“I’m sure he will be ready to give you the information you need now you know this much of the story but we only know what we told you.”
“Do you think the third family could be after her since their daughter should have been my mate?” Storm asked.
“We did suspect them in the beginning but you two tried and it didn’t work out. Why would they try to force something they know won’t work?” Storm nodded. He didn’t seem convinced but he let it go.
“You mentioned something of a twin brother?”
“I will explain it all,” said Streya. “I know all this hurts, Heather. You’re trying to figure out why we sent you away. I want you to know it was out of affection for you and fear for your safety. We were forced to do this. When you were about two, Storm’s uncle, who still new to his position, started to have visions. Some very violent and always centered around you two.” Streya pointed to Storm and Heather. “He came to us and made us aware of two separate visions. One was your funeral at the age of eight. The other was you as a grown woman giving birth.”
“I can’t have children.”
“And we’ll get to that as well,” said her mother.
“We had to make a decision. Either keep you here and run the risk of you being killed at a young age. Or send you away and hope we’d be able to bring you home one day.”
“What does that have to do with the threats now?”
“The visions showed someone after you. Wanting you, but we never knew the reason.” Streya took his wife’s hand. “A few months ago Hynna came to us and said it was time to bring you back. That you were in danger where you were and you needed the protection of your mate.”
“Which is why you sent me as an ambassador. I couldn’t figure out why my mother was so adamant for me to do this.” Storm wrapped an arm around her. A protective gesture she had learned to love. “I’m not happy with how you went about doing this but I am happy with the result.”
“We’re sorry for the subterfuge but it was the only way. You couldn’t go charging to Earth and demand your mate, which is your normal tactic. We don’t know who is after Heather so followed Hynna’s visions. He told us iff they were watching us then they would find her when we found her.” He grew quiet for a moment. “We sent you hoping we would find her quietly.
That’s why you went to Earth several times. It took us that long to locate her and get her government to send her to you.”
“You took a chance in hoping we would be attracted to each other,” Heather said.
“To you it might have seemed like a chance but we knew it would work out. Hynna guided us the whole way and his visions have never been wrong.”
“That’s why he wanted to go on that mission, wasn’t it? He knew Heather would be present. He needed to be sure everything would work out the way his visions showed.” Storm was able to understand what was going on while Heather couldn’t.
“I’m sorry but you sure are taking this well.” She turned to look at him, anger snapping in her eyes. “As much as you like to be in control how could you go along with this so easily?”
“I have tried to explain the power he has but until you experience it personally you won’t understand what he is capable of.” Storm gave her hand a squeeze. “He is an amazing seer.”
“Don’t really care how wonderful he is. I don’t like my life manipulated this way.”
“My heart, how would you have reacted if you knew none of this? Do you feel we don’t belong together?” He pulled on her hand to get her to look at him.
“Of all of this, you are the one thing that keeps me centered. But it is hard for me to believe any of this. There are so many questions no one can or will answer.”
“We will get to the bottom of all of this, trust me on that, but you need to believe in my uncle’s power. You need to feel it for yourself.”
“I agree.” Hynna stepped into the room. “You don’t know what you are, do you Heather? That is your real question and I wish I could answer that for you. It will be revealed as time allows. But you do need to know why things have happened the way they have.”
He gave a slight slap to Storm’s hand so he would let go of Heather.
“You have visions of your own, right?” He touched her hands.
“How did you know that?” Having his focus on her made her realize she didn’t want his attention. He scared her a little.
“I have my ways.” He sat on a small table in front of the couch she sat at. “Tell me about the vision you have had.”
She didn’t want to go there. Looking around she found everyone staring at her, waiting for her to do as Hynna asked. “Fine. What do you need me to do first?”
“Clear your mind. Take me with you.” He held her hands at the wrist.
“What do you remember about it?”
“I haven’t been able to go through everything.”
“In other words, you want to work your way through this information alone, like you have all of your life.” He smiled. “You are afraid to go through what you saw with help, aren’t you? Afraid to see everything clearly.”
“Okay. This is crazy.” She pulled her hands free. He was right, if she didn’t look too hard it might not come true. The other times when she examined the dream too much terrible things happened. “There is no way you could see what I saw in my dreams.”
“There is only one way to find out isn’t there?” He took her hands once again, closed his eyes and settled his mind.
Heather found herself back in the room where the metal bed was. She stood in front of it. None of her other visions were so clear. “What is going on?”“Is this what you saw?”
She looked around. It was. The low hanging lamps hung just above their heads. “How did you do this? I was on that bed. The lights are right where I remember them. These dark items are lockers aren’t they? How did you see them so clearly when I couldn’t.”
“It is easier for me to see things without the emotional ties you felt when you dreamt this. So this is the room you remember?”
“Yes. The wall there was the only one I saw. The dull grey stuck in my memory. Being on the bed kept me from being able to see much else.”
