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

retching meets our ears. The warriors take one look at Dragix’s face and don’t dare jest as Charlie returns, her face gray.

Dragix pulls her into his arms, no longer amused. Time for an offer of good faith.

“I have some tea that may help your female,” I murmur to Dragix.

“Standing right here,” Charlie mutters, and I nod at her.

“My apologies. The tea is made from cava berries. If you sip a small cup each morning, it should help your stomach.”

Charlie gives me a tiny smile. “Will it harm the baby?”

Dragix runs his hand over Charlie’s flat stomach, and something like envy washes over me.

“No,” I promise. “I have brought one of my healers with me. I can have her speak to your healers if you like.”

Dragix nods at me, relief clear in his eyes. He turns to Rakiz.

“I give my permission for you to negotiate on my behalf,” he says. Murmurs sound at this, and I barely control my expression as surprise flashes through me.

I shouldn’t be surprised though. The quickest way to secure cooperation from these males is through their females.

I watch Dragix as he leads Charlie from the tashiv, my mind whirling as I adjust my strategy.

One of the other males was mentioning that his female is pregnant. Perhaps I will start there.

Rakiz is watching me intently, and I give him a bland smile.

Then I turn to the warrior at his side. “You said your female has not yet given birth?”

He tenses, his hand sliding to his sword in warning, and Korzyn growls behind me.

Rakiz glances at the warrior. “Terex,” he says, and the warrior removes his hand from his sword, although it’s clear he does not appreciate me speaking of his female.

I resist the urge to roll my eyes. These barbarians are exhausting to deal with.

“We have a few dried cava berries. They are not as potent as the fresh berries; however, they will last longer. I am willing to leave them with you as a show of good faith for when the time comes.”

Terex turns to Rakiz. “I saw how they healed Dragix. I don’t care what he wants,” he says hoarsely. “Give it to him.”

Rakiz sighs, sending me an unfriendly look. “You have researched our tribe well to know exactly where to strike during these negotiations.”

Korzyn snorts. “It does not require research to see that your warriors are ruled by their—”

“Korzyn.” I glance over my shoulder, and he clamps his mouth shut. Rakiz’s smile sharpens as he studies my commander.

“Those who protest the most often fall the hardest,” he says. Then he turns back to me. “You have a deal.”

Vivian

“It’s so nice to have you guys back for a while,” Alexis says.

I smile. “It’s good to be back.” I glance around at the usual clearing we tend to gather in when we’re all together. Someone has thrown a few blankets on the grass, and I feel more relaxed than I have in days.

Beth bounced in place, clapping her hands, when I told her we’d be staying here for a couple of nights. Then she rushed off to find Zarix so she could let him know their mating could go ahead.

“Typical Beth.” Ivy grins at me. “She doesn’t care about organizing a feast or dancing; all she cares about is that we’re all together.”

“I know. Obviously when God was giving out sweetness, he skipped Nevada and gave it all to Beth.”

Nevada grins at me as she gently sways with Danica in her arms. “That’s okay. The Big Guy gave me a mean right hook.”

I laugh.

I’ve pushed aside all thoughts of betraying Arix. Instead, I’m focusing on being in the present moment. Soon we’ll go take a look at the ship, but for now, I’m going to enjoy spending time with Nevada, Ellie, Ivy, and the others. All the other women who I landed here with are going to stay on Agron. They’ve all found their happily ever afters.

Jealousy wraps itself around my neck and squeezes like a boa constrictor. For a second, I can’t breathe, but I force myself to push it away. Each and every one of my friends fought for her happiness. And I refuse to begrudge them a single joyful moment.

None of us mention the ship that Sarissa, Alexis, Kate, Clara, and I are about to visit. Instead, we talk about inconsequential things. Danica’s sleep habits. Charlie’s morning sickness. Beth’s mating ceremony. Zoey proudly shows off the ring Tagiz had made for her, blushing as she tells us they’ve decided to combine their mating ceremony with an Earth wedding for something that will be uniquely theirs. Alexis murmurs that she and Dexar are trying for a baby.

“It makes no sense in the middle of a war, but I know he’ll keep us safe. Life is short, and Dexar insists he wants a bunch of kids.”

I laugh at that. “And you?”

She grins. “We’ll see how I deal with the first one.”

I reach out and squeeze her hand. “I’m so happy for you.”

“I know. Thank you.”

Someone brings out a watered-down version of noptri, and anyone who’s not nursing or pregnant has a few cups. Before long, the men join us, bringing more food, and the party continues as day turns into night and tribe members come and go.

It seems as if the actual negotiations have finished, and the males seem much more relaxed, most of them drinking noptri. And unlike ours, their noptri isn’t watered down. Even Korzyn has a cup in his hand, and some of the tension seems to have disappeared from his face.

Sarissa stares at him like she’s never seen him before, and he raises his cup as if toasting her, his gaze burning into hers as he takes a sip.

Arix is silent as he steps closer to where I’m leaning against a tree, watching as someone starts playing some music and Charlie drags her dragon onto the makeshift dance floor. She’s looking much better than she was when I first arrived, the color back in her face. Dragix grins down