by Shona Husk
After a week to think about what had happened to her—she was pregnant and that was nothing short of a miracle—and be angry and amazed Phoebe was back at the doctor’s office.
The scan revealed that all was normal for an Incubus. Like any baby, it had hooked into her body and built its self a placenta. “So it is literally feeding off me?”
“Yes…that part is the same as a normal pregnancy. You won’t notice anything different to a regular Human pregnancy.”
“It’s only six months, not nine.” And she had nothing to compare it to as she’d never been pregnant.
The doctor smiled. “That is a good thing, I’d have thought.”
“And then I give birth normally?”
“Unless you’d prefer a C-section.” Phoebe shook her head and the doctor continued. “I’ve spoken to some other doctors who are more familiar with surrogate Incubi pregnancies. The babies are born small, and with gray skin. They can’t hide what they are the way adults can. In the past, it meant the babies were abandoned for the father to collect.”
“And now what happens?” She didn’t want to be abandoning her baby. “Kearn mentioned that in other places there is a willing surrogacy registry.”
“Now the mother is paid for hosting and hands over the baby.” The doctor said as though that was a perfectly reasonable thing to do.
Phoebe’s hand moved over her stomach. She knew the baby was only a tiny part of her and wouldn’t be Human, but it was in her. The only baby she’d ever have, and she was expected to hand it over. “No mother keeps it?”
The doctor looked at her. “How would you raise a baby that feeds on energy?”
“Moods.” Phoebe corrected. “They don’t suck the life out of people like energy feeders.”
“Well, you have been doing your research.” The doctor gave her a tight smile as though that wasn’t a good thing. “But you can’t feed this baby. It needs to be with its own kind.”
“What will it… he,” The baby would be a boy—or as she’d read male presenting, but not truly male because there was no female Incubi. While there were female Succubi they were a very different Meta species. “Eat?”
“Moods. Their first meal is the rush the mother feels while giving birth. It tides them over until they are taken by the father.”
“And then?” What was going to happen to her baby?
“And then the Incubi take care of it.” The doctor shrugged as though it was of no consequence. “Don’t worry about it. You have decided to go through with the hosting?”
She knew she had to decide. She didn’t have to do this, and she was sure that if Kearn had asked, she’d have said no. But now? And knowing that this might be the only chance she had to have a child…and his only chance too. “Yes.”
And she was going to find Kearn. She didn’t want to hand the baby over and never see him again. No, she wanted visitation rights even if she couldn’t raise the baby. She wasn’t going to abandon her baby.
“Everyone is very interested in how a Human host deals with the pregnancy.”
Phoebe snapped her attention back to the doctor. “I’m not an experiment, and neither is the baby.”
She didn’t know what they were, but she was going to have some careful words with Kearn when she tracked him down. How hard could that be? There were only a hundred Incubi in the Complex, but she didn’t even know his last name.
8
It took Phoebe another week before she gathered up the courage, the time, and the location to even begin to track down Kearn.
She’d vaguely remembered the name of the gym he said he went to. The Uni something with “fight” in it. Every business began with Uni, but there only two gyms with the name fight in it, and when she’d cross referenced that with proximity to the Uni Sip Three and the cold housing zone—because Incubi liked the cold, she figured that was where he’d live—she’d ended up deciding that the Uni Fight Gym must be the club.
Walking in reminded her of going to gym in high school. She was good at track, but the indoors weight and team games, not so much, and she couldn’t climb a rope to save her ass if crocodiles were after her.
This gym smelled much the same as she remembered, clean, but with that undertone of sweat. She’d expected it to look a bit more rough, given the name, but at the front was a sleek white desk, behind it through the window she could see the rows of equipment. She smiled at the man behind the desk.
She’d been hoping that by some miracle Kearn would be here when she turned up. Fate was not on her side. There were no Incubi on the machines. Were they all in the back fighting?
“Can I help you?”
“Probably not.’ They wouldn’t give out the details of clients. “Unless I can leave a message for one of your members?” She widened her smile and hoped that Kearn was a member here. Maybe he went to the one the furthest from home, not here.
“Who?”
She really wished that she’d asked his last name. It sounded so bad to just say Kearn the Incubus. Yet that was exactly what she was going to have to do. “An Incubus named Kearn.”
Next time she had a one night stand, she was going to get a full name and address. But then they might expect the same and she often didn’t want to give out that information. He could’ve come and seen her, he knew where she lived.
But he also didn’t see a reason, because she’d told him that she couldn’t get pregnant. Surprise! Parasites apparently hadn’t got the message that her uterus was inhospitable.
The man, who might have been Human, but she couldn’t be sure as some Metas looked Human, typed into the computer and nodded. Kearn was a member here, even if the man then chose to look her in the eye and deny it. He didn’t. “What message would you like to leave?”
“Tell him to contact Phoebe; I have what he’s after.” She didn’t want to announce to everyone that she was carrying an Incubus, but Kearn needed to know. He’d decipher that message in a heartbeat if he was even half as smart as he’d sounded that night.
