The Lasaran (Aldebarian Alliance #1) - Dianne Duvall Page 0,100

gaze to Taelon. “You have much to communicate to the king and queen.”

Taelon clapped him on the shoulder. “Yes, we do.”

Chapter Seventeen

Taelon caught Ami’s gaze and spoke to her telepathically. I know you’re probably eager to speak to Mother and Father, but could we put it off until tomorrow?

Sure. Marcus probably thinks they’re going to blame him for my wanting to stay here and will appreciate being granted a reprieve.

As soon as they see how much you love each other and you show them their beautiful granddaughter, they’ll forget any animosity they might feel.

He spoke with Ari’k a few more minutes, then followed the others back to the house.

Ari’k elected to stay with the transport.

When the others filed through the back door, Seth rested a hand on Taelon’s arm and detained him.

Lisa looked back, her brows raised in question.

Taelon smiled. “I’ll be there in a minute.”

“Okay.” Her own smile turned wry when the baby wiggled and began to fuss. “I think I need to feed the baby anyway.”

Seth pulled the door closed, shutting them both outside. “I know Lasarans consider it rude to read another’s thoughts without permission, but all gifted ones are under my protection, so I read yours to determine your feelings and intentions regarding Lisa and the child she bore you.”

Taelon wanted to object, but he had secretly peeked into Marcus’s mind a time or two. Earthlings were known for their deceptive propensities. He’d needed to be sure that the love Marcus appeared to bear Ami was as sincere as it appeared. “And?”

“I know you love her. I also know you wish to bond with her and make her your lifemate before you speak with your parents to ensure she will face no scorn for having bred your child outside of… wedlock or bonding, however you choose to put it.”

Taelon sighed. “My parents won’t scorn her. They’ll be too overjoyed to see me alive and know I have a daughter. If I tell them I love Lisa and explain the circumstances—how she came to bear my child outside of a formal bonding—they will welcome her even if we don’t bond first. But…”

Seth arched a brow. “But?”

“Amiriska is right. Our society has very strict rules prohibiting unbonded males and females from touching. I know my parents would likely wish us to wait and have a formal ceremony once we reach Lasara. But I don’t want to have to spend the next thirteen months…”

Seth’s lips twitched. “Keeping your hands to yourself whenever you’re in public?”

“Yes.”

The leader of the Immortal Guardians chuckled. “I don’t blame you. The whole house knows whenever Leah and I make love, and I still can’t keep my hands off her.”

Taelon didn’t know what that meant. Were they loud when they copulated or something?

Seth shook his head. “You’ll see. As far as the bonding goes, if you’d like a formal ceremony, we can hold one tonight like we did for Ami and Marcus.”

Taelon considered it. “I appreciate the offer but would rather it just be the two of us. A formal bonding ceremony would involve gathering Lisa’s close relatives together so that I might profess my love for her in front of them and ask their permission—should she agree—to bind my life to hers. She has no close relatives, so I would instead prefer to make my vows to her in private.”

Seth nodded. “If you wish her to feel married to you in the Earth sense, you’ll need a ring. Consult Ami, and once you’ve made your choice, we can have one here within the hour.”

“Thank you.”

“There is something else I wished to mention to you privately.” He hesitated a moment, as though searching for the right words. “Earth women are usually advised to abstain from sexual activity for at least a month after they give birth.”

His heart sank.

Seth’s lips twitched. “However, because I healed her, Lisa is completely recovered and may engage in sexual relations as soon as you both wish it.” He held up a hand. “Most Earth women also resume ovulation between forty-five and ninety-four days after childbirth. That won’t be the case for Lisa. My healing touch tells me she will likely ovulate two weeks from now. I don’t know about Lasaran males, but the sperm of human males can survive for up to five days inside an Earth woman, so if you wish to prevent pregnancy, you need to either cease sexual relations nine days from now or use protection to prevent conception.”

Taelon considered it. “We’ve a long voyage ahead of