Death's Mate

by C. W. Gray

  Val closed his eyes. “There was a time I wouldn’t have dared to even think about kissing someone from your class. I had to leave Union Station and see more of the galaxy to know my self-worth, and I still struggle with it. You know that. I think we met when we were supposed to. If it had happened earlier, neither of us would have been the person we are now.”

  “You two have the strangest conversations,” Wyatt said from behind them. “You’re always so philosophical. You know what Morgan and I last talked about? Poop. We talked about how each of the kids and pets have different poop.”

  “It was fucking riveting,” Morgan said, coming around and sitting on Val’s other side. “Now, when’s this baby coming?”

  “Not anytime soon,” Verion said dryly, still wrapped up in Val’s arms.

  Wyatt sat on Verion’s other side and joined their hug. “I love you, Dad.” He looked around at Val. “I guess I should say dads, now.”

  Val couldn’t stop his smile even if he had wanted to. “Yeah, you should.”

  After a little while, Val and his mate were taken to a room with two nurses, one of which Val knew. Rune was a nice man and lived across the street from them. The other nurse wasn’t familiar, and the nasty looks she kept sending Verion made Val glad he didn’t know her.

  Verion settled back in the bed with a sigh. “That’s a little easier on my back.”

  The nurse scoffed. “I thought you were some immortal demon. Now you’re saying your back hurts?”

  “Joelle,” Rune hissed. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

  She glared at him. “I told you I didn’t want to be here. It’s not right to bring another demon into the galaxy.”

  “Get out.” Val growled, surprised at the ferocity of his own voice. “Get the fuck out. We don’t want you here.”

  She paled and ran for the door.

  Verion gave him a surprised look. “Did you growl? You usually only do that when we–”

  “I don’t think Rune needs to know that,” Val said, blushing.

  “I’m so sorry, guys. I knew she was acting strange, but I didn’t realize she felt like that.” Rune looked close to tears. “She had no right to say those things. This is a special moment.”

  “It still is a special moment,” Verion said softly. “Now, you may want to get Wyatt. My contractions are coming closer together, and I’m definitely feeling the need to push.”

  The next few hours went by in a blur for Val. He held Verion’s hand as Rune and Wyatt helped him give birth.

  His stomach clenched when he heard the first cry. He had known the baby was coming, but now Seshi was there.

  Wyatt passed a squirming, blood-coated baby to Rune, then turned back to Verion.

  Val squeezed Verion’s hand, head going light as he watched Rune check Seshi over and wash him.

  Rune looked up and smiled. “Val, do you want to take it from here?”

  Val looked at Verion.

  His mate smiled and nodded. “Go ahead. I’m not feeling anything now. Those drugs of Wyatt’s work well, even for me.”

  Val went to the changing table and looked down at their son.

  Seshi’s skin was splotchy but looked to be closer to Val’s light brown skin. He definitely had Val’s dark hair. The tips of his tiny little fingers were rounded instead of clawed like a Betonize, and he had Verion’s softly pointed ears.

  The baby opened his eyes. They were solid black, just like Verion’s.

  “You’re so beautiful, itty bitty.” Val gently diapered him and swaddled him in the green baby blanket Poppy had given them.

  Seshi’s mouth wobbled, and he let out another cry.

  “Oh no, someone’s hungry.” Val laughed softly and carried him over to Verion. “Can you?”

  Verion gave him a tired smile and held his arms out. He looked down at Seshi for a moment, eyes watering. “He does have my eyes. Val, what will we do?”

  “Feed him,” Val said, smiling. “Eyes are just eyes. He’s our son.”

  Verion gave him a solemn look. “He’s our son.”

  By the time Val made it out to the waiting room, he was swaying on his feet. Verion was already arguing with Wyatt about going home, and Seshi was well fed and sleeping.

  Val froze when he saw how many people were waiting on them. The room was full, with most of their friends there along with Val and Verion’s family.

  Damn it, the lord admiral of the station is here. Again. Fasi and his wife still made Val nervous though he actually liked them.

  Sandra saw him first and moved fast. One moment she was entertaining Crea and her grandkids, the next she was right in front of Val.

