Page 37 of Blazing Joysticks
Keir shrugged, a rueful smile on his face. “What can I say? I was a late bloomer when it came to fire control. Took me a century to master it.”
“A century?” Cat’s eyes widened. “And here I thought learning to code was time-consuming.”
As dessert—an enormous sticky toffee pudding—was served, Vivianne leaned forward, her expression suddenly serious. “Now, Cat dear, there’s something very important we need to discuss.”
Cat straightened, nervousness flashing across her face. “Yes?”
“When can we expect grandchildren?”
“Mother!” Keir exclaimed, nearly choking on his pudding.
Cat’s face turned bright red, but she recovered quickly. “Well,” she said, a mischievous glint in her eye, “that depends. How long does dragon gestation last? Because if it’s anything like your lifespans, I might need to clear my schedule for the next decade or two.”
The table erupted in laughter once more, Vivianne clapping her hands in delight. “Oh, I do like her, Keir. She’s quick.”
As the evening wound down, filled with more stories, laughter, and an obscene amount of food, Keir found himself overwhelmed with happiness. Watching Cat fit so seamlessly into his family, trading quips with Amelia and earnestly discussing history with his father, he knew he’d made the right choice in bringing her into his world.
When they finally said their good-byes, amid hugs and promises of future visits, Amelia pulled Cat aside for one last sisterly chat.
“Just remember,” she whispered conspiratorially, “if he ever gets too high and mighty, remind him of the Great Kilt Incident of 1850. Works every time.”
Cat grinned, linking her arm through Keir’s as they walked to the car. “Oh, don’t worry. I’ve got plenty of ammunition now.”
Keir groaned dramatically, but he couldn’t keep the smile off his face. “I’ve created a monster,” he lamented.
“Nope,” Cat replied cheerfully. “You’ve created a Sharpe. And from what I’ve seen tonight, that’s a far more terrifying prospect.”
As they drove home under the starry sky, Keir’s heart felt full to bursting.
They settled in for the night after getting back to his penthouse, curled together on the couch with a bowl of popcorn and a romantic comedy playing on the massive TV screen, Keir found himself only half-watching the movie. His attention was captured by Cat’s reactions—the way she laughed at the cheesy jokes, the soft “aww” she let out at particularly sweet moments.
“I thought you didn’t like rom-coms,” he teased, pressing a kiss to her temple.
Cat snuggled closer, not taking her eyes off the screen. “I have no idea what you’re talking about,” she insisted. “I’m only watching this for your benefit.”
Keir chuckled, tightening his arm around her. As the movie’s predictable plot unfolded, his mind wandered to the days ahead. The game launch loomed large, bringing with it a mix of excitement and anxiety. He knew the threats from Obsidian Tech were far from over, and the thought of Cat in danger made his dragon snarl with protective rage.
But for now, in this moment, with his mate safe in his arms and the warmth of family surrounding them, Keir allowed himself to simply be content. Whatever challenges lay ahead, they would face them together. And that, he realized, made all the difference in the world.
EIGHTEEN
Cat’s heart raced as her fingers flew across the keyboard, eyes darting between multiple screens. The soft blue glow illuminated her face, casting shadows that emphasized the tension in her jaw. This was it—the final test run of the Phoenix Protocol. Months of sleepless nights, countless cups of coffee, and more than a few tears had led to this moment.
As the last simulation completed successfully, Cat leaned back, her chair creaking in the sudden silence. She released a shaky breath, running trembling fingers through her disheveled hair. Relief warred with a gnawing anxiety in her gut. The protocol worked flawlessly in every test scenario, but would it hold up under real-world conditions? The weight of responsibility pressed down on her, threatening to crush her beneath its enormity.
“How’s it looking?”
Keir’s deep voice cut through her spiraling thoughts, making her jump. She swiveled to face him, worrying her lower lip between her teeth. The concern in his hazel eyes made her throat tighten.
“The simulations all passed, but...” Cat trailed off, struggling to voice the fears that clawed at her insides.
Keir perched on the edge of her desk, his proximity both comforting and overwhelming. “But what, Cat?”
“What if we missed something?” The words burst out, raw and vulnerable. “This is the biggest project I’ve ever worked on, Keir. If something goes wrong during the launch...” She couldn’t finish, the potential consequences too terrifying to name.
Keir reached out, his warm hand enveloping hers. The gentleness of his touch contrasted sharply with the intensity of his gaze. “Cat, look at me.”
She met his eyes, finding an anchor in the unwavering confidence she saw there.