Alexa's Warrior Mate (Guardian Warrior Mates, Prophecy of Salvation Book 1)

by Bernard, Lynnette

  “Yes, Prince Bryden,” the deep voice on the other end of the device responded without hesitation.

  “We go together, Lexi,” Sebastian stated firmly as they made their way through the corridor to the entrance of the underground docking station. “As you are meant to be by my side, I am meant to be by yours, my love.”

  Lexi nodded, accepting his pledge. As they walked toward the transport that would take them down to the docking bay, she realized that Torin was carrying Hanna. Turning to face Bree, she saw that her sister displayed no concern for her daughter’s safety.

  “Do you think it’s okay for Hanna to be with us right now, Bree?” she asked her quietly.

  “Hanna has to be there when we greet Millie,” Bree told her gently.

  “She does?”

  Bree nodded, smiling. “Daria told me that she does.”

  “Good enough for me,” Lexi said, walking with determined strides toward the transport tube that would bring them to the underground docking station.

  Lexi had been impressed with the hive structure of the underground station that successfully docked the fleet of Altavesta. There had to be well over one thousand defense shuttles and at least one hundred transport ships.

  It was obvious to the Gallagher sisters that the Royal Family of Altavesta took the protection of their people and their allies very seriously. It was also apparent that Sebastian was ready to journey to any world that needed them and relocate the people to his world.

  A group of twenty warriors, all of the Gallagher sisters and Hanna, Sebastian, Bryden, and Torin entered the shuttle that was already in place at the loading platform. Lexi smiled as she saw the name of the ship. Assistance 1701 . How appropriate.

  “Strap in,” Bryden commanded as he took his place behind the main console and sat in the pilot’s chair. He looked to his right and saw that Francie had taken the seat beside him. A rush of happiness blazed through him at the thought of his life mate working beside him. “Lady Francie, do you have the training to co-pilot?”

  Francie shook her head in exasperation, looking over her shoulder at Lexi and rolling her eyes. She saw her sister’s amusement. Francie wasn’t as amused.

  “You’ll be surprised by what I can do, Bryden,” Francie told him calmly. “Do your job and don’t slam the shuttle into the docking wall. Do you think you can do that?”

  Bryden’s smile was immediate, the golden flecks within the blue color of his eyes sparkling with humor. By the stars, he already loved this woman who challenged him at every turn. As much as he wanted to focus on her, he had to concentrate on the matter at hand. He could not be dissuaded by thoughts of having this luscious woman beneath him. That would occur later. He was going to make certain of it.

  “Yes, Francie Gallagher. I believe I am capable of doing that.”

  “Then get busy, Bryden Mathieson.”

  Francie huffed softly and concentrated on the console before her. Although there were slight differences to the panel, it was pretty much the same as Scorpio ’s navigation system. She would show Bryden that she was not someone he should question.

  Bryden heard the low laughter of his brother Sebastian as he strapped in behind him. Sebastian knew of his claim on Francie. Sebastian was enjoying Francie’s challenge just as much as he was.

  They navigated out of the underground station and made their way toward the lagoon where the Gallaghers’ ship still sat where Lexi had landed it. Setting down beside the small copse of trees just to the left of Scorpio , Bryden did a quick scan of the area before opening the port hatch. He was not going to chance putting any of them in danger of attack.

  “The area is clear of Gorin, Sebastian,” he reported. “There is a small ship that is registering as New Beginnings , but there is another ship not far behind it.”

  “Can you identify it?” Sebastian asked, concerned.

  “I cannot.”

  “Is it battle ready? Can you identify any weapons?” Torin asked, looking at Sebastian and seeing his king was just as troubled by this additional ship as he was.

  “Yes.”

  “Yes?” Lexi asked, just as concerned.

  “Yes, but none of the weapons have been activated,” Bryden told them.

  “We need to get to our ship so we can talk to Millie,” Bree said calmly.

  “You may talk to her through Assistance ,” Bryden offered.

