m fine,” she repeated, willing it to be true. She was fine. The baby was fine. They were fine. Only she didn’t feel fine. She felt as fragile as Rohn treated her, and that made her angry. She was strong; resilient and did not require special handling.
She snagged the washcloth from his hands. “I’m not fragile. Please stop treating me like this.”
“Like you are precious? Vital?”
This man.
Her breath shuddered in her chest. “Rohn, I was so scared.” As scared as she had ever been, including when she had been trapped under the school all those years ago. But that turned out okay because Rohn was there, and today turned out okay, too.
By luck, her unhelpful mind supplied. Only luck. So many things could have gone wrong, if Rohn had arrived a few minutes later or if the knife had been a few inches over.
“I was scared too,” he said. He added shampoo to her damp hair and worked it into a lather, acting for all the world like her big, tough alien didn’t just admit to being scared. He massaged her scalp in silence. Nakia’s overactive mind calmed down, lost to the soothing kneading. “Rinse,” he said, a moment before cupping water over her head.
She leaned back, letting her hair fan out in the water. The stars surrounded her and her alien gently, ever so gently, washed away the shampoo from her hairline. Their eyes locked, the silence between them warm.
“I realized that I never told you I loved you,” he said.
“I know you do.” He may not have said it with words, but he said it with his actions, even his ridiculous jealous fits. “I pretty much knew when you did all that research on cat care.”
“Being accepted into Princess’s pride is an honor and a responsibility.” He pushed her up into a seated position. With just as much attentive care, he worked the coconut-scented conditioner into her hair. “But you deserve the words, and the fact that I never shared them with you consumed all my thoughts.”
They fell silent as he rinsed the conditioner from her hair. Then, “Kneel. Face the window.”
She positioned herself and he climbed into the water behind her. In the black mirror of the window, their images transposed over the scattering of stars. He planted his hands on either side of her, leaning in. The glow from his tattoos spread up his arms, burning brightly. “I love you, Nakia, with everything in my being.”
He kissed the nape of her neck, teeth scraping against skin.
“Please, Rohn,” she said, pressing her ass against him. The day had been such a rollercoaster. She wanted to feel him against her, inside her. “I need you.”
Their bodies joined, moving together. Water sloshed onto the floor as he pressed her against the window, steam condensing on the cold glass. This man had never treated her like she was less than capable and always made her feel safe. Precious. At home, even in the stars. Wherever they were, as long as they were together, they were home.
* * *
Epilogue I
Jaxar
* * *
Jaxar followed the sounds of a hammer clanging into metal. He found a female in a dusty red jumpsuit standing over a pump, tools spread on the ground. Not Nakia. Perhaps she had seen something and could point him in the correct direction. This moon was too large.
“Thank God. Are you here to fix the filtration unit?” The female stood, brushing her hands on her thighs. Thick goggles obscured her eyes and her teeth appeared just a little too large for her mouth. Dirt and grease decorated her Terran face.
He had never seen anyone more lovely.
“Hello? Big purple dude?” She waved a thick gloved hand at him. “Am I even speaking the right language? Sangrin, right?”
“You’re Terran,” he managed to say. He wanted to lean in and breathe her scent, but he already knew she was the one for him.
“Nothing gets by you. So… you here to fix the filtration unit or not?”
“Why can’t you? Are you not a technician?”
“Yeah, well, it’s not like the most highly trained position. I took a six-week course to get certified. Mostly I check if the lights are green. If they turn red, I follow the manual.”
“Then follow the manual. That must have been covered in your six-week certification.”
“Oh, you’re a smartass. Turns out there’s nothing in the manual for when a great big fucking bomb gets dropped on your Breathe Right Mark II.” She
tossed said manual at him, hitting him solidly in the chest. “Now help me, or fuck off.”
He was in love.
* * *
Epilogue II
Nakia
* * *
Six Months Later
* * *
Rohn rubbed her lower back. She leaned back into the solid warmth of him, adjusting the wool blanket. There was a chill in the air, but it wouldn’t last long.
