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Chapter Four

B rianna

I comm the doc and Axxios. They both make an appearance, but there’s nothing for either of them to do. Dr. Drayke assures us this is great news; Braxx’s vitals are stronger than they’ve been. I’m given the all-clear to feed him broth if he wakes again.

“I’ll call you if...when he wakes again,” I tell Axxios after the doctor rushes off to his new mate. “I’m sure you’d like time with him. I’ll leave and you can feed him.”

“I can feel the twin bond for the first time since we were separated an annum ago. This is a blessing.” The big male is calmer than I’ve ever seen him. His shoulders are relaxed, and the tension in his face has softened. He must be feeling optimistic for the first time in a year.

I didn’t mention the whole “angel” thing. No one really needs to know what Braxx said when he wasn’t lucid.

A few hours later, I’m reading at his bedside when Braxxus opens those gorgeous baby blues again. I help him drink another glass of water, then smooth his shiny silver hair off his forehead.

He gives me a killer smile, then calls me Angel again.

“Let me call Axxios. He’ll come sit with you. He’ll explain everything.”

“Axx is dead, too?” His smile evaporates, his forehead wrinkles as he frowns. “I’d hoped he lived.”

“You’re both alive. He’s piloting the ship we’re in. We rescued you from Aeon II. You’re a free male among friends.” I give him an amiable grin and comm Axxios. He’ll be thrilled to talk to his brother after such a long separation.

“If I’m alive, how does that explain you?” His eyes narrow in suspicion.

“I was kidnapped from Earth. Axxios and I were prisoners together. There are twenty-four freed slaves on this ship. Plus you.”

He rubs his chin with his hand and looks around the room for the first time.

“You’re in medbay. You almost died. You’ve been in a coma for about a week.” I give him an easy smile. “Looks like you’re going to recover.”

His brow wrinkles as he looks me up and down again. “That explains everything but you.” Then his face brightens and he nods. “There are folklore tales about ahnseek angels. They’re said to guard over those in need of assistance. You must be an ahnsee k angel. My ahnseek angel.” He nods calmly, happy, as if he just unlocked the secrets of the universe.

Axxios barges in and immediately notices his brother is sitting up in bed, eyes wide open. My Lord, that male looks gorgeous when his face is lit in happiness. As he rushes to Braxx’s side I murmur, “I’ll have someone bring broth,” and leave the two brothers alone.

Axxios

Thank the Gods. Braxxus is awake. And smiling! I reach down and hug him around the neck, my cheek touching his.

“Braxx, you’re going to make it.” I sit down in the little chair, still warm from where Brianna sat. I clasp his hand as if I’m trying to boost our connection. I feel his emotions through our twinlink. He’s confused.

“Are we dead or alive, Axx?” he frowns a bit, truly bewildered.

“Alive brother, why do you ask?”

“I...I thought I saw an angel. Our angel.”

“No, you’re among the living. You almost died, but you’re getting better now.” I’m smiling like a crazy person.

Maddie comes in to personally deliver a tray with a bowl, a spoon, and a small pot of steaming broth. “Hellooo, I’m Maddie,” she says to Braxx. She always half sings her sentences; she’s always happy.

“Braxxus,” he says. “Salutations.”

“Salutations, huh? He must be the brother who got the looks and the manners,” she jokes. She gets serious and looks straight at him, “You’re safe here, Braxxus. We all want to meet you and get to know you, but we’ll give you time to get your strength back before we bombard you with good wishes.

“Promise you’ll contact me if you need anything. Day or night, I’ll cook you up whatever you’re hungry for. We’ll put some meat back on your bones.”

She breezes out as quickly as she came in. I try to put a spoonful of soup in Braxx’s mouth, but he’s having none of that. He grabs the spoon and feeds himself.

He motions for me to pour more soup into his bowl, then asks, “Where are we, gem?” This is the name we use to refer to each other. It carries the deepest affection.

