That evening, Corrus woke in bed with Jamie once more, but it was different this time. Instead of Jamie lying by his side, she was sitting up against the headboard and staring at the wall in front of her. Corrus could sense waves of anxiety coming off his mate, so he sat up and gently wrapped an arm around her.

"What's on your mind?"

"You must have been very tired. You slept right through lunch."

Corrus turned to look out the window and saw the sun's setting rays. "I think all that flying took it out of me."

"Are you okay now? Have you noticed an injury you hadn't before?" Jamie turned to face him, concern on her face.

Corrus smiled and hugged her. "I'm okay. If anything else was wrong, then my body repaired it while I was asleep. You're looking at a fully rested, energized Corrus."

"Good." Jamie nodded. "Because I did a little digging around and found out that mating has a lot to do with unprotected sex."

Corrus nodded, a smile on his face. "It does. How did you find out about it?"

"It was in one of the books Emily gave me." Jamie sighed and hung her head. "I'm not ready to have another child, Corrus."

Corrus got on his knees and crawled to a position where he faced Jamie head on. "I would never ask that of you! Please don't worry about that. Heck, we haven't even spoken about whether or not we want to have any children besides Ethan."

"I like the way you said that." Jamie lifted her head with a smile.

Corrus shrugged. "I consider Ethan my son. You are my mate. That means we were made for each other. My seed may not have created Ethan, but he's mine, all the same."

"Are you sure that doesn't bother you? It sounds very progressive. Most men wouldn't come to that conclusion early on."

Corrus beamed. "I'm not most men, which you'll find out on our mating night."

"Which I'll look forward to, once I find out how we'll have unprotected sex without me getting pregnant."

"I'll get to that in a second. I want to wipe away any doubt you may have." Corrus took Jamie's hand. "I had a biological father, and he wasn't a good father. Ethan may never call me his father, but I don't care. I want to be a good one to him because, whether you believe it or not, this is how fate planned for us to be together."

Jamie cupped Corrus' neck and pulled him down for a soft kiss, which ended far too quickly for Corrus' liking. "Thanks for saying that. I will admit it's been in the back of my mind."

"Well, there's no need for it to be there. I love Ethan as much as I love you."

Jamie smiled. "Good. Now tell me about how you're not going to get me pregnant."

Corrus chuckled. "Is pregnancy that bad?"

Jami scoffed. "It's a lot worse than you imagine. Especially the birthing process." She paused, and her face softened. "But the result is worth it."

"Going through that alone must have been so hard for you." Corrus pushed a strand of hair back from her face.

Jamie nodded. "It was, but something about knowing someone depends on you gives you the strength to push on. At least it did for me."

"That's amazing." Corrus smiled. "Okay, here's how it works. Dragons are magical creatures who have physical abilities which include keeping the potency out of their seed."

Jamie shook her head and laughed. "I should have known it was yet another magical ability."

"That's a good thing, don't you think?"

"I bet it comes in handy. But wait. Ethan's father didn't do that."

Corrus scoffed. "Ethan's father had no honor. Spilling potent seed is very serious for us. Most dragons can only have one child, two if they're very lucky. Spilling seed with someone who isn't your mate is dishonorable and hurtful to your future mate. Especially because we have control over it."

"Then why didn't he do it?" Jamie cocked her head.

Corrus shrugged. "It does take a lot of effort, especially, uh, in the heat of the moment."

Jamie chuckled. "Way to convince me."

"But don't worry!" Corrus raised his hands defensively. "I have legendary control. You will not get pregnant, but it will be special. I've never had sex without a condom, but doesn't it feel more intimate than sex with one?"

Jamie smiled sadly. "I can't vouch for that. I wasn't all the way there when Ethan's father and I had sex. Not only was I tipsy, but I was emotionally distraught."

"I bet it will feel amazing because we're mates." Corrus leaned forward and pulled Jamie to him, letting her rest her head against his chest. The position wasn't comfortable because Jamie was so far away and he didn't want to straddle her and crush her. But Corrus held on, hoping that his touch would communicate something he might mess up with words: That he didn't care that Jamie had unprotected sex and a child without him.

"I love you," she whispered.

"I love you, too. And I'm happy that we already have Ethan, and I look forward to a future with you, whatever it may bring."

