Epilogue

EPILOGUE

Jane

" W ell, now," I said, rolling over. This isn't so bad."

"What?" he murmured in my ear. "Having the whole bed to yourself this morning, or being my mate?"

"Both." I settled on my belly and watched him pull on his clothes. His snug pants caught on the firm globes of his ass before sliding over them. They still looked amazing in those pants as he pulled a thick metal belt around his narrow waist. "The view is sensational."

Siroc smirked and ran his gaze over my naked back. "It's pleasant from where I'm standing, too."

It had been nearly a year since I said goodbye to "Eleanor" and "Siku" and became Jane, and only Jane. Siroc had stayed by my side ever since. The It-tellans had been able to remove most of the remaining implants in my body, returning me to typical human functions. No more super strength, unfortunately, but also no chance of ever being taken over by an alien telepath, again. The only implant they left in my brain was the one that would restore the memories of my abduction. The It-tellans were able to view them, thanks to their wildly advanced technology, and said what I experienced was horrific. I was given the choice—remember everything, or start from where I was. I chose to leave the memory blocks in. I didn't need to know what I suffered while in the hands of the Evis-Vok, or before that with Alexander. I had a family on earth, and I was starting over with them, too.

"Where are you heading off to this early in the morning?" I asked Siroc as he pulled on a thick vest.

"A meeting with merchants from the Deltic quadrant." He stepped into his boots. "They're particular about the purity of their alloys, so I must give them a tour of the refinery."

"Sounds exciting," I said.

"I would prefer to stay here in bed with you," he growled, leaning down and pressing a hard kiss to my mouth. He cast one last hungry look at me before crossing to the door and taking up his spear. "I shall see you later in the main hall."

My hair was longer and with all the metal removed, they'd been able to remove the scars that Urix could not. I was as good as new, as they said on earth, but I'd been through so much, I knew nothing about me was new. I was grateful for this fresh, wonderful life I had now, and I didn't take a single day of it for granted.

After Siroc left, I lounged a bit before getting up and dressed. I headed out of our room to the newly built nursery, which had been the Elders' sanctuary. That large space near the main hall was perfect for the growing population of human-Mitran hybrid children. I entered, quickly finding Paige, who sat in a big soft chair with her infant daughter, Haile.

Her eyes brightened as I crossed to her. "Jane!" She waved with a free hand. "I'm so glad to see you."

"Right back at you." I sat beside her and reached for the baby. "Hand her over." I crooned as Paige carefully passed over the sleepy infant, who let out a big yawn and burped, before falling asleep in my arms. She was a perfect little thing, with red skin, brown eyes, and just the slightest nubs on her head where horns would form. She had no spikes on her arms, but some down her spine. Peach fuzz covered her head, showing that the baby would have hair, not brakas . They were all a little different in terms of what

"She just ate, so you're getting a treat. Gotta say, I love this nursery. Look at the Mitran nannies." She pointed to an older Mitran male—still big and buff and scarred—gently bouncing a baby in each of his thick arms, smiling in delight as the babies laughed and held onto his horns with their tiny hands. "It's like a bunch of amazing, capable grandpas just showed up and said, ‘hey, we can help,' but they actually do . They change diapers and everything, when we need a break and our mates can't be here. I love these guys."

It was a wonderful thing to see so many males in the nursery, playing with the children, teaching them, alongside human women and the few Mitran females that remained. No Mitran females were currently in the nursery. "I hope the Elders are settling in their new sanctuary," I said, as a toddler zipped past with a squeal of laughter and a high-fisted toy, followed by another who clearly wanted the toy back. "They should be pleased that their old space is now filled with children."

Paige snorted. "The only thing the Elders like about the nursery is that it contains the little ones and keeps the children out of their brakas . You remember how mad they were that they had to move their sanctuary into that much smaller chamber farther down the main corridor."

"I remember." I looked at the huge chamber, now filled with color and light and little kids. "They seem to have regained some of their senses, though. There are no more calls for Siroc to be replaced, thank goodness."

