Chapter Thirty-Four #2
A few feet away, General Westmore and Ryan stood off to the side, locked in what looked like a heated, whispered argument.
The former CEO hadn't been here long. Zephyron must have told him what happened recently, and now he was in the thick of things again, like always.
Westmore's arms crossed, his sharp eyes glaring daggers into Ryan, who wasn't backing down.
I excused myself and walked over. "Something wrong? I can feel the heat from you all, and on a desert planet, that's something."
Ryan scoffed. "Depends on who you ask."
Westmore rubbed his temple. "Your so-called deal involved fooling around with a Volardi wartime hero. Then you accepted a mating contract. We just finished cleaning up one disaster. And for that, Thomas, thank you. Now we've got another."
My eyebrows shot up. "Wait, what?"
Ryan gave a half-shrug. "It was an arrangement."
Westmore's eyes narrowed. "With their culture, that's not separate. It's the same thing. You slept with him."
"I'll figure it out." Ryan's voice was casual, but I could see the tension in his shoulders. That was never a good sign.
I shifted toward him, lowering my voice. "If you need help, say so. I'm sure there's something—"
Before I could finish, Zephyron coughed and called to me.
I turned and saw him watching the new uncles with our baby. Then his gaze returned to me, steady and full of quiet understanding. "Let him find his own path," he said gently. "You have already done so much."
I opened my mouth to argue, then stopped.
Ryan could reach out, and I had plenty who needed me, like my new family.
Zephyron stepped closer, reminding me of things I did on Earth and then here.
"I will never stop being in awe of you, my mate," he said, voice rich with warmth.
"Sudo is not the same, and neither am I. "
A slow smile pulled at my lips. "I know you're pulling me over here to make sure I don't interfere."
"Yes, but there is more." His expression shifted, becoming more serious. "The Volardi heart is vast enough for many children, and for two mates." He paused. "Do you understand?"
It seemed like it came out of nowhere, but didn't. They saw patterns, symbolism, and connections.
Wind was communication, and a funeral was a time of joy, because we honored those who were special to us.
So, asking during an important event meant we'd get the 'serendipity' into our lives.
It also meant a third and another father for our child.
It wasn't cheating to the Volardi, simply their way.
He learned my ways, and I had to do the same.
"You want to find a Beta, uh, Dara." It wasn't a question.
He nodded. "Yes. Sudo tradition says we should embrace life and, as the Humans say, 'Move forward.
' I seek not another but one to join us.
A table does not stand on two legs. You and I complement each other, but I alone cannot provide everything you deserve.
" I did my best not to hear the reverse: There would be things I couldn't give him.
He always talked about possibilities. What would happen if I let my heart grow just a bit more?
I met a gaze full of love. "Okay, I might be a little jealous, and I'll get over it, but sure. Let's find our Second."
He studied me, perhaps gauging my sincerity. "It will be someone we both choose and never at the expense of you."
"Got anyone in mind?" I asked, half-joking.
"No," he said simply. Then, after a beat, he added, "But I find myself impressed with the passion and cleverness of Humans." His gaze flicked toward Ryan. "They will be Volardi or not."
I blinked. "You can pick one? I mean, I figured Humans were picked for procreation, because of Omegafication, but only for Omegas."
"No. I don't need a Human for our Second, but I would like one, for us."
He gestured toward Ryan. "Someone who isn't short like you or large like me. Someone..."
I laughed, shaking my head as I followed his eyes. "Wait! Ryan? Seriously?"
Zephyron tilted his head and smirked. "Why not? Is he not attractive to Earthlings?"
"I just..." Ryan was smart, ambitious, and attractive both in beachwear and in a suit-and-tie kind of way. But, no! 'Rockin' Ryan' with the puka shells and beached-blond hair? We had surfing in common and nothing else. Besides, Westmore said he was involved with someone.
I must've looked conflicted because Zephyron's gaze softened, or was he teasing me?
"He is an example," he reassured. "He is not my formal choice, and Ryan has his own journey."
I exhaled, and before I could ask what he meant, he leaned in, his lips brushing against my ear.
"The Celebration of Life is not for a few hours, and our guests have activities to indulge them.
Let us return to the palace." His voice dipped lower, "Thanks to you and the Sandari's appreciation, we have our home again. .. including the bedroom."
Heat curled in my stomach.
"The bedroom," I repeated.
Guilt lingered at the edges of my thoughts about leaving, but I knew Parker would've wanted us to embrace life. He sulked sometimes, but found ways to fix them just like the Volardi. He wouldn't want us to be miserable.
Thank you, my friend.
He would have been happy knowing life with the 'Big Guy' turned out all right.
The Volardi weren't perfect, but they fixed what was broken, even what I hadn't known needed fixing. I had a good life on Earth, and yes, terrible things happened. There was also the good, like I told my father. My man was The Good.
Dad cradled my son amid a sea of doting uncles. I'd leave him for a bit, and that's fine. He was in the arms of a great father.
Zephyron looked down at me. "What fills your thoughts?"
"Lots of things, but who would have thought a water baby like me would have found happiness in the desert?"
He opened his mouth in mock surprise. "Our desert is beautiful and a paradise. How could you not?"
My fingers curled around my alien husband's warm hands, and I smiled before leaning in for a kiss.
"Yeah, I'm with you. How could I not be in paradise?"
There would be more ahead, but for now, I could simply be here. No more searching. No more chasing, because I didn't have everything an earlier me had wanted, but I definitely had everything I ever needed.
I didn't do it alone. One friend helped me, and I will always remember him.
Thank you, Parker.
***