Ignoring the blazing heat and soaring humidity, Eryn cast a concerned glance at the robed man sitting beside her. Ellar had insisted on taking the seat in the sun, allowing her and Cierra the little relief allowed by the canopied top, when they’d climbed into the back of the hover Jeep ten minutes earlier. Now, as he dabbed at the sweat on his forehead and gave her nod of reassurance, he likely regretted it.

Who wears an ankle-length robe in triple-digit heat?

As for herself, Eryn didn’t care if it was 110 degrees in the shade. She’d have endured worse to get to where she was going—home—at long last.

She’d spent a total of three weeks in the hospital, and when deemed healthy for shuttle travel, Ram had taken her straight up to the Dauntless where she spent another two. Once on board, Ellar used his super-duper alien physic mojo to heal her.

Eryn had never seen anything quite so amazing, albeit a little scary.

Locked inside a cylindrical glass chamber for not quite two hours, which had given her a mild case of claustrophobia, she’d emerged from the Primarian healing machine without a C-section scar and a promise that her migraines, a residual of the head injury, would be no more. And while in there, Ellar had done what he called “a little tweak” to her lungs, which remained weakened following her bout of respiratory failure.

“You could have cured me from the start with that med-tronic whatchamacallit, couldn’t you? Like the physic did with Maggie when her appendix burst.”

“Healed you,” Ellar corrected. “Yes, I could have spared you a great deal of suffering if I’d had access to the proper equipment. And I think the machine you’re referring to is the Optimed Healing Accelerator. You don’t know how exasperating I found it as a physic to have the technology a short flight or teleport away and be unable to use it to help you.”

“I don’t understand why you couldn’t.”

“To transport you by shuttle in your condition was far too dangerous. The gravitational forces of liftoff and the changing pressure of exiting the atmosphere would have been too much on your body, especially your lungs. And we’d already had to stop labor once.” He shook his head. “You would have delivered preterm sooner.”

“And teleportation was out because if you’re ill or injured, your parts might not reassemble in the right order?”

“In the broadest sense, yes. It’s a puzzle our scientists haven’t solved yet.”

“No one is sorrier than me you couldn’t help me early on, but I’m glad you’re doing something to help others. How long before your new clinic will be operational?”

“Construction starts on the building within a month, and the equipment arrives when the Intrepid returns in three. It’s much too far away for my liking.” He shrugged. “It is what it is.”

She grinned. “I love how you’ve picked up some American slang. By the time you get home, you’ll sound just like us aliens.”

“Maker forbid!” he yelped then realized his disrespect. “Oh… I didn’t mean… Rather, I regret the insult.”

Eryn could tell he meant it but didn’t want to lie outright.

“Think nothing of it.” Stifling a laugh, she waved off his apology, not offended at all.

The hovercraft came to a stop in front of her standard issue, brick and mortar, four-story apartment building where Ram waited for her as promised. He had a conference with Commander Roth and had enlisted Ellar and three of his warriors to escort her home in his stead. Ordinarily, four would be excessive on a military base, but considering what had happened to her nearby, and since she had Cierra with her, she hadn’t argued.

Although doing much better, she still became weak and fatigued easily. Once upstairs, with Cierra down for a nap, she curled up on the L-shaped sofa in the corner of the living room to do the same. She found it impossible to sleep, however, with the tension emanating from the large warrior staring out the window. “What did the commander have to say?”

He continued to stare at whatever he found fascinating outside. “The refurbishment of the Odyssey is almost complete. It leaves for the new colony at the end of the month. I told Roth the three of us will be on it.”

She sat up, one concern with his plan. “Cierra won’t be eight weeks old yet. Do you think she’s too young to travel?”

“Her doctor thinks it will be fine, and she plans to watch her closely during the journey to make certain.”

“Juna is coming with us?”

“Yes, in Ellar’s place. He is determined to see a med-bay set up on the base over anything else. Although, he is not pleased about missing the opportunity to care for our girl. I suspect it has something to do with research, both of them were discussing tracking her growth and marking milestones when I left them.”

Disliking the sound all of that, dread for her daughter burned hot in her stomach. “What do you mean research? You mean like a lab rat?”

He glanced her way, one black brow quirked in question.

“It’s a rodent scientists use for experiments.”

“Considering the circumstance, it’s expected they will want to follow her more closely than usual.” He shrugged. “If it means experts are available to her, then it suits me fine.”

“I don’t want her becoming an oddity, that’s all.”

He crossed to the sofa where she sat and crouched in front of her. “Not odd, Eryn. Special.” He took her hand in a firm, enveloping grip. “She is the first female Primarian born in a generation, and the first human-Primarian daughter ever. There are many people interested in her well-being. More will come along soon to help share the spotlight.”

“I suppose you’re right, but I worry.”

“As do I, but as her father, it’s my job to protect her, and I won’t let any harm come to her. And never would I allow Cierra to become an oddity or a lab rat. Got it?”

“I got it.”

“Good,” he murmured, giving her hands a squeeze then stood. “You’ve got two days to pack.”

“What? I thought the Odyssey didn’t leave for a month?”

“Juna and Ellar suggest we give Cierra time to adjust to ship life before we leave. Under their watchful eyes, of course.”

