The Parvac Emperor's Daughter (The Space Merchants Book 3)

by Wendie Nordgren

  “Stone,” Isidora said.

  “I thought it felt too heavy to be pottery. I better be careful not to drop anything.” The thought of accidentally breaking anything in Yukihyo’s house terrified me. I feared every item remaining must have a memory attached to it. Therefore, everything should be cherished. “Isidora, thank you for the coffee. I enjoyed it.”

  “You’re welcome, Teagan.” She smiled at me, and I smiled back at her.

  “My two favorite women in the galaxies are getting along. I couldn’t be more pleased.”

  Isidora turned to Simon, and her smile took on a seductive quality. “My lord, I must argue. I think I can please you a great deal more.”

  I drew in a breath at my cousin’s passionate response. Simon winked at me. Then, he stood up, picked Isidora up, and put her over his shoulder.

  “Simon! Put me down!”

  “I’ll put you down as soon as we are someplace private.”

  “Simon, I mean it!”

  Simon slapped her on the ass and kept walking. I heard footsteps converging with his. Then, I heard hoots of male laughter and sensed some true irritation from Isidora which made me chuckle.

  Phillip said, “I see being in a fancy cave house has turned Simon into a cave man.”

  “Yes, and with her temper, I think Simon will be the one who needs treatment for sex injuries,” I said.

  Gary, who had walked into the dining room with Phillip, spluttered a bit at my words. I laughed at him, and my little princess joined me.

  “It’s too bad Cass isn’t here. He might have wrapped her up for Simon,” Phillip said.

  “If she were tied up in spider silk, it would be difficult for Simon to accomplish the task he just carried her off to complete,” I said.

  “Not if she were tied up correctly,” Phillip said.

  “Phillip, don’t say things like that in front of her,” Gary said with red creeping up his neck. He acted like he wanted to cover my ears.

  “Gary, you’re supposed to kick him under the table. That’s what Hiroshi does.”

  “What do I do?” Hiroshi sat beside me and held his hands out for Neema. She went to him and stuck her thumb in her mouth.

  “You kick Phillip when he makes sexual innuendoes. This was less innuendo and more explanation, though. Wouldn’t you agree, Gary?” Gary was speechless.

  “What terrible thing have you said in front of my baby sister?”

  Phillip tried to give Hiroshi an innocent look. We both snorted at him.

  “Phillip was talking about tying Isidora up with spider silk so Simon could have his way with her without risk of personal injury. I think the next time he sneaks up on me with a vitamin injection, I’ll tell on him to Isidora. Then, she’ll take her anger out on him. Thus, allowing Simon to interact with her unscathed.”

  Phillip’s jaw dropped. “Cupcake, that’s diabolical.”

  I shrugged. I felt Yukihyo’s approval before I heard him and the others. A feeling of contriteness flowed from him to me. Standing, I went to Yukihyo wrapping my arms around him and resting my cheek against his chest. Perhaps being here had made him feel guilty that he had survived and others had not. I hugged him tighter.

  “I love you, Yukihyo Alaric Montgomery Lee.” His arms closed around me.

  “Princess Teagan Alaric Montgomery Lee, wife and mother of my clan, I love you. I love seeing you here in your dining hall. I hope one day it will be filled with our progeny. For now, having a table partially filled is enough.”

  Yukihyo moved his hands up to my face. The firelight danced upon his skin. As I gazed up into his milky eyes, he brought his lips down to mine placing a gentle kiss on my lips.

  “Do you really know how much I love you and how much you mean to me? Sometimes, like now, my feelings for you are so strong that I ache with them.”

  Yukihyo kissed my forehead. He hesitated with his lips above my right eye until I closed them. Placing a gentle kiss there, he moved to my other lid kissing it just as gently. Yukihyo pressed his forehead to mine, and I gave him my hands. We stood together in peace and perfect contentment until Neema screamed, “Daddy!”

  We laughed. Looking deeply into my eyes, Yukihyo kissed me once more before taking Neema from Hiroshi. Quick footsteps joined us from the living room. Nico’s face held a broad excited grin. Kaoti, Quaid, and a mixture of Parvac and Militia soldiers were with him.

  “Did you ask her yet?” Nico asked.

