Libra Ascending: An Epic Urban Fantasy Romance (Zodiac Guardians Book 1) by Tamar Sloan (adult books to read .TXT) 📗

Tess and Zarius chuckle, and Tristan isn’t surprised when two cushions pummel him one after another.

Tristan pushes upright, grinning as he heads to the kitchen. “At least the takeout pamphlets were safe,” he calls over his shoulder.

He’s just turned the corner when he freezes. A soft beeping has him spinning around and racing back. The sound is meant to be subtle, enough to let them know intruders are near, but quiet enough that no one outside the house would hear it.

Tess’s stricken face is the first thing Tristan sees. “They’re back.”

Zarius curses. “Chardis regrouped fast. He must’ve decided to attack quickly, thinking we’d be unprepared.”

And vulnerable.

“Well, he was wrong,” mutters Tristan. “And this time, I won’t be lying around thanks to his poison.”

There’s a loud knock on the door and Tess jumps. Tristan is in fighting stance, fists raised, before the rapping is finished. Zarius has done the same.

They look at each other and Tristan shrugs. “At least they’re being polite and knocking.”

It means the Skins want them to know they’re here, alarm or no alarm. Tristan isn’t sure what that means, but he knows it’s bold.

Zarius draws in a slow breath, his body hardening as he exhales. He’s centering. “I’ll open the door. Tristan, I want you behind me. Tess, you move back.”

Tess nods, not arguing. No one wants to see a repeat of how she got the cut on her head.

A few steps and Zarius is at the door. With a short, sharp movement he jerks it open.

Then, just stands there.

Alarm slams through Tristan. Have they shot Zarius with the same paralyzing poison? He’s about to launch forward when Zarius speaks, his voice full of shock.

“Alden?”

What? Tristan knows that name! His hands drop an inch. “You’ve been to the library, too?”

But Zarius doesn’t answer. Instead, he steps forward and the men clasp, thumping one another on the back.

They pull back and Zarius shakes his head. “It’s good to see you, old man.”

“Does someone want to tell us what’s going on around here?” asks Tristan.

He doubts anyone’s ever been happy to see Alden. He didn’t even think the man could smile!

But smiling is exactly what Alden’s doing. “It took you long enough, soldier.”

Tess steps forward, frowning quizzically. “You two know each other?”

Zarius ushers Alden inside and closes the door. He grins at Tristan and Tess. “Alden is an elder from Gemini I.”

Tristan’s eyes pop open. “He’s what?”

Alden’s eye glitters with far more than crankiness. “I was there on the Gemini station when it was attacked. The King thought Zarius might need a hand so I was sent in my own pod shortly after.”

“King Pharis always liked to think ahead,” says Zarius, his tone saying he shouldn’t be surprised by all this.

Tess steps forward, extending her hand with a smile. “Welcome. It’s lovely to meet another person from Gemini I.”

Alden glances at Zarius. “She knows?”

Slipping an arm around Tess’s waist, Zarius nods. “Without her, I’m not sure I would’ve found Gem.”

With that, all eyes turn to Tristan. He lifts a crooked smile. “I prefer Tristan.”

Alden scans him from head to toe. “So this is why you were snooping at the library.”

Tristan has to work not to frown. “Not that there was anything to find.”

Alden chuckles. “That’s because I’ve removed any shred of information about aliens or pods after Mirror Point had several land here.”

Tess gasps as Tristan feels like his heart just tripped over itself. “Pods?” As in more than one? “Here in Mirror Point?”

Zarius is the first to break the stunned silence that follows. “Maybe we should all sit down and catch up.”

He leads the way into the lounge and Alden looks around. All their houses look pretty bare because of the frequent moves, but now they’re down a couple of bookshelves and a coffee table.

Tess smiles apologetically. “Please, take a seat. I’ll bring out something to eat and drink.”

Alden nods, sitting himself on the single armchair facing the couch. Zarius sits across from him but Tristan finds there’s too much energy buzzing through his body to sit. He stands beside the couch, watching Alden closely.

Zarius leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees as he clasps his hand beneath his chin. “Tell me everything, Alden.”

Alden brushes his eye patch. “Well, most of my pod was destroyed on impact. There must have been some sort of interference because I was knocked off course. It seems several others were, too.”

Zarius and Tristan glance at each other. That’s why they haven’t been able to get so much as a whiff of another Zodiac Heir. Until now…

“Recovery was slow with this planet’s primitive medical system. By the time I was able to start tracking the pods that landed nearby, the Zodiac Heirs were gone.”

Tess enters, holding a tray with coffee and cookies. “Have you been able to find any?”

Tristan has to work not to frown. He’s not sure if he likes Alden, and now the dude is eating his sweet treats.

Alden takes a biscuit, smiling in thanks. “I have my suspicions.”

That has Tristan perking up. “There are others here?”

But Alden shakes his head. “From what I’ve pieced, they were taken to a local orphanage. Most were adopted out quite quickly.”

“So they could be anywhere,” Tristan mutters. Back to square one. He looks squarely at Alden. “We’ll need to see what information you have.”

“Your father had to learn patience, too.” Alden turns to Zarius. “I’ve removed every shred of evidence about the pods from the public record. It’s all at my house. I’ve been waiting for you to find me.”

Tristan frowns. “You didn’t think to go looking for us?” It took sixteen years to get here. That’s a whole lot of time they could’ve saved.

Alden pins Tristan with his one eye. “I had to keep the information hidden. If you couldn’t find it, at least Chardis wouldn’t either.”

Zarius sighs. “He’s right, Tristan. If there was a trail, Chardis could’ve found it before we did.”

“I think he already has,” states Alden.

The Skins asked where the others were…

Zarius shifts forward, his