She walked deeper into the ship, heading for the command center. It wasn’t a very big ship compared to the ships that now travelled the universes, but it was her family’s ship. Her father had taken an old transport ship and had renovated it so that it would be a safe and comfortable home for his girls on their journey to Altavesta.
The area toward the front of the ship was as a ship was expected to look like. The command center was big enough to house the control and defense systems. It also held eight seats with the best harnesses available on Earth to keep all of them safe during their journey.
Lexi piloted the vessel, having trained from a young age for that job. Bree always sat in the seat to the left of her at the command post. Bree’s empathic skills made her the perfect person for the job of communicating with any of the people that they had encountered along their journey.
Francie was at the tactical center behind Bree. It was Francie’s skill with weapons that had drawn her to that position. It sometimes amazed Lexi just how brilliant Francie was when it came to security and weapon’s technology. Francie was able to create make-shift weapons and defenses to adapt to every dangerous situation. That talent had been called upon several times over the course of their journey to Altavesta. Lexi and her sisters knew that they probably would have been destroyed by those who still chased them, were it not for Francie.
Callie was their ship’s doctor. Her ability to heal had kept them safe and strong throughout their journey. Callie was fierce in her determination to care for all of them. Daria’s help in keeping Callie focused and strong had been invaluable. It still was.
Daria was also the keeper of the knowledge of their family history and their mother’s visions. She carried the journal written by their mother that not only logged each and every vision that Elizabeth Gallagher had been gifted with, it also held Elizabeth’s reflections on those visions.
Elizabeth had been adamant that her daughters and granddaughter go to Altavesta. She had spoken to them often about what their destiny was and how important it was that they reach the planet to help and defend the people there.
Evie was their tech person. She was able to hack into any system and hide their presence, glean information about the people chasing them, and upload hidden programs into their enemies’ systems that would put their ship out of harm’s way. Her tech savvy was the reason that they had been able to slip away from the many ships that had followed them, some of them ready to discharge their weapons to capture or destroy them. Evie’s skills had made Scorpio invisible—long enough to allow Lexi to pilot them away to safety.
Evie’s wicked sense of humor had also been invaluable during the long journey. The death of their father had taken its toll on all of them. It had been a long time before any of them had been able to speak about their loss. Evie was the one who had cracked the shell of pain that surrounded each of them to allow their sadness to be released and the healing to begin. Lexi didn’t even remember what Evie had said or done. She only remembered laughing and seeing the smiles on her sisters’ and niece’s faces. Each day got a little better—because of Evie.
Of all of them, Gaiya was their secret weapon. Gaiya’s ability to talk to each of them within their minds had saved them on many occasions. Their youngest sister had often been assigned the task of staying behind on the ship to watch over Hanna, but all of them knew it was more than Gaiya’s nurturing personality that had garnered her that job.
By staying behind on the ship, Gaiya had taken on the role of lookout—a role that she took very seriously. It was Gaiya’s uncanny ability to feel when things were not going right that made her look at people and places with cynicism. She did not trust easily. She was a hard person to fool. It was that part of her that made her perfect to watch over the rest of them when they stopped for supplies or information. Gaiya had saved them countless times when she had warned them through her link with each of them of the evil people or the dangerous situations that would jeopardize their lives or their mission to get to Altavesta.
Their youngest sister had taken great pleasure in speaking within the minds of the people that she deemed the bad guys. She truly enjoyed seeing them run around in circles as they tried to figure out what was happening to them. She held no remorse for making them crazy with confusion. She said they deserved it for being such rotten people. Lexi had to admit that she agreed with Gaiya. Each person that Gaiya had used her gift on had had evil intent within their hearts.
Lexi smiled as she sat in her seat and powered up their ship. Scorpio hummed to life, the familiar vibrations of the small craft giving her a sense of peace. This ship had been their home for the past six months. It was here that Hanna had begun to speak complete sentences and use the many gifts that she had been given. It was here that she and her sisters had mourned the loss of their father and had begun to heal.
Every night as they worked together to make their meals in the small galley or sat in the lounge area, they counted their blessings that their father had made their ship space ready. They also valued the way he had made it a home for them. The berths that were stacked three-high at the back of the ship were wide, comfortable, and gave each of the women the privacy that they needed.
The lounge was small but the three, overstuffed couches with thickly-padded tan cushions were more than comfortable. Their father had done all that he could to make the area very much like the living room of the home they had shared on Earth. It didn’t matter that the couches were welded to the floor of the ship or that the portholes looked out into space, it was the home that they were given to keep their family together.
Their physical safety was important, but their emotional health was just as critical. Spending their time together relaxing and planning, allowed them to keep their family bond alive. Yes, they were soldiers. Yes, they were traveling the star systems to a new world. But, most importantly, they were a loving, caring, and supportive family.
“The ship appears to be in good shape,” Bryden said, interrupting her thoughts. He set the small chest he had brought with him from the castle down onto the deck floor.
