Chapter 9
Elora opened her eyes and stretched, relishing the softness of the covers. When her foot caught a cool spot in the sheets, she practically moaned with pleasure. The mattress was firm yet plush beneath her, and she felt more rested than she had in ages.
She sat up against the pillows and gazed around the spacious guest quarters. Though Warrin was nowhere in sight, she had a vague memory of him sitting beside her and caressing her hair as she fell asleep. She smiled at the recollection. How long had he sat nearby as she rested?
Then she spotted her jeans at the end of the bed and gasped. She lifted the covers and peered down at her bare legs, then allowed the covers to fall back into place. Oh, God. Clearly, at some point, she’d discarded her pants so she could get more comfortable.
Had Warrin witnessed her taking her pants off?
Her heart raced at the thought, and a sudden ache pulsed between her thighs. They hadn’t mated yet, and she felt a bit guilty for her hesitation, but if it didn’t happen today—what day was it anyway?—it would happen soon.
The lights were dim, and a glance at the viewport showed they remained hidden between the boulders. Her heart sank a little as she realized they were still on Earth. Though the idea of leaving Earth had initially terrified her, she’d quickly warmed to the prospect. Because leaving meant safety.
She jolted suddenly and rushed out of bed, heading for the bathroom where she’d last seen her phone.
To her relief, it still had power, but unfortunately, she didn’t have a signal.
Fuck. She really needed to contact Rory, as well as her parents and brother.
She couldn’t continue to keep them in the dark.
She was leaving Earth, and they deserved to know.
Tears blurred her vision. After she left her home planet, would she ever see her loved ones again?
She realized they could speak via a video comm, but it wasn’t the same as spending time with them in person.
Then she recalled the contracts Earth leaders had offered Warrin.
He’d refused all the offers so far, but maybe one day, if her home planet became safer, his job as an exo-agrobotanist would bring him back to Earth.
If that happened, maybe she could come with him. She brightened at the idea.
She peered at her phone, then lifted it, trying to get a signal.
It occurred to her that perhaps the shields Warrin had activated around his ship were blocking the signal.
He’d mentioned an invisibility shield, but she suspected his vessel had a protective shield as well—she’d heard most Vaxxlian cruisers did.
She rushed back to the bed and grabbed her jeans. Just as she started putting them on, she spotted a tall stack of neatly folded clothing on a nearby dresser. She set her pants aside and approached the clothing.
Her throat tightened as she inspected the items—four pairs of soft pants, several shirts and sweaters, socks, and undergarments.
Her face heated as she held up the panties—all of them covered in a floral pattern similar to the underwear she was currently wearing.
Well, it would seem Warrin had been present when she’d removed her jeans. Or perhaps he’d come back to check on her at some point and glimpsed her sleeping atop the covers. She tended to kick the covers off herself and sometimes slept with one leg out.
She tried to force the embarrassment away, but it wasn’t easy. Her face grew even hotter as an image of her sleeping on her side with her butt hanging out flashed in her mind. Still, she’d woken up with the covers pulled up to her chin—had he tucked her in?
She continued sorting through the clothing. She doubted he’d gone shopping or had a drone deliver the items. Hm. He must have a materials replicator on board—another technological feat she’d heard Vaxxlians possessed.
Healing nanobots, food and materials replicators.
Sexy warriors who never cheated on their mates.
A beautiful, unspoiled planet.
Gratitude swelled within her as she considered the positives of mating with a Vaxxlian.
The dark specter of her childhood illness returning had already faded, and it was a relief to know she would never have to worry about her children—the children she would one day have with Warrin—becoming sick or getting injured.
Her throat burned when she thought about how she would never need to doubt Warrin’s loyalty. He wouldn’t betray her, and he wouldn’t cheat on her. Even if they never fell in love—though she was secretly starting to hope they eventually would—he would remain by her side as her mate.
She quickly decided to wear some of the clothing he’d so thoughtfully provided. Everything looked about the right size, and the material was much softer than her jeans and sweatshirt.
She grabbed an outfit—including a pair of floral-print panties—and rushed into the bathroom. She quickly took another shower, wanting to be as clean as possible for the impending consummation of their mating union—and then hurried to get dressed.
As she brushed her hair, she heard the telltale buzzing of her phone, and the hairbrush fell out of her hand as she rushed back into the bedroom.
