“No. Well, maybe a little once Deds finds out I woke up in an alley, beaten and robbed.”

Jaeros’s eyes dropped to his mouth, noticing the hint of a smile Jaren couldn’t suppress at the memory. He’d been so fucking pissed. Leave it to his star-fire mate to abandon him in a piss-covered alley.

Jaeros raised a brow, clearly confused by his reaction, and muttered, “Maybe it’s best you don’t tell him that particular story.”

Losing the battle, a deep laugh burst from Jaren’s throat, and a sense of warmth immediately flickered near his heart in response. “It all worked out. I just got a little distracted.”

“Eh, you can tell me all about it while we eat,” Jaeros said, placing his hand between Jaren’s shoulder blades and giving a gentle push. “But first, a bath. You reek of sea, sweat, and desperate self-pleasure.”

Jaren planted his feet, shaking his head minutely when he tried to usher him forward. “Not yet. I have someone I’d like you to meet.” When his father opened his mouth to argue, he held up a hand, halting his reply. “It can’t wait. She can’t wait.”

He twisted his body to the side to give Jaeros an unobscured view of the dock behind him, Veralie’s nerves kicking up as he did. Her heart was like a damn drum inside his chest, beating in time with his own. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt true excitement.

But rather than take the hint and look behind him, Jaeros hissed a curse, waving a long finger in his face. “That better not mean what I think it does, boy. Because if you worried the shit out of me just to bring back a human woman you impregnated, I will kick your ass.”

Jaren’s brow lowered over his eyes, his excitement diminishing slightly. It was no secret that he’d taken physical lovers, especially to his fathers, but each one had been Magyki. And even then, he’d never once fucked one without the use of truik elixir. Veralie would be the first.

“There is only one female I’d see carry my child,” he said, glaring, “and she is no human woman.”

Disbelief flickered in Jaeros’s eyes, and he cleared his throat, glancing away sheepishly. His reaction was understandable. Jaren never brought up Veralie to anyone. Ever. He’d never wanted to until now.

“I came across something in Midpath that demanded my attention,” he continued, pushing away his irritation. “I decided to track it back to Matherin. That is why I’m late.”

His father reared back, holding his chest like his heart might fall out. “You went into—may the God of Death take me gently, do you hear my heart, Jaren? Do you know what could have happened if you were caught?”

He grinned wickedly. “I was.”

Jaeros gaped at him, but he just raised an arm, pointing to where his mate stood tucked against a crate. As exciting as surprising Jaeros was, he was ready for it to be over so he could be back by her side.