Free Alien Love by Lily Marie

which was probably a good thing. But if she was still in the infirmary, Kiele was seriously downplaying how bad it really got. She’d interrogate him later, when they were alone.
    Once she got enough of staring at her immobilized arm, she looked up at Kiele, and to the T’An standing behind him. He was an older version of Kiele, with grey streaking his dark hair at the temples, deeper lines in his face, and an aura of power. Kiele was going to age just as beautifully.
    “Hello, Anji.” He nodded his head to her. “I am Mika. It is a pleasure to finally meet my son’s chosen mate. I must apologize for this, but my first request as your father by joining is to give your statement to the Council.”
    “Father—”
    “Of course.” She raised her eyebrows when Kiele frowned at her. “I’m not letting her get out from under this, not after what we went through to stop her. Orlen—is he—”
    “Better. The stubborn fool is on the bridge.”
    She smiled, relieved to know he made it. “Pern?”
    “He tired of waiting for us and swam down in time to see all of us being carried to the city’s clinic. He is still down there, helping to reorganize the local government. Sonia had proclaimed herself the head of the city, acting as a near dictator and cowing the citizens into doing as she demanded. Pern’s father is the governor of a large city on our home planet, and can offer suggestions for rebuilding their leadership.”
    She recognized the smile he fought to hide. “What aren’t you telling me?”
    He leaned in and whispered against her ear. “Christina stayed with him.”
    “Oh.” Anji remembered the tall blonde’s constant appraisals of Pern. It didn’t surprise her. “And Pern—”
    “Will be returning to the ship when his job below is done. There is room if he decides to bring a companion.”
    Voices echoed in the hall outside the infirmary.
    “I will see her, you grumpy bastard. Get the stick out of your ass before you—”
    “She does not need to be assaulted by your loud presence—”
    “Why don’t you let her decide that?”
    Kiele straightened. “Orlen, Melissa—please come in. Anji is already awake.”
    Melissa stomped in, her anger fading when she caught sight of Anji. “Thank God!” She rushed over to the bed and gave Anji a careful hug. “I’ve been worried sick, and Grumpy didn’t make it easier, keeping any news of you to himself.”
    “Grumpy?” Mika raised one eyebrow, so much like Kiele she blinked.
    Orlen sputtered, and Kiele came to his rescue. “Humans enjoy giving each other what they call nicknames, Father.”
    “Lord Suun.” Orlen bowed. “It is an honor to have you aboard Watersong .”
    “I understand I have you to thank for my son’s life.”
    Orlen stared at his hands. Anji swore he blushed. “I merely acted on my knowledge, my lord, and my duty to my commander.”
    “As humble as always. It is good to see you have some fire under all that humble. I will have the Council scribe take Anji’s statement here, with witnesses, myself included. It will be enough for the records.” He stepped forward, waited for Melissa to back away, and took Anji’s hand. “I look forward to learning more about my new daughter. It seems, from what I have been told by the crew, that you are a worthy mate for my son.”
    He kissed her cheek and left them, silence in his wake. Melissa broke it, sitting in the chair at the head of Anji’s bed.
    “I want to hear every detail. Nathan is relieved and envious. He wanted to be the one to take the lab down. At least there’s one human representing us.”
    Anji couldn’t help herself; she smiled at Melissa’s sparkling presence. If she had her eye on Orlen, he didn’t stand a chance.
    “It may take some time. Things are still a little jumbled.”
    “So that’s a yes?”
    Anji looked past her at Kiele. He sighed, and she smiled. “It’s a yes.”
     
    ***
     
    Anji ran along the ship’s corridor, thrilled that she could. It had