Taken by the Alien Next Door (Aliens Among Us #1) - Tiffany Roberts Page 0,140

and birth. She was a kind female, but not the sort to be crossed—at least for anyone but Tabitha.

“Go on now,” Tabitha said in the same tone Zevris had heard her use to shoo away hungry pigeons at the park. “Time for all of you to head on out. Go compare your notes. Skye and I are due some rest without you looming around us.”

Shuffling steps sounded in the upstairs hallway, and within a few seconds, the medical team trudged down the steps one-by-one, looking like children who’d just been scolded.

The four male falorans stopped in the living room when they saw Zevris and Khelvar.

One of them, Parax, cleared his throat, glanced toward the stairway, and returned his golden eyes to Zevris. “We will return tomorrow to continue our examination of the—”

Tabitha, who was on her way down the steps with Skye in her arms, her long hair plaited in a single braid over her shoulder, cleared her throat quite loudly.

“Our examination of Skye,” Parax continued after a wide-eyed look at Tabitha.

Zevris pushed himself off the couch and strode to the front door. “If Tabitha decides our daughter is up for it, we will let you know.”

Ivreni moved forward, squeezing past the other falorans who stood huddled together, and looped her arm around Parax’s. The male looked down at the older female and arched his brow.

“Let them rest. Skye is a healthy, strong female,” Ivreni said. “There will be time to examine the baby later. For now, give the parents their time to bond with their daughter.”

Parax’s tongue slipped out to run across his lips briefly. His gaze shifted to Tabitha and Skye, then to Zevris, before falling on Ivreni again. “Very well.”

“Good,” Ivreni said, patting his hand. “Now you males can bring me somewhere for my evening meal. Consider it payment for my having to listen to you chatter all day.”

Khelvar chuckled. “You heard the female. Out.”

Zevris opened the door and stood aside, offering Ivreni and the others a nod as they filed out through the doorway.

As soon as the last of them was clear, he closed the door, turned, and hurried to Tabitha. He frowned, slipping an arm behind her—though his frown couldn’t survive when he looked down at his rosy-cheeked daughter. “You’re not supposed to be out of bed yet, Nykasha. I would have gladly chased them out for you.”

Tabitha grinned up at him. “I’ve been in that bed long enough. Ivreni said I could come downstairs as long as I sit and don’t do anything strenuous.” She turned her face toward Khelvar. “Hi, Khelvar. It’s nice to finally meet you in person.”

“It is nice to finally meet you, too, Tabitha,” Khelvar replied.

“Sit first,” Zevris said, gently guiding her toward the couch. “Then you may talk.”

“So bossy,” she muttered as Zevris helped ease her onto the couch.

He didn’t miss the smile she tried to hide. As soon as she was down, he reached aside, plucked up one of the pillows, and positioned it under her arm for extra support as she cradled Skye to her chest. Before pulling back, he leaned his mouth close to her ear and whispered, “You like it when I’m bossy.”

He took delight in the blush that stained her cheeks.

Khelvar, with his hands folded behind his back, stepped closer and peered down at Skye.

Tabitha smiled up at him. “Would you like to hold her?”

Khelvar’s jaw slackened, and his brows rose. Zevris had never seen surprise on the ultricar’s face before this moment.

“I do not wish to impose,” Khelvar said after a few moments.

“You’re not,” Zevris said. He reached down, gently taking Skye from Tabitha, and lifted the infant. Skye’s eyes opened, and Zevris smiled at his adorable daughter. Her eyes were so much like his, glowing soft, vibrant blue, but her hair was so blond it was nearly white.

She was bundled tight in a blanket, keeping her little arms, legs, and tail hidden—and keeping her from scratching herself with her tiny claws.

Were it anyone else, Zevris might not have been able to pass his child over. But he trusted Khelvar more than he trusted anyone save Tabitha. He turned to the ultricar and held Skye out to him. “Khelvar, meet my daughter.”

The older male hesitated, but finally reached for the infant. His big hands seemed uncharacteristically uncertain as they cradled Skye. Zevris had seen Khelvar in battle—he’d seen those hands operate weaponry with impossible steadiness, had seen their confidence and potency in hand-to-hand combat, had seen them perform feats of dexterity during times