Page 25 of Warrior's Purpose

“Looks about right. It’s tiny just like you, so eat it up.” He grinned at her.

“You’re huge, you need the calories. Meanwhile, I’ve got a nice layer stored up. I could live out here for weeks.” Abby squeezed her thigh.

“I have heard you human females complain about this,” he scoffed. “A Cadi warrior likes a curvy female. Our females have them, but yours are exceptional.”

“That’s a nice way of putting it.” She glanced back at him, her eyes making an exaggerated roll.

His brow rose in censure at Abby’s self-deprecating response. How was it possible she didn’t know how gorgeous and exotic she was?

“It is very attractive and supremely feminine,” he husked near her ear. “Add your small size, and it’s enough to incite a warrior’s need to protect.” And do other things that such luscious curves would allow for, but he didn’t mention that.

“Oh.”

Abby’s cheeks flushed a lovely pink color before she turned her face away. He could see over her shoulder that the color extended down her chest. It drew his attention to her stiff nipples, barely hidden by the sheer garment that cupped her breasts.

“What’s this colorful packet?” He changed the subject before he dwelt too long on mounting her.

“Oh my god.” She grabbed the wrapped tube and shoved it back into her little bag. “That’s something just for ladies and I’m not explaining it,” Abby snorted, turning redder than she already was.

“Fine,” he chuckled at her embarrassed response. “What’s this little carrier, or is it also private?” he teased as he held up a squat leather cube with a silver clasp.

“No, smart alec. That’s my wallet. The cards inside access money and identify me. There may even be some cash in there.”

“Ah yes. Credits are good to have.”

He pulled a slip of paper out of the wallet and studied it. The water had smeared some of the colors, but it was clearly an image of Abby, Providence and their sisters. There were two little young standing in front of the females, and a triangular tree with lights in the background. He grinned seeing the happy smiles they all wore, each holding a toy.

“I forgot about that.” Abby took the picture and smiled wistfully. Pain filled Ashtoret’s chest as he watched tears well up in her eyes and spill onto her long lashes. She quickly dashed away her tears and her smile returned. “You recognize Pro. Well that’s my sister Hope, the brat, April, the nerd, and Beth with her two boys. Jake and Jonathan decided since we were girls we needed princess dolls for Christmas. They were so excited to find ones that matched us. See how mine has frizzy red hair,” she snorted while tugging at one of her curly locks.

“The little males look very proud.”

“Yeah. They’re good little guys. How Hope ended up blonde, I’ll never know. Pro thinks I was adopted, but clearly that was Hope.” Abby caressed the image with her thumb. “Tell me, Ash, is Pro doing all right?”

“She is. I think her only concern is for her family. Would you like to hear the whole story?”

He might not succeed at anything else on this mission, but this was one thing he could accomplish, and they had more than enough time for him to relay everything that would hopefully mend Abby’s heart.

“Yes, please.”

“Just after our Daimio, Kagan quo Rordan, defeated Vigdis, unifying our world, the Jurou Biljana merchants returned. We learned those reptiles were the ones who sold Vigdis a weapon that killed a whole city.”

“Holy shit!”

“Yes, it was...” He shook his head at the terrible memory. “They are also slavers, and the reason we are here to protect your planet. They returned to Cadi to sell us Toufik slaves and other goods, but we were on to their ways. They were just waiting for the right time to pluck us like they will Earth.”

“Thank you for trying to come help us.” Abby placed her hand on his and squeezed.

“You are welcome.” He smiled back.

“Sorry to interrupt again, but who are the Toofeek?”

“They are a hairy race who speak with their hands. They used to be slaves on Cadi. In the final battle, another human, Gisselle, Kagan’s mate, convinced the Toufik to fight. Up to that point we assumed they were a gentle species. We were so very wrong. They can be vicious, but never fought because being enslaved on Cadi was better than returning to their dying world.”

Abby sat listening with her mouth agape.

“On one of the Jurou Biljana ships, Dagaa found more than just Toufik.”

“He found Pro.”

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