by M. K. Eidem
“He will be a new beginning,” Kim found herself changing the Goddess’ words. “But will his big brother give him his support?”
Tora knew whatever he said now would affect his entire life. He of all males knew what it was to be treated differently, all because of an accident of birth. Yet Kim had been correct, the way this male will be treated would make his treatment mild. Could he turn his back on him? He felt his chest tighten at the thought. It would be like turning his back on Van. Van…
Van would see this whole thing as a great new experience. Someone new to play his little tricks on. He would have easily welcomed him into House Vasteri and would have protected him with his life if necessary, as he had with Tora. Could Tora do any less?
“He will have my support.” Tora told her. “Not because he is your offspring, but because he will be my brother. My second. All will know this. My vow.” Tora declared then again crossed his chest and bowed to her.
Wray listened as his first male spoke and felt his sense of pride growing. Tora was becoming a fine young male, showing all the traits that would one day help him lead their people.
“Thank you Tora.” Kim said, her voice once again filled with warmth, if a little watery.
“No thanks is necessary.” Tora looked to his manno. “You know this will cause great speculation when you announce it to the Assembly.”
“We are not announcing it yet.” Wray told him. “As of right now only Kim, me, you and Curador know.”
“What? Why?”
“Kim wishes some time to adjust. To become comfortable in our House and with our people before they are told.”
“It could anger some. You are withholding that compatible females have been found.”
“Yes, but that will be handled when the time comes. Right now, all that matters is making sure Kim is safe and happy.”
“It will cause problems for you Wray?” Kim gave him a concerned look. “My not wanting to announce I’m with offspring.”
“No Kim.” Wray shot Tora a look telling him to be quiet and saw him nod his understanding. “It will not.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes.”
“Tora?” Kim turned her eyes to him seeking confirmation.
“It is at the Emperor’s discretion when he announces the Empress has conceived.” Tora told her, he just didn’t add that no Emperor had ever waited before.
“Okay then.”
∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞
Kim took her seat on the shuttle, glad to finally be leaving Vesta. Lord Reeve had gone on and on about how sorry he was for what had happened to her here. About how he prayed that she wouldn’t hold what Fala and Gyula had done, on their own, against his House.
Kim hadn’t believed a word he said. His words never matched the look in his eyes. His eyes said he thought she was responsible for everything that had happened.
Turning, she smiled at Caitir and Jael, who were sitting several rows behind her. Both their eyes filled with excitement and a little fear. Kim could relate. They were both going to a strange new place. Seeing the empty seat beside them, she frowned. Where was Curador?
Looking back towards the hatch of the shuttle she saw Wray give Veron a sharp look before his eyes found her. Veron had pulled Wray aside, just as they were entering the shuttle, Kim had proceeded to take her seat but now she wondered if she should have.
“Tell the pilot to take off.” Wray told Veron then walked over and sat down next to Kim.
“Wray?” she asked, frowning when he reached over to connect her safety belt.
“Yes?” he asked.
“We can’t leave Curador isn’t here yet.” The eyes that met hers had her stomach clenching.
“Curador won’t be traveling to Tornian.” He told her.
“What! What do you mean? I need him Wray.”
“Kim.” Wray framed her face with his hands, holding her steady. He knew how much she liked the elderly Healer knew this was going to devastate her. “Curador is now in the hands of the Goddess.”
“What?”
“When he didn’t arrive at the proper time Veron went to get him. He found him in his resting chamber. He went to the Goddess during his rest.”
“I… what…”
“I am sorry Kim.”
“Veron is sure?” Kim asked, her eyes beginning to fill.
“Yes, my Kim.”
“I…”
“Sire, I have just heard about Curador.” Yakar walked up to Wray, his eyes traveling over Kim. “Would you like me to calm the Empress?”
Wray felt Kim instantly stiffen as she pulled away from him. “Get away from me!” she spat at Yakar.
“No Yakar.” Wray immediately said. “The Empress doesn’t need ‘calmed’.”
“With all respect Emperor, it appears she does.”
“You dare to question me?” Wray rose so he towered over the Healer. “Dare to tell me how to deal with my Empress!”
“Sire as her Healer it is my duty to make sure she is well cared for.”
“You will never be my Healer, Yakar!” Kim unfastened her safety belt and rose to confront the male. “Never! Now get out of my sight!” Every male present stiffened at the Empress’ order, their eyes moving to Yakar, wondering if he would obey, wondering if the Emperor would support her.
“The Empress gave you an order Yakar.” Wray growled, his eyes hard. “Obey it or perish on my blade.” Wray gripped the hilt of the sword he had been carrying since Kim’s abduction.
“I… Yes, Majesty.” Yakar stuttered, backing away. This was not going as they had planned.
Wray waited until Yakar had exited the shuttle, knowing he would be on the next one before turning back to Kim.
“Sit Kim.” He said, helping her refasten the belt when she did.
“He doesn’t come anywhere near me Wray. I don’t trust him.”
“I know Kim. We will find another Healer.”
“Promise me Wray. Promise, he doesn’t touch me.”
“My vow Kim.” He told her, his eyes steady. “He will not touch you.”
“Alright.” She said finally relaxing back in her seat. “Do we need to stay? To see to Curador?” She asked her thoughts returning to the gruff old Healer. “He had no family to see to him.”
Wray felt his heart contract and his pride in his Empress expand even further. For her to care about Curador like this, to care about how he was cared for in death said a great deal about the kind of Empress she would be. And every male present realized it.
“Lord Reeve’s warriors will see to it Kim.”
“Will they do enough?”
“The males he has treated will see to it Empress.” Caitir’s lyrical voice had every head turning in her direction. “Healer Curador helped many when others wouldn’t, they will give him the honor he deserves.”
