Page 38 of His Brazen Bride

She smiles up at me, her eyes drifting closed as Ferg administers anesthetic.

Chom pats both Gwen’s and my arms comfortingly with his tentacles. “We’ll do our best, Commander.”

11

GWEN

Someone is snoring loudly next to me.

When my eyes flutter open, I see the unmistakable shape of a sexy copper alien, snoozing in the dimly lit medical bay.

My husband.

He’s beautiful, even if he snores. I reach over to touch him and my shoulder twinges painfully.

Suddenly, it all comes rushing back.

The Ocrevv. Vex. The laser I jumped in front of.

I’m alive, right? I must be, since I’m lying next to Ryz.

With my good arm, I reach my hand up to touch my shoulder. It’s covered with some gauze-like bandage.

“You’re awake,” comes a rough, croaky voice beside me. “You’re awake!” He sits up and hovers over me, his eyes glistening with tears. He strokes my cheek with his thumb.

I lean into his touch as he kisses my lips softly, like he’s afraid I’ll break.

“How do you feel?” he asks.

“Tired. Sore. Confused. Trying to make sense of everything that happened.”

He sighs. “Jekril, the Ocrevv from your cell room, tried to kill me. You threw yourself in front of me and took the shot.” He glances away for a moment, as I notice his eyes filling with fresh tears. When did he become so emotional?

“That’s strange,” I say. “I could’ve sworn Jekril was a good guy.”

“He did look horrified that he’d shot you.”

“Maybe it was a mistake,” I say thoughtfully.

“In any case, Zadren shot him dead right afterward.”

Oh, wow. I’m sorry, Jekril. “And Vex?”

He scoffs. “Coward took off in all the commotion.” He holds my gaze. “How did he convince you to go with him?”

I inhale deeply. “He told me he could help me find Iris and Lacey. That we’d all been purchased, but there were others that wanted us more, and the Belran had been in the process of delivering us to these new buyers.”

“What would he get out of it?” Ryz asks.

I look away. “He said he wanted to beat you at something.”

Ryz scoffs again.

“I’m so sorry. I thought it was my only option. I was mad at you…and desperate.”

He squeezes my hand. “You never have to worry about me not keeping my word again.”

I smile, my heart soaring. “He also said you had secrets…”

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