But the shift bore down on Solvun's castle nonetheless.
And ripping into innocents without self-control twisted my gut with unrelenting dread.
A presence shoved into my mind to mindspeak. “Theo isn't sleeping well.” Solvun strode toward me at my left.
The blood lust most likely. Our biorhythms were on the same schedule. “I will check on her.” I met his golden gaze as he claimed a spot a foot away.
Hard eyes. Eyes that challenged everyone to risk defying him. “M'yote says the child is yours."
Would the King be upset with the news? “Yes. We mated before she departed for the prison. But Theo needs me now. It's my duty to care for her.” I stepped off toward her bedchamber.
Solvun's eyes squinted, and he nodded. “Very well. But don't be surprised if she has a few Prall children as well.” Solvun's yellow eyebrow arched. “Prall nanites are geared toward healing and productivity."
Other Earth females carried multiple younglings during pregnancies back on Luvk. Theo would have to stay in bed and be cared for. “Brooding females from her planet of origin are more likely to have risky pregnancies when carrying multiple younglings. We must prepare ourselves to battle with her over bed rest. I doubt Theo will be cooperative."
Solvun's mouth knotted then straightened into a grim line. “We know nothing of her culture. I expect you to tend to Theo until she has awakened.” Solvun pivoted on the heel of his brown boot and walked quietly at my side.
What bothered him from the dangerous pregnancy or Flonn? Maybe he would accept Flonn more soon. Something told me Solvun's tension over the !Dakos warriors living in his quarters wasn't just going to end with apologies. But how could anyone expect that after what the !Dakos did to Prall? Even I could understand the King's anxiety.
By the time we hovered over our sleeping mate, I knew there would be trouble.
Theo tossed atop the white sheets, a fine sheen of sweat glistening her brow like the silver mist on her cheeks and eyelids.
Not nightmares. Nor a fever. Simply blood lust.
"What do you think causes her so much discomfort?” Solvun spoke with his mouth.
What the King would do with the answer would be interesting. “The blood bond."
Solvun waited quietly.
Very well. I'll tend to her. “Where are her boots?"
"Here,” Flonn called from across the large shadowy room.
My !Dakos warrior was tremendously helpful. Good. Solvun could see for himself Flonn wasn't dangerous to have around. Flonn just wanted to be with his soul. “Thank you.” I laid the boots on the bed and patted both shafts until locating a hard cylinder.
"What's that?” Solvun asked.
Was Theo about to miss a fight? “My blood."
Solvun exhaled loudly.
A little lesson would clarify the problem at hand. I held up the shiny silver cylinder and met their gazes. “This is the one thing your nanites can't give her. My essence. She's a Marshal. A psychic bonded with me by blood. And my essence carried within these precious drops is the only thing that will keep her in the female form you've grown to love. Without a dose of my blood every forty-eight hours, she will shape shift into a were-creature that seeks blood to end her craving for mine. Only my blood will turn her back into her human form."
Neither warrior reacted.
Excellent. They both listened attentively. Side by side. Accepting the truth that neither could live without my blood to ensure their mate's health. Finally, I had found the leverage to force Solvun's acceptance of Flonn. Theo needed both types of nanites and my blood. And we'd all be one big happy mated brood. Whether Solvun liked it or not. Besides, Flonn could kill the King with one swing of his razor-sharp sword.
Now, if only the cure for M'yote's vision were as simple. Having him for an intelligent ally when his brother vaulted into a rage against the !Dakos would make my future easier. Besides, M'yote's pleasant conversation always brightened the day.
Theone bolted upright into a gentle breeze upon a soft bed and stared at pale gauzy white curtains fluttering from the sides of a long wide window between a vaulted ceiling and stone floor. The ceiling's beautiful masonry lines of spider webbing were perfectly spaced ribs cutting through dark shadow. Where is everyone?
"Huv'ria?"
Footsteps whispered, heels grinding grit into the floor.
