Page 23 of Draevan

“It’s all right, Draevan,” she called. “I’ll take care of her.” Sure, they’d shared a night of passion and had officially consummated their mating union, but hadn’t he signed up for the VAMOB program mainly so he could acquire a mother for Meela? That had been her first impression of him, and she didn’t want to disappoint him. She wanted to prove that she could take care of his baby niece, and she also wanted the child to start looking to her as a trusted caregiver.

But just before Cora reached the door, Draevan finished getting dressed and hurried to her side. He walked into the corridor with her, and she wasn’t certain whether to be annoyed or grateful for his assistance.

“I still haven’t shown you how to heat her bottles or how the food replicator works. Or how to work the refresher that cleanses her diapers.”

Cora’s face heated. Okay, well, she knew how to take care of a baby, she just didn’t know how to work all the Vaxxlian technology that would be required in the process. She felt a wave of self-consciousness but vowed she would be a quick learner. She also appreciated that Draevan was so willing to show her how to work everything.

They entered Meela’s room to find her sitting up in her crib, peering out the viewport with wide eyes. She cooed and babbled to herself, not yet aware of Cora and Draevan’s presence. She seemed utterly transfixed by the bright colors in the Eshunna Passage.

“She really enjoyed our first trip through the wormhole,” Draevan whispered. He glanced over at Cora, then slowly reached for her, wrapping an arm around her waist and drawing her close.

Cora’s heart quickened at the casual display of intimacy. It brought her hope that perhaps he would see her as his true mate. It also made her wonder just how often he planned to claim her. Every night? Or only on rare occasions?

His eyes softened as he stared at her. “Did you sleep well, my sweet mate?” he asked, still keeping his voice low.

“Yes, very well, in fact.” She savored the warmth that emanated from his huge body. “What about you? Did you sleep well?”

“Yes, I did.” With his arm still wrapped around her, he reached for her with his free hand, running his fingers through her hair. He gazed at her with a profound look that made her throat burn.

What was he thinking about?

Sometimes, she could glean his emotions and thoughts, but right now, he was almost a mystery to her. And yet, she felt completely at ease in his presence, more comfortable around him than any other man she’d ever spent time with before. She pushed aside the memory of all the dates that had been forced upon her by her record label. She would never have to worry about that sort of thing again. Because she had Draevan now, and he had her. They were mates.

And Vaxxlians mated for life…

Her breath caught as she remembered this important fact. At first, it startled her a bit, but as she considered the future and what kind of life she would have on New Vaxx, living as Draevan’s mate and Meela’s mother, a sense of peace spread within her.

She was no longer alone. She belonged to a little family now, and she would also have the freedom to walk the streets of the picturesque city of Starzzia. Just as she leaned her head against Draevan’s chest, the Vaxxlian cruiser exited the Eshunna Passage and burst into a brand-new galaxy. Her pulse raced as disbelief and wonder rippled through her.

She gazed at the starry expanse of space beyond the ship, a sense of finality settling inside her. In just a few hours, she would see her new home, a planet called New Vaxx, where she would finally be safe.

No more war. No more worry.

No more fearing that a strange noise in the night was her stalker somehow breaking into her penthouse…

She shoved all memories of M into a secret compartment in the back of her mind, determined never to think of him again. There was no way he could reach her now.

It was time for a fresh start.

A new beginning…

Meela finally looked away from the viewport and noticed Cora and Draevan for the first time. The baby’s eyes brightened, and she opened her arms wide, asking to be picked up.

Cora rushed forward and lifted Meela out of the crib. She settled the baby on her hip and glanced around the room, trying to find where diapers might be kept. Yes, Draevan had promised to show her how to take care of Meela, but she still couldn’t push down the desire to do as much on her own without any help as possible. She so badly wanted to impress him.

When she spotted a padded table with a small, padded barrier around it, she knew it was definitely a changing table. She walked across the room while Draevan followed her.

“I am amazed by her mood this morning,” he said with a nod at Meela. “Most mornings, she wakes up and calls out for her parents, then starts crying when she doesn’t see them.”

Rather than place the baby down on the changing table, Cora hugged her tighter and pressed a kiss atop her head. “Oh, the poor thing. I suppose the Eshunna Passage served as a distraction this morning.” Cora gave the baby another kiss, her heart aching as she considered the grief the baby was enduring.

Meela apparently understood that her parents were gone, but did she realize that they were never coming back?

“All right,” Draevan said with a gesture at the top drawer on the table. “This is where the clean diapers are kept—and yes, the same exact changing table is in her nursery at our home on New Vaxx—and here is the refresher, this compartment attached to the side. It’s small but quickly and efficiently cleans and sanitizes anything you drop inside. Just push this button when you want to clean something.” He went on to explain a few more details about the changing table and its contents, then he stepped back to allow Cora to take care of changing Meela’s diaper.

As Cora recalled how hesitant Draevan had been to let her hold his niece for the first time yesterday, she was pleased that he wasn’t pushing her out of the way to do it himself. He stood to the side while she changed Meela and put the soiled diaper in the proper receptacle. Then she pressed the button to start the cleaning cycle. A faint whoosh sounded in the room as it started.

She waved her hands under the sonic handwasher that was also attached to the table. Then she picked Meela up, settled the baby on her hip again, as it was the most comfortable way to hold her, and turned to face Draevan. To her relief, she saw nothing but approval in his eyes.