“Have yourself a little nest egg, hmm?” she teased.
“A nest egg?” he repeated, confusion evident in his slow tone.
“Savings,” she explained.“Money…or whatever currency you use here.”
He made a sound in the back of his throat and then said quietly, “Rozians pay well for thepillervapods.I haul many batches to the markets and leave with none.”
“Those are the trees around your house, right?” she asked.“Do you like farming?”
“Tev.I like growing things,” he replied, tilting his head to look down at her.“I have been so comfortable around destruction.I was trained in destruction and violence from the time of my youth.I wanted something that was…opposite.”
He’d spoken so little of his life on his home planet.He’d mentioned his brother briefly, that he’d been the one to give him the scar that ran down the side of his cheek.And Cara ached to know as much as she could about Devix.
That was why she asked, “What was Luxiria like?You said you were a warrior of some kind.”Whatever that meant.
Cara felt his arm tighten around her back and she wondered if she’d asked a taboo question.
Finally, after a brief lapse of silence, he said, “Luxiria was my life.You did not know any of us existed on Earth you say.But to be a Luxirian warrior…it is the highest honor.We are known across the Quadrants as the strongest fighters.We helped our allies in the Uranian Federation, to bring rogue races back under control.We fought many battles and waged wars on planets that are not our own, but for a better cause.A better universe.”He blew out a sharp, whistling breath and his arm relaxed against her again.“It was a hard way of life.Prospective warriors are taken from their family unit at a young age and learn from blood and scars and merciless generals who train us.By the time we complete our training, we are changed, physically and mentally.Then we serve Luxiria, our home, traveling from planet to planet, from war to war, protecting not only our peace, but our allies’ as well.”
“It sounds very intense,” Cara whispered, her throat tight at the thought of a Spartan lifestyle, at the thought that he’d been taken to training at a young age.
“I would not have given it up for anything,” he confessed, surprising her.
Cara’s brow furrowed and she licked her bottom lip before saying softly, “But you did, didn’t you?That’s why you’re here.”
His eyes connected with hers, his expression unreadable.“Not willingly.I was exiled.”
She drew in a sharp breath, lifting her cheek from his chest so she could see him better.He watched her carefully, probably wondering how she’d react to his confession.
“Why were you exiled?” she asked softly.
Devix ran a hand over his horn, his nervous habit.“I should have told you earlier,luxiva.Perhaps I did not want you to see me differently.”
“Just tell me, Devix,” she urged.
He blew out another sharp huff.Unclasping his hold from around her back, he draped both arms over his knees, his gaze straying out to the lake.
And then he said, “Promise you will hear what I say to the end until you pass your judgment on me.”
“Okay,” Cara whispered, her heart stuttering in her chest.“I promise.Now tell me.”
He swallowed so loudly Cara could hear it.Then said, “I was exiled because I was accused of forcing a mating between a female and myself.”
It felt like a bucket of cold water got dumped over her head.Impossible, she thought immediately.
“Okay,” she said slowly.“And did you?”
He looked at her then, tearing his gaze from the lake.“Nix.Never.”
The answer and the disgust of the accusation was in his eyes and Cara felt herself relax.
“But you got exiled regardless?”
“The worst possible crime on Luxiria is violence against a female.Nothing is worse.Luxirian males have been executed for it.I should have been, had my blood brother not urged the Prime Leader to reconsider.So instead of death, I chose exile, never to see my home planet again.”Softly, he confessed, “There was a time when I wondered if I’d chosen wrong, if I should’ve chosen death instead.”
“Don’t say that,” she whispered, her throat tight.
“Rest assured, female,” he said gruffly, “I only thought that when I was living on Petrika.”