  “Oh, look at him.” She cooed at Seshi and ran a finger down his plump cheek. “He’s beautiful, Val.” She looked up, concern in her eyes. “Is Verion alright?”

  Val nodded. “He’s arguing with Wyatt now.”

  Lorry, Crea, and Fire shoved Sandra out of the way.

  “He looks like a wrinkled old man,” Lorry said, frowning down at Seshi. “His skin will smooth out, right? I mean, I’ll love him anyway, but still.”

  Crea stomped on Lorry’s foot. “Babies just look like that, Lorry. Don’t you know anything?”

  “Ow!”

  She gave Val a sweet look. “I like him, Val.”

  He sniffed and gave her a soft look. “Thank you, Crea. You’re now my favorite child.”

  She pumped her fist in the air. “Yes!”

  Fire bit his lip, practically vibrating in place. His pet guinea pig, Jellybean, rode on his shoulder. “Can I please, please hold him?”

  Val smiled and gently placed Seshi in Fire’s arms. “Be careful.”

  “I will,” Fire said, eyes wide with wonder. “I want a baby. I’d be a good daddy.”

  Jellybean looked down at the baby and wiggled his nose.

  “He is special, Jellybean,” Fire said. “I can’t wait to see what he can do.”

  Val looked up, eyes meeting Sandra’s. She looked as worried as he felt.

  A warm hand on his shoulder calmed him a bit. “Don’t worry, Val,” Fasi said, voice low. “Enjoy your son. We can deal with the rest later.”

  Val nodded and gave him a shaky smile. “Yes, sir.”

  “Will you please stop with the sir thing?”

  He shrugged. “I don’t think I can.”

  Poppy nudged Fire. “Don’t hog the baby.”

  Fire made a face, then turned and handed Seshi to a startled Clyde. “Fine then. Clyde can hold him.”

  Clyde looked panicked for a moment, then his arms loosened as he grew used to Seshi’s weight. He looked down, blinking in amazement as Seshi watched him with his big black eyes.

  Val held his breath. He knew Clyde wouldn’t hurt Seshi, but he didn’t want his friend accidently dropping the baby just because he was scared.

  Clyde slowly smiled, eyes bright with unshed tears. “Hi, Seshi. I’m your Uncle Clyde. You are an amazing little guy, aren’t you?”

  “You are,” Lorry agreed, peeking over Clyde’s shoulder. “Even if you do look like a wrinkly old man.”

  “Lorry,” Crea said, dragging his name out. “Go get the stuffie we bought Seshi. Be nice to your brother.”

  “Yes, ma’am,” Lorry said, dragging his feet as he went to get a large, stuffed Fire Veil dragon.

  Sandra slid her hand into Val’s and pulled him down to whisper in his ear. “Fasi is right. Don’t worry about anything right now. We all have your back. No matter what.”

  Val took a deep breath. “Okay. Can you do one thing for me. Please?”

  She nodded. “Anything.”

  “Go kiss Jordan like your life depended on it.”

  She smirked. “You still think I’m after Verion? Is that why you avoid me?”

  “No. Maybe. I don’t know,” Val said, shrugging. “It just makes me feel better to see you happy with your husband.”

  She arched a brow.

  “Stop analyzing me.”

  “Okay.” She sighed
and went to Jordan. Her husband was waiting his turn to hold Seshi. Sandra grabbed the back of his head and pulled him down, kissing him deeply. After a moment of surprise, Jordan wrapped her in his arms and dipped her, kissing her back.

  Val smiled, happy again with the world. Now, where’s my Seshi?

  10

  Two months later

  Death sat in a chair in his home office and looked over the latest reports for his newest project. The room was a strange mix of calm and chaotic. Shelves lined the wall and were full of ancient texts on topics varying from medicine to Ancient Crell. His desk was covered in screens, books, and someone’s stuffies which seemed to multiple as fast as the Druffle.

  Edgar’s perch and nest stood in a corner, and Druffle tunnels lined the wall. Somehow, when he had moved from Wyatt and Morgan’s home, the damn Druffle had followed. Now, two Druffle nests leaned against opposite walls, and small balls of fluff silently traveled from one to the other.

