A New Time

by Donna Steele

  Braxal pondered this. Such an idea made sense, though unprecedented to his knowledge. And possibly honored him.

  Again, there was much to muse upon.

  Chapter 23

  Washington, D.C.

  Everything was different. Erica expended some energy to pinpoint it. Dealing with personalities and physical bodily needs distracted her much of the time, but things were definitely different.

  Momma was more relaxed. She hummed when she nursed her. Daddy was different too, peaceful. After a moment she found the word. Happy. She heard laughter coming from Momma and Daddy’s bedroom as well as gasps and shouts occasionally with no negative feeling behind it.

  Something had happened while she slept. This body still needed so much daily recuperation time. The need would diminish, Erica was confident, but often she found herself frustrated.

  Maybe she should seek out Cael again. Erica remained aware of her non-intrusive observation, indeed a guiding principal for Guardians for the most part. That was not what had been needed here. Without intervention, the Malveks would have taken the planet.

  The Guardians were unaware of the role they played this time.

  Cael could understand her, where her parents could only pick up the most basic thoughts so far, like her bodily needs. In any case, they were already attuned to those needs. For more complex communication, she currently needed an interpreter.

  Whatever the name she used—Erica or Essence—she had noted these two humans when Cael began her observation. She now referred to them in her mind as Momma and Daddy, but they had drawn her to them. They could give her what she had wanted for more millennia than could be counted.

  Now her existence felt better than ever. It was a great leap forward.

  ~ ~ ~

  Dusty raised himself on one elbow to observe Dee as she returned to herself after some incredible lovemaking, unaware he viewed her quietly.

  They were truly back together. His fear, that reconciling would never happen, was gone. They had kept things from one another, such as her lack of memory of so many weeks of her pregnancy and his fear of losing her. Had he learned his lesson?

  I’ll never allow such a thing to happen again.

  He could already see her health returning. She’d regained some weight and had more energy. He smirked to himself, remembering how her energy turned on him moments ago.

  They definitely needed a bigger place. The plan, to buy a house, had been placed on hold when things deteriorated. Now, having Erica only one wall away might not be a good idea. He didn’t want to traumatize their daughter with unexplainable noises coming from their bedroom.

  He would pull up those websites again and they’d begin a new search for the home they wanted, something with a nice guestroom for the grandfathers. Dusty tried to stifle the chuckle.

  “What’s so funny?” Dee’s soft voice went straight to his cock and he was ready for her again.

  Letting his hand caress down her side, he smiled. “Thinking about a nice guestroom.”

  Her smile brightened his world. “I thought about that the other day. I kind of dropped the ball there.”

  “We dropped the ball. There were other considerations. Interested?”

  “Very.”

  He nuzzled her throat and she purred, responding to his lips and taking the lead to deepen their kiss. She sank into the side of his body and they were quiet for moment, savoring their closeness.

  Dee was the one to break the silence. “Dusty, I keep forgetting to ask you something.”

  “Yeah?” He didn’t stop his exploration of her body.

  “Why does Mom think you know about an appendectomy performed on me?”

  He froze.

  Another secret I’d forgotten about.

  ~ ~ ~

  “Dusty? What’s wrong?” Her mention of a non-existent appendectomy shouldn’t evoke such an expression. Dee moved closer, offering comfort he suddenly seemed to need.

  “Yeah. Listen, I don’t want you to get upset.”

  She stared at him for a long moment. “We said we’d be honest, tell each other everything so the other wouldn’t have to guess what’s going on.”

  “This is from before.” He hesitated.

  “I’m waiting,” Dee reminded him.

  He sighed and finally looked straight into her eyes. “Don’t kill the messenger.”

  “Oh, that’s a great start.”

  “Remember on the night we met Roger, he accused you of lying when you said you were pregnant.”

  “Yes, I remember. I thought it an odd statement, but I didn’t know the man.”

  “The statement bothered your dad and he kept coming back to it. Finally, he recalled an incident and he investigated it. The main thing to remember is it didn’t happen. You weren’t here in that timeline.”

  “What didn’t happen?” Fear began to bloom inside her.

  Dusty sighed again and pulled her into his arms, turning her away from him to rest against his chest.

  “You were a kid, I don’t know exactly what age, but a minor. Your mother had to go out of town to care for her mother. It was all arranged for you to go stay with your father. On the day you were supposed to leave, Roger called Ben and told him you couldn’t come. You’d had an emergency appendectomy. I guess what Roger didn’t anticipate was a father who actually cared about his child. Your dad arrived immediately and when you were released from the hospital, brought you to his home to recuperate. You stayed with him until your mother came home.”

  Dusty trailed his hands up her arms as she settled more comfortably against him. “You didn’t need an appendectomy,” he continued. “Your father was finally able to track down the quack who performed it. A Dr. Garen. He’s lost his license because of drugs and booze, but he had a practice then. When your father strong-armed him, he finally confessed the real reason for the surgery was to . . .” His arms, while still holding her, had become tense.

