Her Commanders - M.K. Eidem Page 0,115
ward off the fight he saw building in her glowing gaze. It had become one of his favorite things, raising his mate's ire so that he could exhaust it in bed, or against the wall, or in the pilot's chair, but he didn't think Dakota would appreciate him fucking her daughter on the terrace, not to mention Paul and the Paramount.
Cali's eyes narrowed on her mate but let it go, at least until they were alone, and looked back to her mom. "What about Father?"
"Well??
"Caradoc will be arriving shortly," Paul said, walking out of the house.
"Paul." Dakota hurried over to her mate, who lifted her into his arms and kissed her.
"They always greet each other like that. Whether they've been apart a day, week, or month."
"If it's been a week or month, I do more than kiss my mate," Paul told them.
"Paul!" Dakota slapped his chest playfully but didn't deny it.
"So, I take it there is a secondary landing platform," Jamis stated, drawing the attention away from Paul and Dakota.
"On the other side of the house, yes," Cali told him. "It's large enough for multiple ships when the entire family is home. This one just happens to be Mom's favorite." Cali gestured behind her to where their ship was.
"I can see why," Taarig told her. "It's a beautiful approach."
"It is," Dakota agreed, holding Paul's hand as they returned to the table, and she handed her mate a glass.
"Hmm," Paul hummed, taking a sip looking at Cali. "This is some of the wine you sent us from Earth."
"It is. We had to search for something close and finally found it in Iowa at an Amish Colony."
"Those still exist?" Dakota couldn't believe the religious society had survived for so long.
"In a few locations," Cali told her. "It was astonishing to see how simply they live when just an hour away is an ultra-modern city with a spaceport."
"Especially when they are aware of the rest of the universe," Jamis said, remembering how his and Taarig's appearance hadn't surprised them. "They just choose not to embrace it."
"Earthans can be stubborn that way," Paul stated, then looked up just as a ship came into view and flew overhead. "Caradoc's here."
"Wonderful."
While her mom sounded happy, Cali heard the determination in her voice. They all knew this meeting was going to be tense. After all, Cali hadn't had any contact with her father since he teleported off Star Base Twelve. It didn't take long for the Paramount to come striding out the same door Paul had.
"What is going on here?" Caradoc growled, causing Jamis and Taarig to tense and move to stand between Cali and her father.
"Now, Caradoc, don't be that way," Dakota ignored her mate's fierce scowl and kissed him, just as she had Paul.
"Don't think you can distract me this way," Caradoc murmured against her lips.
"I'm not trying to," Dakota denied as Caradoc set her back on her feet. "I'm just greeting my mate as I usually do."
"You neglected to inform me we would have visitors. You know how I feel about that."
"They're not visitors," Dakota argued. "They're family, and it's time for this nonsense to stop."
"Nonsense?" Caradoc growled. "Nonsense?! She threatened my mates."
"Only after you threatened hers," Dakota reminded him. "I'd hoped you'd realize this on your own and reach out to our daughter, but you haven't. So, I am. I love you, Caradoc, but I am going to have a relationship with Cali, Jamis, and Taarig."
"As am I," Paul said as he moved to stand next to Dakota.
"So, the question is, are you or do we exclude you from that part of our lives?"
Jamis watched Caradoc closely. He'd never heard of anyone challenging the male this way and their life span continuing. What he saw shocked him. Caradoc Wik'ax, the Paramount of the Zagreus, the most powerful and feared being in the universe, looked hurt.
"You?? Caradoc looked between his mates, "would do such a thing to me?"
"You'd be doing it to yourself," Paul told him. "You've always said you'd do whatever it took for the three of us to be happy, and this is one of those things. Cali is our daughter, our only female. She is also the first of our offspring to mate and with two males who can not only provide for and protect her but who I've come to respect greatly. You would, too, if you spent some time getting to know them instead of fixating on how you first met."
Caradoc's gaze slowly traveled over the five beings standing