Hiroshi started laughing. “Well, baby sister. I’m glad to see you have champions to fight for your wishes. Remember when Yukihyo had a fit when you walked a few blocks with just a blaster and a lethal spider to protect you?”
“Yes, maybe he would feel better about the fighter if Kane would re-weaponize it.”
“That is out of the question,” Papa said. Eric’s dimples were showing.
“Hiroshi, I wasn’t even pregnant when he got mad at me that time.”
“I am not controlling and overprotective,” Yukihyo stated.
“Of course, you aren’t husband. If you don’t mind, I think I’ll go for a swim before bed.”
“I’ll go with you,” Yukihyo said. I smiled at him. Hiroshi grunted. I groaned when I saw Phillip walking towards us with an injector. I was surprised when he shot Hiroshi instead of me.
That night, once we were curled up in bed, Yukihyo said, “Bosh is an asshole. You should divorce him.”
Lifting my head from his chest, I said, “I don’t know. He’s starting to grow on me.”
“Allowing you to do dangerous things is deliberately manipulative on his part,” Nico said.
“Do you think he didn’t mean what he said to me?” I asked as I sat up to look into his eyes.
Nico ran his hand along my arm. “He meant it. You are smart, but the thought of you in danger turns my stomach. Something could happen and there wouldn’t be anything I could do to protect you. I’m not sure you understand how much you mean to me, and I’m no good at explaining it to you. I want to keep you safe and happy.”
“What about the children? It seems your life tends to be dangerous enough at times without you seeking it out,” Yukihyo grumbled in his deep monotone.
“What I’m hearing is that neither one of you ever wants me to fly a fighter ship again. What’s in it for me if I don’t?”
“Well, we would be grateful to no longer fear for your safety,” Yukihyo said. I rolled my eyes and went to sleep.
The next morning, Violet and I sat and enjoyed a warm fire with Neema on a silk blanket that I had spread over one of my new rugs in the living room. Neema laid on her tummy, holding her head up, and periodically kicking her feet. Her diaper made a crinkling sound each time she moved. Looking across Neema to Violet, I said, “I hope you feel at home here.”
“It’s very beautiful. Ephors reminds me more of home.” She smiled at me and gently ran her hand down the back of one of Neema’s soft little legs.
“How did it go meeting Kaoti’s family? I’ve been too self-absorbed lately to ask. I’m sorry.” I smiled down at Neema and rubbed her back. She smiled up at me. Her wisps of dove grey hair were sticking out in all directions and refused to stay down unless damp.
“They were very welcoming. His mother and fathers treated me as though I were their own daughter. They are very proud of Kaoti. In serving you, he has restored his family’s honor.”
“How?”
“One of his uncles served as a guard to your mother the day she was abducted. Their family has lived with the shame for twenty years.”
“And their entire family has been punished?” I felt my forehead as it wrinkled up due to my disbelief at the unfairness of it all. I knew from personal experience the type of planning that went into a high profile abduction. The kidnappers would have trained for it.
“Not officially, but all of the guards serving that day along with their families were ostracized by the warrior caste.”
“That is cruel and unfair. No one should be punished for someone else’s crime. The men who took her were to blame.” I couldn’t imagine brave Kaoti, who had put himself between me, while I was pregnant with Neema, and a blaster cannon, being treated with anything but respect by his peers.
Violet gave me a half smile. “Kaoti has made things right for his family. He told me that from the first day he met you, you have treated him like family and as an equal. You have his undying loyalty.”
“You have his undying love,” I said with a wink in an attempt to lighten the mood. Violet and I met each other’s eyes and smiled. We heard a crinkle of sound and looked down in time to see Neema as she rolled onto her back. I smiled and clapped.
“Wow! You are amazing! Look what mommy’s beautiful girl can do!”
“What has my lady wife’s heart soaring with joy?”
“Oh, Yukihyo! Neema rolled over!” He sat down with us. I placed her on her tummy, but she didn’t roll over for her daddy. I shrugged at him.
