3013: SALVATION (3013: The Series Book 5) (7 page)

“What have you done?” Thorn
growled ominously.

“They didn’t do anything, so
don’t yell at them,” Alexis ordered, wiping at her eyes. “I’m sorry I bothered
you guys. I’m having a harder time controlling the bond with my hormones going
haywire all the time.”

She gasped as Xavier plucked her
out of her seat as if she weighed nothing. He sat down, holding her on his lap
as he stroked a gentle hand over her hair. Galan bent down at cupped her face.
“Never hide your feelings from us. We just do not like to see you upset,
sweetling.”

“What is wrong, my love?” Thorn
asked.

“I was just telling my friends I
felt bad that we had to leave your home world because I wanted to go back to
Earth.” She turned to the screen and explained, “I sort of freaked out when I
discovered Arcadians are only pregnant for five months.”

“
There is nothing to feel bad
about. It was our fault for not telling you sooner,”
Brydan said through
their bond as he leaned down to press a kiss to Alexis’ lips. “Our home is with
you.”

“I’m sorry I reacted so badly. I
just want to give birth where I can be near my friends.”

“Then that is where we will go,”
Xavier said with conviction.

“I love you...all of you,” Alexis
said, then smiled as all four of her mates immediately responded with their own
declarations of love. Her brows creased as she looked around. “Hey, who is
manning the controls?”

“Katra.”

“No, she is not,” a tall,
gorgeous Dragon Warrior female said as she strode into the room. Her long black
hair flowed down to her waist and she wore a black leather-like vest with
matching black pants, making her look both formidable and sexy. She braced her
hands on her hips, and her glowing silver eyes narrowed as she glared at the
males in the room. “Alexis has made it clear she wanted girl speak with her
friends without your interference.”

“It is girl talk,” Thorn
corrected. “Katra, you should be in the control room—”

“No, you should. Actually, it is
Galan’s turn.” Galan growled at her, but Katra growled right back, then she
turned to the screen and waved, smiling brilliantly as she sat down next to
Xavier and Alexis. “Hi, there. You must be Skylar and Serra. I am Katra, sister
to Xavier and Galan.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” Skylar
and Serra said as one.

Katra turned to look at the males
in the room. “Now it is time for you males to leave. Galan, you go back to the
control room, and the rest of you should go elsewhere while your mate speaks to
her friends.”

Galan growled again, then he threw
his hands up in the air, giving in. His expression softened as he leaned down,
pressing a kiss to Alexis forehead before stomping from the room. As soon as he
left, Katra turned to Thorn and Brydan. She and Thorn glared at one another while
Brydan disappeared from view. When he returned, he was carrying a large glass
of pink liquid.

“Drink this, Lexie,” he said. “This
is your favorite.”

Alexis took the glass, then
reached up and held onto his hand. “You’re so good to me.”

“
You can be good to me later,
”
he said with a wink before he left the room, pulling Thorn out the door with
him.

Skylar watched the show on screen
and hated herself for the envy she felt when she saw the love that Alexis had
found with her mates. It was clear that all four males loved Alexis completely,
and Skylar realized she wanted that. It gave her a moment’s pause to know she
did have two males who wanted her...but could it be more?

Could they have the kind of
connection she was witnessing if she gave it a chance?

Arik had proved to her that she
was more than just a pretty face to him. To be the keeper of his heart meant
having a deeper bond with him than she could comprehend, and there was a kind
of profound comfort in knowing he would always be there for her, no matter
what.

She was a little more
apprehensive about being with Dom. It was difficult to imagine having a relationship
with him when he was her commanding officer and a naturally dominant force. She
wanted a true partner in life, and the worry that he would never see her as an
equal was part of the reason she had never pursued anything with him...until
now.

Skylar’s attention was drawn back
to the screen as Xavier snarled viciously at his sister. “I am not leaving.”

“You are a pain in the ass.”

“We should have left you at
home,” Xavier growled as Alexis coughed to cover her laughter.

“You tried. That did not work so
well for you, did it?” Katra let out an exaggerated sigh. “How is Alexis
supposed to complain about how you upset her if you are in the room?”

