Page 40 of Zayrik (The Protectorate Warriors Alien Fated Mates #6)

Epilog

Zayrik

THE VELEAN WAS QUIET .

No alarms.

No emergency comms.

No one hunting us.

Just peace.

I leaned against the bulkhead, arms crossed, watching Nyla stretch out on the bunk, one arm draped over her face like she still couldn’t believe she was allowed to rest.

Like she was learning what safety felt like.

Zep was curled beside her, his tiny body rising and falling in deep, contented sleep.

Her loyal protector, finally letting his guard down.

Finally believing we were all safe.

Nav had been uncharacteristically quiet, having diverted himself into a nearby console interface—likely the only system onboard that tolerated his presence.

Still, I caught the occasional flicker of his holo signature in the corner of the room.

Watching. Loyal.

Giving us space... but never far.

I smirked.

Because this?

This was everything I never knew I needed.

Everything she was still learning to accept.

Still pretending it wasn’t everything. Like she hadn’t already chosen it.

Chosen me.

But she hadn’t run.

She was still here.

Still mine.

And that?

That meant everything.

More than duty. Or missions, or anything I’d been before her.

She sat up slowly, elbows braced on her knees, eyes tracking to me.

Studying me.

I arched a brow. “What?”

Letting her feel my amusement, my certainty.

My absolute faith in us.

She exhaled. “I still don’t know what comes next.”

But there was no fear in it anymore.

Just curiosity.

Just possibility.

I stood and walked over. Sat beside her, arms resting on my thighs.

Close enough to feel her warmth.

“Does it matter?”

She huffed. “It might.”

I grinned. “You’ve got food. A bed that doesn’t shock you. And a pretty great mate.”

She narrowed her eyes. “You’re assuming I want a mate.”

I leaned in, let my voice drop low, rough, teasing.

“Too late for that, thief. You already stole something, remember?”

A pause. I grinned.

“You got me.”

Stole my heart.

My soul.

My everything .

Her breath caught.

I saw it.

Felt it.

The moment she finally accepted this was real.

That she deserved this.

That we deserved this.

She smiled.

Slow. Real.

Finally at peace.

Nav sighed from Nyla’s wrist—loud, long, and profoundly suffering.

“You two are insufferable.”

Zep huffed from the foot of the bed, clearly in agreement.

Our tiny family, complete in its own weird, stubborn way.

I leaned back against the wall, dragging a hand through my hair.

Feeling everything settle.

Everything align.

“Yeah, well... get used to it.”

Earlier, Captain Zaul had pulled me aside. Said they had all the crew they needed, but if Nyla wanted to stay, she was welcome.

Even hinted that she could help me with supply runs when we docked at stations.

And when she’d asked—half-joking, half-hopeful—if Engineering ever needed an extra set of hands, Zaul had just smiled and said, “We’ll find something.”

Nyla hadn’t answered right away.

But later, she’d slid her hand into mine.

Told me she was happy just being on the ship.

And that was enough.

This is home now.