Xyrek growled.
Another Space Guardian stalked in quietly, his eyes glued to Sloane.
"That's Vraax," Sloane said without turning, as if she had sensed his presence.
From the corners of my eyes, I noticed Vader and Maul making their way in unnoticed. For a moment, guilt rushed through me; this didn't look like a trap at all. I soothed my feelings by telling myself that I would introduce the others to the drones later. They might still come in handy.
"Come on in," Sloane waved down the hall. "We've got some snacks in the breakroom."
Hannah sidled up next to me, "When you see Luph, don't scream," she whispered, instantly flaring my alarm bells back up.
"Why, and who is Luph?"
"She's mated to Noodar, and she’s the only one of us girls who isn't human. She's an alien, alien." She did that thing with her eyes that people do when they want to tell you something without using actual words.
"Is she a Xenomorph?" I asked.
"No," Hannah snickered. “She's really nice, but she does look kind of scary."
Elephant Mancame to my mind when I saw Luph for the first time, and I was grateful that Hannah had warned me. She was a frightening sight, from her three legs to her elephant-like skin, but the moment she smiled at me, all that fell away.
"Oh, another mate!" She exclaimed, rushing for me.
"She's a princess and has no clue that she might look scary to us," Hannah whispered right before Luph enveloped me in a tight hug, eliciting another short growl from Xyrek.
"I'm Luph. We'll be best of friends in no time." Her orange eyes gleamed with happiness.
"Alice," I replied, hugging her back, because… because there was such an aura of warmth and love emanating from Luph, it was impossible not to.
"Okay, Noodar, Raasla and Zoe, Nova and—" Sloane was in the middle of introducing us when Xyrek moved forward.
"Zaarek!" My mate pulled the surprised-looking Space Guardian into a big hug and slapped him on the back. "Brother, I missed you."
"You didn't tell us you knew each other," Vraax stated, perplexed.
"We don't." Zaarek's brow creased.
"You don't remember me?" Xyrek didn't show the hurt I was sure he must be feeling. He’d told me about his brother Zaarek and how anxious he was to see him again.
"Should I?"
"I don't know," Xyrek replied, reluctantly letting go of the other man. "I don't understand most of it yet, but I remember everything from Darlam."
His statement caused pandemonium. Everybody seemed to be talking at once.
"Enough!" All eyes turned to Sloane, and the room went instantly quiet. I had no idea how she did this, but I was envious. "Let me finish the introductions, then we can talk."
She glared from one to the next before she continued pointing at people in the room. That's when I noticed a human male. His presence was unexpected, and it startled me.
"That's Tucker, Nova's brother." She pointed from him to another woman and then to Zaarek. “Zaarek, obviously, and Nova. Zoe and Raasla. Did I get everyone?"
The sound of a throat clearing made me turn my head toward another, more alien-looking alien—one I recognized. "Nock!"
Nock grinned from ear to ear, "Seems like my fame precedes me."
"Ah, frygg," Zaarek groaned. "Not again."
"Your holocasts on mating bonds were really helpful," I said.