  Nico came to us, stood behind me, and rested his hands over my stomach. Feeling a flutter of movement, I laughed and moved his hand. Nico couldn’t feel anything.

  Then, narrowing my eyes, I said, “Ask me what?”

  The same sense of guilt returned to me from my husband. Yukihyo placed his hand around Neema’s foot. “Well, I have been informed of a danger on our land. It is my duty to make it right. If my negligence resulted in harm to one of the men who care for our home in our absence, my shame would be great.”

  Raising my eyebrows, I said, “That sounds like a bunch of sheep poop from Nephele. I’m not buying what you’re saying any more than I would be inclined to buy the poop. What are you really up to?”

  My analogy had earned me a few chuckles from the soldiers. Yukihyo grinned at me and winked. I sensed excitement from both him and Quaid.

  “Yukihyo said he would take us to hunt ice bear,” Nico informed me.

  The thought of ice bear seared in little pieces and dipped in the blackberry jelly from Aurilius occurred to me. That got me to thinking about scrambled eggs, and my stomach growled. Yukihyo, Phillip, Quaid, and Nico’s laughter pulled me from my food fantasy.

  “No. I’m sorry, but you can’t go,” I said with a vehement head shake. I saw their disappointment. “I’m not in the mood to get kidnapped.”

  Nico kissed my hair. “We have a defense grid erected, Kane and Eric have the property under surveillance from their ships, and five elite Parvac and Militia soldiers are staying to guard you.”

  Quaid added, “Isidora will sense the approach of any mind not belonging.”

  “Don’t forget that Simon and Phillip are both here,” Yukihyo added.

  Shaking my head, I said, “Fine. You had all better hope nothing happens while you’re gone. My Papa knows who each of you are.”

  “Your Uncle Kagan knows each of us which is perhaps even more frightening,” Nico said.

  Yukihyo tried to keep his excitement from me. Sighing, I held my arms out for Neema. Yukihyo grinned as he gave her to me. I clenched my jaw when I realized why. “Where is her bag?”

  “I placed it on the bed in our room.”

  “Thanks. Come on, Neema. Let’s get you cleaned up.” Phillip caught up with us and accompanied us all the way to the end of the house and our room. I realized the room was deep inside of a mountain. Maybe we were safe. “So, how many girlfriends do you have on Chione?”

  “Not a one. This is the first time we have returned. Give me some time at the land port, Cupcake. How are you feeling?”

  “I’m okay. I know what to expect and so do Yukihyo and Nico. They haven’t been as overbearing as they were with Neema.” Phillip gave me his innocent bored look. Suspiciously, I asked, “What?”

  “There isn’t much to do here.”

  “No, there isn’t.” A sense of dread filled me when I realized how his conversation had shepherded me. He smiled as he took the dirty diaper from my hand. “What are we supposed to do with that?”

  “There are incineration disposals in each of the restrooms near the doors. I’ll be right back.”

  Feeling more comfortable, my baby kicked her feet, smiled at me, rolled over, and crawled a little way on the bed. She became interested in the thick soft fur covering the bed and clutched handfuls of it. She went to her stomach and tried to put the fur in her mouth. Deciding to make myself more comfortable, I sat on the bed and brought her to my lap to feed.

  When Phillip returned, he wore a wicked grin. I knew why. Even though Isidora attempted to shield both S
imon’s and her own emotions, his amorous interest was clear. “And I thought Eliot was bad. Simon’s emotions were nothing like this on Malta.”

  “On Malta, he was tending a physical need. On Isidora, he is tending to quite a bit more.”

  “Oh, gross, Phillip. You can sense them, too?”

  “With Yukihyo gone, I can’t sense much emotion. However, my other senses are working. My ears picked up some wild sounds coming from the bathing chamber.” Phillip winked.

  “Oh, gross. They’re doing that in the bath water? Is there a filtration system?”

  Phillip threw back his head and laughed. Neema stopped nursing to laugh with him. I took the opportunity to burp and switch her. “There are natural cleaning enzymes in the water. I scanned it earlier for parasites.”

  “That was thoughtful of you.”

  Phillip bent over to rub Neema’s tummy with a finger. He smiled and said, “I know how my little Creampuff likes to splash, so I have to make sure everything is perfect for her.” He held her foot.

