Parallel Seduction

by Deidre Knight

  "Oh … oh, my lady, no. No, we would not ask for any such thing, please," Graeon stammered, and luckily Eldor Aldorsk saved the poor councilor from his misery by stepping forward and launching into a full-length description of how the news of a new queen was invigorating the weary and beleaguered troops back on Refaria. A true diplomat, through and through, his former mentor was.

  They haven't the first notion of what to make of my wife, Jared thought, hiding another smile behind his hand.

  After Aldorsk finished, Kelsey smiled regally, turning to face Jared. She fixed him with her gaze and began to address the council, articulating each word in a way that signaled she was addressing an important matter. Jared listened quizzically, focusing on the blue-green depths of her eyes, the gold dusting of freckles across her nose. It almost seemed as if she were speaking to him from a great distance as he heard, "… and so, council, I thought given your longstanding concerns, that this would be the right way to share the amazing news with my husband, our king. J'Areshkadau Bnet D'Aravni…."

  Everything suddenly crystallized into this one single moment; her words seemed to slow down, becoming painfully slow, infinitely slow, until he heard, "… have conceived a child."

  "Conceived a child?" He jumped right out of the dais, causing the transmission to immediately disconnect. The elders vanished just as immediately, leaving him alone with his wife and queen.

  Falling to his knees in front of her portal chair, he grabbed hold of her hands. "Are you telling me that we-we've … w-we're.…" He couldn't force the words past his thick tongue. Finally, gazing up into her eyes, he just whispered, "A baby, Kelse? You and me?"

  She nodded toward where the elders had been flickering a moment before. "I wanted them to share in your moment. I know you might have wanted to hear it from me first—well, hear it alone at first, I mean."

  He cupped her face in trembling hands. "Do you honestly think I care how or when you told me?"

  She smiled at him, her eyes shining with emotion. "It's just … they've given you such a hard time and I wanted them to know in no uncertain terms that your succession is going to be secured."

  He nuzzled her, nibbling at her neck, kissing her along her collarbone. "You realize it's no accident that I'm kneeling in front of you," he murmured. "You're a true queen, sweet Kelsey. Knowing how to manage my public image, thinking of how to wrangle the council. I have chosen quite well." He slid one palm onto her belly, grinning like he had the first time he'd flown solo. "And now, inside of you, there's our child: already in there, growing. Our two lives brought together as one, and soon all of my fractured realm will know: a prince or princess of D'Aravni shall be theirs."

  "I wanted to give you this moment so badly." Her voice faltered and she wiped at her eyes. "Of course I wanted a baby with you, totally, but it was just … I knew I was a political obstacle. And that your family line was in jeopardy. So many things, and I wanted you to have all that you deserved." Her tears began to stream down her face, and he pulled her into the security of his arms.

  "I understand, Kelsey," he soothed. "Shh now, love. It's okay."

  She pulled back, looking into his eyes. "I have to say this, Jared. After Marco's letter, after realizing there was this whole other world of ruin and destruction, I was secretly afraid that we'd never have a child. That letter never mentioned anything about us having children or heirs, and I've just been so afraid—terrified really—that your elders would be proven right. That they'd keep at you, and at me, and we wouldn't be able to—and oh my God, Jared, just the thought of them gloating like that—while you suffered because I couldn't—"

  "Not because you couldn't, Kelse. It would have been us in it, together." He reached and gently covered her abdomen with his hand, almost hoping to feel fire beneath his fingertips. "Just as we're in this beautiful, blessed situation now. Soon we'll be feeling the babe, right beneath my palm." He couldn't help grinning in wonder as he softly stroked her flat belly. "And soon you'll be ripe with this child, your body brimming with life and energy. Then what will my council say? They'll crown you a goddess among our people, I should think, for having saved the D'Aravnian name and lineage by seducing their king."

  She clapped a hand over mouth and burst into wild laughter. "You do realize you basically just hung up on your council, right?"

