Free Viper's Hope (Anguis Defenders Book 1) by Stephanie West Page B

whispered to Hope.
    Well of course the praying mantis species is female dominated. On Earth the female insect bites off the heads of the males while mating. Good for them. At the moment Hope could sympathize and nodded at the mantis' compliment.
    "So it's Anguis Minor then." Viper stated to the group. "My Imperators will work out the arrangements with you. Thank you but as you know there is a lot I need to discuss with Hope." Viper stood and helped her up.
     
    Viper
    Hope was angry. She had every right to be. But it still surprised him when she vehemently demanded to know what was going on.
    At every turn he expected her to have a melt down like most refugees did, but Hope was bold and outspoken rather than quiet. And although she was more delicate physically than Anguis females, that certainly didn't equate to meek.
    Viper held a protective hand at her shoulder as they exited the council room and Hope stiffened up. How was he going to explain what happened between them when he hadn't even gotten round to the whole 'your people are dying' issue?
    "I want to see the others." Hope demanded.
    "Yes."
    Viper started to head towards the hibernation dorms, but Hope stopped again at the dome that showed her planet. Her hand rose and pressed against the window.
    "I never thought I'd see Earth this way." She said with more than a little melancholy in her voice. "Tell me about this virus."
    "The Morbo are an evolved virus. They travel to a planet and use the predominant species like you or I to replicate. They decimate the species, then decimate the planet and ride the resulting meteors to a new planet where they do it all over again."
    "How do they replicate?" Hope quietly inquired.
    "They stab their victim and inject a bit of themselves. The original Morbo dies but the host incubates anywhere from two to five more creatures before the host dies a few days later."
    "Is there any cure or way to fight them?"
    "We are studying a few on my home planet. But it seems that only extreme heat or UV kills the creature. They spread so fast and in such vast numbers the devastation is astronomical."
    Hope turned back to the view of her blue planet. The way her palm moved over the clear glass it seemed as if she were caressing her home.
    Viper watched as water began falling from Hope's eyes. She smelled of rain. It was so strange and shocking. How was such a thing possible?
    Viper reached up and wiped away a drop as it cascaded down her pink cheek. The single drop sunk into his skin and Viper was instantly overwhelmed by Hope's intense emotions. It was pure unadulterated sadness. Hope's sorrow ripped at Viper's gut, tearing at his hearts.
    His beautiful subeo was in anguish over the loss of her world, so much so it overflowed in her eyes. His mate had been strong and defiant with everything that had happened to her up to this point. But the sight and knowledge that her home world was lost to her, had leveled her.
    Viper wanted desperately to assuage her pain, but there was nothing he could do now, but pick up the pieces and help the humans move on. He had failed his mate, in so many ways. All he could do was give her this moment.
    They stood quietly as Hope said goodbye to her home world. Finally she turned away from the sight.
    "Come I will show you the others." Viper rubbed her back. This time she didn't pull away.
    They continued heading to the hibernation dorms. As Viper stepped off the lift, he stopped Hope.
    "Do not be frightened. They are all asleep. It is not a perfect situation, but we find it's easier to transport so many people and give them the language implant this way."
    "Is that what you did to me?" She growled.
    Viper noticed her cheeks redden as he scented her anger.
    "I wanted you to understand me, but I do not like how you were treated, by any of us." Viper bristled.
    "We can discuss it after I see my people." Hope replied pulling away and walking several steps ahead of him.
    Viper understood her emotions. If any of the things