Page 48 of Fighting For Their Mate

My inner walls clenched at the truth of it. Shit. I hadn’t been thinking about babies or anything else the first few times we’d been together, although it was always a possibility. But then, I never dreamed I’d be back out in space, on an op, risking my life again either. Desk jockey, that’s what I’d expected. But now Commander Karter offered me so much more. For the first time since meeting my mates, I felt torn in two.

Dorian held up his hand as I opened my mouth to speak. “You decided when you first arrived that you were ready to make a baby.”

“That was before I was called back up. Before Karter found out what I used to do.”

“Exactly,” Seth said, setting his ion pistol and holster on the table. “Things are different now. You’re not just our mate. You have an important job, one that Karter will need on future missions. One that saves lives.”

The end of that was said with almost a snarl. I sensed he wasn’t happy about me going off on missions, but he didn’t outright say no. Not like the two of them had when they discovered my rank and experience.

“You need to decide, Chloe, what you want. If you want to work with the commander and the I.C., then that’s your call. We won’t stop you.”

That stopped me. My brain literally stalled. “What are you saying? That the two of you will let me go off on top secret missions?”

“We don’t want you volunteering for them, no,” Seth admitted. He turned his head, looked at me straight on. “But if Karter thinks you’re the best for the job at hand, then, yes. Of course, you’ll go. But we won’t stop fucking you. No way, sweetheart, but we’ll take you right now to the med unit to get the birth control shot. We can wait until you’re ready.”

I flicked my gaze to Dorian, who nodded in agreement.

I’d told them I loved them. They knew it. Felt it. But now, with Seth’s admission, I felt so much more. It was as if I were the Grinch and my heart grew bigger and bigger.

Tears slipped down my cheeks and I furiously wiped them away. Clearing my throat, I didn’t know what to say. “I, um…yeah.”

“Yes, you want the shot?” Dorian asked.

I nodded, then shook my head, not sure which to do. This was all so crazy.

“I volunteered to be a bride so I could leave Earth. I didn’t fit in anymore. I didn’t belong there. I had zero intention of returning to the I.C. I mean, you saw Bruvan. You can see why I had no plan or even a thought of doing so. But I’m not going to be happy gathering wool either.”

Dorian looked confused by the human slang. He leaned against the table and crossed his ankles. Seth tugged out a chair, sat down. I stood before them, letting it all out. This was the right time. There weren’t any more secrets to be kept—the mission had resolved that problem—and Karter had given us

two days off.

“So when we first talked about having a baby, I wanted it. Then things went crazy and to be honest, I hadn’t thought about a baby—making one or having one—at all. I mean, did you think about breeding me while we were in the thick of battle?”

Seth’s jaw clenched. “Besides dealing with the clusterfuck, I wanted you safe. Not just you, everyone on the mission.”

“I don’t know what a clusterfuck is,” Dorian added. “But, no, a baby wasn’t at the top of my mind. I was pretty much making sure our ship didn’t get blown to bits.”

“So before you fill me up with any more cum,” I replied, staring at Seth and using his own words. “I think you should know what I’m thinking now.”

They waited.

“I want to work with Commander Karter. I can’t just sit idly by and let the Hive win, not when I can help. I want to go out on missions when Karter thinks I’m needed. Just like you, I have a job to do here. I can’t do nothing. More warriors will die if I don’t help. I’m not okay with that. I can’t live with that.”

“Do you think you would have come to this on your own if Karter hadn’t figured out who you were?” Dorian asked.

I shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe. I wasn’t happy on Earth. I’ve seen too much, done too much for the Fleet to go back to a normal life.”

“What are you saying?” Seth asked.

I sighed. “I want to keep working, but I also want a baby. Now. I’ll stay onboard, stick to the command deck while I’m pregnant, but when I’m fit for duty again, I want to go. But only if you’ll be there for the baby. All the babies we might have. Just like Dorian is your second, Seth, I need to know you’ll both be there for our children if anything happens to me.”

I felt fear and pain, frustration and love all swirled together through the collars.

“This is unorthodox,” Dorian said, slowly shaking his head. I sensed his amazement. “Three Coalition fighters.”

Seth stood, came over to me, tucked my hair behind my ear. His eyes met mine. “You have my word, as a father and a Coalition fighter, Dorian and I will be there for any children we might have.”

Dorian moved to stand beside me. I was almost surrounded and it felt so good. “Prillon honor, mate. You have my vow as well.”

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