Enticed by the Alien Warrior Hope Hart (the giving tree read aloud .TXT) 📖

to ignore how good Arix’s arm feels around my waist, but I end up slumped against his chest, falling into a light snooze.

“You were snoring,” he tells me when the mishua makes a sound and I jerk awake.

“Was not,” I say, feeling my cheeks heat.

He grins at me for the first time since his uncle died. I scowl, ignoring the relief that flashes through me like lightning at the sight of his smile.

“Maybe you shouldn’t keep me up all night, then.”

He raises one eyebrow. “Are you complaining?”

Someone makes a gagging sound, and my cousin’s voice reaches my ears. “Give it a rest, you two. We’re here.”

Arix stares at Sarissa like she’s a new, unusual species he’s never seen before, and I can’t help but laugh. He helps me off the mishua and strides away to speak to Rakiz, who is standing at the camp gates.

“So.” Sarissa leans in close. “I’ve come up with a few ways to make the commander feel very, very sorry for his actions today.”

She tilts her head, watching Korzyn order the guards around, and I sigh.

“Girl, you need church.”

She smiles. “Wasn’t there something in the Bible about doing unto others as they do to you? I liked that part.”

I frown because I’m pretty sure that’s not what it says, but she’s already striding away, looking like she’s about to start some shit.

“Viv!”

I spin, mouth dropping open. Nevada is now standing next to Rakiz, a bundle in her arms.

“Oh my God! You had the baby!”

I bounce over to her, and she laughs as I lean close.

“Vivian, meet Danica.”

“Wow. She looks just like you.”

Danica opens her eyes, and they’re all Rakiz. “Wait. I take it back,” I laugh.

Nevada pushes a blanket aside, revealing tiny, chubby baby shoulders.

“Wow.” I run one hand down Danica’s shoulder, gently tracing the same blue-green scales Arix and the other Braxians have, only in miniature.

My chest clenches with a longing I’ve never felt before.

Arix leans close, his body hard against mine as he peers down at Danica, ignoring Rakiz’s obvious tension.

“You are blessed,” he finally says, raising his gaze to Rakiz, who nods, satisfaction burning in his eyes as he stares at his mate and baby.

“I am,” he acknowledges, meeting Nevada’s gaze for a long moment. She smiles and then tilts her head, returning her attention to me.

“Now that you’re back, maybe Beth will finally agree to go through with her mating ceremony. Zarix is muttering about how he’s ready to tie her up and hold her down for it if he doesn’t get to finally make it official soon.” Nevada winks at me, and I laugh. Poor Zarix.

“Beth wants all of us there for her ceremony, and she’s had a rough time. She and Alexis haven’t been back to their tribe since before the last skirmish with the Dokhalls.”

I smile at that, but I can’t help but rub at my chest, where I now have a permanent reminder of that battle. Arix lets out a low growl next to me, his body going tense.

Rakiz steps closer. “I have had a number of kradis prepared for you,” he says formally, his eyes still on Arix. “I’m looking forward to our negotiations.”

Arix nods. “Thank you.”

Nevada leans forward, her voice low as she murmurs to me while the Braxians discuss meeting arrangements. “You’ve got good timing. Alexis and Kate are planning to go see the ship tomorrow if you guys want to go with them?”

She glances behind me to where Sarissa is hanging back, stroking her hand down one of the mishua’s necks. Sarissa instantly nods, and relief swims through me. If we can leave Agron without the control chip, I’ll no longer be walking around feeling like I have a rock in my stomach.

“Everyone’s so excited to see you guys,” Nevada says, and Sarissa joins me as we follow the tribe queen into her camp.

“Zoey ordered me to make sure you guys visit her,” Nevada continues. “She’ll be in the healers’ kradi, so let’s go see her now, and then you can get some rest.”

“I want to hear everything about Zoey and Tagiz,” I admit, and Nevada laughs.

“Yup, the big guy didn’t stand a chance against Zoey’s stubbornness.”

“I heard that,” a voice says, and I spin, almost knocked off my feet as Zoey throws her arms around me.

“We were just coming to find you,” Nevada says.

“Some of the other women are hanging out in Beth’s kradi,” Zoey says. “Maybe you guys can do Zarix a favor and let her know you’ll be here for a couple of days. Poor guy is threatening to kidnap her if she doesn’t agree to do the ceremony soon.”

I burst out laughing. These Braxian males try their best to be civilized for us human women, but deep down, they’ll always be barbaric warriors.

“I’ll talk to her,” I promise. I glance over my shoulder, and Arix nods at me as he follows Rakiz. I don’t know much about their negotiations, only that Rakiz and Dexar want access to Arix’s marketplace, and if I know anything about Arix, it’s that he’ll drive a tough bargain.

Nevada and Sarissa walk ahead, while I take my time until it’s just Zoey and me.

“Do you have it?” I murmur, and Zoey nods, handing me the package I asked for.

“Be careful.”

I shove the bundle deep into my pocket. “I will. Just don’t tell anyone about this.”

She nods again, and I smile.

“Now tell me all about how you finally got your man.”

Arix

I watch the females walk away, glancing back at Rakiz to find a smile dancing around his lips as he keeps his gaze on me.

I narrow my eyes at him, and he grins. “Another Braxian falls to the charms of human females,” he murmurs. Behind me, Korzyn mutters something uncomplimentary. Rakiz glances over my shoulder, his face turning hard, and I sigh.

“Korzyn is unconvinced of those charms,” I murmur, and Rakiz laughs.

“As was I.” He slaps me on the shoulder, and one of his warriors steps forward, directing some of my men toward their kradis.

“I’ve