by Lucy Kelly
“It’s silly,” she said.
“We would like to hear it; even if it is silly,” said Arjun.
Kylan and Rune nodded their heads in agreement.
“I just thought that after I had the babies, I’d be back to normal. I don’t mean completely normal. I know I have some healing to go through. It’s just the pain meds are wearing off a little and I’m realizing I’m never going to be the same, physically, as I was before. I’m not going to have a flat-toned belly again. I’m not going to be sexy anymore. I’m flabby and have horrendous stretch marks and my ass is huge and you aren’t going to want me anymore!” she said with a whine in her voice. “I know I’m being ridiculous, but I can’t help it. As happy as I am with my babies, I’m miserably unhappy with my body.”
She was feeling a flood of hormones. The endorphins from the birth had faded and she was now growing irritable and tired.
“Aditya, we love you. We loved you from the moment we first saw you,” said Arjun.
“Yes, but I was thin then!” she said, nearly in tears.
Her Ankida were about to do whatever they could to impress upon her the fact they would love her, even when, after a long, long, long life, she was older, bent and toothless—and she was far from that now. All of a sudden, Cara and Dilys gave out little squeaks and started to glow. Golden sparks flickered in the air above their tiny bodies.
Suddenly Addie started glowing also—the glowing light covering her body. She lifted from the bed and the light surrounding her growing brighter and brighter until her Ankida had to shut their eyes. When the glow dimmed, Addie settled back on the bed.
“Give me those girls!” she said.
When she held them both in her arms, she brought them close to her and looked into their eyes—Cara’s and Dilys’s golden ones.
“When you get older, you’ll realize when your mother is being dramatic and perhaps a little weepy. It doesn’t mean you have to tire yourselves out doing something nice for me. Don’t get me wrong, I love what you did. But you’re the babies and I’m the mommy. It’s my job to take care of you, not the other way around. Now, I’m sure you must be very tired, but you need to nurse some more before you go to sleep,” she said.
When she had them both nursing, she looked up at her Ankida. They looked surprised, awed, and confused, all at the same time.
“It wasn’t me who healed Natalie and Makor; it was them. They have my Nam-Nin powers. They probably all do. In Cara and Dilys, it’s manifested as the power to heal. They’ve given me back my body the way it was before I got pregnant. You can’t see it under the blanket, but I can feel it. I’m not in pain or uncomfortable anymore.”
The men were amazed and a little worried. Something like this had never happened throughout the history of the Nephilim. Their daughters would need constant protection. Only the most loyal of the warriors could know of the powers they possessed, both for their sakes and their mother’s sake.
After a few minutes of exchanging worries and concerns, they also realized what it meant to them, personally. The last few months had been difficult for them. Seeing Addie bedridden was hard. They knew it would be months before they could all make love to her together and it was torture. When she saw she had their attention again, she spoke.
“I’m looking forward to reacquainting myself with your bodies very soon. We’re going to have to be mindful, though. The girls are going to need to feed every two hours until they gain some weight,” she said with a smirk.
“I’ll be lucky to last two hours,” said Kylan.
“Okay, we’ve established that we’re all looking forward to some quality time between the sheets. We do have a few other things we need to decide and take care of before we head back to our quarters. First, do we or do we not let the people on this ship know about my fabulous post-natal figure? If we do, we’ll have to say I healed myself because I’m not ready to let it out what Cara and Dilys can do. Next, we will have to greet our people and let them catch at least a glimpse of our girls, because those girls are the future of the Nephilim people.”
Addie looked at each of her Ankida and watched as her words sank in. She reached for Aelwen and Bedelia, they were starting to fuss. She put them to her breasts. Instead of talking, she gave them the attention they deserved—one-on-one time with their mom. Okay, two-on-one time. When they were finished eating and being burped, Erena and Fenella were fussing, so she fed them next. When the babies had all been fed again and fallen asleep, they put the babies down in the incubators lined up along the wall so they would stay warm.
Addie spoke again. “While speaking to Cassandra can wait, we need to finish with Malpha. I had invited the king to come to the ship today. We need to introduce them and see if Malpha is willing to marry him. Regardless of what I said before, I won’t force them to join. If she doesn’t like him and doesn’t want to see if she will like him, then we have to work something out—and fast. Maybe send her to Earth—I don’t know, but something,” she said.
“You would send Malpha to Earth?” asked Arjun.
“She can easily pass for a human. With her skills, even in my male-dominated world, she could go far and succeed. Of course, we’d have to send messages ahead of her so our people there wouldn’t attack her.”
“One of the idioms you’re so fond of—let’s cross that bridge when we get there,” said Rune.
“I love you, guys. Okay, so we’ll see how it goes with Malpha and Ben. We still need to speak to Natalie, decide the best way to protect her. Her Ankida are cured but she’s still very fragile. Finally, the babies are here; we need to leave KowLer and finish our voyage to HeVan. I’m ready to be home—home with my babies and my Ankida.”
“I don’t think we can hide your quick recovery—especially on this ship, where we have grown so close to one another,” said Kylan.
