Is that…
BABY’S FIRST WORD!
I desperately fiddled with my translator device, hoping it could now interpret what the creature was saying. “That’s it, Pedro,” I urged. “Say it again?—”
“Krawk?” they repeated, and my heart simultaneously warmed and broke to hear the translation in my ear.
Father.
“They’re calling out for their father, Zig,” I croaked, swallowing thickly. “I-I think they can still hear their fellow Trols, even through the shield…”
Ziggy’s Earthling face remained as impassive as always, but I couldfeelhis emotions, whether he liked it or not.
Pride. Resignation. Sadness.
I see you, Space Daddy.
“Do you want to go home, Pedro?” he murmured, gently removing the creature from his shoulder and holding them at arm’s length, facing the window. “Is that what you want, little star?”
MY HEART!
The waterworks weredefinitelyimminent, but I didn’t want to upset Pedro—or sway their loyalties—by revealing how upset I was.
This has to be their decision.
Pedro dangled from Ziggy’s hands for another minute, head still cocked as they listened towhateverfrequency they were picking up on. Then, they twisted in his hold and scampered up his arm, but instead of returning to their usual perch, Pedro slung both pangolin claws around his space dad’s neck and stared him down from two inches away.
“Krawk,” they squeaked, and I officially lost my shit.
“Ohmyfuckinggawwwwd, Zig!”I wailed, drawing in huge, sobbing breaths as Niagara Falls poured out of my eyeballs.“Pedro knowsyou’retheir daddy. I can’t. I cannot HANDLE THE CUTENESS! Hold up… I need to document this moment…”
After I was done taking 300 more photos and blowing my nose at least as many times, I triumphantly smiled atmySpace Daddy, knowing exactly what I wanted to do.
What needs to be done.
“I think we need to leave the Trols alone,” I decisively stated. “At least until weknowit’s safe for them to come out of hiding.”
Ziggy was still staring into Pedro’s big, yellow eyes, trying to act cool even as he pumped our bond full of happy feels. “If that’s what you think is best, Micah.”
I SEE YOU.
“I do,” I replied before smirking. “Besides, with Pedro imprinting on you the way they have, it would make the handoff difficult.”
My man sent me a sidelong look of such loving exasperation, I almost swooned. “Yes, well, it appears I’ve imprinted on them as well.”
Okay, SWOON!
“Well, then it’s settled.” I clapped my hands together, excited for the vengeance ahead. “Next stop:Dionaea.”
“Then Stellaria,” Ziggy added, turning his attention back tohisbaby.
Our baby.
“Home,” I stated.
“Yes,” he murmured, the tiniest smile twitching his lips. “Home.”
EPILOGUE
