Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum  

The little breakfast I had managed to eat before Ba'dqeel had opened his mouth sat in my stomach like a stone. I guess I should consider myself lucky that I currently wasn't experiencing morning sickness because I was sure that I would have vomited right now if given half the chance.

"It really doesn't," assured Ba'dqeel, his wide eyes looking at me, begging me to believe him, and for a moment… I did. "I know that we have screwed up this mating thing again and again, and I just wanted to take a day to restart when someone wasn't trying to take you from us."

And just like that, Ba'dqeel had managed to stick his foot in it again. I would overlook his insulation that my 'mating thing' wasn't going well. I didn't have a lot of healthy relationships growing up, I would be the first to admit that, but I also didn't think we had 'screwed things up again and again.'

His words, not mine.