Chapter Six
Blossom twisted her hands together as they stared at the large screen. Brexton had called it a Vid-comm, and it was his way of contacting people on his world. She didn’t understand how such a thing was even possible, but that wasn’t what bothered her. The leader of his people was about to be on that huge screen, and he would be the one to decide if Brexton could claim her as his mate. What if the alien found her lacking? She wasn’t anything special.
Brexton reached over and took her hand, giving it a squeeze.
“Everything will be fine,” he assured her.
“But what if…”
The screen flared a moment and an image came up. An older purple alien with long hair filled the space. He didn’t look happy about being disturbed, and Blossom wondered if it was too late to hide.
“Brexton. It’s my daughter’s birthday. Why are you bothering me?” the imposing alien asked.
“I apologize, Chief Councilor. How is Arabella?” Brexton asked.
“She’s doing well. Why are you calling?”
“I would like to claim Blossom as my mate, and make her children my own,” Brexton said.
Borgoz’s gaze fastened on her and Blossom felt a chill race down her spine. He didn’t seem like a kind, forgiving man, and she hoped she never met him face to face. Her hand trembled in Brexton’s.
“Is this the human Ranvik contacted me about? The one in trouble?” Borgoz asked.
“Yes,” Brexton said. “But I knew from the moment I saw her that she was meant to be mine. I’m not claiming her just as a way to keep her safe.”
“And the children? I’ve heard there are rumors that they’re yours. Did you father two children and not take this woman as your mate before now?” Borgoz asked.
Brexton hesitated, but Blossom wasn’t about to let him get into trouble by lying to the leader of his people.
“The children aren’t his,” Blossom said. “But he would like for them to be. Neither of their fathers are in the picture.”
“Fathers? Plural?” Borgoz asked.
Her cheeks warmed and she dropped her gaze.
“Blossom hasn’t had an easy life, Borgoz. I don’t judge the decisions she’s made to keep herself and her children safe, sheltered, and fed. The humans already believe her children are mine. Neither of them lists a father on their birth records. I was hoping…”
“That we would forge documents to prove you’re their rightful father?” Borgoz asked, his eyebrow arched. “You want me to make a decision to lie to Earth’s government and humans in general?”
“The human Blossom lived with wishes to sell her and the children to evil people, Chief Councilor. If the children were mine, then the crimes against them would hold a harsher punishment. I wish to keep them safe,” Brexton said. “I want the man threatening my family to never see the light of day again.”
“You want his crimes to be against our people,” Borgoz said softly. “So that your mate and children will feel safe and know that man will never bother them again, and send a message to anyone else who might wish to come for them.”
“Yes,” Brexton said.
Borgoz sighed and ran a hand through his hair. He focused on Blossom again, making her swallow hard and fight not to fidget. He was mated with a daughter? She wondered if his family was as afraid of him as she was right then. It was hard for her to picture him as a doting daddy.
“You understand that if you accept his protection, his claim on you and your family, that there’s no going back? It’s permanent. And if he should decide to come home, you’d have no choice but to come with him,” Borgoz said.
“I understand,” she said.
“Very well. I’ll push the paperwork through. Congratulations! You’re officially a mated couple. The papers on the children may take a little more work, but I’ll see that it’s done. By the end of tomorrow, no one will question who your mate and children belong to,” Borgoz told Brexton.
“Thank you, Chief Councilor. I’ll be sure to send a special present to Arabella on the next shuttle. Tell her happy birthday from us.”
Borgoz smiled a little, softening his face, and the love for his daughter shone in his eyes. “She would like that.”
After the screen went dark, Blossom nearly collapsed. She’d had to lock her knees to keep herself upright, and now that the alien leader wasn’t staring at her, she felt relief flood her body.
