by Liza Probz
A tiny hole was being tapped out of the egg, from the inside. A black beak appeared, working hard to break through the shell. The mother sat nearby, not moving, watching the egg as her offspring burst through it.
At last a fluffy black creature tumbled out of the egg. The peskel on Jeffrey’s shoulder jumped down, waddling over to the nest. It began gently rubbing its beak against the infant bird. The mother joined in, helping to clean the remaining bits of shell off its young.
She hardly noticed when Jeffrey put his arm around her, but she was instantly appreciative of the contact. Resting her head on his shoulder, she started to speak.
“Peskels mate for life,” she said. “They come back to this same island, the island where they were born, to build their nests and lay their egg.”
A single egg, she remembered. One child for each couple.
A sudden realization crashed over her like the waves around them. She rose, then held out her hands to pull him to his feet.
“What is it?” he asked, catching sight of her expression.
“I know why we’re here.”
He looked at her, waiting for her to speak, but she wasn’t sure she could force out the words. She took a deep breath, staring into his eyes, and suddenly something inside her broke open. Like the chick from the shell, she emerged, and the words tumbled out in a torrent.
“I love you,” she said, grabbing his face and pulling it close to hers. “I know I gave you every impression otherwise, but I love you so much it hurts.”
His eyes widened in shock. He grabbed her, pulling her body into his.
“Say it again,” he growled.
“I love you, Jeffrey. I’ll always love you.”
His lips swept down to capture hers in a searing kiss that blistered her insides. She clung to him as the waves crashed around him, locked inside a moment of perfect joy.
The sound of thunder was the only herald of the fat raindrops that began to pelt them in an instance. Jeffrey laughed up at the sky and grabbed her by the hand, hurrying them back to the ship.
Suddenly she didn’t mind being caught in the storm.
She leaped inside and he followed, grabbing her up again in a tight embrace. “Why did you fight it so hard?” he asked after a moment.
“I’m sorry. I was afraid.” She blinked back tears. “I still am. We’re so different, with solitary lives that don’t have much room for love. I couldn’t be sure that we’d suit each other in the long term.”
He nodded. “I understand. It all happened so fast.” He clutched her to him, planting kisses all over her face. “But I love you more than I’ve ever loved anyone, and I honestly don’t know how I’d go on without you.”
She gave him a watery smile, and he bent to kiss away a teardrop from her cheek. “I realized when I saw the peskel family what Rasveen was trying to show us. Zantharian females have only one egg, one chance to conceive a child.”
Her face heated with what she had to tell him. “I knew that I loved you before we returned to Zanthar with your ship. That last time we made love…I…I allowed the membrane that protects my egg to open. I hoped that we’d be able to make a child together. It’s highly unlikely that we’re compatible, but if we are...”
Jeffrey stared at her as if he barely comprehended the words she said. “You spent your one chance on me?” he asked, amazed.
“Yes.” Kat gave him a small smile. “There was no one else I wanted to breed with. Afterwards, I was so scared, afraid of what our child would have to face. Afraid that you might reject me, and the baby. I—“
His face grew fierce. “I would never reject you. Never.” His eyes blazed in his face, and Kat trembled at his intensity. “I will love you forever. And if your gods and mine choose to bless us with a child, I will thank them every day with unending devotion.”
Kat kissed him then, overwhelmed by emotion.
“I love you, Kat,” he said, his finger tracing the line of her jaw. “No matter what happens, I love you, and I’m never going to leave you.”
Kat dropped to her knees, pulling him down with her. She lay back, and Jeffrey covered her, kissing her mouth so slowly and deeply that she thought she would expire with satisfaction.
They made love as the storm raged around them. The torrent inside her matched the one that battered against their ship. When he reached his climax, he screamed her name, causing her to tumble into the abyss of pleasure.
After, as she lay in his arms, his fingers stroking the soft tendrils on her head, Jeffrey began to laugh.
“What is it?” she asked, turning to face him.
“I think I finally see what Rasveen did. Yesterday I heard Captain Brooklyn and Dr. Cohen chatting in the cargo hold of the Earhart while I worked on the engine. I was headed out to grab another spanner when I heard Brook ask if morning sickness was a symptom of Zantharian pregnancy.”
Jeffrey smiled. “I remember Dr. Cohen saying ‘I don’t know about Zantharian women, but I throw up every afternoon at precisely three o’clock.’ I didn’t make much of it at the time, but now…”
Kat bolted upright. “Are you saying...?”
“Yes,” he said with a triumphant grin. “Apparently Zantharians and humans are compatible. The regent and his mate are expecting.”
Kat couldn’t stop the tears from falling, and she sobbed harder when Jeffrey pressed a warm hand to her stomach.
“Right now, we could have our own little one resting right here,” he said, his tone reverential.
Kat covered his hand with her own. She felt like her heart might burst from the joy that overwhelmed her in that moment.
Jeffrey crooned at her tummy, pressing his face against it. “Just think,” he whispered. “We set out to discover new life, and we succeeded.”
Kat gave a soft laugh, then pulled his head up to give him another long, slow kiss.
The End
Author Note: Thanks again for picking up my book. I hope you’ve had a great time with The Lords of Zanthar. I’d love to give you a free prequel to my upcoming series, The Vartik King Chronicles. All you have to do is join my Insiders Group. We sent out e-mails maybe twice a week a most. They’re filled with games, teasers, other great Sci-Fi and Paranormal romance offers as well. Check the invitation below.
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About the Author
Having loved Sci-Fi her whole life, she often forces her hubby into binge watching one of the great movie collections to feed her need on the weekends. Other than her obsession with pizza and her two puppies, she's a rather normal gal, or so she would have you believe!
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The Lords of Zanthar
Copyright © 2017 by Liza Probz
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
The novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and plot are all either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons – living or dead – is purely coincidental.
First Edition.
Editor: Mary Wolney
Designer: Kellie Dennis Book Cover By Design
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