The Tigrens' Glory (Soul-Linked Saga) (Volume 9)

by Laura Jo Phillips

  “No,” Kyerion said. “Since our mating fangs have already descended, there can be children only if we convert you.”

  Glory suddenly felt as though her heart was being squeezed by a gigantic fist. She remained still until the pain eased, then forced herself to say what had to be said. “Setting my personal feelings aside, I know as well as you three that without Clan Tigren, your people will not survive. You must have children. If you can’t have them with me, you’ll need to find another woman to have them with. Too much is at stake for too many people.”

  “We agree that the matter of children is a far more important consideration for us than it would otherwise be,” Kyerion said. “But Glory, you still don’t fully understand. It’s impossible for us to mate with another woman. This is not about choice. This is a fact that cannot be changed.”

  Glory frowned as she struggled to accept what he was saying. It was, in its way, even stranger than the whole three men, one soul divided aspect of what they’d told her. After a few minutes she gasped with sudden hope. “I’ve done a lot of reading on the vid-terminal the last couple of weeks, and I’ve learned that there are ways of conceiving children that have nothing to do with sex.”

  The expressions of surprise on their faces were almost comical. “Please explain,” Kirk said.

  “An egg is taken from a female, sperm is taken from a male, and the two are combined and placed in either a female’s womb, or an artificial womb.”

  Kyerion thought about that for a few moments, then shrugged. “We find that interesting from a healer’s point of view, but such a method would never work for us.”

  “Why not?”

  “Our sperm does not become viable until after our mating fangs have shed.”

  Glory tried to hide how disappointed she felt at that revelation by mentally reviewing everything they’d told her while finishing her breakfast. As hard as she tried, she could find no way around any of it. “So, to clarify, attempting to convert me might kill me, but without conversion there can be no children.”

  The Tigren nodded solemnly. “All right then, what’s the plan?”

  “We return to Jasan and work with the council scientists to find a way to either convert you without risk, or have children with you without conversion,” Kyerion said.

  Glory nodded. She didn’t hold out much hope for either of those two goals coming to pass. From the look in Kyerion’s eyes, neither did he.

  Chapter Thirty Five

  Glory paced the training room, spinning two sai in her hands as she waited. She was just thinking about adding a third when the door opened and she turned with a smile. “Hello, Lariah,” she said.

  “Glory,” Lariah exclaimed, hurrying forward to give her a hug. “I am so glad you’re awake and well. I was very worried about you.”

  “I’m fine, as you can see,” Glory replied, returning Lariah’s hug with one of her own.

  “You look wonderful,” Lariah said, stepping back.

  “I feel pretty wonderful,” Glory replied, smiling. “It turns out I’m an Arima. That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”

  “Are you angry with me for not telling you?” Lariah asked.

  “You knew?” Glory asked in surprise.

  “I suspected,” Lariah admitted. “We all did. No one could know for certain except the Tigren, and them only after they scented your pheromones. It was my decision not to discuss it with you, but I promise, I did it for your sake. I figured you had enough on your plate as it was. You didn’t need to worry about something that may or may not be true, and if true, may or may not be possible.”

  “You protected me,” Glory said. “I thank you for that, and you were right. It would have been one more thing for me to worry about. No, Lariah, I am not angry with you in the slightest.”

  “I’m glad,” Lariah said. “And relieved. So, what did you want to talk about?”

  “The conversion,” Glory said. “Kyerion told me that you were the first woman to go through the conversion to become a true Arima.”

  “Yes, that’s right,” Lariah said.

  “From what they told me, there is no chance of children unless I undergo the conversion, and from what you told me, without the Tigren, the Jasani are doomed,” Glory said.

  “As far as we know, that’s correct,” Lariah said. “But no one wants you to risk your life Glory. You’ve already done enough for Clan Jasani.”

  “I appreciate that, Lariah,” Glory said. She held up her hands which, for the first time, were without gloves. She extended her claws, now sharpened to proper points by her men, so that Lariah could see them. Lariah reached for her hands and looked at the tips of her fingers carefully, surprising Glory.

