by C. W. Gray
Verion gasped against Val’s neck, hands on his hips.
Val pulled back, shuddering at the feel of his mate’s body, before slamming back inside, making them both cry out.
Val angled his hips and found just the right spot to make Verion moan. He set the pace, pounding into Verion until his mate came, splattering all over Val’s stomach. Val growled, then bent Verion’s legs back, giving himself more access to let himself go.
Verion’s arms squeezed him close and Val lost it, coming deep inside him.
Val pressed his face against Verion’s shoulder and tried to catch his breath. He couldn’t stop his stupid smile, but he’d been wearing it all day. Veri told me he loved me in front of most of the Blue Fleet, he reminded himself, his grin widening.
Someone had recorded it, and the video was making its rounds across the station. The image of Verion as the creepy Crellic monster was officially debunked. They knew he had a heart now. They knew he was just like every one of them.
The door creaked open, and no extra large or extra small dogs came in. Scythe usually slept with Crea for at least half the night, and Midge hardly ever left Seshi’s side.
A weight jumped onto the bed, pressing the blankets down as something prowled toward them. The ghost stilled, then circled around until it settled onto the corner of the bed.
Val sighed. “Fire said the hunting cat’s name is Lotus.”
Verion scowled. “Why is it sleeping on our bed?”
Val shrugged. “I didn’t know pet ghosts existed before this morning.”
“I don’t like that I can’t see them, but Fire and Seshi can,” Verion said, pouting slightly. “I’m Death.”
Val hugged him close and smiled against the top of his head. “Fire has a way with the pets, but this is new to him too. It makes me think you and Seshi shook up the spirit world more than you think.”
“You’re probably right.” Verion relaxed against him. “I love you.”
Val grinned. “I know.”
Verion glared up at him. “Say it.”
He laughed. “Alright, alright. I love you too.”
“Good.” Verion sighed. “You’re mine Val. Do you know what that means?”
Val blinked. “Um, I belong to you?”
“No, it means you’re my person. Wyatt is my family, but he’s not my person. You’re my partner, my lover, yes, but you’re the person who will stand with me in this life. I don’t think you realize how much you mean to me, even though you know I love you.”
Val swallowed the lump in his throat. “I do know what you mean. Our kids and grandkids are treasures we’re giving the galaxy, but you and me belong to each other. We’re a matching pair.”
Verion smiled softly and closed his eyes. “Exactly.”
Val watched his mate fall asleep, contentment filling him.
Edgar was enjoying his nightly recharge on his stand by the window. Crea was asleep down the hall with Scythe. Seshi was asleep with Midge and who knew how many ghosts and ghost pets looking over him. Lorry and Wyatt were happy and snug in their own homes with their own families.
Lotus’s weight at the end of the bed didn’t bother him nearly as much as it should, and he had a feeling the hunting cat was going to be a permanent fixture.
He closed his eyes, feeling sleep tugging at him. Verion Morrick loves me.
12
Val finished changing Seshi’s diaper and picked him up. “You make big stinkies for such a little baby.”
Crea laughed from where she sat on the bed, baby clothes surrounding her. “Nora, which onesie should Seshi wear? I’d ask Val but look at what he’s wearing.”
Val looked down. He wore a pair of grey pants and a plain white shirt with only one coffee stain. He wasn’t sure what the problem was.
He looked at Seshi. “Why does she keep picking on me?”
Crea smiled wide. “Because I love you.”
Val stuck his tongue out at her. The young runaway refugee that he had met almost a year ago was now healthy and loved, and it showed. Her dark curls were piled into two buns on top of her head, and her pink scales were bright and shiny against her light brown skin. She had taken to wearing long sweaters like her idol, Leti. She even had one with baby bunnies on it like the Blue Angel did.
The light blue onesie covered in little llamas moved a bit, and Crea nodded, picking it up. “Good choice. Thanks, Nora.”
They finished dressing Seshi and went downstairs.
“What should we take on our picnic?” Val asked.