“Alright.” Kim said, nodding to Caitir before looking back to Wray.
“Let’s go home.” She said and taking his hand, faced forward; knowing she could meet whatever challenges lay ahead as long as Wray was with her.
Epilogue
Kim’s thoughts returned to the present as Destiny released her breast. Looking down, she found her daughter asleep with the faintest dribble running down her chin.
“Finally got your fill there did you little one?” Kim whispered, leaning down to nuzzle the top of her head as she fixed her top. Reaching for the cloth on her shoulder, she wiped Destiny’s chin.
“She asleep?” the deep voice had her lifting her head to find Wray stepping onto the patio.
“Just.” She said, tipping her face up as he leaned down to kiss her.
“I was hoping I’d get back before she was.”
“Then she never would have gone down.” Kim told him smiling. “She’s a manno’s girl.”
“She is, isn’t she.” Wray said and Kim just rolled her eyes as a huge grin broke across his face.
“As if there were ever any doubt, the way you spoil her.”
�
�She is mine. Of course, I’m going to spoil her.”
“Remember that when she becomes a teenager and starts looking at young males.”
“That is never going to happen!” Wray roared and his denial had Destiny jerking in Kim’s arms, her little lips pursing before she snuggled deeper, into the safety of her mother’s arms and went back to her dreams.
“You have a few years to prepare, I’m just warning you, if all she has to do is cry and you give her what she wants she’s going to expect it.”
“There is nothing that she could possibly want that I won’t give her.”
Kim just shook her head. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” She then changed the subject. “So what did Callen have to tell you?” Her gaze sharpened when instead of replying Wray sat down next to her. “Wray.”
“I don’t want to upset you my Kim but I know you are going to want to know.”
“Know what?”
“Lord Callen and Tora have been working on solving all the problems on Vesta caused by Reeve.”
“Yes. What have they found?” Kim knew Callen was carefully screening the warriors that Reeve had left behind when he came to Tornian for the Joining Ceremony for the females from Earth. Several, Callen had deemed unworthy of his new House, House Nizer.
“Curador.” Wray said, watching her intently.
“Curador?” Kim frowned at him, then looked down at Destiny. She still missed that male, even though she’d only known him for a few days. She knew her pregnancy would have been less stressful for both of them if he had been with her and he would have loved Destiny.
“After comments made by several warriors that Callen deemed worthy, he began to doubt that Curador passed naturally in his sleep as Reeve informed us.”
“What?” Kim whispered.
Wray’s silently watched his Kim process what he was saying. What it meant and before his eyes, she turned from the soft, caring female he knew she was, into the Empress who would want answers.
Ever since the arrival of the other females Kim had come into her own. Having the support of those females, being able to interact with them, had given her the confidence she needed to be the Empress.
“Tell me!” She demanded.
“Several males made comments about how they overheard Reeve and Yakar speaking of how they couldn’t allow Curador to be your Healer.”
“They ended him because of me.” Kim whispered.
“No Kim.” Wray leaned forward, taking her hand. “They ended him because they were unworthy.”
“But…”
“No!” Wray refused to let her think that. “Curador would never want you to think that. He was a truly fit and worthy male. A Healer that touched many lives. We will honor that and make sure everyone else knows it too.”
“He would have loved Destiny….” She said, returning the soft, caring female he knew.
“He would have and we will tell her about him.”
“Yes.” Kim whispered, looking down at her daughter saw she was awake. “Well hello there my beautiful girl.” She said smiling.
Destiny cooed at her then her eyes went to her manno and she started wiggling in Kim’s arms, reaching out for her manno.
Wray immediately leaned over, answering his daughter’s demand to lift her high above his head. He gently tickled her and was rewarded with bubbly laughter.
“Remember what happened last time you did that after she just ate.” Kim warned, smiling.
Wray did and quickly lowered Destiny into his arms. He had no desire to find his face covered with his daughter’s meal again. “You wouldn’t do that to your manno now would you Destiny.” He cooed at her.
Destiny answered him with a happy baby burp filled with bubbles and Wray realized he had just missed a repeat performance. Taking the cloth from Kim, he wiped Destiny’s mouth.
“Do you have to go back soon?” Kim asked, watching him tend their daughter.
“No. General Rayner will be arriving after last meal, remember? Until then, I’m all yours.”
“Really?” Kim’s eyes began to shine at the thought of what they could do with that time.
“Really.” Wray said his eyes full of promise.
Rising Kim held out her hand. “Let’s take our daughter for a walk in the gardens,” she said. “After that she’ll be ready for her nap and we can take one too.”
Looking at his Kim, Wray knew that unlike Destiny, their ‘nap’ would involve little to no sleeping. Rising, he tucked Destiny securely in one arm, wrapped his other around his Kim, and led them into the garden.
Far above, the Goddess looked down on the Emperor and Empress and smiled. She had chosen well. Soon the great infection will be no more and her mistake would be corrected.
“Come…”
Looking away from the scene below the Goddess turned to her mate, the only being she had ever loved.
“Come.” He said again holding out his hand. “Let us also go ‘nap.'”
The Goddess’ lips twitched at the promise in her mate's eyes and took his hand. She was really going to enjoy this ‘nap.'
About the Author
Michelle has always loved to read and writing is just a natural extension of this for her. Growing up she always loved to extend the stories of books she'd read just to see where the characters went. Happily married and the mother of two, who are nearly out of the house, she's found she has time to write again. You can reach her at [email protected] or her website at http://www.mkeidem.com she'd love to hear your comments.
Additional Books
Cassandra's Challenge: The Imperial Series, Book 1
Victoria's Challenge: The Imperial Series, Book 2
Grim: Tornians Book 1
A Grim Holiday: Tornians Book 1.5