fell as we slowly walked past the row of chambers, peering into each one.
“Does that mean you won’t want us anymore?” Everyone turned to glance at Joan. She shifted nervously, her gaze fixed on Mikkiu. I saw the apprehension in her eyes. “You told me to always be honest with you. My ex-husband cheated on me with another woman. Will you do the same? Abandon me now you have your own women?” She gestured towards one of the female Zakiu in the stasis chamber.
“My Joan, I would not have fought so hard to win you if I did not wish to keep you for the rest of our lives. Everything I am, belongs to you as everything you are, belongs to me. Never will I leave you for another, no matter the species.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat, as the same thought passed through my mind. But dismissed it as quickly, I knew Morrdrook would never abandon me.
Mikkiu tugged Joan into his arms, lifting her up and sealing his lips over hers, in a passionate moment. I felt the heat rise in my cheeks and turned away from the couple, only to see Morrdrook arch an eyebrow at me, his lips quirked in an amused smile.
Morrdrook moved in, his hands sweeping over my pale orange top, over the defined bump of my lower stomach. He leaned down, whispering in my ear, “When you become ours, you are always ours.”
Goosebumps rose over my skin and I met his gaze, reaching up to trace the smooth skin of his cheek with my fingertips.
“I know.” I smiled, my love for him making my heart swell with pride.
“Come then, let us find the scientist.” Gently, he guided me away from Mikkiu and Joan. Abby and Nular followed behind. “Down there.” He pointed down along the long rows and I spotted what he had—one of the chamber lids was open.
“That has to be Galvan. Let’s go meet him.”
Chapter Twelve
Hands shaking, Galvan tried to raise the cup to drink the warm liquid. E informed us that, after stasis, his body wouldn’t be able to process solid foods for a few days.
Concerned and wanting to help, I stepped forward, gaining a suspicious look from the older Zakiu man. I smiled warmly and wrapped my hands around his, helping raise his cup.
His gaze never left mine as he drained the cup.
It had been a few hours since Morrdrook and Nular had carried the man back to the surface into the palace. He had remained silent when Morrdrook had explained what the Druel had been doing to their people for the past century. He outlined our recent freedom from the compound. I felt my cheeks heat under his praise.
“Gratitude,” Galvan mumbled.
I gave him another smile. “You’re welcome. Have you had enough?”
He nodded, his gaze diverting from mine to Morrdrook standing behind me. I set the cup down and moved to sit by his side, his hand closing over mine in a possessive gesture.
“Do you feel any better, Galvan?”
He cleared his throat. “Yes. Stasis was never meant for… this amount of time.”
I noted Morrdrook still studying the man with a stern expression.
“Essence told us you were working on plans for a planetary defense system.” Morrdrook cut right to the heart of the matter.
“Yes, the Guardian Shield .” He shook his head. “I was forced to put myself into stasis, before Druel returned to sweep the city again. The plans are complete. I barely had enough time to complete the Essence program. I was unable to build the shield.”
“We have less than seven weeks before the Druel come out of hibernation and return. No doubt they will know we have broken free of the compound and will come after us. Can you get this Guardian Shield up and running before they return?”
Galvan frowned. “It may be possible, but we will need to awaken everyone. I calculated the shield needed to be powerful enough to absorb any impact of enemy weapons and needed the direct power of the crystal core of our planet. It is a relief to awaken and know at least they have not discovered the core’s vast power.”
“Why didn’t you have
“Does that mean you won’t want us anymore?” Everyone turned to glance at Joan. She shifted nervously, her gaze fixed on Mikkiu. I saw the apprehension in her eyes. “You told me to always be honest with you. My ex-husband cheated on me with another woman. Will you do the same? Abandon me now you have your own women?” She gestured towards one of the female Zakiu in the stasis chamber.
“My Joan, I would not have fought so hard to win you if I did not wish to keep you for the rest of our lives. Everything I am, belongs to you as everything you are, belongs to me. Never will I leave you for another, no matter the species.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat, as the same thought passed through my mind. But dismissed it as quickly, I knew Morrdrook would never abandon me.
Mikkiu tugged Joan into his arms, lifting her up and sealing his lips over hers, in a passionate moment. I felt the heat rise in my cheeks and turned away from the couple, only to see Morrdrook arch an eyebrow at me, his lips quirked in an amused smile.
Morrdrook moved in, his hands sweeping over my pale orange top, over the defined bump of my lower stomach. He leaned down, whispering in my ear, “When you become ours, you are always ours.”
Goosebumps rose over my skin and I met his gaze, reaching up to trace the smooth skin of his cheek with my fingertips.
“I know.” I smiled, my love for him making my heart swell with pride.
“Come then, let us find the scientist.” Gently, he guided me away from Mikkiu and Joan. Abby and Nular followed behind. “Down there.” He pointed down along the long rows and I spotted what he had—one of the chamber lids was open.
“That has to be Galvan. Let’s go meet him.”
Chapter Twelve
Hands shaking, Galvan tried to raise the cup to drink the warm liquid. E informed us that, after stasis, his body wouldn’t be able to process solid foods for a few days.
Concerned and wanting to help, I stepped forward, gaining a suspicious look from the older Zakiu man. I smiled warmly and wrapped my hands around his, helping raise his cup.
His gaze never left mine as he drained the cup.
It had been a few hours since Morrdrook and Nular had carried the man back to the surface into the palace. He had remained silent when Morrdrook had explained what the Druel had been doing to their people for the past century. He outlined our recent freedom from the compound. I felt my cheeks heat under his praise.
“Gratitude,” Galvan mumbled.
I gave him another smile. “You’re welcome. Have you had enough?”
He nodded, his gaze diverting from mine to Morrdrook standing behind me. I set the cup down and moved to sit by his side, his hand closing over mine in a possessive gesture.
“Do you feel any better, Galvan?”
He cleared his throat. “Yes. Stasis was never meant for… this amount of time.”
I noted Morrdrook still studying the man with a stern expression.
“Essence told us you were working on plans for a planetary defense system.” Morrdrook cut right to the heart of the matter.
“Yes, the Guardian Shield .” He shook his head. “I was forced to put myself into stasis, before Druel returned to sweep the city again. The plans are complete. I barely had enough time to complete the Essence program. I was unable to build the shield.”
“We have less than seven weeks before the Druel come out of hibernation and return. No doubt they will know we have broken free of the compound and will come after us. Can you get this Guardian Shield up and running before they return?”
Galvan frowned. “It may be possible, but we will need to awaken everyone. I calculated the shield needed to be powerful enough to absorb any impact of enemy weapons and needed the direct power of the crystal core of our planet. It is a relief to awaken and know at least they have not discovered the core’s vast power.”
“Why didn’t you have
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