Today, Verion and several of the soldiers in the neighborhood were joining Fasi and the council in meeting King Xaran. Val had taken off work to watch over Seshi and Crea since it was a school holiday. They were meeting all the neighborhood kids in the community garden for a picnic, then Mo and Fire were staging another pet battle.
“Pack ham sandwiches.” Crea crawled under the table. “Come on, Scy. You don’t have to join in the pet battle if you don’t want to. Midge is sitting this one out so she can stay with Seshi.”
Val rolled his eyes when he heard Scythe whine. “That’s your daddy’s dog,” he whispered to Seshi before setting his son in one of his infant chairs.
Val froze when he felt a familiar weight crawl up his arm and onto his shoulder. Marshmallow.
Seshi gave him a toothless, drooley baby smile and waved his hand at Val’s shoulder.
Val sighed and made Crea’s sandwiches. He didn’t even jump when he felt Lotus lean against his leg before moving past him. “Ghost pets, Seshi. Really?”
Crea laughed from under the table. “Lotus just licked my face. I love the ghost pets. I wish I could hug Nora and Seshia too, but Veri said that ghost people have a hard time interacting with the land of the living.” She giggled again. “Isn’t that a funny name? I wonder why pets can touch us, though. Do you think it’s Seshi giving them strength? Maybe pet spirits are just different. Are you happy that Nora is Seshi’s new nanny? Do you think Lorry minds? He didn’t seem to mind, but she was his mama, and he didn’t get a lot of time with her. I had more time with my mama than he did with Nora. It’s sad.”
“It is,” Val said, frowning in thought. “I’ll talk to him about it, sweetheart. I didn’t think about how he must be feeling.”
She poked her head out from beneath the table. “You’ve been feeling a lot too.”
He stuffed the sandwiches in a bag and smiled at her. “I have. I love Nora, and I’m happy she’s here. It’s a little strange having her around since Veri and I are together now, but she was my best friend. I’m too happy that she can meet him to feel weird about it.”
A very slight pressure on his cheek made him freeze in place. He recognized the brief feel of Nora’s hand on his skin.
“Thank you, Nora. For doing this for Seshi.” He closed his eyes when the pressure faded away. “If you’re here too, thank you Seshia. It means so much to Verion to have you happy for him.”
Crea led Scythe out from under the table while Val tried to gather his thoughts. It would take a while to get used to spirits living in the house.
“Picnic time,” Crea said, spinning in place. “I wish Edgar were here, but he goes everywhere with Veri, and I guess that’s okay since he’s Edgar’s person, but sometimes I think Scythe gets jealous. Veri is his person too, but he doesn’t get to go everywhere with him.”
“I thought Scythe was your best friend,” Val said, putting on the baby sling. Lorry laughed at him every time he saw him wearing it, but Val loved having Seshi close.
“Scy is my best doggy friend, but Nessa is my bestest best friend,” Crea corrected him and bent down to pet Midge. “Midgey is my second-best doggy friend, but that’s okay ‘cause Seshi is her person.”
Val handed Crea the bag of sandwiches and tucked Seshi into the baby sling before taking her hand. “I’m glad you like Nessa.”
“I like everyone here.” Crea watched him closely as they left the house. “I love you and Veri.”
Every time
she told him that, his eyes watered a bit. “We love you too.”
“I think I’m ready to be adopted.” Crea’s eyes grew sad. “You aren’t Mama and Daddy, but you all love me. That’s what family is supposed to do, right? You love me, and I love you, so we’re family.”
Val stopped and knelt in front of Crea. “Veri and I would be honored to adopt you, Crea. We love you very much, and you’re right. You’re already our family.”
She sniffled a bit, then hugged him before stepping back. “Hurry up. I want my sandwiches.”
“You have to share those, you know,” Val said with a laugh, standing back up.
They passed Fire, Mo, and the large gathering of pets. Scythe gave them a sad look, then went to stand by Dr. Bloop.
“You can do it, Scy,” Crea said, cheering him on. “Be a good dog and don’t let Porkchop boop you.”
Porkchop ran to them, and they bent to pet the pig.
“We know you’re not a bad pig,” Crea said, laughing as she rubbed the pig’s ears. “Go easy on Scy. He’s a softy like Val here.”
