Normal.
He took another pull on his pipe, tasting the tangy, pungent smoke as it drifted over his tongue.
It didn’t take him long to sleep.He stumbled into a dream.And for once, he didn’t dream of Nitav.
He dreamed ofher.
THREE
“YOU’RE JOKING, RIGHT?” Lainey asked, eyes widened almost comically, immediately after Cecelia finished her story.
Erin chimed in next, albeit hesitantly, “He’s your…mate?Like your husband, or something?”
“You gotmarriedto an alien in a week?” Lainey burst out.
Taylor watched, her heart throbbing in her throat, as Cecelia took their shock in stride.The brunette said, “Yes.Basically.”
“Are you out of your mind?” Lainey asked, softening her voice, but only slightly.“They’ve brainwashed you!Do you even realize how nuts this sounds?”
“Look,” Cecelia bit out, “I know how crazy this all seems.There are some moments where I can’t even believe it myself, but I haven’t beenbrainwashed, okay?I’min lovewith him.”Cecelia sighed, trying to get her obvious frustration under control.“I first saw him when Privanax took me from this very room.And the moment I did…it’s—it’s hard to explain.I never believed in love at first sight, but there wassomethingthere.This undeniable connection.And he felt it too and later, he told me that they call it the awakening.Luxirians have something called an Instinct and it guides them to their fated mates.And the first time that they see their mates, their dormant Instinct comes alive.That’s what happened to Rixavox.”
Taylor bit her lip, rubbing her hands up and down her arms because goosebumps had spread over her skin.Immediately, her mind flashed to the gray-eyed alien.
“And even thoughweobviously don’t have this Instinct,” Cecelia continued softly, “I just…knew.I can’t even describe the feeling.”
Taylor looked down to the floor, feeling on the verge of panic.Because she had the sense that she knewexactlywhat the brunette was talking about…about that strange connection, that dizzying, confusing pull to another being.
Cecelia gave a half-embarrassed smile to the group of women huddled around her.“I mean…I literally fainted after I saw him.It was just overwhelming.And he’s just so…so…wonderful.I feel like I’ve known him all my life.”
Bianca reached out to touch her arm.“You look happy, Cecelia.I’m glad for you, even if it’s taken all of us by surprise.”
“Thank you,” Cecelia murmured back.Shedidlook happy.Glowingly happy.And not to mention healthy.
“And the cancer…” Erin chimed in, “It’s truly gone?”
“Yes,” Cecelia said softly.“It doesn’t show up on Privanax’s scans.And I justfeelthat it’s gone.I don’t need any tests to know my own body.”
“And what about the bitch that was poisoning you?” Lainey asked, getting over her initial surprise.“What happened to her?”
Cecelia sobered, her smile fading.“That’s part of the reason why Rixavox and I are here.Vaxa’an, the leader of Luxiria, has ordered a trial for what she did.It’s taking place in a couple days.”
“What do you think will happen to her?” Crystal asked.
Cecelia blew out a breath.“It’s hard to say.Rixavox thinks that she’ll be exiled.”
“They’d exile one of their own?” Crystal asked, seemingly surprised.“For you?”
“Luxirians don’t have a lot of tolerance for crimes against others.Rixavox told me that if males harm females, their punishment is worse and is usually execution,” Cecelia explained softly, eliciting a few gasps from the group.“They believe that harming a female is the worst possible crime.And apparently, that goes for human females as well.”
“Well,” Lainey muttered, “at least we don’t have to worry about them abusing us while we’re here.It still doesn’t explain why they’ve kept us locked up though.”
Cecelia bit her lip before replying, “Vaxa’an will be sending you all home very soon.”
“Really?” Bianca gasped out, her face breaking into a radiant smile.“Please tell me you’re not joking.”
“He is.They are outfitting a space ship even now and loading it with supplies,” Cecelia said.“You could leave as early as tomorrow, if the fueling completes in time.”
Taylor felt her breath hitch and she looked around the group of women, excitement showing on all of their faces.
