Darleen was so angry, so scared, so confused that she did not know what emotion to react to first. Not that it mattered. She could not express her emotions in any way.
“The first thing we need to do is take some of the shine off that perfect skin of yours,” Lio was saying, talking more to himself than to her. “I do not like toys that look brand new. They are so boring. It will take years, I think, to get you to look as I want, but that’s all right. You have the time.” Lio laughed and Darleen tried to cringe at the sound.
“Where to begin?” he wondered aloud as he circled around her. “Hmm...lets start with the piercings, shall we?” he asked.
Darleen was horrified. Piercings? she thought. He would not dare! She did not want holes poked into her perfect body.
Lio picked up a long, thick needle and held it before her eyes. This will do nicely for your nipples I think,” he said thoughtfully. “Oh yes, before I forget, controller, feel the steel,” he added with another one of those grins that Darleen was rapidly coming to loathe. And fear.
He then lowered the needle and proceeded to do as he wished. The controller, whatever that was, obeyed. Darleen felt the steel most intensely.
Chapter 38
Saige was happier than she had ever been. Happier than she had ever imagined being. She gazed around herself in awe at the beautiful Hidden City of Jasan. There were houses, shops and streets carved from the living rock of the mountain itself, dotted with gardens, parks and trees. The ceiling was so high that even with her sharp, loboenca eyes she could not see it. If she hadn’t known she was inside of a rock mountain, she would not have guessed such a thing were possible. In fact, that was the one thing that was bothering her about all of this.
“Are you sure this mountain won’t fall down on us?” she asked Faron again.
“Amada, would we bring you here if there was the slightest chance of such a thing?” Faron sent back.
Saige did not get a sense of impatience with Faron’s answer, but she was worried about it anyway. She had asked that question several times since the air transport carrying herself, the Lobos, and the entire Dracon family had approached the massive range of white rock mountains earlier that morning. She had gazed out the window with wonder at the sight until she realized that the air transport was slowing down as it headed straight for them. When a huge chunk of what appeared to be solid rock slid back and the ship began to fly into it she had become just a little nervous.
A faint chuckle sounded in her mind. “A little nervous?” Dav asked.
“Hey, no fair sneaking around in my mind,” she responded.
“I would not do such a thing even if I could,” Dav said. “You were projecting.”
Saige sent back a testy “hmmph” and turned her attention to the Dracons in front of her.
As always, her heart melted at the sight of the three beautiful babies. She grinned inwardly at the sight of them all propped up in their own safety seats, mounted in the small wooden wagon that the ranch hands had made just for them. Tiny, wearing a pink leather harness with silver fastenings pulled the wagon, his steps slow and even, his head high, eyes alert, and, according to Lariah, fully aware of the importance of his duty.
Lariah, Garen, Trey and Val walked alongside the wagon which was carrying their children, their faces wreathed in smiles, though Saige detected a trace of nervousness in Lariah’s scent.
The four Lobos, in their loboenca forms, guarded the Dracon family as was their right and privilege. Faron had point, his gigantic loboenca striding in front of the procession with Dav on the right, Val and on the left, and Saige proudly guarding their backs at the rear.
All along the wide path that ran through the hidden city from its entrance to the royal residence at the back, stood masses of Jasani males. Only Clan Jasani were allowed to enter the hidden city, which meant until this day, there had never been a female inside. Saige had been somewhat offended by that on behalf of all of the human women who had mated with Jasani over the centuries and bore them children. Perhaps not female children, but it was only because of them that they were still a race at all.
However, Faron had explained to her that there were actually two cities carved into the mountains. This one for the Clan Jasani was reserved for special rituals and functions, and another nearby for the Jasani’s mates and children.
As Saige studied the males who gazed at the infants from the sidelines, she was struck by the fact that nearly every face was streaked with tears. Many of the Jasani cheered as they watched the Dracons pass by with their infant daughters. Others bowed, and some knelt on the ground as though in prayer. Regardless of how they expressed their joy, most had tears. Only now did Saige begin to truly understand the importance of those three precious girls to the Jasani people. A race of males for so long, was a race of males no more.