  “This is why you always wore gloves?” Lariah asked.

  “Yes,” Glory replied. “They had steel tips in the fingers to prevent my claws from cutting through them. They don’t bother you?”

  “Bother me?” Lariah asked in surprise. “No, they don’t bother me. I think it’s cool that you get to carry a weapon around like that all the time.” Her expression turned thoughtful. “I wonder if I can get my dracon to let me spit fire when I’m in my human form.”

  “That might not work out so well for your human throat,” Glory pointed out dryly.

  “True,” Lariah laughed. “I’m glad you no longer feel the need to hide your claws. I wondered about the gloves, but I figured you were dealing with enough new stuff as it was, so I didn’t ask. What made you stop wearing them?”

  “I woke up without them. Then Kyerion, Kirk, and Cade, told me that I was born with traits of the Tigren because my ancestors were Tigren. My whole life I was told that I was a deformed and dangerous freak, and the whole time Bashir knew the truth.” Glory sighed as she stared at her extended claws, then slowly retracted them. “I’ve always stood on the outside, Lariah, never fully belonging anywhere. I don’t want to do that anymore. I want to become wholly Tigren, and wholly Jasani. I want to be a true Arima, and have children, and a family. I want to stay on Jasan where I’ve made friends, and where people accept me, and care about me, like you. People I care about in return. Unfortunately, I don’t know how to convince the Tigren to try the conversion. I hoped you’d help me.”

  “I understand how you feel, Glory,” Lariah said. “I wanted family and children so badly, but the Dracons refused to attempt the conversion. They were afraid for me, and nothing I said changed their minds. I was so angry when they made that choice for me. I even tried to leave them, but they wouldn’t let me. In the end they were forced to attempt it to save my life. If that hadn’t happened, I often wonder if there would be any Arimas at all.”

  “Well, I can’t go out and get myself hurt on purpose just to force their hands,” Glory said. “There’s got to be a way to get them to see reason.”

  “When it comes to the health and welfare of their women, Jasani men can be excessively unreasonable,” Lariah said. “I’ll talk to Garen, Trey and Val about it. Maybe they can offer some advice since they’ve been through it.”

  “I’d appreciate it very much,” Glory said. “You’ve been such a good friend to me, Lariah. I hardly know how to thank you for all that you’ve done for me.”

  “Seeing you like this is all the thanks I need,” Lariah said, smiling up at Glory.

  “It’s such a nice feeling, happiness,” Glory said. “I’ve never felt like this before, but I like it, and I want to keep it.”

  Lariah’s smile faded. “I’m afraid I have a confession to make, Glory.”

  Glory nodded, but didn’t look too concerned, which eased Lariah’s worry. “It’s not something I have any control over, but…well, remember when I introduced myself to you as Nahoa-Arima?”

  “Yes, of course,” Glory replied.

  “Well, a Nahoa-Arima is a rare thing, something a person is born with,” Lariah said. “One of the things I do, without conscious thought or effort, is heal the hearts and souls of people I’m close to. Like you.”

  Glo
ry’s eyes widened in surprise. “That explains why I’ve learned to smile and laugh when I’ve never done either before.” She stepped forward and hugged Lariah once more. “I put it all down to you anyway, Lariah. The how of it doesn’t matter. It only matters that you’ve given me a rare and special gift, and I will always be thankful for it.”

  “And I will always be thankful to have you as my friend,” Lariah said, hugging her back.

  “All I need now is to convince the Tigren to convert me, and my happiness will be complete,” Glory asked, stepping back.

  “When we reach Jasan, a few of us women are planning to go shopping in Badia before returning to the ranch,” Lariah said thoughtfully. “After we shop, we’re going to have lunch together. I think that would be a perfect time for all of us women to put our heads together and try to find a solution to your problem. If you want to join us, that is.”

  “Yes, I’d like that very much,” Glory replied without even having to think about it. “In fact, I was going to ask you if you’d help me with some shopping.”

  “Of course I will,” Lariah said. “What sort of shopping?”