  "Ah, but they are quite happy with us just now." He stroked her face, brushing away her damp tears with his thumbs. "They've likely draped themselves in traditional D'Aravnian heraldry and gone dashing about their chambers. I should imagine poor Aldorsk is alternating between apoplexies of joy and sorting out protocol, he's been given so much to consider today."

  Jared sprang to his feet with a joyous laugh. "Ah, much to consider, much to consider, indeed." Pacing about the room, first in one direction, then another, he reminded Kelsey of every Hollywood stereotype of a brand new father-to-be. It was amazing how literally universal certain facts were.

  "We've got to make an announcement tonight, after dinner—and it should come from me, I'd think." Deep in thought, he walked in a circular pattern around the edges of the chamber. "Or, then again, perhaps it's better from you?" He worked a hand at his temple, so obviously considering all the royal necessities relating to their happy news. "Or perhaps we shouldn't announce it yet at all?"

  She began to giggle, just watching how her usually unflappable husband actually seemed … hyper. He stopped midstride, dropping his hand away from his face. "Am I being thoroughly ridiculous, is that it?"

  "Well, maybe we don't have to be in such a rush to tell your people, not when.…" She cupped her abdomen protectively. "It's just early, Jared. Really early, and this is an interspecies pregnancy, where we might encounter all kinds of problems."

  "Which is exactly why the next place we're going is to the med complex, so they can check you out, prepare you for what to expect."

  "What to expect? I think I probably know, don't I?" She laughed, but noticed that Jared wasn't exactly laughing along with her. "Or maybe I don't know what to expect at all. I did see the doctor today, though."

  "And what did he tell you?"

  "That I'm pregnant. That's about it."

  Jared sat down on the lower-level platform, the step that led into a pit area where the councilors' images were always displayed. He seemed to consider his words carefully before continuing. Kelsey stood and climbed down out of the data portal, where she'd been watching him pace and dither, and slowly settled right beside him.

  He rubbed both of his thighs, throwing her a tentative, awkward look. "It's just that Refarian pregnancies are a bit, uh, different than what you'd expect as a human."

  She swore she could feel her eyes bulge right out of her head. Practically squeaking at him, she asked, "Different how? And if it's significantly different, then maybe you should have said something before"—she raised her voice sharply—"right this very moment?"

  "No panicking," he scolded with a gentle smile.

  "I'm not panicking, but you better start talking and fast before I do."

  "Well, the gestation period is shorter, for one thing," he told her, as if he were commenting on the overnight snowfall accumulation. "Only five months."

  At first she figured she'd pretend to be calm, but the words five months, five months, five months kept echoing inside her head, and finally sent her over the edge.

  She nodded, slowly rising to her feet. "Yeah, that is pretty much … a major freaking detail!"She swatted him atop the head with her open palm, popping him lightly over and over while he did his best to duck.

  "Cease fire!" He held up his forearm to block any more of her attack.

  She retracted her hand, but only for the time being. "And what else, J'Areshkadau?"

  He sucked in a breath. "Well, that's one thing, the gestational period. Then there's the fact of my D'Aravnian nature, for another, and this baby will be a dual being, just as I am."

  "You're saying I'm going to be carrying a 'dual being' inside of me?" A sharp wav
e of nausea overpowered her, but she choked it down. "All your fire and everything? That's what you're saying?" She realized her voice was reaching near-hysterical proportions, but no matter how much she'd thought about carrying Jared's child, she'd just sort of assumed that the whole "being of fire" problem wouldn't be part of the gestational scenario. Dumb, dumb, Kelsey! This is all alien, all the time!

  He clasped her by both shoulders, staring into her eyes. "Breathe, Kelsey. Breathe!" She let out a gasp, only then realizing she'd been alternating between a state of hyperventilating and holding her breath.

  "I'm breathing," she choked out, and he nodded his approval, breathing in and out slowly himself.

  "Good, now keep on breathing. This isn't anything to be afraid of; it's the most natural thing in the world. We've managed to conceive, and that means you should be able to carry this child to term."

