Liri squeezed Ardon's hand as the Calypso's loading bay hatch hissed open. Relieved to be home, she watched the weary travelers brightened with each cleansing breath of the warm, salty, floral-tinged air purifying the ship. 

     "Sweet Nebula, that smells amazing," Mauvrick stated with a broad smile cutting his face in half.

     Taking a deep breath, Liri led them down the ramp. "It's even better than I remember."

     "Welcome home, Lady Liriandra Delaney," Ardon said with a wink. 

     Syd slowed her pace as she reached the end of the ramp. "I almost feel like we are too dirty to leave the ship. I mean, look at that." She pointed to the pristine, white sandy beach off to the left.

     "Who gives a shite? D'ya see wha' we'r parked next to?" 

     Syd stumbled as she turned to look in the direction Luke was pointing. "That's a Kobain 3200XY; it's one of the fastest ships in the known galaxy." Her mouth hung open as her eyes doubled in size.

     "No, that's the Kobain 4200XY," Liri corrected.

     "There isn't a 4200XY."

     Liri nodded. "Actually, they started production on them over a year ago."

     "You mean your father owned that too?" Syd asked, disgust coating her words.

     "No."

     "I'll be needn' ta take a looksie under da hood if ya don' mind," the small blonde mechanic said with a huge grin lighting up his face.

     "Sure, Luke. I'm positive the twins will be more than happy to show someone their toys."

     "Twins?"

     "Yes, and there they are," Liri's voice hitched as five of her harem-mates poured out of the marble, white-columned building, reminiscent of old Earth's Greek architecture. 

     "Go," Ardon said as he let go of her hand. "I'm right behind you."

     She kissed his cheek. "Thank you for everything, Ardon." 

     Liri sprinted to Pasley's open arms. She melted into the soft, warm, embrace, and surrendered to her turbulent emotions. Tears poured down her face as a chorus of happy, excited voices pleasantly filled her ears. They ran their hands over her in welcome.

     "You've finally returned!"

     "We missed you so much."

     "It wasn't the same without our huntress leading the shadow raids." A large man said as he swooped in and picked Liri up. The other four parted, and he spun around while kissing her, laughing when they pulled apart.

     Liri giggled and wiped the tears from her face. "Jensen, you look like you have more muscles than the last time I saw your handsome face! What has Pasley been feeding you?"

     "She's taken good care of us, as always, but I have added on a few pounds of muscle." He shifted Liri to one arm and flexed the other. "You like it?"

     She ran her hand over the warm, inviting flesh. "I think I'll need to give you a thorough inspection before I can say for sure."

     "I like the sound of that." The large man chuckled.

     "Our turn, Jensen!" two dark-haired men with large, teal eyes bellowed in unison.

     "Riley and Wesley," Liri grunted as they sandwiched her in between their lithe forms as soon as her feet touched the ground. "Free me this instant!"

     "No way," the twin on her right said.

     "And we won't let you leave Dubrovn again either!" the second twin stated. The trio laughed as they swayed back and forth while pecking her face with kisses.

     "You're home, and look more beautiful than I remember, Liri," a pixy-looking woman said. Her cheeks flushed as her lavender gaze landed on the new arrivals. She ducked behind Jensen, slowly peeking around his towering form.

     "A Draconian! What the hell is one of his kind doing here?" Jensen demanded as he stepped between his mate's and the new arrivals.

     Liri broke free of the twins and said, "This is Ardon Rowe, and if it weren't for him and the Calypso's crew, I'd be locked up in a prison cell on Earth."

     "Earth!?" the harem-mates gasped.

     "Yes." Liri scrunched her face and nodded. "It wasn't nearly as dirty as everyone claims it is, but I don't recommend visiting."

     Ardon's smile could have melted the sun. "Hello. It's a pleasure to meet all of you. Liri's told me a little about each of you, but I look forward to getting to know you better."

     The pixy woman waved, and a blush worked across her face.

     "I didn't know you could sound so refined, Puff," Jax chuckled.

     "Goes to show how little you know about me and my skills." He shrugged his wings.

     "Right, you mean—"

     Liri moved around Jensen and pointed at Syd. "This lovely lady is, Captain Sydney Flavian, and that's her ship, the Calypso."

     "Hiya!" Syd nodded.

     "Hello," the harem-members greeted with warmth in their tones.

     "Alright, to keep this as brief as possible, that's Mauvrick, Jax, and Luke. The rest are Shapeshifter survivors from a terrible fate that I will fill you in on later."

     "Shifters?" Jensen tilted his head.

     Seventy-six shifted into a busty blonde. 

     Jensen whistled. "Cool."

     "It is." Liri laughed. "This big guy is Jensen, then Bonica is the little one. Pasley is the tall beauty with the ringlets in her hair, and the twins are Wesley and Riley—"

     "Korbin," Luke said.

      "You know of us?" Both twins perked up.

     "Aye," Luke nodded with wide eyes.

     "Who doesn't? Your cruisers are top of the line," Syd said, flipping a thumb over her shoulder at the smooth, silver, ship.

     "That old thing?" one of the teal-eyed men asked.

     Syd and Luke looked at the twins like they were crazy.

     "What Riley means is that we are working on the next model so that one's a bit outdated. Would you like a tour of the newest ship after you rest a bit?" Wesley asked.

     "Yes!" the Captain and her mechanic bellowed in unison.

     "Enough about ships. It's nice to meet everyone." Pasley's voice cut off the conversation. She quirked a sculpted brow; her warm cinnamon-brown gaze drew over Ardon's form. "Liriandra, you didn't tell me that Ardon was so handsome, only that he is a good kisser." 

     His wings seemed to puff up, or maybe it was flex, Liri couldn't decide. 

     With a smile, he asked, "You told Pasley I was a good kisser? Wait, when did you tell her that?" 

     "Don't get him started, Pasley," Liri warned. "These people have been through Hades and back; they need the comforts of home, not to stand around listening to Ardon getting his sizable ego stroked."

     "You sound a little territorial, Liriandra."

     "Well, I—"

     "You mean you won't share?" 

     Ardon's smile grew. 

     "That's not nice, Liri," a whiskey-smooth voice purred.

     "Natasha." Everyone turned to look as Liri moved into a voluptuous redheads embrace. With a kiss, Liri laced their fingers together, and they walked over to Ardon.

     "This is—"

     "Natasha," Ardon said as his eyes ran over her form.

     "Who's the cutie?" Natasha asked as she pulled the wiggling toddler from Ardon's arms. They played with her hair for a few seconds before his dark curls morphed into the same bright-hue as hers. "Yes, little man, you have delicious taste."

     He giggled and nodded.

     "His name is Toby, and I thought the same thing."

     "His eyes look exactly like yours, don't they?" Natasha crossed her eyes and tickled Toby.

     "Yes, they do." Liri laughed.

     "Let's get inside," Pasley said as she looped her arm through Ardon's. "We can get to know each other once you've had some time to freshen up. We will show you to your rooms, and after a late lunch, you can explore the compound."

     "You mean, this isn't a spaceport?" Mauvrick asked, as his eyes darted around.

     Jensen laughed. "This is House Delaney; our home."

     Syd shook her head. "Maybe I should have asked for two ships."

     Luke nodded as they slipped inside.