Page 80 of Coveted

Removing her hand from Vax’s arm, she reached out to lay her fingertips on her father’s.

“I really am happy here. I have a purpose and a mate who cares for me. Can’t you be happy for me?”

Her eyes pleaded with his. There was a flash of something, maybe guilt, before her father dropped his usual blank mask into place.

“Of course. I’m sure your mother will be happy to hear it, though she’ll be disappointed if she doesn’t hear it from you.”

That was all he said before he turned away, striding the short distance to the door of his hopper and disappearing inside. It closed behind him, and Alana was left staring at the shiny metal, a hollow feeling in her chest. As little sense as it made, it still hurt to know he was disappointed in her.

Vax stepped in front of her, blocking her view and putting a finger under her chin to tip her face up to his. She could see his worry warring with anger at her father, but all he did was lean down and press a soft kiss to her lips.

“I’m proud of you.”

The soft words made her heart clench and tears sprung to her eyes. They were the exact words she’d always wanted her father to say, but she accepted that it wasn’t likely to happen.

Pasting on a trembling smile, she nodded and leaned into him, letting his scent soothe her as her father’s hopper rose into the air. He was the last Chancellor to leave besides the group staying to carry out the investigation, so they were alone in the landing field.

Vax held her a moment longer before releasing her and turning her toward the Administration Building. He had a smile on his face, and she lifted a brow in question as she walked beside him.

“Ready to get to work?”

“Work?”

He nodded, patting her hand where it was tucked around his forearm.

“Yep. Varner’s been on my ass about delegating for the past year, and since you’re more familiar with crops and such, I’m passing that over to you. Plus, we still have to see about correcting the schooling issue at the Camps. If you manage to settle all that, I’m sure I could use your help in my office again.”

The wink he shot her ripped a laugh from her chest even as it made her cheeks heat. She wasn’t sure she’d ever be able to enter his office again without blushing.

Epilogue

Alana was standing behind Vax’s chair, leaning over his shoulder to wave at Elise through the screen. She’d met the woman when Leir returned with the first load of food after the Council meeting, instantly falling in love with their beautiful hybrid baby.

Leir had stuck around while the Chancellors appointed to the investigation did their questioning, eventually leaving with two ex-Chancellors and Alcam to face the Council for sentencing. There were two others from Camp Primma who’d been found guilty of colluding with Alcam, but they were left for Vax to handle. Lat’ucan had also been stripped of his title, but he was allowed to return to his home for testifying against the others after paying a hefty fine.

They’d put they whole ordeal behind them. The mine at Camp Primma was repaired and reopened shortly after the others. They’d increased production by another thirty percent, and the new mine was finally beginning to deliver as well.

Alana had worked with Cha when the new crop he tried to grow on the mountainside struggled to produce, and after taking a good look at the soil and growing conditions, they’d found a few other options. They’d worked out a seasonal plan to rotate the plants so they could hopefully avoid what had happened withthe fungus and also provided more diverse produce for Farcon 1. They were still shipping in a little more than their usual amount, but by the following summer they should be back on track.

The glow of pride had been a new experience, but Vax and Varner, along with Cha, assured her she deserved it. She’d even pointed out that there were food plants that could be grown beneath the cover of the forest, or along the banks of the river, and they were in the process of looking into them to make Farcon 1 more self-sufficient.

Straightening, Alana pulled on the front of her dress, trying to cool herself. It was late summer and still warm outside, but the day seemed to be warmer than usual, and it was making her uncomfortable. She noticed even Vax seemed to be tense, growling every time there was a knock on the door.

He ended the call with the other couple, turning in his seat to face her. It felt like his black eyes left a trail of heat in their wake, and her belly fluttered in an unpleasant way.

“Are you hungry?”

She’d only picked at her breakfast and it was already past lunch, but she had no appetite. She’d been guzzling water to try to quench the burning thirst she’d felt all day, but it didn’t do anything to lessen it, and it left her feeling bloated.

Vax pulled her into his lap as she shook her head, dropping his nose to the crook of her neck to suck in a deep breath.

“Are you okay?”

He’d asked the same question that morning, and while something felt off, she didn’t think she was ill.

She didn’t get the chance to answer before a gasp was forced from her throat as she doubled over. Her arms clenched around her middle at the sudden pop she felt inside her, a gush of liquid leaving her core as it cramped.

Vax’s head jerked back, his jaw going slack as he stared at her. Though her brows were pinched with the pain, Alana was sure she looked just as shocked as he did.