“Very,” he grumbled. The way he was looking at her made her remember the night before and her mood dampened a little. She still couldn’t help but feel a little hurt by his reaction last night, but she told herself it didn’t matter.
“Now we can find Erin,” she said, swallowing, looking back up to the hovercraft, which was slowly lowering into the clearing, avoiding the overhang of the agave trees.
“Tev,” he said quietly before turning to watch the Luxirian male land. Cruxan strode forward and the male seemed surprised to see him. Crystal watched as the male inclined his head in a respectful greeting and said something in Luxirian.
Crystal understood nothing of their brief conversation, but she watched the exchange with interest. It was obvious to her that the Luxirian male knew who Cruxan was and, frankly, he seemed a little intimidated by the larger male. She only heardKrorataxand the male jerked his head, looking at her with curiosity.
Cruxan looked back at her and motioned her forward. “He will take us toKroratax, female. Let us go.”
“Knock, knock,”came a voice from outside the bedroom Crystal was sitting in.
She smiled when Beks appeared, carrying a heaping tray of food.
“Thanks, you didn’t have to do that,” Crystal said, rising from the plush bed.
“Nonsense,” Beks said, waving away her words. She set it down in the fire pit area—which seemed to be in every room of every Luxirian dwelling—and motioned for her to come. “Plus, some of this is for me. I’m starving. This baby consumes everything I eat and leaves nothing for me.”
Crystal’s gaze dropped down to Beks’ stomach. The news that she was pregnant hadn’t surprised her. She was over six weeks along now and considering how crazy in love Beks was with the baby’s father, Ambassador Lihvan, the brunette was absolutelyglowingwith her happiness.
Her chest jolted a little, Crystal’s mind flitting to Cruxan, which it seemed to do every moment now that he wasn’t in her immediate line of sight.
“Thanks for letting me stay here,” Crystal said.
“Of course,” Beks said, reaching out to squeeze her hands, leading her down in the fire pit. “You must’ve had a terrible time out there. It’s been freezing. Lihvan said the cold season starts early here inKroratax.”
“Honestly, I’m just happy to finally have had a bath,” Crystal joked, settling down among the cushions. “It was undoubtedly the best bath I’ve ever had.”
Beks laughed and started plucking some food off the tray, popping pieces of braised meat into her mouth. Crystal wasn’t all that hungry. She hadn’t been since last night, but she mirrored the brunette’s actions, knowing that she needed to eat.
“It’s beautiful here,” Crystal commented, looking out the wide, floor-to-ceiling window in the bedroom. “It reminds me of Washington.”
“Doesn’t it?” Beks said, sighing a little. “That’s what I told Lihvan. That it’s the alien version of the Pacific Northwest.”
Crystal grinned. It was true. Flying intoKrorataxon the hovercraft had given her a great view of the land and of the outpost. It was situated in a forest, among tall, towering teal blue trees with feathery leaves. It was drizzling slightly, a silvery mist winding its way through the forest. Crystal just wanted to curl up with a sketchbook right there, with the fire going. That sounded like heaven to her.
I want to do that with Cruxan, came the sudden thought. Her cheeks flushed a little and she quickly plucked a pickled root from the tray, munching on it to mask the emotion rising in her chest.
“Do you think they’ve managed to track Erin yet?” Crystal wondered out loud.
After Lihvan had been alerted to their impending arrival, Cruxan had immediately brought her to Beks’ and Lihvan’s dwelling, while he went ahead to the command center ofKroratax. She’d wanted to go with him, but he told her to rest and eat, that he would alert her with any news regarding Erin.
When he’d dropped her off on the terrace of Beks’ dwelling, before the human female had come outside to greet them, they hadn’t even spoken much. They hadn’t spoken much since last night. Hell, even last night, they hadn’t spoken much.
But Cruxan had looked at her and Crystal had looked back at him…and something passed between them. Crystal had felt longing and disappointment. A part of her—a crazy part of her—had honestly been a little sad that their time in the wild lands had been cut short. They were back in civilization, now, and Cruxan would undoubtedly be busy. Would she even see him that much?
He still hadn’t said anything of last night. He hadn’t tried to touch her, he hadn’t called herluxivaonce—which, surprisingly, made her sad.
More and more, she was beginning to suspect hehadchanged his mind about her. How could she not?
He’d left her on the terrace and she hadn’t seen him since. That had been hours ago.
“I’m sure they’re doing everything they can,” Beks assured her. “But Erin’s a tough cookie. I wouldn’t worry about her, especially since Cruxan says that Jaxor’an’s Instinct awakened for her. Do you honestly believe she’s in danger when she’s his mate?”
Crystal’s heartbeat thudded and she bit her lip. She hadn’t told Beks about her and Cruxan yet. She didn’t know what she would even say.
“Did you know?” Crystal asked quietly, looking down at her lap. “When you saw Lihvan?”
“That he was my mate?” Beks asked, frowning a bit. “I don’t know.”
