Page 35

“If you will excuse me, Ambassador Nerx, I am in need of a hot chocolate.” Matir strode from the comm room, swerving to avoid Lily, who carried a painting she’d done.

“Look, Gramps,” she called, trying to hold up her artwork. This one was of herself in pink, standing between Britta and Nerx—in her childlike hand where they had sticks for arms and massive heads.

Nerx scooped her up when she hopped on her toes, trying to show his father.

“What is it, ensa ?” His father gentled his voice in a way Nerx had always prayed to hear.

“It’s a picture of my family.” She tapped each figure. “Tomorrow, I will add my two gramps and Granny.”

“You did this?” Father gasped. “It is beautiful.”

Lily preened, ducking her head while wearing a massive smile.

“You can call your granddaddy tomorrow, kiddo. I don’t know about you, but I’m craving pizza.” Britta held out her arms to Lily. With a wave to his father, she let Britta carry her away.

His father sniffled, snatching Nerx’s gaze. “You did well, my son.” He coughed. “I await your arrival.”

The comm ended.

“What in Alodon’s hell just happened?” Nerx muttered as Matir entered, sipping from his mug even when he handed a hot chocolate to Edon. With a nod at his males, Nerx left the comm room, intent on finding his family.

A plate of kreso and momaberry sauce with a glass of giyua awaited him. Britta and Lily shared a pizza, a pink milkshake for Lily, and a soda for Britta.

“So,” she bit into her slice, “wedding? That’s news.” She chewed, her gaze fixed on him. “I could mention the tension between you and your dad, but I want to know about our wedding more.”

He smiled, appreciating her honesty and her selfishness. Discussing his relationship with his father would sour his mood further. “You did say it was a childish hope, and it is one I can grant you.”

“But—” She choked on a mouthful and hurried to drink from her soda. “It’s a dress, cake, tuxedos, the works and a shit ton of effort for what?”

“For your special day.” He popped a forkful of kreso into his mouth and smiled.

Her cheeks flushed, and her eyes glazed over with this incredible softness that made his breath hitched. He drowned in her expression of pure joy. Never would he have thought she could look more beautiful to him.

“It won’t be too much trouble?” she asked, her voice a whisper.

He put his utensils down and held her gaze. “Dates, a wedding with your father walking you down the aisle, our first house, and falling pregnant.” He savored his juice to buy him time to find the words. “We can date every night for the rest of our lives. I would like that.”

She chuckled. “That’s just dinner.”

He ignored her. “You have two new fathers. Though they can never replace your love for your human father, I have no doubt both would be honored to step in for that day. Our house is being built in preparation for our arrival. I am sorry.”

“It’s still our first home, Nerx,” she said, sipping from her soda.

“As to falling pregnant, I am working on it,” he said, running a gaze over her tunic. Images of what lay beneath that fabric hardened him. “Perhaps we can work on that soon?”

“Sure,” she said, her gaze hooded as she smiled at him. “How did the chat with your king go?”

“Well.” He took up his knife and fork and cut into his steak, swirling the piece in the sauce for good measure.

“Is that so, Ambassador ?” She arched a brow.

“I resigned as supreme commander.”

“Oh, and you were going to tell me…” She waited. “When, Nerx?” She pushed her soda aside, clasped her hands on the table and leaned in. “A marriage is all about communication. You share, I share, and nothing momentous is decided on without checking with each other.”

He paused, intrigued by this woman before him. “I… we cannot raise a daughter on a battleship. It puts you both in harm’s way.”

“I agree. So where to?”

Stunned at her response, his answer tumbled from his tongue. “Fuyra. I can be of service there, hence the promotion.”

“Makes sense.”

“Of course it does.” He eyed her. Why is she agreeing with me?

When Lily drooped, Britta dragged her across her lap, cradling her close. Within seconds, Lily slept.

“Do we get a honeymoon?” Britta asked, her voice breathless. “We’d have to take Lily with, but still.”

“Honeymoon?” His breath caught at the imagery his O.D.I.

flooded his mind with. He snatched on the first few, that of beaches and barely clad females.

Britta in something that looked like lingerie…

He cleared his throat. “We do have such a place. The Galaza beaches—one of the few places the carnivorous omeika avoid.”

“No flesh-eating omeika sounds amazing.” She grinned. “How much will it cost? I don’t want to go into debt over this.”

He frowned. “For Etterians, Galaza is free, as humans term it. We do not do ‘vacations,’ though we understand the concept of tourism.”

“Can we go there? For a day or two?” This time, her waiting was peppered with eagerness.

“Of course. As to the honeymoon, we are already on it.” Lest he ogled her again, he stood, cleared the table, then reached for Lily. “Come, thamani , it has been a…long day.”

She trailed him, her demeanor too docile for his liking.

It had him on tenterhooks, like he was stuck in the eye of a storm.

As he tucked Lily into bed, he listened to Britta’s movements in his…

their quarters. Was she readying for bed?

To sleep? His malehood twitched, almost with disappointment and resignation.

The day had been long, eventful, with too many emotions and too few things registering, as if his mind reeled. From commander to ambassador, from estranged to talking to his father, forming an alliance with the Viqrians, to realizing what pulsed through his chest when he glanced at Britta.

Now, all he longed to do was hold her. And if that meant while she slept, then so be it.