Flonn crossed the enormous shadowy bedchamber.
"Where are we?” I asked.
He sat on the bed beside me and ran the back of an index finger down my cheek. “In Solvun's castle."
But it's dangerous for women. The microbes!
"Don't worry, Theone. M'yote cleansed the planet. You've slept for almost two days.” He smiled, those sweet dimples tempting me to kiss him.
"Cleansed?"
He nodded.
I dropped my gaze to his brown leather pants. “You're not wearing crazy spaceman pants anymore."
"No, huv'ria, I've adopted traditional Prall dress. It seems to please Solvun."
Yes. We must please the King. All but the Queen. But I'd keep that to myself. And those pants. They were as revealing as his silver stretchy ones. I could see his arousal had bumped from park into one of its three extra settings.
Oh. No. I couldn't just latch onto that ribeye mouth and lock and load. I just woke up!
"Goro wishes to speak with you. He's leaving later today."
"He's still here?” He hadn't jumped ship yet? “Where is he going?"
"To end the war between the !Dakos and Pralls."
Good. Because your mate's frisky mode is cranking into ready. I'm trapped. Growling for a chew toy. But a Queen had to maintain the peace. Keep her squabbling consorts devoted to harmony. That's about as much as warriors could live harmoniously. But I wasn't one to gravitate toward the geeky or wimpy. No, space had done one thing for me, given me a harem of strapping warrior mates. Who's complaining?
"Huv'ria,” Flonn's fingertip turned my chin until his emerald gaze locked onto mine.
"What?"
"There is something you must know."
Why did my gut swallow my heart? Intuition wasn't playing games. “I don't want to know."
His smile barely turned down as it straight-lined. “M'yote is blind."
When? What happened? Two days! I'd been unconscious two days and Solvun beat M'yote blind. “What happened?"
"It is best if you speak with him yourself."
When my big s warrior took my hand and led me into a dark hallway lined with large painted portraiture, I knew something was terribly wrong. Albeit Flonn had feelings and expressed himself like most humans, he put a lot of energy into trying to make me calm. But my intuition didn't want to play his pheromone game.
He stopped outside a large dark wooden door and shot me a genuine smile.
"You're not helping. Is he inside?” I pointed at the door.
Flonn nodded.
Well, time to face yet another facet of this damned mission. I pressed the cool smooth wood.
Flonn actually had to give the massive wooden door a heave to set the hinges creaking. The dark panel swung inward, revealing an enormous bed covered in silver fabrics, the black headboard flanked by two side tables, a matching desk, and a large upholstered armchair on ornately carved legs. The chair sat beside a tall window's fluttering shimmering silver drapery. M'yote weighed down the chair in black leather pants and vest. Standard Marshal attire.
He stared at the door.
Blankly. With white eyes.
My heart didn't beat.
"Any news?” he asked.
Flonn nudged me across the threshold.
Threshold said everything. Here I was with my philosopher who could no longer see the beauty of the world he loved. How freaking horrible. But I had to learn what happened. Be strong for him. I stepped across the creaking beams of the wooden floor. “I'm alright."
M'yote jerked to the edge of his seat. “Theone?"
The door squealed at my heels.
<
br /> But no other sound followed me. I was alone. Good. Because I damned sure felt like crying. “I'm here."
M'yote smiled.
Good to see nothing else had changed. I hurried to his knees and squatted at his side.
He followed me as if he could sense where my eyes were.
"What happened? Did Solvun do this?"
M'yote's palms grabbed my cheeks as he leaned down to peer into my eyes with the white-washed orbs that had replaced the blue gems I remembered there two days ago. “I think I burned out my eyes."
Hot tears stung my eyes, threatening to burn mine as he claimed was done to his.
"You burned them out? You? I don't understand."
"Apparently, cleansing a planet takes more power than one can give freely.” He gently pressed his velvet lips to mine.
