Page 56 of Victoria's Embrace

Bree laughed delightedly. “Congrats, girl! Whose do you think it is?”

“Whose?” she echoed faintly.

That hadn’t even occurred to her. Of course, it couldn’t belong to all three of her mates. That was impossible, for their species anyway.

“Oh god. We- we haven’t even really talked about kids. What if they’re upset? What if they didn’t want kids? What if—” Swaying on her feet, she swallowed a little sickly.

“Whoa, easy there!” Bree caught her before she fell, bracing her with an arm around her waist. “Uhh, let’s get you to Cloud.”

Victoria stumbled alongside Bree in a daze, barely aware when Spar, accompanied by the flock of attack octoflies she was training, stopped in their path.

“Hey, you okay, chica?”

“Mm? Buns. Peas,” she mumbled absently.

“Um, okay?” To Bree, Spar demanded, “What’s up with her? Is she drunk? When did we get liquor safe for humans, and where can I get some?”

“Not drunk. I think she’s got an alien bun in the oven.”

“Oh shit, really? That’s awesome! I’d have preferred the liquor, personally, but still cool. So why’s she all… weird?”

“She didn’t know, and now she’s freaking out a little. Have you seen Cloud?”

“Ahh, gotcha. Yeah, I’ll take you to her.”

Victoria went where she was directed, coming out of her daze a bit when they walked into Cloud’s lab and she was prompted to get into one of the tubes.

Under the numbing layer of shock, the beginnings of excitement were starting to spark as she waited for the scan to finish. It had been a hell of a shock to the system to suddenly become aware she was more than likely pregnant, but that didn’t mean she was upset. Victoria had always wanted kids. To her, it didn’t matter which of her mates had fathered it, she’d be overjoyed either way.

But would they?

When the scan was finished and Cloud opened the tube so she could step out, Victoria held breath, waiting for the verdict.

Bree obviously wasn’t willing to wait. “Well? Is she?”

Cloud nodded excitedly, her antenna giving a happy little quiver-wiggle.

Victoria blew out an explosive breath. Spar and Bree surge forward, wrapping her in a hug, whooping and congratulating her.

“Oh my god. I’m going to be a mom!”

She didn’t quite faint, but it was close.

* * *

Walking home a short while later,Victoria tried to suppress the butterflies fluttering up a storm in her stomach.

As she got nearer, she spotted Snitch and Tesha playing a game of hide and scare in the yard while Luna’eva sat regally under the shade of a mushroom tree—modified so it didn’t have carnivorous tentacles dangling down, ready to snatch up the unwary—keeping watch on the two rambunctious youngsters.

Smiling, she looked up and saw her guys in the kitchen through one of the windows. She could see them laughing together and knew they’d be throwing playful ribs at one another, as was their custom. They’d become more to each other than just her mates in the last month. They’d become best friends, brothers, in a way.

Thorn had started up the business they’d talked about, crafting handmade weapons, jewelry, furniture, carvings, and decorations. It was wildly successful, and he was kept busy with the constant orders and requests. More, he absolutely loved it.

On his world, making things that were beautiful, but purposeless, was seen as wasteful, so he’d kept his artistic talents to himself. On this world, where they were surrounded by so much ugliness, beautiful things were cherished, whether they served a purpose or not.

Being allowed the freedom to be himself changed him. He was no longer the scowly, grumpy male he had been. That wasn’t to say he’d suddenly become a people person. Much to her secret delight, she didn’t think he could name a single female aside from Aria. He was still quiet and growly, preferring to keep his thoughts to himself, but that was okay. She loved him exactly as he was, and that he saved his smiles for only her was something she treasured.

Thegan, who’d initially only accepted the position of fellow Vice President so he could spend time with her, had since come to fill the role in truth. He’d become less playful and more thoughtful. He’d matured and was now a trusted leader in the complex, depended upon for his compassionate, caring nature, his quick thinking, and his straightforward honesty.

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