by Celia Kyle
Her cause would be at an end before it began.
A scrape of teeth and a low squeak reminded her of Charlie’s presence, and if Charlie was close, that meant Ivoth was even closer.
Both stoo-pid. Both make stoo-pid cha. CharlemKle’phi-juewee never can make cha smart.
Now that she was fully tied to Ivoth, Charlie could speak to them at the same time. Which he did, as evidenced by the smile teasing her mate’s lips. She glared at Ivoth and then turned that glower on Charlie, who didn’t look the least bit sorry for insulting them and their future children.
Not. Talk truth.
Oh, she’d…
Shaa kouva. The low murmur in her mind snared her attention, pulling her furious thoughts from the quasti and to her mate. Be at peace. Calm. It is not…
Good for her to get stressed. She was supposed to be resting. Whelon and Chashan had declared her healthy, but they still worried. Elle had gone through so many changes in such a short time…
I’m fine.
Ivoth’s chuckle filled her thoughts. Syh does not like liars.
Well, she’d tell Syh where to take his dislike.
Movement near the room’s entry took her attention from the two most annoying males in her life.
Elle focused on Sophie peeking her head through the doorway. “Are you ready Mrs.—”
Elle quirked a single eyebrow and the woman froze, a hint of panic filling her expression for a split-second. Her new assistant hid the jolt of fear quickly, but she saw it. Saw it and hated its presence. But, one project at a time. Today was about Cole-Daven.
“Sorry,” Sophie whispered. “Are you ready for the meeting to begin, Elle?”
“Yes.” No. “Go ahead and show everyone in.”
It was now or never, and never wasn’t an option. Not when there were so many on Earth who still suffered Pol Mutation.
Heat bathed her back, a roll of love swept over her, and strong arms wrapped around her waist. Large, green wings curled around them for a moment, and she leaned back into Ivoth’s welcome embrace.
“Do not worry, shaa kouva. You will help many. You will lead well,” he murmured against the top of her head and breathed deep. He took her scent into his lungs, and she turned her head, nose to his bicep as she did the same. His touch—his natural aroma—calmed her, and she prayed the easing of her panic would last through the meeting.
The low rumble of overlaying voices reached them, and Ivoth gave her one last kiss to her temple before releasing her. He backed away, returning to his position at her back. The others were there as well, the remainder of the quintet standing guard while Elle conducted the meeting.
She’d tried to tell them that she’d be fine. Ivoth informed her that he’d spoken with other mated males. When a female said the word “fine,” it was a lie. He would not call her dishonest, but he wouldn’t believe her either.
The memory of that argument, and how it’d ended, brought a soft smile to her lips.
Shaa kouva. She sighed, loving his voice, his presence, inside her. I wish to be inside you.
She just snorted and rolled her eyes. Males.
I am male. Only a male can be inside a fem—
The first visitor stepped into the room, and Elle pushed Ivoth’s attempt at a joke from her mind. She was “on.” She had to be the confident, strong woman they all believed her to be. She had to have a backbone of steel and an attitude to match.
Cole-Daven would succeed. Failure was not an option.
Elle pulled a wide smile to her lips, the one reserved for Davenport photo ops and public appearances. She hated William, but at least his training was good for something.
“Come in, have a seat.” She gestured to the chairs. “Feel free to sit anywhere you’d like. Meeting materials can be found in front of your chair.”
She repeated the same script over and over, encouraging each attendant to settle in so they could begin.
Then the last person—woman—settled into her chair. And only women, because Ivoth wasn’t ready to have human males around her. Other Preor could easily sense her mated status, but human males were stoo-pid according to Charlie.
Before she knew it, they were all settled… and all staring at her.
Right. She had to lead the meeting.
“Good morning. I’d like to thank you all for attending the first—of many—Cole-Daven board meetings.” And just like that, her group of silent, uneasy, confused women turned into the loud chattering crowd she knew they could be. Liquid had done the research on each one, and Elle had made her decision before they even walked through the door.
Now was the time to sell her plan.
Ivoth stepped forward to murmur in her ear. “They sound like a flock of Earth chickens, shaa kouva.”
She grinned at her mate. “All will be well.”
He grunted. “I do not like my words returned to me.”