“It is. It’s low on fuel reserves, though.”
“What is your source of power?”
“Mulvane crystals,” Lexi answered. “My father built this ship with not much more that the outer hull in place. He designed and built the control, weapons, and propulsion systems. He said those crystals were the most common crystals across the galaxies and had the longest life. He told us we would have no trouble finding more if we needed them. He was able to procure a supply that would keep us going for at least six months.” She turned to look up at Bryden as he stood beside her and smiled. “That would equal two of your vidans .”
Bryden nodded, thankful for his queen’s concern that he grasped the time reference. Only a thoughtful and caring person would think to explain in a way that did not belittle his lack of understanding.
“We have a supply of Mulvane crystals in our underground storage. When you transport your ship back to the castle, it will be safely stored in the docking bay.” He looked over the control panel before him and was impressed by the technology. “I will upgrade it to include more sophisticated systems, but what your father has put in place is very near our level of technology. I will have to do a complete analysis of your systems, Lexi, but I am already impressed by the fact that you were able to travel here and protect yourselves on your journey. It is obvious that your father is very intelligent and very skilled.”
“Yes. He was.”
Bryden looked at her and saw the sadness that surrounded her like a shroud. Reaching out, he placed his hand over his queen’s, squeezing it lightly in support.
“I am sorry for your loss, Lexi,” he said gently.
Lexi nodded, doing her best to keep her sadness under control. “He was a good man,” she said softly. “He was a loving father. He sacrificed himself to give us time to escape our home planet. He destroyed the tracking system of Brendan Port so no one could follow us. We
would have been captured and killed if he hadn’t.”
Bryden’s respect for their father had just increased tenfold. To sacrifice his own life so that his daughters and granddaughter could live was the ultimate act of love.
“ Scorpio needs to remain here until we can locate Millie’s ship,” Lexi told him, changing the subject. “She won’t trust that it’s safe to land unless she sees Scorpio and hears from me. Have you had any luck locating her ship yet?”
“No. I have been searching for her ship’s signature since you gave me it,” Bryden told her. “If it is located, I will be notified.” He touched the small device that was clipped to his belt that kept him linked to the men working on finding New Beginnings .
“Okay.”
“I understand your need to have your ship remain here,” Bryden said thoughtfully. “I would like to make a few adjustments to its defenses.”
“Like what?”
“I have brought some technology with me to keep your ship hidden from the Gorin. It will not interfere in Lady Millie’s ability to locate you. We have found that the Gorin do not have the ability to sift through bright colors. They somehow affect their ability to see what is before them. I will construct a shield around your ship, the lagoon, and the area of trees within five yarins that will pulse with those colors.”
“Won’t that draw their attention to the area?” Lexi questioned.
“You would think so, but it will not,” Bryden told her with certainty. “The Gorin will avoid it.”
“You’re not telling me something.”
Bryden laughed softly. Sebastian’s mate was a very smart woman. She was as clever as she was kind. He was happy for his brother to have been gifted with such a wonderful life mate. He thought about her sister Francie and was filled with the same joy and respect. He hoped he would have the courage to strengthen the bond that they had already begun. Touching her would be the best thing that could ever happen to him. He hoped that Francie would be willing to accept his touch and the love he was already feeling for her.
“Hello. Bryden, are you with me?” Lexi asked him, reaching out and tugging on the sleeve of his white shirt.
She looked at him calmly, realizing that although his features were very much like Sebastian’s, he was completely opposite in color. Where Sebastian had long, dark blond hair and golden eyes, Bryden had dark hair that fell in soft waves to just below his ears and eyes that were mostly blue but had golden flecks within them. Sebastian stood at six feet five inches tall. Bryden was probably two inches shorter. He was just as packed with muscles and exuded strength, just like his older brother.
What Lexi realized most as she compared the two brothers was the fact that they were both compassionate and caring men. She secretly hoped that one of her sisters was meant to be mated to Bryden. He was a really great guy.
“What secret are you keeping?” she questioned him.
“It is not a secret. It is more a pleasant occurrence that I have been fortunate enough to witness.”
Lexi waited patiently, smiling at the twinkle that flashed within Bryden’s eyes. This man had a definite fun side to him.
“I was experimenting with the pulsing of colors on the planet Gabel,” Bryden explained. “It is a planet that has been ravaged by the Gorin. Many of the people had been killed. A lot of the men of that world had been taken as slaves. We were able to locate them despite the fact that the Gorin had masked their retreat. When we engaged in battle with them on the planet’s surface, I gave the order to execute the color pulsing technology.”
“What happened?”
“The Gorin were immediately disoriented.”
“That’s a good thing. What else?”
“They lost control of the contents within their bodies.”
Lexi’s eyebrows flew up in surprise. “In what way, Bryden?” she asked, doing her best not to laugh.
“In every way,” Bryden told her, smiling smugly. “It was glorious to see.”