  “She won’t recognize your signature,” Lexi told him, shaking her head. “She’ll only open communications with Scorpio .”

  “We need to get to your ship quickly,” Sebastian told them. “Bryden, I need to communicate with Verrick.”

  Bryden activated the switch to his left and nodded at his older brother. “You have him,” he told him calmly.

  “Verrick, do you have the second ship within your sights?”

  “I am locked onto both ships, sir,” Verrick answered at once.

  “Train all defenses on that second ship. I want every available weapon ready to blow them out of the sky if they are a threat.”

  “Yes, my king,” Verrick told him, his deep voice filled with determination.

  “We need you to communicate with your friend, Lexi,” Sebastian told her as he led the way off the shuttle.

  Lexi wasted no time talking. She ran toward their ship, knowing her sisters followed her and the warriors spread out in a circle around them to offer protection. She knew they had nothing to fear from Millie’s ship, but she did have real fear filling her because of the second transport that had weapons capability.

  Activating the tech unit on her belt, she opened the hatch of their ship and ran up the ramp to get to the control console. Her sisters and Sebastian were right behind her. Bree opened communications within a heartbeat. She turned and nodded at Lexi once the link had been established.

  “ New Beginnings , this is Scorpio ,” Lexi called out, her voice clear and calm. “Elizabeth greets you.”

  There was a moment of static before they heard the voice of the woman they had been waiting to hear from for more than five years. It almost seemed as if it was a dream. Millie was finally here.

  “Hello, Elizabeth,” Millie Easton responded. “Lucas is happy to be with you again.”

  Lexi looked at Bree and saw the tears that were forming in her sister’s eyes. Looking at her other sisters, she could see that they were equally affected by the code that used their mother’s name in greeting and their father’s name in response, telling them of his happiness to be with her.

  “Millie, it’s safe for you to land on Altavesta,” Lexi told her, taking a calming breath to remain in control. “We will give you the coordinates for landing.”

  “Understood,” Millie responded.

  “There’s a large transport ship following you,” Francie said, taking her place at the console where she had control over the weapons of their ship. “It has weapons but they’re not powered up. Do you know where this ship is from? Is it a threat?”

  “The transport ship is travelling with us,” Millie responded. “We’ve come from the planet Vilkas. My mate and his people are from there. We have been living there for the past five years. It has been invaded by a race called the Gorin. We were barely able to get everyone onboard before the enemy landed. There are nearly three hundred men, women, and children onboard the transport. We ask for asylum on Altavesta.”

  “Granted,” Sebastian said without hesitation. He held the tech device that he and every one of his warriors always carried and activated the sensor to establish communication with his brother. “Bryden, inform Verrick that the transport is no threat.”

  “Doing it now,” Bryden responded.

  “Lady Millie, set your shuttle down beside Scorpio ,” Sebastian told her quickly. “My brother Bryden will give the transport coordinates to an area that is capable of accommodating the size of that ship.”

  “Understood. I will inform the transport.”

  Sebastian could feel the relief in Millie’s voice. He could also sense the
happiness in Lexi and her sisters. Being reunited with the people of their world had to be a powerful experience for them. He could not imagine how hard it had been for her and her sisters losing their parents and traveling to Altavesta with no one from their world to begin this new life with. They were very brave and strong warriors, indeed.

  Lexi stood and made her way out of their ship. Following behind her and her sisters, Sebastian was proud of the way his warriors automatically took up protective stances around them. They watched in silence as New Beginnings came into view and set down just to the left of Scorpio .

  “They’re finally here,” Callie whispered, stepping forward and taking hold of Daria’s hand.

  “It was destined,” Daria told all of them. “It was not meant for them to arrive until now.”

  The hatch of the ship opened slowly, the ramp lowering and the sight of the woman that they hadn’t seen for more than five years was slowly revealed to them. Millie Easton stood in the open hatchway, holding a small child by the hand and carrying one on her hip. It was obvious that she was pregnant with another child. A large black wolf stood beside the little boy. Its teeth were bared and a low growl was coming from it.