She returned her attention to the group and held up her hands. “If you would all give me a chance to explain. If, after I do, you’d like to decline the position, you’re welcome to do so.” She leaned forward, palms flat on the cool tabletop. “But I don’t think I can do any of this without you.”
“You don’t know us.”
She wasn’t sure who spoke, but it didn’t matter. They all had to have the same thought spinning through their minds. “I don’t.” She nodded. “But you each have skills I—and Cole-Daven—need.”
“Uh…” One of the women raised her hands. “I’m a waitress. So, unless the Preor need someone to take a dinner order and bring it to their table—”
Five growls shook the air, Triem going so far as to release a puff of smoke from his nose, and Elle sighed, closed her eyes, and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Really, guys? Really?” The growls slowly died down, and she refocused on the woman once more. “You’re more than a waitress. You’re a survivor. You’re all survivors in one way or another. You all come from different backgrounds. Some of you are doctors in your field, while others have a high school education. Nothing in your past makes you better or worse than anyone else in the world.” She scanned the group, her gaze meeting each attendee before she moved on to the next. “You’re alive and you’re here.”
Confusion and uneasiness still reigned, and she decided to skip past the rest of her speech. None of these women needed a perfectly perfect Elle Davenport. They needed someone real.
“I was born with Pol Mutation.” There, she said it aloud. To people other than her brother or the Preor. She swallowed hard and fought to get the words out. “I was born with Pol Mutation, and the Preor cured me. I’m the first to admit that my life was—is—dramatically different than the rest of the population. Which means I can’t reach them—convince them to listen to me—but you can. I was cured. Now I want to cure everyone else.”
“Everyone else?” The waitress—Elle recalled the woman’s name as Hannah Kelly—spoke up once more.
“Everyone.” She jerked her head in a sharp nod. “The company—Cole-Daven—is founded by myself and Delaney joi Zadri Cole, the President of Cole Pharma. The Davenports and Coles are going to work together, but it’s pointless if no one takes advantage of the opportunity. We have the money; we don’t have the trust of the people.”
“Look…” One of the other women rose to her feet, drawing her attention. Elle recalled her information as well. Kate Archer, real estate agent, notary, occasional dog walker, and caregiver to her orphaned niece who suffered from Pol Mutation. “I don’t know what kind of scam you’re trying to pull—”
More growls from the guards, and Elle snapped at them. “Enough.” She turned a glare on each of the guards. “We went over this. They’re going to be skeptical. No one on Earth does anything for free.”
Ivoth stepped forward, his warmth surging with his closeness. “Preor don’t lie.”
“I know you think I’m Preor—”
“Because you are,” Ivoth interrupted.
“But that doesn’t mean they do.” She
turned a rueful smile on the group. “Sorry. Newly mated, and the Preor are a little touchy about honor and the truth.” She waved at the group. “And you need to understand that you’ll be dealing with that type of behavior if you agree to help. You’ll have to move into Preor Tower and be surrounded by Preors constantly. They grunt and growl, but would rather die than hurt you. They’re just as dedicated to helping the residents of Earth as I am.”
“Why do we have to live here?” This time it was Cece Logan, only daughter of Miles Logan, owner of three-hundred hovocar dealerships in the US. “I have an exclusive apartment on the beach. You want me to trade that in and move to Preor Tower?”
“Because not all of the bio companies will want Cole-Daven to succeed. Some of them are happy to use less than legal means to attain their goals. William Davenport—my own father—tried to have me killed because of my Pol Mutation. Do you think the other bio firms—ones who supply treatments to alleviate Pol Mutation symptoms—will let this move forward uncontested? And when their arguments with the government fail, they’ll try to save their bottom line any way they can.” She scanned the room, searching gazes and trying to see if that truth sank in. “I’m asking a lot. You’ll have to give up your homes and put yourselves at risk to save every other sufferer in the world.”
Elle nodded at the booklets in front of them. “Take the materials home. Read the plans and consider the good that could be done.”
Kate narrowed her eyes, gaze searching Elle’s, and she waited for what the outspoken woman would say next. She didn’t have to wait long. “Cure my niece and everyone in her school. You do that first, and I’m onboard.”
“Done.” Elle didn’t hesitate. She wanted to cure as many as she could. At least she’d have a place to start. “Can you estimate the number of ill at the school? I want to make sure enough supplies are gathered.”