“Why are you upset?” Xavier asked
Alexis, immediately concerned. “I do not like it when you are upset, and it is
bad for our youngling. You will stop it at once.”

“You cannot order her to stop
being upset.” Katra turned to look at Serra and Skylar on screen. “Are your human
males as stupid as ours are?”

“Yes,” Serra confirmed before she
could think.

Xavier scowled at them, then
turned his focus back on Alexis when she said, “I’m not really upset anymore. I
just want to talk to my friends. I miss them.”

“Then you shall speak with them,
but I will remain here holding you,” Xavier declared, his large hand splaying
protectively over Alexis’ rounded stomach. “Just pretend I am not here.”

“Like that could ever happen.” Katra
rolled her eyes, then addressed Skylar and Serra. “I am excited to travel to
Earth. I have always wanted to see it with my own eyes, and I have never met
any human males, so that should be exciting.”

“Nay, you will not be meeting any
human males,” Xavier snarled.

Katra glared at her brother. “I
thought you were not here.”

“I am if you are talking crazy
like this. You are too young to be thinking about mates, and certainly not
human mates.”

Alexis frowned. “What’s wrong
with humans?”

“I am thirty-five years old,”
Katra said, exasperated, ignoring Alexis’ question. “I have not mated yet because
that has been my choice. But when I do find someone that interests me, you will
have no say—”

“The hell I will not!”

“Again, you are a pain in the
ass!”

Alexis turned to the screen, her
violet glowing eyes shining with amusement as she spoke to her friends. “Don’t
mind them. They argue like this all the time.”

Serra studied Katra on screen.
The Dragon Warrior female was ten years older than her, but she knew for a race
that could basically live forever—if not killed by some extrinsic force—Katra
was just a baby in her brothers’ eyes. She cleared her throat, hoping to change
the subject. “Actually, I did have something to ask Xavier. I believe Jax sent
you a message about—”

“Aye, he did,” Xavier confirmed.
“And nay, I will not be accepting the role of Chancellor for your Ministry of
Nations.”

Alexis gasped. “But I thought you
said it was a good idea?”

“It is, but not for me.” His
voice softened as he stroked a finger down his mate’s cheek. “Galan, Thorn,
Brydan, Katra and I are in agreement. You should be the one to take the
position.”

Alexis blinked in surprise and
spoke to her mate mind-to-mind through their bond. “
Me? But I was just an
officer when I was with the Alliance. I can’t—
”

“
Nay, there is nothing you
cannot do. You are a Dragon Warrior, mated to four strong warriors who will
stand with you. You will do us proud,
” Xavier responded emphatically, then
turned to the screen. “Tell your mates it shall be Alexis, or to find another to
join your Ministry.”

Serra smiled. “I’m sure Jax will
be very pleased, just like I am. Alexis will make the perfect Chancellor for
your people. She also has the advantage of knowing how the Alliance works.”

“And what doesn’t.” At Alexis’
questioning look, Skylar explained. “There’s just been a lot that has been
going on.”

Serra didn’t feel the need to
hold back, and told them everything that had been happening—from the Council of
Regents decision regarding Skylar, to the case they were working on dealing
with the
xili
drug. Sheer outrage flickered over the faces of the Dragon
Warriors by the time Serra’s explanation was complete.

“I know you told me about what
your mother had done to you the last time we spoke, but I never thought this
would become a bigger issue. If this
xili
drug is being sold on the
black market, thousands could be at risk!” Alexis exclaimed.

“Which is why we are on a mission
to track the seller and stop them,” Skylar said. “If those two plants were
stolen to use as a base to mass produce this drug, then we’re in big trouble.”

“I’m sure you’ll figure it out in
time, but now onto more important business. I have to ask...Sky, what the hell
are you waiting for? Why haven’t you bonded with Dom and Arik yet?”

“Wh—what?” Skylar was caught off
guard at the blunt way Alexis had honed in on the heart of the matter.

