Page 130 of Cosmic Captain

The door opened, and the bed dipped before fingers skated through my hair. “You’re back,” I said.

“Yes,” Don whispered. “I had to get the station security set up for the humans as well as everyone else’s arrangements.”

“Why?”

“The Cohort ordered two additional ships to come to protect the humans while theAdmiral Ventravels here. The ships willbe here tomorrow. After that, there will be no reason for me to stay.”

“I see.”

Don paused, then moved away. I heard him going through the motions to go to bed. He settled behind me, not reaching for me. He was giving me space, but I didn’t want space. I rolled over and draped across his chest, like usual. His arms came around me, and he nuzzled the top of my head.

Taking a deep inhale of his soft vanilla scent, I said, “We’ll be alright, Sweetheart. I promise.”

We would survive, even if it wasn’t fun.

He cupped the back of my head. “Sleep, my Vince.”

Cuddling into his warm embrace, I closed my eyes. Me and Don would be fine. Everything would be just fine, eventually.

Chapter 46

Time flies whether you want it to or not.

“He’s so cute, Don. He’s got blue scales, a little bit lighter than Kal’s, but his brown hair and eyes are all Seth. God, I just want to smoosh his face,” Vince gushed, lying on our bed back at the palace. I was still aboard my ship, far away from him, and it had been months since I’d seen Vince with my own eyes.

No matter how much time passed, I couldn’t stop thinking about the day I’d left Vince. His sadness about being separated, his terror of staying on the station, his utter unwillingness to let me go. I’d kissed him, not caring who was watching, needing to be close with my mate, and Vince had held onto me while he silently asked that I demand he stay. I hadn’t, and I regretted it everyday since, but, at the same time, it had been the right thingto do. Vince needed to make his own decision, and I needed to be chosen for who I was.

“He’s the cutest baby,” Vince said, hugging himself.

“Kalvoxrencol sent me several images of their kit,” I replied, smiling as Vince grinned. “Have they picked a name?”

“No. Seth’s determined to name him Bob. Seriously? Who names their kid Bob?”

No drakcol of Kalvoxrencol’s station would.

“Kal’s refusing. It’s become a silent battle between them. Well, one of them. Kal literally cannot stay silent.”

“Seth still can’t let anyone besides Kalvoxrencol hold their child?” I asked.

It had been a week since the kit’s birth, and I’d received multiple notes about Seth refusing to allow anyone to hold the baby besides him and his mate. Kalvoxrencol had merely said Seth needed time. His mate was utterly terrified something would happen to their child. This was the first human and drakcol hybrid, though I doubted the last. None of the seeker souls knew if the baby would be alright or if something would happen. Seth had a hard time accepting that. Naturally, he loved his child.

“Not yet,” Vince said. “Well, he’s letting me and Wyn hold the baby. Other than that, no. I think Fyn’s really hurt. He and Seth are close.”

I imagined my younger brother was, and yet, out of everyone, Zoltilvoxfyn understood Seth and the way he battled his mind.

“But Seth’s talking to his therapist. I think he’ll get there. It’ll take time. He hasn’t left Bob alone for even a minute yet.”

“So you’re calling him Bob?” I asked, rolling to my side and staring at Vince’s lovely face. I missed him. It was a constant ache in my soul, and the separation was starting to affect me. Every breath wasn’t enough, and my guts were constantly churning, making it difficult to eat. Every night when I tried tosleep, my arms would reach for him, and when he wasn’t there, it would hurt like it was the first time. It wasn’t getting better, but rather, becoming worse.

“You know Seth will win this fight. They might make his name ridiculously long, but Seth will be calling his son Bob.”

“You’re probably correct.”

“Do you want kids?”

I ran my eyes over my beautiful mate and replied, “Perhaps.”

“What does that mean?”

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