I'd tuned Norian out until his last statement, which forced me to turn back to him. He still didn't know (and I wasn't about to tell him), that Tybus was now in charge of the Campiaan Alliance. The fewer who knew the better and it certainly wouldn't do to let the enemy know he'd been successful in killing my son.
"Have you talked to Erland or Ry, then?" I asked. "What about Lendill and Kaldill?"
"I talked to Lendill, and he and his father have been studying the problem, but Kaldill says all information is blocked and he gets next to nothing. Ildevar is more worried than I've ever seen and Kooper decides that now is a good time to use vacation days," Norian huffed.
"Then I'll contact Erland. Are you ready to go home, Norian?" I snapped. Kooper was better off where he was—if he could help Breanne get back on her feet, then that was the best use of his time. We needed her in this fight, and we needed her at full strength. Norian still thought he might ultimately have a hand in this, but any role he played would be a minor one.
"Yes." Norian wasn't pleased by my sudden frostiness.
"Good." I folded us the hell away from Frithia.
* * *
"Little dragonfly, she isn't an ogre," Karzac smiled lazily at Grace. "I believe she likes comfortable clothing just as much as you do."
"I just want to make a good impression," Grace sighed, tossing a silk outfit onto the bed. "I just don't know what to wear."
"It's a cookout. Jeans or shorts," Devin walked up to Karzac for a kiss.
"It isn't your boys who are seemingly engaged to one of the Mighty," Grace pointed out. "It's Graegar, my Larentii son."
"Remember this is Lissa's half-sister. If she's anything like Lissa, then she'll come comfortably dressed."
"True."
"Besides, we can get Franklin to contact Trace, and he can find out what she's wearing," Devin's dimple showed as she grinned at Grace.
"Why didn't I think of that?" Grace slapped her forehead.
"I think you'll be happily surprised with Breanne," Karzac said.
"Graegar seems happy enough," Grace shook her head. "Oh, wait. I'll ask Conner what she's wearing."
"Here we go again," Devin grinned at Karzac. Karzac leaned in to kiss her a second time.
* * *
Breanne's Journal
I rested in the crook of Trevor's arm as I listened to the others talk. I was comfortable, letting them carry the conversation. Bill and Kooper talked about Ranos technology, and the weapons made that employed it. Although only ASD and CSD were supposed to have the weapons, others had managed to get their hands on it, too.
"The new ones all have the identity safety grips," Kooper pointed out. "The weapon is created for you, and only you can fire it. The firing mechanism destructs if anyone else tries to use it."
"Will that still hold true if a wizard or warlock works a shifting spell?" Stellan asked. "Any fourth level and above can do that, and make you look like anybody else."
"Unless you can manipulate DNA, then you have no chance," Kooper explained. "That's how the new safety works."
"That's been in the works for a long time," Bill said. "I've been keeping up with the reports."
"Then you're ahead of half my agents," Kooper grinned. "Of course, my agents can't fry somebody with the power they have, either." He pointed his second statement toward Stellan, who nodded in agreement.
"Fifth-level warlocks are few and far between and generally run in families," Stellan said. "My brothers and I still feel lucky that we're all fifth-levels."
"Teeg is lucky you're all fifth-levels," Trevor pointed out.
"He said that just recently," Stellan acknowledged. "And he gave us a raise and a bonus."
"You deserve it," I said, breaking into the conversation for the first time. Trevor smiled down at me and tightened his arm just a little.
"Sweetheart, how are you feeling?" Bill asked. They'd been waiting for me to say something, I suppose, and there I was, listening to them instead.
"I feel pretty good," I said. "Not up to a marathon, but I might race you to the end of the block and back."
"Do you feel good enough to help Kay tomorrow?"
"I feel good enough to help her tonight," I shrugged.
"Want to try?" Trajan sat on the floor beside me and offered a quick, wolfish grin.
"Yeah. If I'm tired afterward, I can go to bed early."
"All right," Bill stood and gave Fes a fist bump.
"You called?" Ashe appeared in the middle of the room and blinked at Trajan.
