What she described was so distasteful that it left Theyn gasping. Beno, who was a warrior, handled the news with more aplomb. “And these half-breeds, what happens to them?”
She looked saddened. “Taluans cannot tell half-blood from full-blood, a fact we take for full advantage.” She touched Korin’s hair. “My husband here was one of the infirm. We have saved him.”
Korin took her hand and pressed a grateful kiss into the palm. She smiled at him, the first sign of affection that she had shown.
Heron spoke. “Apfira asked us not to speak at all while the humans were around and awake, afraid that we might say too much.”
“And why must this be kept from the humans?” Beno asked.
Now the queen looked ashamed. “We have inadvertently given the Taluans a taste for human flesh. They will be coming to Earth if we do not prevent it soon.”
Sera stirred, her lips parting as she moaned breathily. He stroked her blonde curls back from her heart-shaped face and shuddered at the thought of some Taluan taking her away. He held her closer and looked up at Apfira.
“You have a plan.”
He did not ask so much as state it, and the queen nodded. “We do. And your reappearance will help greatly.”
“How?”
“You and Commander Beno have the purest bloodlines. You are the last remaining Ylians born on Ylian soil. That means that your powers are greatest.” She looked away. “We are still gifted, but the longer we are away from our home world, the more our abilities degrade. Ylians are not what we once were.”
Beno crossed his arms, standing protectively over Asa and Joely as he did. “And what abilities do you need?”
“Camouflage.”
Lady Tayne spoke up. “As I told you before, I am responsible for the functioning of our fog defenses. This defense incorporates our Ylian camouflage ability. Through long experimentation, we have developed a system that can map the electrochemical patterns of the Ylian brain while employing camouflage. It can duplicate that pattern over a much larger area. Queen Apfira, Commander Elina and I myself are the strongest concealers that we have, and we have added our brain scans to the machine. Together we have been able to create a machine that can conceal not only this island, but the entire southern hemisphere of the Earth.”
“Impressive,” Theyn admitted. “And where do we come in?”
“Your abilities are much stronger than ours. If you will add your brain scans to ours, we could conceal the entire planet, and when the Taluans come, they will not detect anything of use to them…and they will leave.”
Beno frowned. “And you can do this from one machine? It must be massive. This island is not that large – we would have seen it as we approached.”
“Our machine is concealed in the deserts of Patagonia.”
He pursed his lips. “My Earth geography is lacking. Is that far away?”
“It’s on the southern tip of the continent called South America, in the southern hemisphere. But you’re right – to conceal the whole planet, we need a new installation in the northern hemisphere. We need to purchase land and have it occupied and have our outpost built. That will take a great deal of money and time.”
Beno glanced at Theyn. “I can get money, but not as much as you’re thinking.”
Theyn stroked Sera’s hair again. “What if we came out of hiding and approached the humans directly? Perhaps their governments could help us. Surely they would have the money.”
Apfira gestured dismissively. “Human governments are incapable of working together. They war among themselves all the time. Even as we speak, they’re killing each other in droves. I don’t believe we can trust them.”
“Perhaps if we approach them quietly,” he said. He glanced at Beno for support, but found none. He sighed. “There must be some form of united government, or a group that has the entire world’s support at heart…”
“Not here,” Heron said. “Not humans.”
“The crew of the Cyclops have been working hard to recover sunken treasures and to appropriate resources,” Elina said softly.
“They’re pirates, in other words,” Beno said.
Theyn told him, We stole from ATMs. We have no room to judge.
“They are, but for a greater cause,” the pilot agreed. “And we have a fifth column on Bruthes that is able to obtain materials for us that we can’t get here.”
Asa groaned and twitched, and Apfira told the servants, “Take the humans to their rooms where they can be more comfortable.”
They moved forward to comply, and Beno hesitated before allowing them to take Asa and Joely away. Theyn refused to relinquish Sera, so the servants left them alone.
