Time’s up, Space Daddy.
Because partners work through things together.
First, I checked on Pedro‘s shields then set aside the breakfast tray that had magically appeared outside my Fortress of Solitude this morning. Then, I steeled my spine and walked to the door before sliding it open.
Ziggy was still wearing the same clothes from yesterday and looked noticeably exhausted for someone who didn’t need much sleep. I forcibly tamped down the urge to comfort him—tofixthings for everyone else—and simply stood there, waiting to hear what he had to say.
“I’m so sorry, Micah,” he began, which was a good start. “For how I behaved on Ekistron—for ruining your training. I need to think things through before reacting, even when I feel you might be in danger… because Iknowyou can handle yourself.”
As the most impressive creature in all the galaxies, sure.
When I gestured for him to keep going, he continued. “I was being truthful when I told you I didn’t feel like myself lately, but I should have explained why.”
His gaze drifted over my shoulder to where Pedro was squeaking up a storm while running back-and-forth on the bed—unable to reach their favorite space dad because of the shields I’d sneakily activated around the sleeping pod before opening the door.
Because my trust has been broken.
In the interest of moving things along, I filled in the blanks for him. “It’s because of Pedro, isn’t it? Specifically the karnilian inside them…”
Ziggy winced, and my gut twisted at the realization my worst fears had come true.
Has he actually considered claiming the gemstone for himself?
“The stone has been calling to me ever since I encountered it inside him.” His voice had a raw, wavering quality I’d never heard before. “Your shields help by blocking it, but the idea of anything happening to the Trol feels like I’ve turned my tendrils on myself. Weneedto return Pedro to their planet before… before I…”
Ohhh…
Oh, you ridiculously stacked, grab-bag of tasty idiot.
I knew exactly what was going on here, even if Ziggy was too emotionally stunted to see it for himself. My man was already deep in his—extremely satisfactory—grovel, however, and I didn’t want to overwhelm him with the truth of what he was feeling.
Baby steps for the space dad.
It wasn’t his fault he couldn’t separate actual protective instincts from witchy, gemstone-induced possessiveness. If anyone was to blame, it was probably Theo, but it hurt my heart to know my true love had been dealing with such overwhelming feelings alone for so long.
“I’ve got you, Zig,” I whispered, pulling him close for a Salah Squeezer hug. “We’re going to figure this out together, and I do meantogether.No more secrets, okay?”
Commander Babygirl is serious.
He collapsed all those hot muscles into my arms with a relieved shudder. “Anything you say, sunshine. Just… Please, let me in…”
For a moment, I was confused about what he was talking about, since I’d already opened the bedroom door. Then I remembered I’dalsoformed a mini-shield around the piece of his core lodged inside me, using a similar method to when I protected my thoughts from meddling psychics like Uulvin.
Or Dre.
“I’m sorry too, Zig,” I replied, giving him another squeeze. “I shouldn’t have accused you of trying to stunt my powers, since you’ve always been my biggest supporter. Ya boy’s just a little nervous about how I’m going to dissolve the shields around Uuktar—especially once we have a bunch of overgrown lizards breathing down our necks.”
For now, I released the shields still separating us, and Ziggy groaned, deeply inhaling my scent before taking a step back, smiling like he had a secret.
A good one this time.
“That was going to be my olive branch…” he murmured. “Offering to show you which skin suit I’d be wearing once we landed.”
Once again, my interest is piqued.
“Lead the way, Space Daddy,” I replied, waving my hand Leeloo-style and releasing a squealing Pedro from the sleeping pod shield, knowing the Trol was safe withbothof us. “It's bad bitch mercenary time.”
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