EIGHT

Pyre

“I’m pregnant, and Tumu says it’s a little girl.”

Tameka said it more bluntly than she’d intended, but she hated relationships with poor communication. This was a huge deal, and she wanted to share it with the most important person in her life.

Xelan was naked, sitting on the edge of the bed, where he was more than ready to have sex with Tameka. Hopefully that was still in the cards as he blinked at her.

After a few more seconds of this quiet, Tameka worried she’d mishandled it when Xelan’s face blossomed into a beautiful grin—The same smile he’d given Tameka when she told him about Pax. His voice was thick with emotion as he repeated, “A little girl?”

When Tameka nodded, a tear spilled down Xelan’s cheek. Abruptly, he stood and swept her up into his arms, kissing her neck and holding her tight. Xelan set Tameka down on the back of a chair so their eyes were level to say, “This is wonderful news. Look at you. You’re so beautiful.” He cupped her face and kissed her.

Overwhelmed with relief, Tameka cried with Xelan. He pulled away to wipe the tears, soothing, “Shh. Shh. I know everything you’re thinking because I’m thinking it to. But I know—I know—the world will be safe for our little girl soon.” His smile faded as he said, “My mental health is getting proper attention, too. It’s been a long time since I’ve slept this regularly, and I feel the benefits of it with each passing day. Thank you for supporting me through this. I won’t hurt our children—”

“Of course you won’t!” Tameka clasped his wrists. “I never thought for one second you would hurt them or endanger them. You have insomnia and mania. Those are not inherently harmful, and look at you. You’re working on it. I know you’ll take better care of yourself, and I’m here for you. I love you.”

So sex was in the cards.

For hours.

Tameka owed Lamassau and Tumu for watching Pax after dinner.

Afterward, she and Xelan laid in bed, and he brought Tameka her latest craving: peanut butter and Yun pears. He tried it and shook his head, laughing, “Not for me, thanks. What do you think of naming her after your mother?”

“I think it would hurt as much to call her ‘Jasmine’ as to call her ‘Rayne.’” Tameka noticed Xelan’s wince and kissed his nose. “Sorry.”

Xelan smiled, not sadly but more remorseful, as he said, “I understand. Maybe—”

A knock sounded at the door.

Tameka made to get up, but Xelan insisted, “I’ll get it. You rest.”

She laughed incredulously. “Amos, I’m five weeks in. I can still move suns, let alone open a door.” But she also didn’t attempt to leave their little nest a second time.

Xelan beamed, truly glowed, snagging a robe and opening the door.

There was murmuring between him, Aria, and Torch. Something about Tumu and Caedes. Tameka didn’t pout as she climbed out of bed and slipped into Xelan’s discarded button down. Snuggling into it brought back old memories as she headed for the door, asking, “No work, remember?”

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“Forgive me, Peaches.”

Xelan widened the door to let Tumu into the bedroom. He checked out the wardrobe and his non-lips spread into a knowing smile. “My deepest apologies for interrupting.”

There was entirely too much cheekiness in Tumu’s voice, belying his insincerity, making Tameka smile as she shoved him, teasing, “What do you want?!”

Xelan said, “Caedes is asking permission to report in-person and speak to me alone.” He held up his hands to stave Tameka’s complaint before she could even make it. “He insists it’s mission critical.”

Tameka rolled her eyes because, to the Shadow, a Twinkie shortage was ‘mission critical.’ Still, she waved them on. “Go ahead. Have T.a.o. bring him over if she’s available.”

“I am always here.” T.a.o. Seamswalked into their bedroom with Caedes like they were on standby.

Then her words sunk in, and Tameka’s brows shot up. “Always?” Like T.a.o. was present for Tameka and Xelan having sex?

The faeish woman simply blinked in answer.

Tumu chuckled, and Xelan shook his head.

Caedes cleared his throat, and Tameka reached up for a hug he didn’t expect but deserved. When he squeezed back, she said against his shoulder, “Thanks for securing the empire for us.”

In a voice filled with remorse, Caedes warned, “Don’t thank me yet.”

Tameka frowned as they separated, but the gruff Icarus got straight to business. “We arrested Cinderken from his Overseer. The timing lined up with witnesses coming forward and signing depositions. One provided evidence with a projected recording of Cinderken leading the protests. The ‘Lord of Odds,’ himself, gave up leads and locations of potential accomplices to the human trafficking ring on Pil, but nothing substantial on Celindria.”

Tumu sounded impressed as he asked, “Was there any resistance?”

Tameka noticed Caedes wore the frown. Whenever tech or people confounded him, he got this particular crinkle on his forehead. He said, “Well, he demanded an audience with our leaders and…” His frown deepened. “A ribbon that one competitor received from their… partner.” There was a strange flash in his deep green eyes directed at Xelan.

Xelan noticed and asked, “Is there something special about the ribbon or the partner?”

“Very, but you and I will get to that. Do I have permission to send the infiltration team into a place called ‘Night Rayne’s Tomb?’ It’s a club here in Ishkur.”

With a sigh, Tumu said to Xelan, “Your naming conventions are infecting the empire, Wingmaster.”

“You should be so lucky.”

Tameka dismissed the boys and answered Caedes. “I think it’s a fine use of Matt and Lucy’s squad. Check with Korac because I think he assigned Pehton and Bones to them. Let Kyle and Ross decide if they’re okay with Bethany joining them, although I don’t see the Roberts siblings putting up any arguments. But make sure the squad doesn’t burn this place down. No matter how tacky the name.” The last Tameka meant for Xelan.

He chuckled and put an arm around her shoulder. It instantly lifted her demeanor.

Caedes swallowed hard enough for Tameka to hear before asking, “May I speak to Co-Emperor Xelan alone?”

She looked from Tumu to Xelan to Caedes and hugged herself. “Uhm…”

Her lover put up a hand, saying, “Excuse us,” before gently taking Tameka aside. “Talk to me.”

“We said one week without work. It’s only been five days.”

Xelan smiled and said, “I want to make a work week joke, but I know how serious it is that I do better. Say the word, and I’ll send Caedes and Tumu to talk business without me.”

Tameka gave him a weak smile. “You get five minutes alone with him, and then you’re all mine.”

His smirk was at once goofy and sexy. A dangerous combination. “Yes, ma’am.”

Xelan and Caedes went into the sitting room off their suites, leaving Tameka alone with Tumu.

The Tritan asked, “So how’d he take the news?”

Tameka smiled, only slightly surprised he knew already. “Beautifully. Just perfect.”

He nudged her gently. “I told you.”

With a click of her tongue, Tameka dropped the act, saying, “I know you and Xelan—and now Caedes—are keeping something from me.” Tumu spared her a blank face into which she said, “My bullshit radar went off yesterday after Andrew showed up to talk business with Xelan even though he’s off-limits.”

Tumu’s voice was flat, but not unkind, as he said, “You’re so sharp, Peaches.”

Tameka folded her arms and turned to face Tumu, staring up through their several feet of height difference. “Will you tell me when I need to know? Can I trust you?”

A deep sadness filled his voice. “Have I not proven myself to you? After all this time…”

With a frustrated sigh, Tameka hugged the big blue alien, coming only to his waist. Tumu patted her shoulders as she said, “Please don’t keep me in the dark for long.”

As Xelan and Caedes returned, both of them blue in the face, Tameka hoped ‘for long’ would end soon.