Lila is panting by the time she is done, and she stumbles as she steps back. I leap forward to support her.
“Good job,” I whisper and give her a kiss on the cheek.
“We need to move,” Link says, pulling his gloves off. “Zeydan, you get that end of the bed, I’ll take this one.”
They don’t stick around, hurrying the gurney down the corridor to the transporter.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
Lila
“What about the baby?” Melissa holds up the squealing infant.
“Pass her to me,” Brannock offers and takes her from the woman. He looks down at the precious girl with awe. “It’s hard to believe that not twelve months ago, I considered this baby’s father one of my best friends. It’s bittersweet to hold her while his remains are splattered in the other room because of me.”
“Don’t feel guilty. He deserved it,” I assure him, and he shakes his head.
“Oh, I don’t feel guilty. I’m just sad that she will probably suffer because of the kind of man he was,” Brannock remarks, alluding to the fact that Sanshia couldn’t even look at her.
“Don’t worry, there are plenty of us to love her, and it probably isn’t a bad thing if we take her in. You can teach her all she needs to know like you did with Chloe.” I lean in to have a look at the bundle in his arms. “She’s super cute,” I tell him, running a finger over one of the spines sticking out from her shoulder blades, wondering if our baby will be as cute one day.
“Do you think Nikos could feed her as well as the twins?” he asks, jiggling the bundle in his arms when she starts to fuss.
“I’m sure he won’t mind. We’ll ask him.”
“Ask him?” Marcus and Alina join us. “Who are you talking about?” My dad is all kinds of confused, and it’s really not a surprise. He’s been trapped in this basement building for a long time, so he’s probably forgotten about a lot of the species in the galaxy.
“One of my mates is Aquilian,” I tell him, bracing for the blowup. He isn’t coping well with all this news, but Mom’s eyes light up with knowing.
“And he has children?” she asks, obviously familiar with the possibility of Aquilian males having babies.
“Yes. He and I have two, and we have three more with another of my mates.”
My parents exchange a surprised glance.
“You have five children?” Dad stammers, and I can feel Brannock’s sympathy for him, but I’m not so kind.
“Congrats, you’re a grandpa,” I announce, giggling as he turns pale.
“I’m too young to be a grandpa,” he mutters, and Mom just laughs.
“Especially since it seems like they may be the same age as your son. I am also willing to take the little one. I’m still breastfeeding Bastien, and they can grow up together.”
“Thank you for the offer. I’m not sure if your nipples would be able to cope with her teeth,” Brannock tells my mom, using a finger to show us that she has a row of teeth, unlike a gummy human baby, and her eyes widen comically before she winces.
“Ah, yes, I hadn’t considered that.”
“Nikos is used to it. The merbabies have them too,” I tell her, but I know the truth—Brannock is already attached, and if hermother doesn’t want her, I’m pretty sure our family just grew by one more. I definitely need another nanny now, possibly two.
“Okay, I’m done,” Silac declares, standing up. “Tirrian can torch the place now.”
“Xavier, can you do your thing and make sure no one is left behind?” Saxon approaches and pulls me into his arms, giving me a kiss. It’s funny to watch Dad’s eyes bulge out of his head.
“I know you! You’re General Saxon of the Vilaxian army. We met at a diplomatic dinner your aunt hosted for the circus when we were on Vilax one year.”
“I remember. It’s nice to see you again, sir.” Saxon inclines his head politely.
“He’s older than I am!” Dad explodes, stabbing a finger in Saxon’s direction. “And he’s one of your mates?”
