Jager (Galactic Defenders Book 2)

by Jessica E. Subject

  She pumped her fist in the air and jogged around to the rear of the simulation course.

  Waiting for her signal indicating her squad was ready, Jager jumped when his wrist com beeped in alarm.

  Katrina in labor. Come to med building immediately.

  He read the red letters across the screen a second time, his heart pounding. His wife needed him. He had to go. Glancing around, he searched for a Defender to take his place. “Jace!” He dragged the Defender away from his squad and handed him the com tab. “It’s all set. When Oflaria signals, start the simulation.”

  Jace slapped his hand away and glared at him. “That’s your job. I’m here training with my own squad.”

  He shook his head, unable to stand still. This was taking too long. “Sorry, but Katrina’s in labor. I’ve got to go.”

  “Oh.” Jace’s face lit up. “Go then. And tell her I’ll be there as soon as you’re all ready for visitors.”

  “Sure.” Jace turned, tripping over his feet. He couldn’t get out of the training area fast enough. The med building was half a mile away but seemed even farther as he raced there and then through the halls to find the room where the Warwa doctors had his wife.

  One of the Gersonian porters handed Jager a suit to put on over his clothes then waddled down the hall to escort him into the restricted unit. “Sorry for not contacting you sooner. We’re not used to having fathers around to see their children being born.”

  Jager froze. “What do you mean? Is she done already?”

  The Gersonian laughed. “No, no, but she won’t be much longer.”

  Jager refused to miss any more. He ducked into the room as soon as the door opened.

  The male Warwa held a tiny bundle in his arms, a red, wrinkled face with barely open eyes the only visible part under the blanket. “Congratulations, Jager. The first one is a boy. Baby number two is on its way.”

  He glanced at Katrina, her face scrunched as she grunted. Did he go to her or take his son? “Is he okay?” Jager asked the doctor.

  As soon as he nodded, Jager rushed to his wife and grasped for her hand.

  “Hi,” she mumbled and squeezed back.

  “That’s it, Katrina,” the female doctor said. “The head is crowning. This one is ready to come out. Push with your next contraction.”

  Her face reddened and she crushed his hand, bearing down to make him a father twice in one day. With his still available hand, he wiped stray strands of hair from her face. “You’re doing so well. You’re so brave.” After two more contractions, and his hand turned numb, their second child came out, a little girl.

  The male Warwa motioned him to follow as he took their daughter to clean her up. “Katrina was a model patient, and the babies didn’t want to wait any longer to come out.”

  Jager chuckled to himself. They were just as impatient as their mother. And him, but he’d never admit that out loud. “They’re okay? No problems with them being early?”

  “None at all.” The Warwa wrapped his daughter in a blanket. “Being Kalaren, they’re early, but being Hemera, they’re right on time. And big for twins.”

  “Can I hold them?” At that moment, Jager was anxious to hold his children, wallow in the excitement of his new family now that he knew all of them were safe and healthy.

  “In a few moments.” The male Warwa shone a light in each baby’s eyes. Then their ears.

  After the female Warwa finished cleaning up Katrina, Jager and his wife were able to hold their babies. Cradling their daughter in his arms, he leaned down and kissed Katrina who cuddled with their son. Not the family unit he’d longed for growing up, but better. He’d made his own tribe.

  Sneak Peek of Jace (Galactic Defenders book three)

  Prologue

  The wind blew through Faith’s leafy hair. All around her, the air shimmered, failing to conceal the extraterrestrial object landing on the planet. The same as the one she’d seen depart weeks earlier. Only, this time, one ship rather than the three that had taken her sister away from her.

  She ducked behind a bush, hoping to see a glimpse of the Defender she shared DNA with. Over the last couple of weeks, she’d tried to remain out of sight of the many beings on the planet, observing their curious Terran ways. But those about to step from the ship weren’t Terran. The otherworldly visitors hunted the Erebus, creatures her creator had taken the other half of her DNA from. Had more been spotted on Earth? Or had Katrina returned for her? Would her sister take her away from the planet where those who did catch sight of her screamed and hurried away or called for the cars with the flashing lights?

  Regardless of how many Terrans observed her, she’d never been caught and taken to the laboratories Isabel threatened to send her to if she ever tried to escape. Shifting to her left, Faith peeked through the foliage as the first Defender stepped out. A male. Older than Katrina and the guy her sister had been locked up with. Plus, he had no hair at all, his skin looking as though it lay underneath his bones rather than on top. A female came next with yellow skin and spikes down the back of her head. Then a guy who reminded her of the one locked up with Katrina, but slightly older and without the scar across his face. The fourth Defender was massive, barely fitting into the same uniform all those before him wore. Massive amounts of extra skin hung from his body, especially under his chin. She was surprised it didn’t pull him to the ground. Right before the door closed, hiding the inside of the ship from the Terrans, a fifth Defender stepped out. One who captivated her attention from her initial glimpse of him. A younger version of the first Defender but with thick, dark hair to his shoulders. Yet, it was his intense obsidian eyes that had her forgetting to breathe. He glanced right at her, as if he could see her through the bushes. She held completely still but didn’t feel the need to run. For some reason, she didn’t believe he meant to hurt her.

  He continued to hold her gaze. She considered standing up and telling him where she was when a horrible smell burned her nostrils. Gagging, she glanced behind her to find the source of the stench. A giant figure loomed over her. The Defender with the extra skin.

