The Lasaran (Aldebarian Alliance #1) - Dianne Duvall Page 0,88

slipped her hand from Marcus’s and began to fiddle nervously with a crease in her pants leg at the knee.

“I don’t mean to be rude,” Taelon said slowly, “but why are you here, Marcus?”

“Taelon!” Ami protested.

Marcus tilted his head to one side. “I don’t suppose you mean that in an existential kind of way, do you?”

Lisa laughed but quickly cut it off.

Taelon was unamused. “No.”

Marcus drew in a deep breath, then let it out. Leaning forward, he propped his elbows on his splayed knees and clasped his hands between them. “Tell me, Taelon, are you a rip-the-bandage-off-quickly kind of guy or would you rather remove the bandage slowly in hopes of reducing the pain?”

“Marcus,” Ami warned.

“Rip it off quickly,” Taelon replied.

Marcus nodded. “Then I’m here because I’m Ami’s husband. Ami and I are married.”

Taelon’s gaze shot to his sister.

Ami winced. “I was actually hoping you’d get to know Marcus a little more before we sprang that on you.”

“You’re bonded to him?” Taelon asked, his expression stunned.

“Yes.” Giving up the pretense, Ami leaned into Marcus’s side and rested a hand on his thigh. “We’ve been married a few years now.”

Marcus leaned back and draped an arm around her. “I tried to make the ceremony as similar to a Lasaran bonding ceremony as I could. Seth is the closest thing to a father Ami has here. So is David. And Darnell is like a brother to her. So I sought their approval and pledged my love in front of them, vowing to always cherish her and protect her.”

Ami smiled up at him. “It was perfect.”

Smiling down at her, he dipped his head and pressed a quick kiss to her lips.

Taelon studied her. “And you’re happy?”

“Happier than I ever thought I could be.” Her face brightened with excitement. “And there’s more.” Jumping up, she hurried over to the door, flung it open, and disappeared down the hallway.

Marcus watched her go, then turned back to Taelon. “We really didn’t mean to thrust this upon you all at once. She’s just ecstatically happy that you’re here and is terrified you won’t approve.” His expression darkened. “If you don’t approve, do not make her cry. If you have a problem, take it up with me when Ami isn’t around. I won’t let you upset her.”

Anxiety pooled in Lisa’s stomach as she waited for Taelon to deliver a blistering response.

But Taelon actually seemed to relax a little. He was just opening his mouth to reply when Ami returned with Adira perched on her hip.

Taelon’s eyes widened as he sucked in a breath. His jaw dropped. There was no mistaking the resemblance between mother and daughter. “Riska,” he whispered.

Ami beamed as she stopped in front of the sofa. “This is our daughter, Adira. You’re an uncle!”

Chapter Fifteen

Taelon stared, speechless, at the child his sister held. She looked exactly the way Amiriska had when she was a baby.

Adira squirmed to get down.

The moment Ami lowered her daughter’s feet to the floor, the little beauty grinned big and toddled toward him with her arms outstretched.

Taelon released Lisa’s hand and rubbed both of his on his knees as he nervously contemplated picking up the child. Adira just kept grinning at him, bouncing on her toes with impatience when she stood before him. He visually consulted the adults. “It’s been so long since I’ve seen a child that I’ve forgotten what to do with them. How do I…?”

Marcus smiled. “Just tuck your hands under her arms like this.” He demonstrated how to pick up the toddler.

Taelon carefully slid his hands under Adira’s arms and lifted her.

She was so light! So delicate! He was awestruck, enraptured, and terrified all at once.

Adira giggled and kicked her chubby legs as she rested her hands on his forearms.

This was his niece! Since none of his brothers were bonded and both Lasaran and Secta medics had told them Amiriska would likely never conceive, he had never thought to have one.

He looked at Lisa, who smiled while she watched him and smoothed a hand over her belly. Nor had he thought he would ever have a child of his own.

“What do I do?” he asked desperately.

Lisa patted his thigh. “Just sit her here on your lap.” She showed him how to settle the child on his thigh and wrap an arm around her little back for support.

As soon as he did, Adira leaned into him and gave him a hug.

“She’s so small,” he said, his voice hushed and full of wonder as warmth spread through him. The last