  The little boy pulled his hand from Millie’s, reached out, and wrapped his arms around the wolf’s neck to hug it tightly. The wolf chuffed softly and bumped his snout against the boy’s chin, making him laugh.

  “Mommy, can we go to the water now?” he asked, turning to look up at his mother.

  “First we have to say hello to our friends, Tarak,” Millie said, smiling down at her son. He was such a good boy, so loving and helpful. He was smart and strong, just like his father Dante.

  She led them down the ramp, walking directly to Lexi and standing before her and the massive man who stood by her side. Her crew of scientists followed behind her. Only her sister Nadine wasn’t onboard New Beginnings . She was on the transport ship with her mate Kurt Anderson. He was a soldier who had served the people of Vilkas well. He was a loyal man and a good mate to Millie’s sister.

  “Welcome to Altavesta,” Sebastian greeted them. “We offer you our protection. Our home is now yours.”

  “Thank you.”

  “I’m so glad you’ve arrived safely,” Lexi told her, stepping forward and embracing her before easing back to look down at the beautiful children. “And who have we here?”

  “This is my son Tarak,” Millie introduced them. “And this is my daughter Ellie.”

  Lexi reached up and touched the sweet little girl’s head, loving the softness of her dark hair. “Hello, Ellie, hello, Tarak. It’s very nice to meet you,” Lexi told them gently, sensing the shyness of the little girl and the wariness of the little boy.

  The wolf pressed his body against Millie and Tarak. It would seem that he was just as wary as the little boy was.

  “This is my husband Sebastian Mathieson,” Lexi introduced them.

  “King Sebastian?” Millie asked.

  “You know him?” Lexi was surprised.

  “Everyone knows of the great acts of King Sebastian of Altavesta,” Millie told her. “His protection and support of the neighboring planets are legendary.”

  “Really?” Lexi turned to face Sebastian and smiled. “You’re a legend.”

  “I am a man,” Sebastian disagreed. “My warriors are the ones who deserve the respect. It is they who risked their lives to help others.”

  “You were right by their side the entire time, Sebastian,” Torin pointed out, not allowing his friend to downplay his importance. So many lives were saved because of the goodness of his king.

  “Hi,” Tarak said happily.

  Bree couldn’t help but smile down at the little boy as he walked over to Torin. She saw the protective way Torin was holding Hanna and was taken by his loving nature. His size no longer made her fear him. His tenderness had soothed her heart.

  “Hello, young sir,” Torin answered.

  “Not you,” Tarak said, shaking his head. “Her.” He pointed up at Hanna and smiled. “What’s your name?”

  “Hanna,” she said softly, smiling down at him. “Big puppy.”

  She pointed to the large black wolf that stood protectively next to Tarak. She giggled when she saw the dog nudging at Tarak’s shoulder to push him closer to her.

  “He’s not a puppy. He’s Daddy,” Tarak told her, his eyes filled with humor.

  “What?” Lexi asked, confused.

  “My mate Dante and his people are wolf shifters,” Millie said as she stepped forward and touched the top of the wolf’s head to caress it lightly.

  “He’s a what?” Francie asked as she stood beside Lexi. “I’ve never heard of such a thing.”

  “The planet Vilkas is home to the race of shifters,” Sebastian explained, stepping forward and kneeling before the wolf. “It is an honor to welcome you to our home, Alpha Dante. You and your people will be safe here.”

  The wolf looked into Sebastian’s eyes with an intensity that displayed his intelligence. The brown of his eyes flashed silver as the power within him surged and reached out to the man who offered them asylum. Lowering his head in deference, he acknowledged the sincerity of the man.

  We’re welcome here, Millie , he spoke to his mate through their link.

  We are, Dante , she agreed.

  You need to rest, Mate , he whispered to her gently. This man is an honorable king.