  Faith shrank as small as she could, retreating into the foliage. She fell through, exposing herself to the other Defenders who’d arrived. Meaty hands grabbed her ankles, yanking her out, through a puddle. She spit the liquid out, the taste worse than its odor. Her ankles were released, but the same hands twisted into the back of her shirt and heaved her to her feet.

  “I’ve got her.” The Defender’s voice was deep, his words slurred. Yet, they all seemed to understand him, rushing in their direction.

  “Oh, Pfept, did you piss on her?” The Defender who’d held her attention turned his head away and gagged. Not the reaction she’d hoped for upon their first meeting.

  He shrugged, his extra skin wiggling with the movement. “I had to go. Can’t help it if she splashed through it.”

  The female Defender with the yellow skin and spikes on her head rolled her eyes. “You probably did it on purpose. I don’t know why Granil sent you with us. We would have been fine without you.”

  “Because she’s his aunt through marriage.” The first Defender clasped Faith’s shoulder. “You need to come with us right away. Terrans have spotted you, and they’re hunting you down.”

  Her insides froze. She’d been so careful, tried to stay aware of her surroundings. But there had been one time when a Terran snuck up on her. Had that happened more than once? Were there others she hadn’t seen?

  Pfept pointed a big, bulky weapon at her. “We should tie her up, lock her away until we get to the carrier.”

  “No,” the leader said as he shoved her into the arms of the Defender she couldn’t help but gaze up at. He smiled down at her then focused on the Defender in charge who was of the same race as him. The leader unarmed Pfept and motioned toward their ship. “If she shows any sign of a threat, I will take care of her without using a banned weapon, but that’s not what the Warwas wanted.”

  “And Katrina said she was harmless,
” the female Defender added.

  Wait, they were sending her to the Warwas? Not Katrina? She stepped back. Maybe going with the Defenders wasn’t such a good idea.

  The good-looking Defender clasped her shoulder. “Whoa. Don’t give him a reason to tie you up. I don’t want that, and I’m sure you don’t, either.”

  No, she didn’t want to be tied up, but what did the Warwas want with her? “Katrina. I want to see Katrina.”

  “I’ll see what I can do. I’m her friend.” He moved in front of her, blocking her view of Pfept. “My name’s Jace.”

  Jace. He was Katrina’s friend? If anyone knew how to find her, it was him. Right? But, would she be allowed to see her sister again? What if the Warwas didn’t let her? “What do they want with me? The Warwas?”

  “To learn more about you.” He raised his eyebrows, a feature that looked funny on him. “But, not in an invasive way. They won’t hurt you. I can guarantee that. They are doctors, researchers.”

  Well that didn’t make her any more confident. Yet she wouldn’t see Katrina if she stayed on Earth. And if she didn’t go peacefully, that monster with the saggy skin would confine her. She had no choice.

  With a sudden burst of confidence, Faith slipped her fingers into Jace’s hand. She’d seen many Terrans do the same, and they always seemed to be happy. He squeezed her hand in response, filling her with an odd tingling warmth. But he quickly let go, guiding her to the ship in front of him.

  Staring at the spacecraft, she gulped when a section lowered to let them inside. She’d never known anything other than Earth. Would she be able to survive elsewhere, understand the Warwas who wanted to study her?

  “Don’t worry.” Jace ran a hand across her back. “I’ll take you to the med bay myself. And I’ll check on you every now and again.”

  Something she would look forward to. With slow, measured steps, she walked into the spacecraft, ready to leave Earth.

  Thank you!

  Thank you very much for reading Jager! If you enjoyed this story, please consider leaving a review on Goodreads and/or wherever you purchase your eBooks. Also, please consider subscribing to my newsletter to stay up-to-date with all of my new releases and sales.

  Bibliography

  1Night Stand

  Beneath the Starry Sky

  Celestial Seduction

  Unknown Futures

  Satin Sheets in Space

  Sudden Breakaway

  Another Night, Another Planet

  His Alien Virgin

  Her Alien Hero

  Intergalactic Heat ~ ebook and print anthology

  Alien Next Door

  Alien Adoration

  Alien Admirer

  Alien Attraction

  Alien Next Door: The Complete Series ~ ebook and print anthology

  Galactic Defenders

  Bryce

  Jager

  Jace (coming soon)

  The Underground

  Never Gonna Let You Go

  Never Gonna Desert You

  Never Gonna Say Goodbye

  Rebels and Romance ~ print anthology

  Single Titles

  Accidental Romance

  Alien Lover

  Beyond Reach

  Cosmic Sutra

  Crash Landing

  Hey, Santa

  It Took A Zombie Apocalypse

  Made For Her

  Taken by the Billionaire Alien Next Door

  The Power of Three

  The Star Princess

  Cosmic Desires ~ ebook and print anthology

  writing as Paisley Brown (erotica)

  Sexy Suitors from Space

  Sex Boot Camp

  About the Author

  Jessica E. Subject is the author of science fiction romance, mostly alien romances, ranging from sweet to super hot. Sometimes she dabbles in paranormal and contemporary as well, bringing to life a wide variety of characters. In her stories, you can not only meet a sexy alien or two, but also clones and androids. You may be transported to a dystopian world where rebels are fighting to live and love, or to another planet for a romantic rendezvous.

  When Jessica is not reading, writing, or doing dreaded housework, she likes to go to fitness class and walk her Great Pyrenees/Retriever her family adopted from the local animal shelter.

  Jessica lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband and two energetic children. And she loves to hear from her readers. You can find her at jessicasubject.com and on twitter @jsubject.

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