“Any updates?”
“No. That, in and of itself, is cause for grave concern.”
“Why?”
“The only Inquisitors I hear from are those with like minds. From the others, there is only silence. It is the same with the others.”
“What does that even mean?”
“There is a code amongst us. We are not like the other branches. We deal in secrets, justice, and death. At present, we are divided in two with no grey in between.”
“What are the Inquisitors fighting over?”
“That, I do not yet know with any certainty. It is not our way to discuss and compromise, but to study and strike.”
“Is Papa safe?”
Eli turned to me. “Yes, this has nothing to do with him. Of that, I am certain.”
“Is it because of me?”
“You need to keep your wits about you. Whatever this is you are going through, you need to grow stronger because of it and move on. Fear is weakness. Control is power.”
“He took my control.”
“Only in your mind.”
“No, he had me trapped beneath him. He….”
“I know what he did. I was questioning him before the explosion. He admitted assaulting you and enjoying it.”
I looked away from Eli and at my treadmill’s display. The tip of my nose tingled, and my eyes began to fill.
Eli said, “He also admitted to other things, how you felt to him, the softness of your skin, the smell of you. It was as though you had become an addiction.”
“I don’t want to hear that. It’s sick.”
“Only in your current mindset.”
Hurt, I glared at Eli.
He said, “You are the one with the true power. He wants you. You can thwart whatever plans he has and control him with his own lust. Don’t let him break you. The battle is only ended when you concede defeat.”
Calmer, I asked, “Did Zared share with you what Flavian said to Clark and his team?”
“He did. Flavian’s secrets mean more to him than the life of his only child, the last of his line.” For a few moments, our footsteps and the sparring in the center of the gym were the only sounds. “Why did you spy on Clark?”
“We got into a fight. He was vehement in his dislike of me. Then, suddenly, he acted like he was afraid of me, his entire team did. I thought one of you had threatened him. I wanted to know if it was you, Drex, Zared, or Kaoti who had done it.”
Eli shook his head. “Drex, Cormac, and I would never involve ourselves in your Academy affairs, no matter how much we love you. It would be dishonorable. You must earn your place among them on your own, or it means nothing. I want you to know, there is nothing to be ashamed of if you fail out. What matters is that you do your best.”
“Have Clark and his team been questioned?”
“No.”
“Why? Clark knows something. I’m sure of it! Why else would his father threaten him?” I felt my cheeks heating with anger.
“They haven’t been questioned because Clark and his team went missing a few hours before Flavian took you. We suspect they were the ones responsible for the detonations that freed Flavian, Maxim, and Soval. Consequently, Soval’s remains were found in a transport in front of a market on Parvac.” The sounds of sparring had stopped. Izaac and his new friends had been listening. Eli stopped jogging and turned to them. “Be vigilant. To assume that you can trust anyone would be a dire mistake. You may be cadets, but should the need arise, and her life be in danger, you know what you must do.”
Chapter Twelve
I looked upon Arachne through the viewport on the bridge as though I gazed down upon my salvation. The Alarics and Montgomerys knew I wanted to get on my land as quickly as possible and had therefore agreed to wait for our arrival at the Alaric Estate, foregoing greeting us at the land port. Being out in the open wasn’t what I wanted. There were a couple of Galaxic Militia starships docked at the land port, but I didn’t know their captains. However, Eric and Quaid did and had assured me that they would come to our aid should the need arise. Captain Ricimer and my crew would remain aboard the Empress while we were docked, but he would be granting shore leave. Teams of my Omnes Videntes would remain in place to monitor everyone boarding the Empress.
Thunderdrop’s chirping had become incessant. I knew how he felt. Both of us had been longing for home. The hour drive from the land port seemed to take at least twice as long. Finally, we came to a stop underneath the high wood-beamed awning at the Alaric Estate. The wide doors were open, and Lord Ethan Alaric waited on the front steps with a large smile on his handsome face.