Lexi sat back and let loose her laughter. Tears streamed down her cheeks as the picture of the disgusting Gorin losing control of their bowels and their stomachs—if they had those body parts—flashed through her mind. Seeing the happiness on Bryden’s face just made her laugh harder.
“I like you, Bryden,” she said finally, taking a calming breath and wiping at her face with her hands.
“I like you, too, Lexi,” he told her, the happiness within him bursting forth in a golden display of magic.
Lexi loved the magic that surrounded her. It was filled with white light and blanketed her in warmth. She felt his happiness. She also felt his need to protect.
Yeah. The men of this world were definitely keepers.
Chapter 32
“Your world is very beautiful, Bryden,” Lexi told him as they walked toward the transport ship that Bryden had piloted to bring them to check on her ship.
She had wondered why he had set it down a good distance from the lagoon at the time. She understood now that he hadn’t wanted to draw attention to the location of her ship. The fact that he put in place the shield that he knew would protect Scorpio from the Gorin, told her that he was very concerned because of the recent infiltration of the Gorin on Altavesta.
She knew it was something he would probably have done with any visiting ship, but she also knew that he was especially protective of her. It was the way of this world to be protective of its people—especially the women—most especially their queen. She was still trying to wrap her head around the magnitude of that role.
“Altavesta is beautiful,” Bryden agreed. “We have lush land and fertile soil. Many of our people work the land and produce crops that help sustain us.”
“Do these people travel back to the castle each evening to live in safety behind the walls?”
“No, they live within their own villages. Each community is well protected. Sebastian has seen to it that every village and farm is safely surrounded by their own wall. All of them are constructed with the strongest material and infused with the combined magics of our people. Sebastian, Tristen, and I check on them regularly to ensure that they are safe and well.”
Lexi stopped walking, turning and placing her right hand on Bryden’s forearm to halt him. He looked at her in question.
“I’m honored to be a part of your world,” she told him sincerely. “You should be very proud of yourselves. I have never experienced such genuine kindness and caring other than my parents and siblings. The way you protect each other and watch out for each other is admirable. My world has lost this ability to protect their people. The people who make our laws have no caring for their safety or health. Too many suffer from hunger. Many more have been abused and killed. It’s not a good place to live anymore.”
She hesitated a moment as she thought about their ravaged planet. The once thriving and powerful Earth had been reduced to a mere shell of its former existence.
“Some of the people were able to flee to safety,” she continued. “Many took the chance to travel to unknown worlds to begin over again. Some were successful in finding a new home. Others were not. Those in positions of power on Earth annihilated many and put in place restrictions that would prevent anyone else from leaving. My mother and father were instrumental in helping a lot of people escape to freedom. Millie’s ship was one of the last transports allowed to leave under the guise that they were on a scientific quest to locate new worlds that had resources that would be beneficial to Earth. When contact with them was lost, a restriction was put on future space travel. My sisters and I were lucky to escape, but we wouldn’t have if our father hadn’t prepared us so well.”
“It is our blessing that you, your sisters, and your niece were able to find your way to us, my queen,” Bryden told her gently.
The tech unit that hung on Lexi’s belt beeped. She looked at it quickly and saw the emergency code that was displayed on the screen.
“Bryden,” she whispered urgently.
“I know,” he told her quietly,
motioning to the warriors that flanked them as the tech device he held showed the breech of their shields. Lady Bree’s suggestion for changing the identifying markers of their enemy had worked. It now recognized their enemy by heat and cold signatures. He would be certain to thank her for her help and advice.
The warriors moved as a well-oiled unit, circling around the area and lying in wait. Lexi removed her pulse weapon and sword from her weapon’s belt, crouching beside Bryden, and evaluating the situation.
She called upon her training and closed her eyes to concentrate on the sounds around them. Bree had said that the temperature changed when the Gorin were close. Lexi drew from deep within herself to call upon the magic that Sebastian had shared with her. She searched for the golden spark that she knew would be there. It had to help her find the Gorin and destroy them.
She saw the golden glow and began to fan it quickly, smiling as she saw the violet magic that joined with it. Concentrating on the joining of their magics, she pushed outward with its strength to search for the coldness that would allow her to locate the position of the Gorin.
She felt something just beyond her reach and was frustrated by her inability to figure it out. The lives of the warriors around her were dependent on her ability to protect them. Without Sebastian to help her, she was afraid that she wouldn’t be able to destroy them with the power that their combined magics afforded her.
“Please help me,” she whispered, sending the prayer out to the heavens. She felt lost. She didn’t know how to make the magic stronger.
A small spark of white light called to her from deep within. She gathered the gold and violet around her like blanket, opening the ends to the white flicker to call it forward into the embrace of her arms. The whiteness glowed brighter. Lexi felt its warmth racing through her. The strength of it nearly took her breath away.
Alexa's Warrior Mate (Guardian Warrior Mates, Prophecy of Salvation Book 1) Page 44