Cyprian was staring at me grimly, his jaw clenched.
“Cyprian?” I whispered.
“How can you ask that of me, Se Esaria?” Cyprian demanded. “I am not... I own a sex club. I'm not fit...” he trailed off.
“The hell you aren't!” I growled and stood up. I strode over to him and took his hands. “You led your people to freedom. You found a way for them to coexist peacefully on this planet. You're brave and brilliant! A child—ourchild—would be lucky to have you as a father.”
A tear coasted down his cheek. “You truly want to have my baby?”
“Yes.” I took his face in my hands and kissed him tenderly. “I want that with all my heart.”
Cyprian pulled me into a tight embrace and bent his face to my neck, shuddering against me, his tears soaking into my skin. But they were happy tears and when he lifted his head, he was smiling.
“I never thought I'd be a father,” Cyprian spoke with soft wonder. “A father. Me.”
“Well, not right this second, darling,” I teased him and stepped back. “We still need to discuss how we'll do this and in what order.”
“Order?” Kyrian asked. “How can we guarantee an order?”
“Every man but the chosen father will take a potion to render him infertile,” Everan explained.
Kyrian made a huff of sound. “Of course. So simple.”
“The Triari have such potions too?” I asked in surprise.
“Any med-mod can render a person infertile for several weeks,” Malik explained. “Warriors always take the precaution before going on missions.”
“Okay,” I murmured. “I don't want to know why it's necessary for them to take birth control before battle, but it's nice to have that option.”
“Then all that remains is to decide the order,” Malik said. “As Ruar, Cyprian should go first.”
Everan flinched.
“I am content to wait,” Cyprian said with a glance at Ever. “You shall go first, Everan. You were brave enough to ask our wife, and you also have the need for an heir. Plus, it will ease us into becoming parents. As you said, Se Esaria, we will help to raise the children. They will have their fathers and they will know them as such, but we are a family, and the children will be raised to know that as well.”
“They will not want for love,” Everan said softly. “Thank you, Cyprian.”
“Thank you for easing the way for the rest of us.” Cyprian grinned at him, then at me.
“As if I'm some kind of monster who would have taken your heads off for suggesting motherhood to me,” I huffed.
They all looked away.
“Unbelievable!” I snapped. “If that's the case, then maybe I shouldn't be a mother.”
I started to walk out, but they all converged on me—consoling, placating, and just plain begging. I let them fawn over me, offering me all sorts of incentives, from nannies to diamonds, and then I burst out laughing. The men eased back and grimaced at each other.
“Do we really want to take the risk of making more like her?” Kyrian grumbled.
Then they shared another look and, with the goofiest grins I'd ever seen them wear, they said together, “Yes!”
Chapter Twelve
The Willard Intercontinental was an old school hotel with painted ceilings, marble columns, and a Parisian cafe. The Ballet Gala was being held in one of its ballrooms but to get to it, you had to walk the press gauntlet through the lobby. I clung to Edward Leshing's arm as any good arm-candy would and blinked my fake lashes at him as I angled my bare shoulders to their best advantage. Now, when I say fake lashes, I don't mean the kind you can glue on. I had cast an illusion over myself, presenting the image of a stunning redhead with a runway-model body. I hadn't chosen the illusion indiscriminately. After a google search on Leshing and a quick scan of pictures of him with past girlfriends, I went with a look that seemed to be his type.
I'd chosen to wear a red gown since the point was to get noticed, and I've always liked the boldness of a redhead wearing red. It hugged me from breasts to hips, where the silk draped an underskirt of black chiffon, creating a mermaid silhouette that still managed to look modern. My hair was piled atop my head in bright curls, with a few ringlets left loose to accent my neck, and the only jewelry I wore was my engagement earrings from Kyrian. I had to hide my wedding rings from Cyprian and Malik—worn on my right and left ring fingers respectively—beneath the illusion as well for obvious reasons.
Cyprian, who had already arrived and was inside the ballroom with Mal, Kyrian, and Braxis, had texted me just before Leshing and I had pulled up to the hotel in his Arrow XT—the latest release from Leshing Industries' car company, Orion. The sports car was sleek, sexy, and matched my dress. You know your date has money when he can choose a car to match your outfit.
