Page 58 of Adored By the Alien Warlord
My face ached with my grin, and I leaned into Davon. “This is Davon.”
“We met,” Talia left Firion, barreling into Davon, giving him a hug. She looked up at him. “Your brother sent word that you'd found my sister, that you two . . .”Swallowing hard, she turned her wide eyes my way. “He said that you were his mate.”
“It's true.” I stepped over to them and Davon swung his arm around my back, tugging me close. He kissed the top of my head. “Davon and I . . . We fell in love. He saved me.”
“And she saved me,” my love said, his voice a low grumble. “I would not have survived without her.”
“Mates,” Talia breathed.
Firion and Davon braced their forearms, grinning at each other like true friends.
“Well done,” Firion said. “Very well done. You said you’d find Maggie and you did.”
Davon dipped his head forward. “I love her. I’ll soon make amends and then we'll talk about the future of my clan and the others.”
“Our offer stands open,” Firion said.
“You’re sure?” Davon sounded skeptical.
“Always.” Firion shook his head. “We understand. Aizor understands. He’s ready for you to visit and give back his sword.”
Davon’s face darkened. “I shouldn’t have taken it.”
“Did you want to?” Firion asked.
“Never,” Davon breathed. “I . . . I didn’t know what I was doing.”
He sounded so bleak that I tightened my arm around him, reminding him that I was here, that I loved him. That I’d always love him.
He looked down at me with such a stark expression that I wanted to cry. It would take time for him to acceptwhat he’d done and to forgive himself, but I’d bet anything that once he’d given Aizor his sword back along with an apology, Davon would start seeing that he was worthy, that he had so much to offer not just himself, but me and his clan.
“Firion and the other traedors have offered the Browze Clan a chance to join with the others living below the Indigans,” Talia said with a sweet smile. “The small clans are moving in with each other for protection and . . . well, we're not the only women here, and the others have also found mates in Zuldruxian warriors.”
“Earth women,” I said.
She nodded, biting down on her lower lip. “It's . . . amazing. Everyone’s so happy. I was angry when the robocops stole us and pissed off at the aliens the Zuldruxians call gods, but now . . .” She took Firion’s hand and squeezed it. “I don't want to go back to Earth. My life is here with Firion. Maybe, just maybe, this was the way it was supposed to be.”
I was beginning to think she was right.
“I won’t leave Davon,” I said, holding him close.
“I don’t think we have to.” Talia shrugged. “I understand the gods, which is the easiest way to refer to them, told Vanessa they’d send her back if she wanted, but she loves Aizor, and she told me she can’t imagine being without him. There are others like us, some who’ve fallen in love and others resting in stasis pods on the central island, waiting, I guess, to be gifted to Zuldruxian warriors.”
“I don’t know what I think about that.”
“Neither do I, and I haven’t given up on telling them that they need to release the women. If they’re destined to fall in love, they will. I don’t like how they seem eager to force this.”
We’d talk about this more. I wouldn’t give up either. No one should lie in stasis, waiting to be given to someone. Those women deserved the chance to make a choice about whether they wanted to remain here or return home. And if they chose the latter, the “gods” needed to respect their decision.
I’d make sure they did.
“We have a treaty to negotiate,” Firion said, waving to the palace.
“About that . . .” I looked between the two, tall, handsome males, equally gorgeous and fierce. I could see why my sister loved Firion, and I was sure she could tell why I adored Davon. We needed to talk. We had so much to share about what had happened since we last saw each other. But we weren't completely safe here.
Davon quickly explained what had happened, finishing as Valdar emerged from the woods behind us flanked with other Veerenad males.
Introductions were made, and Valdar urged us to come inside.