My tenacious queen does not allow me to distract her from what she desires to know. “Answer the question, handsome.”
I hold her a little tighter, careful to keep my claws from marring her soft skin. “I have a secret that I’ve been keeping from you.”
Her hand slides to my hip, and she gently caresses the bulge where my egg sack is active. “No, you don’t have any secrets I don’t know about already. Do you honestly think I haven’t explored every square inch of your body? I’m familiar enough with my man to know when something changes.”
“It has only been a week. I thought you might think it was too soon.”
“Ain’t no sense burning daylight, my sweet. I want my sons just as soon as you can make them.”
I finally let go of the anxiety I have been carrying around and allow a smile to climb onto my face. “I have something else to say. When beings enter or exit a Draconian battleship, their bodies are scanned for parasites and such. They always send a message stating exactly what the scan reveals, even if it is nothing of concern. If I check the messages on my com, we will know how many young I am spawning.”
She jerks onto my uniform several times as her excitement spills out. “What are you waiting for? Let’s read the message. I want to know, don’t you?”
Finally the excitement begins to build in my chest as well. My queen does not think it is too soon and seems eager for our little spawn. When my hand goes to my belt to grab my com, it is gone because my queen has grabbed it already and is holding it up for me to grasp. Closing my fist around the small device, I turn it around and scroll through my messages before turning it around again. Since she cannot read our language, I have pulled up a three dimensional of the scan and enlarge the area where our young are housed.
Her breathless response feels like a blessing from Entares herself. “Oh my God, we’re going to have two.” She’s practically vibrating with excitement because I am spawning only two. “It’s going to be twins.” Dropping down onto the sleeping platform, she seems shocked. “I can’t believe I’m going to be a mother again and we’re having two boys.” How can you be so calm?”
“Are you not disappointed that I am only spawning two? My prior spawning produced five strong healthy males.”
Her expression seems irritated. “Five is too many. What would we do with five children? Chantel kept me busy enough, and she was an only child. Trust me, two is the perfect number.”
Finally, all my worry bleeds away. “You truly wish for two?”
“Well, I was just hoping for one, but two is a real blessing.”
My sanity and joy returns full force and I bear my queen down onto the sleeping platform and kiss her senseless. She is all too happy to be in my arms, especially after the good news I have given her. When I stop long enough to let her gasp for breath, she reminds me of our social obligation. “Remember we have that gathering at your friend’s place.”
“Hycor’s gathering will be at sundown. Pern will be there. It is unfortunate that his ship arrived before our own.”
“It’s not a race. We all get here when we get here. You should be happy we stopped to check that distress call. It netted your people another couple dozen women.”
“The queens were grateful for our assistance.”
She slides from the bed. “Everyone loves a hero. Want to shower with me?”
“My grotto has a large pool for bathing. Come, I will show you.”
My eager queen is removing her clothing almost before I have the water ready. This is fine with me because the bots are bringing our possessions in and stacking them against the wall. I welcome a few moments alone with my lovely new wife. I like this human word for mate. It is pleasant to my ear.
Removing my clothing, I approach the pool. My wife is leaning with her back against the far end and her arms spread out on each side of her body. “You look like a goddess offering herself to me.”
“Come here, you gorgeous man. I have something important to tell you.”
Entering the water, I drop down beside her, and she moves over to make room for my more bulky form. Although I am large and primitive, my mate