The Alien’s Claim by Zoey Draven

Chapter Forty-Five

“Iwas hoping to speak with you,” Erin said in a breathless rush after she approached Vaxa’an on the terrace in his hovercraft. He was helping Kate off the back. He dropped her off in the mornings so she could be with the other human females while he went to the command center. The baby was in her arms.

He was cooing and babbling, waving his arms, which reflected golden in the sunlight. Ollie was his name. Technically, it was Kollix’an, but that was a mouthful, so the human women simply called him Ollie. And he was the sweetest thing.

Vaxa’an looked down at Erin. She marveled that she hadn’t recognized the similarities between him and Jaxor. They had identical eyes, for one. And while Erin had thought Jaxor looked familiar to her, she hadn’t known Vaxa’an very well, or studied him very long, to make the connection.

But now, it was undeniable. It was even difficult to meet his eyes.

Vaxa’an jerked his head in a nod, powering down the hovercraft and jumping down. Erin released the nervous breath she’d been holding.

Kate touched Vaxa’an’s arm, looking at Erin, and said, “I’ll leave you two alone.”

Vaxa’an watched as she disappeared into Lainey and Kirov’s home, where Erin had been staying. Most of the women gathered there during the day, to spend time with each other, to marvel at Ollie, and talk and laugh and eat. Erin had to admit…it felt good. To be with her friends, to not think of her time in the dungeon, or her heartbreak. It was a welcome distraction. She’d been out of Privanax’s labs for two days, but every moment that passed, Erin grew more and more restless, more and more anxious.

“We have not found the time to talk,” Vaxa’an said, returning his gaze to her. “I regret that.”

“You’ve been busy. You all have,” Erin said. She’d been waiting for Vaxa’an’s hovercraft most of the morning, sitting outside, though she felt a little sweaty from the heat. Even still, she vastly preferred the blinding sunlight and the warmth…to anything.

“You wish to speak about my brother,” Vaxa’an knew.

“There is a chance for a pardon during his trial, isn’t there?” she asked, not even embarrassed that she didn’t want to waste time with pleasantries. Vaxa’an was a difficult male to pin down, considering he was the Prime Leader. Given everything that had changed—the attack on the Mevirax and the Jetutians, the decisions that needed to be made afterwards, the stress of Jaxor’s trial, and the fact that Vaxa’an had a newborn baby—he was a busy, busy male.

His nostrils flared, which she didn’t take as a good sign. Even still, he said, “It is possible, tev. Likely? I am not so certain.”

“But you’re the Prime Leader,” she said. Because even after everything Jaxor had done, the thought that he could be sentenced to death or exile for his actions was…unfathomable. Even excruciating to think about. It kept her up at night. “Don’t you have some sort of veto power?”

“Veto power,” he repeated. Then he shook his head. “Matters of justice are handled by the elder council. It is our way. They know my feelings and desires about the trial. I have made that abundantly clear.”

“And what do you want to happen?” she couldn’t help but ask.

“He is my brother,” he told her softly, spearing her with a look that almost made her gasp…because he looked so much like Jaxor in that moment. “Of course I want him pardoned.”

“Even after everything he’s done? To you?” she tested.

He let out a short exhale. “You know Jaxor as well as I. You know his motivations. I told him I have forgiven him for his actions because I understood them, but I fear that he will never be able to extend that same forgiveness to himself.”

Erin stilled.

“He wanted revenge on the male who killed our mother. Our sire. So many Luxirians. He wanted to help the females that survived. Those motivations are just…but what he is truly on trial for are two things. Endangering you and Crystal—”

“But he—”

“And knowing that Jetutians were entering our atmosphere undetected,” Vaxa’an continued. “The council would have been likely to pardon him for this second offense, given that his aid led to the vaccine. But the first…”

“Because of Crystal and me?” she said, shocked. She shook her head. “That’s ridiculous. He didn’t hurt us.”

Well…at least not physically, she amended silently, thinking about the constant ache in her chest.