“I agree; it would send a message of distrust. We can’t lie to these warriors. We have been through too much together,” said Arjun.
“But you do agree we keep the fact it was the girls who healed me under wraps?” Addie asked.
They were all quiet for a while as they considered their options. This was a critical decision for them to make, as it could have repercussions going forward.
“I think if we take what Arjun said to its natural conclusion, we have our answer. Based on the fact we cannot trust or rely on the current Council, I will point out two things. First, when a secret is shared between two people, it is no longer a secret. Second, we would trust every warrior and female on this ship with our lives—and we have. Do we also trust them with our daughters? I think we do. I think when we arrive on HeVan—we tell the Council how much we appreciate all their hard work. We can give them a great retirement party so they can go home and enjoy being with their families. We install a new Council made up of those on this ship and on the Venger. After all, all of the lineages are represented here. The Council will have much less power after Addie takes her seat as Nam-Nin. The personal guards and all those near to our family will be those who understand at all times the importance of protecting and guarding our children, the future of the Nephilim and HeVan,” said Rune.
Addie wanted to jump for joy; Rune’s ideas were absolutely perfect. Then she remembered she could jump for joy. Throwing back the covers, she jumped off the bed and started dancing around the room.
“I love it. I love it. It’s the perfect answer,” she said.
She ran over to kiss Rune and paid no attention to the fact she was bare-ass naked until she shivered. She ran and kissed Arjun next and was on her way to Kylan, when Catherine came back into the room.
“I came to check your incision…”
Her words came to a halt when she saw Addie. She quickly gathered herself together. She was growing used to seeing amazing things since she’d come on this trip. Leaning against the door frame, she continued.
“I thought you might be ready for some pain meds. I see what you really need is a set of scrubs. You’re looking remarka
bly well for a woman who gave birth to sextuplets less than two hours ago,” she said, trying for nonchalant.
She walked over to a cupboard and pulled out a set of scrubs for Addie. She also pulled out some booties for her feet and then lost it.
“Oh, my God, Addie—you look great! How did this happen? Did you heal yourself?” Catherine was spitting out questions a mile a minute.
Looking over at her Ankida as she dressed, she saw their nods and turned back to Catherine.
“It was the girls. They have powers. We’re going to tell the people here on the ships but we’re going to keep it a secret from the general population to protect them. I know your Ankida are Seraphian, but I’d like you four to be the official medicals for my family. Will you?” Addie asked.
“I have to check with them but I can’t see them turning you down. I know I’d love to be their pediatrician and Grace’s girls, too. Thank you, Addie,” she said.
“Okay, let’s take care of Malpha and Ben first. I trust Malpha but I don’t want to trust my secret to all of the KowLer. Catherine, would you see if King Ben and Malpha could step in here for a moment?” she asked.
She didn’t understand why Catherine started to laugh.
“What—what’d I miss?”
“Everyone’s talking about it. They saw each other from across the room. The whole staring thing when the other wasn’t looking. Then he walked over to her and introduced himself and she told him she was his bride. They grabbed a pilot for the shuttle, filled with her stuff, and headed to KowLer. It looks like love at first sight—or at least, lust,” laughed Catherine.
“Whew—dodged that bullet. Okay then, it’s time to introduce the girls to the crews and tell them our secret. But I don’t want the secret going out over the communications net. Someone has to go over to the Venger and tell them in person. For now, let’s have Catherine tell everyone the babies are fine but we’re all tired. Schedule a meeting for tomorrow. Everyone who attends can see the girls and hear our announcements. It will give us time to decide on the new Council members, too,” said Addie.
“I volunteer to go to the Venger tomorrow and make the announcement there at the same time as the announcement here,” said Arjun.
“Thank you, honey. Would you go now, Catherine?” she asked.
“I’m on it. I’ll clear everyone out. I’ll come back with my Ankida to transfer you back to your quarters,” said Catherine before she left the room.
“We’ve got a solid plan. So you know what it means?” Addie didn’t wait for them to answer. “It means it’s time for us to go to bed and have hours of hot, smokin’ sex!”
“Then what is next for our queen?” asked Arjun. All three of her men, looking at her with a smile on their face and sparkles in their eyes.
“Home,” her only reply.
Epilogue
As soon as Malpha’s shuttle had returned from the planet’s surface, the two Nephilim vessels turned toward home at top speed. In three days, the Nephilim of Earth would take their first steps on HeVan.
The babies were all asleep. Addie and her three Ankida had had a very satisfying bout of sexual reconnection. They were also sleeping the sleep of the sated and satisfied.
Addie began to dream. She was reclining on a chaise in front of open French doors overlooking a garden. None of the flowers in the garden looked familiar to her. Part of her mind tried to place them, figure out where she was, when she noticed a figure walking toward her through the garden.
At first she didn’t recognize the woman—tall, stately, and stunning, with beautiful hair flowing over her shoulders and swaying in the light breeze down past her hips. As she drew closer, Addie got a good look at her face. It was Tamiel. Tamiel, the queen of HeVan for ten thousand years and every minute spent in exile, in stasis, on Earth. It was her descendants who were now returning to HeVan to lead her people.
