Dr. Cohen came up beside her with a knowing smile, and patted her on the shoulder. “We’ll make this quick,” she whispered, “then I’ll show you to your quarters.”
The regent jerked his head toward Ontarii. “We need to debrief, obviously, and I want your help in interrogating the Hareema prisoner. Drake informs me that you have information about a rebel alliance among the enemy. I want to see what our captive has to say about that.”
Ontarii nodded, and the regent moved on, focusing on the lieutenant and his companion. “You two, you’re charged with recovering the missing Earth vessel and reclaiming it from the Hareema. I want this done as quickly as possible. I think the next step in this war will be a trip back to Earth, and I want it to be in your vessel.”
“Wait!” Brook didn’t like taking orders from someone she’d just met, especially where it concerned her ship. “If anyone is going on this mission, it’s me. It’s my damn ship.”
Ontarii pulled her back into his arms. “You’re not going without me. If you go, I go.”
The regent’s face was a storm cloud, his color beginning to lighten. “Listen up, I need you both on Zanthar. I need you to help plan the Earth excursion. Your lieutenants have proven themselves more than capable. They will recover the ship. You will remain here. Am I clear?”
Ontarii nodded, then looked at Brook.
Although it didn’t sit well with her, she had to admit she needed rest. Besides, she could be helpful in planning what came next. “Fine.”
Dr. Cohen put an arm around her. “I think that’s enough for now. I’m going to take Captain Brooklyn to her quarters. The rest can wait until after she’s had time to eat, rest, and freshen up.”
Ontarii made to follow but the female held up her hand. “She’ll be just down the hall. You can come find her when you’re finished here. Right now I want to talk to her alone.”
Without waiting for a response, Dr. Cohen led Brook out of the room.
“You have to be firm with them,” she said. “They hate letting a mate out of their sight. But it isn’t practical to be tied to the hip all the time. This should buy us at least five minutes to talk.”
Brook laughed. She could see she was in for quite an interesting life with Ontarii.
Dr. Cohen led her down a corridor that reminded Brook of ocean coral. She took her into a chamber that was warm and welcoming, with a desk and something that looked like dried flowers that had come from the sea.
“The bedroom is in there,” her escort said, pointing to the next room. “And the bathroom’s attached.”
Dr. Cohen took a seat on a sofa and gestured for Brook to join her. “We don’t have much time, so I’m going to get right down to business. Drake told his brother that Ontarii had mated you.”
Brook was nonplussed. She didn’t like her business being told to the world behind her back.
“I know you’re upset.” Dr. Cohen waved her hand in the air as if to brush past the concern. “It really was a matter of planetary security though. The way these males get about their mates is not like human males. The regent needed to be informed.”
“And the regent is your mate?”
“Yes.” The scientist’s face grew soft, a rosy glow coming over her. “He is, and trust me, it hasn’t been easy, but it’s definitely worth it.”
Seeming to come out of a daze, she continued, “Since his coloring is back to normal, I’ll assume that Ontarii was able to…er…come to completion with you?”
Brook’s face warmed. Her answer was a curt “Yes”.
“And I assume he might have said something about not being able to breed?”
Brook nodded.
Dr. Cohen gave her a small smile. “Well, as an astrobiologist and an expectant mother, I can tell you that he’s wrong about that.”
Brook’s eyes widened. “You’re pregnant?”
“Yes. I will be the proud mother to the first human-Zantharian hybrid.”
This changes everything. Then she shook her head.No, it doesn’t. At least, not in a negative way. Not only do I get to be with the man I love, but now I have a chance to bear his baby.
The transparent membrane that served as the chamber’s door split open and two Zantharian males entered. Ontarii made a beeline for Brook, sitting down beside her and stroking her hair.
The regent took his mate’s hand and pulled her up off the sofa. “Come on, dear. Let’s give them some time to rest.”
