by Kyle, Celia
“Yes, it is,” he breathes out. “The moment you stepped into my life, it became real.”
Closing my eyes, I breathe in.
This is happiness.
Epilogue
Zander
Hopping on one leg by the door to mine and Thrase’s quarters, I struggle to don my second boot even as she finishes buttoning up her blouse.
“We’re going to be the last ones there.”
Thrase grins in response to my anxiety, making her face even more lovely if that’s even possible.
“Pshaw. They should be rather understanding of our tardiness, I would think.”
I can’t help but smile in response. Just looking at Thrase in her half-dressed state makes me want to toss her back onto the bed for another round of lovemaking. But duty calls, as if often does, when least convenient.
Solair summoned the entire senior staff to the bridge roughly twenty minutes prior, but Thrase and I were otherwise indisposed, if you catch my meaning. It’s not often that I can detect unease in our captain’s tone, but I believe something is troubling him.
We make haste toward the bridge, but at the last corridor bend before we reach its ornately carved doors, Thrase pulls on my sleeve.
“Remember when we were trapped here because Lamira and Grantian were, to quote the vernacular, dry humping?”
“Dry humping?” Often Thrase says things that don’t translate into Galactic Standard, but this time I can understand her meaning through context. My lips stretch into a wide grin. “Indeed. I would respond to you in kind were we not already dreadfully late.”
My mouth mashes on top of her own, and her body clutches at me in sudden desperation. But she breaks the contact first.
“First business, then pleasure. Then more pleasure. I hope you weren’t planning on sleeping tonight.”
“It had crossed my mind, but I can always rearrange my schedule.”
When we reach the bridge, we are indeed the last to arrive. I’m surprised at one person being there, however.
“Lokyer?”
He turns a grin toward me and waves, though his movements are still stiff from his recent injuries.
“Nice of you to join us, Zander, Thrase.” He nods to each of us in turn. I can’t help but notice he’s sitting back at the navigation console once again.
“And it’s good to see you back where you belong.”
Lokyer nods, but then his face is creased with a worried frown.
“I’m a little bit sad that I’m replacing Fiona, though.”
“Why?” Fiona laughs, leaning against Montier. “I’m not.”
Solair pipes in, as is his wont.
“No worries, Fiona. I still have plenty of work for you to do as our new Information Technology officer.”
Fiona’s eyes light up.
“Really? What does that job entail?’
“I’m not sure. I just made it up, but believe me, you won’t have time to be bored.”
Grantian clears his throat.
“Captain, Dr. Nicari wishes for Lokyer not to overexert himself, so perhaps we can get the meeting underway…”
Our first mate blatantly glares at me.
“Now that everyone has deigned to join us.”
I stare right back at him. I’m just about to call him out for delaying us the last time when Solair speaks.
“Of course, Grantian.” He turns toward Lokyer. “Would you please tell everyone what you told me?”
“With pleasure.” Lokyer’s face contorts for a brief moment into an angry grimace. I can see the fires of vengeance dancing in his gaze, but the expression fades quickly. “I know where the Blue Dawn main base in League space is.”
Gasps, widened gazes, and a quickening of my own heart beat greets this news.
“You do? Where is it?”
“In the asteroid belt of M’Kal system. They’ve constructed a full-sized base there, an apparent joint venture with the Star Crushers.”
“I see.” Turning to Solair, my jaw set hard, I ask the question on everyone’s minds. “What are we going to do with this information?”
“Perhaps nothing.” Grantian sniffs. “We are not warriors, Zander. We are a privateer crew. Avoiding Project Blue Dawn and the Earth First movement behind them would seem to be our best course of action.”
“Yes, Grantian, but will they avoid us?” Solair shakes his head and sighs. “Besides that, we’re all wanted fugitives according to the IHC, thanks to them. The way I see it, there just might be something in the database on their asteroid facility that could prove useful in clearing our names.”
“Maybe, but is it worth the risk? We hardly go into IHC space much anyway.”
