“I love you, my little warrior,” he murmured, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.
“You know, this is really exciting,” Star exclaimed leaning back a little so she could stare out the viewport window.
Jazin frown. “What is?”
“Seeing other worlds and meeting new people,” she said with a grin. “That is the thing I missed the most when Jo and I left the circus. We met new people in Orlando but it wasn’t the same. When we traveled with the circus, we got to see new things all the time. Especially once Walter and Nema decided to take it worldwide,” she sighed as she turned in his arms and leaned back against his chest. “I wonder how Jo is doing. I miss her so much.”
A chuckle sounded from behind them. Jazin’s head turned at the sound and he frowned. That was the second time in as many seconds that he had been taken by surprise. He shook his head in disgust. Ever since his capture he had been having trouble keeping his thoughts on the task at hand.
Correction, he thought as he breathed in the heady scent of his mate. Ever since I met a certain alien female I’ve had problems keeping my mind on the matters at hand.
“Your sister is doing well,” Ajaska said with a grin. “I am not so sure how well my son is doing though.”
“What do you mean?” Star asked surprised. “Are Jo and Manota fighting?”
“No, they are not fighting,” Ajaska replied as he came to stand next to them and stare down at the planet far below. “It would appear your parents are not the only travelers returning with your sister and my son.”
“Oh. My. God!” River squealed from the door as she came rushing into the room. “Star, Walter, Nema, Ricki, and the whole circus are coming!”
River danced over to Star with a huge grin on her face. Torak came in shortly behind her with a pained expression on his. Star’s mouth dropped open before it snapped shut and she squealed in return, locking hands with River and dancing around in a circle.
“Do you think this is some type of ritual?” Jazin asked his father and brother as the two women squealed, giggled, and talked in broken sentences that only they appeared to understand.
“I am not sure our planet is ready for this,” Torak growled out in a low tone. “Do you remember the vids we watched? What if those clowns get loose? You saw the damage they could do.”
Ajaska chuckled. He had no idea what would happen to his world when this ‘circus’ arrived but he would bet everything he had that life was about to get even more interesting than it had been. He glanced at the resignation on the faces of his oldest and youngest sons’ faces. Vivid emotions flickered across each one. For a brief moment, Ajaska thought about what it would be like to have a mate like the two females who were talking in rapid, breathless sentences as they shared stories. Their faces glowed with an internal beauty and energy making them appear almost ethereal. He could easily understand what his ancestors must have thought when they first saw the unusual beauty and strength of the alien females from long ago.
“Father?” Jazin asked again with a bemused frown on his face as touching his father’s arm to draw his attention back to the present.
Ajaska jerked out of his reverie. “Yes?”
“The shuttle is ready. Gril and Madas will be joining us as well,” Jazin said carefully.
“Of course,” Ajaska said, clearing his throat as he glanced briefly at River and Star who were still talking as they trailed Torak out of the conference room before he followed as well.
Jazin didn’t say anything. He had seen the look of envy in his father’s eyes. He had never thought about the fact that his father might be lonely. It had been so long ago that his mother had passed to the next world that he could barely remember her at times. She had been given to his father in a bid to heal a rift between his clan and the clan of a distant cousin. He knew his father had never loved his mother but he had been good to her. He knew that from conversations with his father’s man, Je’zi, who now served Torak and River. His father had poured everything he had into protecting his people. The war had taken a lot out of his father and he still bore the mark of it on his face.
Jazin trailed slowly behind the others deep in thought. His life had changed so much since his capture the first time. His eyes moved over the slim figure of his mate as she chatted with River. He almost grimaced at how fast his body reacted to that simple gaze. His cock swelled with memory of their lovemaking.
Gods, everything about her heats my blood, he thought fiercely.
He knew one thing, the Grand Ruler better be a man of his word because if he tried to harm one hair on his mate or River he would kill the male without a second thought. He was tired of those who thought they could harm him, his mate, or his family. It was time to end this once and for all.