Page 53 of Stealing Jia

An elderly Askole in gold battle armor appeared on the viewscreen. His merciless gaze surveyed us. “Must all Jones females be so small?”

Trayon slid a finger along my tattoo. “Size doesn’t matter. Jia has the heart of a warrior.”

“For her bride price, I expect nothing less.”

From Sariel’s tone, he wasn’t happy with Trayon’s decision. I gave him the stink eye and grabbed Cason as he tried to climb out of the crib.

“That is the Rodan child you adopted?” Sariel studied Cason with something approaching abhorrence.

Okay, enough was enough. No one dissed my family. I caught Pepe as he leaped from the crib. “The child’s name is Cason and he’s not like the other Rodan. The Draconic is Adoz, Pepe’s a unique, one of a kind being, and the Shani is called Chiara. Without her help, I could have never blown up the Rodan ships.”

Cason reached for the screen. “Geepa. Wiggles.”

Sariel’s tentacles knotted.

“I have started Cason’s conversion. He is legally my son, High Commander. Jia was also responsible for the destruction of Threll,” Trayon said calmly.

The skeptical expression on my father-in-law’s face had me seeing red. I looked him square in the eye. “I’ll admit I didn’t do it alone. Loki and Ivan helped bring down the Yagga.”

“I have reviewed the vids. Your actions are those of a Jones female,” Sariel conceded.

I frowned. Was that a good thing or a bad thing?

“Her father is Derek Jones,” Trayon added.

Sariel inclined his head. “A capable warrior.”

Before I said something I would regret, I nudged Trayon. “Tell him about the hybrid Eugleanophyta.”

Trayon transmitted the Alliance vid and gave Sariel a detailed account of what we had learned.

“I will inform Zarek.” The screen went black.

I blinked. That was a little abrupt. “I don’t think your father likes me.”

“He had picked out a suitable mate for me. All I needed to do was agree.”

“Why didn’t you?”

“Wania’s only interest in me was my rank and possessions.”

“Having your own ship is pretty cool.”

“I own a fleet of merchant ships, several planets and a space station.”

A quick review of my new memories and my jaw dropped. He made Midas look like a pauper. “Oh. Wow. Keeping Cason in blood worms won’t be a problem.”

“It will not.” Trayon’s mouth covered mine in a long, voracious kiss. “Go change. You meet your father in an hour.”

My stomach clenched. “That soon, huh?”

“He will love you as I do.”

“You keep saying that, but I’m not so sure.”

Trayon caressed the side of my face.“You worry too much.”

“Or not enough.”

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