Ni'ev part 3

ROSA

I hear giggling from outside. Kyros and Lamara are acting like teenagers high on love. Kyros lifts her off her feet, swings her twice, and lowers her until their faces are pressed together.

I stare like a creep, imagining myself in Lamara’s footsteps.

A warm hand covers my mouth slapping me back to Earth— well, Ezron. I snap out of my daydream, remembering that I’m single, and too heavy to be lifted that high in the air. I think I’m the only female around that can give Ezronian guys arthritis.

I kiss Neil’s little hand and set him down to play with the other kids. It’s a typical day for me. I'm changing stinky diapers and thinking about my shitty romance life— no correlation intended.

“Mama.”

My eyes widen when Ran grips my ankle. I look down at the baby girl. She blinks, realizes I’m not her mother, and then recovers from her confusion by picking up a toy.

I’m stunned. I’ve looked after these kids all their lives. Although they have a strong attachment to me, they’re closer to their parents. I’ve never gotten confused as someone’s mother. For just a moment, I had the most affectionate bond there could be— one between a parent and a child, and then it was gone.

That taste of motherhood was bitterly sweet. I want more of it, but at this rate, I’ll never have it.

My mood flat-lines just like my dating life, but I hold a smile together for the kids. I change diapers, warm bottles, wipe tears, cuddle, and exchange toys for hours until the kids are picked up by their parents.

Kira and Vrox show up together, hand-in-hand. They thank me, and pick up their daughters. I watch the picture-perfect-family walk away to their happily ever-after, while I’m left with hopes, dreams, and children that will never be fully mine.

Layla shows up with red cheeks, meaning that she was recently exercising— namely working out her pussy in the sheets. She picks up her son and leaves with a little limp in her walk.

I look down at my legs with disappointment. The last time I had a limp was when I accidentally stepped on a sharp toy.

“Rosa!” Nebula calls for me. Michelle and Neil shriek in joy and rush toward their mother, and I swear I feel my ovaries shrink with depression.

“Hey girl,” I smile.

“How are you?” she asks.

I smile, and it feels like I’m stretching out dry, cracked lips. “I’m great!”

A great liar.

“Awesome. I was wondering if you’re free tomorrow around this time?”

Of course I am. I have no family to go home to. Well, I guess Vee and I are pretty cool. The furry little guy is a better therapist than Michelle, even though he can’t speak.

“Yep. What do you need?

”Could watch over the kids a while longer tomorrow? I hate asking, but the girls are busy.”

How many times have I been asked this question? How many times have I said yes, nailing myself into a coffin with every affirmation?

“Sure,” I grind out, and instantly regret the sass that piggy-backed off my tone.

“Oh, sorry, Rosa. I didn’t want to bother you.”

I reach out. “No! It’s alright.” I feel like kicking myself, because I didn’t mean to hurt her.

Nebula hesitates. “I think you need a break."

“I’m fine!” I shriek.

The room becomes dead silent, before a baby’s cry slashes through the tension.

Oh, fuck. I’m a train wreck.

I rush out of the room, horrified at how bitter and mean I’ve become. This isn’t who I want to be. On Earth, I was always on the curvy-body side, and although this always earned me snide comments, I thrived over them. I lived a happy, productive life. I’ve never been this pathetic.

Misery has been gnawing at me for a long time. At first, it nibbled, but now it’s biting chunks out of me, and it seems like it won’t be satisfied until it leaves me an empty shell.

How do I move on from this? I can’t talk to the girls, because they won’t understand my situation. I don’t want them to feel worried, either. We have enough going on in this mind-blowing world of ours. We’re attempting to rebuild a godforsaken civilization, mixing cultures and genetics together, fighting evil and greedy forces, all while trying to keep a trace of our former selves. They have bigger things to worry about than my jealousy.

Besides, I’ve never been great at asking for help — from adults, that is.

I sit on the northern grand staircase of the pyramid, and I examine the dark jungle in the distance. Although I have no significant other, I should be grateful to be safe with friends that care for me, and babies that adore me. Things could always be worse. I got lucky that Ni’ev and Rokan found me before a man with less noble intentions.

I’ll never forget that day. I was alone, cold, hungry, filthy, and convinced I lost my mind. The guys found me, and although I kicked and screamed, Ni’ev subdued me and brought me to his home. Everything worked out once I met other human women.

I stand up and walk around the pyramid. I’m technically not supposed to be alone. Females are required to have guards to escort them around the pyramid, but we sometimes feel suffocated and sneak out. Today is one of those days.

I move to the southern staircase. This is where the spaceship is parked. Xulor and Layla crashed it on Ezron when they flew out of the slave planet they were trapped in. It blew my mind when I first saw the thing, because it’s proof that there are more worlds out there.

Hah. There are four known planets and you still can’t find a man. 

I shake the invasive thought away and watch the men working below.

My gaze locks on Ni’ev first. It’s hard to miss him, because the guy walks with a stride that demands attention. He’s shirtless. Seeing this is the highlight of my day that gets me up in the morning.

Other men of varying ages work around him to load the spaceship with crates and sacks. They’re going on an expedition to take the ship on a test-run. These happen every few months as they research the machine. Usually, the ship is gone for a week.

I observe the swarm of men. Goosebumps cover my skin in seconds. If I stood in that field of testosterone, I would probably overheat. My irrational fear of men is debilitating.

My eyes flicker from the ship to the men, and a dangerous idea forms.

What were to happen if I lived among the men, undetected? I could observe them, learn to trust them, and then fuck one. Forget about the mile-high club. I’m aiming for the space-high club and get my back busted from sex that’s literally out of this world.

I could sneak around the air vents. I’ve been inside the ship enough times to know that they’re connected. The problem is that the ship is scheduled to depart tomorrow. How am I supposed to put this insane plan together overnight? I’ve never been one for adventure, but maybe that’s why I’m crippled in loneliness.

First thing’s first. I need to create a cover. The girls will notice if I go missing mysteriously.

I stand up and run around the pyramid in search of Layla, nearly tripping and falling off the edge when I come across Vrox. 

“Mierda!” I yell, startled. (Shit)

His eyes narrow. “Rosa, where is your guard?”

I grin. “Whoops. Sorry, Vrox! I’ll talk to you in a bit!”

I barge into the common room and wave Layla over. She comes out, looking confused.

“Hey.”

“Hi,” I smile. “Remember that favor you owe me?”

Her eyes widen, and she takes my arm to lead me into the next room.

Last year, I helped her sneak into the jungle to bathe in the hot springs. Xelor would have roared down the sky if he found out, but we kept it a secret.

“Are you checking in your favor?” she asks.

“Yup. I need you to help me sneak into the spaceship, and cover my absence for seven days.”

She looks uncertain. “Seven days? That’s a long time, Rosa. Isn’t Ni’ev leading it? What if he finds out? The big guy won’t be happy.”

I shrug. “Worst he’ll do is frown. Ni’ev is pretty chill.”

Layla raises an eyebrow. “Uh, no. He gets pretty anal about females getting hurt. I think more so than the others. Don’t underestimate him. He’s distant, but his loud voice packs a scary punch. You would hate getting scolded by him.”

I have no idea what she’s talking about. I rarely see Ni’ev angry. He’s a teddy bear.

“I can handle him. So, will you help me?”

She sighs. “I promised I would. Let’s do this.”

a/n: And so it begins. Next chapter, Rosa will sneak into the ship! How will Ni’ev handle it?

I will start updating Ni’ev, and a BRAND NEW dragon story that takes place in dystopian Earth (human female, dragon male)

Akdronis’ epilogue comes this week!