Page 144 of Alpha Heat

“If that’s his biggest concern, then I think we’re doing all right,” Urho said.

Xan looked between them both. “I feel sorry for Janus. He’s missing out on so much. Not the least of which is my inheritance.”

“Oh?” Caleb asked, a smile spreading across his face. “Is that so?”

“According to my pater,” Xan said. “I talked with him on the phone. He and Ray are safe. And he says so is my place as the heir.”

“I knew he’d come around when it truly counted,” Caleb said, nodding. “He loves you and, more than that, he knows what’s right and what’s wrong. Don’t worry. He’ll straighten your father out in no time.Erosgapécan do that.”

Urho had guessed as much from what he’d overheard of Xan’s conversation. But it was still a relief to know that Xan wasn’t going to suffer the public humiliation of being disinherited, nor the potential legal ramifications of having his father declare before the Holy Church that Xan was unmanned.

“What do you think we should name him?” Caleb asked, turning his attention back to the sunset and putting his hand over his stomach again.

“It’s a bit early for that, isn’t it?” Urho said. “You have a lot of months to go.”

“It’s never too early to dream,” Caleb said. “I’m thinking something bright. Something clean. Blanco, maybe. For white.”

“Your favorite color,” Urho said, nodding.

“Or lack of color,” Caleb corrected.

“I like Riki,” Xan blurted.

Urho’s throat grew tight, but he remained silent.

Caleb’s smile grew. “Oh, yes. Riki. That’s a good name. Riki Heelies. I think that would be perfect.”

“What do you think, Urho?” Xan asked cautiously, the light of sunset glowing in his eyes.

Urho grabbed them both and held on with all his might, his heart pounding terrifically and his eyes close to overflowing.

“I think he likes it too,” Xan said, laughing.

“I think he loves it,” Urho gritted out. “Almost as much as I love you, Xan.”

The three of them separated, and Urho took Xan’s face in his hands, kissing him deeply.

“Ah,” Caleb sighed, getting to his feet and wandering closer to the surf, his voice carrying on the wind as he left them to it. “A happy ending. I always love those.”

Urho held the omega of his heart safely in his arms and had to agree.

EPILOGUE

Riki Heelies wasborn after a night of misery and screaming. He came kicking into the world feet first, scaring the pants off Xan and Urho, who’d delivered him. Hale and hardy, the baby unleashed a wail.

“What do I do?” Caleb asked, holding the screaming babe. “I can make a print, use a printing press, put on a show in the Virona art gallery with no problem, but already I’m failing at being a pater. I thought it was supposed to be natural?” His voice was high pitched and threaded with anxiety.

“Shh,” Xan soothed. He wasn’t accustomed to seeing his omega so flustered. Caleb was always collected, and even throughout the pregnancy he’d been calm. The labor, not so much, but that was painful and scary for all of them.

Urho sat on the bed next to them, took the baby in his big hands, and examined him. “He just needs a feed.”

“That’s all?” Caleb asked. “There’s nothing wrong with him? What if there’s something wrong with him?”

“He’s healthy, omega mine, and so are you.” Xan sat on Caleb’s other side, watching as Urho carefully wiped the baby down, and then put on a little fold of cloth to cover his genitals. Then he wrapped Riki up again, and handed him to Caleb.

“There,” Urho whispered. “Hold him close. That’s it.”

Caleb gazed wonderingly as the babe latched onto his nipple, the wailing ceasing.