  “All I own are battle leathers, work-out clothes and pajamas,” Glory said. “I’d like to expand my wardrobe to include a few…pretty things.”

  “That’ll be so much fun!” Lariah exclaimed. “I’m looking forward to this more than ever now.”

  “So am I,” Glory said. “So, what’s the plan?”

  “Summer, Faith, Aisling, you and I will take a shuttle down to the spaceport after we dock at the skyport,” Lariah said. “Saige wants to go but she’s too big right now to waddle all over Badia. I’ve already made arrangements for Hope Bearen, Honey Vulpiran, and Saige, to meet us at a nice restaurant for lunch.”

  “It sounds like fun,” Glory said, then tilted her head. “Do you know, Lariah, that I’d never experienced fun before I met you?”

  “I suspected,” Lariah said soberly. “But that’s all right. It’s never too late to learn how to have fun.”

  Chapter Thirty Six

  “I never would have suspected that walking through stores and trying on clothing could be so exhausting,” Glory said as the group of women left the restaurant after a long, enjoyable lunch together. “I think an entire day of sparring takes less effort. It’s certainly less frustrating.”

  “I know what you mean,” Faith said from beside her. “I always thought it would be so much fun to be able to go shopping and buy whatever I want, and in that sense, it is. But money doesn’t make finding things that you like, and that fit, and that look good once you put them on your body any easier.”

  “No, it doesn’t,” Glory agreed. “I’m happy with the things I purchased though. I thank all of you for your help.”

  Faith opened her mouth to reply when Summer suddenly hissed, “Fils de putain!” The entire group froze, instantly alert as they looked for the cause of Summer’s warning. It wasn’t difficult to find. The busy street they’d left when they entered the restaurant was now deserted, except for a group of men who stood in a wide half circle pointing a variety of powerful weapons at them.

  “Saige, Aisling, Hope, and Glory, move to the center,” Lariah ordered in a low voice that was not to be questioned. “Glory and Aisling, please cover Saige and Hope. Saige, Hope, don’t either of you even think about shifting. Aisling, don’t shift unless you have no other choice. Is anyone else pregnant?”

  “I am,” Honey said. “But just a few weeks. I’m safe to shift.”

  “All right, Honey, but be careful,” Lariah said.

  Glory watched Aisling pass a small hand laser to Hope, who stood next to Saige. Glory and Aisling stood in front of them, though Glory was worried about Aisling. She wasn’t as far along as Hope or Saige, but she was still very pregnant. Glory held one sai in each hand, Aisling held a hand laser in one hand and a sai in the other, and Hope held the hand laser Aisling had given her as though she knew how to use it. Saige was digging around in her shoulder bag for something, her eyes never leaving the men spread out in front of them. Summer, Faith, Lariah, and Honey stood in front of the pregnant women, and Glory, in a protective half circle.

  “If any of you try to shift, we’ll kill you,” a familiar male voice shouted.

  “Rollo,” Glory growled, just loud enough for the other women to hear.

  “Yes, I thought I recognized his stench,” Lariah murmured. “Summer, how’s it coming?”

  “Just another few moments,” Summer replied. Glory glanced at Summer, then followed her gaze to the men surrounding them. There had to be twenty men, all with laser rifles or other high-powered directed energy weapons. Glory smiled, remembering that Summer had the ability to control computers and electronics. When Summer was done with their control circuits, those weapons wouldn’t function as anything more deadly than a club. She seriously doubted that a club was going to do much good against a fifteen foot long, fire breathing dracon, or a katrenca whose shoulders were higher than any of them were tall.

  “Give up Princess Gloriani and the rest of you can leave in peace,” Rollo said from behind a large man holding two gamma rifles aimed at Lariah as though they were hand guns. “If not, we’ll start killing you one by one.”

  “What are you going to do with her?” Lariah asked, stalling for time.

  “That’s not your business,” Rollo shot back.

  “It is if you expect me to give her up to you,” Lariah replied.

  “She belongs to me!” he screeched. “I will have her!”

  “Done,” Summer said in a low voice, “but remember to watch for them to pull out spare weapons.”

