Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
Lila
When Saxon and I finally surface from his room, it’s almost lunchtime.
I’m wearing a pair of baggy sweats and a shirt a million times too big for me, but they smell like Saxon, so I’m uber happy to be wearing them.
I have nothing on my feet, and I’m not sure what happened to the clothes I had been wearing prior to bonding.
Maybe someone sent them out to be cleaned.
I’m champing at the bit to find Caspian, Link, and Xavier.
There’s an ache in my chest that I know will be fixed once I see them.
I’m also desperate to find out if John is okay.
Now that the bonding is over, I survived, and we are doing well, my anguish has returned tenfold.
I’m ready to leave our self-imposed confinement and reenter the world and reality.
The only thing that slows my exit is the fact that I dread having to trek through his quarters, not relishing another run-in with his clan.
When we get there, though, the rooms are eerily quiet and empty, which is somewhat of a relief.
“Where is everyone?” I ask, looking around. We walk down a corridor lined with rooms before reaching a communal living area with a small kitchen and replicator. Do Vilaxians eat real food too? I rack my brain, trying to remember if I know the answer, but come up with nothing. So. Much. To. Learn.
Saxon looks as bewildered as I do. “I’m not sure. I would have thought Xenos would be here to celebrate our joining. It’s unusual that he isn’t, same as Hale and Velorina.”
“Xenos?” I ask, remembering the strange Vilaxian I hadn’t recognized when we first entered the quarters.
“My brother. I was surprised to see him too. I can only assume that the queen sent him to replace me while I was incapacitated. He brought the blood rose cup, which allowed you to transition to be compatible with me.” He’s smiling at me now, wearing a look of pride and warmth.
I can’t believe the blatant difference between who he is now and the cold, stern soldier tasked with working on my self-defense.
“Oh, wow, okay.” My heart races in panic. I’m going to meet my husband’s family. Shit, I don’t think I’ve ever had to impress a family member before.
Fuck with a capital F.
Saxon chuckles, his eyes crinkling adorably, and I’m blinded by his smile once more. Holy hell, my husband is hot… Both of my husbands are hot. God, I love calling them my husbands.
“I can hear your heart rate speed up at the idea of that. Do not worry, my beautiful blood rose, my brother will love you. Right now, let’s get you some food. I don’t want the good doctor getting pissy at me for not following his strict orders and feeding you properly.”
I giggle at the idea of Link growling protectively at Saxon. It’s slightly preposterous, but Saxon looks like he’s serious. The Vilaxian is nervous about a cyborg’s reaction—or more like Saxon is uneasy about how Link will react even though he’s not my mate. I like this show of respect.
He sweeps me up into his arms and strides toward the door, and it slides back as we approach it.
“Put me down, you big oaf, I can walk.” I pound on his arm in an attempt to get him to put me down, but he ignores me and nuzzles my neck.
“Allow me the privilege of carrying you, at least until we get where we’re going. I know I will have to share you with your mate and other suitors then, and I want to make the most of what’s left of our time alone.”
Le sigh, isn’t he wonderful? I cease my useless smacking of his glorious biceps and settle back to enjoy the ride. Who am I to argue with that?
Once we leave the room, he flashes us to the dining room in the circus pod. Strangely enough, this is empty too. “Where is everyone?” I ask again, starting to get a little concerned. He steps up to one of the communication panels in the wall and presses a button.
“Call Hale,” he commands, and I see an image of Hale appear in the little screen as it buzzes, waiting for him to accept the call.
Finally, live action Hale appears on the screen, scowling at Saxon. “What?” he snaps quietly. I can hear Grandpa William’s voice in the background, talking.
“Where is everyone?” Saxon asks, and Hale scowls.
“Did you not hear the ship-wide announcement for a compulsory meeting?” Hale whispers quietly.
“No, we must have been in the shower. Where is it?” Saxon questions urgently.
“In the dining room on the mothership. Dude, you need to get your asses here. Shit has officially hit the fan.” Hale side-eyes me before cutting off the communication.
My heart starts to race again. What could have gone wrong now? “How are we going to get up there if everyone has been required to attend? There won’t be anyone to transport us.”
Saxon presses a kiss to the top of my head.
