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  “Alisa, is there something you want to tell us?” Felix kept the pistol holstered and instead stroked his hand down her back, marveling at what might be happening inside her beautiful body at this moment.

  “No.” The willful tone of her voice was a clear indicator she was holding something vital back. She huffed out an anguished sigh. “Yes.”

  “What is it?” He was close enough to kiss her cheek, so he did, unable to resist her softness as he always was. Mikel drew close to her other side and gave him a puzzled look.

  “I’ve just been so emotional since I found out, and every time I wanted to tell you I got scared, so I didn’t say anything,” she mumbled and wiped at her nose. Mikel handed her a cloth he used to remove dust from the lens of his scope.

  “Say it now. Don’t be afraid.” Nerves filled him in a jangling confusion. He so wanted what he hoped to be true, but was determined not to anticipate and be forced to conceal his disappointment from her and Mikel.

  “I...” She stared up at him, and he saw everything in her green eyes: love, fear, responsibility, and most of all, courage. “I’m pregnant.”

  Joy rocketed through him like a fusion implosion. Unable to restrain his howl of triumph, he gathered her in his arms and squeezed her tight, then immediately let her go, fearful he’d injured her. Or the baby. Their baby. The idea was incredible, and he stared at her as the realization sank in. They were to be blessed, among so many Alphans who longed for such a thing in vain, with their own child.

  She stared back at him, a slight smile curving her lips until Mikel gathered her up in his arms, holding her aloft with a great frown on his face.

  “Are you angry?” Alisa asked as she curled one arm around his neck.

  “No, but it’s foolishness for you to be playing at war, moving furniture, walking around, as if nothing is wrong…” his bondmate trailed off in bluster and confusion.

  “Nothing is wrong.” Alisa pushed at his chest. “I’m supposed to walk, and talk, and work, just like usual. Just stay healthy, eat nutritious food, have plenty of rest, and get fat and hormonal.”

  “Then that’s exactly what you’ll do,” Felix assured her as he kissed her again, drawing his arm around Mikel’s shoulder for a quick, congratulatory embrace. His bondmate met his gaze, and he saw and sensed how overwhelmed and proud Mikel was. Felix knew he needed to set some parameters for his family, for their comfort and his own. “First, your physician is to move into the guest quarters, for the duration, and then we need to arrange for deliveries of any Earth foodstuffs available on the planet, weekly, perhaps, daily shipments, then—”

  His planning was cut short when Alisa leaned up from her comfortable haven in Mikel’s arms and stopped his mouth with a soft, melting kiss. She drew back and regarded him with an affectionate look. “May I first suggest you take me back to the house? I’d like to get off my feet for an hour or so.”

  “Of course, we’ll leave you to nap as long as you like. Mikel, there is much for us to prepare—”

  This time she stopped him with a soft hand on his cheek. “Who said I wanted to nap?”

  Understanding dawned, and he couldn’t hold back a smile as his staff hardened in anticipation. Mikel glanced back and forth between them with a confused line creasing his forehead until Felix pushed his hand at his bondmate’s shoulder. “Mikel, Alisa needs us to attend to her closely for the next hour or so.”

  Mikel’s face relaxed, and he grinned, hoisting Alisa higher in his arms until she giggled. “I believe we can fit that into today’s schedule. Tomorrow’s too.”

  The End

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  Other Books by J.J. Lore:

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  Evernight Publishing

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