Page 52 of The Pregnancy Pact

Ellax didn’t have to try hard to decipher what I was feeling. I wasn’t exactly attempting to hide it.

“Not really,” I replied, shaking my head against the seat. Outside the window, the wonders of a new planet, a thriving city, flashed by. I was too dispirited to pay it any mind.

“They want to slaughter people,” I replied. “And they want to use me—us—to make it better. How am I supposed to be okay with this?”

“Perhaps they figured you would not care,” he answered quietly.

“Not care?” I sat up, turning to stare at him. “I’m not supposed to care? I’m supposed to just happily go along with this?”

When he didn’t immediately reply, I pressed, “Can’t you do something about it? You’re the Lead Advisor. Surely, you have the power to stop it.”

I didn’t know this alien male well, of course, but I could tell he was uncomfortable.

“I have not made my mind what to do,” he answered. “I agree the wild humans need to be dealt with.”

“By killing them?”

My voice was sharp, almost shrill. I didn’t like myself this way—out of control. Almost hysterical. I breathed deeply to calm my nerves, even as he placed a warm palm over my hand in a comforting gesture.

“Lorelai. I did not say that,” he rebuked. “Do I believe some wild humans are worthy of death? Yes. Those who abduct, murder, and rape their fellow humans.”

“Then take them. Don’t punish the rest.”

“It is not as simple as that.”

“Why not?” I challenged. “They mentioned the Elite. Who are they? What’s their role? Couldn’t they do something about it?”

The transport was slowing. We must be approaching Ellax’s home. Still, I didn’t remove my stare from his, forcing him to answer.

“The Elite are troops from each planet in the Interstellar Coalition,” he explained. “They are truly the elite—the best of the best—trained to fight on any terrain, against any species, on any planet.”

“Sounds like they’d be perfect for going in and hunting out the actual troublemaking wild humans, then,” I tossed out. “Or their leaders. If they could take care of them, the rest wouldn’t have to suffer.”

“What about in the future?”

“What about in the future?” I refused to let this drop. “You have rebels here on your planet, don’t you? Surely, you have some sort of police force to govern them. All societies have those. We used to on Earth, before everything went to pot.”

Ellax turned his chin away, effectively dismissing me. Except he did add, “You are not wrong. Your solutions are, perhaps, as reasonable as the Council’s. I have a great deal to consider.”

It wasn’t the answer I’d hoped for. I’d hoped he would jump up, admit that I was right, and vow to use his power to protect the wild people on Earth.

He doesn’t know them, I had to remind myself. He doesn’t have any affinity for them. He doesn’t care about them. Maybe he could be persuaded to care—because of you. Maybe this is why you’re here. To help save innocent people back home.

The magnitude of my position was enough to weigh down my shoulders. Could I do this? Could I be strong not only for myself and for a potential future child, but also for all of the rebel humans back home?

It was a great burden to bear. I wasn’t certain I was up to it. Then again, I had no choice. Nobody else was in my unique position. I had to take the hand the universe had dealt me, and I had to play it.

No choice, Lorelai. No choice.

“We are here,” Ellax announced. As he did, awareness that the transport had stopped forced itself to the front of my brain. I gathered my skirts, preparing to climb out. Ellax stopped me, placing his hand on my knee.

“Lorelai,” he said. His voice was quiet and, honestly, as uncertain as I’d ever heard it. “While the idea of attacking the wild humans doesn’t fill me with the same revulsion it does you, since they are not my species, I confess the notion sparks…fear.”

I froze, not trying to fight his hand on my leg. He was telling me something sensitive, something important.

“Why?” I asked. In a flash, the answer came to me. “Because of your son?”

“I have not been a good father to Caide,” he replied, turning to look at me. I swear, his gaze actually appeared haunted. There was a care, a concern, and a fear on his face that I’d never dreamt to see. Apparently, he truly was capable of far more emotions than pride, arrogance, and lust, as I’d once assumed.

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