“True enough.” Varia steps forward to stand next to her mate Solair. “But it’s a deeper issue than that. We need a way to get Project Blue Dawn off of our backs permanently.”
“Destroying a shadow cabinet could prove nigh impossible.” Thrase chews her lower lip for a moment before continuing. “When I had my virtual meeting, no one even called each other by name except for Dr. Mal and Malcolm. I get the feeling their decentralized structure could make eradicating them entirely a no-win scenario.”
Solair perks up.
“So we don’t try to wipe them out entirely. We just make it clear that continuing to come after the Ancestral Queen and her crew is going to hurt.”
He slams his fist into his own palm for emphasis.
“If we hurt them badly enough, damage their operation beyond repair in this sector, maybe they’ll stay out of League space and leave us be.”
I consider this plan to be a long shot, at best, but by the same measure I don’t see how we have much choice.
“It sounds dangerous, but necessary, Captain.”
Solair faces me grimly.
“Zander, I want a full weapons systems upgrade. Gamma ray emitters, point defense cannons, torpedoes, the works.”
“It will be done, Captain. I only need time.”
“Captain…” Grantian sighs, knowing he’s already lost this argument. “We are not a warship.”
“Perhaps not. But we have to try and put this plan into motion, or we’ll never get any peace.”
Solair draws himself up to his full height and encompasses us with his gaze.
“I know no one signed on for this, that we’re merchants first and fighters a distant, distant second, but I’m declaring war on Blue Dawn. Who’s with me?”
Not a single soul, not even the anxious Grantian, answers with a nay.
The storm is coming.
And none of our enemies will be spared.
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Did you enjoy Tamed by the Alien Pirate? Not quite ready to let go of Thrase and Zander just yet? We couldn’t let them go either so we wrote a fun bonus scene for you guys and you can get it FREE here: https://bookbit.ly/kilgari5bonus/
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About the Authors
Celia Kyle
Ex-dance teacher, former accountant and erstwhile collectible doll salesperson, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Celia Kyle now writes paranormal romances. It goes without saying that there’s always a happily-ever-after for her characters, even if there are a few road bumps along the way. Today she lives in central Florida and writes full-time with the support of her loving husband and two finicky cats.
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Athena Storm
Athena Storm is the pen name for two authors who fell in love with writing science fiction romance as they fell in love with each othe
r.
She's the Athena. And he's the Storm. Athena hopes that one day it won't be a boyfriend/girlfriend writing duo, but a husband/wife team. But she's not pressuring at all. Not one bit.
Science fiction is the biggest love for the writing duo, and they've been doing the writing for quite some time now, building a universe that readers can get lost and explore in. Filled with big bad alien warriors, sassy human women who give as well as they get, hilarious situations, and enough steam to melt stars!
The duo have created the Athenaverse, where all books in all series are tied together. You can start anywhere but once you do, you'll want to explore them all!
When they get married, they plan to continue writing science fiction romance forever. But again, no pressure on the marrying part. Not at all. (Not like writing Happily Ever After ALL Day won't give you any ideas on its own, right?)
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Join the Athenaverse
Also by Athena Storm
Reaper’s Pet Series:
Caged Mate
Caged Prey
Standalones In Athenaverse:
Mercy’s End
Bride to Beasts Series:
Zuvok
Zerberu
Vyker
Soldiers of Hope Series:
Hope In A Time Of War
Marauder Mates Series:
Sorta Seized By The Alien
Totally Taken By The Alien
Untamed
Beauty and The Alien
Conquered Mates (An Athenaverse Collaboration with Tara Starr):
Warlord’s Property
Alpha’s Prey
Brute’s Challenge
Alien Torturer’s Pet
Champions of Ataxia Series:
Gladiator to Mate You
Hating You Mating You
Scent of My Mate
Warriors of the Alliance Series:
Yaal
Duric
Copyright © 2020 by Celia Kyle & Athena Storm
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