In Enemy Territory - Shannon West Page 0,91
and have a wedding there. Isn’t that romantic? And Larz and Janos are following us in their ship because Kylon wants Larz to be in his wedding, and Larz was able to talk Janos into trying a short visit. Chaz is going back home with us where he belongs.”
“Chaz. It’s an odd name.”
“Yeah, because ‘Mikos’ isn’t.”
Mikos shot him a look of surprise. “What do you mean? I have a very nice name.”
“Yes, you do. But it’s not normal, like Jim or Bob or Sam or whatever.”
“What is this Jim and Bob and Sam? Are those human names? Why would I want a human name? And why are they so short and uninteresting?”
“We have longer ones. But what I meant was, you shouldn’t complain about another person’s name when that person is from a different culture. And Chaz’s omak was Leerian, Blake told me. He probably gave Chaz his name, which I think is very cute.”
“Cute? Tygerian boys aren’t cute.”
“Yes, I’ve heard this theory a time or two. Nonetheless, his name is Chaz, and I like it.”
“You like the boy.”
“Yes, I admit I do. He’s been through so much, and he was so brave and sweet. I understand he doesn’t have anywhere to go now that his parents are both dead. He doesn’t have any other family. So I was thinking…I’d like to adopt him.” He gave Mikos a defiant look. “I know you want your own children. But this child needs us, and we can be his parents.” Mikos opened his mouth to reply and Ryan broke in. “No, don’t just say no right away. You need to think about this—really think.”
“All right, nobyo, I’ve thought about it.”
“No, you haven’t. You have to give the idea a chance, Mikos. You know I’ve been wanting more children, but you think it might be too dangerous for me and having another baby is not really anything you’d ever do or even consider doing.”
“Yes, I know. So I’m saying yes.”
“No, Mikos, but listen to me…”
“Nobyo, I am listening. You’re not. I said I thought it was a good idea.”
“Wait…what?”
“If this is what you want, nobyo, then I want it too. He seems like a fine boy. Brave and strong like you said.”
Ryan threw his arms around Mikos’s neck. “Thank you, sweetheart! You’ve made me really happy. I just hope he’ll be glad too.”
“He’ll be a prince now. Why wouldn’t he be happy?”
“Do you think Mikol will be a little jealous?”
“Maybe. But it won’t hurt him. I think he’ll make a good older brother.”
“It might do Mikol good.”
“Yes. He’s a little spoiled, nobyo. I warned you about all that rocking him to sleep at night when he was a baby. I used to be put in my bed and that was that. No one cared if I cried, and it built my character.”
“Uh huh.” Ryan burst into laughter. “Seems to me that Blake has some stories about how he used to rock you for hours in that chair of his.”
“My omak tends to imagine things. Speaking of omak, he’ll be happy to get his hands on another grandchild. And to have Larz come home for Kylon’s wedding as well may be just too much excitement for him.”
“I think it’s wonderful.”
“I’m not sure if that’s the word I’d use to describe it. Janos is a criminal, after all, not to mention Centarlo. What is there about the Laltanan men that make Tygerians go so crazy? First Larz and now Kylon.”
“Well, first of all, Rasc is a human from Earth and not Laltanan, and second, Janos is not a criminal. Not anymore. Larz pardoned him, and Davos pardoned Rasc and his friend Setin after Larz told him of their bravery and of how much they’d tried to help find the lost boys and redeem themselves.”
“I don’t see that they did so very much.”
“Well, Larz thought they did, and Davos agreed with him.”
“Hmph.”
“Oh, don’t be so grouchy. I came to really like Rasc.”
“I don’t see how. Because humans stick together?”
“No!” Ryan shoved Mikos off him and glared down at him. “We were hunted down like animals together, and there was no one to rely on but each other. What did you think? Facing almost certain death together has a way of bonding people, I guess. Besides, Larz said Rasc did very well at the prison.”
Mikos snorted. “Hmmph. Larz. Larz also mated with his own abuser. You can’t trust his judgment.”
“No, you can’t. The rest of us don’t have a problem with it. And I don’t think that’s