“The council sees it another way. Crimes against females are not taken likely.”

“Can I talk to them?” Erin asked, her eyes pleading up at Vaxa’an. “And I know that Crystal will offer the same. I mean, because of Jaxor, she has Cruxan now. She doesn’t have any lingering feelings about it. Besides, how is it any different than what Vikan or Kirov did? They both took Taylor and Lainey from the Golden City without your knowledge! But are they on trial for it?”

She didn’t mean to throw her friends’ mates under the bus, but she was trying to make a point.

Vaxa’an’s lips pressed together. “I never said the trial was fair.”

A drop of sweat ran down her back. There was a long stretch of silence between them.

“Kat told me you don’t plan to leave on the vessel for Earth,” Vaxa’an broached quietly.

Erin’s brow furrowed, confused why he was bringing that up now. “No, I don’t.”

“Because you love my brother and you wish to stay here with him?” Vaxa’an asked. Erin looked down at the terrace, at the feather-light slippers protecting her feet from the heated stones. “I must warn you, female, that you might not like the council’s decision. There might not be a life for him here.”

He was telling her to leave? Go back to Earth? Abandon Jaxor?

Erin felt anger rise up in her and it felt good. It felt…surprising.

“I’m pregnant,” she told him, peering up at him.

His brows rose. So, Kate hadn’t told him. Or perhaps Crystal and Lainey hadn’t told anyone after their conversation a couple days ago.

“He doesn’t know,” Erin said, seeing the question form in his mind. “Not yet. I—I haven’t told him.”

Erin had to give Vaxa’an credit. He took things in stride, but she supposed a Prime Leader would have to.

“Then do not fear, female, for your future here,” he said, inclining his head. “Your child will be of the royal bloodline and because of that, you will have—”

“I don’t care about bloodlines,” she said softly, frowning. “And I’m not angling for a secure future because I’m pregnant with your brother’s child.”

“My apologies, I did not mean to imply that. I am just…surprised by the news.”

“I know,” Erin said, feeling a little of her temper melt away. “It’s just…I’m scared. For Jaxor. For the baby. For this damn trial. He might’ve hurt me and lied to me, but that doesn’t mean that I want him…gone.”

Just the thought made her throat close.

“It doesn’t mean…there’s not a future for us,” she whispered, her vision blurring with tears. More tears. She’d never cried this much in her entire life. At least now she could blame it on hormones.

She allowed herself a small cry, all too aware that Vaxa’an was standing helplessly by, probably wishing that Kate was out here to console her. Luxirians weren’t exactly masters of showing emotions and it seemed to make them uncomfortable when others did.

Pull yourself together, she told herself. And slowly, she did, blinking back tears, wiping her face dry.

She turned her gaze towards the Black Desert, remembering when Jaxor had taken her and Crystal across it in his sandcraft. It seemed so long ago now.

“Do you think you could let me see the elder council?” Erin asked quietly, calming. Only after a good cry did she feel this calm. She felt…okay. Like everything might be okay. She turned to look at Vaxa’an. “To speak with them?”

Vaxa’an inclined his head. “I can arrange it, tev. But I do not know if—”

“I just have to try,” Erin said. “I know it might not make a difference, but I won’t give up trying to get him released.”

She took a deep breath and nodded, certain of what she wanted to do.

“Are you going to the command center?” she asked.

“Tev.”

“I’d like to see Jaxor,” she said.

I’ve left this too long, she thought, a little ashamed.

The last two nights, she’d lain in bed and asked herself if she could forgive Jaxor.

After hearing about his motivations, she believed that she could. Especially after knowing that even after everything, he would have still chosen her over the vaccine for his people. That spoke volumes.

So, yes, she had left him too long…and it was time to see her mate.

Vaxa’an studied her, his head tilted to the side. Erin wondered what he made of her. Crying one moment, then demanding to speak to his council and his imprisoned brother in the next.

“Very well,” he said. “I will take you to him.”

“Thank you.”