I opened my door and ran to him. “Daddy!” I cried out in anguish as I threw my arms around his chest. The fear and shame I had been smothering under poured from me. Ethan held me close and stroked my hair. The empathic bond between us snapped back and strengthened with a comforting ferocity.
“You’re home now. Everything is alright.”
I felt the truth of his words in my bones. I gazed up at his ice-blue eyes and felt his love. Then, Gram tore me away, pulled me into the sitting room, and kissed me all over my face until Simon grabbed me and spun me around the room.
Yukihyo was busy making introductions. I heard Neema running around screaming with little Evan Alaric, who was already bigger than her. Then, Niklos joined them. It wasn’t until ZeeZee and Cass made their appearances that the children calmed.
Neema sat on her butt, looked up at ZeeZee, and said, “Oh.”
Gina had Peter and was making cooing noises at him. Violet and Auria, Eliot’s wife, were hugging. I had just finished kissing Simon all over his face when Eliot pulled me away and spun me around. Yukihyo was now seated on a couch with a tiny redheaded baby in his arms. Isadora, who had put on some weight, sat beside him. I laughed until I cried.
Jorge let Thunderdrop, Cass, and ZeeZee outside. Everyone, with the exception of Niklos, Neema, Evan, and Peter had calmed down. I had my head on Gram’s lap and a smile on my face. Sherman was loading Farowyn, his men, Izaac, Cedrenus, Binder, and Ross into a long open roller to take them on a tour and show them our spiders. I had gotten to cuddle Susanna Montgomery, our newest family member, until she got cranky, hungry, and to wanting her mommy. I was happy for Isadora, but even happier that I had gotten to see her so soon after the birth while she was still fat and bloated. I smiled as I remembered how she had called me short and round. Simon didn’t care about her weight. He was happier than I had ever seen him. Simon was an adorably overprotective daddy.
After dinner, we decided to drive home to the house my husbands and family had built for me. Niklos was sound asleep in Nico’s arms, and Neema stared off at nothing through her window as we drove along the private road to my property, situated between the Alaric and Montgomery lands. I got out of the transport and walked to the beautifully carved front doors. Inside, the wood floors gleamed back at me. The three tan couches with their pink, orange, and red throw pillows were just as I had left them. I smiled at the large painting of Thalassa on the wall above the center couch with its pink and orange sky, blue water, sand, and red floating flower petals.
I heard the sounds of the others as they began to trickle in behind me. Nico carried Niklos into the dining room and into the lift on the left. Pierce followed with Neema, and Lorca followed with Peter. I knew where they were taking them, to their nursery designed to look like the one Grandmother had decorated in the house on Coronis. Neema was old enough now to fall in love with that room with its glittering ceiling of stars and planets.
Violet looked worn out. Kaoti had Poppy cradled in his arms. I was relieved they had their own room with Neema’s previous crib already set up. Then, I remembered that Xavier and Jazon had their own rooms as well. I didn’t have to worry about Sparrow and Tracy feeling at home.
I said, “Drex, I don’t think Quaid would mind you staying in his room.”
“I’ll show him where it is,” Eli offered.
I assumed Eli also intende
d to show Drex where their weapons rooms were. There was one between Eli and Xavier’s rooms hidden behind the lift, and another on the opposite side of the floor between Kaoti and Jazon’s rooms. Since a few of my Ponidi brothers were remaining aboard the ship, I had rooms for Cedrenus, Binder, Ross, Farowyn, and his men. It was nice having a mansion with eighteen apartment-like bedrooms and an additional master suite for Yukihyo, Nico, and me. Our central suites upstairs were designed like my wing of the Palace with my large bedroom, bathroom, and dressing room along the back wall of the house. To reach my bedroom, I had to walk down a long hall with three opulent bedrooms to each side. The three rooms on the left belonged to Lorca, Pierce, and the children. The rooms on the right belonged to Fitz, Zared, and Quaid.
Along the east and west sides of the second floor were the guest bedrooms, lifts, and hidden weapons lockers. A comfortable sitting area, like the one at Yukihyo’s family home on Chione, was at the entrance to my private suites.