  “I think Uncle Phillip is wrapped around this little finger right here,” I said as I kissed her pinky.

  He lifted her from my arms and placed her in a baby bed that Yukihyo had brought in from another room. I noticed his medical bag sitting on one of the trunks that lined the wall and groaned.

  “Not bad, Cupcake. You have been doing a much better job with your diet this go around,” Phillip said as he read his scanner.

  “What choice do I have? If I eat what I want, you’ll lecture me, and Nico will pummel you for upsetting me. Seeing you hurt after the incident in the market was enough for a lifetime.”

  “Aw, that’s real sweet. Don’t worry about me, though. I know how to handle your general.”

  “Oh, how? I haven’t figured that out yet myself.” Smirking, Phillip tapped at his vid-screen and then handed it to me. An official Parvac Imperial seal filled the screen. I scrolled down. As I read, my jaw began to clench. “Seriously?”

  “Yep. You can’t have Mrs. Tereas or the Lady Valen ordering me around. General Cassian can’t interfere with my treatment of you either. I only answer to you and Emperor Probus. A Chief Medical Officer or Dr. Fotri are the only ones who can override my medical advice.”

  There was a knock on the door. “Princess, the Captain wants to speak to you,” Gary said. He came forward and handed his vid-screen to me.

  Eric wore a huge dimpled smile. “I thought you would want to know that Auria and Eliot have just made me an uncle.” The vid-screen picture changed to a video of Eliot cradling a bundle in his arms while sitting on his bed next to Auria who slept. The view closed in on an adorable little face and a head that already had short black hair. Then, we got a view of Sydney who trembled and cried happy tears. Gram had an arm around her.

  “I’m a grandmother. We have a grandson.” Gram patted Sydney and bestowed a beautiful smile upon Ethan who held the vid-screen.

  “I’m so happy for you, Auria, and all of us. He’s beautiful! What’s his name?”

  “My son’s name is Evan Alaric. Where is Simon?”

  “I’ll go find him.” I scooted off of the bed and knocked on the door next to ours. Isidora answered. “Aunt Isidora, is your husband, Uncle Simon, available?” Isidora looked at the screen as Simon joined us in the doorway. I figured that Simon, Eliot, and Eric were close enough to be brothers, so he might as well get to be an uncle, too. Eliot moved the blanket away from Evan’s chin showing us a bit of his little chest.

  “Evan, we are going to have a lot of fun together,” Simon whispered.

  “I want to hold him! Look how cute he is. He’s a tiny Eliot.”

  “You will have to wait in line, Teagan. His grandmother and I are having difficulty sharing.”

  “Oh, Ethan, I gave you a turn.”

  I heard Ethan’s soft laughter. After a few more whispered words, our call ended. “Lord Evan Alaric of Arachne may be even more handsome than his father and uncles,” I said. Simon handed the vid-screen back to me. I turned to hand it to Gary, but he had Neema in his arms. She smiled at him, and he made faces at her. I wondered if Simon and Isidora would have a boy or a girl first. I pictured Neema, Evan, and a little red-headed kid splashing in Simon’s pool. I put the vid-screen inside of the only unfastened pocket on Gary’s vest. “Neema, stay with Gary. Mommy is going to try out the ancient restroom.”

  After learning how to heat up lunch using fire, we sat together in the living room. Neema played with her blocks in the center of the couch that was closest to the fire with Phillip, Isidora, Simon, and me providing a protective barrier around her. “How long does it take to hunt an ice bear?”

  “It can take days,” Phillip answered.

  “Days?” I made an annoyed sound.

  “Princess, you’ve got visitors,” Gary announced.

  “Who is it, Kane?”

  “No, locals.”

  I scooted off of the couch and took Neema with me. Two older ladies and four middle-aged men waited on the front steps under the steeple roof of trunks. Snow had begun to fall. Soldiers held the doors open. “Hello, please come inside.” Our guests walked up the steps. The guards closed the doors. “I’m terribly sorry that you were left waiting in the cold.”

  The men helped the ladies out of their thick coats. Two Parvac soldiers flanked the door leading to the fireplaces and chairs. The visitors had coats and boots on underneath the ones that they left on the pegs. They followed me into the next room.

  “It is understandable that Lord Ponidi would ensure your safety. We have come to welcome the return of the Ponidi clan.”

