His Woodland Maiden

by Michelle M. Pillow

  “You feel it,” Sprout dismissed Harper’s question.

  “Yeah, what?” Rick wondered if there was another surprise lurking in his mind. Between his childhood friend and the woman he loved, his brain had been messed with more than he cared to think about.

  “Life.” Sprout pressed closer, her glowing eyes focusing in on his. “Purity.”

  At the word purity, Jackson and Dev both snorted back laughter.

  “Yeah, Rick’s as pure as new Sintaz snow,” Jackson muttered.

  “Shut your holes,” Violette whispered. “Don’t make her mad.”

  “I think she’s pretty,” Raisa answered.

  Sprout pulled back, glancing at Raisa and Violette before shaking her head like an exasperated mother dealing with children. As if coming out of her daze, she frowned at Harper. “What is that nagging question rattling around inside you?”

  “No question. I love him. I’m sure of it. No question. I want to be with Rick. Forever.” Harper’s arms pulled tighter as if afraid Sprout would take him from her.

  When Rick looked at the crystal, he felt calm, connected. Witnessing the faces of the others, he saw they were more apprehensive of the powerful being. Even the agents were moving quickly past them, not making eye contact. Two men hauled the dead agent into a transport coffin, while a third cleaned the mess.

  “No, of course you’re in love with him. That was true from the first moment.” Sprout looked pointedly at Rick. “You don’t remember, but you felt it too.” She then turned back to Harper. “Defect. Defect.” She waved her hands beside her head. “Ask already.”

  “When we landed the intake guard said I was defective and wouldn’t take me as a worker.” Harper faced the crystal while keeping an arm wrapped around Rick to keep him close.

  “That?” Sprout arched a brow. She glanced over Harper. “Oh.”

  At the flat intonation, Harper stiffened.

  “Oh!” Sprout’s tone changed to one of surprise. “A little Rick.” She pressed her hand against Harper’s belly. Harper stiffened, her eyes widening.

  Rick stared at Harper’s stomach. A baby? His baby? There were many adventures he’d dreamed up in his mind, but fatherhood was never one of them. What did he know about children besides the fact he’d been one? Though, he also never thought he’d find a love like Harper, either.

  “But I have… shots,” Harper mumbled, in just as much shock as he was over the news.

  “Hello, little star,” Sprout said to the stomach.

  Harper’s widened eyes met his and it looked like Sprout was petting his son.

  “Holy… did she say Rick…?” Jackson asked.

  “A baby!” Raisa squealed and clapped her hands.

  Sprout withdrew her hand. She grinned at Rick. “He’ll be a handful but raise him right, and he’ll have it inside of him just like you do.”

  “I can’t believe—” Dev began.

  “No!” Sprout shouted, lifting her finger to the side.

  Dev stopped talking in surprise.

  An agent carrying a box of engine parts paused on his way up the loading plank and held very still.

  “There will be no trackers built into the ship. Get it out of here,” Sprout ordered. The agent nodded. She gave one last look at Rick, “Until the future, old friend.”

  Her body dissipated as she whisked away, and they heard one last shout, “Agent Bauer, a word!”

  “I can’t believe it,” Dev repeated.

  “That I’m a hero?” Rick asked with a cocky grin.

  “No,” Dev denied. “I don’t think anyone used the word hero.”

  “You heard her. I saved like ten thousand people today,” Rick answered. “That makes me a hero.”

  “You’re still a space cadet,” Jackson quipped.

  “Six thousand, two hundred and ninety-eight lives,” Raisa corrected the total.

  “Is it that you can’t believe that I’m pregnant?” Harper hesitated before looking up at Rick. “I can’t believe it either.”

  “No. I can believe that. I know how babies are made,” Dev said.

  “He sure does.” Lucien appeared next to Dev. “Just ask the Murkernals.”

  Dev scowled at him.

  Lucien reached up to slap Dev’s back, completely unconcerned by the look. “Has anyone seen two sexy sisters walking around?”

