“Would it hurt?”
Glancing around his room, I noticed that I had never been in one of my mate’s private bedrooms. I had seen my clanmates enter and exit from our private backyard, but I never needed to go inside. I had a mate with me at all times, and even when I didn’t, the mental threads told me where they were—which was rarely in a private chamber.
The private rooms were always available, and my clan had plans to use them while rotating through solo time with me, but my clanmates would rather spend time outside or in the special interest rooms, like Odelm’s music room.
Just as I took a step, someone grabbed my wrist and spun me around, pinning my body against the wall.
“What are you trying to do? Do you think you can sneak up on the best assassin in the galaxy while he sleeps?” Kaede purred, nipping my ear. “I could smell you before you even entered myprivateroom. The noise of the door sliding open alone would have woken me if I hadn’t already been awake.”
“I wanted to speak with my lethal guard. Alone,” I breathed, glancing over my shoulder. “You have been avoiding me, and I want to know why.”
“I haven’t been avoiding you,” Kaede muttered. He trailed his nose along my neck, sending shivers down my spine. “I’ve been making sure Destima is safe.”
“Safe from what?”
“Those who dare to attempt to take happiness away from you and me,” he growled, gripping my hip as his hardness pressed between my butt cheeks. My thin swim bottoms left no room for imagination as the firm length gently rocked along the crease of my thighs. “Now that you are mine, I have no excuse for failure.”
“Why are you so worried? What happened?”
“I need to tell you something.” He sighed, his breath lightly tickling my neck. “But I am afraid you will hate me.”
“If I hate you, it would be because of the stunt you pulled with Masmi,” I teased, trying to lighten the mood. “Kaede, just tell me. We promised no secrets, remember?”
“Fine.”
He pulled away and took my wrist, holding on as he led me to his bedside. Sitting down, he grabbed my other wrist and gently rolled his thumbs along the backs of my hands. His neon-green slitted eyes were worried as he licked his lips.
“You know how I had my heat cycle while we returned?”
“How could I forget?” I rolled my eyes. “You kept punishing yourself by trying to resist me.”
“Well, it turns out thatishing fraxZyxel forgot to tell us another important fact about my genes.”
I stilled as I tried to guess what could concern Kaede so much. I drew a blank.
“Just tell me, Kaede!” I demanded, combing back his hair from his horns and tucking the strands behind his ears. “I promise I won’t be mad at you.”
“You’re pregnant with a daughter,” he whispered, holding my gaze as he released my wrists and placed his two hands on my stomach. “And I am the sire.”
“I’m pregnant?” I gasped, covering my mouth with both hands. “When did you find out?”
“Shortly after you passed out from waking your Favored. Celyze used his psychic powers to figure out you’re carrying my child.” He leaned over and kissed my stomach. “Then Zyxel decided to explain that during an Alpha Ezzaska’s mating heat, hisBahzylmakes his sperm bypass any natural or medical birth control.”
“Since we decided to explore each other during your whole cycle, there was no way I would walk off theAbyssnot pregnant,” I breathed as a sense of peace fell upon me. “Even though I wanted to wait a few more years before I became a mother once again, this isn’t the end of the universe. If I had to spin it, I could thank you for helping me provide my nestmates time to heal. Even though they said I could bite their necks to trigger their manhood’s growth, somehow it seems wrong to accept that offer. No, this pregnancy is a blessing in disguise.”
“You don’t hate me?” His voice was dumbstruck as he blinked hard. “But we didn’t—”
“We didn’t discuss it?” I tilted my head as I studied him. “Nor did Zirene, and I don’t hate him. Only this time, we both were playing with the Stars.”
“You honestly aren’t mad?”
“Kaede, if providing me with another daughter is the worst thing you can do to me, then I accept her with open arms.”
“Will you let me raise her as my daughter?” Fiery hope I hadn’t seen since the day I had accepted him as a mate filled his eyes. “You would give me the honor?”
“I don’t see why not.” I shrugged, confused by his sudden doubt that I would’ve denied him. “I will need all the help I can get.”
Gripping my hips, he gently placed his head against my stomach and stilled. Slowly, my skin dampened where he rested his cheek as his shallow sobs rocked me.
