Page 51 of Loaned to the Leonid Knight

“But... But she could be pregnant from that attempt, and you’re not going to sleep with her again, and it’ll be days, weeks, maybe even a cycle before someone else arrives to try her.”

“She is not something you try. She is someone. A person worthy of love and respect, and you are wrong. I am going to continue sleeping with Sasha, and no other Felid ever will. She is to be my wife.”

“Wife?” Farhet blinked and said the word as if it were foreign and unfamiliar.

“My Queen.”

“Yes. His Queen. He is my King, as soon as I ask the captain of theComet Stalkerto marry us,” Sasha burst in, head held high.

“Wh-what? This is laughable. You cannot be selected as her partner.”

“He can, and he has been. He’s mine, I’m his. We choose each other. And yes, before you say anything—we don’t need your credits or contracts. We have each other, and we can start that way.”

“You... You can’t claim her. I sent you to meet her! She is my match, my surrogate, the mother of my cub!” Farhet ranted.

“It was never your child,” Sasha whispered. “And if you were here, and we did sleep together—you wouldn’t want a girl, would you?”

“Well, I... You... Queens are not useful for a line of succession, for claiming rulership of a Pride, not that you ignorant humans would know that.”

“Ignorant Leonids don’t know the value of daughters in a world where millions of Felids are missing wives, mothers, daughters, and sisters,” Sasha snapped back.

Gideon put his arm around her waist, staring down Farhet. “We know each other’s worth. That is something that some of the wealthiest have overlooked,” he said in a steady, quiet voice. “So, again, please give my regards to the family and household, and send my things on to theComet Stalker, or ahead to the sheriff’s office of Hillhead on Lynx-Nineteen. I have enclosed the exact coordinates in my termination notice.”

“But... The money! I paid thousands of credits to Bastet Mercy so that you could take my place.”

“And Bastet Mercy has agreed that this surrogacy model doesn’t work at this time. Your donation was made to be charitable—at least that’s what you claimed. If someone did you favors, sir, that will not be written on your credit transfer,” Gideon allowed himself a small smile.

Sasha reached over and disconnected the call as a torrent of curses split the screen.

“Come on, my love. Let’s see if the captain has time to marry us tomorrow.”

“But... But Sasha, you do not have the ring, or the bridal jewels, or the traditional veils and red dresses of Leonid brides, or the white dresses of human brides.”

“I have a white dress. I have a red dress. You know what?” She grinned. “I also have a pink dress, which is what happens when you mix red and white. When you mix Felids and humans. When you mix you and me. And... And I have no family to share this moment with, and neither do you. I think the crew aboard this ship is the closest thing we have to friends and family. Iknow if we ask Kamau, he’ll pass out with joy at the idea of making a wedding banquet.”

“You... You would join your life with mine now? So soon? I know it is soon, Sasha, I know I do not deserve this honor yet,” Gideon whispered, looking at her with wistful eyes. “You are taking a huge risk with me, and I know that you were not intending to love or wed anyone, let alone your partner in surrogacy.”

Sasha nodded at his words. “You’re right. But all of this was a risk, and frankly, every contract I took on Sapien-Three was a bigger one, and even opening my door sometimes was a risk. I don’t feel that anything is risky with you. So, yes, I’m sure. I’m sure that it’s fast, but it’s not too soon.”

Chapter Fourteen

Gideon stood in the lounge of theComet Stalker. The metallic shielding on the windows had been opened enough to see that the ship had been rotated towards the sun.

It was Leonid custom to wed at dawn, greeting the sun at the start of a new life. He had explained to Sasha, and Sasha had simply accepted it and suggested they wed in the lounge.

This was where they’d first met. And played a silly game with silly goats and tiny electronic Knights. Where they’d talked for hours, and it felt like no time had passed.

But even before that, she came to look at you while you were sleeping.

And she has watched over you ever since, an angel who has never seen you as anything but worthy of love—and oh.Gideon let out a gasp as Sasha walked into the room.

She looks like an angel now.

Sasha wore a crown of pink silk in her hair, fashioned into flowers by Kaylie’s clever fingers. Jaxson, part of the ship’s engine systems crew, played softly on an old steel guitar, humming along as the bride made her way past the acre of cakes and roasted meats that Kamau had spent the whole night preparing—and into his arms.

“My Queen. My angel. My love,” he purred, not caring who heard him.

Rupex coughed into his paw. “In case anyone here does not know, in the Leonid culture, the other members of a Pride say a different version of the vows, to show that they accept the Queen into the Pride. Sasha and Gideon have accepted us as their Pride,as they are members and guests of theComet StalkerPride, and without us, they would not have met. The eldest—Marcus, and the youngest who can speak—Alana and Chance, will have special words to say. But for now, Gideon may begin.”