CHAPTER 8
XADE
“I’m the luckiest guy in the universe,” Caden said as he struggled to put on the Zatan clothing that Xade provided him. It appeared his little mate was having a hard time identifying where the holes for his limbs were and which opening was for which limb.
Xade watched in amusement as the human finally put on the top – upside down.
“I just… I can’t believe it. I have so many questions! And I know literally nothing about babies. There’s so much to learn. Do you have internet on Zata?”
Caden kept chattering away, and Xade couldn’t help but smile at the sight of his mate so happy and comfortable. The moment when he had begun to cry at the realization that he was pregnant… Xade had felt his heart nearly shatter into pieces.
So many thoughts had run through his head at that moment: of course, a human could never accept him or the idea of a male becoming pregnant, he would be without his mate for the rest of his life, lonely and miserable until the day he died…
But none of those worried thoughts had proven to be true and as it was, Xade felt blissful.
Their lazy morning in bed was coming to an end at last, and all was right in the world. He had to admit that watching the little human try to fit and nearly disappear into the loose Zatan top and pants was amusing.
“Here, let me help,” he said, kneeling down so he could rearrange the fabric and reach the fasteners at his mate’s waist. With a few short movements, the outfit was reasonably secure. “You will have your own wardrobe fitted and supplied to you shortly,” he said, as he could tell his mate was less than comfortable in the bulky outfit.
“Well, I can’t say no to that,” Caden said with a lopsided smile. “I’m excited to learn about Zatan fashion. And about… everything.”
Xade smiled. He would have to tell his mate later that “fashion” was not a concept many Zatans were familiar with. Clothing was either functional or rooted in tradition – or both.
“Come with me. I will show you the palace in daylight and tell you of what your future life on Zata holds.”
“Okay!” Caden said, following Xade at his side as they left his chambers. “So… you said I’m your… mate, right?”
“Yes,” Xade said, leading him down the hallway past the chambers of the other members of the royal family. “We are bonded for life.”
“So, that means… I can stay here on Zata? With you?”
“I would not have it any other way,” Xade said. He paused in a stairwell and looked down at his mate seriously, putting his hands on his mate’s slim shoulders. “Tell me… Are you comfortable with leaving your life on Earth behind? I can arrange for you to travel to visit your family, if you wish. Or perhaps…”
“I’ll stop you right there,” Caden said, interrupting his sentence. He turned away from Xade, a shadow passing over his face. Xade hadn’t seen such a dark expression on the man’s face since they had met, not even when he had begun to cry. “I actually… Well, I don’t really have a family.”
Xade furrowed his brow. What did his mate mean? Was that something common among humans? The Zatan royal family was very close. He couldn’t imagine being without them.
“My parents, well, I don’t talk about it much, but they died in a car crash when I was really little. Just old enough to remember them. My grandma raised me but she also passed away a few years ago.”
The human looked up, his sparkling green eyes watery. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to get all weepy again. What I’m trying to say is that I don’t really have any ties to Earth. I have no problem just staying here.” He grinned now, no longer looking on the brink of tears. “Unless we can have a honeymoon in Fiji or something, then I’m fine with going back.”
It took Xade a moment to understand what Caden meant. The human was equating their mating to a marriage and was mentioning a popular human spot to celebrate one’s new marriage. Xade’s heart started to purr at the thought.
“There are beaches on Zata,” he said, taking Caden’s hand in his and brushing his palm gently with his thumb. “With the softest white sand you have ever seen, and clear waters as far as you can see.”
“Sounds good to me,” Caden said with a smile.
“Together we will rule the southern lands of Zata,” Xade said proudly, lifting Caden’s hand to his lips and pressing a gentle kiss on it. “Many of our most beautiful beaches are located in the lands I administer.”
“Ohh, lucky me.” Caden grinned widely, his eyes sparkling with excitement.
They continued to walk down the hallway together, walking down the stairs to another section of the palace. The hallway they entered was made of clear glass all the way to the ceiling. It looked over a delicately landscaped courtyard and the palace gardens where Xade intended to lead his new mate.
“Are there other humans living on Zata?” Caden asked suddenly, breaking the short silence. “No, right?”
“You are correct,” Xade said. “Until now, there has been the policy you are familiar with; that humans cannot live on Zata. However, since you are the mate of a prince, you are fortunate. The laws will change because of our bond.” Xade smiled down at his mate.
“And soon there will be mixed human and Zatan babies here too,” Caden said, pausing to look through the glass at a patch of flowering plants around a fountain. “I mean, one baby. But… if it’s alright with you, I think I’d like to have more kids.” Xade watched as his mate’s cheeks flushed. “I’ve always wanted a big family. Probably because I never had one.”
The purring intensified in Xade’s chest at the thought.
“We will have many healthy children,” he assured his mate. “You belong to a big family now. My family.”
Caden looked away from the fountain and up at Xade, smiling. “You have no idea how happy that makes me to hear.”
“I think, perhaps, I do,” Xade replied, a little quietly. His heart was purring so loudly that he wondered if Caden could hear it. There was every reason to be entirely content and happy in this moment.
“Come,” Xade said. “You were looking at the fountain. Let us go into the courtyard so you can see it more closely.”