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

He missed my critical organs, but I still lost a crazy amount of blood. The cava berries helped my body regenerate that blood, but it’s left me weak as a kitten.

“Helloooo,” a voice calls. Arix glances at me and sighs, and I can’t help but laugh.

“I told you to let me go back to my rooms.”

He shakes his head, his gaze running over my body possessively. “You’re right where I want you.”

“Ick,” Sarissa says, and I smirk at her. Something relaxes in my chest when Arix gets all growly and makes it clear he still wants me. He refuses to talk about what happened, saying it can wait until I feel better. Truthfully, I’d rather get that conversation over with. I don’t want him to feel forced to keep me here because I’m still recovering. If he’s going to kick me and my cousin out of his kingdom, I’d rather he do it before I get even more attached.

Sarissa glances down at the notes she’s writing, her brow furrowing. Obviously, we had no chance to find the control chip we need. Now Sarissa is frantically attempting to figure out a solution to our problem before we have to tell Clara and the others there’s no chip.

“You’re still in bed?” Nevada grins at me, Rakiz by her side. Arix nods at him, getting to his feet, and with a final glance at me, he gestures for the tribe king to follow him into the sitting room.

I poke my tongue out at her. “Apparently, I’m a fragile flower.”

“You almost died.” Sarissa’s voice is sharp, and Nevada raises her eyebrow.

“Here,” she says, handing Danica to her. “Take a chill pill.”

Ivy follows Nevada into the room, closing the door behind her. “You can’t just dump your baby on everyone,” she tells Nevada.

“Wait, I can’t?”

Sarissa rolls her eyes, but even she isn’t immune to the cuteness overload that is Danica, and she grins down at her, making cooing sounds. “How is she so big already?”

“I know, right?” Nevada smiles. “She’s growing like a weed.”

“How’d she like her first flight?”

“She loved it. She’ll have Uncle Dragix doing barrel rolls with her as soon as she’s talking. Dani has that dragon wrapped around her little finger.”

She plops down on the bed, while Ivy moves closer to Sarissa, blowing a raspberry at Danica.

“Charlie couldn’t make it today. She’s sick again.”

I frown. “What about that berry tea?”

“She’s used it all,” Ivy says. “Now that supplies of the cava berries are even more limited, she forbade Dragix from asking for more.”

“I’m sure he took that well,” Sarissa says, gently bouncing Danica in her arms.

Nevada rolls her eyes. “You know those Braxians. He’d be fine with someone else losing a leg or two as long as Charlie could keep her breakfast down.”

I laugh. “They are rather single-minded. You guys don’t need to come every day, you know.”

The other women have been taking turns. Beth and Zoey visited yesterday, Zoey leaving behind a salve for my scar. Truthfully, I look forward to each visit, not just because they’re good distractions from the beautiful man watching me from his sofa.

Nevada waves her hand. “You nearly died, dummy. Besides, we use the opportunity to keep an eye out for Dokhalls. Turns out, they’re finding it difficult to recruit Zintas after Arix made it clear anyone caught helping them would be thrown out of his kingdom.”

My heart warms at that, but I scowl in frustration.

“And how’s your Braxian?” Nevada asks. “I notice you’re still in his bed.”

I chew on my lip, ignoring Sarissa’s laugh. “We haven’t talked yet.”

Ivy lets out a low whistle. “Wish I could be a fly on the wall for that conversation. It’s going to be a doozy.”

I glower at her, but I can’t help but smile as she grins at me, her eyes sparkling with fun. “I’m glad I can be entertaining.”

“Someone has to be. We’re all locked up in that camp with nothing to do but gather our armies. Vrex has his spies, but he’s too recognizable to get intel himself. He’s going out of his mind with boredom.”

We chat for a few more minutes, but my eyelids are soon so heavy I can barely keep them open.

“We’ll let you get some rest.” Ivy smiles while Sarissa hands Danica back to Nevada. I’m still too weak to hold her, so Nevada leans down close to the bed so I can press a kiss against the baby’s soft head.

“Thanks for visiting.”

“Anytime.”

With a final wave, they’re gone in a whirlwind of sarcasm and quick grins.

“Those women could run this planet,” Sarissa murmurs, and I laugh as my eyes slide closed.

Vivian

Today’s the day.

I’ve finally been given the all-clear to resume my normal activities.

If those activities include spending most of the day resting.

Whatever. I’m no longer bedbound, and that’s all that matters. Because that means Arix finally has to talk to me.

“You said we could talk when I was better. I’m better.”

“You’re still weak.”

We’re standing in his sitting room, a large tray of what’s supposed to be our lunch sitting on the table between us.

“Do you want me to leave? Is that why you won’t have this conversation with me until I’m completely better?”

Arix scowls. “No.”

I walk back into his bedroom, picking up the long piece of paper I’ve been keeping beneath my pillow. Arix follows me, his eyes dark and unfathomable.

“I have something for you,” I say.

He raises one eyebrow, but his gaze drops to the long scroll in my hand. “What is it?”

“A list of everyone who betrayed you,” I say around the lump in my throat. “I guess my name should be at the top of the list, but you already know about me. Your advisers and guards weren’t as careful as they should’ve been around me and Sarissa. We investigated the man who made the deal with us, and we were able to tie him to a few people in this castle. I know Dragix did some digging of his own, but I thought you could cross-check what