“I would like to take a moment to check Arima Saige,” Jareth said, smiling at the group of Jasani males. “Then, if one of you with the ability to speed-travel would return me to my home, I would be most grateful.”
After Jareth left with the Lobos and the Dracons, Doc paused beside Vikter.
“I’ve already arranged for a nurse to stay with Honey until she’s up and around again,” he said. “Just give me a call whenever you’ve decided where to take her. If you want to leave her here, I’m certain the Lobos will be happy to care for her.”
“Thank you, Doc,” Vikter replied. “We’ll let you know.”
Doc nodded and left the room to check on Saige, and Vikter turned to Jackson Bearen. “We would ask that you take Honey back to her guesthouse,” he said. “It is the closest she has to a home here, and as much as we would like to take her to our home and care for her ourselves, we cannot. At least there she will have Michael to watch over her.”
“I’m afraid Dr. Davis is not there,” Jackson said. “Rob said that once Hope took Nica to our home, he went to the Research Center to work. By the way, Hope packed an overnight case for Nica, so she will be fine for a couple of days with us.”
“Did he ask to come to check on his wife?” Vikter asked.
“No, he did not,” Jackson replied. “He asked only that you be told that he would be at the lab should you need him. However, to be fair, he has no knowledge of his wife’s current condition.”
“Thank you, Jackson,” Vikter said. He frowned down at Honey uncertainly. “If we take her back to the guesthouse, she will be alone until Michael returns, aside from the nurse Doc sends.”
“Consul Vikter, Honey Davis aided our Arima, and us, yesterday,” Jackson said. “We would return her efforts in a small way by inviting her to stay in our home until she is well. She will be watched over carefully, you have our word, and not only by a nurse. Once she regains her strength, she and her daughter may remain with us if she wishes. You may visit whenever you like, of course.”
“What of her husband?” Lance asked.
“We will extend our invitation to him, as well,” Jackson replied. “Our greatest concern right now is for Honey and her daughter.”
“Jackson, I ask that you or one of your brothers speed-travel me to the lab,” Vikter asked. “I must discuss this with Michael as he is her husband.”
“Of course,” Jackson said. “I will take you myself.”
***
After Hope took Nica, Michael went to the Research Center and spent his morning recording the impressions he had gotten from the Xanti the day before. It had only taken him a few moments to figure out the recording system, so once he began, the morning flew by quickly. He kept going back to the Xanti’s bio-suit as he spoke, a nagging sensation in the back of his mind. There was something there, something about the bio-suit that was important, but he couldn’t quite see it.
He was startled out of his thoughts by a knock on the door, and spun around just as it opened. He turned off the tiny portable mic clipped to his collar and smiled at Vikter as he entered the lab with another man behind him. The newcomer had long, white blonde hair, pale blue eyes, and was built like a mountain.
“Good afternoon, Vikter,” Michael said, frowning at the expressions on the faces of the two men. “Is something wrong?” he asked, suddenly thinking of Honey. “Is Honey all right?” Vikter nodded, though his expression remained grave. “What is it?” he demanded.
“Honey used her psychic talents to save the lives of the sons of the Lobo Consuls,” Vikter said. “It cost her a great deal of energy and pain. She has been healed, but will need to sleep for at least twenty-four hours to regain her strength.”
“Are you certain she’ll be all right?” Michael asked.
Vikter and Jackson both saw and scented Michael’s worry and were relieved by it. “She will be fine,” Vikter assured him. “Michael, this is Consul Jackson Bearen, one of Arima Hope’s Rami.”
“Good to meet you,” Michael said. “Thank you for allowing Nica to stay with you today.”
“It is no trouble, Dr. Davis,” Jackson said coolly. He had nothing personal against Michael. He didn’t even know him. He just didn’t like the cavalier way he behaved in regards to his wife.
“Michael,” Vikter said, “Honey is going to need care around the clock. A nurse has been arranged for her, but the Bearens have offered to take her to their home until she is well. He extends his invitation to you, naturally.”
