Unmatched
Page 22
It was…
“A disgrace,” Ren answers, and if not for the beautiful landscape coming into focus, I’d probably roll my eyes.
Rivan rights us, bringing us parallel to the surface, waiting for further instruction from Nexx. He’s done his best to fill Sol’s shoes, but he’s nowhere near as badass. I miss him. “The scan indicates a space smooth enough for us to land not far ahead. It is near the ruins, Acia.”
The ruins. That must be where their ancestors lived before the Inokine destroyed their way of life. My heart beats a little faster at the mere thought, and Ren squeezes my hand. There’s nothing to be afraid of now. Like the Tsuvians before them, the Inokine were charged with life right violations and designated for round up. They won’t be exterminated, especially since all of UCom’s experiments were brought to light, but they won’t be allowed to hurt anyone anymore. And the Illusians? Deemed a protected race. No one, not even the Universal Community leadership can breach the perimeter surrounding their planet.
Our planet.
Chairs squeak as the entirety of the navigation bay leans forward, gazing out the window as Rivan guides us down. Leandra’s little girl lets out a loud chirp as the ship rumbles and shakes, and Ragar clutches her closer to his chest. We’re here. We’ve finally made it.
A wave of emotion overtakes me as I stare at the flare of joy in Ren’s eyes and feel the warmth of his satisfaction trickle down our bond. He did it. Led his people through the worst circumstances imaginable and brought them back to the very place that had been ripped from their hands. They’ve been hunted for more than a hundred years, and finally, they’re able to return home.
And it’s his strength and sacrifice that helped them get here. The sound of straps unbuckling draws me from my thoughts, and Ren pulls me to my feet. I stand, taking a second to gain my balance, and wrap a hand around my giant belly for support. Somedays I swear my uterus is just going to fall out of my vagina.
Giving the ship one last look, I waddle toward the hatch, feeling slightly sentimental about the home that’s kept us safe.
A warm breeze blows back my hair and carries with it my first smells of Illusia. Something between citrus and wildflowers, and so light, and clean, it feels like satin against my face.
“It’s beautiful.” I look up at Ren, wanting to memorize his reaction, only to find him staring at me.
His gaze lingers on me a moment before he leans in for a kiss. “It is you who captures my attention.”
With a gentle pressure, he eases me down the walkway and guides me away from the rest of the Illusians, toward a dense cluster of green and purple vines. The plants look similar to what I’ve seen in pictures of Earth in its prime. Thick brown trunks twisting up from the soil, with a cascade of orange flowers draped over them. Pink, purple, blue—vegetation of all shapes, sizes, and colors curls and snakes out across the landscape, making it look more like a piece of art than real life.
“Where are you taking me?” I ask as he lifts me into his arms.
He presses a kiss to the top of my head, his chest rumbling underneath my cheek. “Patience, Skara. You will see.”
After several minutes of hiking, Ren carries me down a particularly steep crevice toward the sound of rushing water. My eyes begin to drift closed, Ren’s comforting warmth and the soothing movements of his steps lulling me to sleep.
“Open your eyes,” he whispers, setting me down on my feet.
There are no words.
Like something out of a dream, scarlet flowers, so red they could be dipped in blood, lie gracefully on the edges of one of the most beautiful bodies of water I’ve ever seen—an aqua so vibrant, I can’t help but wonder what it would feel like on my skin.
“That’s it, isn’t it? My flower?” Ren extends a hand, holding me back as I unconsciously drift toward it.
“Yes. I swore I would lay you down at this exact place and lose myself in you.” A laugh escapes his lips and he places both hands on my belly. “It appears our babes have a different plan.”
For the first time since I saw him, there is a lightness to his words. The bloodthirsty Illusian warrior is still there, but the heaviness he carried on his shoulders before has dissipated. In its place is a genuine happiness. I never imagined he could be more beautiful. But, now…
I lean into him, and with nothing but the song of the trees swaying in the breeze, I let him hold me. “What’s next? Where do we go from here?”
Ren cups my face, the rough pads of his fingers tracing their way across my lower lip. “Now I build you a home. Restore this place to its original glory. And spend the rest of my days worshipping you for the ethereal creature you are.”
Well, in that case. Better get started.
Hey there!
Thank you so much for taking the time to read Unmatched. This series means a lot to me, and the fact that you took the time to sit down and follow these characters as they fought their way through hell and found their happy ending blows me away. I am so grateful for your support! If you loved this series, you’re in luck! There are more to come. Make sure you join my readers group, Annalise’s Word Fiends, to hang out, and get exclusive sneak peeks at teasers, excerpts, and what’s to come. Also, don’t forget to sign up for my newsletter so you don’t miss a thing!
xoxo- Annalise
Acknowledgments
I want to give a big thank you to everyone who gave this story a shot. Your support means everything. To my husband, thank for your patience and understanding. I swear we won’t eat frozen pizza forever. To my beta girls, Lesley, Haley, and Mandy, you guys are the best. To Ashley and Sara, thanks for putting up with my never-ending barrage of questions and random ideas. And lastly, to my editor and friend Patricia, thank you! I can’t say it enough.
About the Author
Annalise Alexis is a free-spirited mother of three who lives with her husband and kids in the heart of Texas. A huge fan of Firefly, Gilmore Girls, and anything with Jason Momoa, Annalise combines her love of all things sexy and strange by writing in several genres including: science fiction romance and contemporary.
Don’t forget to join her newsletter for snippets, sneak peeks, and all the things. You can also find Annalise’s Word Fiend reader group on Facebook.
You can find Annalise on the web at http://annalisealexis.com
Also by Annalise Alexis
Contemporary Romance
Moist
Science Fiction Romance
Unexpected (Her Illusian Warrior #1)
Unwelcome (Her Illusian Warrior #2)
Unmatched (Her Illusian Warrior #3)