Gods, I wanted to wrap my arms around him and squeeze all this insanity away. Why had he cleansed Prall? Had Solvun put him up to this?
Slowly, M'yote pulled his lips from mine and pressed them to my cheek. He exhaled warm breath against my skin as if trying to cleanse me of my questions.
"I don't understand,” I managed to say without my voice cracking. “You and Sol spoke of cleansing planets often."
He slid his hands around my shoulders and pulled my chin into the spicy scent of his long hard clavicle, almost choking me in an embrace. “No one has ever done it before. We didn't know what to expect. We were fools for thinking something so monumental was possible. But when The Savior crash landed, I had to do something to protect you and Cassie. I had to try. And if I hadn't, you would be sick by now."
"I need to cry."
"I know. And I am here to hold you."
Was that all? He wouldn't mourn his loss? How could he be so rational?
"I have all I need, Theone."
I'd make certain of that.
I don't know when Sol entered the room because all my damned sobbing made it impossible to hear. M'yote probably heard his brother's entry. But he never let on.
"D'ena?"
I turned, sniffling, wiping my eyes with the back of my hand.
Solvun stood in brown leather pants and boots, wearing a golden strap crossing his chest, but steps away. “It is good to see you awake.” His gentle words noted he feared I'd burst into more tears.
"Why did you let him do it?” I demanded. “You're the older brother. The King."
M'yote petted my back like I needed to choke up a lung.
Or something. Probably a week's worth of ranting.
"I never could tell my little brother what to do."
Men. “Well, you're all going to start listening to me. Nobody's going to pull stupid stunts like cleansing planets again. Or going into prisons to rescue anyone without a full-blown plan!"
I was ranting on my feet when Solvun pulled me against his chest and combed my loose hair with a handful of fingers then petted my hair from crown to ends twice. “Sh, D'ena. I've seen how I misjudged so many. And how we must all work together to protect each other."
He spoke of Flonn. At least he better be. He'd have to accept the !Dakos now.
M'yote stirred where he was buried in the warmth of his bedding. The sunlight hadn't penetrated the darkness. The darkness! Sacred elements! “Theone.” I shoved up from where I laid upon her breasts and scanned the room.
She stirred. “What's wrong?"
No alarm there. Just Theone pulling out of her deep slumber. I stared at the pockets of shadow cloaking her gray features. But her eyes glinted with some wayward light. “I can see you."
She shoved her bulging curves up against my chest and stared into my eyes. “Really?” Her fingers raked into my hair while she grabbed my face. “You're not teasing me just to wake me up so we can have sex?"
Not a bad plan. “No. That's my brother's tactic."
She planted a warm soft kiss on my lips and backed away to gaze into my eyes. “No, he'd just grope me into consciousness. And don't say it's the way Flonn or Wrank proposition me either. Take the blame for your method of foreplay."
Well, I couldn't see. “I can see now. It'll be more fun watching your expression.” I slid a palm down the side of her breast to the enormous mound of her belly. “But you should take care now. More than ever. The paramedic says you're carrying four babies and who knows if !Dakos and Prall nanites understand Earth pregnancy enough to correct problems."
"You're afraid of Sidney? She's harmless. Paramedics only frighten those who aren't strong enough to control their behavior—like horny husbands."
Being classified as anything other than a warrior with Solvun was an insult.
"You're frowning.” She giggled.
"I just gained my eyesight back, and you're saying I'm like Solvun."
She snaked her arms around my neck and wove her fingers into my hair. “No.” She leaned back, pulling me along until I hovered over her reclining form. “No, M'yote. We both know better than that. You're nothing like him. And I'm so happy I've got you back whole again. It would have been horrible to have been the cause of your blindness. But now I can sigh. It was temporary."
"I never thought it would be permanent.” I leaned down to tuck my nose into the Ghasa flower scent of her silken hair, careful to place all my weight on anything but her feminine form.
