Page 68 of Fated to the Dragon Alien

“My blood didn’t matter,” Stavian said. He kept his tone even, though his heart pounded. “The Axis were all I knew. I didn’t know I had anyone else. I thought doing my jobkept people safe,” Stavian said. “I was told the prisoners were dangerous, violent. But the more I dug into the records, it became clear that they weren’t. And then I met Cerani, and I…”

“You fell in love,” Ellion murmured.

“I knew I was lost the first time I looked into her eyes,” Stavian said, well aware of how much he sounded like a lovesick fool. He didn’t care. Unless he’d hallucinated everything until now, these males could relate to every word he said. “She is everything. When she opened her mouth, all she did was tell the truth—about me, the Axis, the mine. I’d stood in that place every cycle thinking I was keeping the mine running with mercy. She burned that lie to the ground with a single look.”

Cyprian let out a low whistle. “Hmm. Sounds like love.”

Stavian’s shoulders squared. “It is.”

“You sure?” Razion asked, one brow raised. “Not a sympathy rebound from betraying your creators? Or the kind you pull back when your pretty prisoner looks at you long enough?”

Stavian stepped forward, eyes flaring. “Fekyou. Never speak about her like that again.” He bared his teeth as heat clawed up his throat. “I know what my mate is to me and I’d sacrifice everything to protect her. I won’t explain myself to you.” Brothers or not, he’d leave now. He was done with their questioning of his motives. He wouldn’t defend his feelings for his mate to anyone. They just were.

“Ah!” Razion smiled, wide and satisfied. “There he is.”

Takkian grunted, but smiled. His stance relaxed. “Sorry for pushing you, brother. We had to know for sure you weren’t sent here to infiltrate and spy. The Axis are not pleased with us. I’d put nothing past them.”

“We did the same thing to Razion,” Cyprian said. “But hefekkedup. Completely deserved it.”

“I did not deserve it,” Razion muttered with a frown.

Stavian’s blood was still hot. “I wouldn’t have escaped if it weren’t for her. I wouldn’t have seen what needed to be done, wouldn’t have rescued the mine workers, wouldn’t be standing here with you.”

Bruil let out a quiet sound—like approval hidden behind a growl.

Ellion’s face didn’t change, but he gave a short nod, and that said more than anything else. “We believe you. Not only because of how you said it, but because we’ve all risked the same thing. Every one of us has a mate who cost us our place in the system—and returned our soul in trade.”

“I’m not asking for approval,” Stavian said, shaking his head. “I’ve already chosen her. I won’t stand here and be measured like I’m holding out for your blessing.”

“Good,” Cyprian said. “We’d respect you less if you were.”

Stavian let out a breath. If this was what having brothers was like, it was going to be exhausting. “Cerani and I came looking for you. The stories—the uprisings—are circulating through the Axis despite Central’s efforts to keep them quiet. We planned to find you.”

“You wanted to join our cause,” Ellion said.

“Yes.” Stavian looked at each of them. “But I have a complication, as you know. When you scanned the ship, you found forty-eight ex-miners onboard. We took them with us because leaving them there was a death sentence. Most of them are still recovering. They fought their way out, just like I did. Most are not trained soldiers, but some are. They deserve safety, freedom, and fresh starts.”

“They’re safe for now,” Bruil said. “We will protect them.”

Stavian nodded. “Good. But they can’t stay in the hold forever and they don’t belong here any more than they did at the mines. I’m thinking of giving them the ESS Mirka.”

“The ship you arrived on?” Razion tapped his fingers together. “It’s a good ship. Old, but solid. You sure?”

Stavian looked at him. “It’s not mine. I’d like to stock it with supplies and point them to a few friendly outposts. Let them build something of their own. The small crew I gathered to fly the thing is good. The pilot used to captain a small fleet. He can lead. It’s the least I can do for them, after forcing them to work in the mines.”

“We can help you with that,” Ellion said, nodding. “We’re well-stocked and can share whatever they need. We can fill it with supplies, strip off all Axis markings, and give them access codes to the outer rings. Friendly routes only. No red-zones.”

Stavian felt tension melt from his shoulders. “Thank you. As for Cerani and me—”

“This is your home, Stavian.” Ellion stepped forward and placed a hand on his shoulder. “It’s not just you anymore. You have us. Cerani has us. And we will stand by your side. No matter what. We are family.”

“Like it, or not,” Cyprian quipped with a grin.

Stavian was at a loss for words for a moment. He didn’t know what a family was. The Axis had tried to fashion themselves as a family, but they were anything but. He looked at the four irritating, difficult, opinionated males before him and felt his chest swell. They were all the things he thought about them, but they were his. He knew in his gut that what Ellion said was true. They’d stand by him. Cerani was reunited with her chosen family. Now he was, too.

He clasped Ellion’s shoulder in return. “I’m with you. You have my word.”

Everything instantly became more relaxed. Postures eased. Voices became easy and light. Joking commenced and someone went to the replicator for food and drinks. Stavian couldn’t help but feel that this was the most surreal thing that had happenedto him. As they sat back on sofas and chairs, just talking, he knew it would take a little while to get used to this.

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