by Regine Abel
My stomach knotted. I had somewhat expected something along those lines, but I couldn’t deny the disappointment constricting my chest.
“Is that what you expect? For me to step down to follow you?” I asked, proud that no bitterness or resentment filtered through.
“Khel is not only my best friend, he’s also the best General to have ever led our army. I couldn’t have been happier serving under him. And I will miss it.”
I perked up, my eyes flicking between his.
“You, my love, are not Xelixian. Even if you had been, in the end, your role is more important than mine. I have waited for you my whole life, never believing you even existed. You are my soulmate, Aleina. I refuse to be parted from you, especially not over some career. So wherever you lead, I’ll go.”
My heart skipped a beat. I didn’t dare hope but couldn’t help it blossoming deep in my heart.
“Khel values you too much to let you go,” I argued.
“If forced to choose between his family and his position, Khel would resign in a heartbeat. Do you think I cherish you any less than Khel does Amalia?”
I shook my head, my throat too tight to speak.
Ghan grabbed the last piece of ryspak from the plate and brought it to my lips. I opened up, engulfing both the fruit and the tip of his finger in my mouth, sucking on it. He purred and brushed his lips against mine.
I chewed the juicy, sweet fruit while Ghan’s roaming hand resumed its teasing of my Veredian markings.
“Sohr started shadowing me a month ago to train as my replacement when the Taint claimed me. You coming into my life eliminated that threat. And yet, his training continues. Why do you think that is?”
“You’d already been planning for this?” I asked, blown away.
“The day I came to your quarters to reveal my feelings to you and the challenges we’d face, I had already decided to step down from my role if you accepted me, once I’d completed Sohr’s training.”
I crushed his lips in a passionate kiss that expressed my gratitude as much as my love. Despite the guilt I felt at stealing him away from the career he loved, I had too many responsibilities to leave mine, but I couldn’t bear the thought of us living apart.
“You’re so perfect,” I whispered, my forehead pressed against his. “I expected a drawn-out argument, but you had already anticipated the problem and handled it.”
His face took on a smug expression.
“That’s what I do. There’s a reason I’m the best First Officer there is.”
I chuckled. “Kamala may not agree with that.”
“She’s not bad, but she’s not me.”
Shaking my head in disbelief, I playfully slapped his chest. “Well, Sehr Delphin, I never pegged you for an egomaniac.”
“It’s not ego, Sameha. I only deal in facts.”
He said it in such a laid back, yet serious tone that I couldn’t tell whether he was teasing or meant it. You could rarely tell with Ghan. And in this instance, I couldn’t even argue with him because he was indeed a formidable First Officer.
“Haven’t you ever wanted to be the one in charge?” I asked. “You would have made a wonderful General.”
Ghan snorted again. “Never. Why would I want such a headache? That crap is for people like you and Khel.”
I blinked.
“As First Officer, my job is to point out to Khel when he fucks up, warn him of potential dangers, and make suggestions on how to handle tricky situations. When things go belly up, he has to deal with the fallout, and I get to laugh at him and say I told you so.”
I pursed my lips, unimpressed by the mocking glimmer in his eyes.
“And what if things go haywire because he followed a suggestion you made?” I challenged.
“Then I still get to laugh at him and say he should have known better. He’s the General after all.”
Laughing, I playfully slapped his arm again. “Ghan Delphin, you have no shame!”
“None whatsoever.”
My heart swelled with love, and I once more thanked the Goddess for my wonderful mate. “Thank you,” I said, sobering.
His willing sacrifice for me—for us—humbled me.
“You don’t have to thank me, love. It was the rational decision in our situation.”
I shook my head, thinking about all the uncertainties of the earlier days. “You know, when you first found out we were females, I feared that you and Kamala would want to be together.”
Ghan snorted. “She’s beautiful, and I enjoy her company, but she’s far too much like Amalia. I’d airlock myself with such a mischievous mate.”