“What did he say to you?”
She didn’t want to think about what she had heard. “I don’t know.”
“Yes you do, you just don’t want to face it.” He had that right.
“Then why are you forcing the issue?”
“I’m only hoping to help you, Heather. This is coming, we both know that. The more information we have the quicker we will be able to solve it.” Her heart picked up a little at the thought. Storm could walk into a trap if she were to resist. Maybe this time she could actually beat her dream.
“This is all I saw. I remember a voice. I’m positive it is male, but I couldn’t get much out of it, except Storm’s life is forfeit if he tries to rescue me. He must not fall into the trap set for him.”
“Show me.”
Heather wasn’t sure what she could show him but she did her best. She had never shared a dream before. The energy drained her. By the time she was done she could barely lift her head.
“Do we need to go?” Storm was worried about her and ready to whisk her away at a moment’s notice.
“I’m fine.” She rubbed her head. “I just need a moment to refocus myself.”
Storm’s uncle pushed him aside and helped Heather stretch out. “This will take a toll on her. The doctor can take the edge off if you wish.” Storm sat on the edge of the couch and touched her face. “Call him.” Heather found her mind hurt. It hadn’t done this before. “Why does it hurt like this?”
“You’re pushing your mind beyond its normal capabilities. The device was designed to stop that from happening. It’s still doing its best to protect you and will do that until it is completely absorbed.” The doctor walked in then. He saw Heather on the couch and went to her side. “You okay?”
“Just another one of my headaches.”
“Another one? I don’t remember you having headaches before.” He ran a quick scan. “I can give you a sedative to take the edge off, but I’d like to do a little more research before I give you anything else.” Heather looked at him. He had given her several shots but now acted like he didn’t remember.
“The sedative will be fine, Doctor,” said Hynna. “I’m sure it’s nothing and she’ll be fine in the morning.”
“Of course.” He put down his medical pack and pulled out a small hypo. Heather heard the slight hiss of the release as the drug entered her blood. In seconds she felt a difference.
“Thank you.” She was able to sit up and gave him a smile.
Storm sat beside her again. “You okay?”
“Yes.” She smiled at him and took his hand. “I feel much better.” The doctor nodded, gathered his things and headed out the door. Once he was gone, Hynna sat the scanner on the table near the couch. “The doctor remembers nothing now. When the device started to disintegrate he was the one who could understand what was happening to you, but now it is too dangerous for him to know anything. This is for you to use instead of going to him every time. As far as the headaches go, I’m not sure if the sedatives are a good idea from this point on. Even though they help with the pain it will keep your reaction time down. You’re going to need a clear head in the days to come.”
“Days? That soon?” Heather now wished she hadn’t taken the shot.
“I’m afraid so.”
“You two want to let the rest of us in on the conversation?” Storm didn’t look pleased.
Heather touched his heart. “My device should be fully absorbed by that point.”
“But I thought the device had already disintegrated.” Storm frowned, worried about her.
“It has, but we’re now talking about the minerals and residue from it.” She looked up at Storm.
“That means your special ability will manifest,” said Streya.
“Now what are you talking about?” asked Storm.
“Each child born to an elder has a special ability because of the ancient blood. Storm’s uncle is a perfect example. His visions have made a difference in our world.”
“So what’s so special about speaking ancient?” Heather wasn’t sure being able to understand a dead language was something someone would covet.
“That’s not your gift. You inherited that ability from our side of the family. It just proved that you were our daughter. The marker put in your body to disguise you has kept that suppressed too. Once it fully disintegrates then you’ll see your gift manifest.”
“We think it is your gift they are after.”
“But you’re not sure.” She stood and started to pace. “It seems to me that everyone is grasping for an answer right now. What sort of gift would I have?”
“We don’t know. Each child is different.”
“Okay, what gift would be something someone would want so badly they’d be willing to come after me for?” They had no answer for her.
“What gift are you talking about?” asked Storm. “My sister and I don’t have any special ability that I’m aware of.”
“For most of us it didn’t show up until we went through the mating ceremony. For others it didn’t show until their first child was born.” Hynna grinned. “I was special. Mine started when I was a child but mine was because of the role I would play. Your sister has ignored hers because she doesn’t want the role she is destined for.”
“Yours hasn’t shown up because we’ve had to inject you with the same compound that is in Heather’s device.” Streya said it quietly, knowing Storm would be angry when he learned the truth.
“You feel no qualms about manipulating anyone’s life?” Storm’s voice held a note of anger.
“Let me ask you something, Storm. With Heather’s life in jeopardy have you allowed her to mingle with society?”
“You know the answer to that.” He glared at them.
“And have you forced her to work with your latest training team so you can be sure she can protect herself?”
He didn’t answer.
“And you complain about manipulation? You wish to protect her as much as you can. We were no different.” He sat next to his mate. “What kills me is no matter what we do she will still be taken and her life will be in jeopardy.”
