Chapter 52

Macy changed the sheets on the bed, picked up some of Titus’ clothes strewn on the floor, and made a mental note to discuss it with him. If they were to live together, then he needed to become neater. She wouldn’t be his maid, and she refused to live in a pigsty.

Moving about the room, she thought of her discussion with Noah. She’d been so surprised to see him at her door, and his apology had been contrite and honest. She understood where his head had been that night, and she desperately wished she’d been able to help with the birth. Hopefully, time would allow her healing abilities to come back and to help her reconcile with what she’d done.

The Warriors had left just a while ago, and she’d gone upstairs to see them off. Titus had gazed at her lovingly and then walked over to her and had kissed her fiercely. Her cheeks had heated when Titus had ended the kiss, but she wasn’t sure if it had been from the kiss itself, or the males hooting and hollering. She’d glanced around the room as the females had gasped in surprise.

Faith and Alaina had told her they would come down with a bottle of wine so they could hear all about her new status as a taken female, and how it all happened. Everyone had been so accepting of the fact that Titus mourned Simon, and when he set his sights on her, they’d been astounded.

She finished straightening out the bed and picked up a towel from the bathroom floor. Yes, she’d definitely need to speak to Titus.

A knock sounded at her door, and she walked across the quarters to open it. She grinned when Faith and Alaina greeted her with the bottle of wine they’d promised.

Alaina still had fading bruises on her face and body, but overall, she didn’t look too bad. Macy knew she owed it to Cohen, who had been healing her daily.

She hugged them both and then shut the door.

“You can imagine our surprise at that little spectacle tonight,” Faith said as she sank down into a chair.

“I kind of had an idea, but I didn’t know for sure. Of course, you weren’t very forthcoming on any information,” Alaina said. “Are you going to open that bottle or just keep holding it in your lap all night?”

Faith laughed and looked down. “I suppose we should open it, right, Macy?”

Macy retrieved a bottle opener and handed it to Faith. Then, she went to the fridge and mixed a vodka and soda, and also picked up two glasses for her friends.

Once everyone was seated and comfortable—Faith and Alaina in the overstuffed chairs and Macy stretched out on the carpet—the female inquisition began.

“How long has this been going on?” Faith asked.

Macy shrugged. “It’s fairly new.”

“So that means he’s bi, right?” Alaina asked.

“I guess so.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Faith interjected. “As long as you’re happy, that’s the most important thing.”

“I am. I’m still quite upset about our ordeal, but Titus’ presence makes it easier for me, and sometimes, I can even forget for a little while.”

Alaina grinned. “Like when he’s banging you, right? Nothing makes you forget like some good old-fashioned sex.”

Macy’s cheeks heated, but she couldn’t help but laugh along with them.

“I remember when I was abducted by a Colonist,” Faith said, staring at the red liquid in her glass. “I’ve never been so terrified.”

“They’re scary beings,” Macy said.

“They are, and that’s one of the reasons I wanted to learn hand-to-hand combat,” Alaina said. “I knew my path would cross again with Daniels’ at some point, and I knew that he would want me to die a slow, horrible death. I wanted to be prepared to defend myself the best way I could.”

“And you did,” Macy said, tears welling in her eyes. “I do think we’d be dead if you hadn’t fought him, and I will forever owe you my life.”

Alaina’s smiled sadly. “I only wish I could have kept you from having to deal the final blow, Macy.”

A shiver traveled up her spine, and she wished that had been the case, but it hadn’t. She needed to come to terms with her actions.

“Are you doing well?” Macy asked Alaina. “I see you’re healing on the outside, but what about mentally?”

“I’m actually doing okay. I think Nico’s worse off than I am. He lets his imagination get the best of him about what went on in there, even though I’ve given him the story literally blow by blow. I’ve had a couple of nightmares, but I’m okay with what I did. Maybe it’s the Colonist in me, but in some ways, I liked it. I don’t know if I liked it because of my hatred of Daniel, or if I liked it because … well, because it satisfied my Colonist tendencies.”

Macy stared at her friend, who could be so sweet and so nice, but then had these terrible thoughts and enjoyed being in fistfights to the death, which made her such a complex person. She’d never fully understand Alaina, but that would be okay. Instead, she’d embrace the things she found puzzling because they only made Alaina more interesting.

Things were quiet for a moment as they let Alaina’s words sink in.

“Well, Colonist tendencies or not, I still love you,” Macy said, hoping to lighten the mood.

“Does your Colonist side like Christmas? You know it’s coming up, and that will be so fun, especially with the kids!” Faith exclaimed.

As Faith and Alaina discussed something called ‘Elf on the Shelf’ and other different decorating ideas, Macy listened intently. It would be her first holiday season here that she actually celebrated, and she wanted to understand what all the festivities meant and how she could fully participate.