  I will only rest once everyone has arrived safely and we are in our own homes once again.

  She looked at Sebastian and bowed slightly. “We would appreciate a place to stay,” she said softly, kissing her daughter’s hand as the little one pulled on her long dark hair.

  “You are all welcome to live here on Altavesta,” Sebastian told her, standing and taking Lexi’s hand within his. “You are family of my family. When you are ready to be shown our world, you may settle where it best suits you. We have an abundance of land and resources.”

  “That is very kind,” Millie whispered, doing her best to remain standing. She was so very tired.

  She felt Dante pushing at her hip and knew that her mate was well aware of her exhaustion. Now that they had landed on Altavesta and the offering of help and home had been given to them—she could finally rest.

  Chapter 37

  Lexi walked with slow steps toward the Great Hall. She pressed her left hand against her lower back to give herself some relief from the extra weight of her pregnant belly. Rubbing her baby bump lightly with her right hand, she laughed softly as their daughter kicked against her hand. She was such a strong little one.

  Sebastian had informed Lexi that it was the custom of Altavesta to afford the honor of naming a child to the mother of the child. She was still trying to decide what to name their little girl. Each time she asked Sebastian for help, he just kissed her then kissed her swollen belly and whispered to their daughter something that she could never hear. She was certain that Sebastian was going to spoil their daughter with his love. Every day, he showed her the capacity of that love. It was endless.

  Walking into the Great Hall, she looked at each of her sisters as they sat with the men who had been destined to be theirs and saw their happiness. Sebastian stood and waited for her to join him, gathering her within his embrace and holding her close. She kissed his neck tenderly and laughed when he moaned softly.

  “You tempt me, my queen,” he whispered against her shoulder.

  “Good,” Lexi said, laughing.

  “Good?”

  “Yes, good.”

  She sat down on the comfortable chair that Sebastian had brought into the Great Hall for her and sighed with pleasure as the many cushions he had placed there surrounded her and eased her aches. She reached for the burgundy pillow with the golden braiding that Jayna had made for her and pressed it behind her to tuck it into the small of her back. That pillow was sheer heaven. She sighed softly as the pressure of it eased the small pain that had been throbbing in her lower back all morning.

  “My lady queen,
would you like something to drink or eat?” Jayna asked as she came close and knelt before her.

  “Jayna, I would really like something sweet,” Lexi whispered, touching Jayna’s shoulder lightly. “Do you have anything you can suggest?”

  “I have just the thing,” Jayna said at once, her beautiful eyes sparkling with happiness. She stood quickly and left for the kitchens. She knew the perfect food to bring to Queen Lexi.

  “You are having a craving, my love?” Sebastian asked, reaching out and pressing the pillows more firmly around her back and sides.

  “Maybe just a little one,” Lexi admitted, leaning against him and kissing his cheek lightly.

  He could not help but smile at the sight of her pregnant form. She was beautiful. Her belly was swollen with his daughter. Her breasts were filled with milk, ready to nurse their child. Holding her against him as they slept each night gave him happiness that he could not put into words.

  He loved feeling their baby moving within her. He loved watching her body growing and blooming with the maturing of their child. He found that he had to touch her belly often, needing the connection to the beautiful child within her.

  He loved every moment of her pregnancy. He loved the way their daughter connected to him more and more each day. It would not be long before Lexi would deliver her.

  “Are you in pain, Lexi?” he whispered as he moved to kneel before her and framed her belly with his large hands. He smiled as their daughter kicked against his palms. “She is moving.”

  Lexi laughed softly. She eased forward slowly and kissed Sebastian’s lips lightly. Sebastian immediately pressed against her and gathered her within his arms, making her melt against him with pleasure.

  “She loves your voice and your touch,” she whispered against his temple. “She loves her daddy.”

  “As I love her,” Sebastian whispered back. He wrapped his arms around Lexi and drew her toward him carefully. “After you have eaten, I will take you to the healing pool, wife. You are aching. I can tell.”