Lovers of the Galaxy: Book Three: Raiders of the Lost Heart Read Online Free PDF

from Venus and quickly withdrew the blood from the Bone
Eater’s vein. “The mark on my arm is to indicate I lost my female.
It’s the way those of my family show our devotion. I carry her with
me for all times.”
    Venus sighed, pointing toward the microscope set up
on a sturdy stainless-steel counter. “That is beautiful. Here on
Earth, before all this happened it was rare for a couple to be
together for any long period of time. My parents’ marriage was not
the norm. They were together for over forty years.”
    Pointing to the slides, Venus sighed. “I’ll need two
samples on the slides and then two more to run through the
hemoglobin machine my father designed.”
    At his curious frown, she motioned with one hand.
“That machine, over there on the right. Anyway, it will tell me how
the serum is working—if it is working—and then maybe I can pinpoint
the difference between the males and females. As for the other
test, I’m trying to figure out how old this female is.”
    She laid her hand on Badden’s arm. “I’m sorry for
your loss. I know what it’s like to lose people you love. As the
years ago by, the ache slowly goes away leaving us with the
pleasant memories.” She smiled and sat on a stool opposite him.
“How are you and Acwel related, if you don’t mind me asking?”
    Growls and shouts suddenly echoed through the heating
vents in the building. She jumped. Thankful she didn’t have
anything in her hands. Volund and Jaxxon’s angry vocalizations
followed the other noises.
    Badden laughed, tilting his head back, his long pink
hair swaying over his shoulders. “I told you they would be
furious.”
    She rolled her eyes. “I’m not outside hunting and I
have a protective shield over my stomach that my parents insisted
pregnant employees wear when they worked in their laboratory.”
    She lifted her shirt to show Badden the metal
sheath-like garment against her skin. “Besides, my mates knew I
needed to be down here. They’re bossy at times, but I know they
mean well.”
    Running her hand over the metal, Venus could see her
father and mother laughing at the first experiment that turned out
right. “They were so proud to have finally made something that
would protect them while doing research on the Bone Eaters.”
    She glanced up at Badden to find Volund and Jaxxon
next to him. “We had a special dinner that night. Mom cranked up
the juke box. Dad found two bottles of aged wine, and we all danced
and ate until early in the morning.” A tear slipped down her
cheek.
    Jaxxon kneeled in front of her, smoothing the tear
away.
    “That was the last night we were together, before
Randle…” The rest of her words lodged in her throat, her eyes
watered, and her hands trembled. Once again her emotions were all
over the place, but Volund and Jaxxon seemed to sense something.
Volund disappeared before Jaxxon scooped her up in his arms and
transported them upstairs. He laid her in bed next to Volund, and
both of them began stroking and comforting her.
    “I’m fine,” Venus whispered and rested her forehead
on Volund’s chest. “I don’t know why I acted like that. It’s been
years and yet, it almost felt like it was yesterday.” She glanced
up at Jaxxon, who frowned.
    “When our females are pregnant, their emotions are
chaotic, their sexual drive is fiercer. On the positive side, their
gestational periods are shorter than a humans.” He rubbed his hand
over her still-flat belly. “We were going to tell you today, but
you’d already slipped downstairs to work.” Jaxxon got out of bed
and paced the floor.
    “Venus, you cannot go on like this. You work too
hard, pushing yourself, and this puts you and our children at risk.
We do not want you around the Bone Eaters. Stay away from anything
harmful after this.” Jaxxon paused and stared down at her.
    She counted to ten and glared up at Jaxxon as she
wiggled out of Volund’s arms. “I have agreed to let you two take
care of the hunting. Also, I