I explain that I was captured, trained as a gladiator, and was being transported on this ship to be sold. “On the way, they picked up ten Earth women as breeders—Maddie’s one of them. We overthrew them and now we’re on the run. As soon as you’re on the mend, I’m going to ask you to give me a hand on the bridge. We need another competent pilot.”“Who’s flying this craft now?”

“Tyree, but he’s a trainee. We could use you.”

I glance away for a moment, and when I turn back, his spoon has fallen onto the bed and he’s soundly asleep.

I lower the back of his bed so it’s flat and comfortable, then pull his covers up. Touching the middle of my chest with my fist, I feel the complete connection with my twin; the first time it’s been at this strength in over an annum . I feel whole for the first time since we were separated. Now I have to figure out how to cobble the pieces of my life together and somehow find happiness.

Braxxus

I must have fallen asleep; Axx is gone. I have no idea how much time has passed, but my angel is here. I know I’ll be safe.

“You tricked me for a moment, Angel. I thought I was dead. But you’re a guardian angel. Thanks for your protection.”

She laughs. Gods, she’s even more beautiful when she’s happy.

“I thought it was myth, but angels are real. And the stories about how beautiful angels are were true, too.”

For some reason, she scowls at me.

“Don’t worry, I haven’t told anyone about you. I’ll keep your secret.”

“I’m not a secret, and I’m not an angel. I’m human. Just a plain old human female.”

“I met Maddie. She’s a human female. She’s attractive in her own way, but she’s not a beautiful angel like you.” I wonder why she’s trying to fool me. Her existence is easy enough to prove. “Axx didn’t acknowledge you when he came in. That’s because he didn’t see you. You’re an angel. My angel.”

“Axxios certainly did see me, he was just so happy to see you that he walked by me to get to you.”

“I won’t argue; I don’t want you to disappear. Will you stay with me until I’m well, my beautiful ahnseek angel?”

“You’re stuck with me Braxxus. We’re all stuck in this little box, hurtling through space on our way to...I don’t know where. I’ve been tasked with watching over you, and I will do that until you’re well.”

“All I have to do is stay sick to keep you around?”

“I don’t know about the angels on your planet, Braxx, but on my planet flirting with one wouldn’t be allowed.”

“So you admit you’re an angel?” My voice is strong and full of energy. When she’s around it’s like I’m not ill at all.

“Stop it!” she scolds, but she’s smiling.

Maddie comes in with another pot of soup and sets it down near my bed. “I brought bread. The doc said you could have it if you dip it in the broth. Here’s a mug, it will be easier to eat that way, so no one has to feed you. Will you be okay?”

“Thanks, Maddie. I’ll be fine.”

“I have to run, I need to set dinner out for everyone.”

“She didn’t see you, either,” I gloat after she leaves.

“She was just in a hurry to serve dinner to everyone else.”

I shrug. “Either everyone on this vessel is being rude to you, or you’re my angel. You can’t fool me. I’ve known what you look like since we moved into the governors’ mansion when we were five.”

Brianna

“Governor’s mansion?” This should be good. I’ve known his brother for several months. I’d think at some point he would have mentioned living in a governor’s mansion FFS.

“Yes. Are you trying to trick me, Angel? You should know all of this.”

“Indulge me, Braxxus.”

“My fathers acted in tandem to govern one of the provinces of Mythros. They sit on the High Council of the planet as well.”

“Fathers?” my voice sounds strangled even to my own ears. I shared a bed, and sex, and bodily fluids with his twin for months and this is the first mention I’ve heard of fathers—plural. Either he’s delusional, or his brother is an even bigger ass than I’d thought.

“I’d always thought that angels, if such things were real, only attended people on my planet. I guess they do good works all over the galaxy. That would be the only reason you wouldn’t know these things.”

“Let’s pretend I know nothing about your planet or your culture, Braxxus. Edify me.”