  Fasi sat across from him, one leg crossed over his knee. Edgar perched on the lord admiral’s shoulder. Death’s Fyreling nuzzled Fasi’s cheek and softly cawed. For an ominous looking mechanical bird, the raven Fyreling was very sweet.

  Val’s smile filled his mind. Just like you, he thought, a small ache filling him. He wished his mate could be with him every second of the day, but Val had work to take care of.

  “Thanks for letting me visit. I needed a break from the Council.” Fasi looked far more relaxed than he had a year ago. The constant worry that Death had seen plaguing his soul had been replaced with a tranquility Death found hard to accept. The man still lead Charybdis Station, war or no war. That wasn’t an easy job.

  “I enjoy your company,” he said simply. It was the truth. The leader of the station was a good man and an even better friend.

  Fasi leaned back in his chair and absently patted Edgar’s head. “Draif’s working with Fallow to create more medical research exchange programs. Now that we have Dr. Manning and you on our staff, everyone wants a chance to collaborate with us.”

  “I should be back to work in another month.” Death’s eyes moved to the infant chair next to him. Seshi was sleepy after his mid-morning feeding, and it wouldn’t be long until he was napping. His favorite stuffie, a small goat given to him by Clyde, was next to him, and he was covered with his favorite blankie.

  Midge was curled up beside the chair. The small dog never left Seshi’s side if she could help it. She had officially become a nanny dog.

  Scythe, on the other hand, lay behind Death’s chair, snoring loudly. The large beast still insisted he belonged to Death. At least when Crea wasn’t around.

  Fasi smiled gently. “You can take more time if you want to, Morrick. You’ve done so much for our station. Taking a few extra months off to be with your newborn isn’t the end of the galaxy.”

  Death looked back at the reports. “I want to get started on this newest project. I think we can develop a better treatment for the Siren Blight.”

  It was a degenerative disease that destroyed a Siren’s horns. Considering how much the species depended on their horns, it was a devastating problem, and while there was a treatment for the disease, it had a lot of nasty side effects.

  He looked up again. “Val wants to take a couple months with Seshi too. We’ll switch out when my paternity leave ends.”

  Fasi nodded. “That works. I just don’t want you or him to feel pressured to get back to work.” He looked over at Seshi and chuckled. “I see he’s reaching for things now. I don’t see what he’s wanting, but look at that determined face.”

  Death looked down.

  Seshi gurgled and reached one chubby hand to his left and dug into the air. He cooed happily and did it again.

  Death laughed softly. “He does that all the time. He reaches for us, his goat and blankie, and other things, but sometimes we’ll find him doing that.”

  Fasi shook his head. “Babies are too damn entertaining. How’s Crea doing?”

  “Juniper and Meggie’s daughter, Nessa, is officially her best friend now.” Death smiled softly. “She’s still mad at Lorry for moving out, but she gets to stay with him and Sai one night a week, so she’ll get used to it. She loves Wyatt too. He took her to the park with his bunch yesterday, and I think she finally figured out that Estella will listen to her chatter all day long.”

  “That girl of yours likes to talk.” Fasi snorted. “She’s almost as bad as Fire.”

  “Almost.” Death hid a smile and watched Seshi pat the air beside him. “Fire keeps bringing the neighborhood pets over to play with Seshi. I shouldn’t have as much free time as I do with a newborn. At least that’s what Sandra says.”

  Fasi snorted. “Leti once told me of an Old-Earth saying: It takes a village to raise a child. Everyone in this neighborhood takes that seriously.”

  Death’s personal communicator chimed, and he gave Fasi an apologetic look. “Do you mind if I take this? It might be Lorry. He’s been working with Manning’s administration while I’m on leave and sometimes has questions.”

  Fasi waved a hand and lowered himself to the floor beside Seshi’s baby seat. “Go ahead. I think I’ll play with Seshi.”

  Death didn’t recognize the identification number for the call, but took it anyway. Lorry had been at a different desk each day this month.