“That’s very kind of you,” Michael said. “But if there’s a nurse watching over her, I don’t see what I can do to help. I’ll probably just get in the way. I’ll remain at the guesthouse.”
“Very well,” Vikter said, hiding his irritation. His respect for Michael fell a few notches. Honey deserved better than that, he thought. There was nothing in the Thousand Worlds capable of preventing himself or his brothers from remaining at Honey’s side until she was fully recovered, had they the right to do so. They would certainly never be concerned about being underfoot. As it was, they would oversee her care as closely as they were able to without crossing any lines. They had to remember at all times that Honey was not theirs to care for.
“Actually, I think this would be a good time for me to go examine the other bio-suit,” Michael said, interrupting Vikter’s thoughts. “There’s something here, something important, but I can’t quite grasp it.”
“What do you mean?” Vikter asked.
“I was recording my impressions from my session with the Xanti yesterday,” Michael explained as he turned and walked slowly toward the bio-suit again. “There’s something here that’s just niggling at me. Maybe examining the other bio-suit will help.”
Vikter nodded, setting his personal feelings aside. This was why they’d brought him here. Michael Davis had an uncanny talent for this sort of thing. “All right, Michael,” Vikter said. “When would you like to leave?”
“As soon as possible,” Michael said. “I know that Honey and Nica will be safe and cared for, so now is the best time.”
“All right,” Vikter said. “Finish up here and I’ll make the arrangements and vox you.”
“That’s great,” Michael said. “Thanks Vikter. I’ve only got a few more minutes here, then I’ll go to the house, pack a bag, and wait for your call.”
When Jackson and Vikter returned to the Lobos’, everyone noticed their tension. Lance and Hunt wanted to ask Vikter, but not in front of the others.
“Lance, make arrangements for Michael to travel to Berria to examine the bio-suit and the Xanti,” Vikter said. “Tonight.”
“Today?” Lance asked in surprise.
“Yes, today,” Vikter replied. “He will be ready to go in about an hour. Once the arrangements are made, vox him, and make sure he has a ride to the airfield on time.”
“He doesn’t want to stay with his family?” Lance asked.
“No,” Vikter replied shortly. “He’s decided that since Nica and Honey are in good hands, it’s best for him to work.”
Lance clenched his jaw angrily as he turned and reached up to tap his vox. The words he wanted to say could not be said in honor. One did not interfere between a male-set and their Arima, or a husband and wife.
“Let the council know he’s coming,” Vikter continued. “They will need to retrieve the bio-suit from the Hidden City so he can examine it.”
Lance nodded, but Vikter barely noticed. “Michael wishes to accept the Bearens’ generous offer for Honey and Nica,” Vikter finished. “As do we.”
***
Xi-Kung’s eyes opened suddenly at the soft, pinging sound coming from the vid-terminal on the desk below him. Finally! he thought as he unfolded his legs and walked down the wall to his makina. He climbed inside, closed the hatch, and booted the system. It would be far easier to work at the vid-terminal using the makina than it would be using his legs. Like almost everything in his quarters, in the entire ship in fact, vid-terminals were designed for use by hum
anoid forms.
Once his makina was fully functional he walked over to the desk and sat down. It took only a moment to confirm that the alarm had not been a mistake, and that the Receiver was, finally, sending information in short data bursts. Xi-Kung did some rapid calculations on the vid-terminal. Assuming that the Receiver had collected all of the data from the Messenger as it was programmed to do, it would take several hours to upload nearly two months worth of recordings.
Xi-Kung pressed a button on the control panel at the top of his desk, connecting him to the bridge. He put the entire ship on high alert. Just because the data bursts were supposed to be untraceable didn’t mean they were. It was possible someone could stumble onto them. Once the transmissions were complete, they would move to a new location entirely while he reviewed the data.