  “Dusty?” Dee urged him to continue, running her hand down his muscle and taking hold of his fingers.

  “To sterilize you. It didn’t happen.” He spoke quickly now. “You had no appendectomy and I can testify personally you were pregnant. I was there for both ends of it.”

  Despite herself she chuckled a bit at those words. But her temper returned instantly. “You’re thinking he planned to rape me. With Mother out of town and me all to himself.”

  “We don’t know for sure what Roger planned.”

  She turned in his arms. “We don’t?”

  “Okay, we can assume. Regardless, he was stopped, even in this timeline. Ben thwarted his plans. I honestly don’t think the man realized how protective a real father could be. By the time you came home, and with your mother back in residence, he dropped his plan. Ben is convinced he would have known if something had happened.”

  “When did the two of you discuss this?”

  “Oh, that. He, uh, he called me and asked me to meet him, not too long after the wedding.”

  “And you didn’t say anything to me.”

  “Ben asked me not to. There was no reason to upset you. It didn’t happen and I knew your opinion of Roger couldn’t go any lower.”

  “What does Mom know?”

  Dusty shook his head. “I haven’t spoken with her about it. I don’t plan to. All I know is, when her daughter supposedly needed emergency surgery, she didn’t come home. She did allow your father to take you home with him, so there’s a possibility she suspected something. I guess she was stuck between a rock and hard place and punted the responsibility.”

  “That does sound like her.” Dee sighed.

  “Are you okay?”

  “I think so. I’m detached from it. It’s like hearing a story about someone else. I have no memories of anythin
g like that.”

  “Are you angry with me or Ben?”

  “No. I probably wouldn’t have told me either. My anger is for Roger and his obscene plan, which feels distant, removed from me. He was foiled. At least now I can watch Mom’s reaction if it ever comes up again. Any other secrets?” She cupped his face in her hands and kissed the side of his mouth. “Come clean.” She kissed the other side of his mouth and felt him relax.

  “It’s not a secret, but I love you.”

  Chapter 24

  Home World of the Malveks

  Braxal returned to his chambers, requiring privacy to contemplate Gsark’s thoughts, as well as Ledda’s. An excursion rather than an invasion. Only a few spans ago he would have scoffed at the idea.

  Was he weakening? Had his alliance with Gsark made him a female? Malveks bowed to no one. But he had seen, and felt, what happened when the shield appeared to guard the planet known as Earth. In a moment’s time they were mentally flung from the planet. Gsark’s mind talker still recovered from the assault, though he was aware his mind talker attended him daily after completing his assignments.

  To work with the Guardians to identify planets where spawning would increase without invasion and the death of soldiers . . . Such an expansion would grow their empire in a multitude of ways. The mind talkers needed to be part of that growth.

  Braxal glanced up at the transparent membrane above him that focused the warmth of the yellow star Malvek orbited as well as maintaining his preferred humidity. Earth too had a star of this visual spectrum and before the change, a growing humidity. That planet only boasted one large moon, rather than the three small moons orbiting Malvek.

  He was comfortable in this room. He could relax physically and contemplate the new and strange suggestions Gsark and Ledda had outlined.

  Reclining, Braxal studied the ideas put forward. Another step in an unknown direction. This one included the counsel of a sentient female. So much change unsettled him greatly, yet Gsark’s plan showed merit. Braxal would welcome time spent with his two warrior sons to assess their progress.

  Both were older than Sandarc, ready to make names for themselves. Having his eldest, Thoruus, on Gsark’s ship could have many benefits. Rissul, his second warrior son, would be with him. The small number of his best warriors on board would give them some security as they made this foray into the unknown.

  How much should Braxal share with his underlings? No one was aware of his and Gsark’s attempt to contact the Guardians. None of his lieutenants were capable of understanding such tactics. He had thought the same of his mind talkers not so long ago.

  There had never been a female who meant more to him than a means to produce warrior sons. Watching Gsark with Ledda caused many new thoughts to occur. With such narrow and old ways of thinking, had he missed opportunities to grow his clan?

  He envied Gsark’s life with someone so close to discuss his thoughts. A mate to share with.

  Such a leap.

  ~ ~ ~

  Washington, D.C.

  “I understand why you’ve asked me,” Ben said, “but I’m not sure I’m the right person for this.” Ben’s reluctance was understandable.

  Dusty continued anyway. “Who would you suggest, and how would we ensure Dee doesn’t say something that would make someone question her sanity? Could everything from 1891 be spun into a dream?” he pressed.

  Ben looked across the room, toward Dusty’s father. “Evan, what do you think?”

  “I understand your reservations, but it would be safer this way. You’re not treating her, only attempting to retrieve memories.” Dad sat in the large chair, Erica sleeping peacefully in his arms.

  “A good point,” Ben admitted.

  “If you can think of another way I’ll listen.” Dusty had talked to Ben about little else since his arrival. He’d finally agreed it had to be done, the final hurdle helped by Dad.