  Dev pointed across the loading docks toward a door.

  “Thanks, big guy.” Lucien ran in the direction he indicated.

  “Sprout said they’re on the ship.” Raisa pointed a thumb over her shoulders.

  “I know,” Dev answered, smiling.

  “A baby was bound to happen to one of us sooner rather than later,” Violette said. “Congratulations, both of you.”

  “Little Star Rick Hayes,” Rick grinned. He slipped his hand onto Harper’s belly. “I could get used to that.”

  “Oh, no,” Harper shook her head. “We are not naming this baby Star.”

  “But you heard what the crystal said,” Rick protested.

  “Yeah, what’s with the eight crystals thing?” Jackson asked.

  Harper looked in the direction Sprout had disappeared to. “They’re a group of eight humanoid psychics who provide vital intelligence to the HIA. I’ve known about them, but this is the first time I’ve seen one. When they are certain about something, they’re never wrong, and when they give orders, we’re told to listen. Apparently, there was a planetary-ending event they tried to stop, but politics got in the way. Many Jagranst lives were lost. The way I’ve heard it, the crystals went into a compound and held themselves hostage until they had supreme authority to act on their predictions. They still live in the compound, away from humans, taking in the information we gather and analyzing it. I’ve never heard of one leaving. We’re not supposed to talk about them outside of briefings.”

  “Told you I was awesome,” Rick said. “You’re lucky to be friends with someone as connected as me.”

  “What was it you couldn’t believe?” Violette asked her husband.

  “That Rick behaved himself, was respectful, and didn’t have one smartass thing to say to the ghost lady,” Dev answered.

  “Hey, guys, you might want to get on here and supervise these repairs. The HIA is trying to access our systems.” Lochlann rushed down the loading plank to say between clenched teeth, “All our systems.”

  “I’ve got the VR programs,” Dev said to Jackson.

  “I’ll take care of the secret lab,” Violette added.

  Dev and Violette both ran onto the ship.

  “My molecular gastro-spectrometer.” Raisa grabbed Jackson’s hand and pulled him behind her as she hurried to go on board. “You can repair it, but no one better touch the settings!”

  When they were left relatively alone with only a few dozen passing agents, Rick cupped Harper’s face. He leaned to kiss her, pausing just long enough to say, “Rocket Rick Hayes?”

  Harper laughed into his kiss, her lips lingering on his. When she pulled back, she said, “Not my son.”

  “Comet Rick Hayes?”

  “No.” She tugged at his hand. “Don’t we have some ship files to protect?”

  “Yeah, but…” Rick grinned as she drew him behind her. “Okay, how about Blaster? Oh, or, Firefight? Player Rick Hayes?”

  “You’re officially banned from naming our child,” Harper stated.

  He stopped walking as they entered the ship corridor and pulled her into his arms. “I love you, Harper. I promise I’ll do whatever I have to keep you and our child safe.”

  “I love you, too, Rick. And we’re going to raise our son right, like Sprout said,” Harper stated, “and that means doing what we do best—adventures and saving people.”

  “You are the perfect woman.” Rick grinned as he lifted her off the ground and spun in a small circle.

  She laughed as he lowered her against his body, letting her feel the unmistakable press of his arousal.

  “Think they’ll be doing repairs in th
e supply closet?” she asked before furrowing her brow. “Unless we can’t get open the door without electricity?”

  “I’ll pry it open.” He grabbed her hand and began jogging down the corridor, looking for any place they could slip into for privacy.

  17

  Epilogue

  Bound Virgin, Larceny Casino Docking Line

  “How much longer?” Harper rubbed her hand over the small bump of her pregnancy.

  Rick had the viewing screen pulled up to show a long line of ships waiting to enter the casino docks. The HIA had done a great job repairing the vessel. It still looked like a cobbled together piece of junk, but it ran beautifully. Though, they had undone all his customized rewiring, so he was still trying to change it back to the way he liked it.

  He leaned over from his pilot’s seat and placed his hand over his son. “Hello, little Player.”