  "I'm carrying a being just like you." She thought about all his thermonuclear meltdown warnings about their sex life. "I'm carrying a ball of fire? That's what you're saying. That our baby is going to be exactly like you, and still somehow be inside of me?"

  Jared sang, "'Goodness gracious, great balls of .…'"

  She turned to face him, jabbing at the air between them. "Don't you dare make a bad Earth joke, not right now, Bennett."

  The man had the nerve to smirk at her; he was actually enjoying this on some level. "But you've such wonderful music. Jerry Lee Lewis seems to say it well, no?"

  She groaned, burying her face in her hands. "I'm feeling incredibly cranky all of a sudden."

  "And I'm feeling incredibly randy all of a sudden."

  "You're gonna have to give me a few hours on that one."

  "I will definitely reconvene as per the issue of further matings. I am told—by those who know such things—that you will be nearly insatiable while you carry this babe."

  "Now, that's not a purely Refarian thing—that's human women too. Thank you, hormones."

  He grinned at her wolfishly. "And that's precisely what I'm talking about."

  She shook her head, still thinking over the logistics. "How is this even possible? Won't I get burned alive? You keep saying that I can't touch you.…"

  "Because the babe will be inside of you, protected. Protecting you."

  "Protecting me?"

  "It's what has guaranteed our succession among the D'Aravni for all these thousands of years. Somehow, mystically, the babe will not harm you. He—or she—will create a protective barrier between their true nature and your body. As apparently I did for my own mother."

  "But your mother was a D'Aravni. She was a being of fire, so no problem, right?"

  "True, but not all the women in my line have been dual beings, and in her case, she was still in her physical form. If she'd dared to touch my father in his natural fiery state while in her body? It would have destroyed her. I could have destroyed her while she carried me, but I did not. It's the mystery of our kind."

  "Un-freaking-believable," she said. "And you do realize what this means, don't you?"

  "That we're going to have a prince or princess?" he sang delightedly. He was like an overgrown boy, all beaming and glowing and joyful.

  "Yes, that, for sure. But it also means something else, too." She stared into his eyes meaningfully, knowing he wasn't going to be happy with her next words. Nevertheless, it was time, now more than ever.

  "Oh, my beautiful human wife, what else can it possibly mean?" he trilled, still grinning at her. She almost hated to end his sweet reverie, but still, the moment had come.

  "Jared, it also means," she said seriously, "that I'm going to have to call my father and tell him all about you."

  Chapter Fourteen

  Scott blinked back sleep and felt surprisingly … refreshed. Alive. Ready to slap on his body armor, holster his K-12, and take on ten battalions of Antousians. Damn! It was as if every cell in his body had been electrified. Sitting up, he lowered the bed rail, glancing around the small hospital room. The lights were low, only the sounds and glow of his bedside monitors filling the semi-darkness. He had no idea what time it was, or how long he'd really been asleep, but the one thing he did know was that he was healed.

  Maybe Jared was right about me needing rest. Maybe that's all it really took, he thought with a grin, stepping onto the floor. He took the bed sheet with him, draping it around his naked waist, and began searching for his gear. Poking around inside one of the cabinets, he came up empty-handed. Looking toward the far corner closet, he realized that was probably where they'd hidden his uniform.

  A familiar feminine voice stopped him midway in his tracks. "They're not there."

  He spun to find Nurse Shelby Tyler glaring at him, one firm hand planted severely on her hip. "You don't really think we'd have left your clothes around, do you?"

  He glared right back. "Give 'em over, Tyler. I'm feeling invigorated."

  "Uh, yeah!" She looked about the room, as if someone else might explain the facts to him. "That's probably because no less than ten healers visited you in your sleep, Lieutenant." Shelby moved right into his path, blocking his route to the closet. "You don't think our lord just knocked you out for nothing, now do you? I mean, really, Lieutenant. He always has a plan."

  Scott turned slowly to face her. "You're telling me that the healers came in here while I was asleep?"