Val snorted. “She’s not lying, Porkchop.”
They left the group and headed toward the center of the neighborhood, Midge trotting at their side.
Most of the kids and adults were already in the community garden. One of the things Val loved most about Charybdis Station was that it made such an effort to create a beautiful home for its citizens. Each of the many neighborhoods had a least one garden, and the station, itself, had many large, formal gardens and farming areas.
He looked up at the star-studded sky behind the atmospheric shield. Sometimes he missed the yellow skies of Union Station, but he would never have found the joy he now had on his old home world.
“Hey, Val.” Leti’s voice pulled him from his thoughts. “Come sit down with us. The older kids are playing some kind of hunting game, and the younger ones are in the sandbox.”
Val looked around until he spotted the sandbox. Shae, one of Leti’s best friends, watched over the toddlers playing together. Val had to smile at the wide variety of species. Aketil was Crellic, Milo was a Burnished hybrid, and most of the others were a mix of hybrid species. Nina had horns, and one of Beck’s twins had already shifted to his Grell form.
Despite their differences, they clearly loved playing together. Kiki and Pela cooed over the little Grell and patted his sides and head. Nina and Milo had their heads pressed together as they helped Beck’s other twin build something in the sand.
He almost fell on his butt when a young Betonize boy and a hunting cat ran past him. A young Siren girl chased after him, eyes full of determination as she aimed a small, squishy ball at him.
“Sami, Rizzie—watch where you’re going,” Leti shouted. He gave Val an apologetic look. “Sorry about them.”
“I’m on Nessa and Sami’s team,” Crea called out, dropping his hand and running for the group of kids chasing one another.
Leti chuckled. “Let’s sit down.”
Val flushed and shuffled to the blankets spread across the grass. He had met everyone there, but he still got nervous around a lot of them. Wyatt, of course, was family, and Fire visited often enough that he had become a good friend, but the rest had busy lives of their own.
He sat down next to Wyatt and Midge crawled in his lap. He pet her furry ears and rubbed down her sides as he watched the others.
Wyatt had Riley in front of him. The baby was posed on his hands and knees, ready to crawl away.
“Whatcha doing?”
“Baby racing,” Wyatt said, smiling. “Aiden here thinks his daughter, Hazel, can beat Riley. Lucas says Gretty is the fastest, so now we have a baby race.”
Val looked around Wyatt. A large hybrid sat on his other side with a small girl in front of him, posed just like Riley. Further down, Draif’s mate, Lucas, was in the same position with their daughter Gretchen.
Leti flopped beside him and nudged Val’s side with his elbow. “I’ll place a bet on Gretty. She’s the eldest and has more experience.”
“Yeah, but Riley has more spirit,” Val said thoughtfully. “Look at how his butt’s wiggling in the air.”
Kelly, Sebastian’s apprentice, snorted. “Are you kidding me? Hazel has the best mobility. My credits are on her. Damn, if I knew babysitting was so much fun, I would have volunteered to watch Beck and Seb’s kids a while ago.”
Grandpa Moses shook his head. “You three are something. Here, give me the credits. How much are each of you putting in?”
They all dug around for credits, then handed them to the older man. He was one of the Burnished and was General Hackett’s grandfather. He often watched over his great-grandkids, so Val had seen him around often, even if he hadn’t spoken to the man too much.
“Sebastian’s going to be so mad he missed this,” Kelly said, rubbing her hands together in glee.
“Where is Sebastian?” Val asked, patting Seshi’s back.
“They all went to meet with that nasty king,” Leti said, wrinkling his nose. “They wanted to make a show of support, so he’d know Verion is welcome here.”
“Draif made sure most of the station knows about King Xaran’s harassment.” Lucas grinned. “People are starting to figure out that Death’s not just a weapon. His public declaration of love helped.”
Leti nodded. “Of course, not everyone is convinced, but in the end, that doesn’t really matter. Fasi and the council know and accept Verion. They stand behind him.”
Val let out a little pent up breath. “We’ve been worried.”