Papa, Nico, and Kane left to pay a visit to Ephors’ military base. Lorca planned to stay at our home to watch over Thunderdrop and Cass who wanted to play in the trees outside. Dr. Fotri intended to read and enjoy the pool. The rest of us loaded into our transports and drove to the bakery to meet the ladies. Violet sensed Kaoti’s agitation easily. Since he never seemed to show any emotion, anytime he expressed the tiniest amount of feeling, she knew his emotions were at an extreme.
Neema had chosen Simon as her personal favorite for the day. He was the only one she would allow to hold her. She only wanted me if she was hungry or in need of a change. Yukihyo sat at a table in the bakery with his arms crossed over his chest. Neema happily drooled on Simon’s shoulder. “You and your mother both have a tendency of soaking my shoulders.”
She gazed up at his face with her jade green eyes. Kahra and Annette tried to steal her attention from Simon, but when he tried to hand her over, she cried.
“Well, it seems like you men have everything under control. We’ll be back in a little while,” I said as I followed Violet and Fran into a shoe store. We walked together along the sidewalk. Even though the sun was shining, there was a chill in the air.
“Teagan, why does my usually unemotional husband seem nervous?” Violet asked. I froze. I decided to play dumb.
“Nervous?”
She pursed her lips at me and said, “Are you going to tell me? Has he been seeing someone behind my back?”
“No! He has been faithful to you.” After scrutinizing me, Violet could tell I was being honest and dropped the subject.
After a few hours of shopping with my friends, who assured me that they were blissfully happy, I extended invitations to them and their husbands to have lunch with us at my house. Ira had seen to extra chairs and seating while Max had prepared soup, steaks, vegetables, and several pies. Max and Ira had enlisted additional help to serve my guests. I was thrilled to have over thirty old and new friends who laughed, talked, and ate in my very own house. Neema had finally grown bored with Simon and returned to Yukihyo by the time Papa, Nico, and Kane returned from the base. I hugged and kissed Papa.
“My Princess looks happier than I have seen her in months.” At the sight of Papa, Nico, and Kane, all of the ladies’ husbands had silenced and come to attention.
“It’s all because of you. I’ve never had my own friends all over at my own house before, and I like it very much.” Papa kissed my forehead.
He looked around at all of the soldiers who were present and said, “As you were.”
I introduced Papa to Ms. Laura and the others. After another hour, the last of them had gone back to their homes with their new husbands. I thanked Max and Ira profusely for all they had done. Phillip was in a much better mood. During the party, he had snuck off with Silvie to show her his infirmary.
The next day, I stayed at home and enjoyed my house. Papa, Nico, and Kane had returned to the military base. When Violet and I brought Neema downstairs, we found Hiroshi, Yukihyo, Simon, Eric, and Quaid at the dining table. Uncle Hiroshi held his hands out and grunted in satisfaction when Neema went to him. Everyone but Violet looked at me as though I were an imposter when I asked Max for oatmeal and berries for breakfast. As we ate, a light snow began to fall. Yukihyo dressed Neema warmly, and then he and Hiroshi took her for a walk. Apparently, the house came with extensive property and was guarded by a platoon of soldiers that I was never even supposed to see. Violet told me she was going to look for Kaoti and Phillip at the
infirmary.
Simon, Eric, my new husband, and I went to the other side of the house and sat near the fire. I felt guilty that I had only said a few words to Quaid on Thalassa and for the day and a half we had been on Ephors.
“Please, don’t,” Quaid said to me. “You have felt enough sadness and pain for a lifetime. I want you to feel at ease where I am concerned.” He held my eyes with his, and my guilty thoughts seemed to blow away. Quaid grinned at me.
“Sweet cousin, have you given any thought to what you would like to do?” Simon asked. I stared into his ice blue eyes.
“No, not at all. All I wanted was to check on the ladies. Now that I have done that, I am satisfied that they are happier here.”
“I hear she’s been too trapped in despair over you and Hiroshi to do much of anything for the past few weeks,” Eric said.
“You must promise never again to become so despondent over me,” Simon said as he stared into my eyes.
