Page 57 of Where the Current Takes Him
“Of course, Beaumont,” Ashford proclaimed. Loriun noticed he used the politician voice when he was lying. “Speaking of family, have you thought about children?”
Chapter 24
Beau
Beau’s heart was somehow managing to thunder and freeze all at once.
“Oh, Ashford, the relationship is a bit young to be thinking about that.” His mother laughed.
“Nonsense, that’s how Mer partnerships work. Or am I mistaken, Loriun?”
Beau’s eyes shot to the Alpha as all his initial fears came flooding back. Was he expected to start churning out hybrids as soon as he was settled? Was that what Loriun wanted of him?
“Well…” Loriun said slowly. “Yes, Mer relationships tend to progress quickly by human standards, but—”
“There,” Beau’s father interrupted. He gave his wife a jovial smile. “See? You can’t hold Mer to the same social standards as humans,amor.”
Beau’s palms had grown sweaty and his breathing shallow. Growing a human—no, growing ahuman-alien hybridinside his body thenpushing it out?He was so unbelievably not ready for any of that. Just as he opened his mouth, with panic tightening his throat, Loriun spoke up.
“But.” His voice had risen. “Interspecies relationships are not the same as Mer relationships. We must consider our human partners and their customs.”
Beau felt like his knees would have given out if he’d been standing. Whether due to relief or residual terror, he wasn’t sure. A cool arm snaked across his shoulders, its weight settling onto him. He’d never really noticed just how heavy it was.
“Male Omegas, in particular, tend to need more time to adjust to the idea. Human society has done little to prepare them for the realities of childbirth.”
Ashford nodded sagely. “That is very true. Human men were never intended to bear children.”
“Even so,” his mother said, casting a disapproving look at her husband. “There’s no rush to start thinking about that,mijo.”
Ileana managed to steer the conversation toward much safer avenues for the rest of their visit. When her eyelids began to droop, Ashford insisted she rest and herded everyone out of the room. The door clicked closed behind them.
“Beaumont,” his father said. “I need a word with you.”
That was never good. “What’s up, Dad?”
His flat eyes flickered to Loriun. “Alone.”
That was really not good. “Loriun,” Beau murmured. “Why don’t you go check out my mom’s art gallery? It’s the fourth door down this hallway, on the right.”
Loriun gave his hand a subtle squeeze. “Are you certain, Beau?”
“This will not take long, Loriun,” Ashford assured him, though it sounded more like a command than comfort.
The moment Loriun was out of earshot, Ashford arranged his face into a smile. “Beaumont, I didn’t want to say anything in your mother’s room. I worry it would upset her. But I think youshould be taking every measure to prevent a… pregnancy.” Just saying the word looked as though it pained him.
“Why the hell do you care? Isn’t that what you shipped me off to do?”
“Watch your language with me.” Ashford’s eyes glittered. “Surely you know why.”
Beau scraped his brain for any reason his father would care what happened to him now that he’d secured the financial compensation
“You mother, Beaumont,” Ashford said, exasperated. “Do you really think she could handle the sight of her only son,pregnantwith an alien parasite?”
The words hit Beau like a punch to the gut. He knew his mother didn’t have much time left, but to think that he might cause her health to worsen…
“The doctors are saying she has a year, maybe less.” Despite the callous, manipulative tone in his voice, Beau could see the barest hint of sorrow in his expression. Ashford Montgomery may be a bastard, but there was one thing in this world he truly loved: his wife.
“Dad, I just met Loriun like a month ago,” Beau retorted. “That’s the last thing on my mind.”