  King Xaran’s smug face projected from his communicator. “Dr. Morrick, it’s a pleasure.”

  “How did you get my personal number?” Death asked, eyes narrowed. He knew without a doubt Lorry would never have given it to the king.

  “Your disgrace of an assistant isn’t the only one who has access to your files.” Xaran’s thin lips pressed into a hard line. “Enough with niceties, I want you on Dramacus. Lord Admiral Juren doesn’t know your worth, Dr. Morrick. I can offer you more credits than you’d ever make on that decrepit space station.”

  Fasi scowled from the floor, clearly not happy.

  “No, thank you,” Death said sweetly. It was easier to be nice to the asshole when Fasi was watching. At least Charybdis Station’s leader would know what Death had to put up with.

  “Let me be clear,” Xaran said, eyes narrowed. “I get what I want, and I will have you here. You will swear loyalty to me, Dr. Morrick, one way or another.”

  “Is that a threat?” Death asked softly.

  Xaran leaned back from the screen. “Not everyone on your station is pleased that you’re still there. They value you in a fight, but they don’t want you or the monster you birthed on their station during peaceful times. I will take all of you—your children and even that maintenance worker you live with. I know your value, Dr. Morrick.”

  “This is the last time I say this,” Death said, voice low and harsh. “No. I’m a Charybdis Station citizen and serve Lord Admiral Juren. Fuck off.”

  He ended the call, but kept the last image, Xaran’s furious face, pulled up.

  Fasi stared at it. “He’s going to be a problem.”

  “Yes.” Death leaned back in his chair, hands digging into the padded arms. He funneled his anger into the lamp across the room, freezing the currents pushing through it, then accelerating them. The light burst and sizzled out.

  “The Council and I have talked about the situation with Dramacus. I almost wish we’d never made that exchange with him, but we needed the Vextonians on his planet, and he needed the Pleuli Feciose vaccine.”

  “He called my son a monster.” Death gritted his teeth and tried to rein in his anger. While normally he was quite placid, when his mate or children were threatened or insulted, he wanted to destroy everything around him.

  Fasi’s expression soured. “I don’t like that someone gave him your personal number and spread station gossip. I’ll have Draif look into it.” Sadness filled his eyes. “He made one good point. There are those who fear your being on the station.”

  Death slowly pried each finger from the chair’s armrests. “My family and I can move to Frost Veil if it’s a problem.”

&n
bsp; Fasi snorted. “I don’t want to live on a frozen rock, and me and mine would be going with you. Can’t we move to Fallow and live on the beach? Oh, I know. We could settle in one of Grellweir’s jungles. I wouldn’t mind getting some running in.”

  “Fasi,” Death began, voice soft.

  “Don’t Fasi me,” the lord admiral said. “Charybdis Station thrives because we value our people and don’t tolerate discrimination. If we turned you and your family out, we wouldn’t be Charybdis Station anymore, and I wouldn’t want my family here. Now, there are some who are worried. I think it’s time I put Draif on the problem. He has a sneakiness about him that I don’t. He’ll find a way to convince people to get over their fears.”

  Death sighed. “Very well. What about Xaran?”

  “He’s already on his way here. He’s supposed to arrive for a royal visit next week.” Fasi’s face made it clear what he thought of that. “Perhaps you should be there. Maybe talking to him face-to-face will help your no sink in a little better.”

  “Will that really help?”

  “I hope so.” Fasi cuddled Seshi close. “He’s seen what you can do, so your presence should take some of the arrogance out of his ass.”

  Death huffed. “Fine. Are you staying for dinner? You know Val’s still scared of you.”

  Fasi gave him a baffled look. “I don’t understand it. Have I done something to him without realizing it?”

  “It’s your position. Val isn’t used to planetary leaders coming for dinner.” Death paused. “Frankly, it’s a little alarming that most of those in the neighborhood are used to it.”

  Fasi chuckled. “I’m staying for dinner. Val will get used to me, damn it.”

  Death sighed. “One question before we move on to a better topic. What will we do if Seshi does show signs of my powers?”

  Fasi looked conflicted. “I suppose it will depend on how he displays them.”