“You said you were going to send us to Bruthes,” the blond Ylian said to the queen. “Why?”
“To show yourselves to the people there, to give them hope.” She glanced at Lady Tayne, then said, “And to strengthen the bloodlines.”
Beno snorted, and Theyn said, “You want us to mate with the females there.”
“I realize it’s an extraordinary request…”
“We have a Selected. We cannot mate with another.”
She narrowed her eyes and stared hard at Theyn. “Cannot, or will not?”
Beno spoke for them both. “Does it matter?”
Apfira sighed. “I suppose it doesn’t, and we cannot force you.”
“I dare you to try.”
“Beno, don’t,” Theyn chided softly. “If we go to Bruthes, what good will that do? The people there will want us to overturn the Bruthesan agreement with the Taluans, and I cannot do that alone.”
Lady Tayne pointed out, “The fifth column would work with you.”
“Against an entire planet?” He shook his head. “Those are not good odds. I am not a soldier, or a politician, or even a general. I am a botanist.”
“You are of the blood royal and our best hope,” Apfira disagreed.
“I am a soldier,” Beno said, “and I can’t see that we have any chance of doing what you want us to do. We would have to overthrow the Bruthesan government and take over, and our numbers are too few. Unless we can get some of the Bruthesans to join us against their own government, this is an effort that is doomed to failure from the start.”
“How can you say that when you haven’t even tried?” the queen objected, her voice becoming strident.
“I have served in the military, and I have fought in battles. Have you?” She looked angry, and he pressed, “There is a long distance between dreaming of something and making it happen on the ground.”
Theyn gathered Sera in his arms and rose. Her head pillowed against his shoulder, and she murmured in her sleep. “I will think about what you’ve said,” he told the queen. “In the meantime, I am taking my Selected to our rooms.”
She sighed, clearly displeased. “As you wish…”
He turned and walked away, and Beno fell into step behind him. They’re insane, Beno told his partner. What she’s talking about…it’s a pipe dream. It will ever happen.
I know. There is nothing we can do about what’s happening on Bruthes, except to evacuate our people completely. But the concealment plan…that might be possible. He hesitated at a silk-draped archway, and Beno stopped to look at him in curiosity. Do you think we can obtain the money and material necessary to get the second unit made?
Not on our own. Beno shook his head. Something that large is more than one ship of pirates and a couple of knocked-over ATMs can afford.
Theyn sighed and continued walking. I want to see this machine of theirs. And I want to talk to the captain of the Cyclops.
Your gears are whirring. What are you planning?
We were being pursued by agents of two governments, Theyn said. I suggest we talk to them and tell them what they stand to lose.
Beno opened the door to their apartments. The servants who had carried Asa and Joely to their beds were still inside, and they turned to bow to the prince and his Companion when they entered. Beno gestured f
or them to leave, and they obeyed immediately.
If you talk to them, they’ll take you.
Theyn carried Sera into their bedroom and put her gently onto the mattress, her head on the pillow. He kissed her forehead while Beno tucked her in.
That’s a chance I’m willing to take, the prince said.
I’m not willing to risk you.
You may not have a choice. If we don’t do something, the Taluans will come. They’re already sending probes.
Beno sighed and rubbed a hand over his face. You’re right. And I hate it when you’re right.
Theyn smiled. I know. Aloud, he said, “Come to bed. We can talk more in the morning. For now, I’m tired and I don’t want to think anymore.”
His Companion came to him and embraced him, hugging him tight. It was all the comfort that Theyn needed.
***
The morning sun was bright through the bedroom window when Sera awoke. Her head was pounding, and it felt heavy, as if someone had filled it with cement. She could feel her mates in the bed with her, their warmth and the solidity of their bodies a comfort. She sat up slowly, trying not to disturb them.
Theyn shifted, but Beno woke completely, his warrior’s instincts making him a light sleeper. He smiled when he saw her. Good morning, he said, his voice in her head warm.
