Page 93 of I Punched an Alien and Now We’re in Couples Therapy

I kissed him. Then again and again until the body quivering against me finally uncoiled. “I promise.”

Later, we lay together on his bed after he’d spoken with Hakri, his newest advisor. In the morning, we’d fly to Frittata to meet up with Lok and the others. Outside the walls of Osid’s home, Thornward was a riot of celebration. Every Singing Arrow rejoiced at the mere mention of Lok, let alone our new alliance with him. Bloodcry banners were torn down and burned as men danced around the ashes.

Normally, I would have jumped at the chance to join the party. But in that moment, when Osid kissed me under the soft candlelight, his arms wrapped around my back as if he could never hold me tight enough, the maddening feeling of being so deeply wanted was better than I could have ever imagined. And for the rest of the night, we ignored the world outside to get lost together in the quiet.

Epilogue

Blair

One Week Later

I stepped out of the shower, wrapping a towel around my ’fro before grabbing another to dry off. Steam curled around me, fogging up the antique mirror across from the oversized clawfoot tub. Fuck, I loved my house. I never expected the Biwban to actually follow my crazed instructions about a house on the beach, but they delivered and then some. It was exactly as I dreamed: ornate woodwork, stained glass above the bay window, and a wraparound porch overlooking the beach where I could watch the most beautiful sunsets.

I tugged on a shirt, then shimmied into my pants, barely getting them past my hips when the front door clicked open. I smiled as Osid slid his arms around my waist, his lips pressing against the back of my neck in a way that left me shivering.

“Don’t you start,” I scolded, though there was no threat in my voice. He’d been a busy man this past week, and I saw him less and less as he got his people settled in. Construction on the new fortress had been slow, mostly because his men were constantly distracted, flirting with the women in the soft enclosure area. I knew his work was important, but I missed having him all to myself. Still, we had places to be and things to do, so I pushed his hands away. “You know we have to meet the others at the great hall in half an hour.”

He let his fangs graze along the pulse in my neck. “A king is never late, everyone else is simply early.”

Damn, he makes a good point.

I had almost worked up an argument, but then he cupped the back of my neck as he found that spot just below my ear, and my thoughts dissolved into static. I moaned as he lifted me up on the bathroom counter and kissed me. Giving up, I opened my mouth for him as the kiss turned hungry, insistent—

A sudden green light washed over us.

We broke apart and Osid’s hand fell to the sword at his waist as the house’s sensor whirred softly. The screen materialized in front of the window, replacing the view of the ocean with bold, glowing text.

CONGRATULATIONS, SUBJECT 12!

PREGNANCY CONFIRMED.

YOUR CHILD WILL BE THE FIRST SUCCESSFUL HUMAN-SANKADO PAIRING.

Fireworks danced along the screen as the familiar Tamagotchi tune sounded off through the house speakers. Checkup appointment dates and instructions filled out the screen after the initial message faded.

For a moment we did nothing but stare at it.

My hand fell to my stomach; my voice came out thin, disbelieving. “What?”

Osid fell to his knees, eyes wide as he looked from the screen to my belly. His hand hovered over it, as if afraid to touch. “You’re…?”

Unable to process it, I shouted. “House, scan me again to be sure.”

The green light washed over me again, and the pregnancy announcements popped up on the screen along with its jaunty little tune.

“Holy shit,” I breathed.

A choked sound escaped him before he crushed me against him, kissing me so deeply I nearly forgot how to breathe. He kissed my cheeks, my forehead, my neck, my belly, his grin wild, disbelieving. “I’m going to be a father.”

I laughed, giddy, bringing his hands to rest over my stomach. “I’ve always wanted a daughter.”

“A little princess,” he agreed, resting his head against me.

I looked at the clock on the wall with a start. “Shit, we have to go.”

Osid groaned. “Fuck the meeting. I’ll task Hakri to do my work for the rest of the week. Spend the day with me.”

“No,” I said, using all my willpower to step away from him. “I want to tell the others. Dory is gonna lose her mind!”