  “Still, no,” Harper stated, brushing his hand away.

  “Don’t worry, son, I’ll make sure you have an amazing name.”

  She pointed at the screen. “How long?”

  “Hour. I hacked their frequency and they’re having an issue with a Dokka freighter.” Rick glanced to the line of ships on the viewing screen before turning his attention back to Harper’s stomach. “And how is my beautiful wife today?”

  “Better, now that I gave the baby what he wanted,” she said.

  “Which was?” Rick arched a brow.

  “Bacon. He freaking loves bacon.” She moved to sit on his lap. “I can’t stop craving it, and I know I don’t like it but then I taste it and it’s all I want to eat.”

  Rick adjusted himself beneath her and wrapped his arms lightly around her waist. “One of the transmissions we’re monitoring had news about your old friend, Bucky, this morning. He’s apparently been found alive on some fueling port. They’re bringing him to stand trial for the bionic factory crimes with his parents. That footage Bauer leaked—”

  “Alexis said the card game starts in six hours,” Ruva interrupted as she appeared in the doorway. “She has a ticket for Jackson to play. If he loses the secondary plan will be for Lochlann and Dev to free the woman from stasis. They could be coming in hot.”

  Ruva and her sister Alke were in the process of a long courtship with Lucien and Viktor. They looked identical, and the crew could only tell them apart by the way Ruva wore her hair, wound around the crown of her head. Though, if the sisters were ever to change things up, they’d be in trouble.

  “I’m supposed to ask how long until we dock,” she said.

  “Hour,” Harper and Rick answered in unison.

  “Thanks. I’ll let everyone know.” She started to leave, only to come back. “Do either of you know how to repair the VR program with all the women? They’re naked and missing heads. I thought it would be nice to fix it, generate clothes for them, and see what this mansion game is all about. Could be a fun distraction.”

  Rick bit back a laugh. “Sorry, I don’t know. You should ask Viktor.”

  “Oh, okay.” Ruva smiled as she left.

  “What was that about?” Harper leaned her head on his shoulder as she nestled into his embrace.

  “Viktor tried to scan a copy of the Galaxy Playmates VR program back on Nozando. With the electrical issues we were having after that trip, I don’t think it loaded completely.” Rick laughed harder. “I didn’t want to be the one to tell her that the ladies probably did not come with clothes. And the mansion is not the kind of game she thinks it is.”

  Harper’s laugh joined his. “You’re telling me we have a VR with headless strippers?”

  “Hey, it’s not mine. I didn’t do it. I have all the woman I need right here.” Rick stroked his wife’s hair. “And I think they prefer to be called dancers.”

  “But you can access it, right? The program?” Harper asked.

  “Sure, I guess I could.” Rick leaned back to study her face. “Do you want me to?”

  “Mansion full of games? Tell me that doesn’t sound fun.” She pressed her lips to his in a deep and telling kiss. His body instantly responded. “We’ll give those headless dancers a show they’ll never forget.”

  Rick stood, easing her gently to the ground. He pushed the ship’s comm and said, “Sorry folks, looks like another delay. Going to be closer to two—”

  “Three,” Harper inserted.

  “—three hours before it’s our turn to dock. Darn those Dokka freighters. Don’t worry, we’ll make the card game on time.” He turned off the comm and hit the autopilot before pulling her against him to kiss her deeply. “I love you. You are my everything.”

  “Prove it, my love. Show me.” She gave him a playfully naughty look and crooked her finger for him to follow.

  “Gladly.” Rick swept her into his arms as he strode toward the VR to satisfy his wife.

  The End

  * * *

  Keep Reading!

  Qurilixen Lords Series

  Dragon Prince

  CLICK HERE to get the book!

  * * *

  Like the Space Lords, this series takes place in the

  the Qurilixen World.

  Keep Reading!

  Fan Favorite Series!

  Qurilixen Lords

  Dragon Prince

  Grier’s fiery passion for Salena might be everything his dragon ever wanted but loving her might just lead to the destruction of everything he’s trying to save.

