Chapter 30
Lila
Idon’t know how long I float for, but when I come back down to Earth, Brannock is holding me like I’m the most precious thing in the world to him. He whispers words of praise and wonder as he strokes my shoulder and head spines. His touch causes goosebumps to break out over my body.
When he sees me looking at him, he smiles, his fangs gleaming brightly. “You’re back with me, my lovely. Are you okay?” he asks, concern in his eyes.
I nod and swallow, my mouth super dry. “Yeah, I’m great,” I croak, feeling slightly hungover but relaxed as fuck.
“You did so well. Your body absorbed all my seed. If you weren’t on birth control, we would be having a baby. Our bodies are compatible.” He beams as he lowers my legs.
I wince and stiffen up, bracing for the pain, but there is none. “My seed numbs everything to allow me to pull out without hurting you,” he tells me and pulls free of my body. His cock is still hard, but I watch in amazement as the barbs, which are sticking out like a fucking pissed off porcupine, sink back into the grooves in his shaft. I wait for his cum to drip out of my body, but none does, and I frown.
He must see my confusion. “Remember, I said your body absorbs it.”
“No wet spot?” I ask, my eyebrows jumping, and he chuckles and shakes his head.
“No.”
“Well hell, that’s certainly a bonus,” I say, winding my arms around his neck and kissing him. “While that was certainly a different experience, I enjoyed it and can’t wait to do it again,” I tell him, pulling away and looking around for our clothes. “As much as I would like to stay and do it again, I need to find the others and my grandma and get out of this creepy as fuck forest.”
“Yes, of course. Let’s not keep your grandpas waiting any longer. I hope maybe next time we can do this without activating berserker mode beforehand.” He sounds a little unsure, and I stop what I’m doing and throw my arms around him, giving him a big hug. I want to rub my face against his naked chest, but I’m worried I’m going to stab him with my head spikes.
“This body is going to take a little getting used to,” I grumble as I pull away. “I hope I never have to use berserker mode again, so I can definitely say this will be happening again without it.” I wink and pull away, quickly putting my shirt on as he does the same, covering up the body I really didn’t get a good look at.
I will be rectifying that at the soonest possible convenience, but now I need to make sure the rest of my mates are safe, as well as my grandma. A rush of excitement flows through me, and I giggle at my thoughts.
Using my warlock powers, I stretch out with my mind, looking for Xavier’s, and when I find it, I realize he’s distracted and doesn’t notice me, but it gives me a direction to go in. I grab Brannock’s hand and drag him quickly through the forest. The two of us move over the gnarled branches, stumps, and roots with ease. The Aaz’axian form is flexible and fit, and we cover the distance in no time.
“They should be just ahead,” I tell him. We’d been quiet and alert, on the lookout for more enemies while we traversed the forest, but I can hear the others talking and pick up my pace, wanting to make sure everyone is okay. I remember Maxsim was injured, which triggered my berserker mode, and he may need to be healed.
When we break through a small gap in the trees, everyone but Ghosie is pointing a gun at us.
“Whoa.” Brannock steps in front of me and holds up his hands. “It’s just us,” he cautions the others, but I can’t see my lightning cat.
“Where’s Maxsim?” I ask with a rush of panic, feeling ill, then I realize someone else is missing. “And Saxon?” I fall to my knees, heartbreak zapping me of my strength. “Tell me they aren’t dead,” I sob loudly.
“No, baby, no.” Tirrian is the first to reach me, gathering me in his arms and scooping me up. “They are both fine,” he reassures me.
“Saxon went back to the ship with Maxsim. He was injured and needed Link to patch him up until you can work your magic. It wasn’t life threatening, I promise.” Xavier picks up my hand and gives it a squeeze, and I feel myself sag in Tirrian’s arms. The nausea is still there, but it’s tempered by relief.
“Ah, guys, should I keep going? I can’t stay here all day,” Ghosie calls, and Tirrian lowers me to my feet as we all gather around the stasis box.
It’s way bigger than I thought it would be. I was expecting coffin-sized, but this thing is chest height and probably wide enough to fit two people inside it. It’s glowing this weird, grayish light and has strange symbols carved onto the side of it. Zeydan runs his finger over one of them, tracing the symbol. He mutters under his breath, a frown creasing his brow in thought.
Ghosie is elbows deep, his whole body vibrating at a frequency that must resonate with the sarcophagus. He looks to me for a response.
“Yes, pull her out. Don’t let her wait any longer,” I urge him, my body tense with anticipation. I hold my breath, the eerie silence surrounding us only broken by a slight humming sound that Ghosie emits. His entire body disappears as he reaches down. After what seems like hours, but is probably only mere seconds, he steps back, bringing a small form with him.
He moves away from the stasis box with a woman cradled in his arms, and they both appear solid, their bodies no longer vibrating. My first impression of my grandma is confusing. She doesn’t look like the photos I saw of her in my grandpas’ suites. She had long, straight dark hair and tan skin. This woman is just as petite as the photo had been, but she is pale, with colorless hair that almost looks like it’s glowing.
“That’s not my grandma,” I bite out, disappointment shattering all of my hope that I was going to be able to reunite my grandpas with their mate.
A shocked gasp has me turning my gaze away from the strange woman.
The words that come out of Zeydan’s mouth have me frowning with confusion.
“Lilessa?” He steps toward Ghosie, taking the small woman from his arms and cradling her against his chest like she’s the most precious thing in the world. Stabbing jealousy flows through my veins, and I clench my fists, berating myself for feeling such a stupid emotion.
No one says anything, so I ask the question we all want to know the answer to.
“Why is the goddess of life in the box instead of my grandma?”