I burst out laughing, somewhat embarrassed with how much his lack of romantic attraction toward my younger sibling pleased me.
“When I asked her about you, she said you and I are too similar; meaning way too stiff. As much as she loves me, she’d take a blaster to her own head before she dated someone like that.”
Ghan smiled. “Let her think what she will. I know what fire rages inside you.”
The tinkling sound of a notification rose from my datapad, preventing me from answering. Reaching over the empty dishes on the table, I grabbed it. After a quick glance at it, I faced Ghan.
“It’s the reminder that the movie matinee will start in thirty minutes.”
“Movie matinee?” he asked.
“We regularly play animation movies for the children in the meeting hall, usually from Dantor but occasionally from Terra.”
Ghan raised an eyebrow. “And you attend those?”
I scrunched my face, feeling self-conscious. “Maybe?”
“You love children’s movies?” he asked, incredulous.
“They’re not just for children,” I said defensively. “They always include some deeper content for adults, too.”
His amusement increased to a chuckle. “There’s no shame in enjoying kid stuff.”
I glared at him, more out of embarrassment than actual anger. Despite that, my lips itched to stretch into a smile.
“If you keep this up, I’m going to kick your ass.”
“But then I won’t be able to sit and watch the movie with you,” Ghan deadpanned.
I perked up. “You’d come watch it with me?” I asked with far too much eagerness.
“Of course, but not with you streaking it like that.”
Biting back a squeal of victory, I jumped off his lap and pulled him by the hand after me. We made quick work of getting dressed then converged on the meeting hall where all of my Sisters, young and old, were also making their way.
Chairs, benches, cushions, and all manners of seating had been laid out in the large room. On each end of the hall, alongside the wall, tables laden with beverages and munchies awaited us. Still full from our hearty breakfast, I ignored them and looked instead for a place to sit. Since Ghan’s great height and broad shoulders would block the view, we headed for the back of the room. A thick pile of plush cushions beckoned me. Pulling my mate’s large frame behind me, I made a beeline for it before another could claim it.
As we approached our target, Ghan’s steps faltered. Glancing sideways at him, I found him frowning at something located in the right corner of the room. Following his gaze to find out what troubled him, I spotted Lenora huddled on a bench by herself in the far corner.
“I’ve got it. Settle here, and I’ll be right back,” I ordered, pointing at the cushion.
The look Ghan leveled at me made my ears burn. I hadn’t meant to boss him around. Being so used to taking charge, I could easily come across as a bit forceful. With him giving up his career in favor of mine, I’d have to be extra careful not to make him feel like I thought myself above him. That he didn’t want to be the person in charge didn’t make him submissive. Far from it.
“Please?” I asked, feeling contrite.
His expression softened and the thumb of his hand I still held caressed the back of mine. With a slight nod, he released me and headed for the cushions. Crisis averted, I marched t
oward the young hybrid. She jumped to her feet when she realized I was coming for her. In a nervous gesture I’d seen her do far too often, Lenora raised shaky fingers to her right horn, pulling her hair as if trying to hide the horn with it.
“Hello, sweetie. Would you like to join Ghan and me to watch the movie?”
Eyes wide, lips parted in shock, she cast an uncertain glance toward Ghan before looking back at me.
“You… You wouldn’t mind?”
“I wouldn’t have offered if I did.”
She beamed at me then nodded enthusiastically. “Yes. I would like that very much.”
“Then come on, sweetie.”
I extended a hand toward her, and she placed her tiny one in mine. Pulling her after me like I had moments before with my mate, I led her to the pile of colorful pillows and cushions where Ghan sat waiting for us. Pressing my palm against the small of her back, I pushed her toward him. He picked up the little girl and sat her on his lap. I plopped myself down on the plush cushion to his right and curled up against him. Careful not to cut him with the sharp tips of her horns, Lenora leaned back against him. Ghan wrapped one arm around her waist and embraced me with the other.
