Free Irresistible: A SciFi Alien Mail Order Bride Romance (TerraMates Book 9) by Lisa Lace Page B

finding the ladle. It has something to do with the Stone Goddess of Heralla.”
    “And you want to get it?” His tone sounded condescending.
    “I don’t want to. I’m going to. Morley entrusted me with information that could find the artifact and save descendants of the Great Race all across the galaxy. Nothing’s going to stand in my way.”
    “Do you think an old ladle is going to save people?” He looked at me like I was nuts. “Let me guess. It makes a magic soup.”
    I tried to explain patiently, remembering that everyone didn’t have the same knowledge I did.
    “Sort of. There is supposed to be an abnormally high concentration of Higgs-Boson particles in the ladle's metal. Legends say it can cure almost any ailment.”
    “Really.” He looked skeptical.
    “Yes. That’s why Morley was interested in it. He wanted the ladle for his brother who had an incurable disease. Medical science has made fantastic advances, but there are still neurological diseases that our doctors can’t cure. Even if Zelia's ladle can’t fix everything, it should provide medical researchers with fresh ideas.”
    “If what you’re saying is true, it would be amazing.”
    “I know. Morley knew this brother would eventually become a vegetable if he didn’t find it. His brother was the most important person in the world to him, even after they had a falling out.”
    “That must have been difficult.”
    “I don’t know much about it, to tell you the truth. Morley rarely spoke about his brother. I knew he was hurt, but even after whatever happened, Morley still wanted to find the ladle.”
    “So who were the guys chasing after him? Am I right in assuming they’re the same men who were trying to take you?”
    I nodded. “Those were Abel’s men. He’s another person looking for Zelia’s ladle. He’ll do almost anything to get it.”
    “Who’s Abel?” Ven looked confused again.
    “Abel wants to keep the silver Zelia's ladle and keep it for himself. He’s the one who sent the men to me. There’s one more thing.” I hesitated, bitterness filling my heart as I remembered.
    “He killed Morley.”

Chapter Eleven
    E MMY
    The sound of voices outside the space shuttle made my stomach flip. I held my breath until they moved away.
    Ven shook his head. I wondered if he was troubled by my story, or if he didn’t believe anything I was saying.
    “He killed Morley?”
    “At the minimum, he indirectly caused Morley’s death.” I was beginning to feeling defensive. “It was as good as killing him. He was the one who gave the order to use explosives and empty the tunnel. It destabilized the area, resulting in a cave-in around the section Morley was searching.”
    I closed my eyes, feeling silent tears beginning to drip down my cheeks. It still hurt. I missed him. My heart ached for the man who had been more of a father to me than my genetic parent, who had abandoned me.
    I shouldn’t have been surprised, but I jumped when I felt Ven put his arms around me and pull me close to him. I let out a shuddering sigh.
    Why did everything seem less horrible when he had his arms around me? It didn’t make sense.
    I wrapped my arms around him, his comforting presence giving me permission to unleash all the feelings I had held back ever since Morley died. I sobbed until my heartache went away.
    When I recovered, I was soaking an alien I hardly knew with my tears. “I’m sorry.”
    “Don’t be.” He held on and wasn’t letting go.
    “I’m not in the habit of crying on the shoulders of strangers, Ven.”
    I broke off what I was saying when he put his hand under my chin and forced my face up. What I saw on his face made me freeze with my whole body at attention.
    “You don’t have to be sorry.” He was searching my eyes for something. I don’t know what he found, but a heartbeat later, he leaned down, and I experienced my first real kiss.
    A quick peck in the bathroom at a childhood birthday party didn’t count. Kissing Christopher