  “I ask that Rollo be saved for me,” Glory said, matching Summer’s low voice. “If possible.”

  “Granted,” Lariah said. Then she raised her voice. “You will not have her.”

  “Kill that bitch!” Rollo screamed just as Lariah said, “Now.”

  Lariah, Summer, Faith, and Honey ran forward several steps to put space between themselves and their companions before shifting. Between one heartbeat and the next, a dracon, a falcoran, a vulpiran, and a katrenca now stood where the women had been a moment before. There were shouts of fear and confusion from their attackers as they realized their weapons wouldn’t fire, and that they were now faced with four enormous shifters looking like pissed-off mythological beasts from hell.

  Lariah bellowed crackling flame just over their heads in a wide arc, while Summer, Faith and Honey roared loud enough to rattle the windows of the shops lining the street. The smartest of their attackers quickly tossed their now-useless weapons to the ground and raised empty, shaking hands to the sky. Glory smiled, proud of her new friends. Even the women too pregnant to shift stood fast without fear, weapons at the ready and blood in their eyes.

  “Damn, I wish I could join them,” Aisling muttered. Glory wasn’t surprised to see Saige talking on her vox. It wouldn’t be long before the men arrived, and she wanted Rollo for herself.

  “Will you watch over Saige and Hope while I go after Rollo?” Glory asked.

  “Of course,” Aisling said, grinning. “Have fun!”

  “Oh, I intend to,” Glory replied, returning the grin. She took off, jogging around Lariah who remained in front of the women who couldn’t shift, her wings spread wide, shielding them. Glory patted her friend lightly on one furry shoulder as she passed. The huge man that Rollo had been hiding behind was now holding two short swords, one in each hand, his useless guns on the pavement beside him. Glory caught a flash of movement behind him and veered sideways enough to see Rollo escaping up a side street. Unfortunately, she was going to have to deal with the goon blocking the street before she could go after Rollo.

  She slowed her step and spun the sai in her hands, assessing her opponent. He was big, and strong, but he didn’t appear to be very agile. He held the swords like clubs which would certainly do a lot of damage if he were able to catch his opponent, and his eyes kept shifting to the deliberate distraction of the spinning sai.
She took one step toward him just as Faith, in her falcoran alter form, swooped down on the man, grasped his shoulders with her claws, and raised him several feet up into the air. His weapons clattered to the ground as his hands shot up to grab the falcoran’s legs in fear. Before he had a chance to get a good grip on her, she opened her claws and released him. He landed hard on his back, but was already scrambling to get to his feet by the time an immense bear like creature with red fur, oval red eyes, six sets of wicked looking claws, and a mouthful of dripping fangs leapt on top of him and sat down.

  “Good girl, Bubbles,” Glory called as she jogged by. The man lying beneath the raktsasa stared up with wide, terrified eyes, mouthing “Bubbles?” in a hoarse whisper.

  Glory laughed, looking up just in time to see Rollo turn a corner. He was less than a block away and already winded, she realized with disgust. How could he ever imagine she’d consent to be claimed by such a poor excuse for a male? He had to be delusional.

  A loud roar from above caused her to slow a step and glance over her shoulder. Ah. The men had arrived. And they weren’t happy. She winced as an enormous creature that appeared to be half bird and half lion took a swipe at a man who’d gotten hold of a working laser weapon and had the idiotic notion that it was going to save his ass. It didn’t slow the gryphon down in the slightest. A few yards away an enormous black and white bearenca took a swipe at a parked ground car, flinging it aside like a cheap toy to reveal the two men crouched behind it. The bearenca roared furiously and leapt forward just as the Dracon Princes filled the afternoon sky with flames. Glory really wanted to stay and watch more, but catching Rollo was more important.

  She picked up her pace, running as fast as she could while trying to decide the best way to deal with Rollo. She wasn’t in the least bit afraid of him. She was a warrior, battle-trained and strong. He was a button, shoelace, and buckle merchant, soft and weak. The only problem she had was deciding how to stop him without actually killing him.