Page 34 of Secret Twins for the Alien Dad

“Seriously, though. Thanks.” I take a spoonful of rice and chew, savoring the salty granthen mixed with the rich and delicate herbal rice. “How did you know that I was craving this?”

He shrugs, his eyes darting away for a split second in a manner that almost resembles guilt before his smile turns sheepish. “A lucky guess, really. I was craving it, too, and knew you would be getting off work soon, so I thought I’d get extra to share.”

I know he’s holding something back from me, but I still can’t get a read on what. He’s been straightforward with everything else, but there’s something… strange about the way he seems to anticipate all my needs. It’s like he can read my mind, but only for cravings and things I need for myself or the babies.

Maybe he’s just more intuitive than I first thought he was when I met him all those months ago. But why would he lie about that? There is something else going on here, but prying rarely gets me anywhere good, so I decide to drop it.

“Well, you’re a lifesaver,” I say, holding my spoon up and towards him in a mock toast before taking another bite.

“Happy mom, happy babies,” he says, smiling back.

Something inside me deflates at that. I guess a part of me was hoping that he was doing it just for me, but this makes more sense. He just wants to make sure that the babies stays healthy and well-nourished. Not that I resent him for it. It’s just a little disappointing.

If he asked, I’d love to be something more than co-parents with him, but I’m sure I’ve fucked that up beyond repair. He could have his pick of any girl on any planet, so why would he choose the one who keeps leaving him?

Though I try not to let the expression show on my face, it must, because he quickly changes the subject. “Here, I got you and the babies something.”

Zair pulls a small box from the shopping bag and hands it to me. When I open it, a mechanical female Kaleidian engages in a deadly dance against monsters while a soothing tune plays. There’s a man in chains painted in the background, and she seems to be searching for him. I’ve never seen anything like it.

“What is this?” I ask, mesmerized by the little toy warrior fighting her way through the inside of the box.

“It’s a music box. The classic mechanical ones can be a bit hard to find, but I thought you might like it. My mom played one like this for me every night before I went to sleep, and I thought it might help the babies sleep, too.”

I stroke the smooth, lacquered wood, willing away the tears threatening to spill down my cheeks. “It’s beautiful.”

“I’m glad you like it,” he replies. “Do you know the story it’s depicting?”

I shake my head. “Is it murder?”

That elicits a chuckle from him. “Sort of. It’s a popular children’s story.”

“About murder.” I suppose it isn’t too strange. Many of the old Earth fairytales passed from parent to child for generations also involve a lot of murder.

He rolls his eyes. “Yes, fine. It’s about murder. But it’s more than that.” He points to the fighting Kaleidian. “This is Nerei. Her Jalshagar, Ozed, was captured by the King of Monsters, so she fights her way through his kingdom to rescue him.”

“Jalshagar?” I repeat. I’ve heard the term before but never quite knew what it meant. I just knew it was important to a lot of the various alien races on Glimner.

“It roughly translates to fated mate. The person you are destined to be with, no matter what life throws at you.”

“Oh,” I say intelligently, tearing my eyes away from his intense gaze.

I’ve never taken much stock in the idea of soulmates. Maybe at some point, I dreamed of finding one, a love that feels like destiny, but that’s not how life works. People disappoint you. They stab you in the back. They die or abandon you. Pretending otherwise is an easy way to find yourself heartbroken at best and at worst, dead if you’re not careful.

“So, does she save him?”

He smiles. “Yeah. She slays the King of Monsters, frees Ozed, and then they spend the rest of their days fighting side by side to protect the innocent.” The song loops back, and he begins singing along in Kaleidian.

His voice is husky, but it fits the cadence and the tune. I find myself soothed by his singing, and I know the babies definitely will when they are born.

“What about the song?” I ask.

“It’s the lullaby that goes with the story,” he replies. “Let me try to translate it.”

Biting his lip, his head bobs back and forth to the tune, and then he begins to sing.

“Nerei, Nerei, where is your Jalshagar?

He waits in chains, your beloved Jalshagar.

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