“Do you know how many Jasani are here?” Saige asked Faron.
“It looks to me as though every Jasani male on our world who could attend Enclave this year is here,” he replied. “All know of the birth of the Dracon’s daughters, and all wish to see the miracle with their own eyes. I would say perhaps 100,000.”
“100,000 is most of the Jasani on this world?” Saige asked, stunned. She knew that there were few Jasani, but she had no idea how few.
“Amada, there are only 112,650 Jasani altogether,” Faron replied.
“112,653,” she retorted.
“I stand corrected,” Faron replied with amusement. “With the new Dracon babies, 112,653.”
“Oops,” Saige replied. “Make that 112,656.”
There was a stunned silence in her mind and Saige glanced up from her charges to see that Faron had stopped walking, causing the procession to straggle to a halt. For long moments he did not move and Saige wondered if she had made a mistake in making her announcement so public. It was just that the sight of all of those men so happy and hopeful over three Jasani girls touched her, and she thought they would enjoy being in on the announcement of three more babies to come.
Suddenly Faron, Dav and Ban all spun around and stared directly at her, ignoring everyone between them. “You are certain?” Faron demanded.
Saige backed up a step at his tone. “Yes, I am certain,” she replied hesitantly. She looked around and saw that the crowds had fallen silent, all eyes trained on the loboencas.
“We will have our own three daughters in about six months,” she said.
All three Lobos raised their noses to the roof and howled with joy before racing towards her, ignoring all of the people watching them with varying degrees of puzzlement and surprise. Just before they reached her they transformed into their human forms, so she transformed as well, just in time for Faron to grab her up and spin her around in the air.
For several moments she was inundated with hugs and kisses and laughter from each of her men. When they finally settled down she realized everyone was still watching them, though most of the faces were grinning now.
“Lord Protector,” Garen said, his voice booming so that he could easily be heard by all present. “Have you, your brothers and your Arima an announcement to make?”
Saige looked up to see a huge grin on Garen’s face. He had not known, but clearly he had guessed the reason for the impromptu celebration.
“We do indeed, High Prince,” Faron replied in the same, booming voice. “Our Arima has just informed us that we are to be fathers in six months.”
There was a loud cheer from all of the Jasani on the sidelines, as well as from the Dracons. When the noise died down Faron held up a hand.
“Perhaps I should be more specific,” he said. “We will be the proud fathers of three daughters.”
There was a stunned silence, followed by a roar that seemed to shake the very mountain itself.
Later that evening Saige stood holding the eldest Dracon daughter as Lariah, Garen, Val and Trey stood on a large raised area amidst a sea of expectant Jasani. On a prearranged signal they all called their dracons, then leapt into the
air. Lariah was much smaller than her male counterparts, but she was perfectly graceful as she flew along with her men, her in the center, the men surrounding her protectively as they circled the large arena, their wings beating in perfect time with each other. After their third pass they pointed their noses upward and climbed in a spiraling pattern until they were difficult to see. Then they zoomed back towards the ground, stopping suddenly about 30 feet above the arena where they hovered for a few moments. Then they all opened their mouths wide and breathed fire into the night as they slowly descended to the ground. The moment their feet touched earth they shifted back into their human forms, all four of them displaying their lau-lotu, their binding marks, for all to see.
Thus was the prophecy which was spoken on the day their ancestors arrived on Jasan, fulfilled before the people.
The Katres’ Summer
Book Three of the Soul-Linked Saga
by
Laura Jo Phillips
Available Early 2012
Chapter 1
Will be available to read online soon.
Look for it at:
www.laurajophillips.com
.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Laura Jo lives in the Arizona desert with her loving husband, their two children, one very large dog and two interesting cats. Laura Jo loves to hear from her readers. Visit her website at www.laurajophillips.com to see when the next installment in the Soul-Linked Saga is coming, and sign her guestbook. Or, email her directly at [email protected]
While you are there, take a peek at the ever growing Handbook of the Thousand Worlds which details lots of interesting information about the people, technology, governments, and other interstellar information about the worlds the Soul-Linked Saga takes place in.
The Lobos' Heart Song: Book 2 of the Soul-Linked Saga Page 35