Page 14 (1/2)

“He’s six sun cycles Ren is five, and Teena is three”

“Do we have an agreement, Alyx?” Damon opened the door between her chamber and the children’s

Her son nodded Teena snuffled in her shoulder, already half asleep, but Laake hadn’t succeeded in consoling the baby, who only grewin her arms

“I’ain as Da shared a giant hover disk

“Eslyn” Da around, holding her breath “Don’t apologize The young will get to know us soon enough And we’ll learn how to better help you with them”

Her heart stuttered Help her? Was he serious? And he’d

It was too good to be true

“Who are you?” Ren asked the ainst Eslyn’s side

Laake handed her the fussing baby and she put hi Teena to sleep on her lap

“They’re Maely “They’re responsible for protecting her”

“That’s right,” Da her eye over the children’s heads “We’re here to keep you and your mama safe”

Her eyes s the boy the truth—that she was their prisoner, sentenced to their reconditioning

For now, for thiswith Alyx, that they were her warriors, keeping her safe from the males she wanted out of her life forever

Chapter 3

“Excuseroom two planet rotations later and cleared his throat He’d left