Chapter 58 #2
Domini were a warrior species and the Coalition often used Atem's warriors as their own personal army, allowing him command of them when necessary.
Her planet, as an uncontacted, undocumented planet, would have been protected by his people by order of the Coalition if it was being invaded, even without their ever meeting.
But the way he spoke, he wasn't talking about Coalition business.
He was giving her this vow as Dominani of Turv.
Earth was his to protect. It was his to defend.
She didn't know how the ratchi found her home planet.
She might never know. Atem told her that traveling in subspace with an inexperienced navigator had the tendency to drop your ship in surprising locations.
It was a potential danger and had led to more than a few accidental discoveries.
It was most likely how the ratchi found Earth when trying to return home after capturing Atem and, being the dishonorable males they were, they had taken advantage of the opportunity to capture five random females to serve their clavas as prizes alongside him.
They would never have been able to hold him. The moment they took him from his cage on Turv, he would have begun fighting, plotting, escaping. And he would still have saved the females that had been captured with him. They would have all still ended up right here.
But Peony had offered him a cup of water. She had helped the others break free of their guards then set Atem free from his cage. She fed him. She helped him. With her very hand, she had saved the Dominani of Turv and ensured her new name and his heart.
“I will find your Earth, Peony,” he promised, kissing that very hand. “I will protect and provide for them as you have done for me. No one will dare harm your planet or your people. If contact has been forced before your time, I will act as your people's protector against any aggression.”
He reached between them and placed his hand over her belly.
“Our son, any pups we have in the future, will be half human.
I wish them to know of their mother's blood and culture as they will know mine. Do not fear for your planet, vi Peony. Romival will find it. The other Coalition species will find it if he does not. The other leaders are already searching. We are determined to bring you humans into the universe.”
“Do they...” She hesitated only a bit before pushing on. “Do they all know I'm pregnant?
A proud smile pulled at his face. “They do. Half of them called me delusional for believing you truly carried a hybrid, but I have Donivi's research data to prove them wrong. I've had many requests from all over the universe to study you.”
Peony started, surprised. “You have? Why haven't you told me about it?”
“Because I do not want them examining you or my son,” he growled protectively.
“I will trust Donivi. He is one of my Firsts and you are right in saying I must trust someone and those closest to me are most deserving of it. Donivi is excited about this event, but I know he will not lose sight of you or our pup as people. The others can look through his research data when he is done. When our son is old enough to choose for himself, he can decide if he wants them to study him. For now, only Donivi and Scarlet will have that right.”
Peony chuckled, his protective growl filling her with a pleasant warmth. “Thank you.”
“Hm? For what?”
“For being you.” She kissed his cheek. “And for always looking out for me.”
“Forever,” he promised, nuzzling her cheek as he squeezed her a bit closer. “Though, you again make me question your males' worth if that alone is deserving of thanks.”
“Human men really aren't that bad.”
“That you feel the need to defend them at all, and to qualify it by saying 'that bad', does not give me confidence as to the truth of your words.”
Peony laughed. “Well, good for me then that the only males I have to worry about anymore are you and our sons.”
Atem pulled his shoulders back, satisfied. “Precisely. You may forget all human males. Unless the leader of your planet turns out to be one, then you may show him some friendliness and respect. But hopefully it will be a female, then you really can forget all of them.”
Peony snickered as she cuddled up against his chest. Perfectly happy to do exactly that. What need did she have for Earth and human men anyway? Everything she never knew she wanted and everything she ever dreamed of having was right here.
Atem led her out of the bath, and they took turns drying each other before he led her by the hand back to their nest. A nest that she proceeded to spend a few minutes making absolutely perfect as he watched on with indulgent contentedness.
Only once the nest bed was perfect did she bring him over to lay him in it.
And when she had him laying down where she wanted him, with him smiling at her all the while, she finally crawled in herself and leaned back into his side.
She took his arm and wrapped it around her, resting his hand on her belly, before turning a bit and resting her own on his chest so she could feel the steady, three beats of his heart.
“Happy, vi Peony?” He asked once she had settled down.
She hummed in agreement as she basked in the sunlight coming in through the window as it caressed their naked skin.
“I'm absolutely perfect.”
“You absolutely are,” he agreed, kissing the top of her head, making her giggle. She didn't try to fight him on it this time.
“How about you, vi domin? Are you happy?”
He hummed, relaxing back into the cushions she had meticulously arranged as he rubbed his thumb along the soft swelling of her womb.
“I do not think I knew what happiness was before meeting you, vi Seerin. I have never known such peace and quiet in my soul. You are the one who brought that to me. And I thought I couldn't love you more than I already do.”
Peony's face warmed with pleasure as she pressed her face into his chest. He chuckled, running his claws through her hair, gently parting the damp locks.
If he never found Earth, she wouldn't mind. She might miss some things from her home planet, but nothing there could ever compare.
Atem once told her that nothing he could ever give would amount to what she had given him in that single bowl of water.
But he had given her everything. A home, a family, friends, an entire planet. He had made her his mate and Adassani and the love of his life. He showed her every day how much he loved her and proved it with every action taken and word spoken.
It was just a single bowl of water.
But that single bowl of water was worth everything, and Peony now rested within the arms of her domin, heart full of love, belly full of food, their baby growing safely in her womb.
She had saved Atem and in return he had given her the world.