Scaled Heart: A SciFi Alien Romance (Project: F5 Book 2) by Jade Waltz (ereader android .TXT) 📕

stared in awe at my princes. They were willing to sacrifice their comfort, knowing full well how painful the decay would be since they had experienced every crew member’s horrid process and death during the war.

Squeezing Kaica closer, I glanced at my nestbrother over her head and nodded when he met my gaze.

We could be in their position someday.

If something happened to our nestqueen on a mission, how soon would we decide to use the cryopods? Our positions as Master Healers required us to provide our population with the medical help they needed. Inside the cryopods, all of the Destima’s Circuli would be without two of their four Master Healers, putting all the pressure on our mentors, Oeta, and the team stationed on the moon.

However, our unique nestqueen was worth all the challenges and hardships we could face, despite her faults.

We each had quirks we needed to work out, as expected in a newly formed clan from different backgrounds, especially since Kaica wasn’t Circuli.

I hoped we would one day share the same love that Selena and her clan fostered. I suspected working alongside my clan would only strengthen our bonds over time.

“Have faith that the Stars will guide her back where she belongs.” Oeta pushed off the door frame and walked to stand behind the princes, her wings shuffling as her fuchsia eyes focused on Kaica. “How soon do you think we can use the pods?”

“I should be able to get everyone clearance, but I will need approval from Bryeca and the Sovereign first. If they give me the okay, then it shouldn’t take long to relocate our patients temporarily—a few days max. The hardest part will be moving our patients’ unconscious bodies. There is only one spare bedroom in the mountain base, so the team will still need to live in the villa.”

“Is it settled, then?” Chyox asked, surveying the room. “Does everyone agree this is our most reasonable option?”

A series of nods and affirmatives filled the room.

Suddenly, a sense of excitement coursed through my vines.

We had a plan to save our patients.

The only thing missing was Sovereign Zirene’s approval, which was practically guaranteed. There was no way he would allow his clanmates to suffer as they oversaw Selena’s moon. He could ask Kaica to relocate some of what he considered restricted items, but other than that, I couldn’t see why he would stand in our way.

“If we may,” Yuwal announced, his voice filling the lobby’s walls as he stood up with his nestbrother-mate alongside him. “I believe Suvax and I have an announcement to make. After a long discussion with Healer Oeta and my new colleagues, it has come to our attention that we have leveled some unfair accusations against Kaica and her credentials as a healer—”

“And we would like to formally apologize.”

“We hope that you will accept our apology,” Yuwal continued. “And will allow us to continue to work here with the research team.”

“It has been our dream to work alongside our son and we hope you will grant us the opportunity to do so.”

Silence filled the room as everyone stared at my nestqueen leaning against my side.

Would she forgive our mentors for their offenses?

“If this situation has taught me anything,” Kaica announced, “it is that our team has hit its limit, trying to do what’s best with the information and resources available. Tensions and emotions are high because Odelm and Xylo are dear to each of us, making their pain so much harder to handle. While I was upset that you both acted like you owned the place when you first arrived, I can understand how you felt working alongside someone who is a fraction of your son’s age.

“I accept your apology and won’t lecture you any further about what happened. It shouldn’t be my decision whether you both work here. I hope that one day, you can work alongside Xylo.

“At the same time, I am sorry for my harsh words. I will work harder to stop lashing out and taking offense at cultural differences. Just like you both, I am used to working alone and being the only one responsible for my patients.”

“If you are willing to move past it, we are too.”

“Good,” Oeta said. “About time everyone got along here. I can’t wait to go back to how things used to be, without all the excitement happening lately.”

Fourteen

KAICA

“I don’t know about you, but I am ready for bed,” I announced, crossing my arms as I inspected my bed, which now seemed too small for our needs. “We need to figure out our sleeping arrangements since I highly doubt the three of us will be able to fit on the bed comfortably.” Glancing over my shoulder, I eyed my nestmates. “What do you suggest?”

“You could try sleeping on top of one of us.” Usthu’s vines constricted around his torso as his sapphire pupil-less eyes flicked to Chyox. “Or we can place a blanket over the both of us, and you can sleep along the center, with our appendages holding you in place.”

“Got any other ridiculous ideas?” Chyox muttered, scanning his nestbrother’s body. “How about Usthu and I remove your bed frame and place the mattress on the floor? We can go get a second mattress from the room next door and line them up next to each other to create a makeshift nestbed until we can provide you a better one."

“That will be fine temporarily, but I believe we will be moving out of this room soon.” I shrugged, frowning as I tried to imagine what the open space would look like with two mattresses side by side on the floor. “Two mattresses still don’t leave much room for the three of us together. I’m glad we spend most of our time in the infirmary, or I fear we’d catch cabin fever here. I will need to speak Z first thing in the morning about our plans and request temporary access to our mountain base for the team.”

“Why didn’t