“Mythrian males are always born twins. We’re called grays until we reach puberty.”

“Grays?”

“We’re born that color.” He points to the spoon on the bedside table. I’d call it a dull pewter.

“Go on.”

“Whichever twin reaches puberty first becomes the golden one, the other turns silver. But I think you’re teasing me, Angel. You have to know all of this.”

“Brianna. My name’s Brianna.” And yeah, my tone is snippy as hell because if Axxios was here right now I’d try to freaking strangle him. Why did he never explain any of this?

I glance over at Braxxus to see his eyes wide and bright. If I didn’t assume he was a hard-ass like his brother, I’d think this male was about to cry.

“What did I say?”

He’s fiddling with the bedrail, frantically trying to get it down. His eyes now downcast. He finally fumbles out of bed, despite my pleas for him to stop, and gets on his knees in front of me.

“Stop it, Braxxus. Whatever is going on, stop it right now. You’re going to hurt yourself. Please, stop!”

He’s prostrating himself at my feet. I can’t even pay attention to the fact that I’m mortified at this act, I’m so worried something is going to tear loose in his already-destroyed back.

“Get back in bed right this minute!” I use my drill sergeant voice. “Now!”

He does, then leans heavily against his pillows. He clearly over-exerted himself.

“What were you trying to do?”

“You know what I was doing,” his voice is a whisper. “When an angel tells you its name, you become its servant on mortal soil. You’ve honored me.”

“That’s it!” I bark. First I motion for him to turn toward the back wall. Just as I suspected, his little slave-on-the-floor routine broke something loose. I see blood pooling underneath the clear containment of the plas-film.

I hit my comm, “Dr. Drayke, get to medbay now!” I don’t care if he’s balls deep in his new mate, I need him here immediately.

“Axxios, get your ass here on the double.” It would serve him right if I give him a freaking heart attack because he thinks his twin is dying. Enough is enough.

If I didn’t know better, I’d think Axxios teleported here because he arrives in seconds, out of breath and panicked. “What’s wrong?” his voice has the shrill tone of abject fear.

“Your brother is bleeding.” I see the exertion did him in and he’s soundly asleep, possibly back in a coma.

“How did this happen?” His eyes are searching mine for answers.

“He was trying to worship at my feet. Somehow I think you will understand this better than I do.”

He shrugs, but his eyes slide guiltily from mine.

Dr. Drayke comes in at a run, and whatever he was doing a minute ago is now on the back burner of his mind, because he’s already fully in doctor mode. He gently prods Braxx’s back, then grabs his pad to perform a medscan.

“What happened?”

“He got out of bed before I could stop him.”

He clicks his teeth.

Fuck you, Dr. Drayke. Why am I the one to get all the responsibility and all the blame? But of course, I don’t say that.

“With all that blood I thought I’d have to program the medbot to do revision surgery. But the bleeding is already slowing. I think we’re good. I’ll have to keep a closer eye on things.”

“Good idea, Dr. Drayke. Perhaps you could check in a little more frequently,” I scold him pointedly.

“You’re absolutely right, Brianna. I’m going to rig a feed from the medbay computer to the one in my room. I’ll stay on top of things better until the worst of the bonding urge is over.”

“Not exactly what I was asking for, but I guess it will do,” I don’t even attempt to hide the irritation in my tone.

“I’m certain I speak for the twins as well as myself when I thank you for all your efforts.” He glances at the exit as if he can’t get out of here fast enough. “Feed him broth and bread as often as he’ll take it. Don’t hesitate to call me if there’s another emergency. I’ll check on him tomorrow.” And....he’s out the door.

Axxios

“You have some explaining to do, Axx. Don’t make me pull it out of you.”

Her nostrils flare and her hands fist at her sides. I’ve never seen her this angry, even yesterday when she gave me that ultimatum.

I put my hands up in a self-protective motion. “Ask and I’ll answer, but I don’t know what’s wrong.”