“And your contact details?”
“He knows where to find me.” She gave the man another smile.
He shrugged and typed. “Good luck with that. Incubi…you could do so much better.”
Phoebe drew in a breath, about to jump to Kearn’s defense, but doing that would only feed this man’s suspicions and she didn’t want to do that either. If she didn’t know what was going on she didn’t want to give other people a reason to judge. “I don’t judge who I do business with, and I’m sure your manager wouldn’t appreciate you discriminating against any Meta or Human.”
The man’s eyes widened. “Oh, that’s not the way I meant it.”
That was exactly how he’d meant it. “Uh-huh. Just make sure he gets my message.”
Kearn walked into the gym, he hadn’t been for a few days. He hadn’t had time. As leader, people were coming to him with their problems. Sometimes it was simple disputes, but one wanted him to intervene with his boss because things had been getting tense at work.
Did everyone think that Incubi were looking to start fights or orgies everywhere they went? Really? Or worse impregnate all the women? It was as though very few people actually understood the Incubus life cycle. He had spent three weeks trying not to think about that part of their life cycle. If it had worked, she’d know by now.
“Kearn.” The owner shook his hand. “I thought you’d given up. A rumor tells me you won, and that I should be congratulating you.”
Kearn nodded. “I haven’t given up, I like it.” He liked the release and the focus that fighting brought. The rest of the world ceased to matter. He needed that escape today. “I brought my friend with me. This is Levit.”
The gym owner gave Levit a quick once over. “This place is becoming popular with you guys.”
That caught Kearn’s attention. “That right?”
“Yeah, chip on his shoulder the size of the Complex…Trevor?”
“Tavor.” Kearn shook his head. He must have follo
wed Kearn, or had one of his friends do it. This was the one place that had been Kearn’s and no one else’s. He’d liked it that way, but in the interest of socializing and showing it could be done, he was taking Levit out.
They’d been spending more time together. But part of Kearn wondered if it was because Levit liked to be close to the newfound power. They had never been this close before, and it was pushing his other friends away. He needed to make sure that didn’t happen.
“That’s him…I know they say you guys are all the same, but you aren’t.”
“Don’t train him if you don’t want.” Kearn smiled.
“Giving him a trial period like we did you.” He looked at Levit. “Don’t think you’ll be much trouble.”
Levit crossed his arms. “Just because I have never fought doesn’t mean I can’t learn or don’t want to learn.”
The gym owner almost smiled. He’d been goading for a reaction, he’d done the same when Kearn had walked in a year ago, still feeling whipped from his loss and ground down by being constantly reminded by Tavor that he was nothing. It hadn’t just been his fighting skills that had been bolstered by coming here.
“Before you start, someone left a message for you.” The owner pressed a few keys. Then turned the screen so Kearn could read it.
Contact Phoebe, she has what you want.
He stared at the words. There was only one thing he wanted, well that wasn’t entirely true, but there was only one thing that Phoebe would think that he wanted. There was only one reason that she would leave a message like that.
She was pregnant.
He didn’t want to start hoping. But elation was more powerful than common sense. A grin formed before he could smother it. A burst of joy more pure than anything he’d ever felt bloomed in his chest.
It was swiftly followed by guilt. He should’ve contacted her before this. He’d missed her. He glanced over his shoulder at Levit. They got on, and there was a connection, but he had to admit he was curious about what it would be like to have a bond with a non-Incubus.
Surely it must have happened before? If he wasn’t trapped in the Complex, he could’ve asked around. He could ask Alroi, but he didn’t want to risk losing the trust or the respect of the man who’d helped him become leader just yet.
“Did you take the message?” Had he spoken to Phoebe, seen her?
“No. You know what it means?”
“Yes. I need to go. Take care of Levit for me.” He faced Levit and put a hand on his shoulder. “You’ll be fine. I trust these people.”
Levit didn’t look convinced. “I don’t know…we can do this another time.”
Kearn shook his head. “Nope. You need to get out. We all do.”
Levit caught his wrist. “Not all of us want to. Who are you going to see?”
“A friend.”
Levit tilted his head. “You know I love you. But there is talk that the only reason you want us to mix is because you have another non Incubus partner.”
“And if I did?” He was keeping his voice low, but the gym owner had suddenly found some paperwork to take into the office on the side.
“It’s not right.”
“Not right or not traditional?”
Levit shrugged. “Both. It’s too much change.”
Even his friend wasn’t sure about Kearn’s leadership. That hurt. He rocked back on his heels as though trying to absorb the impact. “It’s an experiment, in the spirit of being here. If we aren’t willing to join in, why did we bother coming? The President could’ve ignored us, pretended that we didn’t exist, but they didn’t. We have to be part of this.”
“I understand that. I really do. But… do you have another?”
“What would it matter if I did? I can’t live with them and they can’t live with us.” And he knew that it would never work beyond friends because Phoebe would want more than what he could offer. He’d seen how much she enjoyed sex. He could remember enjoying it, but he didn’t want it. That longing had left and he didn’t miss it either.
