Epilogue
ONE TERRAN MONTH LATER
Emily
It’s mid-morning, and Stromm and I are still under the furs, snuggling after a marathon sex session. I now understand why Jade and Zeleck became late risers after consummating their bond, and why she was so irritated by interruptions.
I haven’t had any of the morning sickness some of the other women have experienced. Just fatigue. Oh, and a rush of hormones that give me a raging libido.
Stromm’s already primed to go another round, but I think I’m tapped out for now. I swear he’s trying to make up for a lifetime of celibacy before the babies arrive.
His hand rests on my rounded abdomen, which rises and falls with my breath. “You are showing early, my mate. I worry how you will fit two kits inside your belly.”
I pat his hand. “The babies actually grow in my uterus, and it’s designed to grow with them. It’ll be okay.”
My explanation doesn’t ease his worry. “I hope you are right.”
Footsteps sound outside the hut, and Jade pokes her head in. “You two decent?” she asks in a sing-song voice, an evil glint in her eyes.
This is payback, which I probably deserve. “We are if, by decent, you mean naked under the furs. What’s up?”
She laughs, but her heart isn’t in it. “Zavra’s intercepted another message.”
“Should I head to the weapons cave?” I ask.
“Not this time,” she responds. “We’re meeting at the community firepit. Bring Stromm because it’s all hands on deck.” Then she’s gone.
The news can’t be good, so we get dressed and head to the fire. All the Terrans and most of the Rakuis are gathered around Alana, who is standing on a log bench as she prepares to address the crowd.
“As you know, a few weeks ago, Zavra intercepted a message indicating that we aren’t the only group of Earth Gov test subjects. That there’s at least one more undeveloped planet, UD-195, in the BIOMAN program.”
Stromm has me tucked against his side, and his arm tightens its hold as Alana continues to speak.
“The message indicated that an extraction team was dispatched to retrieve a pregnant Terran woman and her pre-term baby. We didn’t know if the extraction was successful…until now.”
Murmurs hum through the group. “Quiet,” Trauhn barks, his voice unusually sharp. “Let Ah-lan-uh speak.” His mate, Kenzie, is halfway through her six-month gestational period, so I understand why he’s on edge.
“Although Zavra’s retrieval of the communication was delayed due to a weak and interrupted signal, it appears that Earth Gov successfully extracted the Terran woman and her preemie newborn. Both mother and baby were alive, but in distress, and medical aid was rendered.”
Alana takes a deep breath, like she’s bracing herself for what she’s about to say next. “The extraction team suffered two losses. Assuming UD-195 is a dangerous planet like this one, we have no way of knowing if those losses were from planetary predators or whether the people fought back.”
Jade steps onto the log beside Alana, cradling her slightly rounded belly. “What we do know is that they’re coming for us too, so we need to prepare. Gia, we want you to take the lead on this. We need shields that can stop laser fire. We also need hand grenades and land mines if you can figure out how to make them.”
“On it,” Gia says.
“I will help,” Lukka adds.
“Me, too,” Zeleck growls. “I will die before they take my mate, my kit.”
Jade blows him a kiss. “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that, babe.”
“This advance warning allows us to prepare,” Trauhn states, his voice carrying on the breeze. “And we will be ready.”
Alana takes Jade’s hand, and I wonder if this development will bring them closer. “In the meantime, Zavra will continue to scan for communications. Jade and I will do what we can to stabilize and boost her signal. That’s it for now.”
As the crowd thins, Stromm takes me in his arms, holding me tight. He’s as worried as I am about what’s coming. And I’ve never been more grateful that we’re sharing the Rakuium’s protection.