Page 37 of LeX

“Thereis no need for that.Iwill keep her with me while your mate breaks her sleep,ViN.”Ahuge set of arms comes around me, swiftly snatching littleAmiout of my embrace. “FrackSoL, how did you sneak up on me like that?”Hecompletely ignores me as he talks toAmilovingly.

“Lookwho is happy to seeUnkaSoL!That’sright, pretty girl knows who loves her, don’t you?Ohh, what a pretty smile, just forUnkaSoL.”

“DamnitSoL,Ijust got her and you are already stealing her away.”Thebig goof just shrugs his shoulders like… try to takeher back.WhileIstand here shaking my head,Alanapeeks around his large form.

“SorryLeX, it’s my fault.Icouldn’t stay away any longer.Gimme, gimme,SoL.I’mdetermined to be the favorite aunt.OHHHmy heavens, you were right, she is stunning!Lord, the boys’ hearts you are gonna break when you get older.Sheis preciousViN, you guys did so well.”

“Thankyou,Itoo think she is exceptional.”

“Shebetter be, after allIwent through to get her here!”Ember’svoice is weak, but her smile is huge as she looks over atAlana. “ViNfind us a seat, babe.Iwant to hold my daughter before she forgets whoIam.”

SoLgrabs a big lounger, effortlessly maneuvering it into the middle of the floor with one arm, something that would have takenViNandIboth to move together.ViNsits down, settlingEmberon his lap and the moment she holds her hands out,Alanabends down giving herAmi.

Istand back, feeling likeIam intruding as tears flow fromEmber’seyes as she looks lovingly down at littleAmi.Alanapats my arm gently, motioning for me to move, and we all three sneak out of the room to giveViNandEmbersome private alone time.Alanais practically jumping with joy.

“Guys, wasn’t she absolutely precious?Iwill sayIwas shocked at how human she appears.Ifno one was told differently, you would have no ideaViNwas even her father.”

“Icompletely agree,Alana.Eventhough getting her here was quite unconventional, she appears to be thriving.”

SoL’slarge horns pullAlanacloser as he bends down to kiss the top of her head.Herexcitement is making all of us smile as she bounces around with a huge smile on her face.Hisvoice is full of love as he animatedly talks about helping withAmi. “Ithought she would be larger as well.WhenRyliefirst handed her to me in the med lab,Iwas scaredIwas going to break her accidentally.Sheis barely a handful; even ourKeidawas bigger than that when she was born.”

Alanareaches out, touching my arm. “Ican’t wait to hold my own baby in my arms.ThankyouLeX, for finally makingSoLsee reason when it comes to us having a child of our own.”

“Youtwo will be wonderful parents and even though it may not occur as quickly as you wish, remember all things happen when they are supposed to.Theenjoyable part is all the practice in the interim.

Themoment those words are out of my mouth,SoLgrabs a gigglingAlanaup in his arms.

“Whereare you two running off to?”

“Weneed practice, doctor’s orders!”Alanawaves asSoL’slarge footsteps walk down the corridor.Istand there thankful and scared all at the same time.TheLordofLighthas blessed our family beyond measure.

Mycomm unit dings andIhead back up to my quarters.Walkingin,Inotice that the lights are dim, soRyliemust still be resting.Approachingthe bed,Ijust stand there looking down at her, so very thankful that she is here with me even if it is not going asIhad planned.Fora momentIam terrified that she might not wake up again.Butshe must have sensed my presence becauseshe suddenly reaches across the bed for the stand beside it, her hand searching for something.

“CanIhelp, sleepingAngel?”

“Ican’t find my glasses.”JustasIstep forward,Istop.

Shesits up, a frown on her face. “Sorry,Ihave no idea whyIwas looking for somethingIdon’t even wear.”Rubbingher temples, she shakes her head before swinging her legs over the side of the bed.

“Isyour head hurting?”

“No,Ijust feel as weird asI’macting.Ifthis doesn’t stop,Imight have you scan me later just to see ifImay have picked up a bug or something.Whattime is it?Whyare none of the electronics working in this room?Icould have sworn there was a clock on that stand over there.Destiny, have you turned off things in this room for a reason?”

“ForgivemeMistressRylie,Iwill reinstate everything as quickly as possible.”IhearLeX’scomm unit go off and he rapidly types something in.Theroom immediately comes to life, monitors and holo pads start powering on right afterward.

“Didshe just ask you for permission to turn things on?LeX, aren’t these my rooms as well?Whyare my commands not enough to make her comply?Andwhy do you suddenly look guilty?”

“Ahh,Ijust asked her to turn everything off whenIknew you were going to take a nap.Youknow the monitors and the holo pads go off and on randomly, and you needed your rest.”

“Goodsave, butIdon’t believe a word of it.IfIdidn’t have to get dressed for this dinner, me and you would be having a heart to heart right about now.HowisEmber?”

“Shewas doing well.Ididn’t do a secondary scan on her because she was consumed with littleAmi, butIwill in the next few risings.”

“Youknow the med chambers are very thorough.I’msure she’s fully healed, or it wouldn’t have opened.”

Hernew scaling catches in the room’s lights as she runs her hands up and down her arms. “Ineed a lotion treatment.I’mitching all over; you would think these scales were new with as sensitive as they are right now.”

“Maybewhen we get back if the world isn’t ending,Ican run you a nice hot, soothing bath.”

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