The sun, barely more than a blush of pink in the early dawn, rose over the horizon. The water turned silvery in the light, growing brighter as a new day ascended. She enjoyed this morning ritual with her husband, sitting on the stone beach and watching the sunrise.
Now that he had retired, Rohn remained busy as ever. As did she. They had so many things to prepare and arrange and a non-negotiable deadline. Despite their hectic schedules, they made the time every morning to enjoy the peace and quiet, and each other.
A sharp jab to her side made her gasp.
“What is it? Is it Baby Rokia?”
Nakia rubbed her stomach. “We are not calling our son that, and yes, he’s kicking.” The baby had been growing more restless, practicing somersaults and kidney punches on his mom. The baby still had approximately seven more weeks to go. Seven more weeks of back pain, swollen ankles, kicks, and constant pressure on her bladder. Awesome.
Rohn placed his hand over hers, their fingers intertwining. He gave a happy gasp as the baby kicked again.
It was pretty awesome, all things considered.
“Let’s get breakfast started,” Nakia said, accepting Rohn’s hand as he hauled her to her feet.
Rohn’s “little house” by the shore turned out to be a rather large house adjacent to a private cove. The beach wasn’t a white sand tropical escape but stone with cool, clear water. The winter promised dramatic storms with wind, waves, and snow, and Nakia couldn’t wait.
They climbed the stone steps up to the house. Nakia wasn’t sure how much longer she could make the journey up and down the steps on her own. The last days of the summer season were fading fast, but also her body was already ungainly. She feared how large she would swell in the next seven weeks.
The lights were already on in the kitchen. Yvonne stood next to the coffee pot, frowning at the buttons. “How do I turn this thing on again? Everything’s written in Sangrin.”
“It’s this symbol.” Nakia pressed the correct button. She sighed dramatically as the pungent aroma of coffee filled the air. She missed coffee so much. “You better hurry up. Momma needs her coffee,” she whispered to her belly.
Her parents arrived a month ago for a visit. The original plan had been for Yvonne to stay and help for a little while once the baby arrived, but considering the size of the house, both her parents being retired, and the distance between them and their only grandbaby, they planned to stay permanently. Rohn accepted the news that his in-laws intended to move in with enthusiasm. Her parents, for their part, were little more reserved about Rohn, but he shared an interest in sailing with her father. They spent their days on the water, coming home with their faces red and chapped from the wind.
For her part, she kept busy with medical appointments and classes. She considered taking a pastry cooking class, maybe then working in a bakery, but decided against it. What she baked was meant for loved ones, not the entire world.
Honestly, she had a whole new world of law to study, and the prospect excited her. After two years of classes on Sangrin law, she could take the bar exam and be qualified to practice on both Earth and Sangrin. She couldn’t say if there was a huge demand for a such a niche lawyer, but the idea intrigued her. Interstellar travel made lives more complex by the day and, legally, the old regulations didn’t keep up. Of course, managing to study with the baby would be tricky, but she wasn’t alone. Rohn fully supported her decision to go back to school and Yvonne was down for babysitting.
Rohn delivered a plate of toast, along with butter and jam. Without prompting, he buttered a piece and set it on the dish on the floor for Princess. The cat twined around his legs in a happy manner before licking the butter from the toast.
“I can't believe you feed my cat toast,” Nakia said.
“She likes the butter.”
“You spoil her and she’s going to get kitty heart disease.” Bringing Princess to Sangrin involved a few bureaucratic hoops and plenty of forms, but it wasn’t anything Nakia couldn’t handle. Immigration didn’t like the idea of tiny alien predators being imported, even as a family pet, so Nakia had to supply Princess’s entire medical history and verification of sterilization. Even with all that, Princess still had a three-month quarantine. Once she was released, Rohn spoiled her like true royalty and Princess lapped it up.
“I have been thinking about Rokia,” Rohn said, sitting a steaming mug in front of her.
“So not calling our son Rokia.”
“How about Jasper?” Yvonne suggested.
“Mom, no.”
