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“What is your name?” he asked.

“Nadzia, but everyone calls her Hope, since that’s what it means,” Abby answered for her sister.

He’d been a little preoccupied but now recalled hearing that. However, the nickname wasn’t as lovely as the one given to her at birth. Birthnames had meaning.

“Nadzia.” He let it roll over his tongue. “We were saving you from your soldiers,” he explained slowly since she looked like she was starting to panic again.

“Okay, okay.” Nadzia’s hands waved wildly. “I got that, but how do you know Pro, and why are you here?”

The ivory beauty’s big green eyes darted around the cruiser.

“Calm down and listen up,” Abby captured Nadzia’s attention using a stern tone. “Pro was taken by some well-meaning aliens who are making a doomsday colony. Then while she saved other humans, some really bad aliens abducted her again. She was rescued by the Cadi.” The redhead pointed to Ashtoret. “And now she’s married to—wait for it—two hot red dudes.”

Aculus repressed the burst of laughter fighting to break free at the way Abby announced Providence’s mates.

“Abigail Murray, you can’t just blurt all that!” Nadzia screeched.

“It gets better. These guys are here to hide our planet from the real bad aliens. Oh, and Pro is preggers.” Abby glanced at Ashtoret. “You just gotta rip it off like a Band-Aid.”

Aculus covered his mouth to hold in his amusement. That was one way to deliver news—short, sweet and to the point. His mirth died when he saw Nadzia’s frazzled expression. He tried to imagine what she was going through. Nadzia just learned other races existed besides humans, she’d been hunted by her own authorities, got injured, and now learned that not only was her missing sister alive, Providence was twice mated and expecting young. He needed to be more sensitive.

If I was in her position, I probably would’ve cracked already.

“We are docking with my vessel now,” he announced, not sure of what else to say.

“Wow, that was fast,” Abby commented.

“Is that the moon? Are we landing on the moon? I can’t handle this,” Nadzia asked, her eyes impossibly large.

They were. The dark side of the moon was the best place to station his large frigate. Although the small cruiser probably looked incredibly advanced to the humans, it wasn’t equipped for passing through rifts or accommodating more than a few people for long periods. However, now wasn’t the time for a lesson on the various vessels in his fleet.

He knelt in front of the panicking female. “Shhh, shhh, ivory beauty. Would you like to speak to your sister?” he offered.

Nadzia’s gaze swung away from the moon and his frigate.

“Pro is on that ship?” Her face brightened.

“No, but I can reach her.” He hoped that was an acceptable substitute to seeing their sister in person.

“I thought that was going to be difficult?” Ashtoret sounded surprised.

He wasn’t quite sure where the male got that impression.Maybe from his Miran Sona friends.

“I have the resources of the Osivoire Nation at my disposal, nothing is too hard.” He shrugged.

“Please.” Nadzia’s eyes again filled with moisture as she nodded.

“Thank you.” Abby’s eyes started leaking, too.

Oh, now they’re both doing it.He thought for sure this would make the females happy. Aculus cast a concerned glance toward Ashtoret.

“Don’t cry, Peanut.” The Cadi male tugged Abby out of the seat, pulled her into his arms and they whispered to each other.

Nadzia concerned him with the way she looked so lost. He unclipped her harness and lifted her out of the seat.

“I can walk,” she informed him, some of the spirit returning to her voice.

Her fortitude reminded him of Osivoire females. Although if she were Osivoire she would’ve already thrashed him by now.