Page 62 of The Pregnancy Pact

He didn’t answer right away, which told me he must not know either.

“I do not know,” he finally answered. He fastened the last button and reached up to straighten his collar around his neck. “I understand both points of view,” he admitted, “theirs and yours. But I fear for my son and his wife. In the end, however…” His hands went to his shirt cuffs, which he buttoned and straightened. “I am a Lead Advisor in the Interstellar Coalition. I must remain neutral. My personal life cannot conflict with the good of an entire planet.”

“It’s not good,” I said quietly, stubbornly, “if thousands are people are going to die because they don’t want to move inside Overlord cities.”

“Then perhaps they should comply.”

“Perhaps we’re all made with a free will and everyone should get to make their own choice.”

“Not all species have the wisdom to make their own choices. Look at Earth. Look at how human choices have devastated it.”

“We can learn from our mistakes.”

This, strangely, seemed to have more effect on him than anything else I’d said. He moved to a nearby chair and seated himself, pulling on the same boots he’d worn yesterday and left beside the chair last night. His face was pensive. When he finally replied, his tone was thoughtful.

“You are right,” he said, straightening. He stared me fully in the face. “Sometimes we can. I am trying to do so now.”

Rising, he walked back towards the bed, towards me. Some odd part of me, unused to him and unaccustomed to his reactions, wanted to shrink back. Was he angry? Was he going to lash out at me?

I kept my posture stiff, hoping I appeared brave. All the bravery in the world couldn’t have prepared me for him bending and catching my face in his hands.

“The stars will guide me into the proper path, Lorleai,” he said. “Have faith.” Then he kissed me. Kissed me not even in a sexual way, but with a kiss that spoke of him needing comfort and reassurance, as much as him recognizing my need for comfort and reassurance. My hands lifted and I grabbed his wrists, clinging for dear life as his mouth moved against mine.

Finally, he released me, drawing back.

“It will be late when I return,” he said. “Don’t wait for dinner or bed. The housekeepers will attend to your every need.”

I nodded dumbly. My throat was tight with tears and I couldn’t even say why. Stress? Fear of his and the Coalition’s decisions? His sweet, wonderful kiss? Knowing I was in way over my head? Fearing I hadn’t done anything to dissuade him? If they decided to wipe out my fellow humans, was I responsible?

I hadn’t even begun to sort through all the reasons why by the time he was walking out the door. I caught a final glimpse of his shoulders, his careless, graceful stride, his silver hair cascading down his back…

Then he was gone.

The door automatically closed behind him. I was alone.

Chapter 36

Lorelai

Isat in bed for a while, immobilized and numb. I truly think my brain had received so many overwhelming signals and messages at this point that it couldn’t keep up anymore. I felt like a computer—processing, processing, processing, until my mind couldn’t work any longer and simply gave up. Fried. Black screen of death.

That’s it. I’m done. I can’t do anymore. He’s out the door to make this decision on his own. I still have to have sex with him and get pregnant. I have to raise a baby with him. I have to…

I should call the twins.

I should, shouldn’t I? I missed my sons. I hadn’t spoken to them in over four days now. On the other hand, I was supposed to be on a space ship, working as a records keeper. They knew that. I wasn’t due to talk to them for at least three more days, at our weekly check in. They were busy with their duties in the Unified Forces. I was busy building a new life. Or, at least that’s how it had been the last time we spoke.

Ugh. So much to tell them, I thought, bracing my forehead in my palm. I wasn’t looking forward to our next conversation—admitting I’d gotten remarried while drunk. To an incredibly powerful alien Overlord. How was I going to explain that to my teenage sons?

A chime sounded, snapping me out of my merry-go-round of thoughts.

What was that? I wondered, my gaze bouncing off every surface of the room.

The chime rang again. This time, it was accompanied by a slightly tinny voice.

“Lady Lorelai, may I enter?”

Oh. I'd forgotten hearing the chime last night when dinner was brought. The bedroom door must have been equipped with a chime that acted as a doorbell for the mechas to keep them from having to knock.

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