Once I had Terre and everyone settled, I went to my room. The large picture window across from the bed was dark. I turned to the right and into my bathroom where I began filling the corner tub. The window there was dark as well. I let my clothing fall and stood on the pile before stepping into the hot water.
“May I join you?” Yukihyo asked.
I smiled at him. “You may.”
His clothes joined the pile. Nico entered the bathroom, looked at us, and stripped. He got in the tub, too, making the water level rise dangerously high. I shut off the faucet, saw Yukihyo’s expression, and laughed until I cried.
“Coming here was the right choice. You seem better,” Nico said.
“I felt better the moment I was in Ethan’s arms.”
“You called him daddy,” Nico said.
I met his brown eyes and stretched my legs out over his to give Yukihyo more room to put space between his hip and Nico’s. “That’s what he feels like to me. I’m sorry about how I’ve been the last few weeks.”
“Teagan, don’t be. You are in no way to blame,” Nico said.
“Have they caught them yet?” I asked.
Nico turned his head to look out through the window and into the darkness.
“What would you like to do while we are here, Lady Wife?” Yukihyo asked.
“Oh, it’s like that. Is it?” I shrugged, knowing Nico didn’t have any good news to share. “I want to spend some time here in our home. Why don’t you and Phillip spend some quality time with Hiroshi? I’m safe here.”
Yukihyo grinned at me. “I would like to do so, and I am assured of your safety here. However, prying Phillip from Terre might require more strength than I possess.”
Nico said, “I tried to explain to him the lengths Parvac males will go to when courting a female. Terre has been courted and fought over since she came of age. She’s become jaded to it.”
“I hope he doesn’t get his heart broken. He’s never before offered it to anyone,” Yukihyo said.
Saddened by his words, I said quietly, “I hope that I am not breaking either of yours.” I gasped as water was splashed in my face and looked up at Yukihyo and Nico, who were both grinning at me.
“No, never,” Yukihyo promised.
The comforting routine that I had followed the last time I had enjoyed my home came back to me. I woke up and put the children in their stroller. Yukihyo kissed me on the cheek as he and Phillip were leaving. “We will bring Hiroshi by later.”
“Okay. Have fun.”
“Call us if you need us, Cupcake.”
“I will.”
“Chirp!” Thunderdrop scurried after me and used the stroller and the top of my head to jump over me and outside.
Kaoti already waited outside near a tree and watched me and everything else. Then, I realized that eight other eyes were watching me and the children.
“Good morning!” Neema called out as she waved.
They bowed to us.
I said, “It looks like you are all ready to explore. Do you want to come with us on our walk?”
“Will there be spiders?” Ross asked.
Nodding, I said, “Always.”
Izaac, Cedrenus, Binder, and Ross walked to the sides of us while Kaoti became a silent shadow. The boys observed my bodyguard with apparent envy. “How does he move like that? I know he is near but have no idea where,” Cedrenus said.
“I don’t know, but it’s comforting.”
“Look, Mommy!” Neema pointed at several spiders that were hanging from lines of silk and others that slowly walked above us on their webs.
“Beautiful, aren’t they?”
“Oh, booty full,” Niklos agreed.
Grinning, I pushed the stroller along, breathed in the air, and relaxed. “This is my favorite place to be. I love it here.”
Binder seemed unnerved. “It doesn’t frighten you, being surrounded by silent predators who could strike and kill at the slightest provocation?”
I snorted. “No more than being at the Academy with all of you in basically the exact same situation.”
Kaoti laughed loudly from above us.
The boys all looked up. “How’d you get up there?” Ross asked.
Kaoti dropped down and showed off his bracers which were equipped with small retractable grappling hooks amongst other things.
“May I try?” Ross asked.
Kaoti removed his bracers, helped Ross put them on, and then instructed him on how to operate them. Izaac and I continued walking.