“I know you feel something for
them. Those two are all you talk about whenever I call, so I have to wonder why
are you holding back? Dom couldn’t make it more obvious that he wants you unless
he started pissing circles around you, and Arik has made it clear you are his
keeper.”

“It’s...complicated.”

“What isn’t? I can’t believe the
council is making you bond even though they gave you exempt status, but that
shouldn’t be the reason you hold back from moving forward with Dom and Arik now.
We know you, Sky. You’ve always had a problem letting people get close to you.
Even Serra and I when we wanted to be your friend back at the Academy. Am I wrong?
Or are you just not interested in Dom and Arik?”

Skylar opened her mouth, prepared
to tell her friends that things had changed in the last twenty-four hours, but
something made her hold back. What happened between her, Arik and Dom had been
special. Too special to share. She felt a driving urge to protect the memories
of what she experienced with both of them, even from her best friends.

Sure, he’d been furious when the
council had given her their ultimatum because it had made her feel helpless,
and that was something she couldn’t abide.

However, the realization that she
could be dangerous altered the situation.

Skylar didn’t want to lose
control of her abilities, nor did she want to unintentionally hurt anyone. If
bonding would help her regulate her abilities, then it wasn’t something she
could ignore. But she didn’t want just anyone...she wanted Dominic and Arik. Maybe
the situation had forced her to accept her feelings for them, but that didn’t
mean it made her decision any easier.

“I am interested in them, but we
have a lot of issues to deal with before anything can be settled between us.”

“You’re afraid.”

“I am not!” Skylar snapped as glare
at Serra, who simply shrugged.

“You’re afraid of dealing with
your past if you join with Arik, and you’re worried about what will happen if
you commit to Dom. Bonding is a scary thing. It means your life is no longer
your own, but what you aren’t factoring in is all you gain from having two
people you can trust to be there for you no matter what. I felt the same
apprehension when Jax and Sully claimed me. Now, I can’t imagine what I would
do without them.”

“It’s the same for me, Sky. Being
with my mates hasn’t always been easy,” Alexis said, ignoring the low growl
Xavier let out. “But I’m happier with them then I ever have been, even during
the hard times. Don’t let your pride get in the way of love. I can attest that
it is the most important thing in the entire world. There’s a part of you that
fears depending on someone that much, but I don’t think Arik or Dom will let you
down if you give them a chance.”

“This is also an issue of your
safety, Skylar. Part of the reason you’re in this predicament is due to the
fact you have neglected your own needs.” Serra continued before Skylar could
stop her. “Because Skylar is half Tarin, she needs to be able to balance her
energy levels in order to stay healthy. Some do that through fighting, but that
doesn’t work as well as sexual release—”

“For the love of...damn it, can
everyone stay the hell out of my sex life?” Skylar shouted. “First the Regents,
now all of you. It’s really starting to piss me off.”

“Your Regents suck,” Xavier
muttered, remembering back to his own encounter with a former Regent who had
tried to arrest Alexis after they had mated.

Alexis kissed his cheek, amused
by his use of human slang. “They aren’t all bad.”

Katra’s glowing silver eyes were
filled with conviction when she said, “Males have no place telling any female
when they should mate, just as I told my own fathers.”

Xavier frowned. “What is this? When
did you tell them that?”

“Our fathers tried to get me to
mate with sons of their friends.”

“But they accepted it when you
said nay.”

“No, they have not. They keep
pressuring me, so...” Katra’s chin tilted up defiantly. “They should be
figuring out my final answer right about now.”

“What?” he exploded. “You left
Arcadia without telling them? You told me you had their permission!”

“I had mother’s permission, but
none of that matters,” Katra snarled back. “I decide my own fate! No one else.”

The siblings glared at one
another, and Xavier visibly struggled to rein in his temper. “I will allow you
to accompany us on our journey to Earth because I do not believe you are yet
ready to mate with anyone, but you should not have left without telling anyone.
I insist you call our fathers and mother to tell them where you are...now.”

She grumbled as she stood up, but
Xavier grabbed her hand before she could leave. “Katra, we would not allow you
to be forced into a mating. All you had to do was tell us and we would have
spoken to our fathers for you.”