“Don’t worry, I know how to operate the transporter.
” He flashes us again, moving through the ship faster than I can track, but this time, I no longer feel nauseous at the speed.
My body has adjusted, and it doesn’t feel like I’m being flung around at warp speed.
We stop in the transporter room, and Saxon puts me down gently.
He goes over to a cabinet and pulls out a small remote.
Next, he grabs my hand, and we both stand on the transport platform.
He pushes a button on the remote. I hear the transporter fire up, and within an instant, we are landing on the transport platform on the mothership. This room is empty of crew as well.
Saxon places the remote in his pocket. “We need to return it to the pod when we go back. Want to try running at full speed?”
I quickly shake my head. I am so not ready for that.
“No, not yet. I want to try everything out in the arena where there is less chance of me breaking anything, anyone, or hurting myself.” I shrug, hoping he didn’t notice the hitch in my voice at the thought of doing anything Vilaxian related in public.
“Okay.” He swings me back up into his arms and flashes us once more. I can feel the pressure of the air against my face as he runs, my hair flowing behind me. It’s almost a freeing feeling.
When we stop at the door to the dining room, I hear a cacophony of voices.
The doors open, and I blink in astonishment.
I hadn’t been to this dining room yet. I was confined to my room because there was concern for my safety from some of Saxon’s clan.
I’d like to think I could withstand a little bit more now, but I don’t doubt that I will need some instruction in self-defense from my new hubby.
I can’t deny I’m looking forward to getting hot and sweaty with him, maybe rolling around on some mats and getting pinned to said mats…
“My beautiful blood rose, whatever you are thinking, you need to stop. Your arousal is quite potent, and I’m afraid it will distract a lot of the crew from the meeting.” Saxon’s voice is low and growly, and I feel my cheeks heat in embarrassment.
Great, everyone’s going to know I’m horny. I’m not sure how I can be horny again. It has to be those damn fuck me vibes. Can’t my children give me a damn break for once? I just spent the night fucking, so surely my vagina has to be closed for maintenance.
We enter the room, and I cross my fingers, hoping that no one notices, but sure enough, the minute we step in, almost everyone turns to look at us.
I move slightly behind Saxon, using him as a buffer between me and the crowd.
No one is hiding their otherness today, and it’s a bit overwhelming to have all eyes focused on me.
“Ah, Saxon, Lila, so glad you could make it.” Eric waves us forward and points to a table at the front of the room. Xavier, Caspian, and Link are all seated there. Next to it is a table of lightning cats—minus the female—Nixie, and… damn it, the horny can of cat food.
Unfortunately, my eyes meet his, and he puffs up like a puffer fish, shaking his golden mane of hair like a horse and winking at me.
It’s a little bit scary, because it actually looks like he’s having an epileptic fit, but Nixie soon catches a glimpse of what he’s doing and slaps him across the head.
He scowls at her, but it’s enough for him to be distracted, and I hurry past him and slide into a seat with my mate and future mates.
My butt hasn’t even hit the chair before Cas is dragging me into his lap, shoving his nose into my neck, and breathing deeply.
His tentacles wrap around me until I am completely encased in them.
I sigh in pure bliss. Instantly, the dull ache in my chest eases, and I melt into him, enjoying being wrapped up in his love. Even my kraken relaxes, and I’m glad she’ll chill the fuck out for now.
“God, I missed you,” he says, heaving out a deep breath like he’d been holding it the whole time I was gone.
Saxon takes a seat at the table and nods to the others before turning his attention to my grandpas.
“We’ll catch you both up on what’s happening in a moment.
For now, I want to reassure you that the show will continue, but there will be a short hiatus.
When we arrive in Celestia, if you would like to make arrangements to return to your home planet until we reconvene, then that will be acceptable.
You just need to inform us of your plans before we leave Earth’s orbit so we can arrange for transport for those who do want to depart.
” He pauses for a moment, letting the words sink into every creature’s head.
My curiosity is piqued by this announcement though.
“All right, you are dismissed to discuss this proposal with your teams and contact your families. Once again, we thank you for your time and patience, and I hope you will all rejoin us once we resume.” William’s words end the meeting, and people get up to leave the room, the noise almost deafening.