I will take it up with him, she promised herself. I will dig to the bottom of it by the end of next week. The Academy had a mid-term break coming up. It lasted for two ten-days. She’d been planning to make her way through a few texts the Alliance History instructor had recommended. They covered topics that would be addressed in next term’s class and Blue hoped to place out of it…
Levi appeared before her holding a steaming bowl and a small plate of fresh rolls. Felix was no longer next to her on the couch. She hadn’t even noticed him getting up. Was he that sneaky, or was Elaina right and Blue needed a serious break?
Her stomach rumbled. It’s making so much noise now, it’s practically its own marching band.
“Eat, illi. We will talk after.” He returned to the kitchen, grabbed a bowl for himself, then settled into one of the cushy-chairs across from her.
Blue’s comm pinged. Balancing the plate of rolls on her knee, she pulled it out.
Mo’ata had answered her. We will be home in half an hour. Yes, she’d sent that message to their family group chat. It was meant for situations exactly like this, to coordinate schedules and meals and relay information to everyone.
She scrolled through the chat. There it was, right there in front of her. Five days ago there'd been a whole discussion about the day before Forrest’s exhibit, including the plan about Levi bringing dinner home so no one needed to worry about cooking.
Blue groaned. I am in so much trouble.
“Eat, illi.” Levi’s tone held a hard edge.
Blue set down her comm and spooned up a bite of stew.
She groaned again, this time in pleasure, as the flavors hit her tongue. “Did you get this from that place in the central district?” she asked between bites.
“Yes.” His voice softened. “I know it is your favorite.”
Her eyes slid closed as she took another bite and chewed, savoring the richness of tender meat and thick gravy. The couch dipped beside her and she scooted into Felix. She slitted her eyes open enough to make sure she wasn’t about to send the next spoonful of her precious stew into her ear, and took another bite.
“Careful,” Felix said as he scooped up the plate of rolls from where it threatened to fall off its careful perch on her knees. He’d changed into a soft long-sleeved shirt, the color a dark green that brought out his eyes.
Blue gave him a smile then went back to her meal. The three of them ate in silence, the kind that was warming and comforting. Using one of the rolls, she sopped up the last of the gravy then stood and took her bowl to the kitchen. “Should I make a salad?”
“I would like that, illi.”
Felix waved his hand. He wasn’t a fan of leafy greens, but he’d eat it if someone made it.
Blue surveyed the vegetables left in the fridge. There were plenty of marule, ensiam, and haas—all common vegetables in Karran used for salads—but they were out of leitis. She spotted a small tub of alfacc at the back of the bottom shelf. Perfect. The mild peppers would give the salad a bit of kick, and Felix liked them.
She was tossing the salad with oil and a mellow vinegar when Forrest and Mo’ata arrived, the cubs in tow. Vivi and Garfield went straight for their food bowls and sent up plaintive cries when they found them empty.
“Don’t be fooled, pixie. They’ve been fed. Twice.”
“Have you?”
Mo’ata pulled her to him and dropped a light kiss on her lips. His beard, still short enough to tickle, brushed against the sensitive skin. He’d begun growing it again a few weeks ago. Said he didn’t feel right without it. Blue appreciated the fact that it covered most of the scar on his left cheek, the one that was a constant reminder of how close she’d once come to losing him. “We did eat, shopa.,” he said. “Forrest wasn’t sure how long things would take, and we did not want you to have to wait.”
Blue hung her head as Levi and Felix groaned.
Forrest tugged her away from Mo’ata and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “What did we miss?”
Felix and Levi held their silence. She wasn’t sure if she was grateful or not. But, as the shopa, Blue knew she needed to speak up. “I think we need a family meeting.”
Forrest nodded. “Oh, yeah, about the thing with the asshole.”
Mo’ata, Felix, and Levi all stiffened at those words.
“Yes, about the thing with the asshole, as well as a couple other things.” Looked like her reprieve was over.
Chapter 3
BLUE
Blue insisted on giving her babies a little bit of extra meat and serving everyone salad before taking her place in the middle of the couch between Felix and Forrest. The spot gave her a perfect view of the shelves on the opposite side of the room.
