I stare at her for a long, stolen moment as I memorize all the details of her face. Just as I had done last night when she fell asleep fussing over the legaloct. In my rekking bed. From my blankets on the floor, I watched her sleep like so many solars before.
“I’ll probably forget to eat again,” I murmur. “Next meal, if you come get me, I’ll share it with you. Maybe take you to The Tower so you can see more of Mortuus.”
“I’d like that. It’s a date.” She grins, wide and beautiful.
I know all about these dates. My mate isn’t resistant like the others. My mate likes me. And I’d pounce on that fact if it weren’t for the whole impending doom with a ticking time limit looming over my nog.
“And then I’ll watch you sleep,” I say, finally releasing her.
“That should sound creepy, but I’m not going to lie, Oz.” She shrugs. “I’m into it.”
With those sassy words, she turns on her heel, bounding out of the room, her dark curls bouncing with her movement.
It takes every ounce of self-control to not follow after her.
“No, you piece of rogshite,” Jareth grumbles. “Pay attention.”
Hadrian throws his hand in the air in frustration. “I am paying attention. I’m trying to run this place while also taking rekking notes on how to replicate that thing.” He points through the screen to the thermablaster.
“How are the females?” I ask, setting my tool down. “Are they well?”
Hadrian sighs, running his hand through his hair, making it stick up in several directions. “Are you still going on about mating with them? If so, save it for after you save Mortuus.”
Testy.
“No, mortling,” I gripe. “I have a mate. I want to know how they’re doing. Will they live—”
“Back up,” Hadrian snaps. “You have a mate? Since rekking when?”
“I didn’t say—” I start.
Jareth cuts me off with a laugh. “You did.”
“I did?”
“You did,” Hadrian agrees. “Who’s the lucky alien? Is it Eileen?”
I shoot him the finger just like Aria taught me. This makes him snort, cutting the tension in half.
“He’s going to mate with Quinn,” Jareth tattles. “You should see the way they look at each other.” He starts mimicking a sexual act.
I toss my tool at him and it nearly whacks him in the nog. “Don’t talk about my mate.”
“Ha!” Jareth taunts. “You don’t even deny it.”
“What’s there to deny?” I grunt out. “If I didn’t have to do all the rekking work around here, I’d have that beautiful alien naked and in my bed, halfway pregnant by now.”
“Does she know that?” Hadrian asks, smirking.
He gets the finger again.
“It’s cute when the monsters flirt,” Zoe says, popping into the screen behind Hadrian. “Like little boys on the playground whipping out their peckers to see who’s got the biggest one.”
“My cock—” Hadrian starts and is interrupted by Lyric.
“Isn’t up for discussion,” Lyric grumbles. “Seriously. I leave you with one job. One job and you’ve somehow turned it into talking about naked females. Only you, Hadrian.”
Julie also arrives, swatting at Hadrian. “Outta my chair, big boy. I’m taking over. Your lack of tactical knowledge is giving me hives.”
“Maybe Avrell can help you with those hives,” Zoe says in a saccharine tone. “Since he knows fucking everything.”
“Oh God,” Lyric grumbles. “Here we go again.”
“What?” Zoe snaps. “He’s getting on my last nerve. My reserve nerve. Do you know he actually had the audacity to suggest I go help in the kitchen? Like this is the motherfucking Stone Age!”
Jareth and I smirk at each other. Hadrian laughs. All three of the girls smack him. Thank rekk for being four solars’ travel away.
“Where’s Theron?” I ask.
“He and Willow took the Mayvina to the ocean to look for some haxagranules so we can make our lens,” Julie tells me. “Though it’s taking an extraordinarily long time.”
Hadrian shrugs, a devilish look on his face.
As I listen to the girls give Hadrian a hard time about encouraging their behavior, I take pause to look at each of them. Since the females arrived, our lives have improved remarkably. Everyone is happy. Always laughing. Making a future with one another.
The Kevins are headed our way, threatening to take it all away from us.
It absolutely can’t happen.
In twelve solars, I want to listen to Zoe gripe about Avrell. Tease Sokko about stinking like his father. Kiss Quinn until she’s breathless. There’s so much I still want before I go to The Eternals. I’m not ready to give this all up. Maybe a revolution ago, I would’ve had a different answer.
Not now.
The aliens will invade, but I won’t rekking let them destroy my home or those who live in it.
“Hadrian, Julie,” I bark out. “The zuta-metal needs to be a precise thickness. Write down everything exactly as I say.”
Everyone grows serious and we get back to work.