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Unless what Belinda had said about Ethan was true.
Dana stayed in the bathroom far too long and Kimber’s insides threatened to implode from the suspense.
“Dana!”
“I’m coming.”
Dana held the test on her cupped palms like a cherished artifact as she walked slowly into the living room. Kimber knew instantly.
Tears hit her eyes, her mind swirling with disbelief.
Dana set the test in Kimber’s hand. Holding her breath, she looked at it.
Two pink lines.
Chapter Twenty
A'zal
A’zalOstHilstralookedat the cell phone as if it would magically start working outside of Earth’s atmosphere. It became inoperative the moment he teleported onto the base station and, despite the Luxx’s technological abilities; they didn’t have a way to make the phone operational. He needed to contact Kimber and the longer he couldn’t, the more anxious he became.
How many messages had she sent him? How angry was she that he hadn’t replied? All the magazines said women became anxious and upset if a male didn’t communicate several times a day, especially if they’d slept together. He didn’t want Kimber to be upset with him.
He’d never intentionally harm his mate.
His father had called him from Earth for an urgent meeting that did nothing but make A’zal even more eager to get back to Kimber. Curling his fingers around the phone, he slipped it into his pants thigh pocket.
“A’zal, are you listening to me?”
His father’s voice boomed from the enormous, curved viewscreen. The signal from Luxxor to the base station outside Earth’s atmosphere was strong, but his father didn’t look well. The once vibrant purple hue of his skin had dulled, and his galactic eyes had lost some of their shine. A’zal considered the connection was poor from a weak telecommunication signal, but his father’s unkept and unbraided hair suggested that wasn’t the cause. A king would never present himself like this, and A’zal worried something was wrong with his father’s health. But the topic at hand held more importance right now.
His father was trying to keep him from going back to Earth.
“I am listening to you, father. But I don’t agree with what you’re proposing.”
“You don’t have to agree. Your responsibility is to follow my orders.”
“Giving in to the skwerm’s demands will only make us look weak.”
They weren’t happy about Luxxor presence on their playground and demanded they leave Earth immediately. His father was going to comply without negotiation or compromise. It wasn’t like him to give in so easily.
“Our presence on Earth threatens them. I refuse to entertain conflict over something so minor. There are many other places to hold the Ruspa.”
A’zal crossed his arms defiantly. “The Ruspa isn’t over. We have men all over this planet enjoying their freedom. The skwerm can deal with us being here until it’s complete.”
His father’s eyes flashed with irritation. “Youaredone. You’re the prince of Luxxor and an example for the others. They will follow you home.”
This couldn’t be happening right now. He hadn’t told Kimber everything he should have. Holding back his anger was difficult, but he had to. He couldn’t allow his father to read his emotions, even as he was filled with urgent, gnawing despair that Kimber was being ripped away from him.
“Allow me to speak to the skwerm leader, father, and reassure him we have no plans to make a claim to Earth.”
As infuriating as this situation was, he understood his father’s problem. The skwerm had enjoyed free access to an unlimited supply of humans to use as they pleased, and they were going to protect that resource at all costs. The Luxx were masters at warfare but didn’t seek conflict. His father was right that this wasn’t a fight worth getting into, but A’zal couldn’t fathom leaving Kimber like this.
“You’re suggesting that you’re a better negotiator than me?”
“We need to stand our ground on this.”
The king narrowed his eyes. “What is this really about, A’zal? It’s not like you to argue with me.”