Storm stood and took two steps toward him before Heather touched him and stopped him. “Hear him out before you tear him apart.” Storm just stared at him, waiting.
Streya swallowed hard. “When we sent Heather away you two had already gone through a ritual. One designed to allow you two to find each other if you were separated. We knew we’d have to send our daughter away and wanted to give you two a fighting chance in case we weren’t there to guide you two back together. What we didn’t know was what would happen to Storm when we had to send Heather away.”
“Get to it.” He had sat back down, and she followed suit but Heather could feel his anger rolling off him in waves.
“Your blood started to call out for Heather’s. The mating call was so powerful you would enter a room and cause grown men to fight amongst themselves. We had to do something so we used a version of the serum in the device to mute that call. That’s why you didn’t affect the humans as much. The natural ability every Vespian has to call their mate to them was suppressed.”
“I have my mate now.”
“The moment you and Heather were together that injection stopped.
I’m sorry but we did what was necessary to protect our child. You will to the same thing when the time comes.”
“I’m sterile.” Heather said it so matter-of-factly.
Storm took her hand. “We both are.”
“Right now you might be, but that was a side effect of the drug.”
“What?” Heather stood, not believing a word. “I have seen my medical records. My body doesn’t produce eggs.”
“Or could the device have been able to disguise that to make it look like you couldn’t?” Streya asked.
“No.” she shook her head. There was no way that could be possible.
She was sterile.
Hynna picked up the scanner and ran it over her. “Check the readings then. See for yourself.” He dropped it into her hand.
Heather looked at Storm. “I don’t think I can.”
“Then we’ll look when you’re ready.” He stood, pulled her to her feet and wrapped her in his embrace. “I think we’re done for the night, but we will continue this conversation another time.”
He led Heather out of their home. The night breeze warm on their skin.
“Speak to me.”
“Storm, it’s all too crazy. I don’t know what to think. If it wasn’t for that device in my back I’d think they were out of their minds.” She had her arms around him. “I’m part of a crazy plot? I am something so special my parents sent me away for protection? Everything that has been real for me is totally destroyed in one night by strangers who claim to be my parents.
How would you feel?”
“I would be very glad I had a mate who understands. We need to take this one thing at a time. First we’ll use the scanner to see what it says.”
“Do you think it’s possible?”
“Children? I have accepted the fact that I would never have any. I’m not sure what to think about that.”
They entered their rooms. Storm went to the security panel and turned all the cameras and sensors off so whatever they found out wouldn’t be recorded. “Ready?”
“No, but we need to know.”
Storm sat beside her and put the scanner on the table between them.
She stared at it. “Do you believe them?”
“I don’t know what I believe. I’ve been sterile all my life. Why would that suddenly change? Yet like you said, that device is real. Could the rest be just as real?”
She picked up the scanner and rolled it on her hand. “You first.” He picked up the scanner and ran it over himself. “You ready?”
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“No, but it’s never stopped me before.” They moved to the main screen.
He dropped it into the slot on the terminal on the center table and pulled up the data. “My heart, you are still my world, no matter what this says.” She touched his heart. “I’m frightened and excited at the same time.” Storm’s DNA loaded showing the strand in multiple colors. His stats loaded next. There on the bottom was a small symbol that would tell them if he was fertile or not. He let out a pent up breath before opening the symbol.
“I never thought this would happen.”
He hugged her. “Now you.”
“But what if they are wrong?”
“My heart, if I’m fertile, I’m sure you are too and the only reason it wouldn’t show up is because of the device.” He pulled up the scan his uncle did back at Streya’s home. “Ready?”
She nodded. She wasn’t but knew that wouldn’t stop him. Her DNA strand filled the screen, waivered for a moment then snapped back into place. “What was that?”
“I believe that was the device protecting you.” He worked on the computer for a few moments, fighting with the data there. “I’m trying to get the original image to come back up so we can see what it says, but I’m having trouble.”
“It doesn’t matter, does it? It’s all true.” She walked away from the screen. “This is my home, always has been. We were destined for each other, no matter what planet we’re on or from.” He watched her as she worked her way through all the information they learned. “You do realize that it’s about to happen, don’t you?”
“You’re not going to bring up that stupid dream again, are you?”
“I have to.” She touched the screen. “Everything he said is right here.
My dreams have never lied to me. I trust them and they are telling me there is more coming.”
“And you fear for my life.”
“As you fear for mine.” She touched his face. “Each time I’ve had these dreams they have saved my life. I’d like to think now that you’re my mate it will do the same for you, but you have to listen to them.”
“But I don’t want to have you in danger.”
She went into their bedroom. “Storm, you’re not listening to me. My life wasn’t threatened. Yours was.” She handed him the handheld she had put what she remembered of the dream on. “Your uncle knows more than what I loaded here but between the two of you someone should be able to figure out what to do.”
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