What happened?
His smile turned hard and he answered, Our illustrious hostess thought it would be wise to knock out all of the humans before she got down to business.
Sera scowled. Nice. What business?
He let her see his memory of the exchange in the garden, including his emotional responses. She sat quietly as she sifted through the information.
So what are you going to do?
I’m certainly willing to help with their machine, because hiding this world is obviously in everyone’s best interests, he answered. As for Theyn’s idea about talking to the human governments, well, I don’t like it… but it’s probably the best idea.
Theyn yawned and stretched, opening his luminous blue eyes. “Good morning,” he greeted, his voice raspy.
“Good morning.” She leaned down and kissed him, then kissed Beno. She took their hands in hers, holding Theyn’s white hand and Beno’s dark chocolate one. She ran her thumb over their skin, feeling the smoothness of the tiny scales. She spoke without pausing to censor herself. “You two are so beautiful.”
Theyn smiled and kissed her shoulder. “Look who’s talking.”
“Wouldn’t it be wonderful if our baby had brown skin and blue eyes? He or she would look like both of you. That would be amazing.”
Beno smiled. “I think the baby should look like you.”
The blond Ylian chuckled. “I think the baby will look like whatever the baby will look like, and we have very little say in the matter.”
“Aren’t you even curious?” she asked. “Haven’t you daydreamed?”
“A little,” Theyn admitted.
The other Ylian smiled. “A lot.”
She smiled and leaned back against the pillow, putting their hands on her still-flat abdomen. “Do you want a boy or a girl?”
“I want a healthy baby,” Theyn said. “I don’t care about the gender.”
Beno leaned closer to her. “I want a girl, but if it’s a boy, I’ll love him just the same.”
“Maybe it’ll be twins.” She smiled.
“Now you’re being greedy.” Theyn chuckled. “I’m excited to meet him or her.”
“So am I.” She took a deep breath. “You know, I always told myself I didn’t want kids, didn’t want a relationship, didn’t want any sort of commitment. I wanted to be free to do my own thing and be my own person. I didn’t want to be tied down, and I didn’t want to open myself up to anyone who could hurt me.”
They listened quietly, looking into her face, respectful. She loved that about them. They were so polite. She took a deep breath and continued.
“I’ve been afraid of being hurt for my whole life. I never wanted to let anybody get that close. But you guys… you came into my life, and it just sort of happened. And now I can’t imagine being anywhere else, or with anyone else, and I can’t wait to be a mom. Isn’t that strange? How can a person change so much practically over night?”
Theyn sat up and cupped her face in his hand. “It’s called finding the perfect fit.” He kissed her, his lips gentle against hers.
She kept her eyes closed even after the kiss was over, almost afraid of the words she was going to say. “You two… you’ve changed everything. You’ve changed everything in a good way. And even though it scares the hell out of me to admit it, I… I love you.”
Beno wrapped his arm around her waist and embraced her as Theyn kissed her again, telling her with their actions that the feeling was very much mutual.
Chapter Twenty
Theyn and Beno went to Lady Tayne’s workshop with Sera in tow. She watched as they sat in matching white chairs that reclined with the push of a button. Their heads were cradled by a metal and plastic instrument that shone grid lights over them, making the tiny scales on their faces sparkle as if they were made of opal.
“The scan will be painless and very quick,” Lady Tayne told them as her assistant punched numbers into a computer screen. “Are you comfortable?”
“Yes, Lady Tayne,” Theyn answered promptly.
Beno was a heartbeat behind him. “Yes, ma’am.”
The Ylian scientist motioned Sera to a seat against the wall, and she sat down silently to watch. The apparatus that the men were in was very similar in concept to an MRI, but without the magnets and without the enclosed space. In reality, it was probably nothing like an MRI, but the longer she spent around this Ylian technology, the more she tried to liken it to something she knew, if only to keep her worst headaches at bay.
