Page 61 of Alien Engineer's Mate

After they'd gone, Maax turned back to look at his family. Emily and Grace remained asleep, tangled together on the couch. Kyle had finally lost his battle with exhaustion, his head nodding forward as he leaned against the furniture.

"They need their beds," Eira said softly, already moving to gather Grace into her arms.

Maax lifted Emily with practiced care, remembering countless nights of carrying her from his chair to her bed. But this was different. Better. This time Eira moved with him, their steps falling into natural harmony as they maneuvered through the living space that was now truly theirs.

Kyle stumbled after them, batting away Maax's offered hand with sleepy dignity. "I can walk," he insisted, though his steps wove a little. "I'm not a baby."

"Of course not." Maax's lips quirked up at the corners. "A warrior knows when to conserve his strength."

That earned him a sleepy smile as Kyle followed them down the hallway.

Emily stirred slightly as Maax laid her in her bed, but settled again when he smoothed her hair back. Grace didn't move at all as Eira tucked her in beside Emily, the girls gravitating toward each other even in sleep. They'd have to arrange proper quarters soon, but for tonight, this felt right.

"One more simulation?" Kyle asked hopefully as they reached his room, though his eyes were already drifting closed.

"Tomorrow." Eira's voice held fond amusement as she pulled his covers up. "The simulations will still be there when you wake up."

Maax watched from the doorway as she pressed a kiss to Kyle's forehead. The boy was asleep before she straightened up, his breathing already evening out into a peaceful rhythm. Something in Maax's chest expanded at the domestic scene.

This was his now. All of it. His family, his mate, and their future together.

Eira moved past him, her scent filling his lungs with each breath. He caught her hand in the hallway, drawing her to a stop. The simple touch sent electricity racing up his arm.

Her fingers twined with his, the gesture natural as gravity. When she looked up at him, the love in her eyes stole his breath. How had he gotten so lucky? What had he done to deserve this fierce, brilliant female?

He tugged on their joined hands, drawing her toward their room and closing the door behind them, sealing them away from the sleeping household.

They had the rest of their lives to be a family. They had the rest of their lives to celebrate everything they'd almostlost. Everything they'd fought to keep. Everything they'd built together.

But tonight?

Tonight was just for them…

18

Today was everything she thought it would be and more.

Eira took a moment to herself, tucked away next to one of the reception hall's gleaming support pillars as she sipped at a glass of champagne. She'd never have thought the Lathar, with all their warrior culture and militaristic bearing, would have anything like this aboard. The hall was huge, high-vaulted like pictures of cathedrals she'd seen. It was lit up by bioluminescent flowers woven through what Maax had told her were traditional Latharian victory garlands, while Earth roses filled crystal vases on the tables that bordered the room. The merged decorations should have clashed, but somehow they didn't. They worked, blending perfectly together. She smiled as she lifted her glass to her lips again, letting the bubbles fizz on her tongue. The decorations worked, just like their little blended family.

The skirts of her wedding dress swished around her ankles as she shifted her weight from foot to foot, looking down at the beautiful dress. She hadn't had a proper wedding dress the first time around when she'd married James... the colony had neverbeen a prosperous one, and they hadn't had the funds to import anything that wasn't necessary for survival.

But she had to admit, it felt nice to be dressed like a princess for the day, even if the delicate fabric felt strange after years of practical colony wear. The designs embroidered around the edges of the sleeves as she lifted her glass matched the mating marks wrapped around Maax's wrists.

The sound of children's laughter cut through the air and she looked over to the dance floor. Her smile widened as Maax spun in careful circles, Emily perched on one arm while Grace clung to the other. Their matching dresses, white with the blue sashes that Emily had insisted on, flared out as he turned. Their giggles echoed off the high ceiling, punctuated by calls for him to go faster.

"Again, Papa!" Emily's voice carried clearly over the music. "Again!"

Maax obliged, adjusting his grip to lift them both safely off the ground, his warrior's strength making it look effortless. Grace squealed in delight as they spun, her hair flying out behind her. The sight squeezed something in Eira's chest, her daughter had laughed more in the past few days than in all the years since James died.

The memory of Tisshel arriving this morning before the bonding ceremony filled Eira's mind. The advocate had worn her formal robes despite the early hour, her eyes bright with victory as she presented Emily's completed adoption documents. Tears had gathered in Emily's eyes when she realized she had a forever family... that she would never be parted from them again. Eira took a quick sip of her drink, blinking back fresh tears of her own.

"Your mate cuts quite the figure on the dance floor."

Eira turned to find Kirr beside her, his massive frame somehow managing to look elegant in what she assumed wasformal warrior's garb... new leathers and a heavily embroidered sash. His eyes crinkled with amusement as he watched Maax navigate another spin.

"He's had practice," she said, unable to keep the smile from her voice. "Emily insists on dancing every night before bed now. Says it's tradition."

Kirr's rumbling laugh filled the air. "They have him wrapped around their fingers already."

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