He checked the calendar, though it was habit rather than necessity. He knew down to the minute how much time he had left before making his report to Xaqana-Ti. For the first time in weeks he felt a sense of relief as he looked at the count down. The data was being transmitted, he would have plenty of time to review it and, if necessary, implement actions before reporting to his Ruling Female. Life was good, after all.
***
“I’m not sick,” Saige said, trying not to sound irritated with her men. After all that had happened that day, she understood their worry. “I’m Clan Jasani, remember? I don’t get sick.”
“Indulge us, please,” Faron said. “This has been a difficult day for all of us. It may take a while before we get over our fear.”
“How long is a while?” Saige asked.
“Two, maybe three hundred years,” Dav replied, sitting down on the foot of the bed. “Maybe longer.”
“Get over it faster,” she said with a scowl. “I’m not going to put up with being treated like a Begonia blossom for more than a few hours. If that.”
“We know,” Faron said, smiling faintly. “We love you exactly as you are, amada, but please allow us a little time to assure ourselves that all is well.”
“All right, but just a little time,” Saige said, giving in. After all, she thought, this had been as difficult a day for them as it had been for her. “How is Honey?”
“She’s still sleeping,” Faron replied. “Jareth said she would likely sleep until tomorrow.”
“But all of the burns are healed, right?” Saige asked anxiously. She would never forget the sight of the welts appearing on Honey’s smooth skin, or the blisters and deep burns that followed. She’d wanted to look away from the sight, especially when the burns crept up Honey’s arms to her neck and face, but she had forced herself to watch every horrifying moment of it. She would not turn away from the sacrifice Honey Davis was making in order to heal her unborn sons. She owed the woman that much.
“Yes, amada,” Faron said, “all of the burns are gone. She is perfectly healed, thanks to Jareth and the Eternal Pack.”
“We owe them so much, and Honey as well,” Saige said. “How can we ever begin to thank them enough?”
“Jareth told me that for a Healer such as himself, and Honey, the real thanks is in successfully healing their patient,” Dav said. “I do not think any of them desire more than a heartfelt thank you. Should we attempt to reward them in some way, it would make them uncomfortable.”
“I understand that,” Saige said with a sigh. “It would be like someone trying to reward me for being a mother, or for protecting someone who needs protection.”
“Yes,” Faron said. “That is exactly right.”
“Even so, Honey’s personal sacrifice, the pain she endured, requires more than a simple thank you,” Saige said.
“The Elder Pack agrees,” Ban said. “They have given her the power to heal injuries in future without drawing them onto herself.”
“That’s perfect,” Saige said, smiling. “I would like to tell her of the Eternal Pack’s gift, if she doesn’t know already, so that I can thank her myself at the same time.”
“Of course,” Faron replied. “We will ask the Vulpirans and the Bearens to keep it to themselves so that you can tell her.”
“Thank you,” Saige said. “Still, the Elder Pack’s gift is not our gift. I think I’ll speak with Riata. Maybe she’ll tell me something that would be helpful to Honey.”
“That’s a good idea,” Faron said. “But please, we ask that you rest tonight and wait until tomorrow to contact Riata.”
Saige started to reply when there was a knock on the bedroom door. Ban went to answer it, opening the door to reveal their daughters, all dressed for bed, and their nanny, Dia.
“I apologize for interrupting,” Dia said. “The girls would like to say goodnight.”
“That’s fine, Dia,” Ban said, smiling as the girls ran into the room while he spoke.
“Momma, are you sick?” Varia asked as she hurried toward the bed, Mari and Bree right behind her, their braids bouncing on their shoulders. Saige smiled indulgently at her daughters. Varia, the eldest, had Faron’s dark blue hair. Maria had Dav’s lighter blue hair, and BreeAnna had the same pale blue hair as Ban. Aside from that, they looked like miniatures of Saige with her bone structure, her athletic build, and her light green eyes, down to the gold flecks. They were also quite fearless, though that trait could have come from any one of their parents.
Faron scooped Varia up in his arms and set her on the bed beside Dav. Ban picked the other two up from behind, one in each arm, and set them next to Varia, then knelt down on the floor beside the bed. Faron sat next to Saige, all of them ready to stop the girls from climbing on top of their mother as they generally liked to do.
