The Stubborn Lord (23 page)
Authors: Michelle M. Pillow
Tags: #Romance, #Fantasy, #Paranormal, #Werewolves & Shifters, #Demons & Devils, #Science Fiction
“I’ve been thinking about that.” She stroked his face. “I want to finish my Exploratory Science Commission certificate. I think I can be of some use to the mining operation. With a couple extra classes I should be able to switch part of my studies from Station Engineer to Mining Engineer. I can even do my final experiments on
galaxa-promethium
.” Just talking about it excited her. She pushed up on the bed. “Usually the samples are so expensive, and from what I gather there are just layers and layers of it beneath Qurilixen’s surface. Do you think you can take me to see the mines?”
“Yes, you can tour the mines, get whatever certificate you like and play with as many rocks as pleases you.” Alek pulled her back down onto the bed. “You know, wife, another man might get jealous to see his woman get that excited about rocks.”
“Well then, husband. What are you offering that’s more exciting than the isotopic properties of
galaxa-promethium
? I have to warn you. I really do like my minerals.”
With that, he pushed up from the bed. She frowned as he left her and disappeared into a small doorway in the corner of the room. “Alek? Where are you going? I was joking. I don’t like minerals more than you. Alek?”
He reemerged carrying a small box. He crawled onto the bed and knelt beside her and handed her the container. Kendall held the fur coverlet to her chest as she sat up. Slowly, she opened the container. Tiny blue and white gems cut into the shape of stars glistened in the dim light. She lifted the delicate necklace.
“Since you do not live amongst the stars anymore, I thought it only right that I bring the stars to you so you may carry them with you always.”
“Where did you get this?” she asked. No one had ever given her such an expensive gift. “These are starstones. They’re even rarer than
galaxa-promethium
.”
At that, he chuckled. “Only you would compare jewels to ore. When you were talking to Vanni, I traded for them. You were willing to give up a life up there for one down here. I wanted you to have a piece of the heavens to keep with you.”
Kendall gently put the necklace back in its container and set it on the floor next to the bed. This time when she settled into his arms it was to kiss him, and she didn’t intend to ever let him go.
“I love you, stubborn, perfect man,” she whispered against his mouth.
“And I you, my lady, forever.”
Epilogue
“Oh, but we found…” Kendall stopped herself. She looked guiltily at her new brothers and then at Alek. He sat next to her on Mirek’s couch, his arm tucked around her waist. It was a little uncomfortable on her lower back, but she liked being held by him so didn’t say anything. The second she thought it, Alek shifted his arm up and settled it on her shoulders.
“What?” Bron and Mirek demanded at the same time.
“I win the treasure hunt.” Alek grinned.
“You mean?” Bron asked in surprise. “Great-grandfather’s liquor stash?
“What do you mean
we
found?” Alek said to Kendall. “You stared at me like I had lost my mind.”
“You were the one rubbing yourself against the wall.” Kendall laughed.
“Where was it?” Bron insisted. “Which wall?”
“The legend was right too. There is a very fine bottle of Qurilixian rum and several Var vintages.” Alek pulled Kendall closer to his side.
“Where is it?” Bron demanded louder.
“So you can help yourselves?” Alek chuckled. “No. I won. It’s my treasure. Future generations will be trying to find old Draig Alek’s stash someday.”
“Yes, future generations.” Bron smiled. It was a small gesture at first but then it grew wider and uncontained.
“Bron, are…?” Alek began. “Are you saying…?
“Thank you, Mirek. She looks comfortable.” Aeron appeared from inside the newest addition to Mirek’s home. The stasis room was much bigger than the box Riona had been sleeping in. At the others’ attention, she stopped. “Why are you all staring at me like that?”
“She is,” Alek said. “I should have seen it earlier.”
“Seen what?” Mirek asked, clueless.
“Aeron’s pregnant,” Alek announced. “Can’t you see the glow?”
“We’re not all ceffyl breeders, Alek. It’s not like we can see some magical force telling us when a woman is pregnant,” Mirek said.
“Did you just call me a ceffyl?” Aeron gasped.
“What?” Mirek shot up from his seat. His guilt over the helpless situation with his wife often caused him to treat Aeron a little more delicately. “I didn’t mean… You’re not a ceffyl. You’re very beautiful.”
“Easy,” Bron stated. “She’s teasing you.”
Mirek relaxed back into his seat but still watched Aeron for any signs of displeasure.
“I am teasing,” Aeron assured him, “and I am very much pregnant.”
The room exploded with congratulations. But just as suddenly the mood fell as Aeron turned to where her sister lay frozen in time. “I only wish Riona was awake to share this moment with me.”
“Her skin is looking better,” Kendall offered. “That has to be a good sign. The doctors did say that she would probably wake up on her own.”
“She does look better,” Aeron agreed. She softly touched her stomach. They sat in silence for a long moment. Then Aeron turned her attention back to them. “What is this about a treasure?”
“Our great grandfather hid some of the best liquors known to Draig somewhere in this castle and Alek claims to have found it,” Bron said.
“I did find it,” Alek asserted, not bothering to tell his brothers the treasure wasn’t in the castle home but rather at the cabin.
“He did,” Kendall affirmed. She ran her hand over his thigh, letting the tips of her fingers lightly dance along the muscle.
“I think he should prove it.” Bron reached his hand to his wife, urging her next to him on the couch.
“I’ll prove it when Riona is awake and all of us brothers and our wives can be together. Until then, it will remain untouched.” Alek kissed Kendall’s head, leaving his face turned into her hair. She felt the heat of his breath against her scalp.
“Unpregnant wives,” Aeron corrected. “I can’t drink until after the baby is born.”
“Unpregnant wives,” Alek amended.
