“Someday maybe sounds perfect.” Lamont kissed him gently. “For now, we focus on surviving Monday’s publication and making sure Arcturus doesn’t try to grab you again.”
“Romantic.”
“Practical.” Lamont pulled Ewen closer. “Though I promise our Santorini vacation will be thoroughly romantic to make up for it.”
Ewen laughed, the sound warm against Lamont’s chest. Then his expression turned slightly worried again. “You said there are safeguards, that intent business. But how do we…how do I know…I mean, what if I accidentally...”
“Think about getting pregnant while we’re having sex?” Lamont finished. “I’m not saying it couldn’t happen, but if you were thinking that way, it wouldn’t be an accident, would it? It’d be something you really wanted, at least on a subconscious level.”
“But what if…”
“Ewen.” Lamont caught his chin, making sure his mate met his eyes. “If you start feeling queasy after eating, or your fox starts acting weird, or anything seems off, we’ll figure it out together. All right?”
Some of the tension left Ewen’s shoulders. “You’re right. It wouldn’t be just me, it would be us working things out together.”
“Always together.” Lamont kissed his forehead. “You’re not alone anymore. Whatever happens, we handle it as a team.”
Ewen relaxed fully then, melting back against Lamont’s chest. Lamont could feel Ewen’s love for him, something that still made his chest tighten.
“Get some sleep,” Lamont murmured. “From the sounds of things, we need to get all the rest we can get over the weekend.”
“You’ll stay with me?”
“Where else would I go?” Lamont settled them more comfortably on the bed, one hand stroking Ewen’s hair. “Sleep, love. I’ve got you.”
Ewen’s breathing evened out within minutes, exhaustion finally claiming him. Lamont lay awake longer, listening to his mate’s heartbeat and thinking about the future.
Children. Someday, maybe.
The idea didn’t terrify him the way it might have even a month or so ago. With Ewen, everything felt possible, even building a family together.We just have to get through till Monday first.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Monday morning arrived, and Ewen wasn’t sure what he thought would happen, but getting up and making coffee…it was all very ordinary. He sat cross-legged on the hotel bed, watching Lamont’s phone light up with yet another call request, the thirteenth call in two hours.
“You could turn it off,” Ewen suggested.
“I will.” Lamont declined the call. “After I make sure Redford doesn’t need anything.”
“He said he’d call if he needed us.”
“I know which is why” - another call, another decline - “I just want to be available in case…”
“In case something goes catastrophically wrong?” Ewen pulled Lamont’s laptop - that he’d been using - closer to him, refreshing the Der Spiegel homepage for the umpteenth time. His article sat at the top, the headline huge and impossible to miss – “BLOOD MONEY: How Hardline Defense Sacrificed Soldiers for Profit.” “Face it, no matter what, it’s done. The story’s out there. We can’t un-publish it.”
“I know that, too.” Lamont finally powered down the phone and tossed it on the nightstand. “How are you feeling?”
“Honestly? A little anticlimactic.”
Ewen scrolled through the comments section, watching the numbers climb. There were thousands of shares and hundreds of comments. Most people were furious at Ewen’s findings, some were skeptical, and yes, there were a few who were calling him a liar, but Ewen didn’t let that bother him. Some people still believed the Earth was flat.
“I spent months on this investigation. People died because of this. That’s discounting the fact I got kidnapped, nearly died from mating sickness, and now it’s just...out there. People are reading it over their morning coffee, and most of them will just go on with their day.”
“That’s generally how journalism works.”
“I know, but…it doesn’t make it less weird.” Ewen closed the laptop. “I keep expecting something to happen. Another attack, or Arcturus agents breaking down the door, or…”
“Arcturus agents are too busy dealing with federal agents to worry about us.” Lamont sprawled out on the bed beside him, resting on his side. “I didn’t think any of the arrests were going to happen until tomorrow, but Redford’s team is already moving. Half of Arcturus’s leadership is in custody already.”