  Both fathers were brought into the loop regarding her disappearance and the true story of Erica’s birth. Dusty could definitely sympathize with the expression of horror on Ben’s face and the pallor that turned him gray for a short time.

  “Dad.” Dee laid her hand on Ben’s arm. “I hate to push like this, but we have nearly four hours right now. Erica will sleep at least that long before she’s hungry again.”

  “You could be resting.”

  “I’d rest better if I knew what happened to me.”

  “You’re all relentless.” Ben sighed, though he finally nodded. “Erica shouldn’t be in the room.”

  “I’ll take her.” Dusty was already on his feet. He wasn’t going to fist bump, but relief encompassed him for a moment.

  With Erica tucked away in her crib, Dee got comfortable in the big chair, her shoes off and feet up.

  Dusty still felt Ben’s reluctance, even with everyone’s agreement to do this. Their fathers hadn’t realized the extent of the problem, having just learned about the trip to Braddock’s Crossing and where Erica had actually been born. They were all on the same page now.

  Ben’s soothing voice began relaxing Dee further as Dusty and his dad stayed back out of the way. There was no issue with trust in this group, and Dusty took a moment to appreciate that.

  “Dee, I want you to go back to the last day you worked at the hospital. You’re pregnant and at the ER. Do you see it?”

  “Yes.”

  “Can you describe what’s going on?”

  Dusty saw her body tighten and her hands become fists. As per Ben’s instructions Dusty managed to keep silent. Ben had observed her tension as well.

  “This is a memory, Dee. It can’t hurt you. You’re surrounded by people who love you. You only need to observe.”

  Her body relaxed slightly, though not back to the ease of a moment earlier. “They’re everywhere.” Her voice dropped to a whisper.

  “Who are?”

  “The alligator people. Nearly everyone has been taken over. No one sees it.”

  “You can see it.”

  “Yes. The scales are right there if anyone would bother to look, but no one sees. They want Dusty. They’ve come for him.”

  That jolted Dusty upright. His dad, too.

  “Why do they want Dusty?” Ben’s voice remained calm, soft.

  “The time travel. They want him to explain it to them, teach them. They want to control time. He’s the scientist, he understands.”

  “You’re safe here, Dee. You only have to observe,” Ben reminded her. “Why are they targeting you if they want information from Dusty?”

  “They can’t get to him. His mind is too strong for them. He had the dreams, but he could brush them off. They know I’m weak. They want me to lead them to him. She didn’t work.”

  “She? Who are you talking about?”

  “The woman with the blue-green scales. She’s beautiful and she tried to seduce him.”

  Both fathers turned to stare at Dusty. What the hell! She spoke of Angie. Nothing had happened between them. They’d only met the one time. After seeing his contentment in his job, she hadn’t really tried to recruit him. She’d learned about Dee and the baby’s imminent birth and expressed happiness for him. Nothing happened between them. It hadn’t even occurred to him.

  “Do you know the woman’s name?”

  “Angie.”

  “Are you concerned about her?”

  “Not the seduction part. Dusty loves me. He didn’t give in to her either.”

  Dusty sighed a breath of relief. Dee knew he loved her. Angie hadn’t tried to seduce him. She’d tried to recruit him for her company. She would have been unsuccessful in either case. Thank goodness Dee understood. Even under the pressure she’d endured, she knew he loved her.

  Had Dee truly been jealous? Why hadn’t he realized it bothered her to s
uch an extent? He should have done more to reassure her, if only he’d known. More attention would be paid to his wife in the future for every situation.

  They’d talked about it only once. Dusty thought things were cool. There was no reason for her to worry. He knew he would have to explain this to both fathers shortly.

  “Angie displayed scales?” Ben spoke again. Dusty fixed his concentration on the here and now.

  “She was the first. I couldn’t see them before her.”

  “Let’s go back to the last day you worked at the hospital. Do you remember getting in the car to leave work after your shift?”

  “Yes.”

  “Where are you going?”

  “I have to get away, disappear. They want Dusty and I have to protect him.”

  “He’s safe now. This happened weeks ago. You were successful in protecting him and he’s safe. You’re only remembering. Where were you going?” Ben repeated.

  “To Dad’s. He’ll know what to do. If I am insane, he’ll know what to do.”

  Dusty watched Ben close his eyes, taking the blow on himself. He turned to Dusty. “What else?”

  “That’s enough for now. Will she remember what she said?”

  “Yes.”

  “We need to talk.”

  ~ ~ ~

  “Dusty’s right, talking is needed, but not with us present. I think Evan and I need to make ourselves scarce.” Dee’s father rose from his seat.

  “Dad—”

  “We’re not leaving town. You still have some time before you expect the baby to wake up. Use it.”

  Dad nodded at Evan who already headed toward the door.

  Dusty rose as well though Dee kept her seat. She wasn’t sure her legs would support her right now. Alligator men had been after Dusty. Of course, it was only in her mind, but now she understood the fear she’d finally been able to remember, if not recreate.

  Both fathers gave her kisses, then left without another word. Dusty closed the door behind them and turned to her.