Chapter 18
Cora sat at her piano, her fingers gliding over the keys as she played the final notes of the song she had just finished writing while singing the closing lyrics.
She paused, smiling to herself as the last note faded into the quiet room.
She’d done it. Finally. She’d written a new song from start to finish.
And she couldn’t believe she was sitting here, playing her beloved piano on New Vaxx.
She glanced down at the familiar black and white keys, her heart filling with emotion as she recalled how her father had bought her the piano just a few months before he’d passed away. It had been one of the most meaningful gifts he’d ever given her, and she’d cherished it for years.
And now it was here. On New Vaxx.
All because Draevan had gone to the trouble of having it shipped all the way from Earth, along with the rest of her belongings she’d left behind in her penthouse. Her heart fluttered as she thought about the huge alien warrior who was her mate.
Three days had passed since M had appeared in her home and attacked her.
The memory sent a shiver through her, but thankfully, Draevan had taken care of everything.
After making sure she was okay and comforting her, he’d called in a few of his warriors to discreetly remove the body from the house, and now there was no trace that the terrifying human man had ever been there.
Cora released a slow breath and reminded herself that she was safe.
And she was home.
She turned back to the piano and played the final notes of the song again, mouthing the lyrics as her fingers touched the keys.
Then she heard footsteps in the hallway. She looked up just as Draevan appeared in the doorway, holding Meela in his arms.
Cora smiled instantly.
There they were.
Her mate and their precious little girl.
Her family.
As she gazed at them, her heart filled with an overwhelming happiness that made her fingers tingle with the urge to compose a brand-new song. A joyous song about finally finding love, a family, and a place to truly belong.
Draevan smiled back at her. “I hope we are not disturbing you, but Meela wanted to hear you play.”
“You’re not disturbing me.” She held out a hand. “Come here.”
He walked into the room, carrying Meela toward her, and Cora’s smile grew even wider.
She watched as they took a seat on a large chair near the piano, one that was strong enough to hold a huge Vaxxlian warrior, then Cora focused on the keys in front of her, letting inspiration guide her as she began to play another song.
Cora rubbed her forearm, even though she wasn’t sore and there wasn’t a single mark left after Stax, the renowned healer who’d invented the healing nanobots, had just finished removing the tracker M had implanted in her arm.
She glanced down at her skin again, marveling at how quickly the nanobots had gone to work. Stax had assured her that the tiny incision would heal within moments, and he’d been right. Already, her skin appeared smooth and unblemished.
She exhaled with relief. The tracker was gone, even though it didn’t matter much anymore since M was dead. She fought back a shudder as she recalled the morning, just a week ago, when he’d tried to take her away. What a scary experience.
But Draevan had known something was wrong.
He’d figured it out quickly, and he’d come to save her.
She was safe.
As she released a slow breath, she leaned back in her chair at the kitchen table.
From the entryway, she could hear Draevan speaking quietly with Stax as he walked the healer to the door.
She couldn’t make out their words, as they were speaking in Vaxxlian, but the deep rumble of her mate’s voice was comforting.
She looked across the table. Meela was seated in her highchair, elbow-deep in a fresh batch of strawberry yogurt recently delivered by Vonna. Cora smiled. “Oh, Meela. You’re supposed to eat it, not rub it all over your arms.”
The baby looked up at her with an innocent expression, despite the fact that there was also yogurt smeared across her cheeks, her chin, and even one of her ears.
“Mama Cora!” Meela exclaimed cheerfully.
Cora laughed. “What is it, darling?”
“Yogurt!”
“I can see that.”
Meela laughed and promptly plunged both hands back into her bowl.
Cora shook her head, smiling.
A moment later, Draevan appeared in the kitchen doorway. He walked in and his gaze immediately found Cora. He crossed the room, leaned down, and pressed a tender kiss to the top of her head.
“How is your arm?”
“Perfectly fine.”
He gently took her forearm in his hands and examined the place where the tracker had been. Then he leaned down and pressed a soft kiss there. After peering at her arm one last time, as though to make sure there really wasn’t a mark left, he finally released her.
A loud giggle came from the highchair.
Both of them looked over.
Meela was watching them with bright, happy eyes. “Mama Cora, Daddy Draevan, I want to see the birds!”
Cora and Draevan exchanged a joyful look. They both loved when she called them Mama Cora and Daddy Draevan. They’d never prompted her to call either of them Mama or Daddy, but she’d started doing it on her own recently, always adding their name after the title. Cora thought it was utterly sweet.
“Well,” Draevan said, “I suppose we can take you into the backyard to see the birds. But first, we need to get you all cleaned up.”
They worked together to clean the baby up. It took multiple washcloths to wipe all the strawberry yogurt off her. Once the task was accomplished, they walked her outside, each holding one of her hands as they patiently waited for her to take small, gradual steps.
The morning air was cool and fresh, filled with the sounds of insects buzzing, birds chirping, and other random animal noises from the forest that bordered their backyard.
As they approached the bird-feeding station, Meela tore her hands from theirs and ventured off on her own, tottering along, occasionally losing her balance, but staying upright more often than not.
“Birdies!” Meela called, pointing at the colorful birds that were flitting about as they enjoyed the seed Draevan placed in the feeders each day.
The little girl began chattering to the birds in a mix of Vaxxlian and Galactic Common, apparently convinced that they could understand every word she said.
Draevan slipped an arm around Cora’s waist and pulled her close. She leaned into him, resting her head against his chest. The sunlight warmed her face, and the fresh, floral scent of the blooming flowers filled her lungs with each breath she took.
This is where I truly belong, she thought.
A huge smile overtook her face as she pulled back and gazed up at Draevan.
“What is it?” he asked.
“Nothing. I’m just happy.”
He returned her smile. “So am I.”
He pulled her closer, and she wrapped both arms around him, soaking up his warmth and his strength, reveling in his comforting presence. Safe. She always felt so safe when she was with him.
Safe and loved.
Together, they continued watching Meela chatter to the birds.
Draevan leaned down, bringing his lips to her ear. “I love you, my sweet mate,” he whispered.
Her heart did a little dance. “And I love you.”