"Bree thinks she can help Kay now," Trajan grinned.
"Seriously? That would be awesome!" Ashe high-fived Trajan. "Let's go see her now."
Ashe ferried all of us into Kay's suite, where she sat in a chair, blinking at the wall with the same, blank expression I'd seen before. I made my way past the men in the room and went to her. Keeping my shields up and tight so I wouldn't see the same visions I'd seen the last time, I knelt beside her.
"Kay," I said, taking her hand, "I'm going to let Kalia sleep. She'll still be with you, but you'll be in charge unless you want me to change it back." With that, I gathered my strength and sent her the biggest dose of Love that I could.
* * *
Kay's Journal
I felt as if I'd been asleep forever. It startled me, too, to find so many strangers around me when I woke. Kalia's fears were no longer eating away at my consciousness, and I was aware for the first time in a very long time.
The woman who knelt beside me—I should have been afraid of her. I wasn't. Somehow, I don't think Kalia would be afraid of her, either. She was smiling at me, and that surprised me greatly.
"Thank the stars," someone sighed. I looked up. I knew him—vaguely. He'd done something once—I struggled to grasp the memory.
"I tried to kill myself, didn't I?" I stared at him.
"You did, sweetheart. You're not afraid of me, are you?" he knelt on my other side, and I couldn't decide who to study first—him or the woman. Searching for their lines, I discovered quickly that I couldn't see them.
"You can't see our lines, we're too powerful," she said. "I'm Breanne." She patted my hand before rising to her feet. "This is Ashe. He's been waiting for you for a very long time."
"Ashe?" I turned to him. He smiled crookedly, as if he were afraid I might break or shrink away. Kalia no longer dictated my decisions, so I settled for drinking in his image. Ashe was handsome, with slightly curly, light-brown hair, blue eyes, a strong chin and an amazing smile, even if it was a bit unsure.
"I'll go now, but if you need me," Breanne gave a half-wave and walked away. I realized then that she'd been speaking to me in English, and I'd answered in kind. Ashe seemed to understand that language, too, and that surprised me.
What also surprised me was that I felt Breanne's absence the moment she walked out of my suite. I almost called out for her to come back—there was something she had that I desperately needed, I just couldn't determine exactly what it was.
"Will I see her again?" My voice quavered, betraying the loss I felt.
"If you want," Ashe said gently, lifting my hand and kissing it. "Whenever you want," he added.
"But," my lower lip trembled, and I was afraid I might cry.
"Hush, Breanne is nearby. Do you want me to get her?"
I wish I could have said no. That would have been a lie. "Please," I begged, my voice a whisper.
"What happened?" Breanne was back in only a few seconds.
"I don't want you to leave," I said. By that time, I was trembling all over.
"Here," she took my hands in hers, and the feeling I got from her was incredible—as if I were drowning in love. I can't describe it better than that. Tears were falling when she took her hands away again, but these were tears of joy. I'd never felt so safe. Or so cared for. As if for a moment, I'd been the most important person in history, past, present and future.
"What is that?" I wiped my tears away with a shaking hand. "That's amazing."
"It's love," Ashe sighed. I stared at him in shock.
* * *
Breanne's Journal
I'd given Kay more than I'd ever given anyone, and still she needed a second round. It might take more in the future, too, but that remained to be seen.
Kevis appeared and took over. I was tired after my second wave of sending Love to Kay, so I let him take my place at her side.
"Thank you," Kay breathed behind me as I walked toward the door a second time.
"You're welcome," I turned and waved again.
"You all right?" Bill and Trajan were beside me quickly, but Trajan was the one who lifted me in his arms and carried me away from Kay's suite.
"Tired," I sighed. "That took more than I estimated it would."
"Baby, just close your eyes, Trajan and I will get you to bed," Bill soothed. I did close my eyes. I don't remember the getting into bed part. At all.
Chapter 6
"She still feels uncomfortable—except around Breanne. Bree has something that does that for her—makes it possible for her to talk," Kevis shook his head at Ashe.