"That was mostly Elnok," Paige said. "But still, they tried to stage a coup. They lost some standing and it will take time to get it back. They publicly apologized for the things they said about you."

"They weren't wrong about all of them," I murmured. "I was a threat. It took me a while to figure that out."

Little Haile let out a little noise in her sleep, screwed up her face as if she were going to cry, then changed her mind and fell off again into slumber. "She is cute," I said. "I'm thinking having one of these would be quite an adventure."

"Oh, it is," said Paige. "But there's literally a whole Thrail to help raise her, and that's a really great feeling."

"Hmm." Siroc and I had been talking about having a child of our own. "Urix wanted us to wait to see how my body healed, but I think he'd give the okay if I told him I was ready."

Paige tilted her head. " Are you ready?"

I smiled at her. "Yes. I am. When I come in here, I feel so happy, and a little envious."

"Come see me in the middle of the night when she needs a feeding. See how envious you are, then."

I laughed. "Some parts are hard. No doubt about that. But my love and life are here, and I'd like to be a mother. I don't think I did in my life before."

"If I had your life on earth, I wouldn't either. Your ex would have been a terrible parent.

"He was a terrible partner, so, yes." Haile stirred for real, so I handed her back to her mother, where the baby once again settled in to sleep. "Siroc would be good with a child."

"He would be—ah, speak of the devil." Paige raised her eyebrows and nodded toward the entrance.

I turned to see Siroc striding through the nursery. He stepped over one crawling baby and dodged a flying stuffed animal as deftly as if he were avoiding debris in battle.

"I thought I'd find you in here," he said, gazing down at me with warm eyes. He turned and nodded to Paige. "How is little Haile doing?"

"Very well, Warlord." She smiled up at him. "Jane is a natural with her."

"I don't know about that." I'd been relieved when he hadn't penalized her for helping me try to escape the Thrail. In fact, her role in my "escape" hadn't even reached the populace. I'd told him privately, along with my explanation of why I thought I had to. There had been much to explain, and even more that even I hadn't known. Siroc had taken care of all of it—from getting my divorce from Alexander to informing the Thrail's residents that I was now his mate and the threats were over.

"I do." He reached a hand down and I took it, allowing him to pull me up. Wide, warm hands spanned my waist. "You'd be a wonderful mother. And Mitran males are very involved in our offspring's life. It would be fun."

"Fun?" I asked with a chuckle. "That's what you think it would be?"

"Yes." He spread his arms. "Look around. I'd call this fun."

I pointed to a little boy who was crying about a toy that another boy was playing with. "That kid isn't having fun."

"He'll be fine. Look." As he spoke, one of the older Mitrans moved in and scooped up the disgruntled child, tossing him in the air and catching him. The angry tears turned to laughter.

"You two have a lot to talk about," said Paige with an amused look.

I bend down and gave her a hug, and kissed the top of Haile's fuzzy head, before leaving the nursery with my warlord. We walked through the main hall hand in hand. The energy in the hall was light and positive. Cooks began prep for the next meal and a trio of musicians played their instruments as they worked on a new song. All was well in Thrail Praxan. All was well with me.

And as I looked up into the adoring eyes of my mate, I knew that no matter what came our way, we would also be well.

He squeezed my hand. "What is it? I can't decipher the look on your face."

"Nothing bad," I assured him. "I just love you and our life here. I didn't see a happy ending for us, honestly. Not after I learned that I'd been married."

"We will not discuss that man," said Siroc, voice hardening. "I made it very clear that if he attempts to contact you again, I'll send a team of warriors after him to separate his head from his body. Permanently . You deserve freedom from him. You deserve happiness, Jane," he said seriously. "I'm glad you found it with me."

"I'm glad, too." I smiled up into his handsome face. "You also deserve happiness."

"I am. Very." He leaned down and kissed me in the middle of the main hall. "I knew you were the one for me. There will never be another for me. There is no one I'd rather be happy with."