Page 27 of Balarr
He snuggled her closer, and warmth promptly flowed through her.“No, sweet Luna, you are not distracting me.”He gestured at the array of consoles and screens.“The auto-navigation protocols are working seamlessly to avoid the Threxals’ weapons fire, and my auto-defense prototype is also working to eradicate the rebel ships.”
“Auto-defense prototype?”She glanced at the small console he kept touching.“So you aren’t directly taking out the Threxal ships yourself?”
“No, but I’m monitoring the progress of the navigation and weapons system I’ve designed, and occasionally, I divert more power to the auto-defense prototype or theCormma’sshields.”He continued stroking her hair, and he leaned close and took a deep inhale.“I prefer to keep holding you while I work.”
The communication device on his wrist beeped and buzzed, and he lifted it and displayed another 3-D message in the air.She had no idea what the strange Vaxxlian symbols indicated, but whatever it said caused a deep frown to mar Balarr’s face.A low growl also emanated from his chest.
“What’s wrong?”she asked in a whisper, wishing she didn’t feel so useless.If only she could monitor a console or do something to help.But Balarr’s ship was the first spacecraft she’d ever set foot on, and she had no idea how Vaxxlian technology worked.
“It’s a message from one of the diplomats.Apparently, the doctors and surgeons from Zalora Biotech have been executed, though not by my people.All evidence points to the United States government—likely a cleanup operation.”
Dead.The monsters who’d tormented her were dead.She wasn’t sure how she felt about that.But she didn’t understand why Balarr appeared so upset by the news.Earlier, he’d offered to vanquish the doctors and surgeons who’d caused her pain.He’d even asked for names.
Still trying to process the information, she drew in a shaky breath and met her mate’s green eyes.In her peripheral vision, she saw a bright orange blast—the explosion of another Threxal ship.
“Why do you appear displeased by this news?”she finally asked.
He gave another growl, though his visage softened as he stared at her.He tucked an errant strand of hair behind her ear, and she shivered as his fingers trailed down her neck.“I had hoped to be the one to kill the doctors and surgeons who’d hurt you, Luna.I’m your mate—it should’ve been me who killed them.Not thefluxxingUnited States government.”He shook his head and heaved a disappointed sigh.
She grasped his chin, overcome by the urge to console him.To make him understand that she didn’t think any less of him just because he hadn’t killed them.“It doesn’t matter who killed them, Balarr.I’m just glad they can’t hurt anyone else.”
Then she remembered the security guards and debated whether to ask the question that rested on the tip of her tongue.Eventually, her curiosity won out.
“Did you killanyoneat Zalora Biotech?Surely you must’ve met some resistance.I know there are security guards—they captured me every time I attempted to escape.”
“I used a stunner on all the guards I encountered as I searched for you, rather than a blaster on kill-mode.”He paused and tucked another strand of hair behind her ear.“But if I’d known then that you were being held as a medical prisoner, I would’ve killed them on the spot.I regret that I didn’t.”
She read the truth in his eyes, glimpsed the bloodlust that flared in his green depths.He would kill for her—because she was his mate.Because as a Vaxxlian warrior, he was honor-bound to avenge any wrongs committed against her.
Part of her took comfort in this knowledge—the knowledge that he would fight for her.He would shed blood for her without remorse.
She placed her hands on his chest and nodded her understanding.But her throat was too tight for her to speak.She was that deeply touched by his ruthlessness on her behalf.
Balarr suddenly glanced out the viewport, then down at the small console beside his chair.“It would appear we have company.Commander Harnn has brought a fleet of one hundred Vaxxlian cruisers.”He chuckled.“A bit excessive, if you ask me, but I suppose he wants guaranteed victory against the Threxals who made it to Earth.”
Luna released a long breath as relief filled her.She hoped the danger passed soon.Then they could finally depart war-torn Earth.Balarr could bring her to his home on New Vaxx.She could continue putting the nightmare of the last two years behind her.
She glanced out the viewport again, peering at the smog covering the city in the distance.She doubted she would miss this place.
The main communication screen on the bridge suddenly illuminated, and a sneering Vaxxlian male appeared.Behind him, Vaxxlian males rushed around what looked like the bridge of another ship.
“Hello, Balarr.I never imagined I would see you on Earth,brother.”
Chapter17
Disbelief and rage consumed Balarr.He stiffened and glared at the smug face on the main comm screen.He rose to his feet and gently deposited Luna on the chair, then stepped in front of her, shielding her with his body.He didn’t want this disgustingurukemmato lay his traitorous eyes upon her.
“You are no brother of mine,” Balarr said with a growl.
Araxall grinned, revealing a row of yellow teeth.He appeared as sickly as the ship his crew was trying to hold together.
“You were mated to my sister for ten long years,” Araxall said.“I think that makes us brothers—even if my dear sister, as well as my beloved nephew and niece, perished when the Irrcons destroyed Vaxxlia.”He chuckled in a dark way that made Balarr think he’d never cared about his sister at all.Perhaps he only cared about the power he thought he could attain as a traitor to their people—as afluxxingThrexal commander.
A tiny gasp left Luna, and Balarr felt guilt-stricken that he couldn’t pause to explain the situation to her.She was aware that he’d been mated before, but she hadn’t known he’d spent ten years mated to Keissa—or that they’d had children.
“I thought you were dead,” Balarr said.Araxall was supposed to be dead.Balarr had thought he’d killed him during one of the attacks he’d led on the Threxals hiding in the mountains around Starzzia.Unfortunately, it would appear the radical fool had survived.
Araxall chuckled.“I might’ve gotten a few scrapes during that attack on the mountain, but I survived just fine.”His smile faded and he regarded Balarr with a calculating look.“Are you really planning to breed that human who’s trembling behind you?What would Keissa think?”
