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have no better luck with me, he turned to Nate. Since hearing the news he d
worn a look I couldn t interpret and didn t want to.  What about you? Want
to go home? He glanced at Coop.  You can have nearly any woman you
want.
174 Tymber Dalton
 I won t go back in the military, Nate said.
My heart ached. I didn t want to lose Nate or Coop. I loved them. If
Nate left, I had no doubts Coop would go with him.
The Terran grinned.  See? A reasonable man. No, automatic honorable
discharge. The Terran government isn t going to say what happened to you
guys while in captivity. They d rather keep that quiet and know you guys
probably don t want the world knowing what these perverts did to you,
either. I mean, if you re& you know, got one of those things in you, our
docs know how to take them out and reverse the effects of what they did to
your bodies.
Coop looked frightened and stared at me and Mark, then back to Nate.
Nate gently shook Coop off when he tried to talk to him, and stepped away
from us for a moment. The Terran commander followed, whispering to him.
Suddenly, I wondered if the Terran made bonuses based on how many
of  their guys they could convince to come back.
I stepped over to Coop.  I can t force you to decide either way. I won t
guilt trip you. But Mark and I, no way in hell we re going back. I love you
both, and it d hurt like hell to see you go, but I won t stop you, either.
Agony washed over his face as it looked like the Terran commander
made in-roads with Nate. I knew Coop would be lost to us, too.
I stepped over to Mark and sat in front of him, my back resting against
his chest, my arms holding his around me. Anger still radiated off him and
he nipped my left ear.
 Baby, did I tell you yet today how much I love you? he asked.
I leaned my head back.  You did now.
After a few anxious minutes, the Terran commander looked triumphant.
He stepped over to the transporter, as if waiting for Nate to follow.
Nate eventually turned back to us, staring at Mark and me, then Coop.
Coop s lip trembled. He was carrying. Hell, he was almost always
carrying. He loved it, lived for it.
Nate studied the ground for a few minutes, not revealing anything. In
that way he was sometimes different from the rest of us. In our new life, we
learned we could be open, free with our emotions, but sometimes Nate still
held back.
 Well? You coming with us, or not? the Terran asked.
Nate released a deep breath he d been holding and went to Coop. He
Acquainted with the Night 175
held Coop s hands.  If I left, would you come?
He choked back an anguished sob, but nodded.
Nate smiled and stroked his hair.  You re happy here, aren t you?
Well, that was a fucking no-brainer.
He pulled Coop to him, holding him, whispering to him. Coop sobbed
again, nodding, clutching at him, and my heart sank.
Then Nate held his hand and together they took a step toward the
Terran.  Get the fuck out of here, Nate said.  And if you ever set foot on
my Master s property again, I ll personally kick your ass.
Mark and I both gasped, and it was only then we realized Coop wore a
happy smile, his tears ones of joy, not good-bye.
The Terran frowned and stared at us.  You re sick fucks. All of you.
They ve brainwashed you, don t you know that? What man in his right mind
wouldn t want a woman? Wouldn t want to go back?
Marzan and Master stepped forward. Marzan spoke.  They have told
you what they want. Leave. Now.
Finally, he did. I didn t miss how the former pets inside the transport
looked at us with envy, their faces pressed to the back window as the
transporter left. I wondered again if they d been at an egg farm. I d since
talked to several other pets who d been former egg farm inhabitants, and
while none of them missed that life, they all preferred it to their Terran lives.
Mark and I jumped to our feet and threw ourselves at Nate.  You
asshole! Mark said as he hugged him.  You scared the crap out of me! I
thought you were leaving!
Nate snorted.  Fuck, no. I just wanted to see what kind of bullshit they
were trying to spread. He stroked Coop s cheek.  Like hell I m leaving any
of you, and like hell I d make Coop leave. My boy s a happy camper. He
met my eyes and held my gaze.  The Terrans have nothing to offer me. I ve
always been welcomed and loved here, from day one. I just needed to have
those questions answered so I d never have a  what if thought. He kissed [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]