Page 48 of A Kiss of Frost

“I can think of nothing that I would like more. And I will do everything in my power to make it happen. Beginning tonight.”

He kissed her, his tongue twining with hers in the way that never failed to build her arousal, and then he moved to her mating mark, nipping lightly at the sensitive flesh, and she smiled. A home, a husband, a family, and hopefully, a baby. She’d never thought to be so happy.

The next summer…

“I am not at allsure that this is a good idea,” Jack said, pacing impatiently from one side of the room to the other.

“It’s been almost two years,” his mate said. “You don’t honestly think he’d still be angry?”

“The amount of time is irrelevant. Nicholsarian never forgets anything. Or forgives.”

“What is there to forgive?” she asked calmly. “You know that the crash wasn’t your fault. There’s something about this planet, or at least this area which affects ships.”

“But I was not supposed to be on his ship.”

“True. But does it really matter? Jaelle says he’s happily mated to a human now.”

It was Katerina’s friendship with Jaelle which had eventually led to the knowledge that Ambassador Nicholsarian had remained on K.R.S Three. She had written to the other female to let her know that she had found safety and the two of them had struck up a correspondence. Jaelle had mentioned her healing skills, and as Katerina’s time grew near, he’d grown increasingly nervous about the birth. At his suggestion, Katerina had written to ask if Jaelle could be present.

Jaelle had agreed but when she arrived at the outpost, she was accompanied not only by two children, a baby, a dire wolf, and a drone in the form of a bird, but by another Tandroki warrior – the legendary Commander Krampasarian. He was not directly acquainted with the other male, but he was more than aware of the commander’s reputation, and his competition with Nicholsarian for the position of ambassador to Perchten - a competition that Nicholsarian had won after Krampasarian disappeared.

Under the circumstances, the fact that he had worked for the ambassador did not seem promising. And Krampasarian’s first icy glance only compounded that suspicion. But then the other warrior turned to talk to his bride, tenderness replacing his previous arrogance, and Jack found himself relaxing a little.

Krampasarian eventually softened enough to help ease Jack’s fears about the birth. He would not go as far as to say they had become friends, but since their mates had become close, he suspected they would be seeing more of each other over the years. He found the prospect surprisingly agreeable. It wasn’t until the night before they were due to leave that he thought to ask about Nicholsarian, wondering if Krampus had heard anything.

The other male only looked amused.

“I believe I will leave you to discover that for yourself.”

He’d dismissed the comment at the time, but a few weeks later he had received a message from the ambassador.

“‘I’m coming to see you.’ What kind of message is that?” he asked, not for the first time, resuming his pacing.

“Jack, stop. You’re making me dizzy.”

Katerina gently removed Varak from her breast as she spoke. Their son. He still couldn’t believe that he had a son. He was a perfect mixture of Tandroki and human with pale golden hair curling around the small, dark nubs of his horns.

“Here, why don’t you take Varak? If you insist on pacing back and forth, you might as well take him with you.”

He gladly took his son, cradling him against his chest, but he did not immediately resume his pacing, studying his female instead.

“You look tired, zeretta.”

“Having a baby is tiring.” She gave him a rueful smile. “And I think I’m missing Merry’s help.”

Merry had been delighted by the baby and eager to assist Katerina. She and the other children were visiting friends for the day - under Johnny’s watchful eye. He did not want them present for the meeting in case Nicholsarian proved… unpleasant.

“I think Merry is already growing up,” he said wistfully. “At least it will be a long time before Varak is an adult.”

“Not that long. It’s surprising how quickly children change.”

She was right. He could already see the changes in all of them

“Then we should just keep having babies so we remember what it’s like when they are young.”

“Wedon’t have babies. You may start the process butIactually have the baby, so let me assure you I do not intend to become a baby making machine.”

“Of course not, zeretta.” He smiled at her. “Although that does not mean we can’t practice.”