“That sounds beautiful.We can put a bed up there.”Ancelin grinned.
“That’s an excellent idea.”Krevan guided her to a sleek vehicle, settling into the driver's seat before activating the garage door.It slid upward with a soft pneumatic sound.They emerged into sunshine that belied the previous day's destruction, driving wordlessly until they approached a simple timber house that had somehow escaped the tornado's path.“They survived the storm,” Ancelin murmured.
“Looks that way,” Krevan replied, pulling up beside the house.
As Krevan killed the engine, Ancelin noted he moved at a more relaxed pace than usual.
“You’re not… zooming around today,” she observed.
“Zooming around?”he echoed with a playful smile.“I’m simply matching your human tempo.I don’t want to overwhelm your delicate emotions.”
Ancelin paused, weighing his reply.Just then Krevan climbed out of the car as a friendly young man bounded down the front steps.
“Vallex!It’s so good to see you,” he called, waving.“And you must be the lovely Mrs.Vallex.”
Behind him, a pleasantly rounded blonde woman appeared at the porch railing, one hand resting gently on her baby bump.“Hello, Mrs.Vallex,” she said warmly.“I’m Kellie, Derrick’s wife.We were thrilled when he told us you were coming—I’ve been missing female company.”She offered her hand.“Please, come in—tea and cookies are waiting.”
Ancelin followed Kellie through the doorway while Derrick and Krevan lingered outside, chatting.
“Have a seat, Mrs.Vallex,” Kellie said, motioning to a cozy living room.“I’ll pour the tea, and there’s a plate of fresh cookies right here.”
“Please call me Ancelin.And here—this is a loaf of bread I baked yesterday.Krevan and I want you to enjoy this.”Ancelin handed over the loaf.“How far along are you?”
Kellie took the bread gratefully.“Thank you both so much.Bread is a real luxury on Verrian—you have to bake your own.I’m a little over seven months.I’m excited but also scared.”
“I’m excited for you, too,” Ancelin said, smiling as Kellie returned with two steaming glasses of tea.Ancelin sipped hers.“This is lovely.I need to add tea to my shopping list for when we go into the Silos.Krevan loves coffee—I do, too—but a cup of tea is such a nice change.”
Kellie hesitated, then blurted out, “You’re beautiful.”
Ancelin laughed softly.“Thank you, Kellie.You’re glowing yourself—don’t they say pregnant women are radiant?”
Kellie’s cheeks flamed.“Is your Triaxen husband kind to you?I’ve heard Triaxen males can be very forceful with women.Mr.Vallex has a reputation for being—oh, never mind.I’m sorry; I didn’t mean any disrespect.”She looked down.“Please forgive me.”
Ancelin raised an eyebrow.“He has a reputation for being what?”
Kellie swallowed.“He survived Hellgate Prison Planet.No one survives that Prison.”
Ancelin tilted her head."What exactly is Hellgate like?Krevan mentioned serving time there but hasn’t talked about it.”
Kellie's face darkened."A prison planet where the sun burns your skin raw within minutes during midday.Where insects are larger than your fist inject venom that liquefies your organs.Where the other inmates..."She shuddered, looking away.“are very dangerous.”
"I gathered it wasn't pleasant," Ancelin murmured.
"Derrick still wakes screaming some nights."Kellie's voice dropped to a whisper."The authorities drop the worst offenders there and forget them.No guards.No rules.Just survival."
"But how do they prevent escapes?"Ancelin leaned forward.
"Nature does that for them."Kellie's finger circled her cup's rim absently."The entire planet is surrounded by a toxic upper atmosphere—typically no ships can penetrate without military-grade shields.Survivors who serve their time..."She paused, eyes distant."They return as shells of their former selves.Like they've been hollowed out and refilled with something darker.Though Mr.Vallex and Derrick somehow retained their previous selves.Derrick only made it through because Mr.Vallex protected and helped him.They're rare exceptions."
Ancelin’s chin lifted slightly."That tells me a lot about Krevan.”
"Yes, he's remarkable," Kellie said, her eyes widening slightly."Those Triaxen genes give him advantages other people don't have—that intelligence, strength, speed, and endurance were crucial on Hellgate."She leaned forward."Derrick practically worships the ground Mr.Vallex walks on.Says he comes from old Triaxen money—the kind that buys the best education in the galaxy."She traced a pattern on the tabletop."When my Derrick crashed on Hellgate, he lost everything.His Tylon-built ship—finest engineering in the system—managed to pierce Hellgate's atmosphere without disintegrating.Mr.Vallex found him and helped him survive."Her voice softened."I thank the stars every day for that kindness.I’m glad I came here and married Derrick.He's...everything to me now."
"I’m glad Krevan saved Derrick.”Ancelin patted Kellie’s hand.“My Krevan is a good man as well, and I’m happy to be here with him.He’s been kind and caring towards me.I feel he has rescued me, from myself.”Ancelin’s eyes were wet with unshed tears.
Kellie shifted her chair closer, lowering her voice until Ancelin had to lean in to hear."Doesn't it worry you?Those teeth?"Her eyes darted toward the doorway, confirming they were alone."Their venom kills in minutes—agonizing minutes.”She wrapped her arms around herself with a small tremor."Though I've heard they produce the antivenom naturally.In their...well."A flush crept up her neck as she studied Ancelin's expression, waiting for a flicker of alarm.
"I’m guessing the men carry it in their semen?”Ancelin guessed.