Levit released him. “So you do.”
“No, I have a friend who needs to see me. These people here I would call friends too. I won’t be leaving my home. I like being with my people.” As he said it, he knew that he wasn’t making it up. He did like the peace of being surrounded by his own kind. “But I also need to explore the world.”
“And you are dragging the clan along for the ride.”
Was that how they all felt, really? Did no one else want to see what it would be like to live freely among Humans and Metas instead of clustering together like huddled prey? Safety in numbers. But they would never be safe while people feared them. “I want everyone here to realize that we aren’t the terrifying beings who can take control of their bodies that they think we are.”
They could only use what emotion was already there. That every other species when in a group had high levels of lust or aggression was not the fault of the Incubi. He knew of one Incubus who’d already been offered money to make sure that everyone had a good time at a club. And not a dance club. He’d cleared it with Kearn first of all, and Kearn had warned him to play it very delicately.
He needed to follow up. He needed to do many things, and standing here talking with Levit about the fate of the Incubi in the Complex was not one of them. At the back of his mind, he worried that their participation, or lack of, would count against them in whatever followed after the experiment was assessed. Was he the only one who was thinking of the future, not just his time as leader?
“We can talk when I get back tonight.”
“So, you will be back?” Levit raised an eyebrow.
Kearn was very tempted to stay out all night just to spite him. “Have fun. I think you’ll enjoy the fighting.” Levit was certainly in the mood for it.
Before Levit could answer, Kearn walked out of the gym. He didn’t go to the Uni Sip Three where she worked. He went to her home, as he made his way up to her place, he ignored the looks from a few people, Humans, who could see him as he was. Sometimes it would be much easier if they didn’t have the implant and saw him as another Human.
But he liked that Phoebe had seen him as he was and it hadn’t mattered to her.
Did it matter now? Was she horrified? Did she not want to be the surrogate? There had been cases where the surrogate had changed their mind. That was always heartbreaking.
While he knew it was the fighting and winning that caused the changes, Kearn wondered about the timing and the frequency. He’d never experienced any changes fighting in the gym, so it only happened when fighting other Incubi. Could they fight at any time of the year? How many fights were needed? Was the once a year thing just to keep numbers low? He was sure these questions had been asked by others and answered by those elders higher up, but if they had been, they hadn’t shared the answers. And the clans kept doing what they had always done.
Tradition was locking them in place while everyone else moved forward.
He stood outside Phoebe’s door.
He should knock.
He didn’t move.
Was tradition really keeping them safe? Keeping them small and unobtrusive? Did they really have to beg for space and the right to live? He knew his history of before the Metas’ planet had become uninhabitable. The Incubi manipulated and needed a host, and for many Metas that was enough for Incubi to be classified as lesser beings.
Parasite. It was a word that had followed them across the galaxy.
And it was true. But if an Incubi never bred, were they still a parasite? Or was only the one doing the impregnation the parasite? He had no idea…but he was now firmly a parasite.
How would Phoebe see him now?
He lifted his hand to knock and then lowered it.
Could he deal with it if she looked at him with disgust?
In that breath he knew, he couldn’t.
However, she’d contacted him. She’d left a message saying she was pregnant, when she could’ve gotten rid of it an
d said nothing.
Kearn knocked before he could change his mind.
The seconds ticked by. Maybe she wasn’t home. Did he really want a connection with a non-Incubi? Maybe…he was at least open to it. It didn’t scare him. Maybe it would if he wasn’t thinking of this as an experiment. He’d been excited to come here and try new things, and had been disappointed by Tavor’s leadership and rules. Perhaps Levit was right, and it was too much for everyone else. Perhaps he was the broken one.
He knocked again.
If they weren’t in the Complex, he’d have been thrown out by his clan already. They wouldn’t do that here, though, much better to keep a close eye on everyone.
The door opened. Phoebe’s brown hair was wet, and she wore a set of the Complex issued gray pants and shirt. She stood there and stared at him.
He didn’t move in case she shut the door in his face. “I got your message.”
“I can see that.” She stepped aside. “You’d better come in.”
9
Phoebe shut the door once Kearn was inside. She was sure that her nosy neighbor would’ve been watching through the peephole. The man had already questioned her about why one of them was here. She’d claimed that he was a friend and told him that it was none of his business who visited her.
She was surrounded by too many Humans, and not all of them like mingling with Metas. She hadn’t mingled since getting the news. She hadn’t shared the news with anyone either, but she had no idea for how long she was going to be able to keep it a secret. She leaned against the door as Kearn took a seat on the sofa.
Every time she looked at that sofa, all she could think about was that night.
Today there was no sexy vibe coming from him, but there wouldn’t be. She’d met him on the one night that it wasn’t safe to get close.
“So…” She had no idea what to say.
He hadn’t even tried to kiss her on the way in. She’d had ex-boyfriends who’d still gone for the kiss long after they’d broken up.