“It was your grandfather’s name and is perfectly lovely.”
The name suggestions had been coming nonstop, along with her own research in baby name books and on websites, but Nakia hadn’t yet stumbled across a name that fit. With only seven weeks to go, she needed a short list of contenders. Hopefully when she had her son in her arms, she’d realize the perfect name.
“Do you object to familial names?” Rohn asked.
“No, just not Jasper.” The name conjured vivid memories of her cranky grandpa. She just couldn’t picture the moniker fitting a little baby.
“Rokan,” Rohn said. “It was my father’s name.”
Nakia repeated the name, tried to imagine herself shouting it out the backdoor, calling Rokan home to supper, or muttering it while she pushed him out of bed in the morning. “Rokan. I like it,” she said.
The baby gave a strong kick.
Okay, they were agreed. Rokan.
“I can’t wait to meet you,” she said, rubbing her belly. A year ago she worked too hard and lived a lonely life with her cat. She could never have imagined the hero she crushed on in her teen years would come back, bringing a family with him.
She was 100% behind Team Rokia and always would be.
Afterword
Thank you for reading Rohn and Nakia’s story. It took a long time (more than a year) but we got there.
I’m sure I got plenty of things wrong about living with an amputation. I have taken a few liberties with prosthetic tech (because this is science fiction) but I also sought advice and a sensitivity read. Even after all the input, I know I’ve still got things wrong. I apologize. I will do better. Representation is important and I want to do it correctly and with sensitivity.
Nakia was inspired by a conversation I had with my friend, Shu, who wanted to read about a heroine like her (living with serious health issues) who got her Happily Ever After. Hell ya I was going to write a book for my friend who had the biggest, kindest heart, but I had a commitment to write a few other books before I could get to hers. I regret that it took me so long.
Unfortunately, Shu passed from complications of lupus last summer. I can’t begin to tell you how much it sucks that lupus took her from her husband, friends and family or how much I miss her. I didn’t write my friend’s book in time and guilt kept me from putting words on the page. But I decided I was still going to write this book for her, because I told her I would, so I put on my big girl panties.
Guys, it was hard. The first time Nakia said something that reminded me of Shu, I cried. The second time it happened, it hurt just as bad. The weird thing is, the more Nakia took on aspects of Shu’s personality, the easier it got. So Nakia got a cat (Princess), and played video games and is now an amazing cook. That take no bullshit, don’t-treat-me-like-I’m-less attitude? All Shu. The cutthroat, cackle over your dead body while playing games is me. Shu would never abandon you to the murderbots and lock you out of the fort. Never.
My friend is gone but my memories of her are a little more permanent now in this b
ook.
So there you are, my good intentions and bumbling execution.
* * *
May is Lupus Awareness Month. Wear purple.
http://www.lupusawarenessmonth.org/
* * *
Shu participated in Extra Life, which supports Children's Miracle Network hospitals. She was the top fundraiser in the online game we played for three years in a row. Extra Life is an amazing organization and amazingly fun.
https://www.extra-life.org/
* * *
Thank you for reading!
* * *
This book had a few cameos by the heroes from the rest of the series.
If you want to know more about Vox and Carrie, you can catch up with Vox (number 4 in the series.) Or if Mercy and her warlord intrigue you, try Paax and Warlord’s Baby (number 1 and 5 in the series.) Kalen and Meridan’s story is book 2, titled Kalen.
About the Author
Join my newsletter and get a FREE copy of Claimed by the Alien Prince.
Get it at here:
https://dl.bookfunnel.com/jektemqay4
* * *
I write fun, flirty and fast stories featuring sassy heroines, out-of-this-world heroes, all
the mischief they can managed and plenty of steamy fun. Hopefully you want to read
them too.
I live in an old house with my husband and a growing collection of cats.
Follow my Facebook reader group for early teasers and whatnots.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/895051017325998/
Also by Nancey Cummings
Warlord Bride Index (with Starr Huntress)
Snowed in with the Alien Warlord
Rohn: Warriors of Sangrin Page 20
