Page 20 of Dreaming of an Earth Christmas

He’d had his share of human delicacies during their time on Earth for their human matehood ceremony and then later during private meals with Kat’s family. He had preferred those—the smoked meat her father and brother made was excellent, and he’d even liked some of their unusual vegetable dishes, but overall, he didn’t much care for Earth food.

He scooped something dark red from one of the dishes and placed it on Kat’s plate. She’d barely touched her meal, and he was getting concerned. She’d seemed preoccupied lately, and although at first he’d assumed it was because of all of the bustle of planning the gathering, Kat was still acting strangely, and all of the work was now complete. He couldn’t even blame it on his family. They’d been happy to welcome them to the palace when they’d first arrived, and not even his mother had pestered them during the preparations for the Christmas celebration.

Kat blinked and then frowned at the pile of red goo he’d deposited on her plate. She turned and looked at him. “Cranberry sauce—or whatever sort of berry this is—is meant to be used as an accompaniment to the main meat dish. You don’t eat it by the spoonful, handsome, but thank you. What’s with you?” she asked, lowering her voice so the others wouldn’t overhear. “You’re acting really odd tonight.”

V’esthiss felt his crown feathers rise as he inclined his head the barest amount. “I’m acting oddly? Are you certain, lady?”

“Yes. Now you’re even getting all formal with me. Is there something we need to talk about?” Her face suddenly went a bit gray as she grimaced and then swallowed heavily. “You know what? I think I could use some fresh air. Do you want to take me out to the garden for a moment?”

“I’d be happy to,” he replied, experiencing a mix of anticipation and trepidation that had his scales feeling too tight over his skin. “Would you like me to get you a glass of the eggnog before we go?”

Kat covered her mouth with her hand for a moment before she lowered it and shuddered. “No. No eggnog.”

He noticed Carlie, Sseith of Ka’alaniss’ mate, giving Kat a twinkling smile before she laughed. “Just between you and me, I don’t think there’s much in that so-called eggnog besides booze. At least T’kalinth seems to be enjoying it.”

Kat grinned back. “I heard him saying that he purposefully left out the eggs, so that sounds about right,” she replied. Kat pushed her chair back and stood up, doing her best to leave without disturbing any of their guests. V’esthiss followed, quickly coming to her side to support her arm.

He enjoyed escorting his wife. Although he didn’t try to hide their bond aboard theClaw, they both had their separate responsibilities within the ship, and he didn’t get to touch her nearly enough. It was pleasant to be home, to walk with her without any purpose except to enjoy her company. His father had been pressing him to remain in Verkissat for longer intervals. Perhaps the idea merited some more serious consideration than he’d given it before. He could discuss it with Kat later, but it wasn’t Christmas night conversation.

V’esthiss inclined his head towards the guards who were standing on either side of a door that would lead them out to the courtyard. They opened the door for him, and V’esthiss could already scent the balmy night air and its distinctive fragrance, redolent of sha’avik blossoms and old stone. Perhaps there were more magnificent gardens, but he found himself taking them towards the small alcove with the relic of his lineage. The bright moonlight illuminated the stone slab with the mark of the snake, and he hoped that she, too, looked at it and remembered their joining here. Even now, his venom began to rise as he imagined he heard the echoes of her frenzied cries of need when he’d first claimed her.

V’esthiss saw the dark stain of a blush marking Kat’s brown skin, and he reached out and clasped his hand behind her neck, intending to draw her closer for a kiss.

“Wait,” Kat said as she placed a hand over his chest. He stopped and looked down at her, realizing she must’ve had some purpose in mind tonight besides a moonlit stroll. His mouth felt unpleasantly dry as his worries began to grow. “I have something to tell you.”

“Yes,” he said, his voice coming out thickly.

Her smile was hesitant and shaky when she met his eyes. “I only confirmed it today. I only waited to tell you because I was hoping for the right moment, but—”

“What is it, Kat? Please just tell me.”

“I have some news. There’s a reason I wanted to start a new tradition here. We’re going to need to put down roots, even if I don’t want to give up my work. I saw a medic here in the city this morning. I’m pregnant.”

He felt as if he’d been hit with a bolt of lightning. It cleaved him in two, and the old V’esthiss and his life faded into shadow as the new version—the one who would be a father—struggled to grasp the immensity of her declaration.

“You’re pregnant,” he repeated dumbly. “So quickly? F’athik and his mate have been hoping for years—we’ve been blessed by the Lady,” he told her. He’d been surrounded by human-Xithilene families the past two days, but it still felt like the realization of an impossible dream when she told him that they, too, would soon have a child.

“You’re happy?” she asked.

“Of course. We wouldn’t have agreed to stop preventing conception if I didn’t want a child with you. I’m simply overwhelmed with our good fortune.”

Some of the tightness left the crease between her eyes, and a playful little grin worked its way across her lips. “You once told me your people didn’t have litters, but you lied—I’m having twins. There are two babies, a boy and a girl.”

Just like him and Vitha. “If we tell my mother, she’ll never let us leave,” he teased as he visualized two small children running the halls of the palace. His heart felt as if it couldn’t quite fit in his chest as it continued to hit him that such images would become reality.

“Do you think she’ll approve of me now?” Kat asked as she ran her hands over his shoulders, sparking sensation everywhere she touched.

“She’s always approved of you, my Kat,” he half growled. The familiarity of this place, the utter joy he felt at the news she’d given him, and the scent of her growing desire had him feeling slightly feral. He could lay them down on the ground before the stone, just as he had before. They could celebrate their own miracle beneath the Christmas moonlight, and no one else would be the wiser.

“Is that your comm device?” Kat asked, pulling her hands away and stepping back.

He gave the space between them a pointed look of dissatisfaction. “Yes,” he replied curtly. Then he turned his wrist up and saw the ID sequence. “I need to take this.”

“Go ahead,” Kat said, and she smiled at him as she walked towards the perimeter of the small clearing.

He tapped his earpiece and listened to the message his contact had sent, and then he called Kat back to him. “We need to go back in to gather your friends. I’ve already received my gift tonight, but there are others who still await theirs, and I’ve just had word that we’ll be receiving a special delivery.”

Kat lifted her eyebrows and took his hand. “Are you going to tell me about it?”

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