One stretch held an assortment of jars, each labeled with a name and holding pennies—which were in fact an assortment of coins from all over the worlds. The jars labeled “Forrest” were nearly empty, while Felix’s and Trevon’s were close to full. Forrest had a habit of trading in his pennies to get others to take over his cooking duties. She wasn’t sure why her mercenary’s jars were so full, but Trev did have a habit of dropping a few pennies into everyone’s jars each time he stopped by…
She didn’t even want to ask why.
Jason’s were also empty, but that was because he was never here. He was no longer on Falass, that had always been a temporary appointment. The Ministry had assigned him again almost immediately, this time to Denver. She’d thought about asking him to relay some messages for her, but…
If she were honest with herself, she didn’t know what had held her back from asking. And now it didn’t matter. Trevon had left for Earth to take care of some business and had taken notes for her family with him.
A smaller set of shelves were set up next to the doorway leading to her and Mo’ata’s rooms. The collection of figurines housed there had grown. Felix had taken Forrest’s drawing of ducklings, the same one now framed and hanging in her room, and carved those likenesses. There was duckling-Mo’ata mounted on a stout quorin. Duckling-Forrest sported a paintbrush and palette. Duckling-Levi with his sash and sword sat next to duckling-Felix in his armor. Felix had even included duckling-Jason and duckling-Trevon in the set, though the depiction of the Martikan family head looked more like a bemused Joker than the hooligan he was.
She scanned the rest of the figures. Something had caught her attention…
The fuck-topus was gone.
Blue bit back her groan. She wasn’t sure who had started it. It could have been Felix, or Forrest, or even Trevon. Hell, it could have been the cubs for all she knew. But someone had begun taking that octopus carved to flip off the world and depositing it in various places. Usually it was someone’s pillow, and often she was annoyed with that someone. She never put it there, but whoever was moving it possessed amazing discernment…
This time, she thought she knew where it had gone.
That conversation with Felix might happen sooner rather than later.
“Shopa?”
Blue tore her gaze from the empty spot on the shelf and focused on her clansman. His expression was cool but wary. Garfield leaned against his legs. Vivi had crawled up to snuggle between her and Forrest, and Blue threaded her fingers through the soft golden-grey fur. A faint purr vibrated under her fingers.
She pulled in a breath. “I should start with what happened this afternoon. Then… we’ll move on to the next thing. I think I have some apologies to make. I’ll let you all decide if they warrant a penny.” She frowned. “Though, Forrest is the only one who is trading them in. The system only works if you exchange them…”
“And you are avoiding the subject,” Mo’ata chided.
“Right. Okay. But about this afternoon, I want a promise from everyone that they won't do anything until I tell the whole thing. And there will be no maiming.”
“Not sure you can prevent that, pixie, not with this crowd,” Forrest whispered. “Hell, everyone in this room wants to maim him and they don’t even know t
he full story. There’s blood in their minds.” His cheeks flushed. “Sorry, it slipped out.”
Blue pulled her hand away from Vivi and found Forrest’s. She laced their fingers together. “I don’t mind it. None of us do. You know that. You just have to be careful of your wording outside the apartment.”
Forrest’s fingers tightened around hers. “I am. I promise. It’s just with both cubs… and I’m so comfortable here. This is home, you know? I-I let down my guard.”
She raised his hand to her lips and placed a soft kiss against his knuckles. I love you. An answering warmth filled her mind.
It was another change since Falass, and a recent development. It only happened when both Vivi and Garfield were present, and when they both had their guard down. But in addition to Forrest’s random glimpses into others’ minds, he could send and receive the occasional message. Like the flashes, it was nothing he could control. The first time it happened they’d been making dinner. He’d asked for the pucho seasoning, and Blue had passed it to him. Except, he hadn’t asked for it, he’d only thought that he would need it.