Jamie lifted her head, and her eyes searched Corrus’ face. Finding the answer she wanted, she pressed her lips to his. This kiss was sensual, unlike the simple ones they'd shared over the last few days.

Jamie parted her lips and gave Corrus entrance. He smiled inwardly as he let his tongue dance with hers, his passion growing once Jamie moaned. The sound sent a shot of arousal straight to his manhood, and he pulled away, resting his forehead against Jamie's.

"Later," he whispered, trying to catch his breath.

Jamie nodded against him. "It'll be better if we save it for when we have time."

"Exactly." Corrus lifted his head to kiss her forehead, but his phone beeped on the bedside table. He leaned over and read the message.

Colonel Soros wants to see you now.

Corrus grimaced. If Colonel Soros wanted to see him, then it meant that Narchis had failed to convince her that plan was his and that she was seriously upset.

"What is it?" Jamie asked.

Corrus sighed. "My boss wants to see me. The mission to capture the Gleonite dragon was off the books. It looks like it's time to explain ourselves."

"I forgot about that." Jamie winced. "I hope you don't get into too much trouble."

Corrus kissed her forehead. "I can handle trouble. Besides, you and Ethan are worth it. I'll be back soon."

* * *

When Corrus walked into the base, a worried Penum greeted him.

"Soros is crazy mad!"

Corrus' eyes widened. In all his years, he'd only seen her raise her voice a handful of times. "Did she yell?"

"Of course not." Penum scoffed. "You know how she is when she's mad. She asks a lot of questions that get harder and harder to answer. That's how she found out you were behind the plan to capture the dragon. But don't worry. I'm not letting you go down without a fight."

Corrus smiled and hugged a surprised Penum. "Don't worry about that."

"You're acting weird." Penum furrowed his brows.

Corrus chuckled. "I'm not. It's just that this job isn't the most important thing in my life right now. You might as well be the first to know. Jamie and I are going to have our mating night soon. We're going to be a family."

"That's freaking awesome! Now Ethan has to put me in my rightful place as an uncle."

Corrus shook his head. Only Penum could take the news of his becoming a family man and find a way to make it about himself.

Corrus smiled. "Don't worry. I'll talk to Ethan once Jamie and I explain everything to him. He'll know that you are above the rest."

"Oh, shit! I made this about me." Penum smiled sheepishly. "Sorry."

Corrus patted his shoulder. "It's okay. At least you recognize it now."

"You'll make a great mate and father, Corrus. I'm happy for you."

"Thanks. Now let's get this over with."

Corrus followed Penum into the office and found a gap in the middle of the semicircle that the team stood in. It looked like Colonel Soros really wanted him to answer for his plans. It was alright with him. He had taken the lead on the case. It was only right that he faced the music.

"Sorry, she didn't buy my story," Narchis whispered.

"It's okay," Corrus whispered back.

Colonel Soros cleared her throat. "Corrus. How good of you to join us."

"I was weak after the mission and ended falling into a deep sleep. I'm sorry I missed the earlier part of this meeting."

Colonel Soros raised an eyebrow. Corrus had just declared his intentions to defend himself. She folded her arms and leaned back, rethinking her approach.

Corrus inwardly smiled to himself. If he had been in the same position a few weeks ago, he would have been in a state of panic. But now that he had the most important thing in his life—a family—nothing else was that serious.

"Why didn't you inform me of the mission?" Colonel Soros asked.

Corrus pulled his shoulders back. "I wanted to get as much information as possible before approaching you with half-baked ideas. Also, there was a child involved, and I didn't feel right leaving him out in the cold. Not when we know how Brevia feels about rescuing children."

Colonel Soros gave him a half smile. "So, you've been keeping up with Brevian developments. That child refugee accord was only signed into law two weeks ago."

"Seeing the strides that my planet makes while we fight for its peace pleases me."

Colonel Soros' smile faded. "But the child was not inserted into the refugee program, was he?"

Corrus swallowed thickly.

"You decided to go after a Gleonite dragon without permission, with complete disregard for what effect it might have on the planet that you so claim to love."

Corrus looked down. The entire mission had been personal. From start to finish. While he liked to think he would have done the same for another woman and child, he knew it wasn't true. His teammates had understood that and gotten behind him because they saw how much it meant to him. And here he had caused them to take the blame for him.