“I can’t. You know I can’t. What you ask is impossible. Simon, do I have to worry about this Cleto Dano or any of former Consul Dano’s men falsely imprisoning my family members again? Is that why you ask for such a promise? Have you been threatened?”
“I know nothing of any new threats. I simply can’t stand the thought of causing grief in your heart.”
I shrugged. “It can’t be helped. I love you.”
Quaid reached for my hand, and said, “You must not forget. In the Laconian Sector, you are named Princess Teagan Bosh. The moment you accepted me as your husband, you and your family gained the protection of me, my clan, and that of our allies. Trust all of us to keep you and those you love safe.” Quaid stroked his fingers across the top of my hand, and all of my fears dispersed like the smoke from the fire’s flames. “Princess Teagan, if you have no other plans, would you consider having lunch with me, alone?”
I looked down at his large tan hand holding mine. “You don’t mean without Neema, do you? I can’t be away from her.”
Quaid smiled and said, “You will not be far from Neema. Trust me.”
“Okay, if you’re sure. She needs me.” Quaid kissed my fingers, rose from the couch, and left.
Eric’s vid-screen began beeping. Simon moved to sit beside me. Eric listened and then laughed. He brought the vid-screen over to us. Paul’s face appeared. “My boys are here,” he whispered. Paul aimed the screen down into one of the cribs I had bought for them. Above the blue swaddling, two little pink, cute, and sleeping faces were visible. Paul walked away from the crib and said, “Mary is perfect and so are my sons.” We whispered congratulations to Paul, and he promised to call again in a few days.
Yukihyo and Hiroshi brought Neema inside from their walk out in the freshly falling snow. I took her up to our room and saw to her needs. Yukihyo changed out of his boots and into warm slippers. A knock sounded on our door, and he admitted a smiling Quaid.
“The lady has agreed to go to lunch with me,” he said as he handed Yukihyo an advanced tracking device. Before I could worry about Yukihyo’s feelings, a wave of calm soothed me.
Kissing my cheek, Yukihyo said, “Lady wife, our daughter will want you in a few hours.”
I nodded. Quaid extended his hand to me. I went to him. In the foyer, he held open a floor length coat for me. It was white and made of thickly lined silk, hooded, and had been embroidered with green and gold thread. “This is beautiful.”
“I don’t wish for you to be cold.” Quaid pulled the hood over my hair and fastened the coat’s edges. Then, he gave me his arm and led me outside to Eric’s sleek black transport. Quaid drove us away from my house through the softly falling snow. I glanced over at him and then down at my hands. I had no idea what to say to him. The reality hit me that I had agreed to a marriage arranged by our fathers. We drove along in silence toward the shops until Quaid stopped in front of a restaurant. He opened my door and walked with me inside. A waiter greeted us and showed us to a table near one of the fireplaces. Quaid helped me out of the beautiful coat.
“How did the weaver do this?” I asked, as I stared at the gold and green embroidery along the coat’s edges, cuffs, and hem.
“It didn’t. My mother stitched it for you by hand. She feared I would never marry.”
I thought of the hours it took Gram to make the little stitches on her pieces. “She must have spent hours working on this.” I felt my eyes begin to fill with tears.
“That day on the bridge, when I felt your desire for me, I called her and described you to her. She began stitching it that day.”
“Wasn’t that about three months ago?” I asked. Quaid smiled at me. I wiped at my eyes. A waiter served us hot tea. “Please, express to Lady Bosh my gratitude.” The waiter returned with skewers of meat and dipping sauces.
“I hope one day to introduce you to my father, mothers, brothers, sisters, and the rest of my family. My family is now your family.”
I placed my hand over Nico junior. “I have promised not to leave the Empire until my son is born.”
“There is no hurry. Your empire is a beautiful place to visit.”
With our lunch eaten, I worried what Quaid had planned next. He helped me back into my coat and then into the transport. The ground had begun to show traces of white. Quaid drove down a few streets that I had never seen. Then, he parked in front of a building. He winked at me, got out, and opened my door. Quaid gave me his arm and escorted me inside. An attractive woman in her forties greeted us. “Good afternoon. Please, enjoy your visit and do not hesitate to let me know if you require assistance.”