“Don’t be.” Leti had a stubborn look on his face. “You’re family now, and people can get the hell over it. Now, let’s race these babies.”
Death wished he were anywhere but the main council chamber. Xaran’s advisors had been droning on about potential trade agreements for an hour now, and he was bored out of his mind.
How do Fasi and Draif deal with this every day? he thought, glancing at the lord admiral and his vice admiral. The two wore almost identical politely interested expressions. Even Edgar, perched on the back of Death’s chair, looked like he was asleep.
King Xaran sat in the midst of his advisors, expression full of arrogant disdain. He certainly didn’t look interested in any trade between Dramacus and Charybdis Station.
Lorry tapped his arm and leaned over. “Why do you think King Shit-for-Brains keeps looking at his communicator?”
Death frowned and studied Xaran. The king occasionally looked at the personal communicator strapped to his wrist, but it was a subtle thing that could easily be played off as boredom. In fact, that’s very likely what it was.
“Bored?” he whispered back. Most of the people in the room were. Death wasn’t sure why Morgan, Brisco, and several of the others had come to the meeting. They had simply shown up. Fasi seemed to approve of it, though.
“No, he looks too pleased to be bored.” Lorry narrowed his eyes. “I’ve seen that smugness more than once during our vid-call battles.”
Death deepened his perusal of the king. Ah, there in his eyes.
“He does look smug.” Death scowled. “His soul is darker than it was the last time I saw him. That can’t be good.”
Val happily tucked Leti and Kelly’s credits in his pocket. “I told you my grandson has a magic butt wiggle.”
Leti scowled and held Gretchen up, glaring at her. “I can’t believe you failed me, Gretty.
The baby grinned at him and flicked her fuzzy feline-like ears.
“Oh, I can’t stay mad at you,” Leti said, chuckling. He hugged her close. “You’re too cute.”
Lucas frowned and stood up. “Who are those people?”
Val looked over his shoulder. A large group of strangers had just entered the neighborhood. They were a mix of species, including Dramiad hybrids, who were rare on the station. They were also armed and not even attempting to hide their weapons.
Wyatt tilted his head. “I recognize one of them. That one in the front is one of King Xaran’s personal
guards. I remember him from Dramacus.”
Val felt the blood drain from his face. “They’re here for Wyatt and Seshi. He wants Verion on Dramacus, and he’s come for his children.”
Wyatt stood up and smacked Val’s arm. “Plus, you’re his mate. Geez, even in a crisis, you forget that Dad loves you.”
Lucas, Aiden, and a few of the other adults stood, eyes focused on the approaching group.
Grandpa Moses whistled. “Kids to me. Now.”
The older kids instantly stopped playing, and each grabbed one of the younger children before running to Grandpa Moses.
Shae followed, eyes concerned. “Those men do not have good intentions.”
“Leti, get the kids to the closest house,” Moses said. “Lucas and any other fighters here, follow me.”
Rizzie frowned up at the old man. “I’m a fighter, Grandpa Moses.”
He smiled fondly and kissed the top of her head. “Not yet.”
“Problem.” Lucas blew out a breath. “There’s a group coming from the other side too. There’s no time to move the kids.”
Val’s head whipped around, and he saw another large group of strangers. “Shit. Wyatt, take Seshi. Keep him safe. I’ll go surrender and see if they’ll just take –”
“Forget it,” Wyatt interrupted. “We’re in this together.”
The first group approached Fire, Mo, and the pets.
Everything happened quickly after that.
Fire turned to face the attackers, pushing Mo behind him. Val could see Fluffle’s hackles rise from where he was.
An instant later, the king’s guard drew a weapon and pointed it at Fire.
Fire shoved Mo to the ground and pointed at the group of strangers. “Attack!”
Val’s mouth dropped open as the pets rushed forward as one. Fluffle latched onto the guard’s face, claws extended. Porkchop darted between the attackers’ feet, tripping them so the smaller pets could attack them from the ground. Scythe barked and growled before latching on to an attacker’s leg, while Dr. Bloop jumped, taking the man down. Muffin charged from across the street, horns lowered, and knocked another attacker to the ground before trampling him.