Page 45 of The Pregnancy Pact

Why this human female? Why now?

A strange, strange notion filtered into my brain. I shoved it ruthlessly away.

There was no time to delve into the matter, for we were now past the spaceport’s balcony, or platform, and inside the building itself. Only then did I gently lower her to her feet. Her fingers gripped the front of my coat. As I sat her down, her face turned up to mine.

“I’m inside now, right? I’m safe?” she begged.

“You are safe.” I almost added, My love, but quickly pressed my lips together to prevent the words. I did not love her. I barely knew her. She was human. Why, then, did the words spring so naturally to mind?

“I don’t know what happened,” she admitted. “One moment I was fine, then I looked around and felt this wave of dizziness and panic. I didn’t know I had a fear of heights.

“Then again,” she chuckled ruefully, “I guess I’ve never been anywhere high. Our tallest buildings back home are about three stories high, and they don’t have balconies. I’ve never been tested on heights before, especially way up in the clouds above a city.”

“Think nothing of it,” I said, secretly pleased that she was not bolting from me or recoiling. Rather, I still held her against me with an arm about her hips. I think she had not noticed.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “I’m sorry for freaking out on you like that, in front of the captain and everyone else. I promise I’ll get it together before we meet the delegation.” She paused, then, in a quiet, small voice asked, “You’re not mad, are you?”

Was she equating me with her former husband? I could not think why else she would apologize for something over which she lacked control, nor why she seemed truly fearful I was angry at her. Then again, I had not always been the kindest creature either. If my former wife had ever reacted with such fear, would I have been as kind to her as I’d been just now to Lorelai? Or would I have mocked her and been uncaring?

You are no hero, my conscience goaded. Perhaps she is right to be afraid of your displeasure.

Again, I recalled my son, Caide, whom I’d maliciously threatened on Earth. Deepest shame filled me for my actions, yet there was nothing I could do to make it right. Nothing except learn to follow his example. What would he have done when faced with such a situation?

I already knew.

“I am not angry,” I assured her quietly. To reinforce the sentiment, I leaned down, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “You are safe with me. I will take care of you.”

The pledge was as foreign as the surges of sympathy and protectiveness. I had been required to care for my first wife, but never had I given any thought, really, to her happiness or security or wellbeing. I’d assumed, with a home filled with servants and mechas, that she could care for herself. I had been selfish and invested in my own wants and desires. Now…

“Well.” Lorelai cleared her throat and eased back, gently extricating herself from my arms. “If you’re only promising to take care of me so I’ll take care of you, that’s still going to have to wait until our pact is signed and witnessed.”

It took me a moment to realize what she was indicating. Once my mind caught up to her insinuations, I felt a lance of anger and guilt. Did she truly think that’s why I’d cared for her? Tried to be kind to her? Worse, was that the reason I was being kind to her? So I could bed her?

What other reason could you have?

“How do I look?”

I schooled my features to conceal my confusion as I watched her pat her hair into place and smooth her gown.

“Lovely,” I replied. And if my voice was tight, it was not because of anger, but rather due to the deep confusion swirling in my bones.

My human wife glanced up sharply. “Are you sure? I’m not a hot mess right now, am I?”

“You are lovely.” Once more, I took her hand, tucking it into the crook of my elbow.

Enough with foolishness and emotions. Enough with sentiments and being sentimental. We had a job to do. An important task lay before us.

“Come,” I said. “The delegation awaits. We will delay no longer.”

Chapter 26

Lorelai

Ellax Pendorgrin walked me across the gleaming tile floor of the spaceport towards the nearest elevator. It was a fascinating building, especially to someone like me who’d never seen a world like this. Rather than runways built on the outskirts of the city—but not too far, due to the danger of marauders and roving bands of wild humans—in flat, barren places, the spaceport soared over the rest of the city, seemingly floating in the clouds. The building was all windows, offering an excellent view of the world outside. There were at least twenty skypads connected to the round spaceport by footbridges, and I could easily see at least a half-dozen other spaceport towers in the nearby vicinity. Ships were constantly coming and going.

As we hurried to the elevator, I caught glimpses outside of incredible buildings and a city laid out in neat, circular patterns. Everything was white and metal and gleaming, interspersed by tidy grey roads and decorated with neat lines of green trees and hedges. To someone like me, who’d grown up in a world blasted by war, seeing a city designed for beauty as well as function was a tremendous change. Even the Castle and the Citadel back home, the seat of Asterion power in our colony, were more like fortresses, built to protect the humans within and keep the wild humans outside. They were good, sound structures, but designed for function, rather than beauty.

“Ellax,” I said, as we stood outside the elevator, waiting for it to rise to our floor, “this place is incredible. It’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”

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