Page 29 of Jace

There was a fluffy blue rug on the floor and a floating crib was parked above it. Built-in shelves were home to stacks of what appeared to be clothing and blankets as well as books, toys, and games.

A large window beside the crib overlooked the woods and a skylight above showed the stars.

“It’s perfect,” Susannah breathed.

“It has everything he needs,” Jace agreed. “And plenty of space to replace that hover crib with a bed when he’s older.”

“Do you like your room?” Susannah asked Zeke, who was looking sleepy again. “Don’t go back to sleep. We need to feed you first.”

He smacked his lips like he knew what she meant, and she laughed and kissed the top of his fragrant little head.

“Shall we see the other rooms?” Jace offered.

“Of course,” Susannah said.

He stepped back so that she and Zeke could move to the room opposite.

It was a washroom, with shelves under the sink and a refresher with tiles depicting wild ponies, evergreen trees, and a midnight blue sky riddled with stars.

“Is that meant to be Han-2?” Susannah asked.

“Looks like it to me,” Jace replied.

“I love it,” she declared, moving back to the hallway.

The last door could only be her room. She tried not to get her hopes up. The baby was the most important person in the household, as evidenced by the cheap conveyance the agency had arranged to get her here in the first place. Her own room was probably a broom closet with a mattress on the floor. And that would be fine, so long as it was warm and clean.

But when she stepped inside, she was stunned to find a spacious and luxuriously designed room with windows on both sides, a big four-poster bed, and a fireplace with more of the pretty Han-2 tiles at the hearth.

“Wow,” she said out loud.

“I think that’s another washroom,” Jace said, pointing to a door beside the bed.

She went to it and saw that he was right. A massive soaking tub took up half the space inside.

“Wow,” she said again.

“I am glad you like it,” he told her. “Twenty standard years is a long time to live in one place.”

“Maybe for a soldier,” she said, turning to him. “For my people, it is typical for generations to be born and die in the same flat in the community housing complex.”

“Ah,” he said. “My apologies. I forgot not everyone is constantly deployed.”

“But not anymore,” she said quickly, suddenly wondering what would happen if Invicta were involved in a war on their own territory.

“Guarding the whelp is my primary directive,” he told her. “This priority eclipses even the most serious of Invicta demands.”

“Good,” she said, feeling her shoulders drop.

“You do not wish me to leave you,” he murmured.

He was standing so close. She hadn’t really noticed it before. He seemed enormous in the low-ceilinged space, his warmth and scent curling around her, like an embrace. It was almost impossible not to look up into those beautiful icy blue eyes.

Almost.

“You’re useful to us in so many ways,” she forced out as she turned on her heel and headed back to the living space. “It would be a shame not to have your help.”

He followed her silently, and she hoped she hadn’t hurt his feelings.

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