39. Hyx

Golden rays peek in through the window of our room, and I hear Libby groan in protest. A smile forms on my lips, and I wrap one of my wings around her. She snuggles in close to me and sighs.

It's been thirty years since we crashed here on Jwoon III, and in that time we've found a routine in our new home. Constructing everything ourselves had been difficult, but ultimately very much worth it.

I press a soft kiss to her brow, and Libby sighs. "I'd say I wish we could stay here all day, but I know we're about to be invaded in about thirty seconds."

"That's a rather optimistic assumption," I murmur. "Considering the sun has been up for a whole minute now."

And sure enough, I hear the sound of feet fast approaching our room. Were we anywhere else, my old instincts would kick in and I'd be on full alert. Luckily though, I know the intruders.

Our door swings open, and two figures come barreling in and jump onto our bed.

"Mommy! Daddy! It's time to wake up!" our youngest, Vin, shouts as she bounces on the end of the bed. It's amazing how a three-year-old has such an incredible lung capacity.

They both giggle and crowd around us. Libby pretends to still be asleep.

"Come on Mommy, I know you're awake," Delson, the older of the two, and leader of this invasion, says, poking at Libby.

She pretends to let out a loud snore, making the kids laugh.

Another figure appears in the doorway. "What did I tell you little rascals about waking up Mom and Dad at dawn?"

Sarai has her hands on her hips but the small smile on her eyes makes her look less stern. I smile at our oldest child. Our little baby who's not so little anymore "I believe they were just following your example from when you were their age."

She sputters. "That was always Kai"s idea! He was the one always getting into trouble. I just followed him to make sure he didn't get hurt."

"So it wasn't you who would always hide frogs in your dad's toolbox?" Libby asks slyly, dropping the sleeping act.

Sarai's wings hike up in mild embarrassment and she waves one of her hands. "No one could ever prove it. Anyway, I've started breakfast so Vin, Del, let's go eat!"

The distraction works and the two little ones go running off with their sister. I chuckle and climb out of bed. "We'd better get up and make sure the little ones don't run over everyone."

Libby stretches and then gets up, too. "Nah, Sarai would grab them first."

We get dressed and then head outside where we have tables set up. It is a beautiful morning in our little paradise. Jwoon III is far enough out of the way that we've never been bothered by pirates or shuttles or even explorers.

The children are all setting up for breakfast when we go down there. We've had ten children so far, though two have gone off world to see what the rest of the galaxy has to offer. It had been particularly hard on Libby at first. Over time she has accepted the fact that our babies will grow up. And when they do, they might decide that they don't want to just stay here forever.

It is also nice that we are all but immortal now and can have more children at our leisure. I know it certainly makes things easier on Libby. And now that Vin is three, I highly suspect she'll be wanting another one soon. I certainly am not opposed. I adore our children and seeing them running around.

We take a seat at the table, and Sarai begins instructing some of the others to help pass out food.

Sarai has become such a confident young woman in her 28 years and has taken her role as eldest very seriously. After all, being the oldest, she helped build a lot of what we have now. And she takes pride in that and does a good job helping to run things. I couldn't be prouder.

She doesn't seem inclined to leave our little paradise either, but rather remains content to make it better. A fact I know her mother appreciates greatly.

Once we are all seated and begin eating and chatting with one another, I take a moment to really enjoy it all. The fact that Libby and I are both alive and have been given a chance to build a life together. To have children and sit around and eat without the fear of being hunted down.

There are still dangers out there, but we've been granted sanctuary here. We, of all people, know the value of that.

Osian, our fourth eldest and resigned middle child, perks up suddenly. He pulls out a communication device he designed himself and smiles.

"It's Kai and Raylia!" he exclaims. "They're trying to call us!"

Everyone immediately rushes over to him, though no one is as fast as Libby.

Kai is our second oldest and Raylia our third. Both of them left Jwoon III a few years ago, but they call every now and then. It isn't the same as having them there in person, but they seem happy to be out in the universe on their own.

Though I know Libby worries about them almost constantly. I suppose I can't blame her after everything we've been through.

Kai and Raylia appear on the screen and wave.

"Hey, everybody!" Kai shouts. "Raylia and I were meeting up here to catch up, and we thought we'd give you a call."

Everyone shouts their hellos. Sarai looks intensely at her brother. "Are you staying out of trouble?"

Next to him, Raylia lets out a short bark of laughter. Kai elbows her. "Come on, sis. You know trouble finds me, not the other way around."

"Sure," Sarai says, dragging out the word. She smiles. "It's good to see you little brother."

"Likewise, big sis."

"What about me?" Raylia asks, crossing her arms, though there's a grin on her face.

Sarai snorts. "Oh, please. I trust you to take care of yourself. How's the research going?"

Raylia beams. "Fantastic. We're closer than ever to unlocking the secrets of an extinct race that I believe left behind some advanced technology we could use."

She has gotten her mother's brain and is using it to unlock the secrets of the universe. Speaking of her mother, Libby steps closer to the device.

"Are you both sleeping well? No one's given you a hard time about your appearance, have they? Are you eating well? Raylia, I know how research can go and how you can get sucked into it and forget to eat."

Kai laughs. "Mom, we're both adults now, remember? We're fine, I promise."

"Yeah and if anyone tries to mess with us, we'll just use the moves Dad taught us," Raylia says with a smirk.

That had been one of our greatest fears in letting our children go off into the galaxy. That people would hunt them down for being Ishani. So far, they had only been met with wide-eyed fascination, but I'd taught them to be wary. And how to kill a person in a couple of blows if it came down to it.

"Well, tell us everything," I prod. "What have you all been up to?"

Kai shrugs. "Oh, just much of the same. Exploring, seeing the sights, living it up."

Raylia elbows him. "Aren't you going to tell them about her?"

That catches my attention.

"Shhh!" Kai says, looking mildly betrayed. "That was supposed to be a secret until I could introduce her in person."

"Kai," Libby says in her best mother voice. "Who is this ‘her' you've failed to mention?"

He rubs the back of his neck. "Well, I was going to wait to tell you until I brought her with me on my next visit home, but I guess I can tell you now. I found my fated mate."

There are various gasps and squeals from all around. Everyone starts talking at once.

"What's she like?"

"What's her name?"

"When are you coming so we can meet her?"

Kai holds up his hands. "Don't worry, you'll get a full introduction when I come home in a week with her."

"Kai, that's wonderful!" Libby exclaims. "I'm excited to meet this girl of yours."

"I'm happy for you son," I add. "Treat her right and never let her slip from your grasp."

I smile at my own mate, and she smiles softly at me, too. Then that mischievous glint enters her eyes, and she turns back to Kai. "Yeah, don't do something stupid like running off without telling her."

"If I hadn't done that, we wouldn't be here," I point out.

Libby clicks her tongue. "You act like I wouldn't have gotten on a ship with you to go on some crazy adventure. You know me better than that."

It's true. It seems we were always destined to come here and finally find our paradise. And I couldn't be happier about it.