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One evening while lying in bed, Xander’s timbre, rough and hoarse against the back of Savvine’s neck, carried more heft than usual.

‘Mi reina, been thinking.’

‘Oh no,’ she murmured.

He curled a hand around her jaw, pushing his nose in her nape. ‘Remember our chat about children, baby. I’ve been thinking, what if our DNA isn’t compatible? What if we can’t make any?’

Savvine turned, her palm on his cheek, brushing her thumb over a jagged scar near his jaw. ‘We’ll be fine, my love. Whatever happens, we’ll deal with it. Together.’

Still, she caught the emotion in his eyes: He wasn’t worried about failure; he was afraid of hope.

‘If you’re concerned, honey, let’s make sure.’

He grunted his approval at her suggestion.

The next morning, the pair stood side by side in Miral’s lab aboard theSombra, hands intertwined like they were preparing for battle instead of a bio-scan.

The lab was sterile and humming, cold lights throwing silver halos over the glinting equipment.

Miral tapped a few commands into her console, chewing on a protein bar and smirking like a Cheshire cat.

‘You two look like you’re about to be sentenced,’ she said. ‘Relax. I’m not testing for criminal tendencies. Though,’ she flicked her eyes to Xander, ‘You might still set off a few alarms.’

Savvine rolled her eyes. ‘Can we just get to it, or are you planning to narrate our entire genetic history?’

‘I like an audience,’ Miral replied. ‘Now sit. Blood sample first.’

Xander bared his arm, silent and stoic as ever, though Savvine didn’t miss the subtle flex in his bicep when the needle pricked skin.Show-off.

Savvine followed suit, and the tests began to run.

Then came the wait.

Miral, of course, dragged it out like a holo drama. ‘Hmmm,’ she muttered, squinting at the screen.

Savvine arched a brow. ‘What?’

Miral sucked her teeth. ‘Nothing. Just enjoying this power trip. You should see your faces. You look like I’m about to tell you your future babies will grow gills.’

‘Miral,’ Xander warned, the growl barely concealed.

‘Fine, fine,’ she sighed in dramatic fashion. ‘Congratulations, your DNA compatibility score is off the charts. Like weirdly good. Like nature’s rooting for you two.’

Savvine exhaled. Xander’s grip on her hand tightened.

Miral grinned. ‘If you wanted children, they’d inherit the best of you both. Enhanced cognitive mapping from Savvine’s side, regenerative immunity markers from Xander. Oh, and of course -’

She swiveled in her chair, swinging one leg over the other. ‘Xander’s dominant lycan gene complex will likely express in all your offspring. So, yep. Expect mini shifters with smart minds and lethal fangs.’

Xander blinked. ‘Wait, so they’d be like -.’

‘Adorable spectral furry rebels and assassins,’ Miral said with a sweet grin. ‘Helena Bianchi might combust when she finds out.’

Savvine smirked. ‘When it happens, we should send her a birth announcement.’

‘With glitter,’ Miral added. ‘And a wolf pup plushie dipped in gold.’

‘She’d declare war.’