Kate frowned. “All of them. Children that have Pol Mutation don’t go to school with other kids. They’re all herded together and sent to a place outside town… Hey, are you okay?”
No, no she wasn’t okay. Elle swayed on her feet, lightheaded and woozy while blood whooshed from her face. “They’re segregated? But Pol Mutation isn’t contagious. How could I not know…?” She turned to seek her mate. “Ivoth, how could I not know that kids…?”
He pulled her close and absorbed every tremble and shudder that wracked her body. “Your sire kept many things from you, shaa kouva.”
So many, many things. But she’d discover them all now. She remained in Ivoth’s embrace but focused on the gathered crowd. “I had no idea about the schools, and if that’s not reason enough to prove that I need you all, I don’t know what is. Think it over. Let me know.” Elle tipped her head back. “Penelope, please research the school attended by Violet Archer, niece of Kate Archer, and order the necessary supplies. Schedule a meeting with the director for tomorrow morning. Non-negotiable.”
“Acknowledged.” The mechanical sharpness of Penelope’s tone revealed the ship’s thoughts about the situation.
“You’re really going to do it.” Hannah’s voice held more than a hint of awe.
“I am. With your help, with the Preor’s help, I’m going to cure them all, and may Syh help whoever wants to stand in my way.”
“I’m in.” Hannah was the first to fully agree, no promises needed.
That was quickly followed by others.
“Okay.”
“I’ll do it.”
“What do I need to do?”
“Can I bring my cat?”
And on it went, questions called out, and Elle answered them as best she could, finally calling in Sophie as backup. “If you’ll all direct your attention to Sophie, she’ll coordinate with you and answer any other questions you might have. Don’t feel pressured to answer today. If you need some time, take it, but I hope you’ll fully consider my offer. We can do so much good, but I can’t do it without you.”
Sophie stepped forward, drawing the attention of the attendees, and soon the room was empty once more. Even the other warriors stepped out of the space, taking up position outside the entry. Which left her alone with her mate.
Her mate who pulled her close with one arm and tipped her chin up with the gentle press of one finger. “Shaa kouva, what you have done here…”
“I couldn’t do without you.”
“And I cannot live without you.”
She pushed to her tiptoes and pressed a quick kiss to his lips. “You won’t ever have to.”
“I nearly lost you. Twice.”
“And I’m still here,” she reminded him. “Here and healthy, ready to make a life with you.” She nibbled her lower lip, wavering between telling him then or waiting until they returned to their condo for the night. “Ready to make a family with you.”
Ivoth frowned. “Shaa kouva, I do not wish to think of a family. Should Syh be merciful, I will be joyous, but—”
Elle presser her fingertips to his lips. “I spoke with Whelon and Chashan. Once the nanites were disabled and the mutation was corrected, the ryaapir unit was able to fix what damage had been done. I can have dragonlets, Ivoth.” She shifted her touch, cupping his cheek. “I can have your dragonlets.”
Ivoth sucked in a quick breath and held the air in his lungs for one beat and then two. “Dragonlets?” The word left him with a harsh rasp. “Dragonlets?” He shook his head. “I did not mate you for dragonlets, shaa kouva. I—”
“Hush. I know. But I can, so I think we should start trying right away.”
“Try-ing?” He frowned.
Stoo-pid Mate F-am. Cha wants make cha.
She ignored Charlie and grinned at Ivoth. “Take me back to our condo and claim me again.”
Again and again and again until their dragonlets flew through the Tampa skies at their sire’s side.
About the Author
Ex-dance teacher, former accountant and erstwhile collectible doll salesperson, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Celia Kyle now writes urban fantasy, science fiction (as Erin Tate), and paranormal romances for readers who:
1) Like super hunky heroes (they generally get furry)
2) Totally dig beautiful women (who have a few more curves than the average lady)
3) Love laughing in (and out of) bed.
It goes without saying that there's always a happily-ever-after for her characters, even if there are a few road bumps along the way.
Today she lives in Central Florida and writes full-time with the support of her loving husband and two finicky cats. (Who hate each other with a passion unrivaled. What’s up with that?)
Find Celia on the web…
@celiakyle
authorceliakyle
www.celiakyle.com
[email protected]
Copyright © 2016 by Celia Kyle
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
