kept from them.
"Caradoc, you will apologize to our daughter," Dakota ordered. "Now!"
Jamis was shocked when the Paramount looked down at his mate and seemed to soften. Still, Jamis’s instincts told him to beware. A glance at Taarig told him Taarig felt the same way.
"If that is what you wish, my love," Caradoc lifted his gaze to his daughter. "Once Cali lowers her shielding."
"Cali?" Dakota looked expectantly at Cali.
"Not until I have his vow," Cali told her. She didn't trust her father not to attack again.
"My vow?" Caradoc growled, his eyebrows drawing together.
"To not directly or indirectly harm my mates."
"If that's what you need, then I vow," Caradoc spit out.
"A Zagreus binding vow," Cali elaborated, "that anything you cause to happen to my mates will happen to yours."
"You dare to threaten my mates!" Caradoc roared.
"You threatened hers first," Paul quietly reminded him, and while he was displeased that Cali's demand could put Dakota in danger, he was also proud of her because she'd done something only Dakota had been able to do. Back the Paramount into a corner. "Give her your binding vow."
Caradoc's eyes shot to Paul. "I will never vow anything that could potentially harm my mates."
"Only if you broke your vow would they be harmed," Cali told him quietly. "Are you planning to?"
"Yes, Caradoc," Dakota stepped away from her mate, a questioning look on her face, "Are you planning on breaking a vow made to our daughter?"
"Dakota…"
"You were," Dakota whispered, backing up even further. "You were just waiting for the chance."
"You want her melded with two Apre that you know nothing about?" Caradoc demanded.
"I want her to meld with the males she loves and who love her. Without all the turmoil and heartache we went through. Don't you?"
With a growl that had the base trembling again, Caradoc's gaze shot to his daughter. "You have my binding vow that I will not be the cause of any harm that comes to your mates. If I do, then it will also happen to mine." With that, destabilization alarms went off again, and in a blinding light, the Paramount disappeared, along with his two mates.
Epilogue - Twenty-five years later
"You're sure you want to do this?" Dakota asked her daughter, who sat curled up on the couch in the Owner's Quarters on Star Base Twelve, a glass of wine in her hand.
"Yes," Cali told her. "It's time. Jamis’s and Taarig's gifts are starting to appear, and while most believe my lack of aging is due to my bonding with them, that won't last much longer."
"Alright, I'll make sure the ownership of The Brink transfers to Mae and Tay without any problems."
Mae and Tay now had five offspring of various ages, all working at The Brink, four females and their youngest one, a male. Mae correctly predicted the sex of each one. Cali's old quarters had been extensive but not for such a large family, so Cali had expanded it into Hamm's space, once Hamm had finally left the Star Base and returned home. Still, Cali was sure Mae and Tay would appreciate the room in the Owners Quarters. It would also allow their oldest offspring the chance to live on their own, even if it was within the walls of The Brink.
"Thanks, Mom."
Things had been tense between Cali and her parents after her father teleported them off the Star Base, but Cali hadn't let it interfere with her, Jamis, and Taarig beginning to build their life together. To say their relationship had come as a shock to most beings on the Star Base was an understatement, especially when Jamis and Taarig had moved into her much more spacious quarters.
At first, the Coalition disagreed and stated the Commanders were required to quarter near the Command Center. But after the Commanders pointed out that wasn't in the regulations, and Jamis and Taarig both threatened to resign their posts, the Coalition quickly changed their position. The Coalition couldn't afford to lose two of their best Commanders so soon after the Marsala scandal, which had traveled through the universe faster than a solar flare.
Over the next twenty-five years, they'd learned about each other, adjusted, and grown. It hadn't been easy as they were all strong-willed beings. Their biggest fight had been when Cali told them the truth about the vipers. She still wasn't sure which one of her mates had been more enraged, especially when they learned she'd passed out before making it into her tank. It had been several days before they'd all calmed down and