“Very good. Now, Your Highness, Commander, please activate your camouflage. The machine will scan your brainwaves and add them to our database.”
The two men began to shimmer, and then they faded from view. The machine hummed and a beam of bright light ran over their heads from crown to chin and back again. The process was repeated twice while Theyn and Beno remained hidden behind their camouflage. Finally, when she was satisfied, Lady Tayne gestured to her assistant to stop the scan.
“Excellent. Thank you, Your Highness. Thank you, Commander. This will be very helpful.”
They reappeared and left their chairs, moving almost in unison. Sera rose to meet them.
“What is the next step?” Theyn asked.
“Next we’ll combine your patterns with those already in our system, and we will strengthen the barrier. The adjustment shouldn’t take more than a day to complete,” Lady Tayne explained.
“I hope it helps,” Theyn said. He held out his hand to Sera, and she took it. “Let’s go see our friends.”
***
When they returned to the suite, Asa and Joely were awake and mostly functional, although it was clear they’d had happier mornings. Joely looked up when they came into the room.
“There you are,” she said. “I was wondering if they’d stolen you.”
Sera shook her head. “Not yet.”
“What the hell happened last night?”
Theyn and Beno told them about their conversation with the queen. Asa and Joely listened to the tale in silence.
When they were finished, Asa said grumpily, “Well, I don’t see why we couldn’t know our planet was next on the hit parade. Seems like we’ve got a vested interest in that.”
“I suppose she felt that she was disclosing Ylian secrets,” Theyn shrugged.
“Ylian secrets. It’s not as if it matters. The place doesn’t even exist anymore,” Asa groused.
Beno frowned. “We’re well aware of that, Mr. Brunner, thank you.”
The Texan looked sheepish. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to hit a sore nerve.”
“Well, hopefully we can dissuade the Taluans, and you won’t have to discover just how sore that nerve can be,�
�� Theyn responded.
Sera leaned back on the couch and crossed her legs. “So, what now?”
Her blond mate answered, “I’ve sent a message to Commander Elina asking to see her. If she can give us the help we need, we’ll be on our way.”
“On your way as in getting started with your master plan, or on your way as in leaving?” Joely asked, confused.
Theyn smiled. “Both.”
“Where are you going?” she asked. “Sera? Are you going with them?”
Beno said, “It’s too –“
“If you say it’s too dangerous, I’ll bite you,” Sera interrupted. “If your little plan doesn’t work, we’re all Taluan chow anyway. I might as well get involved. Besides, I can hold my own.”
Their discussion was cut off by a knock on the door, and then Commander Elina came in. She bowed to Theyn as soon as she crossed the threshold. “You sent for me, Your Highness?”
“Yes. Thank you for coming so quickly.” He looked at Beno, then took a steadying breath. “I want you to take the three of us – me, my Companion and our Selected – back out to the Cyclops.”
Elina gaped at him. “Come again?”
“You heard me,” he said, not unkindly.
She shook her head. “Your Highness, I can’t do that. The queen has ordered that you’re to be kept here.”
Theyn’s eyes narrowed. “Are we prisoners, then?”
“No, not exactly. You might call it protective custody.” She looked sheepish. “I can’t tell you more than that. I’m sorry.”
Sera scowled. “Can’t or won’t?”
Elina looked at her. “Both.”
Theyn looked away, and Sera could feel him conferring with Beno in private. He said, “When are we to travel to Bruthes?”
“Within the week, I believe.”
“We will not mate against our will,” Beno ground out.
Elina looked surprised. “We would never do such a thing to either of you.” She faltered. “I would never support that.”
Sera nodded. “So that means you wouldn’t, but someone else might. That all-important bloodline has to be passed on, am I right? Even if they don’t want to participate?” She crossed her arms. “Theyn has to initiate the merging for it to work, anyway. You’d never be able to force him to do that.”
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