  "I'm telling you that the reason you feel so spry and eager to roll is because you've been healed—well, mostly healed—thanks to a special visit from the Most Holy at the urging of our commander." She huffed her way to the closet, and with another huff, revealed it for what it was: totally empty. "That, my dear Lieutenant, is precisely what I'm telling you."

  He stared at her, dumbfounded. "So where's my gear?"

  "Out of your reach, right where it should be."

  "Is that a royal directive?"

  "You'd better believe it, sir."

  Scott circled her, pulling the sheet about his chest, doing his level best to look seductive and appealing. "But I bet you know where I can find my stuff, huh?"

  She wagged a finger at him. "I'm under orders, sir—express orders from the king himself—that you are to rest. Rest! That's the order. No screwing around."

  He flashed her a languid smile. "Screwing? I absolutely love screwing."

  She folded both arms over her chest, looking wholly unmoved. "Don't even try it, Lieutenant Dillon. I've had plenty of time to study your maneuvers in the past days. You ain't getting past me, buddy. You are here to stay." She gave him a light shove in the chest. "So go! Back into that bed, sir. That's my directive, and I'm going to enforce it."

  He rolled his eyes and let the sheet drop, revealing his full naked glory. "Really?"

  Shelby clucked her tongue, putting her back to him. "That don't impress me none."

  He repeated, "Really?"

  "If you want to get your way, sir, you'd best stop trying to work me. Get to what you really want—"

  "Out of here."

  She cast a single pointed glance over her shoulder, taking in his naked form with a long, slow glide of her eyes. "Well, you just pull that sheet back up and we can start talking."

  He obliged, drawing the cool material up to his chest. "Done. So tell me how I can bust free from this lockdown."

  Slowly Shelby turned to face him, shaking her head. "I have my orders, sir, from our king and commander, to keep you in that bed. Now, you don't really think I'm going to violate His Highness's directive, do you?"

  "You bet I do, Nurse Tyler." Scott took several slow steps toward Shelby. "You know why? Because you like me."

  She rolled her gaze over him. "Not that much; with all due respect, sir."

  Okay, so none of his strategies were working, but it was evident that Nurse Tyler was pretty much the gatekeeper, as per his commander's orders. It wasn't just about his clothes; it was about finding out the status of current events. He flashed a sexy, imploring smile.

  "Tell me, Shelby, where has the chase gone?" he asked in
his sultriest, most provocative voice. It always worked on human women while he was seducing them. Unfortunately, Shelby—like all the other Refarians under his command—was totally unimpressed by his physical charms.

  "Look, you just get right back on over there." She began shooing him toward the empty, waiting bed. "Go on, now. Into that rack, soldier."

  A new strategy was in order, at least, if he had a hope in hell of overriding Jared's orders. So he decided to behave obediently, and walked slowly across the room, trailing the sheet behind him like a regal toga. With a searing look over his shoulder, he addressed Shelby one more time.

  "I would think a nurse like you would understand what I'm after."

  Once he climbed back onto the bed, she whipped the sheet over him, allowing it to settle atop his body. "You really aren't going to let this go, are you, sir?"

  "Never," he said, dropping every manipulative pretense. This whole dance was about Hope and her safety, and when it came to her, the stakes were far too high to joke around. He met Nurse Tyler's serious gaze, imploring her visually, making sure she could read just how real his intentions were.

  Shelby raised the railing beside his bed, and at first said nothing, checking the monitors and his readings as she reconnected him. But Scott studied her intently, determined to break through her committed resolve. Finally, she spoke with slow and careful precision.

  "Now, if I was a fellow, and found myself making a journey to the wrong spot.…" She stared at the ceiling for a long moment, narrowing her eyes. "Well, you know, I'd just go back to where I'd come from. I mean, it's like getting on a transport you think'll stop in Thearnsk, but it goes to Trajsek. You just get right back on that ship and head back to where you came from."

  Scott scowled; it took a moment, but finally he caught the gist of Shelby's words. They hit the mark with sharp alacrity, making him shudder. "He's planning to take Hope into the future. That's what you're saying he's trying to do. You're saying he loves her, and he's going back to where he came from—with her."