"I got that when she kept asking where Breanne's room was," Ashe sighed.
"At least she slept through the night after we got her in bed," Kevis observed. "It's my guess we may be able to coax her into the kitchen for breakfast, but we may have to have Breanne there, as an enticement."
"Traje?" Ashe said to empty air.
"You rang?" Trajan appeared in a blink.
"How's Bree this morning?"
"Still asleep. Why?" Trajan's brow wrinkled at Ashe's question.
"We may need her to come to breakfast when Kay does. Sort of an enticement, I guess."
"Boss, what does this mean?"
"It means Kay may be more broken than anybody thought, and Breanne may be the anchor Kay is clinging to."
"Bree needs to rest up for tonight," Trajan reminded Ashe. "The cookout, remember?"
"Yeah. Got it." Ashe raked fingers through his hair. "Look, let's get through breakfast, and see where we are."
"Sure."
* * *
Breanne's Journal
I guess the thing about multiple mates—or the possibility of multiple mates—is that sometimes, you're just not sure whom you might wake up with.
"How do you feel?" Corent smiled at me. How the hell—when the hell had he gotten here?
"Uh, are we naked?" I blinked up at him, trying to get my eyes to focus before realizing his hair was changing from blue to turquoise to nearly green and then back to blue.
"We are. I asked Lissa to send a message last night and Trajan came for me. I undressed both of us," he smiled at me.
"Is this all right?" I chewed on my lip—certain parts of his body had wakened before I had.
"I don't care whether it is," he leaned in to kiss me. "I can be gentle, I'll do all the work and I have some healing skill. I doubt I'll damage you beyond repair."
"Then you get to duke it out with Kevis," I breathed as Corent's hand began to wander.
"I don't duke it out with anyone—I belong to a peaceful race," his fingers found a sensitive spot, making me gasp. "Very appealing," his mouth covered mine as his fingers tingled against my flesh. Who knew the fae could do that kind of—oh, my God.
* * *
Ashe's Journal
"Breanne will be there," I coaxed. Kay gave me a skeptical look when I asked her to come to breakfast with me.
"Are you sure?"
"You can trust me on this," I wheedled.
"I can't trust anyone," popped right out of her pretty mouth. "Except Breanne. I think I trust her," Kay pouted. Her lips were so perfect in that pout I almost couldn't stop myself from kissing her. Kevis had warned me to take things slow. I was doing my best to follow his advice, but it was so damn difficult.
Kay was speaking to me coherently for the first time ever, and all I wanted to do was hold her, kiss her—and a few other things.
"Come with me this morning, and you can talk to Breanne over breakfast."
"All right. Do I have clothes here?" she looked around, completely lost. She had little memory of her past few months at SouthStar.
"Sweetheart, your clothes are in the closet here," I walked over and tapped on the door leading into the rather large space. "Your bathroom is connected; all you have to do is walk through it."
"You're so tall," she sighed.
"Trajan's taller," I grinned.
"That really tall man?"
"Yes. That really tall man. He'll be there with Breanne and Bill. And a few others, too. Nobody will hurt you, I can promise that."
* * *
Kay's Journal
His blue eyes seemed kind enough, and his words sounded true enough, but with my history and Kalia's memories swimming in my head, how could I trust him? Breanne, though—I couldn't explain my feelings on what she'd accomplished for me. If I trusted anyone for the first time, it would be her.
"I'll get dressed," I hunched my shoulders at the thought of going to breakfast with so many there to stare. Most of my life had been spent having meals alone. Kalia's life, on the other hand, had been spent in a fishbowl, with everyone staring and passing critical judgments on even the slightest movements.
"I'll wait out here for you," Ashe promised and settled on the side of my bed. I looked down at the pajamas I wore—they were blue with tiny pinstripes running through them. I sighed and walked toward the closet door.
* * *
Breanne's Journal
Corent would have spent all morning in the shower with me if he'd thought he might get away with it. I had no idea what to do about that, but there was no hiding the fact that he loved me—he kept saying it and following those words with a kiss.
