Page 80 of Alien Mercenary's Wife

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.