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“What are you thinking?” Lairos asked, his voice uncharacteristically quiet.
“That I’m glad I was wrong,” I replied. “About so many things.”
He chuckled, the sound vibrating through my back. “I should record this rare moment of admission.”
“Don’t push your luck,” I warned, but there was no heat in my words.
The setting sun turned the water to liquid gold, catching my eye as several Khadians dove through the waves beyond the atoll. I watched them swim, powerful and graceful in their natural element. No wonder they ruled these waters. The sight was beautiful in its simplicity, something I never thought I’d have the luxury to just sit and appreciate.
For once, Lairos seemed content to simply hold his mate and watch our success unfold without adding any theatrical flourishes or reminders of his role in making it happen. This quiet pride, I’d learned, was the truest measure of how much something mattered to him.
As darkness fell and the first stars appeared overhead, I felt the baby shift and settle. My hand traced slow circles over the spot where her foot had just pressed.
“Ready to go home?” Lairos asked.
Home. Not Earth. Not the Legacy. But here, with him.
“Yes,” I said simply. “I’m ready.”
“That I’m glad I was wrong,” I replied. “About so many things.”
He chuckled, the sound vibrating through my back. “I should record this rare moment of admission.”
“Don’t push your luck,” I warned, but there was no heat in my words.
The setting sun turned the water to liquid gold, catching my eye as several Khadians dove through the waves beyond the atoll. I watched them swim, powerful and graceful in their natural element. No wonder they ruled these waters. The sight was beautiful in its simplicity, something I never thought I’d have the luxury to just sit and appreciate.
For once, Lairos seemed content to simply hold his mate and watch our success unfold without adding any theatrical flourishes or reminders of his role in making it happen. This quiet pride, I’d learned, was the truest measure of how much something mattered to him.
As darkness fell and the first stars appeared overhead, I felt the baby shift and settle. My hand traced slow circles over the spot where her foot had just pressed.
“Ready to go home?” Lairos asked.
Home. Not Earth. Not the Legacy. But here, with him.
“Yes,” I said simply. “I’m ready.”