Quaid led me past the main entrance and into a maze. The walls were a soft cream, and the lighting was subdued. When we turned a corner, I saw a light shining down on a framed painting. We stopped. The painting was of a feather. It had been painted on a large scale of maybe two feet in length. The artist had painted the feather in such detail that it seemed as though I viewed it under a microscope.
“What is this place?”
“This is an art exhibition maze.”
We continued and turned at the next corner. The painting featured had been framed in branches and was of a mother bird with her wings stretched over her nest as a light rain fell.
“Aw, that’s so sweet.”
Quaid laced our fingers together. Each painting on display featured birds. Once we had completed the maze, I had a happy and contented smile on my face.
“Thank you, Quaid. I enjoyed that. It amazes me that people can create such stunning images with paint and a brush. We’ll have to make sure Ms. Laura knows about this place.” Quaid gave me a slow smile, placed his fingers under my chin, and gave me a gentle kiss.
“You are welcome. I enjoyed viewing the collection as well. Even more, I enjoyed your company. We should return before Neema wakes.” Then, he helped me into the transport and drove us home.
Yukihyo waited for us in the foyer. “Is she awake?” I asked.
“No, lady wife. You seem well.” I kissed him hello.
“Yes, thank you. Quaid took me to lunch and then to an art exhibit. We had a lovely time. Look what his mother made for me.” I held out the hem, so he could see.
“Gram would envy Lady Bosh’s skill. I am glad you had such a nice time.”
Quaid helped me out of the coat and said, “Please allow me to escort you to Neema, Lady Teagan.” He placed the coat over his left arm and offered me his right. Yukihyo followed us. Quaid hung my coat in the closet, winked at me, bowed, and left.
“I’m surprised he didn’t ravage you as soon as he got you alone.”
I nodded. “He was a perfect gentleman. I had a nice time after I stopped being afraid he was going to do something to make me feel guilty.”
Yukihyo pulled me against his chest and looked into my eyes. His milky white eyes held traces of red and pink. “Commander Quaid Bosh is now family and your husband.”
“And I still want to run away with you and Neema and hide in our forest where it’s safe.” I shrugged. “I don’t feel
like I really have any control of my life. I need to be with you. I need everything else to stop or at least slow down. Does that make sense?”
Yukihyo nodded, smiled down at me, and said, “I think you need to be cuddled against my strong manly chest.”
“Yes, I very much agree.” He held me until Neema woke. Then, we remained alone together in our room until Papa, Nico, and Kane returned for dinner.
Yukihyo strode into the living room. Teagan, Violet, and Kaoti were enjoying the indoor pool that stretched the length of the back of the house. Yukihyo held his daughter on his shoulder. She sucked on her hand leaving a line of drool on his shirt. “What are you playing at Quaid?” Black eyes stared into white eyes that were streaked with purple and pink. Nico listened intently from his chair where he read reports from his subordinates.
“It’s no game. She tenses up every time I’m near her. I have to win her trust before I can win her love.” As Quaid spoke, Nico sat back against his chair. “She feared that I intended to throw up her skirt as soon as I got her alone, as did you. She thinks desire is shameful. You are the only one with whom she feels no shame.”
“That is because she is mine and has been since the first moment I saw her, and you know it.” Yukihyo wanted to drive his fist into Quaid’s mouth.
“You may have taught her to love you, but I will teach her to want me,” Quaid said with a slow grin.
While splashing around in the huge heated pool, Violet told me that she had figured out her husband’s secret. Kaoti seemed relieved not to be in trouble with her for his pre-marital behaviors. When he had joined us in the pool, I had cried when I saw his chest. The nanites continued to slowly repair his damaged epidermal layer, but the scars reminded me of how he had placed himself between me and a blaster cannon. Violet shared my feelings and insisted he wear a protective Arachnean silk shirt every day. A huge splash had us wiping water from our eyes.
The Parvac Emperor's Daughter (The Space Merchants Book 3) Page 3