“Kat,” he tried, shifting closer.
“Good night,” she whispered and closed her eyes, willing sleep to come, but she knew she would be awake for a while.
She listened to his breathing, feeling the thick tension in the room.She heard the rustle of his clothing as he undressed for bed and then he pulled her to him, his strong arms wrapping around her middle, just under her breast.
In her ear, he said quietly, “Sleep well,luxiva.”
Kate squeezed her eyes even tighter, feeling another tear slide onto the furs.
* * *
Sometime during the night or in the early hours of morning, Vaxa nudged her softly.
“Kat, you must wake,” he murmured quietly, brushing her hair from off her face, fingertips stroking her cheek.
“What…” she whispered, blinking sleep from her eyes, groggy from her restless dream.“What is it?”
“Look,” he said, pointing out the window.Kate saw that he was dressed already, in his leather pants and soft shirt.
Kate turned her head, still slightly disoriented.Through the window, she saw a planet.It was a dark planet, mottled with dark grey and black and beige shades.The bright blue bodies of water were a sharp contrast.
The planet was close.Extremely close.
And she knew before he even spoke why he was showing her.
“Luxiria,” he said.“We are home.”
ELEVEN
Luxiria.
Re-entry into their home went smoothly and they maneuvered the vessel into the docking port.Vaxa’an returned to his quarters, where he’d left his female.When he stepped through the doors, he saw her looking out the window to the docks below, dressed in a new tunic that fell below her knees.Luxirians milled around, having already been notified of their impending arrival.They began cooling the ship and securing it.
“Come,luxiva,” he said quietly, watching her.Something had happened between them the night before.She said that she hadn’t been upset that he’d had to leave her again, but when they went to sleep, he had a sour taste in his mouth.He’d angered his female in some way.He just wished she would tell him what he’d done wrong.
It wasn’t the way he wanted to start their matehood on his planet, on her new home.
Kat turned to him and approached, falling into step beside him as they exited his quarters.She was quiet as he led her off the ship and into the docking port.He didn’t like it when she was quiet.
“Prime Leader,” Rixavox greeted the moment they stepped off the ship.Rixavox went through military training with him.His sire had been Vaxa’an’s sire’s war general and the two Luxirians had matured together.Now, Rixavox was another of Vaxa’an’s war generals.
Rixavox’s gaze strayed to the human female at his side and his mouth pinched down for a brief moment.“A human?”
Vaxa’an pulled Kat closer.“Yourlavrix’an.You will do well to remember it.”
“I hope you know what you are doing, Prime Leader,” Rixavox said lowly.
Vaxa’an stepped towards Rixavox.“She will be myluxiva.”
Disbelief etched itself onto Rixavox’s features and his eyes returned to his female, studying her.“Aluxiva.I did not think it was possible with another species.”
“It is,” Vaxa’an replied, relaxing slightly.“Humans can be more than Breeders.”
Rixavox’s gaze returned to him and he nodded, inching his head.“You can communicate with her?”
“Yes.The men on the ship have already been implanted with her language.Find Kirov.And call a meeting.I am going to show her our home and then I need to speak with the council.”
“I will notify them immediately,” Rixavox replied.He bowed his head to Kat.“Lavrix’an.”And then he turned towards the ship, thumping Lihvan on the shoulder as his other war general emerged.