We both looked at her happy little face before locking eyes above her head. His held the same emotion I felt. Leaning down he kissed me, then pressed his lips on top of Lenora’s head between her light-colored horns.
Thank you, Goddess, for all your blessings.
CHAPTER 12
Amalia
Relaxing on the chaise lounge by the pool, Valena and I chatted while keeping a watchful eye on our children. We didn’t want to curb their urge to practice their abilities but needed to keep them safe. For Trehvus, Valena’s oldest son, being a pyrokinetic meant training near plenty of water in case things went sideways. Although, his younger twin Dhaxius’ ability as a cryokinetic could snuff out the fire, we still felt it safer to have them work around the pool.
Vahl was using his biokinetic power to move Dhax along the ice slide he had built with his own ability. Having limited material, as he was moved forward on the slide, Dhax unraveled the back to extend the front. Rhadames, my youngest son, was teleporting marshmallows and sephan nuts to an unlit cooking grill for Trey to roast before teleporting them to one of the serving plates on the nearby table.
Zhara sat beside me, watching a children’s show on her datapad. Or rather, pretending to watch it while casting troubled glances at the boys. At first, she had taken part in the boys’ games, letting Vahl kinetically move her around the ice slide Dhax had made. Something had dampened her mood, but I couldn’t figure out what. It seemed to change when Valena and I began discussing the Veredian ceremonial dance for Aleina’s wedding.
“What is it, sweetheart?” I asked when Zharina sighed once again.
“Nothing, Mama.”
I frowned and gave her a severe stare. “What did I say about lying?”
She scrunched her face and averted her eyes. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
Valena and I exchanged a baffled look. Zhara never shied away from speaking her mind whether happy or angry.
“Did one of the boys upset you?” Valena asked, gently.
Zhara shook her head, eyes cast down.
I caressed her curly hair, almost as wild as mine. “Is it Aunt Aleina’s wedding?”
She bowed her head lower and seem to curl in on herself. It had been a wild guess, but her reaction completely threw me.
What in Gharah’s name can possibly upset her so much?
“You don’t want Aunt Aleina to marry Uncle Ghan?” I asked, taking a shot in the dark.
“No, I want them to. Their light is the same. Like you, Papa, and Daddy. And like Aunt Valena and Uncle Zhul.”
I wondered if Zhara’s ability to see people’s auras, and therefore whether or not they were attuned, worked the same way it did for Korletheans.
“So if you want them to be married, what upsets you about their union?”
“It’s a Veredian wedding,” Zhara said with a small voice.
“Yes,” I said, more confused than ever.
“And Veredians will dance.”
“Yes, Zhara. We will all dance with Aunt Aleina. Does that scare you?”
She touched the Warrior markings on her arm before casting a glance at the boys, who were oblivious to the drama unfolding just meters from them, then looked at Valena and then at me with a strange longing.
“Am I Veredian, Mama?”
My jaw dropped and Valena gasped. We both stared at my daughter with bulging eyes.
“Of course, you are! Why would you even question that?”
She hesitated for a moment then placed her little hand next to mine, her beautiful light-grey skin contrasting sharply with my coppery one.
“Then why am I not the same color as all of you?”
My stomach dropped.
“Oh Goddess,” Valena whispered.
Looking up at Valena, then at our four boys playing by the pool, I realized for the first time that on top of being the only female, Zharina was also the only one to have inherited the Xelixian skin complexion. To make matters worse, the closer her brothers grew to Valena’s twins, the more isolated she felt. Even now, as they practiced their powers, her own healing and soul whispering abilities didn’t match the kinetic ones of the boys.
Pulling her onto my lap, I cradled her close to my heart. Valena came to sit next to us on my chaise lounge and caressed my daughter’s hair.