He’d been equal parts freaked and excited. Blue had just been concerned. Whatever Miyari had set in motion with his mad experiments and drugs still grew within her Forrest. So far, they’d been able to disguise the changes in him as flashbacks and residual side-effects. At some point, something would slip, someone would find out, and Forrest would become target of government prodding and peering.
There was no way she would allow that to happen.
“You have nothing to apologize for,” Levi said to Forrest. “I still think we should try some turammin jewelry. There is a reason the Turammi merchants and ambassadors who live here on Karran wear it. It’s an open secret that a portion of their population has some sort of telepathic ability. It may even be beneficial to reach out to them a—“
“No.” Mo’ata cut him off. “We have already had this conversation. Unless it becomes unavoidable, it is best to leave things as they are. If we go to the Turammi in any way, it will only cast suspicion upon Forrest. If he is spotted wearing turammin, it is the same result. Being born with an ability and having it artificially induced are two very different things.”
Levi rubbed his brow. “You are correct. I know, I know. I simply do not like the fact that none of us know where these new abilities are headed, or—“
“It’ll be okay.” Forrest’s voice was quiet, but it cut through Levi’s worried ramblings. “If—“ He swallowed. “If I didn’t have Vivi, maybe it wouldn’t be. But, she helps more than you all know. She… keeps everything steady. And sometimes she shows me what I need to do.”
Like Garfield had for me. If it weren’t for the cub’s assistance in showing Blue how to get to Falass, she would no doubt still be floundering around in wave-space and going nowhere. And Forrest would now be like Annaliese, or worse, dead.
“I like the idea of finding Forrest a piece of turammin he can wear that will not arouse suspicion,” Blue said. “Maybe on a cord, hidden amongst some other pendants or pieces?”
“That might work,” Mo’ata conceded. “But we are now off from the original topic. Our umsji is not incorrect in his estimation. The fact that you have to warn us against no maiming only tells me that whatever happened warrants it.” He ground out the last words. His expression remained cool, though her barbarian’s hands curled into fists.
“Right. Okay, back to it. Remember what I said, you listen to this all the way through.” She waited for each man to nod. “It was Blaine.”
Curses in various languages sounded through the room.
“I thought you wrote him up to the disciplinary committee,” Levi said, a fierce frown on his broad face.
“I did. They said they would ‘keep an eye on him,’ but because there were no witnesses, there wasn’t much they could do.” Blue sent them what she hoped was an only slightly strained smile. “Good news, there’s now witnesses!”
Vivi’s head perked up. She climbed over Blue and settled her not inconsiderable weight into Felix’s lap. With chirping growls, she nudged at his hand until he started petting her.
There was the finest of trembles in his fingers. Blue’s gaze shot to his face. His lips thinned into a tight line and his cheekbones flushed, but Vivi’s behavior was the clearest indication the mercenary was not dealing well with the news.
Blue scooted over the few inches it took to press into his side. “I’m fine. I am, especially now that I’m here with all of you. And wait until you hear the end. I think you’ll get a kick out of it.”
“Enjoy it,” Forrest automatically translated for her.
Felix gave a stiff nod. “Finish it, then.”
So Blue did. She told them the whole of it, starting with Blaine’s insults and insinuations, moving on to Sarah’s intervention, and finally ending with her own threats to Blaine.
Silence reigned when she finished.
Then Forrest snorted.
Mo’ata’s brow rose.
Levi blinked a few times. “Sarah came to your rescue? The same Sarah that was after Jason?”
Felix’s shoulders began to shake. His lips were still pressed together and the flush that had been high on his cheeks had spread to the rest of his face.
“I don’t think she came to my rescue, exactly. More like to the defense of women everywhere.” Blue peered at Felix from the corner of her eye. Was he going to explode? “She’s not actually that bad.”
Then Felix did explode. In laughter. He threw his head back and roared.
I knew he’d like the end.
When Felix finally recovered his breath, he hooked a muscled arm over her shoulders and half-pulled her onto him, forcing Vivi to relocate or be smushed. “Oh, pet. Did you really threaten to snipe off his balls?”