Her green eyes are full of fire as she approaches me and pokes me in the chest with her index finger. “I’ll give you hints: angels, twins, fathers, and a fucking governors’ mansion.”

I lean down and rub my hand over my face. “Mythrian twins have a special bond, Brianna. I’ve told you this before.”

“Yeah, Axx. On Earth, twins have a special bond. I’ve heard tales that one twin will know when another twin is injured—just like you and Braxx. On. Earth. People. Don’t. Have. Two. Fathers!”

“I didn’t know that. You told me you had twins on Earth. I assumed things were the same with your species.”

“Are you acting stupid on purpose, Axx? Why would you assume that?”

“For the same reason you assumed people only have one father, Brie.”

“Don’t call me Brie. I’m Brianna to you,” her tone is more hurt than angry. “I’m sorry for calling you stupid, that’s shitty of me.”

“So you’re mad I didn’t mention my fathers?”

“I feel ridiculous that we spent all that time in enforced intimacy and the only thing I know about you is…” Her face burns red. She does that when she talks about sex.

“There’s nothing about our chemistry we should be ashamed of Brie...anna.”

“Everybody on your planet has two fathers?”

“Yes. Twins pair with one female. I believe I mentioned that if my twin were dead it would affect me in many ways. It would mean I’d never be able to have a truebond with a female.”

She sits down heavily in a chair as if her legs just won’t hold her anymore. Her facial muscles are slack, her eyes are closed, and tears are sliding from the corners of her eyes.

I squat next to her so I’m at eye level. I grab her hands and she makes a half-hearted attempt to pull away, but keeps them there. Being this close to her, holding her warm hands in mine, makes my cock hard. But I try to ignore it.

“When we hit puberty our bodies experience cataclysmic changes. The first of the pair to hit a certain hormonal load turns gold, the other becomes silver. But we change in other ways.

“The golden twin becomes...harder, emotionally stronger. When there’s an argument we always win; we’re hormonally programmed to push for what we want. Over a period of five to ten years, as we grow to adulthood, emotions disappear. That’s one of the reasons the loss of my twin devastated me so badly. I hadn’t had to deal with emotions of any kind for over a decade. The only true emotion we feel is toward our brother, our gem.”

“So golden twins become unfeeling hardasses.”

“If you want to put it that way.”

“And the silver twins?”

“As they mature, they retain their emotions. I’ve read some books about it. It makes sense from an evolutionary perspective. There are more than two males for every Mythrian female. Long ago in our history, it became imperative that two males mate with one female. Otherwise male aggression and territoriality would have gotten out of control.

“But putting two combative males together with one female for a lifetime was a recipe for disaster. The pairing of one male with a high sex drive and few emotions with a brother capable of emotional tenderness ensures a high likelihood of happiness in a mating. ”

“So, is that part of the problem with you and me, Axx? Help me understand. It takes three to...connect? You needed your brother around so you could care? About me?” She shakes her head, still confused.

“Golds don’t have tender feelings. I’ve heard of some golds who mellow when they complete their truebond, but it’s uncommon. I should have told you all of this, but it doesn’t change anything. I still can’t give you what you want—at least I couldn’t without Braxxus.”

I give her a serious look, “Mythrian females tend to be very content in their bond, Brianna. Their emotional and physical needs are fulfilled through different legs of the triad.”

She gives me full eye contact, and I’m elated. I’m confident she fully understands. Perhaps if she likes Braxxus, she would consider being our bondmate. I could see that match working well for her and it would please me greatly.

“Get the fuck out.” Her eyes bore into me so belligerently, if they were lasers I’d be dead.

“If you’re not out in ten seconds, Axx, I’m leaving.” Her jaw is so tight her lips barely moved when she spoke.

I’ve only hesitated half a modicum more when she slips one foot into a shoe.

“Okay. I’m gone,” I say as I speed to beat her out the door. I may never understand Earth females. What did I say wrong?