Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Sixteen

Lauren & Daxter

Daxter grinned at his dad. "Lauren had some good suggestions about how to end slavery and help the freed slaves. She recommended we decree that all slaves, ships used to transport slaves, money made from slaving, and so on—be seized and made the property of the kingdom. Then we would immediately free them all and use the money from those seized assets to build housing and schools where any who needed help would be taught life and job skills."

Lauren rested her head on her hands. She realized that Daxter had combined several conversations into one. But it was fine with her.

She heard Xter ask, "And who would teach the freed slaves?" It sounded as if he were smiling when he said it. But she couldn't tell. She needed to lift her head and see. But the effort was too much trouble.

She waited for Daxter to answer and when he didn't—she knew she had to speak up. "Kaitlyn," she mumbled. She didn't worry about them hearing her. Dragons had exceptional hearing. She could whisper from three rooms over and they would hear her. "Kaitlyn studied on Earth to be a teacher. She should be in charge. Kayla and I know how to survive in the wilderness and work on a farm. We've all had a variety of jobs and Kait and I were captives, so we will be able to relate to them. Not to mention I was going to school to become a psychologist. I can help them cope emotionally."

Daxter reached over and plucked her up and moved her into his lap. She didn't bother to open her eyes, she just snuggled down, getting comfortable. She heard her mate explain that the slavery issues would only get worse if they didn't stop it now. That they would need to make owning or selling slaves against the law and make the consequences both financially and physically painful.

He stressed what he wanted to see happen, that if anyone on Megoth captured, kept, sold, or profited in any way from slaves—the law would allow the rulers to seize all assets and use them to help reset the lives of anyone freed. Daxter wanted to build a rehab facility. Somewhere near Makayla and Falcon. Halfway between the castle and Viktal's Horde.

She smiled. Her husband-to-be had taken her suggestions, along with Kaitlyn's and Makayla's ideas… and run with it. She liked the idea of having the school close to Kayla. Where Lauren and Kaitlyn could meet each day. She made a mental note to suggest to Daxter he call it school, not rehab. She wrinkled her nose at the latter.

He surprised her. Bringing up several things they hadn't talked about. Like making sure the freed slaves were healthy. Teaching them how to live in this world or helping them find somewhere else to go. Daxter planned to give the freed slaves funds for the first few months of living. He talked about teaching some of them how to read and write, to budget, how to prepare food. So many things. Lauren was proud of her man. He wanted them to not just survive, but thrive.

Before she fell asleep, Lauren heard the king ask her mate why she hadn't threatened him with the wrath of the Guardian organization if he didn't agree to abolish slavery.

Lauren held her breath and struggled not to laugh when Daxter explained, "Because if you said no… Lauren would have stepped aside and let Makayla and Falcon take care of it."

Lauren spoke loud enough they could all hear her. "I wanted you to say yes." She didn't hear another word as she tumbled into a sound sleep.

The Next Morning

Lauren opened her eyes and moaned. Her hand went out, feeling the bed for Daxter. But he wasn't there.

Good. She felt like shit and needed time to pull herself together. Sitting up in bed, she took a moment to look around. Daxter's room in this fortress was huge. He had a big private bath with a sunken tub that should be labeled a pool, and plenty of room for a gigantic bed and several couches and tables.

The only thing missing was a kitchen.

But after a quiet knock at the door, one of the servants slipped in with breakfast.

The smell hit Lauren wrong. She pushed back the bedcovers and ran for the bathroom. Heaving as soon as her knees hit the floor.

God, she was miserable. She didn't just throw up once, but several times. Whenever she thought she was finished and climbed back into bed—a smell would make her nauseous and she'd be racing for the toilet again.

This went on for several minutes until she finally found enough strength to pick up the breakfast tray and push it out into the hall. She couldn't eat a morsel, and now she could no longer smell it. Exhausted, she slipped back under the covers and told herself she'd just sleep for a few more minutes before she dressed for the day. She must have eaten something yesterday that didn't agree with her.

She was so tired. Her eyes closed, and she groaned as nausea rolled through her system. Shit. If she didn't know better, she'd think she had morning sickness. But she couldn't be pregnant. Daxter told her he was on birth control.

What if he lied? Her eyes popped open as the thought skipped through her brain and she couldn't make it go away. She had to know.

DAXTER!

While she waited for her mate to come at her mental scream… she replayed what he told her about male contraceptives when she worried about getting pregnant.

"Do you have birth control on this planet?" she demanded.

Smiling, he relaxed. "Yes. The males are fitted with a sperm inhibitor at the first sign of maturity. It isn't taken off until they marry or form a contractual bond for the reason of having children."

Her mouth opened. Closed. "I… don't know what to say to that. How wonderfully responsible? Is it the truth?"

He nodded. "Yes. Although, it occurred to me today that the slaves may not be treated, nor would the traders and slavers from other planets, such as the Siloth, be. Not to mention, if someone is purchasing breeders, well… wouldn't the purpose be to breed with them? That would indicate no contract and that some aren't wearing their inhibitor. It is an issue I plan to discuss with my father. I promise to explore the situation further."

Frowning, she tried to figure out what bothered her about the sperm inhibitor. "Why is everyone required to wear one? Has that been going on long?"

He nodded. "It has been long enough to make a difference. Our planet is unruly. Unlawful. We are making strides. But one of the main issues we faced was having so many children who didn't have a father. Many also had mothers who were unable to care for them. Or the children were abandoned and ran wild, then they grew up and got wilder. Now we have warlords trying to clear out the thieves and slavers, but it is slow work. Do you not want children, Lauren?" He turned the tables on her.

"Not today. Not until I figure out what the hell I'm doing and if I'm going home or not."

Shit . They both knew she wasn't planning to go back to Earth. She was going to marry Daxter and live the rest of her life on this planet. What if he had removed his sperm inhibitor and didn't tell her? Or worse. What if she wasn't pregnant and something else was wrong with her?

Daxter threw open the door and dashed across the room to Lauren. "What's wrong? Why are you still in bed? You look green?" He scooped her up in his arms and the motion did her in.

Lauren puked all over Daxter. It took several minutes before she could talk and she looked up at her mate, demanding, "Are you still wearing your sperm inhibitor?"