Page 31 of Saved By My Alien Husband

DELPHINE

10 Years After Leaving Earth

Parvati leapt down from the console with a screeching meow, her tail flicking as if to punctuate her displeasure.

“Stop complaining, old lady,” I said, crossing my arms as I gazed out of the Launch Room windows. “We aren't going to land for another few days. I know you are looking forward to it.”

Parvati howled again, turning to give me a withering glare before strutting out of the room. She was the last of the cats who had known Earth—the world we’d left behind. I couldn’t help but think it was for our son’s sake. The bond they had was indescribable. She had some alien blood transfusions a few years ago during a health scare, which is a more logical explanation for it. The kittens she had after she got the transfusions were also thriving in a way altogether different from the other litters from that year. Maybe our cats would continue to evolve after all.

“She’s gotten grouchier with age,” Haven said, wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me back against his chest. His warmth was a steady anchor, even after all these years.

Tilting my head back, I raised a brow. “As if you have any room to talk, my king. ”

He gasped in mockery. “It's not my fault that everyone gets more annoying the older I get.”

King Candor retired recently, deciding to pass the crown to his son early, to spend time with his new wife. As we finally approached our next destination, he knew he was not up for potential conflict. I hoped, for my family’s sake, there would be no conflict either.

This planet already knew the Eldrin, and had been in communication for many years, so it should be a simple transfer. Everyone who wanted to get off was allowed to start over here. We had a few specialists that wanted to join us in the stars as well. It would be a simple exchange of people and resources, maybe even a small vacation before we left, then we’d be back on our way.

Just like the cats that the Eldrin had dropped off throughout the galaxy, the humans would now accidentally follow that path, spreading out throughout the stars. This was our second stop on our journey, the first being the more isolated refueling planet that had a small society. A few humans stayed there, but most waited to view this stop, where the cats had evolved into walking panther-like creatures. They were more furry than the Eldrin and also bulkier.

Laughing, I turned in his arms, sliding my hands up to rest on his shoulders. “Then you’d better make it up to me. I demand kisses—one for every time you’ve been rude to our people. As penance.”

His lips curved into a mischievous grin. “If that’s the price, I should be rude more often,” he murmured, lowering his mouth to mine.

“Ugh, that’s disgusting. Please stop.”

We broke apart, turning to see Merrick standing in the doorway, face twisted in mortification. Parvati must have doubled back when she saw him as she sat cuddled in his arms.

Our son was only nine, yet he carried himself as a leader. Without prompting, he formed a youth group for kids his age. He was looking through the human archives of all the files we downloaded from our Earth domes and came across a game called Dungeons and Dragons . We had to look up what a dungeon was, as well as a lot of the other terms, but once we had a grasp for it, Merrick made a new version for the ship with some alien terms mixed in. The group was having their first tournament next week.

Parvati let out a soft meow from his arms, nuzzling against his chest.

“She says to stop, too,” Merrick added, his tone serious.

Haven chuckled, ruffling his son’s hair. Merrick looked so much like him—green pallor, the sharp angles, large deep eyes, but Merrick's skin was smoother. Not as smooth as a human’s, but a mix between us. The haircut was also his own choice. A lot of human and Eldrin couples created kids that had hair, and many of them kept it long just because they could, but Merrick preferred it shorter.

“Shouldn’t you be with Grandnam right now?” I asked, folding my arms. His curriculum changed often to keep him from getting bored, and my parents had taken on much of his tutoring. Things were still strained with them, they probably always would be, but they'd improved with Merrick. I'm sure it helps that he is clever like them. At nine, he is the only one that can rival them. I'm sure in a few years, he'll be tutoring them instead.

He rolled his eyes dramatically. “Why would I do that on my birthday ? Come on, Mom.”

A grin tugged at my lips. He had a point. “Fine, but you’ll have to make up for it tomorrow.”

“Sure, Mom,” he said with an exaggerated sigh, but I swore there was a hint of a smile before his eye roll.

Haven’s gaze softened, seeing it too. “You want to go on a walk?”

Merrick’s face lit up, a grin spreading wide. “Can Parvati come too?”

Haven shrugged. “If she wants.”

Merrick glanced down at the old cat who blinked up at him lazily. He shook his head with a laugh. “She wants to sit this one out, but she’ll watch from the window.”

Stepping forward, I gently lifted Parvati from his arms and cradled her close. Her soft purrs vibrated against my chest, sending a wave of warmth and gratitude through our faint telepathic link. I carried her to the inner lip of the launch window, where we’d set up a small bed for her to sit and watch the stars. Settling her down, I pressed a kiss to the top of her head.

“Enjoy the view, old lady,” I murmured.

I followed Haven and Merrick as they moved through the ship, their conversation shifting effortlessly between English and Eldrin as they talked about the tournament and the party we were hosting tonight for his birthday.

Their voices faded into the background as memories crept in. There had been a time when I didn’t have this—this peace, this family. Years spent alone, doubting my sanity, questioning how I could love someone that wasn't real.

We reached the hanger bay, where the crew greeted us with nods and smiles. Several called out birthday wishes to our young prince.

After putting on our spacesuits and connecting our oxygen lines to the pulley system, we stepped into the airlock. Merrick squeezed my hand, his excitement palpable. We couldn't do this walk often, as we were usually moving too quickly through space, but with only a few days before another stop on our adventure, it was safe enough.

I pressed the button, the hatch opened, and the lack of gravity picked my family up.

Out here, suspended in the vastness of space, the weight of everything fell away. Being queen hasn't been easy, but I've never regretted it.

Merrick laughed as he drifted, his movements buoyant and free. Haven reached for me, his gloved hand finding mine. We looked at each other in the silence of space, hearing our breathing picked up from the microphones in our suits and Merrick's laughter.

I glanced at my son, now spinning in slow, graceful arcs, his joy uncontainable. Turning, he used the pulley system to come back to us and took my other hand. We walked together on the top of the ship until we made it back to the window at the front. Parvati looked at us, her tail swaying gently behind her, as Merrick waved emphatically.

We floated in front of the ship, hands held, looking out into the endless stars.

There was so much more life out there.

And so much to do.

Together.

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