It was Blue’s turn to flush. “Okay, I may have exaggerated that part. I just… reminded him of who was top of the class in ranged weapons.”
“Ooh, vicious,” Forrest said. “I like it.” He wiggled his brows. “Sexy.”
Felix’s grip on her tightened, but not enough to hurt. “Mine.”
Some of the glee fell away from Forrest’s expression and his blue eyes darkened. “For tonight, mercenary. Besides, it’s not like—“
“Finish that sentence and suffer, snookums.” Blue’s eyes narrowed. “I will tell Trevon to cut off your supply of peanut butter cups.” They hadn’t been able to find an equivalent here on Karran, and Forrest had developed cravings.
Forrest zipped his lips closed. Blue thrust her chin in the air, but couldn’t resist a quick wink in his direction.
“Blue.”
She sobered up as Mo’ata said her name. Not shopa, but Blue. That was his sign. He was not pleased.
“Have you reported this latest incident yet?” The words were measured and oh so careful.
“No.”
Garfield pressed against his legs. Looked like someone else could use some calming down.
“Felix,” she whispered. “Let me go for a minute.”
The mercenary stared at Mo’ata, then nodded. He slid his arm down and helped Blue right herself. Standing, she shot a quick look at Levi, who gave her a little nod. He was doing okay.
She crossed the small distance from the couch to Mo’ata and stood before him. “Hey.”
Hazel eyes blazed up at her.
“I’m okay. I mean, it wasn’t pleasant, but I’m okay.” She remembered a day soon after they’d returned to Karran from Padilra. It was her first outing with both Mo’ata and Forrest by her side, and they’d gone to a roof-top cafe with the most wonderful views. Even then there had been people giving them side-eyes and sneering looks. “Remember, I can handle an idiot or two. It upset me, yes, but not even for my own sake. I hated that he somehow thought it was perfectly acceptable to treat an entire culture as though they were doing something… dirty, just by living their lives.” She held a hand out to him.
He took it and tugged her down onto this lap. “He touched you.�
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She tucked her head under his chin. “My hair. He touched my hair. And while I haven't filed the complaint yet, I put it on my list to compose first thing tomorrow.” She paused and grimaced. “Well, not tomorrow. I’ll have to do it the next day, after school. Which actually brings us to the next thing we need to talk about. Well, that I need to apologize for—“
Mo’ata laid two fingers over her lips. “We are not yet done with the last topic. What is this boy’s last name?”
She gripped his fingers and pulled them a couple inches away from her lips. “Friate.” She pulled those fingers back to her and gave them a quick kiss before tugging his hand down into her lap. “Why?”
“Friate,” he said in a musing tone, but steel underlay it. “And he is applying for the External Security division at the Ministry?”
“He was a few months ago, according to Jason. He runs with the same crowd as Sarah, though that group hasn’t been the same since… well, since Annaliese disappeared. Again, why? What are you planning? I already said no maiming.”
Mo’ata shrugged, his expression still hard. “This is the same boy you once said reminded you of Phillip. He has now proven he has the same entitled arrogance in him, and a lack of self-control. If this Blaine is so willing to show such blatant contempt for lifestyles and beliefs he does not agree with, he will have a hard time in the External Security Department. One of the key skills those agents require is an ability to adapt and blend. There will be no maiming involved. I will simply... assist the Ministry in examining a prospective agent.”
Oh, that was twisty. He must have been channeling Trevon. “Damn. You say it like that, it sounds so reasonable. But you block him from the security divisions, he’ll be stuck in portal management. Which he will hate.”
Mo’ata’s mouth curved up in a smug smile. “And I will comply with your request for ‘no maiming,’ my shopa.”
“Well then, that deserves a reward.” She stretched up until her lips could meet his. He didn’t respond for a full two seconds. Blue was about to pull away, when his hand slipped to the nape of her neck and held her in place. Her barbarian’s mouth opened and he moved, devouring her. When he finally pulled away, they were both breathing hard. He rested his forehead against hers. “I very much dislike that he touched you, even if it was only your hair.”
Wild is the Blue Page 3