Tameka loved Xelan. So, so much. No quirks or unhealthy coping mechanisms could change that. He was strong for her when she needed it. Helped her—helped all the Progeny—discover their own inner strengths. Now, Tameka could be strong for Xelan.

“But why did you name it Mercury Turbo, daddy?! You’re so silly.”

Pax giggled as Xelan tucked him, telling his son more stories. “Because I’m cool, kiddo. That’s why.”

Xelan had slept every night for the last two days. Ten hours the first night, and eight the second. After they had found him hiding in the Divine Booth, mumbling about Rayne, Tameka stayed with him on watch. Tonight, she leaned in Pax’s doorway, watching her little family play and laugh.

This was therapy.

Speaking of, Tameka liked the Lamian psychologist the most of the fifteen professionals called in to help the Shadow manage. The people of Reipon, known for maintaining the old regime’s histories, were such good listeners. And good at keeping secrets.

“You want a reprieve, Peaches?”

Tameka closed the door, as she greeted Tumu with a smile. He and Lamassau opted to stay a few extra days once the others had left, following the spectacular finale to Xelan’s Verse. While chafing her arms, she said, “He’s been doing better since the first night of sleep, and Legir has some herbal remedies to help with the chronic insomnia.”

Tumu shook his head, a little smile on his lipless mouth. “You tough Progeny—I wasn’t asking about him.”

Tameka blew the air from her cheeks and let her head hang for a heartbeat. She was fine. Really. So why couldn’t she say it to Tumu? She lifted her chin and met his voids, realizing she couldn’t lie to him.

After ensuring the door was indeed closed, Tameka blurted in a whisper, “How long before an Icarean male can smell pregnancy in his mate?”

Tumu took Tameka’s hand in both of his and gently squeezed. “I’m glad you finally told someone. It won’t be a secret for much longer. I’d say another week, and Xelan will know.”

Pregnancy was determined by the health and mentality of the nacre-bearing female. Tameka wanted another baby with Xelan, and this time, he’d help with the delivery. Maybe a little girl this go-around? With Xelan’s hair and Tameka’s eyes.

But the conception had taken place in a world without Celindria and without doubt.

Unfortunately, the last two days were filled with both—

A hand, much bigger than hers, moved to Tameka’s shoulder. Tumu asked, “Would you care for my advice?”

Tameka very much would. Unable to voice as much, she nodded.

“We’ve learned from our history that the world is never certain and never safe. I supported you while you brought Pax into this galaxy during the worst of it I’d seen since the Aegis-Tritan wars. You were so magnificent, Peaches. Why should now be any different? It’s safer than ever before, and your children are sure to live more securely than any in the empire. Especially with you and Xelan as parents.”

Okay. A tear totally squeezed out. Tameka brushed it away, feeling better. She asked, “Do you think it’s a good time with Xelan and all?”

Tumu leaned back so he could take in her face, thumbing away tears, and fixing her coiled red hair. All the while saying, “I’ve never been more certain of anything. Xelan will adore your daughter, and all the potential she represents.”

Daughter.

She.

Tameka beamed.

“There’s Peaches.” Tumu pinched her chin briefly before looking at the door. “He’s coming. I think it’s best to tell him before he finds out on his own, and I want to take over for you tonight. I’ll ensure he sleeps.”

Feeling worlds better, Tameka nodded. “Thank you, Tumu.”

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The door opened, and Xelan offered a weak smile. “My paranoia’s telling me you two were talking about me.”

Tameka exchanged a glance with Tumu before admitting, “We were. I think I’m gonna check in on our elected Kings and get some work done tonight. Are you okay with a shift change?”

Xelan smiled graciously, with only a faint hint of shame. Better than yesterday. He asked, “So Tumu’s my guard tonight?”

“If you think all this,” Tumu gestured at himself, “Is too distracting for you to sleep, then I can always ask Lam to play watchman.”

Tameka snickered. It was a good laugh, and her first one in days.

With a ghost of his signature grin, Xelan said to Tumu, “I think I’ll still manage just fine.” To Tameka, he said, “Let me know if you need my help with any of it.”

“Ah, ah, ah.” Tumu wagged his finger. “One week of no work. We all know the doctor’s orders.”

“Right.” The smile vanished from Xelan’s face, and he looked ready to escape the three-way conversation. After clearing his throat, he asked, “Shall we?”

Tameka couldn’t leave it like this. She jumped and adhered to her mate, searing to Xelan’s bones with the beat of her heart.

A kiss.

Xelan returned in kind, though with more gratitude and the apology he’d kept repeating since he confessed to letting Celindria go.

