with your assistant.” Death kept his face blank. This asshole had a way of setting his nerves on edge, but he knew it would be a political nightmare if Death were to take a little trip to Dramacus and kill the fucker. Probably would be worth it.
“Simply report to me now.” Xaran leaned back in his chair and beckoned with his hand. “I don’t have time to waste.”
“Neither do I.” Death leaned over Morgan’s shoulder and ended the call. “That man needs his soul harvested.”
“Agreed.” Morgan glared at the blank screen. “He treated Wyatt like your fucking assistant when we were on Dramacus. Wyatt’s the best doctor in the whole galaxy.”
Wyatt set the second empty container down and stood up, looking a little better than before his lunch. “You may be a teeny tiny bit biased, handsome.”
Morgan shrugged. “Possibly, but it’s still the truth.”
Wyatt gave Death a worried look. “The Lord Admiral won’t like that you were rude, Dad.”
“Well, I don’t like having to talk to the pompous shit face. We all have to make sacrifices.”
“Dad,” Wyatt said, voice full of surprise and humor. “Remember when you wouldn’t even ask your supervisor for a new office chair because you hate confrontation?”
Morgan grinned. “A single Crellic Element possesses the man, and the next thing you know, he’s telling a planetary leader to fuck off.”
Death shook his head. “Alright now, back to work. Morgan, go to wherever it is you go. Wyatt and I have to discuss the newest test results.”
Morgan jumped up and saluted. “Yes, sir!”
Wyatt leaned up and kissed his mate’s cheek. “But first, will you go get lunch for Dad since he gave me his?”
The look of pure adoration in Morgan’s eyes when he looked at Wyatt made Death smile. He had grown to care a great deal for his son-in-law because of looks like that.
He thought for a moment of a pair of green eyes that carried that same look. A sudden pang of melancholy filled him. Death wanted his own mate at his side. Val’s kisses were a thing of wonder, and he needed them. Now.
“I’ll grab him something, kitten,” Morgan said, grinning. “Anything for you.”
My Valentine would bring me lunch if I’d let him, Death thought grumpily. A light above his desk shattered as he froze then accelerated the currents running through the wiring.
Morgan gave him a knowing look. “Aww, did our kiss make you jealous, Verion? Do you need to make a call to maintenance now? Maybe a certain maintenance engineer can come change the light?”
Death gave him a flat look. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ll report the light, then we can get to work. Go away, Morgan.”
Morgan laughed as he left, and Death sent a message to maintenance.
A half hour later, Wyatt and he had managed to settle down and work through the results of the tests. Death smiled at the way Wyatt scrunched his nose when he concentrated and the lock of brown hair that always seemed to fall in his eyes.
He wished he could freeze this moment and save it for eternity. He had missed so much time with his son as Wyatt was growing up. Being able to spend time with him now was a dream come true.
He absently tapped his own flat abdomen. He wished he could have been the father Wyatt needed when he was younger, but he had begun to make his peace with being the father Wyatt needed now.
He sat up straight and smiled as he sensed the most beautiful soul he had ever met moving closer. His mate was a kind and sweet man that Death in no way deserved. That didn’t mean he wouldn’t cling to him as long as possible.
“Knock, knock.” Val opened the door and poked his head in, green eyes searching for Death. “Can I come in? I heard there was a light that needed changing.”
Wyatt grinned as he leaned back in his chair and crossed his hands on his belly. “Please come in, Val. Dad accidently busted a light. We’d appreciate your help changing it.”
Val slipped in, and Death lost his train of thought, as usual. Valentine Philbert was a large, fierce-looking Betonize man with sharp fangs and claws. His black hair was a little too long to be fashionable, and his brown skin was riddled with scars he’d picked up working in maintenance. He even had a few on his face from an electrical accident.
Death’s mate looked like he belonged in the soldier ranks, but his heart