She grabbed her phone off the dresser and gasped at the numerous texts and missed call notifications that flashed on the screen. Somehow, she suddenly had a signal.
She took a deep, calming breath, and placed a video call to Rory. Her friend answered on the first ring.
“You’re alive!” Rory said. Then she burst into tears. “Oh, I was so worried about you. Oh, thank God, Elora. I’m so happy to see you. Are you on a Vaxxlian cruiser? Why are the walls covered in… plants?”
Elora instantly felt like a jerk for not trying to contact Rory sooner.
The second she’d stepped aboard the Rennsha, she should’ve at least tried.
Same with her parents and brother. She would place a video call to them next.
Tears pricked at her eyes as she watched Rory wipe her face and take a few deep breaths, trying to get her emotions under control.
“Yes, I’m alive, and I’m happy to see you too,” Elora said once Rory stopped crying.
“I’m so sorry I didn’t call or text sooner.
Yes, I’m on a Vaxxlian cruiser, and yes, the walls are covered in plants.
Warrin is an exo-agrobotanist. There are lots of flowers and plants growing out of the walls all around the ship, at least from what I’ve seen so far. ”
“Oh, that’s interesting. What is space like? Have you reached New Vaxx yet?” Rory spoke quickly, her voice filled with excitement—and curiosity.
“I’m still on Earth, actually,” she said, deciding not to point out that her cell phone wouldn’t be working if she’d already left the planet.
“There’s a blockade surrounding Grantville, and we’re trapped inside.
But we’re parked somewhere safely, with an invisibility shield hiding the ship, and Warrin says we’ll leave as soon as it’s safe. ”
“I heard about the blockade,” Rory said with a frown. “It doesn’t quite stretch all the way to Oakdale, but it’s a bit too close for comfort. Rebel hovercrafts have also been spotted nearby. I hope you’re able to leave soon.”
“Who are you talking to, my sweet mate?” a deep voice called out in heavily accented English. A second later, a Vaxxlian warrior appeared next to Rory. “Oh, this must be the friend you told me about. Hello, Elora. I am pleased to meet you. I am Zilann.”
Elora gasped and shot an accusing but playful look at Rory. “You! You signed up for VAMOB!” Despite her shock at the sudden revelation, joy abounded within her—her best friend was coming to New Vaxx too.
Rory smiled, then exchanged an affectionate glance with Zilann.
“Yes, yes, I did. About an hour after I received your text telling me about Warrin, I submitted my application. Zilann arrived just a short while ago—sooner than I expected. I hadn’t finished packing yet.
He’s helping me gather my things, then we’re headed for New Vaxx, where I hope I’ll see you soon. ”
Biting back a laugh, Elora peered at the Vaxxlian warrior who was standing next to Rory. Suddenly, she remembered her manners. “It’s nice to meet you too, Zilann,” she said quickly. “I am so relieved Rory signed up for VAMOB. I trust you’ll keep her safe.”
The new couple exchanged another loving look that made Elora wonder if they’d already consummated their mating union. But she couldn’t ask such a personal question—not with Zilann standing right there.
“I will always keep my mate safe,” the Vaxxlian warrior said. “And I’ve already given her a dose of healing nanobots, just in case we encounter any danger as we leave Earth.”
“That’s good to hear,” Elora said. “Oh, Rory, I’m so happy and relieved by this outcome.
I can’t wait to see you. Hopefully Warrin and I will be able to join you on New Vaxx soon.
In the meantime, please don’t worry about us—Warrin has assured me that we’ll be safe.
We’re currently well hidden. Even if anyone discovers us or tries to stop us from leaving, his ship is heavily armed. ”
“I’m glad to hear it,” Rory said. “When I see you in Starzzia, I’m going to give you the biggest hug.”
Elora smiled. “I can’t wait. Um, I feel bad ending the call so soon, but I really need to get in touch with my parents and brother. They haven’t heard from me in days.”
“Oh yeah. Your parents. Your brother. About them…” Rory’s voice trailed off, and a look of guilt settled over her.
“Spoiler alert—your family knows everything. When your parents couldn’t get in touch with you, they contacted me.
So, I told them about what happened with Tobias and that you’d signed up for VAMOB.
I’m sorry. I hope that’s okay. I couldn’t let them worry. ”