Page 68 of Monstrous Baby
“Global warming leads to higher sea levels, which could mean more KORE.” Holly’s eyes sparkled with excitement despite her weariness. “There’s so much to discover. Not just about them but dyni and all the species across the universe. You’ve opened my eyes up to incredible new ideas and possibilities. I can’t go back to my old life, Nat. I just can’t.”
Mrions drifted up from the floor in invisible eddies and streams. Some floated about her head. They dusted her bare skin. But that was all. They hadn’t entered her system.
I hated the word, but she wasn’t contaminated. Yet.
I’m the Mother. I command them. They await their orders.
Her eyes narrowed, locking to mine. “What are you thinking?”
“Remember how you asked me before if I sensed any mrion fragments in you?”
“Yeah,” she said slowly, schooling her reaction. But not before I saw the surge of hope in her eyes and the tremble of her lips. “You said I didn’t have any.”
“You still don’t,” I said quickly, before she assumed I’d infected her without her consent.
Her shoulders fell and she swallowed hard. Her eyes watered and she gave me a sheepish shrug. “Dang. There goes my hope for a hot super-soldier dinosaur squad of my own.”
“But you could. I mean, I could?—”
“Yes,” she blurted. She even rushed over to crouch down in front of me, taking my free hand in hers. “Please, Nat. I can’t go back now. I want to be a part of your world, whatever that means.”
“Are you sure? Really sure? Because once they’re inside you, I don’t know what will happen. I don’t know how you’ll change. Actually…” I drew a shaky breath. “That’s not true. I know exactly how you’d change, because they want me to tell them what to do.”
“I want it. Whatever you can do. I want to be able to communicate with my mind and make super-fast mental connections like Lohr. I want to research and learn all the things about KORE and other alien wildlife, and yeah, I’d love to find a compatible mate like Kroktl, who worships the ground you walk on. A whole squad of my own. A family. I’ve never had that kind of love.”
Her voice cracked, her beautiful blue eyes glittering with unshed tears. We’d never talked much about our childhood or families back home, but I heard the pain in her voice. Old shadowed hurts still ached.
I’d been jealous of her beauty in the beginning, and honestly, even afraid the guys might be more attracted to her than me. Despite her perfect long brunette hair and gorgeous curves, she felt unlovable.
That feeling sucked. I knew it all too well.
It’d taken finding a hot naked guy in the jungle who loved me exactly the way I am to help me realize exactly how lovable—and priceless—I am.
One in a billion billion.
I wanted that same love for her.
Lightly squeezing her hand, I gave the command.:Help my friend achieve everything she’s always desired.:
Mrions immediately sank through her skin and flowed through her nostrils into her respiratory system. Fresh pathways began to spark in her mind.
“Get some sleep,” I told her.
Confused, her head tipped to the side. “Maybe tomorrow, then?”
I smiled. “It’s already started.”
“Oh.” Her mouth sagged open a moment. Then she gave me a brilliant smile and threw her arms around me in a fierce hug. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet. You haven’t had to jump out of a helicopter or been swallowed by a T-rex yet.”
Laughing, she jumped up and practically skipped toward the door like Akylla. “I can’t fucking wait.”
30
NATALIE
Islept a few hours but I was awake again by noon. Ideas buzzed through my brain, generating nervous energy that insisted I should be up doing something.