“They are concerned.”

“They are being cautious, nothing more. With the protests becoming more violent and the threats pouring in, I think it’s safer for you both onboard the Odyssey than here on base.”

“Violence?” She sat up, hugging one of the dark-blue toss pillows. “I haven’t seen a news report since the attack. How bad is it?”

His golden gaze tipped down to hers. “Word has gotten out about Cierra, and the news of an interspecies birth has stirred up the zealots.”

“These threats, are they directed at her?”

“Eryn…”

“They are! Oh, my God! What sort of assholes threaten an infant?”

Tossing the pillow aside, she surged to her feet and rushed across the room, searching for the vid-screen controller. Cramped quarters with only her and Lana, with a baby, all her paraphernalia, add a seven-foot-tall giant weighing in at 275 pounds, and the space had become like a sardine can. Locating the remote under a pile of new baby clothes, she keyed the code which lowered the screen from its recessed slot in the ceiling. She called up the twenty-four-hour news, but before she could hit enter, the control unit slid out of her fingers.

“Hey!” When she spun to confront him, he stood so close, she had to tip her head back to glare up at him, looming a foot above her.

“I’d prefer you not be upset, little rebel. The reports have been ugly.”

“How ugly?”

“The protestors have similar sentiments as your attackers. You don’t need those reminders.”

She set her hands on her hips while gaping at him in disbelief. “Are you actually forbidding me from watching the news?”

“Eryn. You were in a coma for two weeks, stayed in the hospital for another, and it’s been less than a fraction of a time-cycle since you returned home. You’re still recovering. Both your physics prescribed rest, which doesn’t include watching idiots waving hate-filled slogans on signs and setting things on fire. Once we move up to the ship and are on our way home, we’ll be around only those supportive of the alliance. Seeing news reports on issues which, in two days, will no longer affect you is a waste of time.”

Unconvinced, her frown deepened. “I’m not a china doll to be wrapped in cotton. I’m feeling stronger and much like my old self.”

“You can’t get through the day without taking as many naps as Cierra, a one-month-old infant. And as long as there is breath in me, you will both have protection.”

“I’m a soldier. I can defend myself.”

“No longer. With our impending departure, you’ve resigned your position. Your new job is to be my mate, mother to our child, and an Epic counselor. I will see to your defense.” Lifting his hand to her face, he traced a finger along her jaw. “I shouldn’t have to point out the attack happened in what constitutes your own backyard. You were vulnerable, and I won’t allow it to happen again.”

Although he made a few valid points, she couldn’t keep from rolling her eyes at his old-fashioned “me big strong man, you weak defenseless woman” mentality.

“I saw that, galita. Punishments are on hold for eight weeks while you recover from childbirth, but I have a good memory and am excellent with numbers.”

“You wouldn’t,” she exclaimed.

“You think not?” he challenged.

“As a spank-happy Primarian, of course, you would.”

“Count yourself fortunate to have been mated to a warrior who is patient and lenient with discipline while you learn our ways.”

She snorted, remembering the times she’d been over his knee. None had seemed lenient to her.

He caught her chin with his hand and angled her face up to his. “Is it wrong for me to want to keep you and our child safe?”

“No,” she conceded, after a brief pause to consider all he’d said. “It is right in many ways.”

“Then why are we arguing about this?”

She shrugged. “Habit?”

This time he eyed the ceiling. “Maker give me strength.”

She squelched a laugh at his unusually animated expression. The exasperation didn’t detract from his handsomeness, however. Not one bit. “I think you speak to your Maker with a greater frequency since you met me.”

“You have no fucking idea,” he muttered.

This time she let her laughter free. Ram sounded like an Earth male more every day. In her amusement, she laid her hand on his chest. The simple touch sent a tingle of electricity passing between them. Her smiled faded. It was too soon for intimacy, and he hadn’t shown any interest, anyway. Not even kissing her, other than a brotherly peck on top of her head, a vast difference from when they’d first paired.

The distance stung.

Feeling suddenly awkward, she withdrew her hand and walked to the window. Like him, she gazed outside but, in her case, not seeing anything. In a hushed voice, she replied, “I’ll try to reduce your need to pray, Ram.”

He moved in behind her, his hands catching both sides of her jaw and angling her head way back. He planted another less-than-amorous kiss on her forehead, while meeting her upside-down gaze.

“It would be appreciated, mate. I’m sure He has other more important things to attend to.”

While staring up at him, a current bounced back and forth between them. She wondered if he felt it, too. When she didn’t look away, holding his gaze, his gold eyes glinted with something, perhaps desire, just as Cierra’s hungry cries cut through the surrounding silence.

“Our princess beckons,” he murmured, not letting her go yet.

She noticed the sparkle had disappeared and only the warmth of his gaze remained. Although, that’s something, isn’t it?

Upset she didn’t get the immediate gratification she demanded, her daughter’s cries increased several decibels.

“Her sense of timing sucks,” Eryn muttered.

Lips tipping into a half smile, he offered as he often did, “Do you want me to get her?”

“No,” Eryn grumbled, her milk letting down, triggered by her daughter’s unabated squalling. “You don’t have the anatomy she’s interested in.”