  With all that is happening in his land, the upcoming shifter mating ceremony is the least of Grier’s concerns. Even though he is heir prince of the dragon-shifters, he doesn’t have the authority needed to help the humans stranded in dragon territory, nor can he banish those who ruthlessly control them. Yet honor demands he finds an opportunity to intervene, and he hopes that doing so won’t start a war the shifters can’t win. Discovering his destined mate couldn’t have come at a worse time.

  Salena knows what it is like to be a pawn of the Federation. They might have kidnapped her and brought her to this strange territory, but she will never do what they want of her… what everyone wants of her. The last thing the fugitive needs is the very public attention of a fierce dragon prince claiming they’re fated by the gods—even if the sexy man makes her burn in more ways than one.

  Dragon Prince

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  Chapter One Excerpt

  He was not the king, not yet.

  He could not help the people before him.

  He could not banish those who needed to be ejected off his world.

  Grier didn’t know how to explain to his royal parents and the Draig elders that this wasn’t the same world anymore. They clung to the past with an almost delusional need, as if, by willing it hard enough, everything would return to the ways of their youth. Hope and determination did not change reality. Qurilixen was no longer the primitive oasis of farmers and ceffyl herders whose biggest worry was protecting the ore mines from alien attacks or guarding the borderlands against their feral Var neighbors.

  If only that were still the reality, when dragon-shifters and cat-shifters were the only kinds on this planet. Such times seemed easy compared to now.

  Grier was probably oversimplifying matters. His father had warned him more than once to be careful about minimizing the past. The old days had not been as easy as Grier was wont to believe, and there were many things he did not know. That may be true, but he knew the problems of here and now.

  Grier gazed down from the cliffside watchtower at the alien city sprawled over the valley below. There was something calming about sitting on the circular roof, at a height so great that none of the new residents of the planet could reach it. Locals had nicknamed the settlement below Shelter City because they meant it to be a temporary shelter for their visitors. That was over thirty years ago.

  The top of the tower that surrounded a spire was flat, wide enough for him to sit, but the roof slats at his feet angled downward. He felt the wind, smelled the fresh air, heard only the barest hint of
shouts from below.

  The city was not supposed to have lasted as long as it had. Qurilixen was to be a short resting place where the people regained their strength after the destruction of their world and recovered from a virus that killed almost their entire population. His father, King Ualan, and the Var cat-shifting King Kirill, could no longer turn away hundreds of people in need, any more than they could have killed the aliens themselves. When they had agreed to partner with the Federation to save the Cysgodians, there had been invisible strings attached to the deal that had only revealed themselves over time.

  Grier gazed over one such string. Until that moment, the shifters had kept their planet from any dealings with the Federation and free of its rules. They did not want to be part of the Federation Alliance. Now they were in a questionable gray area. The Federation claimed squatters’ rights because they had dominion over the makeshift city, and the shifters refused to agree that city was anything more than a temporary settlement—to do so would be to accept the alliance.

  They were at a standstill. The real victims of this political battle were the people caught in the middle. If the dragon prince could have his way, he’d funnel the people out of the city and allow them to choose their path—whether it was to stay on the planet or leave for space. No one’s destiny should be decided by a dictatorship.

  The cluster of metal and stone buildings, built in a hurry and falling over time, created the portion of the city that filled the valley. Canvas flapped in the wind, giving shade from the constant daylight of the planet. This is where the Federation kept their poor, which was almost every citizen of the city. Shifters had no say in the alien hierarchy.

  Grier wanted to change that. Politics would not let him. He hated these politics.

  The shifters did not have poor, or at least they hadn’t before the Cysgodians came. Dragon-shifters took care of their own. If a child was orphaned, there was always a family willing to give them a new home. His cousin, Mirek, had not been blessed with children but had more sons than the rest of them combined from taking in those in need of a family. If someone needed food, someone fed them. Everyone worked, and everyone thrived. They considered it a matter of honor.