Page 17 of Veras (Nozaroc Alien Warrior #2)

L ittle General, you’re wrong. You belong to me, and I’ll never let you go. Veras’ voice came from a long distance. What have you done while I slept?

“Veras, are you there?” I screamed into the winds.

I floated in the center of the largest Guardian, surrounded by golden light.

I’d failed. I hadn’t stopped the destruction.

Even as I spoke to Veras, I felt the Guardians plowing through the arena, demolishing it, heading toward the black mountains, ferreting out the Aavvee who had nowhere to hide.

I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I was alone. But there was one last thing I could do.

I lifted my hands and created a wind cloud, gently lifting Veras’ injured body. One I’d been lucky enough to hold, to feel inside of me.

Do not dare move me from here! He shouted in my mind. Unless you bring me closer. We do this together. Just as you told me not so long ago.

Don’t worry. You were right. I finally understand. I’m going to let them destroy everything. Every last one of the Aavvee on this planet will be gone. They’ll find them, and the cancer will be dead.

If that’s what you choose, my General, then that is what we do. I follow you, and I will never make the mistake of doubting you again. The glimpse I had of your brilliant mind… of your power. His sorrow berated me. I underestimated you like all the rest. I will never do it again.

Veras . I love you.

I know. You showed me your mind. And you know my obsession with you. My deepest love. Come to me.

His adoration swelled around me, tunnelling into every shadowed inch of my heart. There’s no time .

I want to show you something—a gift from the Oro.

The primary Guardian barreled closer and closer to the mother mountain. Erdam. That thought shook me. I didn’t want that. I was supposed to stop that.

Turn them, my General. They do your bidding.

Ask them to bring you to me. Feeling the intense energy flow through me, I whispered to the wind and was rewarded.

I saw Veras, and he saw me. Even though I was still trapped in the tornado, I could turn them slowly.

The eight tornadoes circled, poised and ready to return to total destruction.

“You are ethereal. The true Queen of the Guardians.” Veras tilted his head up to speak to me.

I floated above him. “You’re infused with Oro .

Your hair, your eyes.” He sent me a picture of myself through his mind, and I gasped.

Golden strands highlighted my hair, the whites of my eyes were now burnished copper, making the dark brown of my irises shimmer.

And every scar on my body glowed, strengthened by the golden liquid.

“You look different, too. Are you hurt? They beat you so badly.”

“I’m well. When you shared your mind with mine, you shared your strength.

I am healed. I will never underestimate you again.

But come, my love. Our gift. Do you see?

” He spread his arms wide, the sparkling golden tattoo on his bicep had spread across his chest and back.

“This was the final sign I needed. You are my fated, my almax— the owner of my soul. We are one.”

“I’m yours?” I rubbed at the tears running down my cheeks.

“It means whatever you decide, in this life or the next, we are together. Tell me. Do we destroy the Aavvee and await our next adventure, or do we stay and fight for what we have here? I am content either way.”

He meant it. I felt every word. But I didn’t share his certainty. Were we truly meant to be together here or in the next life?

“We will, my Truena. I swear it. But I don’t know about the lost souls we encountered. Shouldn’t they have a chance at life?” His swirling gaze snared me. “If not, let’s destroy this place now. Release the Guardians.”

I gazed at the swirling tornadoes, taken with their beauty again. “Aren’t they exquisite, Veras? I love them so much. They all have pieces of Nito in them. I feel him and miss him.”

The Guardians preened under my praise, yet their hunger for vengeance remained unwavering. I wanted to reward their dedication, but I also wanted a chance. With Veras.

“Hurry, my love. The countdown clock will soon take the decision out of your hands. Even you will not be able to control the winds if it detonates. What do we do?”

I closed my eyes, ready to succumb to the Guardians’ needs, when I felt a familiar warmth zooming around my neck, under my hair, shooting into my ear. I didn’t know how I knew it was him, but I did. He was there. My Nito.

Joy infused me. I could finally think beyond the constant pressure of the Guardians. My original plan became clear in my mind. “Go, Veras. Take care of Inkonexo. I’ll handle things here. But don’t die. That would really piss me off.”

“It will be taken care of.”

“Where have you been? I’ve missed you so much,” I whispered to Nito just as he liked, and he thrummed with joy.

Unable to fully communicate, he broadcasted his love in tufts of air. I felt it. Same as always, only stronger now that I was suffused with Oro.

My love for him and Veras blasted through me and into the swirling tornadoes. Because of the gift of the Oro, I understood. Nito was a Guardian, maybe their version of a child. Not strong enough to blaze into a towering tornado, but just as smart and amazing as all the rest.

