Page 76 of Alien's Eternal Mate

I lifted her chin, looking deep into her eyes. She smiled, and gave a slight nod.

“I’m good, beloved.”

“You’re not worried that you will be lonely without the children?”

“Oh, no, I’m going to enjoy the peace and quiet while I have the chance. You should, too.”

I cocked my head to the side.

“What do you mean, I should too?”

I followed her gaze as it dropped to her midsection. I put my hand on her belly and laughed, joy surging through my heart.

“Again?”

“Again. Don’t worry, beloved. We should be experts this time.”

I sighed and bent over to kiss her on the belly.

“Somehow, I doubt it will be that easy, but I can’t wait to find out.”

TWENTY

CARTER

“Dad!”

I looked up from the compad in my hand as a broad shouldered, square jawed Masari raced into my office. His eyes, so much like his mother’s, swam with worry.

“Dad, I just heard. Are you all right?”

He sat down on the edge of my desk and rested his hand on my shoulder. I cocked an eyebrow.

“What’s gotten you so worked up? You’re acting like someone died.”

He flinched.

“Don’t even joke about that, Dad. You know good and well what I’m talking about. You’re not going to be the nominee this year.”

I cackled with laughter and squeezed his hand.

“That’s what’s gotten you all worked up?”

“I can’t believe you’re taking this so well. What happened? I thought the party loved you.”

I leaned forward and put my hands on my knees. Ajax offered me a hand but I waved him off and rose on my own. I limped over to the window and stared out over Starlost City. Unlike its namesake, the city rested firmly on the ground, not on an island zipping through the sky.

Like its namesake, I considered it home.

AJax joined me at the window, staring out at the glowing city lights.

“I heard there’s more than a million people living here now,” he said.

“Indeed. The city continues to grow. So much so that it no longer needs me.”

Ajax looked at me as if I’d grown a second head.

“That’s not true. We still need your leadership.”

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