My D'ena. My Goddess. She'd taken the time to braid my hair and bead it all these months. To help me dress and bathe. Like I couldn't do those things myself. But I allowed her to take the time. To spend those hours with me. Call me selfish because I couldn't see her and wanted something for myself the others had. But I could feel her touch. Hear the harmony of the life growing inside her. Embrace each moment we spent together with the joy of merely feeling the ebb and flow of atoms and electrons around me. And now I had everything once again. Not a bad price to pay for turning back the clock when a Handler knew better than to change history's score.
So, I'd lost five months with my D'ena's smile and sky-blue eyes. Memories had to tie me over. But not the rapture of touch.
Maybe I had been wrong?
Maybe I hadn't lost a thing. Not my honor. Not my reputation. Not my Goddess.
"You're quiet for someone who should be jumping up and down,” Theone said.
"I was just thinking."
She chuckled softly. “I wouldn't expect anything else from you."
And I'd cleanse another planet if I had to in order to save my D'ena. Without hesitation.
* * * *
[Back to Table of Contents]
Chapter Twenty One
"Sol, you're just going to have to beg for help. Your damned nanites caused this.” I stared down my scowling mate who held two of his three infant sons where he stood five steps away in our bedchamber.
Sol swiped his tongue across his teeth, his gaze rolling to the ceiling. “Can't we bring in a grandmother or two?” He snapped his gaze back to mine. “Someone to help? I'm partial to the grandmothers from Chrillmia."
Importing women from another planet wouldn't solve his problem of prejudice. And I wasn't going to let him off that easily from learning not to load me up with self-serving nanites again. “But they need their father."
"And I need a bottle of Vrandian Stots. What about me? Don't sires get bottles?"
I gulped down a cackle and patted Chad's little bottom where I held him against my shoulder. “I need you sober to help with the babies. Besides, Flonn can help. He loves the idea of babies. Let him prepare the bottles."
Fear gripped Solvun's features. “You can't be serious. He'll kill my heirs."
"Sol, he would have killed you long ago if he wanted your bloodline dead. Just shut up and get the bottles.” Geesh, what a Queen had to do to get anything done around the palace.
He rolled his eyes, laid the babies in their crib, and departed.
Probably to do all the work himself. The obstinate man.
Wrank passed Solvun's retreating form and smiled at me. “He seems angry for a warrior who has three times my joy.” Wrank cu
ddled his swaddled striped daughter he held in the crook of his arm.
"He's got to learn to accept the war is over. Cassie has things under control. Handled,” I gulped down a giggle at the thought. “And Flonn will sire the next child I carry. Any day.” Oh yes. I ached like a woman starving for a good steak meal. “So, Sol must just accept his Goddess’ mates."
Wrank stopped beside me and planted the sweetest kiss on my lips. “I accept them."
Of course he would. He's a Luvk, a warrior who shares his mate with others if necessary, as well as a Marshal fighting for the greater good of free thinking. That's why I love him. And since my nanites can control my rate of ovulation, I can save all of those precious eggs for the long centuries ahead. After all, I had four immortal mates who needed a few hobbies. Parenting certainly would keep them out of political turmoil. Uh, until the teen years when their sweet little half-human babies stirred up political dissent. But I wasn't about to mention that lovely detail.
So, we survived the prison of Treusch. But political fallout still showered down around me. Good thing I made it this far. My job must be to ease Solvun's fears. Eternal fears. Hell, he was immortal. And old. What was that they say about teaching old dogs new tricks? I could definitely vouch for the truthfulness in that old saying. But all this would keep me as challenged as my mates’ teenagers. At least, I've got four different and intriguing husbands who keep life interesting. And variety is what an immortal girl needs. And with M'yote's vision finally repaired by his nanites just weeks ago, we'd all learned to leave miracles in the hands of Mother Nature instead of forcing them through a Handler. So many strange things kept happening. Immortality was going to be anything but boring. How could it be when a gal had four hunky mates?
Feral Series IV: Feral Fallout Page 23