When the Guardians sensed my love for Nito, they sent it back to me a million-fold. I understood why they were devoted to every inch of this planet. The Oro was alive. Inside all of us. Connected to everything.

Unfortunately, the Aavvee had corrupted the gifts given by Nozaroc. The Guardians knew that once the invading aliens lay dead in the dirt, the Oro inside of them would be returned to the planet. There it would be healed again, reabsorbed into the fabric of this world.

“Nito, you’ve always been there for me. Tell them I want a chance. Let me try to get rid of the Aavvee. Give me time to save the good ones. To save all the people like me, brought here against their will. I just need time. Veras and I will do it together.”

The Guardians had only been unleashed for seconds, but the arena and hundreds of Aavvee were demolished. It was only a small percentage of them worldwide, but it was something. Veras and I could figure out how to take out the rest of the Aavvee without losing any innocents.

The Guardians gathered strength, the countdown clock about to expire. I had seconds to convince them.

“I know it’s not much, but you’ve already taken back this section of the Aavvee’s control. Give me a chance, and we’ll clear the whole planet. Please .” I cupped my hands to my lips and whispered to Nito, “Tell them, Nito. Help me convince them.”

Nito danced along my shoulders, a sparkling ray of light who shot upward into the largest Guardian. I could sense Nito’s growth as he zipped from one Guardian to another, sharing my plan—my love, with them.

The Guardians zoomed around me as the Oro inside me began to wane. The largest tornado blasted out a warning, a promise to revisit this problem in a short amount of time. I felt his fury and acceptance… of me. He was going to let me try.

One by one, they launched into the skies. I saw them eddy and race through the pink clouds, a burst of glittering sunshine.

“Goodbye, Nito,” I whispered, tears clouding my eyes.

I’d lost him again. But as fast as my tears fell, a dazzling whirlwind of love zipped through my hair.

Nito was still with me. He had grown in power, surrounding me in a small tornado.

I squealed, amazed at his growth. The initial rush of Oro had faded from me, but I understood it was our connection that allowed him to strengthen.

And even though I’d almost messed up everything, he’d chosen to stay with me.

I planned to learn more about this planet and its inhabitants.

About the Guardians. And Nito would be there to help me. He would be my own personal Guardian.

Veras came out of the mountain with Inkonexo’s staff in his hand. “It is done, my love. He will never hurt my people again.” He swept me up into his arms, kissing and licking my face. I didn’t even care.

“We have one more thing to do,” I whispered to Nito, and he swept us up in a clumsy tuft of air, zooming us toward the portal.

The entrance to the planet’s center looked as magical as I expected.

Massive, big enough to fit a battalion through, it spanned the length of a whole mountain.

It swirled and glittered, reflecting the heat of the sun.

The Oro was so powerful here, it physically drew me.

After Nito set us down, I took a few steps forward before I realized I’d moved.

Veras stood tall, so strong and beautiful. “This is the entrance to my world.”

“Do you want to go? To see if anyone’s left?” I couldn’t imagine being this close to Earth and not returning. To take a few steps and be home.

“They are gone.” He held me close. “If I were to go, I could never return. It is a one-way portal.”

I nodded. “I understand. But if you walked through, I wouldn’t stop you.

I’d probably cry a lot, but I’d let you go.

” I ran my hands over his shoulders, tracing his new markings.

“Even as mates, we still have choices. You could go down there, and I could join you in two hundred years or so. After I clean this place up.”

His warm arms surrounded me. “I will never leave you!”

There’s my drama queen.

“The core of Nozaroc is perfection. But it is not going anywhere. We will retire there together when we have accomplished everything we need to. You made a promise to the Guardians, and I will assist you. I pledge my life to you.” He grasped my hand and placed it on his chest. His golden mist surrounded us.

“I am devoted, my almax. Will you have me?”

“I will.” Our words sounded suspiciously like wedding vows. I kissed him, pledging a lifetime of love in front of the magical portal.

“Will you miss it—your planet?” He speared me with his whirling gaze, and I understood the deeper meaning of the question.

I could never return to Earth. I had ingested too much of the Oro. After a long time, I said, “This is my home now. You and Nito are my world, my every thought. We’ll save Nozaroc together. Let’s go home. I have some planning to do.” I winked.

“Of course, little General. I wouldn’t have it any other way.” We headed back to our outpost. “First step, quell the Guardians. Next step…” He paused for a minute. “How did you say it?”

“World domination. We come up with a plan and take over this bitch. Together.” I laughed, allowing the kernel of hope to grow into certainty. The Aavvee had no idea who they’d messed with.

This is only the beginning.

The End