Page 38 of Alien Mercenary’s Wife (Lathar Mercenaries: Warborne #7)

Guards flanked every doorway. These were the Imperial warriors, the emperor's personal guard, chosen for their exceptional training and unwavering loyalty.

But they weren't Praetoviatt. Not anymore.

The last of the Praetoviatt, the emperor's legendary bodyguard, had died in the plague that had taken all latharian women.

But he'd been trained by a Praetoviatt. One of the best.

He could take at least three of these draanthic before the rest even figured out what was happening.

"The Emperor's private study," the protocol officer announced as they approached a set of doors that looked like they could stop artillery. "His Majesty is waiting."

The doors opened to reveal a space smaller than T'Raal had expected, but still impressive.

Books lined the walls—real books, not data tablets, the kind that cost a small fortune and would have Beauty trying to figure out how many he could carry and get away with it.

A massive desk dominated the center of the room, its surface covered with star charts and military reports.

Emperor Daaynal K'Saan sat behind the desk, and T'Raal's breath caught as he looked up.

Daaynal looked exactly as he had during their previous meeting—a man in his prime, looking late thirties despite his actual age.

His dark hair was pulled back in traditional braids, and his face showed the controlled stillness that marked an apex predator.

He had a commanding presence with broad shoulders, scarred hands that had seen personal combat, and the bearing of someone who'd earned authority rather than inherited it.

"Your Majesty." T'Raal inclined his head the bare minimum required by protocol. He wouldn't grovel, even here. Especially not here. Especially not now.

"Captain Verran." Daaynal rolled away the scroll he'd been reading. "You look troubled."

Draanth. He wasn't going to make this easy.

"I need your help." The words came out rough. "I need... I need your help."

Daaynal stood slowly, gaze locked onto T'Raal's. "Tell me."

"There's a female. Human. Reese Payne. She's a former military commander." T'Raal's hands clenched into fists. "Corporate thugs have taken her. Fabricated terrorism charges against her. They're going to kill her."

"And you want Imperial intervention to save her."

It wasn't a question.

"Yes."

"This female... She matters to you?"

"She's everything." The admission escaped before he could stop it, raw and honest. "I love her."

Daaynal's expression shifted, satisfaction mixing with something deeper. "Love. I knew it had to be something enough to bring you here. Strong enough to make you claim what you've rejected your entire life. Which meant it was either love or hate."

"Strong enough to overcome my pride." T'Raal met his father's gaze directly. "I'm asking for help. As… your son."

Daaynal froze, the careful mask cracking. Daaynal's breath caught, his hands gripping the edge of the desk until his knuckles went white.

"You..." Daaynal's voice broke slightly. "You called yourself my son."

"I did." He held his father's gaze, seeing decades of pain and longing written across features that mirrored his own.

Daaynal closed his eyes for a moment, and when he opened them, they were bright with unshed tears. "I've waited... I've hoped for years to hear you say those words."

The emperor moved around the desk, no longer the controlled ruler but a father who'd just been acknowledged by the son he'd thought lost forever.

"My son." His hand reached out, hovering near T'Raal's face as if afraid he might disappear.

T'Raal managed a smile. "Father."

"Of course I'll help you." Daaynal nodded, his voice rough. "But there are complications we need to discuss."

"What kind of complications?"

"The kind that comes with being acknowledged as my son." Daaynal studied T'Raal's face. "You can't just ask for Imperial intervention and disappear back to mercenary life. Not after this."

His jaw tightened. "I'm not asking to be acknowledged publicly?—"

"You are my heir." Daaynal's voice was like a whip. "My only child. That comes with responsibilities you can't ignore."

"I never wanted?—"

"What you wanted stopped mattering the moment you walked through those doors and called me father." Daaynal's expression was hard, then he tilted his head. "But maybe we can find a solution that works for both of us."

"What kind of solution?"

"Imperial Prince T'Raal, son of the Emperor himself, and heir to the throne." Daaynal's smile was sharp. "With all the authority that entails. Including the right to claim Imperial jurisdiction over any of our… allies threatening your mate."

"My mate," T'Raal said carefully. "We haven't had… that conversation hasn't happened yet."

Daaynal's gaze dropped to T'Raal's wrists, his expression changing. "Haven't you looked at yourself lately, my son?"

T'Raal glanced down and froze. Dark bands circled both wrists, dark marks in the skin wrapping around.

Mating marks that hadn't been there days ago. Permanent biological changes that marked him as bonded, claimed, tied to another soul. The sign of the god's favour and a permanent bond.

"The gods have spoken," Daaynal said quietly. "Whether you've talked about it or not, she's your mate. Your soul's other half."

T'Raal stared at his wrists.

Reese was his mate.

She was really his mate.

His soul mate.

His everything.

"Which makes her," Daaynal continued with obvious satisfaction, "an Imperial Princess. My daughter-in-law. And under my protection, whether she knows it or not."

T'Raal looked up at his father, seeing calculation mixed with affection. Daaynal had maneuvered him into accepting his heritage, but he'd also given him the perfect reason for saving Reese.

"You planned this," T'Raal said.

Daaynal shrugged. "Even I cannot plan the will of the gods, but… I am not above taking an opportunity when it presents itself."

His smile was warm as he grasped T'Raal's shoulders. "If it takes a mated pair bond to bring you home, then I'll gladly welcome my new daughter as well."

Home.

The word hit harder than T'Raal expected. He'd spent his life building his own family, rejecting the one genetics had tried to force on him. But standing here, seeing hope in his father's face, he realized how much he'd missed having something deeper than choice.

"The rescue," he said finally.

"Will be immediate and thorough." Daaynal moved back to his desk, already reaching for comm controls. "Imperial Prince T'Raal retrieving his kidnapped mate… The press will love it."

"And after?"

"After, we discuss what it means to be my son. What it means to be part of this family." Daaynal's expression grew serious. "You've built something remarkable with your crew, T'Raal. I don't want to destroy that. But you're also my heir, and that comes with obligations."

It was the price he'd expected. But Reese would be alive to argue with him about the cost.

His mate. The woman the gods had chosen for him.

Home. With him.

"Understood," he said.

Daaynal's smile was wide. "Then let's go save my daughter-in-law."