Chapter 9 #2
Well. That explained the dozens of messages she had from her parents and brother—messages she hadn’t read yet.
Her guilt deepened. By waiting until she’d safely reached New Vaxx to contact them, she’d hoped to spare them any concern, but in the end, her silence had caused more worry.
At least they’d managed to speak with Rory.
“I’m not mad that you told them,” Elora said. “Actually, I’m thankful. I feel like an ass for not telling them what was going on, but…”
“But you didn’t want them to worry. I understand,” Rory said. “They seemed pretty relieved when I told them about Warrin.”
“Good. Thank you. I’m going to call them now.” Elora’s finger hovered over the ‘end call’ button. “I love you, and I’ll see you soon.”
“Love you too and see you soon, bestie.” Rory flashed a mischievous grin, then ended the call.
Elora skimmed through the various texts from her family. The first few were urgent, begging her to contact them as soon as possible. But the last few were congratulatory—wishing her luck in her mating union with Warrin.
The mating union she hadn’t consummated yet…
She muttered a quick prayer for strength before dialing her parents.
Just like Rory, they answered on the first ring.
Her parents’ faces rested side by side, their excited expressions almost comical.
Before she could speak, her brother’s head appeared on top of theirs.
He looked a bit more concerned than her parents, but he also seemed relieved to see her.
“Mom, Dad, Verne… hello.”
“Hello, Elora,” they all said in unison, their voices robotic—part of an inside joke that stemmed from a time in her childhood when Verne had programmed the house’s computer to say “Hello, Elora” every time she entered a room. Even the bathrooms and walk-in closets.
She laughed. Then she burst into tears. God, she was so sorry for what she’d put them through.
“I’m so sorry,” she said. “I should’ve told you right away about…” Her throat burned harder, and she struggled to finish speaking.
“There, there, darling,” her mother said in a comforting tone. “We aren’t mad at you. Rory explained everything, and I know you just wanted to keep us from worrying about you.”
“I’m a little mad,” Verne said.
“Oh, no you’re not. Shut up,” her mother said.
“I’m just saying, Dad and I could’ve rescued her. My new hovercraft is fast. Then Elora wouldn’t have had to sign up for VAMOB just to save her life. She could stay here on Earth, with us.”
“What part of shut up don’t you understand?” her dad muttered under his breath.
Elora stopped crying, wiped off her face, and narrowed her gaze at Verne, giving him a dirty look. He sounded half-joking, half-serious. And she no longer felt so guilty for keeping her family uninformed.
“I’m safe right now,” Elora said. “Warrin and I are planning to leave Earth soon. I’m sorry I can’t say goodbye to you in person.
” She blinked back fresh tears. She didn’t want to ask Warrin to fly her to California—not when they would likely encounter more blockades as well as active combat zones.
Even in a technologically advanced Vaxxlian cruiser, such a journey would be difficult.
“I’m happy you’re safe, sweetheart, and I’m overjoyed that you’re leaving Earth soon,” her father said, elbowing Verne.
“Maybe we can come visit you one day—I’ve heard it’s possible.
Saw a news story about a couple whose daughter signed up for VAMOB, and they chartered a vessel to visit her after she had her first baby. ”
“I love the idea of you guys visiting me on New Vaxx,” Elora said. Maybe their visit could turn into a more permanent thing—perhaps it would be possible for them to live in Starzzia for good.
“Oh no, I think our connection is going bad,” her mother said, and the screen froze for a few seconds. “The screen… keeps… freezing.”
The call disconnected, and Elora sighed.
Even in Oakdale, it was common to have no cell signal for days, and dropped calls were common too.
She tried to reconnect with her parents, but the video call wouldn’t go through, and she eventually gave up.
She would try again later. At least they knew she was safe, and they weren’t mad that she was leaving Earth.
She sat in silence for a few minutes, replaying the conversations she’d just had with Rory and her family.
Everything will be okay. Rory signed up for VAMOB, and I’ll see her in Starzzia.
My parents and brother live in a safe-for-now area of California, and they have a bunker where they can seek refuge if the fighting ever reaches them.
My family is wealthy, and they won’t have any trouble affording travel to New Vaxx.
Even if I never return to Earth, I’ll see them again. Eventually.
Her only unresolved business on Earth was with Tobias.
Even though she was leaving, she still wished she could prove her innocence and clear her name.
Did the people of Oakdale believe the lies about her?
Or did some of them suspect Tobias was dirty?
It was a massive relief to know she couldn’t be arrested—Warrin would never allow it—but it bothered her that her reputation was in tatters.
Maybe once she reached New Vaxx, she could contact the authorities in Oakdale and give them her side of the story.
Or maybe not.
Tobias was the mayor, and he was friends with the sheriff.
Even if she professed her innocence, it was doubtful the sheriff would open an investigation.
As far as the embezzlement went, according to the damning newspaper article, money had started going missing from various accounts owned by the town over a year ago—money that had somehow ended up in a bank account belonging to Elora.
An account she’d known nothing about. She’d never opened a second bank account, though someone had done so in her name around the same time the money started to go missing.
Knowing she needed to find Warrin soon—it was time to consummate their marriage and make things one hundred percent official—she checked her appearance in the bathroom mirror one last time, then headed into the corridor.
But he wasn’t on the bridge, and as she walked around the ship, she couldn’t find him. She checked a few storage rooms and even the medical bay. Hm. The only place she hadn’t yet checked was his quarters.
Was he sleeping? If the time on her phone was correct, it was eight o’clock in the morning. She’d slept through the night, and it would seem Warrin had gone to bed—in his own quarters—and was still sleeping.
Or maybe he was taking a shower.
Her face heated at the mental image this produced.
She stood outside his quarters, unsure whether she should knock or just wait for him to come find her.
She was eager to see him, especially now that she’d gotten a good night’s sleep and she was feeling brave.
Brave enough to ask him to claim her. Brave enough to exchange Vaxxlian mating vows with him and pledge herself to him forever.
As she tried to reach a decision, she started pacing in the corridor outside his quarters… only to inadvertently walk so close to the door that it zipped open…
Just as Warrin emerged from the bathroom completely naked.
She froze and stared at him, too shocked to speak. He paused in the middle of the room, his green eyes going wide as he noticed her standing there like some kind of voyeur.
His body was pure, lethal muscle. He reminded her of the bodybuilders she sometimes saw on television, but his muscles weren’t too intense or vein riddled. He was just… perfect.
Her mouth went dry as she glanced at his cock. It swelled before her eyes, going from soft to fully erect, so long and thick. Huge and formidable.
“Little sarr’ahh.” Warrin smiled, his eyes filled with warmth. He appeared happy to see her—in more ways than one. He also made no move to shield his nudity. “Good morning. How did you sleep?”
She started backing away. “Good morning, Warrin. I slept great. Thanks for asking,” she said in a breathless rush. “Sorry I barged in on you. I’ll just be going now.”
She spun on her heel and nearly broke into a run as she rushed down the corridor.