Stepping up onto the tiled veranda, Tamiel entered then stepped into the room.
“Greetings, Aditya, daughter of my blood, daughter of my heart,” she said in a cool, clear voice.
Addie stood and walked over to embrace the woman who had been put through so much, only to give up her life and her power the moment she was saved.
Tamiel lifted a hand and ran it over Addie’s head and shoulders, the woman to whom she’d passed all her powers to. Addie would now carry the burden of saving the Nephilim—the world on her slender shoulders.
“We don’t have much time and there is much I would tell you,” Tamiel said softly.
Addie took Tamiel’s hand and led her back to the chaise, where they sat down side-by-side.
“What do I need to know?” asked Addie. She didn’t distinguish if this were a dream or something more. Either way, she understood this was an important moment.
“The times ahead are perilous for the Nephilim. Some will believe that having a queen is not necessarily a good thing. You will have opposition and some of it will be violent.”
“I understand. We’ve already discovered several plots. You don’t think it will stop when they see the Nam-Nin has returned?”
“No, too much time has passed. Many have forgotten the peace we once had. Our people are starved for the softness of a woman’s touch. Now, they no longer realize they need it.”
“Then won’t the softness we bring soothe them to an even greater extent?”
“For most, yes—but for a few, it will feel like the burn of fire instead of the softness of water.” She lifted a hand and placed it against Addie’s cheek.
“Then, daughter, there are the extra powers the women of your planet have brought with them. These abilities are the result of mixing Nephilim with the inhabitants of Earth. Your home planet. They are unknown here and will only grow stronger. It will cause jealousies, since for only your females and your female children will have these powers.”
“My babies—are they in danger?” Addie asked, grabbing Tamiel’s hand.
“Not yet. I cannot see everything. Keep Cassandra close and her power hidden. Keep only those you trust near your family.”
“I will. Tamiel, are you happy now? Do you feel you made the right decision? You would have made a better Nam-Nin than me,” said Addie.
“My time has passed. My joins and my sons have been returned to me. I am content. I won’t be able to come to you again and I must soon go. If you need help, look to your family and look to Malpha.”
“I won’t forget; she’s. She’s already helped me a lot.”
Addie heard a sound in the distance, pulling at her. She wanted to keep talking with Tamiel, but the sound was becoming insistent. She looked over her shoulder at the bedroom beyond. When she looked back, Tamiel was at the doors, stepping back into the garden.
“Don’t forget the secret in this room. It’s imperative you go…”
Addie heard no more. A baby’s cry took her from her dream and back to the room where she was now. There was no garden, only—a ship in space. Her Ankida, Arjun and Rune, were already getting up to see which of her children had woken and needed attention. Kylan plumped up the pillows behind her so she could sit up in bed.
As she watched her mates bring her daughters to her to be nursed, she thought back to her dream. She remembered every moment of it—knew she would not forget the things Tamiel told her. She’d been given a gift; she wouldn’t waste it.
As she put the first babe to her breast, she looked at her Ankida.
“I had a dream. I need to tell you about it.”
Surrounded by her Ankida and their baby girls, she told then the words her ancestress Tamiel shared with her and what it meant for them in the days to come.
Books by Lucy Kelly
Nephilim Series
HeVan Sent
Between HeVan and Hell
HeVans to Becky
HeVanly Christmas
Gateway to HeVan
HeVan’s Castoff – KowLer’s Heart - Coming February 2014
Match Made in HeVan - WIP
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Excerpt from HeVan Sent
Nephilim Series Book One
by Lucy Kelly
Ishnam, Supreme Queen of the planet HeVan, turned away from the window and slowly made her way back to her bed. She could feel the poison wending its way through her body. She only had a few hours left now. Still, she had time to finish one last act to prevent her enemies from succeeding in all of their traitorous plans.
She looked around her room; it wasn’t overly opulent, for a room in the palace. She gave in to a show of grandeur in the throne room, with its mirrored walls and gold and red tapestries framing the windows. Beautiful crystal chandeliers hung from the tall ceilings, lighting every corner. The marble floors had a plush red runner leading up to the ornately carved gold throne. It sat on a dais, with three steps leading up to it.
The throne had been in her family for centuries; it had been a gift from the people, but she’d always thought it was horribly uncomfortable. Her Ankida had ruled by her side so she’d had three additional chairs carved out of hardwood. They had been inlaid with rare woods and precious metals from every province on HeVan. She’d personally selected the cushions covered in the colors of her House. At least they could sit comfortably while she handled matters of State. She often requested their opinion on various problems and had found their counsel to be wise. She missed them with her whole being.
Here in her bedroom, only the size of twenty feet by twenty feet indicated wealth. The bed was large enough for her and her three mates to sleep comfortably. She reached over and picked up the pillow next to her and breathed in the scent of her Ankida , barely lingering there. Her heart broke a little more at the loss; she would be with them soon.
She looked over at the curved, wide couch where they all sat together so many times. It was covered in white and gold brocade, with beautiful multi-colored pillows for added comfort. She remembered lounging there in the mornings with her Ankida , having their breakfast, or in the evenings during story time with the children.