"I made a rash decision. It was personal for me, and I didn't give a thought to Brevia. For that, I apologize."

Colonel Soros nodded, satisfaction gracing her face. Corrus shouldn't have tried to wiggle his way out of this. She was far too smart for that.

He turned and looked at his teammates, who stood stoically by his side. They had tried to share the blame when they didn't have to. Corrus felt his chest swell as he realized that he had two families now. Two families that he would do anything for.

He cleared his throat. "My team only supported me because I was willing to go it alone. Rather than have me, a Brevian, get caught in Gleonite hands, they chose the opposite. They did the best they could when faced with a tough decision. Again, I apologize. Both for acting selfishly and dragging them into this."

Colone Soros sighed. "I get it, Corrus. I honestly do. Some cases affect us more than others. What hurts me is that you didn't bring it to me. After all these years working with this team, I thought that we'd gotten to that level, at least. Haven't I always defended you?"

"You have," Corrus said, guilt eating away at him. "It's just that this was so off the books that I didn't think you'd go for it."

Colonel Soros laughed. "Off the books? More off the books than having a rescued half-breed mate the captain of my team, and me allowing them to live together? More off the books than another team member doing the same, but with a top Brevian diplomat right under the noses of some very powerful people? Come on, guys, what other team leaders would let you get away with that?"

"You're right," Cimmeris spoke up. "You have been gracious to us, and we apologize for not treating you with the trust and respect that you deserve."

Colonel Soros waved her hand. "Enough with the brown nosing. That's the kind of thing Veilios would say, and even he didn't because he senses how cheesy it would sound right about now."

The team broke out into laughter, and Cimmeris blushed.

"Maybe his diplomat mate is rubbing off on him more than we thought," Penum added. The laughter in the room rose to a new level, and even Cimmeris joined in.

"Okay, enough." Colonel Soros raised a hand. "I think you've learned your lesson. Whatever your problem is, you can talk to me. Now, I've organized pick-up for the dragon, so keep him sedated until tomorrow morning. Luckily for you, he was a sergeant who left his platoon high and dry on the battlefield. Gleon is eager to have him back, which means his punishment will be great. We get, believe it or not, a mother and child back. She was a spy for us, and her release is being organized as we speak."

"So, we were actually of help to Brevia." Narchis raised an eyebrow.

Colonel Soros scoffed. "Don't push it. Where are the young woman and her child?"

"They're at Emily's house," Corrus said.

Colonel Soros yawned, even though it was morning in Brevia, then nodded. "Okay, have them ready to go into protection in the morning. While the dragon was working alone, we don't know who he may have confided in. I don't want to take any chances."

Corrus blanched as his heart dropped to his stomach. Colonel Soros wanted to take Jamie and Ethan away. A sharp pain in his chest had him speaking up before Colonel Soros finished her instructions.

"You can't do that."

Colonel Soros turned her head slightly to the right and leaned forward. "Excuse me?"

"She's my mate. That means he's my son. They're my family."

The room was dead quiet for a good thirty seconds as Colonel Soros merely looked Corrus in the eye. He didn't flinch or lower his chin. If she wanted to fire him, then so be it. Either way, he was not getting separated from Jamie.

Colonel Soros broke out in laughter. "Of course she is!" She threw her hands up in the air. "Whatever you're drinking down there, you have to send some to me. I have quite a few lonely hearts working around me."

The team chuckled, unsure, glancing at each other, wondering if this was a setup or not.

"Oh, relax." Colonel Soros waved a hand. "You can't get in any more trouble. While I believe you, I need to speak to the young woman myself. Send her in to see me early tomorrow. She alone will decide what she wants."

Corrus grinned. Jamie would choose to stay with him. "I'll have her here bright and early."

Colonel Soros rolled her eyes, then signed off.

"So, you finally decided to join the mated dragon club," Cimmeris said, walking over to hug Corrus.

Corrus grinned. "It was more like it found me, but I'm happy."

The rest of the team congratulated him with hugs and jibes about how many things he couldn't do now that he had to ask Jamie for permission. Corrus just laughed and let them have their fun. It was their way of saying they were happy for him without actually saying the words.

As he walked back to Emily's house, Corrus shook his head and smiled.

I don't deserve any of this, but I plan on making Jamie happy for the rest of our lives, he thought. Starting with a convincing performance on our mating night.