“Sweetie, the color of your skin has nothing to do with you being Veredian. Your markings are the only proof you need of your heritage. They are identical to mine and your aunt Aleina and Kamala. You have your father’s beautiful color, just like Vahl has his Daddy’s eyes, and both you and Rhad have your Papa’s adorable dimples.”
Valena traced the rounded curve of my daughter’s ears.
“You have ears like your Mama and me and all of our other Sisters,” she said. “The boys have the pointy Xelixian ears with boney ridges. That doesn’t make them any less Veredian. Just like you having Xelixian skin tone doesn’t make you less Veredian.”
Zhara frowned as she reflected on our words. I understood why she struggled. Skin was far more visible than any other trait. With their hair covering them, the boys’ Xelixian ears rarely showed. If not for the crihnin on their foreheads and their pupils being larger than usual, our sons could pass for pure Veredians. Zharina never would.
“You are beautiful and perfect, just the way you are. Yes, you are different than most other Veredians, but that’s not a bad thing. It makes you special and unique.”
“It does?” Zhara asked, both hopeful and doubtful.
“Absolutely,” I said with a sharp nod. “Have you forgotten how all the warriors of the First Division think you’re the most beautiful girl in the world?”
She scrunched her face, half-embarrassed, half-proud. Zhara knew all too well the power she wielded over Khel’s troops and had no shame using it to pull off her mischievous stunts and get away with murder.
“Don’t ever doubt that you are Veredian, sweetheart. But you are also Xelixian. You are lucky to have both your heritages so clearly visible. Valena and I are half Korlethean but there are no visible signs of our fathers in us. That makes me sad. I wish I could see my father in me the way your lovely skin and dimples show your father in you.”
She looked at her arm and ran two fingers pensively over her skin before smiling. Unable to resist, I mimicked my oldest son and touched her dimple with my fingertip.
“Pokey-poke,” Zhara said, echoing the words her youngest brother said whenever Vahl poked their smiling cheeks.
“Pokey-poke, my love,” I said, pressing her against my heart and kissing her forehead.
Valena gave me a sympathetic look and I smiled back. We both felt inadequate raising our children and would give anything to have some Korlethean insight. This reminded me of the wretched medallion. I wish the damn Oracle would have given us more than a
vague comment about looking at it again.
After casting a swift glance at the boys to make sure they hadn’t gotten into any kind of trouble, I pulled the medallion out of my pocket.
“Still no luck, huh?” Valena asked.
I shook my head, disgusted.
“I’ve looked at it from every possible angle, even tried using my hacking ability on it. Nothing,” I groaned.
Zhara reached for it and placed it on the back of her hand. Tossing it up in the air, she flipped her palm up to catch it then tossed it back up to try and catch it with the back of her hand. It slipped and she barely caught it between two fingers.
The sight of the medallion trapped between her fingers reminded me of how Gruuk used to roll it over his knuckles before throwing it in the air and catching it. The thoughts crossing my mind seemed farfetched, but I had exhausted every other approach.
Frowning, I straightened and took the medallion back from my daughter. She looked at me with the same curiosity expressed by Valena’s face.
“Gruuk used to manipulate the medallion like this,” I said, trying to reproduce the movement.
It took a few tries before I got the medallion rolling properly over my knuckles without it falling. I couldn’t recall how many times he would do it before tossing it in the air. After five back and forth, I threw it up then caught it.
Nothing happened.
Feeling like a fool, my cheeks heated as Valena and my daughter stared at me expectantly. I shrugged and made to hand the medallion back to Zhara, but Valena stopped me.
“Don’t give up yet. The Oracle wouldn’t have told you to look at it again if you didn’t have all the tools you needed to figure it out. Besides the two things you just did, what else did Gruuk do with the medallion?”
Chewing my bottom lip, I tried to think back on all the times he played with it.
“When he would get upset and be about to punish someone badly, he would flick the nail of his thumb against the edge of the medallion like this,” I said, mimicking the gesture. “Sometimes, he would just rub his thumb on the face of the medallion, like this, and press the center.”