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“Are you not well?” he asked when she emerged.

“Too much sun.” She smiled and accepted the soda he offered her.

“Probably dehydrated as well.” She took a deep pull from her can and hummed when it chilled her throat.

“Much better.” But she didn’t go near the hot dogs, just in case.

What would he do if she turned out to be allergic to his homeworld? She snorted at that bit of silliness.

Lily sat on a chair, her mouth full.

“After this meal, we are building a sand castle?” He frowned at Lily.

She nodded, her wide smile revealing a chewed sausage.

“You can stay here and rest, if you like.” Nerx caressed Britta’s cheek, concern in his pinched brow.

Britta squeezed his arm, tugged, then pressed a kiss to his mouth when he dipped forward. “Thank you. And don’t stay out too long. She’s as sensitive to the sun as I am.” She broke away to flick Lily’s braid. “Have fun, kiddo.”

Into the shower Britt stepped, eager to wash the sand and salt off her.

When she emerged in her previously used toweling robe, the room was empty.

She sank onto the edge of the bed, then flopped backward.

Strangely tired, she dozed amid the odd silence.

No insects or birds filled the forest with their music.

A coil of nausea tightened in her stomach, waking her. She stretched her arms and yawned. Maybe she was coming down with something—

She sat up, tapped her O.D.I., only to stare at the calendar, counting the days twice.

“No, no, no,” she sobbed. “It’s too soon. I can’t do this, not without love.”

There’d been so many moments Nerx could’ve told her he loved her. But he hadn’t. And sure, she’d accepted her role as wife and mom. Her life wouldn’t be that bad. But no matter how many times she tried to convince herself she had enough love for them both, her arguments sounded weak, uncertain.

“What is too soon? What can you not do?”

She jerked at finding Nerx standing in the doorway.

Lily shot past him, disappearing into the bathroom.

“Britta?”

“Nerx?” Britt fluttered her eyelashes as if innocent.

He ventured deeper into the room. “Tell me, thamani .” He sat on the bed beside her.

She sucked in a shuddering breath. “Can you call, comm…whatever, a medic?”

“You are unwell.” He leaped to his feet, then whisked her into his arms.

“Nerx,” she cried out when he carried her to the door. “Put me down. I just need to confirm whether I’m pregnant.”

Her feet hit the floor hard. He gaped at her, his cheeks darkened, and she’d swear those were tears in his eyes.

“Nerx, please, a medic.” She nudged him at the door.

He didn’t budge, a glower forming. “What can you not do without love? Bear my damu ?”

“I…” She offered him her back as the tears fell, unable to explain how much she yearned for him to love her.

“Britta, thamani , how can you be such an intelligent woman and so stupid at the same time?” He gripped her upper arms and spun her to face him.

“What?” She glared at him, despite the tears. “That’s a big insult, and you better have reasons—”

“I have loved you since Luchur, ensa ra ensa. ” He cupped her face, rubbing her damp cheeks with the pads of his thumbs.

She hit him hard with no armor to protect his chest. He laughed, caught her fist, and pressed a kiss to her knuckles.

“Why the hell didn’t you tell me? I’ve been sick with not knowing.” She yanked on her hand, but he just tightened his hold. That silly smile she adored teased his lips.

“ Ensa means ‘heart,’ ensa ra ensa is ‘heart of my heart,’ and thamani …” He stole a sweet kiss. “Is ‘beloved.’”

Like an overflowing container, emotions tumbled out, dragging a sob from her.

“Hormones,” she croaked, despite not knowing whether she was pregnant.

A full-on crying session started when she realized she might not be.

Until that thought, having a son terrified her.

Not having one sent her into a deep, spiraling morass of sadness.

Nerx enveloped her in his arms, tucking her face into the curve of his neck.

As she cried, he said nothing, just held her.

Sniveling, she tried not to wipe her nose on the corner of his tropical button-up shirt.

No matter how tempted she was. He’d known since Luchur.

No, before, when he’d called her ‘ thamani .’ She should be furious with him.

“I’m sorry. I hate crying.” She huffed as she pulled away. “I love you too, in case you didn’t know.”

“Good,” he said, but his voice had roughened.

“What?” she asked, lunging for a nearby beach towel to dab her face.

“I did not know nor did I realize how hard your confession would hit me.” He lifted her and spun her, beaming at her. “I am…happy.”

She gripped his shoulders, peering at his upturned face. Gone was the asshole he’d been. Now this charming man remained, and one who handled her sass without flinching.

“So am I,” she said, smiling at him.

“My turn,” Lily called, skipping out of the bathroom. She raised her arms for a spin.

He lowered Britt, then knelt to scoop Lily up while pulling Britt close for a three-way hug. “My favorite females,” he said.

Britt winked at Lily, and together, they pressed a kiss to each of his cheeks.

Britt pulled away first. “Come, squirt, let’s see what we can find to drink. How about a mocktail.”

“What’s that?” Lily asked, wiggled until Nerx let her down, then hurried to the rehydrator.

“You’ll see.” Britt ordered a non-alcoholic strawberry daiquiri and handed it to Lily. “Medic,” she whispered to Nerx.

He typed on his O.D.I., bounded to the door, and swung it wide. “On his way.”

A minute later, a man hovered in the door, wearing the same color and style as Tico. “I am Medic Udia. How may I assist?” His gaze swept between Nerx’s eyes to Britt, to Lily, then back.

Britt crossed to stand before him, just so she could whisper, “I suspect I’m pregnant.”

His eyes widened. A smile twitched his lips. “You seek confirmation.” He tapped his wrist, then scanned her. “Indeed, milady. You bear a son.”

Ice trickled down her back as her chest exploded with joy. “A boy?”

“Thank you, Medic Udia, for delivering such wonderful news.” Nerx pressed his palm to the man’s shoulder.

“Will that be all, Ambassador?”

At Nerx’s nod, the man left. Britt was frozen in place, tears spilling through her laughter.

“Why are you crying?” Lily asked, then licked her ruby-red lips.

“Because the Maker sent you a brother.” Nerx knelt, looped his arms around Britt’s ass, and rested his temple on her stomach. “My son.”

She sucked in a sharp breath. Mom always advised women to wait sixteen weeks before announcing it. What if something went wrong? She couldn’t rely on Etteria’s amazing medical tech, like Mom seemed to do. Especially when Mom was the extent of their knowledge on the subject.

But the cat was out of the bag. Britt would just have to be super careful.

“A brother? Where’s he?” Lily handed Britt the mocktail to dart around the room.

She smiled. “He’s still being made, squirt.”

“Oh,” Lily said, trudging back to take her cup. “What’s his name?” She twirled her finger in the strawberry slush then sucked it.

“Kyerx?” Britt raised both eyebrows at Nerx.

He shook his head. “I want him named after you.”

She chuckled. “Britta is not a good boy name.”

“In Etterian culture, the last letters of the father’s name pass to the son. If the father wishes to honor the mother, then the last letters of her name are used.”

Her chest clenched and released at his thoughtfulness.

It made sense, though: Tarx, Kyerx, and Nerx. “So, what did you have in mind?” she asked, letting his unbound hair curl around her fingers.

That he loved her… She couldn’t contain the emotions roiling within her, nor control the smiles that formed at random and without her bidding.

“Vitta?” He peered at her, his chin digging into her stomach, but not painfully.

“How about Kyta? Half Kyerx and me?”

He rose, cupped her face, then kissed her long and leisurely. “The Ethera chose well, thamani . You are perfect for me.

“Flattery will get you some appreciation.” She grinned. “And Kyta it is.”