Did he know that even a kiss from him made me want to crawl all over him and beg for more? It must be the way the fae were made. Thank goodness he was only half-fae—if he were pureblood, I might never get out of bed.
"It is the way we have with our mates," he smiled down at me while toweling me off. "Our true mates," he added. "I have never gotten this before with anyone. I imagined that as a half-fae, it was not my due."
"You appear to be making up for lost time," I muttered, staring at his chest. Corent was well-made, and the work he did in the orchards on Le-Ath Veronis ensured that he had plenty of muscle beneath smooth, golden skin.
"I would breathe you in and hold you inside me if I could," he chuckled, his hair turning a royal blue. I understood that to mean he was happy. Or that there were very few clouds in the sky. It could go either way.
"Now," he said, "I am hearing from Trajan that we are expected at breakfast quickly, so as to not disappoint Kay. We will dress swiftly and arrive on time."
We did arrive on time, and found a crowd waiting. Corent and I barely had time to settle on barstools around the massive island before Kay and Ashe arrived.
Kay immediately came to my side and settled on the empty stool on my right, with Ashe sitting beside her.
"How are you this morning?" I asked. You'd have thought the sun hadn't been turned on until she smiled at me.
"I feel good," she said. "Better than I can remember."
"Good. Are you ready to eat? Fes and Bill are cooking, so whatever you get will be amazing." I reached out and tucked a long, silky strand of black hair behind an ear; it kept trying to cloud her face.
"What are you eating?" Bright, blue eyes blinked into mine.
"Honey, I'm vegetarian. Corent is, too. This is Corent; he's half Green Fae." I introduced Corent to her. "He can grow trees and the best fruit anywhere."
"Is everybody here vegetarian?" She sounded worried.
"Ask those werewolves over there," I grinned at her. She blinked at me in surprise.
"It's nothing to worry about," I sent a bit of Love to her. "Nobody here wants to hurt you."
"Werewolves are real?"
"And vampires. Shapeshifters. Fae. Wizards. Warlocks, gods, Elemaiya," I nodded. "Plus lots of other things. You're
pure blood Elemaiya, you just don't know it," I added.
"I am?"
"Kalia is, and since this is her body," I floundered for a moment.
"Don't worry, I know she's in there," Kay sighed. "I just don't know how I happened to be in here with her, or how she came to be where she was in the beginning."
"Yeah," I hunched my shoulders uncomfortably. Kalia couldn't recall her parents, or that they'd sold her when she was tiny, for a few credits. I didn't want to upset Kay with that information. It was hard enough for her to deal with the memories she had.
"Look, don't worry about it, all right? We're having breakfast," I said as brightly as I could. Bill set a plate in front of Kay first—bacon, eggs, fruit and a potato pancake.
"Honey, do I get a potato pancake, too?" I smiled at Bill.
"You're the reason we made them," he leaned in for a kiss. "Fes is bringing yours."
"Here you go," Fes set a plate in front of me. I had scrambled eggs, soy sausage, fruit and a potato pancake.
"This looks amazing," I said.
"It amazing," Chazi agreed. He, Perzi, Bekzi, Trace and Kooper were handing out more plates to those around us.
"Did you eat already?" I teased Chazi.
"We eat. We eat again, if we hungry again."
I laughed; he was teasing right back.
"Get kiss?" he grinned at me.
"Yeah." I touched his cheek as he leaned in. I not only got a nice kiss, I got a nose rub, too.
"Bree, we're going to a cookout at NorthStar tonight," Trajan said.
"Huh?"
"We go, too," Chazi said before moving away.
"Perfect," I mumbled. "I hate parties."
* * *
Earth—past
"Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures," Charles sighed as he set a cup of coffee on the kitchen island and studied Trajan. "I gave him blood before he went to bed earlier. We'll see if the effect can be passed on."
"Before now, I'd have said giving Gavin a dose of anything so he could walk in daylight was a scary thing," Trajan pointed out. "But you're right—it's difficult to make this investigation work if he's asleep during the most important parts of it. You think Bree's blood was that powerful?"
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