Page 93 of Aria's Ascension

“I see your hesitation. I chose these rooms for their location, both central yet apart. But, also because they designate you the leader. A great number of the minds we touched revealed that such accoutrements hold meaning and will encourage them to view you with respect and deference. I believe this will aid in ensuring they adhere to the rules you set.”

“Damn,” Aria breathed, impressed. “You’re sharp as a knife.” An idea had her narrowing her eyes consideringly. “Would you be willing to help Kix and Rellik pick out some people who’d make good proxies? I need more people I can trust to help me run this place.”

She got the feeling she’d surprised them.

“To ask such implies you trust us to make this decision.”

“It does, yes.” Frowning, she asked, “Can you not feel that?”

“I did not ask to look.”

That told her their ability and Kix’s did have some differences, even if they were very similar. Her firefly would’ve been able to tell immediately if she felt trust, or anything else for that matter. The Gaelli had to intentionally look for something to be aware of it.

“So, yes? No?”

“Yes. We would be very pleased to aid you in finding those worthy of trust.”

“Good,” she smiled. “Thank you… uh, any thoughts on a name?”

“Ah… we— I was considering… ”

Instead of a name with sounds, they sent her a flash of soft purple with the feeling of happiness.

“Lilac?” she tried to interpret.

They paused and tilted their head, before that tiny smile lit up their face.“I enjoy that. Yes. I am to be Lilac.”

Grinning widely, Aria nodded. “I do, too. It’s very nice to meet you, Lilac.”

* * *

After Lilac left,Aria wandered into the office to stare out the windows while her mates did something sneaky, zooming from the bedroom to the bathroom and back again.

She was having a hell of a time resisting the urge to dip out and take off in one of the runners to continue the search for Skaa and the others herself, but she knew Tirox and Kix would be furious, rightly so. She just couldn’t bring herself to do that to them.

Gazing at the seemingly endless stretch of desert beyond the city, she felt her stomach clench. Skaa and the others could be anywhere out there. Raising a hand, she laid it on the surface, still warm from the light of the two suns.

“You better be okay, Skaa. And you damn well better fight your way back here,” she whispered, swallowing past the lump in her throat.

A scuff behind her alerted her to Tirox’s approach. When he wrapped his big arms around her, she relaxed back against him, sighing deeply.

Dipping low to rub his cheek over her hair, he murmured lowly, “She is nearly as fierce as you, my heart. She will find her way back. Of this, I am sure.”

Aria stiffened slightly, her pulse picking up speed. “Your stones?”

“Mmm, they whisper to me. There is danger, yes, but the possibility of happiness, as well, and healing of the spirit. She will return. Have trust. Now, come. We have prepared something for you,” he coaxed.

Instead of waiting for her to comply, he scooped her up into his arms and strode out of the office. Aria just chuckled softly and settled in for the ride as he headed for the bathroom, the tightness in her chest easing after his words.

* * *

After a luxurious and stimulating bath,where Tirox and Kix took turns driving her absolutely insane by touching, licking, and kissing her until she was ready to climb one of them like a fucking tree, they finally carried her—delirious and spewing threats—into the bedroom.

One after the other, they took her, fucking her until the only worries left were whether or not she’d be able to walk the next day. When Tirox pulled out of her with a groan and collapsed onto the bed beside her, Aria sighed blissfully as he and Kix enfolded her between their bodies.

Just before she fell into an exhausted sleep, she thought she caught a flash of white eyes watching her hungrily from the darkness outside the bedroom, but they were gone when she drowsily blinked her eyes back open. She was asleep before she could decide whether they were a figment of her wishful imagination.

Epilogue

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