Nebula Book 1: His Breeder

“Hurry up and come up here!” Ni’ev yelled from the top of the stairs where he glared down disapprovingly.

“Just one second!” Nebula replied. She was kneeling at the bottom of the pyramid. Her hands were dirty as usual, and her knees scraped by the little pebbles below.

The others didn’t understand her obsession with rocks. They saw dirt while she saw life.

“I got it!”

She raised the oddly purple rock that was native to Ezron. She had never seen anything like it on Earth.

Ni’ev stood straight when he noticed something behind her. He jogged down the steps, his broadsword ready to decapitate anyone that was a threat.

Nebula clutched her rock to her chest and turned around.

Xixulo, one of Wo’ton’s grandsons, was approaching. He held no weapon, and his loincloth was secured tightly around his hips.

“Hey, Xixulo.”

“Greetings, female.”

Ni’ev appeared behind her, giving her space to talk but staying close enough to snatch her out of harm’s way. She doubted Xixulo would hurt her since he was one of the few trusted men in The Ruins, but one couldn’t be too sure.

“Sorry about last week. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable,” she said, rubbing her precious rock against her dress to wipe it.

“It is alright. I am here regarding that. I would like to know if your offer still stands.”

“My offer?” she frowned with confusion. “Oh, my dating offer?”

“I do not recognize this word.”

“It means getting to know someone else better. Is that what you want?”

He dipped his chin. “Yes. It has been spread that you are available.”

“Oh,” she blinked. “Oh, okay. Sure, we can hang out sometime.”

His eyes flickered down to the rock in her fist.

“Sorry I’m a mess,” she laughed. “And thank you for stopping by.”

“It is a pleasure. Would you like to go into the jungle to hunt, then?”

Hunting? That wasn’t exactly what she had in mind for a date.

“She cannot go into the jungle for leisure. No female can. It is too dangerous. If you wish to see her, you must come to the pyramid,” Ni’ev interjected.

She sent him a silent thank you.

“I will be here tomorrow, then. I will bring you food.”

“Okay,” she smiled, a little nerve-wracked. “See you tomorrow.”

He nodded and left, leaving her a little breathless. Xixulo wasn’t unpleasing to look at. He was built deliciously like most of the men here, and he was brave to be the first to step forward and ask her out.

She looked to the left and saw a particularly delicious body walking away. His back was scaled, and his fists clenched.

Had Ak been spying on her again?

“He told Xixulo and the others that they may pursue you,” Ni’ev suddenly announced.

“It was the right thing to do,” Nebula shrugged. “He had to correct his mistake.”

“What mistake?”

“Well, he told everyone to keep their eyes off me.”

Ni’ev looked uncomforable.

She palmed her hips. “Don’t tell me you’re keeping secrets like Draekon.”

“It is… well, Vrox entrusted me with something.”

“And what was that?”

“I cannot say.”

She threw herself at him, wrapping her arms tightly around him and resting her cheek against his scaled pectoral.

“I will tell you! I will tell you!” Ni’ev all but shrieked.

She stepped away, grinning. These aliens would probably toss themselves off a cliff to avoid a hug.

“Vrox secretly countered Ak’s command. He was the one that spread that you are not to be pursued.”

“What?” she exhaled. “It wasn’t Ak?”

“No.”

She rubbed her face. “I’m going to kill Vrox. Actually, I’m going to let Kira and Terra kill him first, and then I’ll kill him a second time.”

“That is not how death works.”

She glared at Ni’ev. “Want to be my test subject?”

He took a step back, and she groaned before jogging in Ak’s direction. She heard Ni’ev chasing after her, having no option as her guard.

“Akdronis!”

He froze in the distance and slowly turned around. It took her a while to catch up to him, and she was a panting mess by the time she stopped in front of him.

She swallowed, hard.

“I came to…”

Her panting filled the silence.

“To apologize. I shouldn’t have hit you, and I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions.”

His adam’s apple bobbed, and his chin dipped with a single nod.

Not knowing where to go from there, she thrust her hand out. “Here.”

His eyes flickered to her open palm.

“I’m sorry that I can’t give you anything more than this.”

He covered her smaller palm, giving her his heat, and taking her rock.

“I am sorry that it took me this long to say goodbye,” he responded.

She took a step back, and he took that as his cue to go. Turning around, he walked away. He felt no rage, just an emptiness that time would heal.

I have grown. I have become a better male. I am not honor-less. I am reborn.

Nebula stood there until he disappeared behind into the wilderness. She only snapped out of it when Ni’ev spoke up.

“It is getting windy, female. We must go indoors before it rains.”

It had gotten a little chillier; she realized. Ak’s warmth was long gone.

“Yeah, let’s move on.”

– • –

She was nervous. Her hair was released from its braids, surrounding her head in a neat afro. She tucked a flower behind her ear, wanting to look more feminine. She was wearing her finest furs this time, too.

Xixulo was supposed to arrive soon. She was in the common room, where she spread a blanket on the ground for their picnic. They were surrounded by rock walls instead of trees, but it made no difference to Nebula.

Kira sat beside her with a gentle smile on her face. She was trying to be encouraging, and Nebula appreciated her for it.

“Looks like Terra is a bit green.”

“She is?” Kira frowned, observing the baby’s face.

“Yeah, green with jealousy. She probably doesn’t want to share me. Isn’t that right, princess? Don’t want to share auntie with anyone?” she cooed.

She straightened when she heard approaching footsteps.

“Well, tell me how it goes,” Kira winked.

“Go kick Vrox’s ass while you’re gone. I’m still pissed at him,” Nebula replied.

Kira laughed. “You got it. Terra, the fetus, and I will give him hell. Enjoy your date! You look wonderful.” She blew her a kiss and carried Terra next room.

Draekon was outside, guarding both rooms.

“Hi,” she smiled at an approaching Xixulo. In his hands was a bloody, furry beast. It looked like Xixulo missed the memo that Terrans didn’t eat uncooked food.

Oh, well. It’s the thought that counts.

He took a second to observe her. “Hello.”

“Why don’t you sit down? You can put the… meal on that table over there.”

He followed her instructions and then sat down beside her on the picnic blanket.

“So, why don’t you tell me about your childhood?”

“I am the oldest son.”

Just like Akdronis.

She shook her head.

What the fuck, Nebula? No. You are so not doing this.

“After The Vanishing, my life revolved around protecting my grandfather. He is a wise man with a good heart, but he is not as strong as he used to be. My brothers and I hunted, and he educated us. It was a simple life, but it all changed when we came across you and the High Mother.”

As he spoke, his form was stiff, and his face hardened. He was like a soldier. Nebula didn’t mind, but she hoped that he would loosen up over time.

“That’s very honorable of you,” she replied, knowing how much honor mattered to Ezronians. “My life wasn’t very exciting either until I got teleported to this place. On Earth, I studied rocks, the atmosphere, and physical features of the planet. Most people don’t care about this.”

“Is this why you always have a rock in-hand?”

She laughed. “Pretty much.”