“Hopefully that won’t be any time soon.” Without caring who watched, Bron leaned over, kissed her stomach and murmured to his unborn child in the gruff Qurilixian language before adding in the star language, “I want many children and plan to keep your mother pregnant for a long time.”
Aeron arched a brow at her husband’s plan but said nothing. Kendall watched Mirek and Alek, but they didn’t seem to think Bron’s behavior odd.
Aeron stroked her husband’s head. “He already talks to my stomach more than me.”
“That’s not true,” Bron said to her waist. “I’m talking to both of you.”
“Come,” Alek whispered, his face nuzzling around to her ear and neck. “I should like to see you pregnant.”
Kendall gave a short laugh. Seeing Aeron’s eyes on her, she shrugged. “They’re nothing if not subtle.”
Alek persisted, easily convincing Kendall to follow him home. She was beginning to learn her way through the halls, but tonight couldn’t concentrate long enough to navigate. Instead, she followed her husband’s quick steps as he practically raced to get her alone.
In the back of her mind she thought of her sister. The Draig warrior Alek had sent after Margot was an expert in space navigation and politics. There had been no real news yet, but already the man had reported several leads.
Mirek’s expedition into space had been most telling. There were signatures of another spacecraft in their area, both in the sky and in the mountains, but no ship to connect it to. Whoever had kidnapped Bron had left their airspace. The brothers were convinced the Tyoe planned something. Precautions were being taken to ensure the family’s protection.
“Try not to worry,” Alek said. “The gods brought you to me for a reason. We have to be fated. You were in stasis for five years. I had to go to five ceremonies before finding you. See, proof that I was waiting for you to come to me.”
Kendall still wasn’t sure she believed in his gods, but she found comfort in his certainty. Maybe there was something to it. How else could she explain being brought to Qurilixen out of all the planets in the known universes, finding not only a wonderful home but a husband she loved more than herself? For now, all that could be done was being done. Perhaps the gods would find a way to bring Margot to her. If that happened, then she would believe.
As he pulled her into their home, Alek swept her into his arms. All thoughts and worry died in his kiss, leaving only the warmth of their love.
The E…
Wait a minute, what about Margot?!
I’m sure a lot of you are wondering about Margot (and possibly poised to send me emails demanding answers—send away, I love hearing from you, but don’t expect me to give away the details). Right now, you know as much as Kendall does. Don’t despair. Her story is coming. Watch for her in a future
Space Lords
series book where all your Margot Haven questions will be answered.
I know several of you are new to the Dragon Lords, and some have been following them since that first book published in 2004. To each of you, thank you. I often get asked about the future of the series installments. Currently, there are several series installments (each with several books released/planned): Dragon Lords, Lords of the Var, Space Lords, Zhang Dynasty, Galaxy Playmates (short stories). Beyond these I have even more spin off series planned. Be sure to visit my website often where you can find a complete up-to-date reading order list for all of the futuristic series.
As always, I love hearing from readers. You can email me through my website and let me know which books you want more of…just don’t expect me to tell you what happens next.
Michelle M. Pillow
www.michellepillow.com
The End
The Series Continues Fall/Winter 2013 with
Dragon Lords VII: The Reluctant Lord
.
Check out the
Space Lords
series to find out about Margot.
Check out the Dragon Lords’ Universe of Series
Lords of the Var 1: The Savage King
- Lords of the Var Books 1-5 featuring King Attor’s sons. Come see how the other side lives.
Space Lords 1: Frost Maiden
– Watch this series to discover what happens with Margot.
With more spin-off series coming! Be sure to watch
www.MichellePillow.com
for details.
About the Author,
Michelle M. Pillow
Michelle M. Pillow
,
Author of All Things Romance™
, is a multi-published, award winning author writing in many romance fiction genres including futuristic, paranormal, historical, contemporary, fantasy and dark paranormal. Ever since she can remember, she has had a strange fascination with anything supernatural—ghosts, magical powers, and oh… vampires. What could be more alluring than being immortal, all-powerful, and eternally beautiful? After discovering historical romance novels, it was only natural that the supernatural and love/romance elements should someday meet in her wonderland of a brain. She’s glad they did for their children have been pouring onto the computer screen ever since.
She has been on the Amazon bestseller list multiple times, nominated for the Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement Award 2011, the winner of the 2006 RT Reviewers’ Choice Award, nominated for the 2007 RT Award, a Brava Novella Contest Finalist and a PAN member of RWA.
Michelle is a journalist for Paranormal Underground Magazine. She has a BGS in History/Business with an English Minor, and a Photography degree. In 2009 she and fellow author Mandy M. Roth started their own highly successful self-publishing endeavor named The Raven Books.
Michelle has titles published with The Raven Books, Pocket Books, Random House, Virgin Books, Adam’s Media, Samhain Publishing, Running Press, and more.
She loves to hear from readers. They can contact her through her website
www.michellepillow.com
Join her email newsletter at
www.michellepillow.com/newsletter/?p=subscribe
For a complete, up-to-date booklist, visit
www.MichellePillow.com
Futuristic Romances by
Michelle M. Pillow
Click on following links to be taken to the
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!
Dragon Lords Series
The Reluctant Lord – Coming Soon
The Impatient Lord – Coming Soon
The Dragon Lords series continues with Lords of the Var.
Lords of the Var Series
About the Lords of the Var series:
The Var Princes were raised by a hard man who put no stock in love—especially love with one woman. Bred to never take a life mate, these men will do everything in their power to live up to the dead King Attor’s expectations and never fall in love.
Be sure to check out the other books in this futuristic world:
Space Lords
series, and the
Zhang Dynasty
series,
Galaxy Playmates
series —with many more books to come!
To learn more and to stay up to date on the latest book list visit
www.MichellePillow.com
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