Free Educating the Alien: Raedyn (The Azurite Series Book 1) by Sara Hotchkiss Page A

misunderstanding.
    “Has she left the ship yet?”
    “No. Not yet, but soon.”
    “Delay any outgoing transports. Do whatever you can. I need ten minutes to get down there.”
    ---
    Lexi paced the ship’s transport bay. All transports had been temporarily suspended and she couldn’t get off the ship fast enough. Raedyn’s betrayal bruised her heart. How could she have been so stupid? She was in love with him and she felt used for sex. He had used her to resolve his issues with intimacy and was now willing to accept the fate of his culture.
    She fought the tears that threatened to fall. She wouldn’t cry here where everyone could see her. She would wait and mourn in private. Grieve for the life she thought she was going to have. Pressing the heels of her hands to her eyes, she didn’t see him enter the bay, but she felt him. Why was he here now?
    He looked so handsome, his face fierce with anger as he approached her.
    Raedyn placed his hands on her shoulders, her presence instantly calming the rage inside him.
    “What are you doing?” he asked quietly. His quiet disturbed Lexi more than his anger.
    “I’m going home. The U.N. still needs interpreters. Look, Raedyn, I can’t stay here and watch you and Lae together.”
    Raedyn’s head snapped back in shock as if he’d been slapped. Judging by the bruise forming on his jaw, Lexi assumed it wouldn’t be his first bout with violence today.
    “What are you talking about?”
    Lexi dug in her oversized bag and pulled out a tablet, forcing it into his hands. The screen displayed the daily news and gossip with a picture of himself next to one of Lae and an extended article about his completed deposits and ultimate partnering with her.
    “Where did you get this?”
    “Does it really matter?” she asked.
    “Yes, it matters. It isn’t true.”
    “Which part?”
    Raedyn grabbed Lexi’s hand and dragged her out of the bay in long strides.
    “Where are we going?” asked Lexi.
    “To the CR.”
    Lexi pulled him to a stop. “I don’t want to go there. I just want to go home.”
    In one movement, Raedyn swept Lexi off the ground and over his shoulder. He continued to the CR, walking in the door and demanding the records of his deposits for the last two months. He placed Lexi on the ground and she tapped her foot impatiently. When the documents were finally in his hand he pointed to the sheets.
    “Look. Deposit number 4996 made four weeks ago. I haven’t been in since.”
    Lexi looked at the papers and sure enough, he was right. She met his eyes with tears in hers and he pulled her into his arms.
    “Oh, Lexi.” Raedyn rubbed her back as she sobbed into her shirt.
    “Lae came by,” Lexi choked. “She had the tablet with her. She said you chose her over me. I didn’t know what to do. I resigned my jobs. Oh my god. I resigned my jobs.” Lexi began to panic.
    “Don’t worry. We’ll go down to the office now. Gods Lexi. I love you.” Raedyn lowered his head and kissed Lexi. He pulled away. “I thought I’d lost you. Lae will be reported.”
    “Raedyn. I love you too.” The couple embraced again, ignoring the looks and raised ridges of other Azurites in the CR.
    “Let me make it up to you,” Raedyn whispered in Lexi’s hair.
    “Just love me Raedyn.”
    He closed his eyes, breathing in her flowery scent. “I do.”

Epilogue
     
    Five months later…
     
    “Finally, Ms. Moore. Why do you think you would be a good candidate for the Azurite colony?” Lexi asked the woman before her. Mallory Moore was five feet four inches of spunk. She had dimples in her cheeks and her hair was a mass of short brown curls. Aside from being adorable, she was smart and caring. Lexi thought she was a shoo in.
    Mallory thought for a few moments before answering.
    “I’ll be real honest Dr. Phillips. I am the youngest of six children and I just want to get away. It’s like having five extra parents and I want to be my own person. I’ve always been up for adventures, I