Page 130 of Fractured Souls

They stood side by side, staring out at the perfect round blue orb that was Earth. Alexis saw the familiar outlines of North and South America, green and tawny masses covered in whorls of white cloud.

Suddenly, Earth seemed so small, almost quaint.

Was this how the other races in the Nine Galaxies saw them? As some quaint little backwater?

It was Christmas on Earth, and they were up here in the cold, dark sanctuary of the warship Silence.

Waiting.

Nythian was calm, almost zen-like.

Since they’d left Tharos, he hadn’t had any more of those vicious outbursts of anger. Alexis didn’t want to give too much credit to herself, but she seemed to have a calming effect on the big guy.

These days, he was even civil around Zharek.

Several of the Kordolians had commented on it, even the boss himself.

“They’re here,” Nythian murmured, breaking the silence. “Let’s go down and meet them at the lower docks.”

They left the starlight-soaked chamber, making their way down dark, curving corridors. She let Nythian lead the way, content to watch his powerful body from behind, admiring the way his broad shoulders and toned ass moved beneath his deep blue silken kashkan.

She could stare at him all she liked.

He was her mate, after all.

As they walked across the lower deck, she felt nervous and excited.

Mama was coming to Silence.

How crazy was that?

After the old house on Réunion was attacked, Tasha had sent Virginie away… into space, to a place where she would apparently be perfectly safe.

Crazy woman.

Tasha still wouldn’t tell Alexis where—she’s with someone I’d trust with my own life—and now she had gone with Lodan and a small squadron of warriors to retrieve Mama… from somewhere in space.

Stars almighty.

Somehow, that was even more unbelievable than the whole Tharian business.

“You nervous?” Nythian crossed his arms as he planted himself in one spot.

Impossible man. He knew her too well.

“Yeah. It’s just weird that my whole family seems to have ended up in space, on a Kordolian warship.”

“Strange coincidence, no?”

“No, it’s not a coincidence. Tharians would say it’s just the strands of the Universe coming together.”

“Makes sense.” Nythian smiled enigmatically. He pulled her against him as the massive airlock unravelled.

A dark ship drifted inside, sleek and sinister in the dim light. She was used to this sight by now. The landing gear came out, and it came down to a perfect stop.

Moments later, a ramp extended from the ship. The doors opened. She saw a wall of dark armor—Kordolian warriors, bristling with all kinds of weapons.

They parted a fraction.