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Jace stood with his right arm crossed over his chest until his fingertips rested on his left shoulder. His hand kept trying to clench into a fist, but he resisted it, so his only sign of nerves was the occasional twitch.
It was time to name his children and truly become a t’ssaa Father. The promises he was about to make were the most important of his life so far.
Zariss rumbled to a stop beside Jace and bowed his head to the babies-on-board. All twelve were awake and the two t’ssaa children studied Zariss with solemn eyes. Jace’s chicks were equally alert, although one was staring at its toes and most of the others at the colors rippling through the ceiling.
Only the little girl was watching the adults at the foot of the cots. Her wide-eyed stare was surrounded by a leafy bower and fixed on Zyl’s avatar.
Her magnificent mother truly looked the part. She’d gone full makeover for the children’s Oath Day. She was taller than Jace by a head, while her crest was stunning. It draped down her back like a fan of purple and gold with spines of shimmering teal. The faint gleam of scales ran across her forehead, but her face was a delicate combination of kres and human features which suited her willowy body. She wore a long dress of white silk that was draped like shimmering mist all the way to the floor. A high neckline at the front dropped much lower down her spine to reveal muted gold skin that was the perfect backdrop for a pair of long silver fronds.
Zyl’s adoption of telepathy for her avatar was disconcerting, but Jace still liked what he saw. Liked it a lot. The avatar frowned down at him, and he pulled his mind back to the present. His right hand twitched toward a fist. He calmed it fast. He was almost up.
Flower buds opened and sprang to full bloom around each tiny cot. His children were lit by the blossoms’ creamy glow and Zyl’s dress gleamed in response. It flashed brighter still with its own power until she became the sun at the heart of the room’s projected constellations.
Every little hybrid’s gaze was caught.
They all stared at her—except the kid with the foot fetish. Jace was going to have to watch that one.
Zyl hummed and the youngsters’ eyes widened. Even twinkle-toes looked past his foot. Their mother raised her hands and bowed her crest. “We are here to thank you, Creator, and ask for your blessing over our family. We follow your path and promise to care for the children you have gifted us.” She lifted her head and glided forward to gaze down at the sheltering pods. “Hear us now, young ones. In this realm I am your Mother. In need, your shelter. In hunger, your provider. In danger, your protector. In sorrow, your comfort. In fear, your hope. In travel, your swift response. This, I swear.”
She bowed her head and took a step back to join Zariss and Jace.
The Komodo dragon stood there with his arm across his chest because it was Jace’s turn, as the sire of the most offspring, to step forward first. He did so and cleared his throat. Pairs of eyes stared at him, gleaming like little creatures in the night. His own tiny monsters.
Jace lifted his hands and spoke his paternal oath loud and clear. “In this realm I am your Father. In need, your shelter. In hunger, your provider. In danger, your protector. In growth, your truest friend. In darkness, your light. In the world, your steadfast foundation. This, I swear.”
His last word seemed to hang in the air before fading to silence. A profound stillness filled the chamber. Even the babies were quiet. Something clicked into place in Jace’s chest, like a key turning in a lock. His life would never be the same again.
He thought about that and had no idea how a cliché could feel so profound. Perhaps because it was true.
A soft and unexpectedly wistful sigh escaped Misty from where she sat behind them. Jace wanted to turn to her, but the solemnity of the moment kept him still. He stood straight and attentive while Zariss made his paternal oath in turn.
When Zyl offered Jace her hand, he was undistracted and ready to take it. She clasped Zariss too, palm to palm, when he returned to stand on her other side. They stood in a line holding hands and Zariss started humming. Jace joined in and it felt ... harmonious.
“We name you,” Zyl proclaimed, and goose bumps prickled Jace’s skin. “From first mate to second mate and first born to last... Zjar Tarxidoss ep Zariss, Scry Tarxidoss ep Zariss, Victor StarFlight, Sky StarFlight, Glide StarFlight. Devyn StarFlight. Zyther StarFlight. Jyn StarFlight. Zest StarFlight. Brightwing StarFlight. Tessyn StarFlight.
The last name rang out and silence draped them all again.
Until someone small burped and someone else cried and scaled avatars were bustling from the walls to shoo the parents and their guest out.
Jace stumbled into the passageway, elated but dizzy, until he saw Misty waiting for him. He reached across to seize her hand and pull her close. “That was overwhelming,” he breathed in her ear.
She snuggled deeper into his embrace. “It was. So amazing even your hugs are tolerable.”
Ace kissed her brow. “I’ll always keep you safe.” Misty stiffened and he cursed himself for a fool. “I didn’t mean it like that. I know you can take care of yourself, along with most of the rest of the galaxy. I just wanted to be clear. I’m with you all the way, for the rest of our lives.”
She softened against him with a sigh. “And that sounds surprisingly tolerable too.”
Joy seeped from Mistwing’s mind, but sorrow wove a path through her happiness to make it something more solemn. Jace ached to fix that, but her father was dead which wasn’t something he could simply mend. He kissed the top of her head, and they turned back toward Zyl’s nest. The Oath Day celebration was bound to involve more hissing than kissing, but that didn’t mean it had to be boring. He was going to hug both of those big iguanas and to hell with the consequences.
Misty chuckled so she must have caught his thought. “Wonderfully reckless idea, but don’t worry. I’ve got your back. I’ll pick up any part of you that survives hugging Zariss.”
Nice. It was going to be a good evening.