Page 31 of Secretly Married To My Monster Alien Boss
They’d bled and fought together for four long years, before each had gone to find their own calling. And it seemed Earth had drawn them all to it, like a beacon.
Rynar wasn’t surprised. They’d all been at the top of their graduating year, each with his own set of skills, apart from the battle instincts that ran through every Deruzian. Rynar had cunning words, Zaryn had the brain of a computer, Nazyn had the imagination that had brought them to new worlds, and Deryg had the instincts to survive and protect in any dangerous situation.
Nines, these three Deruzians had seen him as naked as the day he’d been born; the day of initiation was brutal in more waysthan one. They’d been at his side as they’d burned his mother’s remains, so the Nines would welcome her more quickly. Rynar himself had talked them through their sorrows and their grief. He still remembered Deryg’s pained expression after he’d been forced to leave his home for good.
So why, in all the Nines, was he experiencing something very akin to nerves as they all sat in his living room?
It was ridiculous. Deruzians didn’t get nervous.
But he was, somehow. Because his companions–brothers at this point, really–knew him so well, if he wasn’t careful, they could detect something was wrong with his future marriage.
That could not happen. Not that he was concerned they would betray him, but this was a secret he only wanted to share with Alissia.
“I must admit, Rynar. I like being in your home,” Nazyn began as he took in the room, his right hand draped across the shoulders of Darcy, his mate. Rynar didn’t know much about her, apart from the scandal a few weeks back, and that Nazyn couldn’t stop talking about her eyes whenever he had a chance. The humans would call Nazynsmi-tten. And Rynar would agree.
“Yes, it’s quite lovely, Mr. Te’O–I mean, Rynar. Thank you for inviting us,” Lily muttered, her hands practically vibrating with nerves as she sat on his couch, clutching her knees. Zaryn covered them with his large palm and sent a reassuring smile her way. Lily relaxed, for the first time since she’d stepped foot inside Rynar’s house. He liked her well enough–mainly because she was one of Alissia’s closest friends and because she was an efficient assistant. If only she wouldn’t be so fidgety around him.
He was her boss, though. Her transfer had happened only a few short months ago, she hadn’t exactly gotten to know him.
“Why are we here?” Deryg asked, with the same tact he used in training. Strike hard and fast and worry later. He pattedZinny’s head, like he always did when he visited. Deryg had hearts as big as his muscles.
“Meet Dad’s friend,” Zinny purred.
Everyone froze, including Rynar. Since that dinner, Zinny had kept calling him Dad, which made him feel…proud, in a weird way.
But Rynar and Alissia hadn’t planned on telling them like this. He was supposed to give a speech andsoften the blow, as Alissia called it. Rynar had no clue why, he didn’t plan on hitting his brothers across the face as he delivered the news.
Only then would she appear.
But Zinny had beaten them both.
“Whatfriend?” Zaryn asked as all the gazes in the room swiveled to Rynar.
He swallowed his groan and opened his mouth.
“She pretty,” Zinny said before he had the chance to speak, blissfully unaware of the mayhem he was causing as he purred in Deryg’s lap.
Deryg’s fangs flashed in a grin. “She?”
A sigh of surrender echoed from the hallway, followed by quick footsteps as Alissia appeared in the doorway. Rynar stared at her alongside everyone else. Dressed in a sleek green dress, her untamed hair cascading over her shoulders, she looked like his fantasies come to life.
“He means me,” she said, flashing a small smile to everyone, hesitant gaze lingering on Lily. Nothing but stunned silence met her entrance. Alissia’s eyes lowered, even as her spine straightened. She was getting tense.
Rynar shot out of the armchair and came to stand next to her, draping a protective arm across her lower back. Together, they stood in unity.
His brothers watched every gesture with the eyes of trained warriors.
No point in delaying the inevitable.
“Alissia and I are getting married,” Rynar said.
Lily yelped in delight and covered her mouth, even as her eyes went wide.
Other than that, the silence stretched on.
Rynar tightened his hold on Alissia. Her body instinctively leaned into his.
“When?” Zaryn’s voice broke through, as he narrowed his calculating gaze.