  I curtsied and said, “Thank you.” I had no idea what to do next. Then, I remembered meeting General Cassian for the first time. “May I offer you refreshments?” I silently sighed in relief when I noticed Simon and Isidora. They would know how to act.

  “Thank you, Lady Ponidi. We belong to the Galatea clan and live on the other side of the mountain range,” one of the women said.

  “It’s nice to meet you. This is my cousin, Lord Simon Montgomery, and his wife, Lady Isidora.” Simon gave them a charming smile and bowed. Isidora gave a deep curtsey. “Would you like to join us in the dining room? Isidora just taught me how to make coffee. Would you care for some?”

  Lady Galatea’s eyes crinkled in the corners when she smiled. After our guests were settled, I handed Neema to Simon. Simon introduced Phillip to our guests while Isidora and I entered the kitchen where we found a few more carafes and kettles. “Thank you for helping me. Having visitors is still unfamiliar territory.”

  “I’m glad to help.”

  We got Phillip to help us with the tray of cups, and I mimicked Isidora as we made coffee. Then, together we filled the cups. I tried to think of what Grandmother or Mrs. Tereas would do next. Our guests hadn’t sipped from their cups yet. Isidora motioned for me to sit. When I did, Isidora also sat. Then, the Galatea family picked up their cups.

  “Word came to us of the survival of the Lady Ponidi and her daughters.”

  “Yes, Lady Galatea.” Not knowing what to say, I ended up with, “Neema misses her grandmother.”

  My thoughts of Mrs. Tereas had Neema saying, “Ma! Ma! Ma!”

  “Oh, I know, but we are too far away to talk to her from here, Neema. Chione needs a long range communications array.” Simon gave her a rattle he had hidden in his pocket.

  Phillip spoke up. “Lord Ponidi’s mother sent him with communication chips on which she recorded messages. Please allow me a moment to locate the one she created for you.” Lady Galatea inclined her head to Phillip, and he turned and walked toward the back of the house.

  “It was too painful for her to come here,” I supplied. Nervously, I asked, “May I offer you something to eat?”

  The woman who had remained quiet smiled at me. “We brought with us food to share with the Ponidi clan. It is in our transport.” She nodded to two of the men. The men rose from the bench and walked out of the dining room.

  “Thank
you. I’m sure Yukihyo will find comfort in that.”

  “Where is Yukihyo? I see him in your mind but know him by another name. I know him as Ruyo.”

  I refrained from rolling my eyes. “They went hunting for ice bear.”

  Phillip returned and gave the communications chip to Lady Galatea. One of the men gave her a device, and I heard the chip click into place. Mrs. Tereas used their native language in her message. I understood a few names but nothing else. Hearing her voice, Neema began to look around for her grandmother but couldn’t find her. Desperately, I wanted to ask Isidora what else I was supposed to do. I didn’t want to embarrass Yukihyo. Isidora just smiled at me from where she sat holding Simon’s hand. The Galateas’ attention was riveted to the recording.

  “We lost so many in those battles. I lost my son, but I see his daughter lives. I thought that I had lost every part of him. Adini kept part of my son alive for me. I have a granddaughter. Adini named her Galina for us. I want to see her. Do you think Ruyo might bring her to visit me?”

  “Do you think Adini will let her?” I asked. Adini and my other sisters were fiercely protective of their children. They always had their eyes on them. I thought it would be easier to take Lady Galatea to Parvac. She shook her head.

  “Adini would trust you and her brother to bring my granddaughter to visit me.”

  I shrugged. “Asking can’t hurt.” I wasn’t sure when we would return.

  One of the men handed a box to Lady Galatea. She placed containers of food on the table. They shared seared ice bear and ceshoosh patties with us. They tasted just like the ones Grandmother had made for me in her kitchen. I thought Grandmother would love Isidora since she seemed to know her way around a kitchen. I wondered if Lady Galatea had baked cookies for her son and Yukihyo when they were boys and if the two had played together the way Kane, Nico, and his brothers had. He might have been a lot older than Yukihyo, though, and I didn’t want to cause her more pain by asking.

  “There is another reason for our visit, Lady Ponidi. We found some of your belongings on our land. I thought it right to return them to you.”