Rescued By Their Wife (Wings of Artemis Book 2)
Page 19
I had no idea what kind of leaders Cooper’s family would be this time around and I didn’t think I had it in me to worry about it. Not anymore. Other people were going to have to take over running things. I’d never wanted the job of protector of the universe. The only Jackson I wanted anything to do with was Cooper and he didn’t want to lead, either. I wasn’t going to make him. If things were going to get rougher before they got better, I didn’t have to stick around to watch it implode.
“Mom?” Diana’s voice boomed around me like she’d shouted instead of all but whispered. I shoved my way through my husbands until I knelt in front of where she stood in the doorway of my quarters. She’d spoken. She’d said my name. Tears threatened to spill from my eyes, but I didn’t want to terrify her so I kept them where they belonged, pushed deep inside where I’d indulge them later.
“Yes?” I stroked her soft hair as she rubbed her eyes.
“I’m hungry.”
“You’re hungry.” I knew I needed to do something about her request. She wanted food. So why couldn’t I make my mind work? She’d spoken. “I…”
Geoff came up beside me, scooping her up in his arms. “You’re hungry. That’s great. Let’s get you some food. What would you like? Pasta? Chicken? We’re going to let Mom just stay there on the floor for a minute. She’s so happy you’re hungry she’s going to need a minute to come to terms with it.”
He was right. I needed lots and lots and lots of minutes. And Dane’s arms coming around me to squeeze me tight to him.
* * * *
Wes had left the black hole open after we entered it. We were leaving a mess behind. There was nothing I could do about it. Even if I stayed and worked every day, I couldn’t make it better. I had to decide enough was enough. And every day I got a little more comfortable with our decision.
Even though part of me would always think we’d turned and run away.
Every day Diana spoke a little bit more, or at least she would let us know when she wanted something. And moving through the black hole took forever. I knew, at least, if anyone ever wanted to follow us, they could. We’d reopened the passage to Earth.
The place that would be, presumably, our new home.
I entered the botanical lab slowly. Cooper spent most of his days there, growing our food. He came out at night, laughed and participated in whatever we were doing, but his heart wasn’t in it. He slept in my bed, we made love a lot. Yet, it felt like I couldn’t reach him.
“What will that be?” I pointed to one of the vegetables he fooled around with and he jumped when I spoke. I guess he’d been pretty involved.
He laughed, shaking his head. “You’re going to give me a heart attack. Ring a bell or something when you enter.”
“Sorry.”
He held up the pot he’d been looking into. “Right now, it’s seeds for green beans but I’m experimenting. We won’t eat this one.”
“Because it might be some mutant green bean that will grow two heads and eat us?”
His serious nod back at me would have made me laugh if his eyes hadn’t stayed so sad.
I crossed to him and pulled him against me until I could hold him close. “Are you sad because we killed Olivia? Because we left? Because this isn’t the life you intended? Tell me. Talk to me, please. I love you.”
“I had the gun raised and I couldn’t fire it. What’s the matter with me?” His whole body sagged when he spoke, like he’d been holding in the words, desperate to say them.
I kissed his arm, breathing in the fresh scent of his soap. “Nothing.”
“There has to be. She wasn’t my sister anymore, and even if she had been I should have been able to handle it. She’d had you locked in the basement. She killed millions of people. And I couldn’t fire.”
“Here’s the truth, okay? Look at me.” When I had his gaze, I spoke again. “I could have shot her. I would have hated it, but I’d have done it. Boom. I am who I am. I end lives sometimes. I obsess over it. But I do it. C.J., obviously, he pulls the trigger. He was raised to be that guy. Nolan could have killed her. The rest of you? Not so easy. I think if it had come down to it—if she had a gun to my head—you would have shot her. I don’t doubt that. And it doesn’t upset me to think you didn’t have to. C.J. does not live with the same guilt you would have.”
He rubbed at his eyes. “I’m really tired, Mine. I feel like it’s been a decade since I got any sleep.”
I squeezed his hand. “If the green beans can wait, go get some. I love you. It’s okay to forgive yourself. You did nothing wrong.”
“When did you get so wise?” He smirked before he kissed me, hard. “I used to give you advice.”
“Hey, my prince, I always knew a thing or two.”
Cooper swatted me on the rear end before he left the lab. I took a deep breath. One conversation wouldn’t fix everything, but it was a start. A good one, I hoped.
* * * *
The night we came out of the black hole and entered the Milky Way system had started like any other. I’d put Diana to bed when Wes came to get me. Standing near the pilot’s chair and watching on the screen with all my men around me, I finally was able to take a deep breath. The one I’d been holding since childhood, the one I’d never known I needed so badly.
“Happy to be out of that hole.” Nolan swiveled in his chair, a big grin on his face. I laughed. Space still looked like space to me. Until I saw Earth or Mars or one of the places we would be stopping, nothing much had changed for me.
“At least it didn’t take eight years.” C.J. plopped down in a chair across the room. “Of course I would have waited decades for you, M.”
“Such a romantic he is.” Wes stood next to me. “I’d like to remind you what genius has gotten us through twice now. That would be me.”
Dane shook his head. “Because God forbid we all go two minutes without knowing what a genius you are.”
“Genius envy, my brother, is so beneath you.” Wes slapped Dane on the back.
“Boys. Boys. Boys.” Geoff shook his head. “Play nicely or we’ll have to stick you in the naughty chair for a while.”
“I’ll go to the naughty chair if Mel comes with me.” Wes danced from one foot to the other. His laughter was contagious and before I could help myself I was giggling too. Across the room, I caught Cooper’s gaze. He smiled and nodded.
We were going to be okay. Wherever we went, we’d be together. Things might never be perfect, but they’d be pretty damn close. I was home.
The End
Publisher’s Note
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About Rebecca Royce
As a teenager, I would hide in my room to read my favorite romance novels when I was supposed to be doing my homework. I hope, these days, that my parents think it was worth it.
I am the mother of three adorable boys and I am fortunate to be married to my best friend. I live in Austin, Texas where I am determined to eat all the barbecue in town.
I am in love with science fiction, fantasy, and the paranormal and try to use all of these elements in my writing. I've been told I'm a little bloodthirsty, so I hope that when you read my work you'll enjoy the action-packed ride that always ends in romance. I love to write series because I love to see characters develop over time and it always makes me happy to see my favorite characters make guest appearances in other books.
In my world anything is possible, anything can happen, and you should suspect that it will.
I'd love to hear from you!
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Other Titles by Rebecca Royce
Her Wolf
Summer’s Wolf
Wolf Reborn
Wolf’s Valentine
Wolf’s Magic
Alp
ha Wolf
Angel’s Wolf
Darkest Wolf
Lone Wolf
Yes Captain
Table of Contents
Rescued By Their Wife
Blurb
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16