“Whoa!” A swoosh of sound accompanied the warbled yell. I turned and discovered Ross dangling and swaying frantically from high in a tree. “How do I get down?” he yelled. He was swinging from at least twenty feet above.
Kaoti said, “I warned you about the stabilizers.”
“The traction is stuck!”
“That’s because your leg is wrapped up in it. It’s a safety feature, so you don’t lose a limb.”
“How do we get him down?” Binder asked.
“A ladder,” Kaoti suggested.
Meanwhile, Ross’ face was turning red.
“Thunderdrop!” I called.
“Chirp?” he answered from somewhere nearby.
“Will you please help Cadet Ross?”
“Chirp!” Thunderdrop climbed the tree.
“Izaac…” I began, but knowing my thoughts, he had already started recording while I snickered at my friend’s predicament.
Thunderdrop attached a line to the branch above Ross and then dropped down to him. My spider’s black legs were barely visible against the cadet’s uniform. Thunderdrop began circling Ross with silk as he would prey. Then, my spider sent me an image of releasing the grappling lines.
“Ross, release the grappling hooks. He has you. You won’t fall.”
Trusting us, Ross let the hooks retract back into the bracers and then bounced horizontally on Thunderdrop’s line. He seemed relieved if not a little dizzy. Thunderdrop lowered Ross to the forest floor and then severed his lines with his back claws.
“Thanks. I owe you a favor,” Ross said to Thunderdrop as his coloring returned to normal.
Thunderdrop blinked at Ross a few times before disappearing again into the trees.
Kaoti stared at Ross with his usual dead expression and said, “Try again.”
Ross froze and stared for a moment at Kaoti before getting to his feet. I turned and continued on my walk. Izaac knew my destination.
“Neema wants out, Mommy! Please!”
“Izaac, will you help me with her?”
He nodded and took Neema out of her seat. Niklos cried. I pulled his socks off his cute little feet and kissed his toes. His nose was red from crying for his sister, but he was laughing at the same time. “You are so handsome!” I said as I kissed his dirty blonde hair on the top of his head. Niklos looked just like me, Kane, and Uncle Kagan.
I slipped out of my shoes and took Niklos from his seat. Peter was sleeping, so after making sure the stroller wheels were locked, I carried Niklos over
to the stream that ran through the middle of my land and sat with my feet in the water. Niklos sat between my legs with my arms around him and copied me.
“Zak! Neema wants to do that!”
Izaac carried her over from where she had been pulling on a web to sit beside us. She threw her socks into the water and laughed before we could stop her. One little purple sock sank. The other floated downstream.
“Cedrenus, your mission is to retrieve two purple baby socks,” I said.
He laughed and fished them out with a stick.
The next morning, I got my period. I sat on the waste unit and cried.
“Teagan, what’s wrong?” Nico asked before realizing what had happened. “We will have more children. It’s alright.” He found me some lady protection and hovered near the sink.
His concern helped, but loss and failure warred for control of me. Each of my husbands desperately wanted children, and I realized that I needed to feel another life growing within me.
Later in the day, the children and I were in the sitting room at the back of the house playing when Sparrow, Violet, Tracy, and Terre converged on me.
“Yes?” I asked almost fearfully.
“Are we just going to sit here the whole time?”
“Sparrow!” Tracy admonished.
“Um, no. You can do whatever you want to do,” I said as I rubbed Peter’s back. He was doing a good job of sitting up all by himself.
“Aren’t you coming?” Terre asked.
“Not today. Go have fun. Really. I am perfectly content.”
“She’s telling the truth,” Jazon said.
I made eye contact with Xavier. “Please, take your wives out and show them my favorite planet. Take Kaoti with you.”
“I will not leave your side,” Kaoti said from where he stood with his back to the wall.
“Sorry, Violet,” I said.
“I expected nothing else,” she said. She kissed his cheek and whispered, “We’ll be back later. I want to show Poppy off to everyone I know.”
The Inquisitors (The Space Merchants Book 6) Page 16