Page 52 of Legacy for the Alien Warrior

The door to the house opened, and Thraxar emerged, followed by Elrin. Their expressions were solemn but not grim. Thraxar’s eyes found hers immediately, and something in his gaze made her heart quicken.

Whatever they had discussed, it would change things. She could feel it.

She called the children to her side, suddenly needing their solid presence. Rory came immediately, Talia a step behind him.

As Thraxar and Elrin approached, she drew a deep breath, steeling herself for whatever came next. Whatever it was, they would face it together—all four of them.

The thought steadied her. No longer alone. No longer solely responsible for their survival.

For the first time in years, she had a partner. Someone to share the burden. Someone who saw her—truly saw her—and valued what he saw.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Thraxar sat across from Elrin, the familiar scent of the Treveloran’s spiced tea filling the room. Outside the window, Kara watched over the children as they explored the garden.

“You seem happier than I’ve ever seen you, my friend,” Elrin observed, his orange and gold crest ruffling slightly as he tilted his head.

He shifted uncomfortably in his seat, and the chair creaked beneath his weight. “I do not know what you mean.”

Elrin’s beak-like nose twitched—a sign of amusement Thraxar recognized from their long acquaintance. “No? The Thraxar I’ve known these past years would never have brought a female and two children to my home. The Thraxar I knew kept everyone at arm’s length.”

“Circumstances required my intervention,” he muttered, his tail twitching.

“Of course.” Elrin took a sip of his tea, his eyes never leaving Thraxar’s face. “And now that you’ve intervened?”

His gaze drifted back to the window. Kara knelt beside Rory, examining something in his palm. The sunlight caught in her hair, turning it to fire. His chest tightened at the sight.

“I do not know,” he finally admitted. “I had not planned beyond getting them somewhere safe.”

“And yet you haven’t left them at a Patrol station.”

His tail lashed again, betraying his agitation. “The situation became more complex.”

“With the addition of the second child,” Elrin nodded. “Tell me about her.”

Grateful for the change in subject, he described how they’d found Talia. “The trader claimed to have received her in payment for a debt.”

Elrin’s expression darkened. “There are those who traffic in exotic beings. The rarer, the more valuable. And the Lumiri are very rare. I have only seen images, but they are from a system far from established trade routes. Isolationists, from what little is known.”

“Then how did she end up in a cage on a border world?”

“That is the question, isn’t it?” Elrin tapped his long fingers against the table. “I have contacts who might know more. I’ll need time to research.”

“How much time?”

“A few weeks, perhaps. These matters require discretion.”

He nodded. “Thank you, my friend.”

Elrin’s nose twitched again. “What will you do while I investigate?”

“I had not thought that far ahead.”

“Perhaps you should.” Elrin gestured toward the window. “Look at them, Thraxar.”

Outside, the children had created some sort of game. Rory arranged stones in a pattern while Talia placed flowers between them. Their faces were intent, focused on their shared creation. Kara sat nearby, watching them with a soft smile.

“They look happy,” he said quietly.

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