Khaza had never seen a more perfect dragonlet. No, the young one she watched was a bay-bee. Young and fragile and wholly dependent on the care of others. Preor dragonlets were delicate as well, but not so breakable as humans. Humans aged slower, still crawling while Preor dragonlets would be racing through the halls of Preor Tower. But that did not make this small male any less in her eyes.

Eric sen Nuva. Son of Khaza joi Chashan Nuva.

Khaza simply had to inform Chashan of his new status as sire. Eventually. She’d never lied to her mate, but when she’d stared into Erica’s eyes and heard the human woman’s whispered words… She’d had no choice but to make the vow to the dying dam.

A touch to Erica’s temple during those painful moments revealed the woman’s past. The pain. The hunger. The desperation that sent her to the Preor with hope in her heart. Much like another human-Preor mate who’d sought a mate at Preor Choosing Station Tau—Delaney, mate to Zadri. Delaney had been heavily pregnant when she’d arrived and eventually found happiness with her dragonlet beneath Zadri’s wing.

Erica would not find that happiness and protection, but Khaza would make sure Eric was raised in a world of love. Even if that world was filled with aliens.

The bay-bee sniffled and twitched, mouth opening and closing several times before a cry escaped his lips. Khaza had only been a dam for moments and already she’d broken her dragonlet.

“Carla?” She spun and scanned the room. The woman would repair Eric. She must. Panic suffused her and she raised her voice when she called out once more. “Carla?”

The woman strode into the space, a smile on her lips, but Khaza saw the emotional pain lingering in her eyes. The birth of a dragonlet was a joyous time, but it was tempered by the loss of his dam.

“I didn’t touch him, but he is crying.” She stared down at the bay-bee, his cries increasing and eyes squeezed closed. “I didn’t mean to break him.”

The woman’s smile was kind. “No, you didn’t break him. He’s probably just a hungry hippo.”

She frowned. “He’s not human? But his dam…” Carla’s lips twitched and Khaza narrowed her eyes. “You’re teasing.”

Carla winked. “Just a little. But he is hungry.”

Carla went to the wall and a panel slid aside. Khaza stared, watching every movement the other woman made. She was a dam now. She had to learn to care for Eric. She’d never looked after other dragonlets. The idea… it’d been too painful.

The nurse soon returned, a bottle in hand, and placed it on a nearby counter before she reached for Eric.

Feelings—instincts—Khaza had never possessed surged, and she stepped closer to Eric. In her heart, she didn’t want any other than her or Chashan to feed Eric. He was their dragonlet.

Khaza squared her shoulders. “I want to feed him if you would show me how.”

Carla paused and jerked back. Then she tipped her head to the side. Khaza understood the nurse’s surprise. Until this moment, she’d avoided the heartache that came with being around young ones.

“Of course.” Carla nodded slowly. “Use one hand to support his neck and the other right here…”

Khaza followed the directions, lifting the slight weight into her arms and then adjusting her hold as she cradled Eric in her embrace. His cries stopped the moment she touched him and he opened his blue eyes to stare at her. So small. So perfect.

“Hello, shaa senvai.” My heart son. The son of her heart.

“Khaza?” Carla’s uneasiness slithered toward Khaza, but Khaza ignored the emotions. For now, her only focus was the dragonlet in her arms.

Eric whimpered and turned his head, rubbing his face against her chest. A sense of hunger washed over her, a need accompanied by a gentle tendril of confusion. Her dragonlet needed food but this new world was unknown and so different than life within his dam.

“He is hungry.” She lifted her attention to the nurse. “Can you show me?”

“Of course.” Carla nodded, but the woman’s worry remained. “Take a seat in one of the chairs.”

Carla then showed Khaza how to hold Eric just so. How to feed the bay-bee and then berhp him when he’d swallowed his fill. She did not believe liquid was enough to sustain a being no matter his size, but Carla assured her this was the way of humans.

She would have Penelope do research for her once Carla left.

Next came changing his d-eye-perh.

Through it all, Khaza sensed Carla’s hesitation, her worry, until the nurse finally spoke.

“I know what shaa senvai means.”

She gave Carla a rueful smile. “The Knowing told you.”

The nurse nodded, returning Khaza’s expression. “The baby—”

“Eric,” she interrupted. “His name is Eric sen Nuva.”

Carla shook her head and sighed. “He’s human, Khaza. There are Earth laws that address the care of orphans.”

Khaza pulled Eric even closer, lifting him so she could press a gentle kiss to his temple. “He is not an orphan. I am his dam. Chashan is his sire.”

“He’s human.”

“He’s Preor with Preor pare-ents.”

Another sigh from Carla and then the woman flashed an expression Khaza hated more than any other. Pity. “I know you and Chashan haven’t conceived yet, but you can’t simply take a baby. He doesn’t belong to you.”

She shrugged. “I say he does.”

“And Chashan?” Carla lifted her eyebrows in question.

Khaza swallowed hard and prayed to Syh even harder. “He will support me. Once I explain, he will support me.”

By the grace of Syh, he would support her.

Carla opened her mouth to speak again, but the sounds of approaching warriors silenced her. The males drew closer, finally pausing outside medical—waiting for the doors to part—before they entered the space.

Khaza’s mate stood among the group of males, his cerulean blue wings and scales catching the room’s light. He was as large and powerful as he’d been the day he discovered her. Through their years of love and loss—of missing a part of their soul without dragonlets—he’d never wavered in his love.

She hoped he would not waver when he discovered what she’d done.

Jarek led the group that also contained Taulan, Kozav, and Evuklar—the fleet’s previous Defense Master.

Jarek spoke first, his attention drifting to Carla, then on until he met Khaza’s stare. “The humans agreed that we could honor his dam—”

“Erica,” she murmured and Jarek tipped his head in acknowledgment.

“We are to honor Erica as we would a Preor female who passed while bringing life into the world.”

Eric wiggled in her hold and she tore her attention from Jarek to look down at the dragonlet. Those blue eyes stared at her once more. There was so much trust in them. So much faith that she would care for him.

And Khaza would no matter what any other said.

“Human caregivers will arrive soon to retrieve the bay-bee.” Jarek’s voice caught her attention once more and she looked to him only to find his gaze on Eric.

“Esteemed Warrior Jarek,” she murmured. She’d wished to speak with Chashan first, but she would not hand Eric to anyone. “I—”

“The baby requires additional care and testing.” Carla stepped forward and turned a hard stare on Chashan. “Doesn’t he, Healing Master?”

Please, Chashan, she spoke to him directly.

Khaza… He tilted his head to the side, concern etched in his every feature. He was worried for her emotional state.

One turning.

He sighed and nodded. One turning. Then he spoke and confirmed Carla’s words. “Yes, he does. I would prefer to verify his health before giving him to the humans.”

Khaza released the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding and pressed another kiss to Eric’s head. They’d managed to delay the humans. Now she would simply convince Chashan to agree with her.

Jarek huffed. “Very well. I will comm human authorities and then we will see to giving the female to Syh.”