“We was afraid Mama was sick,” Varia said.
“I’m not sick, so there is nothing to be afraid about,” Saige said.
“Are the babies sick?” Mari asked.
“They were, but they’re fine now,” Dav replied. “We want you girls to be careful about climbing on Mama from now on. All right?”
“Yes, Dede,” they all replied.
“Ata, will it hurt Mama if we kiss her goodnight?” Varia asked Faron.
“It will never hurt to get kisses from my angels,” Saige answered. “Come on up here.”
Varia smiled with relief and crawled up the bed to kiss her mother, careful not to climb on her. “I love you, Mama,” she said after kissing Saige’s cheek.
“I love you too, sweetheart,” Saige replied, kissing Varia’s forehead. Ban lifted Varia off the bed and held her while Mari got her kiss. Faron picked her up, and they all watched as Bree got hers before Dav got off the bed and lifted their youngest daughter into his arms.
“Popi, will you read us a story tonight?” Varia asked Ban.
“I think we can manage that,” Ban replied. “We won’t be as good without Mama, but we’ll try.”
Varia smiled happily, and the girls all wished Saige goodnight before their fathers carried them from the room.
“We won’t be long,” Faron said before pulling the door shut. “Please stay there until we return.”
Saige rolled her eyes, but nodded in agreement, reaching for her book on the nightstand as the door closed. She opened the book and the folded sheet of paper that Lariah had given her the day before slipped out. She considered discussing the Narrasti with her men when they returned, but decided not to. They’d all had enough upset for one day. She returned the paper to the pages of her book. She’d give it another day. Or two.
Day Four
Honey paced back and forth through the Bearens’ garden as she listened to Michael on the vox in her ear.
“I’m glad you’re better, Honey,” he was saying. “Did they offer you anything in exchange for what you did?”
“What do you mean?” Honey asked in surprise. “Like payment?”
“No,” Michael said. “I didn’t mean that exactly. Just anything.”
Honey hesitated, but after five years of living together, Michael caught it even over the vox. “What?” he asked. “What did they offer?”
�
��The Lobos said that if there was ever anything they could do, I had only to ask,” she replied.
“Perfect,” Michael said with obvious relief.
“Perfect why? What is it you want?”
“I want you to ask them for a permanent position for me, here on Jasan. One that I get to keep when the Teriens pull my creds when they discover I’m not coming back. The Lobos are very high-ranking. I’m sure they have the power to help with this.”
“I don’t want to do that, Michael,” she replied. “I helped those babies because they needed help, not for favors. I don’t want to do this.”
“Well, do it anyway,” Michael snapped. “I’m tired of living a lie, Honey, and I’m not going to do it any more. This is our chance out, and I’m taking it. You owe me this.”
“No, Michael, I don’t owe you anything,” she replied. “I had nothing to do with the choice you made, and neither did Nica. I didn’t even know you then.”
Michael said nothing for several long moments. Finally, he sighed. “I know, Honey, and I’m sorry I said that. Of course you don’t owe me anything. But I’m asking you, Honey, please, do this. For all of us.”
Honey hesitated. She understood why Michael wanted to stay on Jasan. She wanted it too. But she was afraid. Maybe it was time to set her fears aside though, and take a risk. “All right Michael,” she said finally. “I’ll do it.”
“Thanks, Honey,” Michael said. “I’m really sorry for what I said, but I need you to understand that I’m finished with the whole thing. We’re more free right now than we’ve been in five years. One way or another, I intend to stay that way.”
“What about Nica?” she asked, biting her lip the moment the words left her mouth.
“They are not going to come after Nica,” Michael said impatiently. “You need to get past that, Honey. There’s simply no reason for them to do that.”
“I’ll let you know what they say,” Honey said tiredly. She reached up and tapped the vox to disconnect.
The Vulpirans' Honor: The Soul-Linked Saga Page 11