During the moment, Tameka forgot they had an audience until a camera snapped. An old-fashioned shutter noise.

Mid-kiss, they both stopped and turned stiffly to find Iuo at the end of the hall, waving awkwardly.

“Hi.”

As if she weighed nothing, Xelan easily held onto Tameka while he asked, “King Elect, what do you have to say for yourself?”

Tumu chuckled, as if he already knew the answer.

“Well,” Iuo started with an awkward reach for the back of his neck. “I have this series in mind, starring the imperial family. You know? Really humanize everyone along with the Verses and Rayne’s biopic. ‘Your Warrior Majesties.’ Eh?”

Tameka exchanged an incredulous look with Tumu, but Xelan beamed. “I love it. Let’s discuss it more tomorrow. And Iuo? Have you been here this whole time?”

Reipon’s King Elect gave a sheepish smile. “Yes. Yes, I have.”

Lamassau came around the corner. “We can’t seem to make him go home.” The green Tritan punctuated his statement by pouring a bag of Chili Cheese Frito into his mouth.

This was a bit much, and Tameka still needed to do a lot of work. Not to mention, she felt the same hunger pangs she’d experienced with Pax’s pregnancy. “We can all chat tomorrow. Iuo, you’re welcome to stay for however long you want. In fact, I may borrow you for some work. Xelan, you and Tumu—”

“And me,” Lam chimed.

“—I’ll see you when I come to bed.”

“OoooOooo.” All the men in this hallway but Xelan were twelve-year-olds.

Tameka wouldn’t trade this for the worlds, and as Co-Emperor, she didn’t have to.

An hour later, Tameka was looking over the tablets on Xelan’s desk. Iuo sat on the sofa, governing his own planet remotely. Aria and Torch meditated at the door. Lam and Tumu were downstairs with Xelan.

The stronghold was quiet. The perfect time to make an unpleasant call.

A voice filled with gravel answered the palm device. “Co-Emperor.”

“Caedes, please call me Tameka. You earned it long ago.”

The little display of him blushed blue before he offered a “humph” in response.

Tameka sighed, asking, “Have you uncovered any reports about Celindria?”

“Chris and I took Andrius out with us on our rounds. He was right. Suggestion is beyond convenient for security work. The guard who was stationed on the load of Pil platinum paid six million credits each to keep his coworkers quiet while he left with the supplies.”

Damn. “I thought we screened them all with Kyle and Andrew?”

Caedes nodded. “We did, and until this occurred, the other guards considered the thief an upstanding citizen of the empire. His background check and track record are clean. It’s almost as if one day he simply decided to commit the crime and disappear.”

“Disappear?” Iuo asked from across the room.

Tameka frowned, considering the abrupt change in personality. “This reeks of volition.”

Again, Caedes nodded. “Andrius thinks so. Chris has some follow-up questions. With his firsthand experience, I’m letting him lead the investigation on the other planets. Especially those who benefited from the stolen supplies. I notified Bones since he’s out with Pehton to check on the orphanage Xelan suspects Celindria established. The hospital on Reipon, too.”

Tameka didn’t like this. She muttered, “We’re following in her footsteps rather than predicting her next move.”

“I’ll get my people on Reipon to see about the hospital. You focus your people on anticipating patterns.” Iuo’s idea was a great one.

Caedes agreed. “I think that works, and I think I have a solid lead on Cinder. We want to see Twenty-One and Miy off on a safe journey to Tumu’s homeworld. Not a journey contaminated by this woman’s infection.”

It was a good word for the malignancy the First Progeny spread across the galaxy.

Keeping a promise, Tameka offered, “I’ll send T.a.o. with you to speed things along. She’s eager to find Celindria, too.”

“Understandably,” Caedes said before changing the subject. “How is Pax?”

Heartwarming and wholesome—Caedes was such a surprise, considering how he’d started with the Shadow. It made Tameka smile as she said, “He’s asleep and can’t wait to see you and Auntie Pehton again soon.”

“Please get some rest, Tameka. Good night.”

Caedes disappeared from her palm without waiting for a reply. Gruff as always, and such a good friend—

“An investor once offered me half a billion credits to produce a film of your forbidden relationship.”

“Forbidden—What?!”

Iuo held up his hands. “Hear me out. A throuple with you, Xelan, and Caedes.”

Tameka scoffed and threw a paperweight at the back of the Lamia’s head.

Iuo laughed as he caught it, stood, and backed away with his hands out in surrender. “I turned it down. Relax.”

“Go. Home.”