The Lasaran (Aldebarian Alliance #1) - Dianne Duvall Page 0,110
Ami came close to shouting in dismay.
“No,” Taelon parroted, more calmly. “We aren’t going to annihilate the Earthlings. Some of them helped us escape and have proven themselves to be valuable allies.”
Again the family quieted, sliding each other dubious looks.
“What?” one of the brothers asked, his face full of doubt.
“Some of the Earthlings have become valuable allies to us,” Taelon repeated.
Ami nodded. “We wouldn’t be alive today if it weren’t for them. I probably would’ve died long before Taelon arrived if some Earthlings hadn’t rescued me. They slew the ones who hurt me, then took me in. They protected me and have helped me in a thousand different ways.”
The family seemed quite stunned.
Her mother nodded slowly. “Then we owe them our gratitude.”
The brother who appeared to be the eldest, however, looked pissed. A muscle twitched in his jaw. “How did they hurt you, Riska?”
Ami shook her head. “Stop focusing on that and focus on what I’m trying to tell you. The Earthlings who helped me have come to mean a great deal to me and…” She bit her lip and glanced up at Taelon.
He nodded.
Drawing in a deep breath, she smiled at her family. “I’ve bonded with one.”
Mouths fell open. Eyes widened.
Ami turned and motioned to Marcus.
Marcus glanced at Lisa. “Are my eyes glowing?” he whispered.
They were a deep, dark brown. “No. You’re good.”
Marcus strode forward, Adira dangling from his chest and kicking her feet while she played with a stuffed bunny. As soon as he reached Ami’s side, he wrapped an arm around her and studied her pink cheeks and watery eyes with concern.
“I’m okay,” she told him with a smile. Rising onto her toes, she kissed his cheek.
Her family gasped.
Then she lowered her heels back to the floor, wrapped an arm around his waist, and leaned into his side. “Marcus, this is my mother, Queen Adiransia; my father, King Dasheon; and my brothers”—she pointed to them left to right—“Duras, Gefen, and Levik. Everyone, this is Marcus, my lifemate. Or as they say here on Earth, my husband.”
Marcus released Ami long enough to deliver a very nice formal bow. “Your Majesties.”
Adira giggled as she pitched forward in the carrier, then righted. “More, Daddy, more!”
All eyes went to the child.
Ami grinned as she swiped the tears from her cheeks. “And this is our daughter Adira.”
The queen raised a hand to her lips and spoke, her voice hushed and full of wonder. “She looks just like Riska did when she was a baby.”
Lisa couldn’t read the king’s expression when he shifted his gaze back to his daughter. “You bonded with an Earthling male and bore him a child?”
“Yes. I love Marcus, and he makes me very happy.”
Marcus cleared his throat as he wrapped his arm around Ami. “Ami believed she would never see her family again. Had I known differently, I would’ve waited to gain your permission before marrying—uh, bonding with her.”
Ami frowned up at him. “Well, I sure as hell wouldn’t have.”
One of her brothers snorted a laugh.
Taelon grinned. “I wouldn’t have either. And didn’t.” He motioned Lisa forward.
Her feet glued themselves to the floor until Seth touched her back and gave her a little nudge forward.
Heart hammering in her chest, she moved to Taelon’s side.
Taelon curled an arm around her shoulders and drew her up against his side. “This is my lifemate, Lisa. Lisa, my family.”
Lisa glanced up at him and murmured, “Do I curtsy or bow?”
“Neither. You’re family.”
“You’re bonded to an Earthling, too?” his father asked.
They all seemed about as shocked as she expected. But she wasn’t seeing any overt hostility, so… that was good.
“Yes.”
“What’s wrong with her chest?” one of the brothers murmured with a frown. Lisa had forgotten his name.
Another elbowed him in the side.
“What?” the first protested. “It’s lumpier than a Lasaran woman’s.” His voice lowered to a whisper. “Do Earth females have more than two breasts?”
The queen spun around and swatted him on his arm.
Lisa glanced down and bit back a laugh. The carrier sling had shifted slightly. The baby’s face was no longer visible except from the side, so she didn’t blame them for wondering what was causing the extra lumps on her front.
Amusement dancing in his green eyes, Taelon drew the cloth back until Abby’s face and some of her red hair showed. He dropped a quick kiss to the baby’s head, then smiled at his family. “This is our daughter, Abby. She was born two days ago.”
Yet again, Taelon succeeded in rendering his entire family speechless.