Page 57 of Legacy for the Alien Warrior

“And you found work?” she asked, turning to face him.

“With Jerra Varn at the shipyard. She is… grudgingly impressed with my skills.” His mouth quirked. “For the most part the hours will be regular, and I will be home each night.”

Home.The word hung between them, full of promise.

“What do you think?” he asked when she remained silent for too long.

Before she could answer, Rory burst into the room, fingers flapping with excitement. He grabbed her hand and tugged, clearly wanting to show her something.

“I think Rory has an opinion,” she said, smiling.

Rory led them back outside and into the garden. He pointed enthusiastically at a section where flowering plants grew in wild profusion, attracting small flying creatures that resembled butterflies. Then he pointed at Thraxar, then at himself, making digging motions.

“I think he wants to garden with you,” she said slowly, her throat tight with emotion.

Talia approached more cautiously, her eyes darting between them. “Is this… are we staying here?” she asked, hope and wariness warring in her voice.

She looked at Thraxar, then at the children, then at the house bathed in afternoon light. A decision that should have requiredcareful consideration felt instead like the most natural thing in the world.

“Yes,” she said. “If Thraxar wants us to, we’re staying.”

His tail curled around her waist, drawing her closer. “I want,” he said simply.

The rest of the day passed in a blur of activity. They returned to the ship to gather their meager belongings, then stopped at the settlement’s market for supplies. He purchased bedding, cleaning materials, and food with a generosity that made her wonder about his financial situation. When she questioned him, he merely shrugged.

“I have had little reason to spend credits for many years,” he said. “Accumulation without purpose is meaningless.”

By evening, they had cleaned the main living areas and made up the beds. The kitchen proved more functional than it first appeared, and they worked together to prepare a simple meal. He moved around her with easy familiarity, his body heat a comfort in the cooling evening air.

The children ate ravenously, then explored their new surroundings with increasing excitement. Rory found a collection of smooth stones in the garden and arranged them in intricate patterns on the floor. Talia discovered a storage compartment filled with old data crystals and spent an hour examining them with fascination.

When night fell, she herded the tired children to bed. Talia asked for a story, and to her surprise, Thraxar volunteered. His deep voice recounted an old Cire legend about stars forming patterns to guide lost travelers home. By the time he finished, both children were asleep, Rory’s hand clutching Talia’s as if to make sure she wouldn’t disappear.

She found him in the garden afterwards, sitting on a stone bench beneath an unfamiliar constellation. Without hesitation, she settled onto his lap, his solid warmth enveloping her.

“They’re happy,” she said softly. “I haven’t seen Rory this relaxed in… I can’t remember when.”

His arms tightened around her. “And you?”

She rested her head against his chest, listening to the steady thump of his heart. “I’m happy too. Happier than I thought possible.”

“Good.” The rumble of his voice vibrated against her cheek.

“Are you? Happy?”

He was silent for a long moment, his gaze on the stars. “I never expected to find this,” he said finally. “After my family died, I believed that part of my life was over. That I would always be alone.”

“And now?”

“Now I wonder if perhaps the universe is more merciful than I believed.” He stroked her hair with infinite gentleness. “You and the children… you have awakened something I thought was dead.”

She turned in his lap to face him, cupping his face between her palms. “Thank you,” she whispered. “For saving us. For bringing us here. For everything.”

She kissed him then, slow and deep, pouring all her gratitude and affection into the contact. His response was immediate, his body responding to hers with now-familiar heat.

“The children?” he murmured against her lips.

“Exhausted. They won’t wake until morning.”

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