by Ann Mayburn
Lacey’s breath came out in hitching sobs as she wrapped her arms around herself, realizing she was free of whatever had kept her restricted. Leaning forward, she startled for a moment as Wythe rubbed her hunched over her back. His touch was comforting, but her heart ached as she wished Gwarnon and Chel were there, even as she rejoiced that her mom and daughter were safe.
“One moment, my Lady,” Wythe said as he removed his hand, then a moment later handed her an absorbent hanky of bright teal cloth. “Here. Dry your tears. We are almost to Kadothia and Jillian would…what is the term Lady Tara uses? Jillian would freak out if she sees you crying. She is a sensitive and empathetic little girl. In fact, she has a drop of your gift, though like most human women, she uses it intuitively rather than consciously.”
“My gift?” Lacey scrubbed her face then stood, stretching out her stiff muscles as anticipation filled her.
“You are what we call a dimilation. I will give you a moment to research the word.”
Lacey was already doing just that, her mind absorbing the knowledge of what a dimilation was, and what a Matriarch could do with such a power. There was a treasure trove of knowledge on the subject, but she briefly skimmed it. Basically, her gift allowed her to project her emotions onto others. The emotions would leave her like invisible waves, rippling out to affect those around her, making them feel what she was feeling.
Wythe interrupted her research by moving to the control panel, the black of his Warrior’s uniform gleaming in the low lighting. “Like every gift, there are degrees of strength, and little nuances that make it individual to each Matriarch. The weak give off just a general aura, the kind that could suddenly put a person into a bad or good mood depending on how the Matriarch is feeling. The strong…” He glanced up at her, leaving no doubt that he was talking about Lacey. “The strong are so powerful, it is speculated they could breech the shields of even the Hive itself. We believe that is what happened with you. What were you thinking about at the very end of your fight in the arena? When the Hive was in your mind?”
Pressing a hand to her stomach, her gut churned as she briefly remembered her time spent in the vortex of evil souls.
“I…” She hesitated, not wanting to divulge her entire experience to a stranger. “Don’t remember much.”
Wythe gave her a look that clearly said he knew she was full of shit. “What do you recall of your battle with the Hive?”
“At the end, when I was sure I was going to die, I thought about my family and how much I loved them.”
Wythe’s hands stilled over the controls as he studied her face and murmured, “And you love them very, very much.”
“I love my family more than anything.” She stumbled a little and softened her knees as the ship lurched. “What was that?”
“We just entered the atmosphere of Kadothia,” Wythe said with a relieved sigh. “We will be arriving at your mother’s Territory in about an hour. In order to avoid detection, we had to enter at another port far away so as not to cause suspicion.”
“Yeah, that reminds me, why did you kidnap me? You could have just, like, asked me to come with you. Why the abduction? Gwarnon and Chel are going to lose their shit.”
“You humans do seem to have an obsession with feces,” Wythe murmured as he stared at a bunch of symbols and lines on what she assumed was a map. “There is a great debate raging about allowing you and Lady Roxy onto Kadothia. Some believe you are heroes, others villains, and others really don’t care about anything but how your arrival will affect their lives.” His shoulders clenched as he said in a lower voice, “And some just hate humans. The do not want any Earth women on Kadothia, polluting it with their inferior human genetics. They view your people as barely evolved apes, and some say bonding an Earth woman is akin to bestiality.”
Shocked, Lacey stared at him with her jaw hanging open. “Are you kidding me?”
“Sadly, no. The vast majority of our planet is very accepting of the Earth Matriarch’s arrival. With your unique ability to bond many, many Warriors without straining your shielding, you are a welcome miracle in our lives. But you need to be aware that not everyone will see you as a desperately needed solution to a horrible problem. Even your fellow Matriarchs, maybe especially your fellow Matriarchs, will see you as a threat to their power and standing in the world. Be careful who you trust.”
“Wonderful,” she muttered as she mentally scrolled through some of the Kadothian gossip columns about Earth women.
The disinformation being spread was crazy, and she wondered how many of the outlandish stories were true.
“Lady Lacey,” Wythe said, “I need to warn you now that you might be a bit…overwhelmed with Kadothian male attention. Though the guards in Lady Tara’s Territory are all happy to serve her, there will be many Warriors who will be suddenly visiting your mother’s Territory, eager for a chance to meet with you. It was obvious to anyone who watched the victory ceremony you attended at the Baladium that you were Gwarnon and Chel’s bride, and it is only a matter of time until you wear their bondmark. Warriors that have no bond, or a weak bond with an overburdened Matriarch, will seek you out.”
Moving closer to Wythe, she studied his sharp profile as he silently fiddled with the controls.
“But I still don’t know why you kidnapped me instead of just asking.”
“Your future husbands must react naturally when the High Congress Representatives arrive and demand you come into their custody for your safety. They can have no knowledge of your arrival on Kadothia.”
“Why?”
“The High Congress will have a Truth Speaker with them, no doubt.”
Her crystal implant helpfully supplied that a Truth Speaker could hear any lie spoken a loud.
He glanced over and gave her a tight, humorless smirk. “Lord Rell, whom both Chel, Gwarnon, and I unofficially serve under as part of the espionage wing of the Kadothian military, received word that there are two massive bounties put on your and Lady Roxy’s heads. One by the Hive—no shock there, as Lady Tara says—and another one by someone on Kadothia. As long as you and Lady Roxy are off planet, our protection is nowhere near as good. The High Congress want to take you back themselves, but Lord Rell has already intercepted plans from several groups to attack the High Congress’s ships on the return trip to Kadothia. We are very, very far from Kadothian Territory, so the trip would be especially dangerous. But, if you are already on Kadothia, you are safe.”
She laced her fingers behind her head and looked up at the ceiling. “But what about the Baladium? Surely the threat of their reprisal to any harm against myself or Roxy is enough to deter most bounty hunters? Even trying would be a death warrant, in theory. Is there ever going to be a point in my future where someone isn’t trying to kill me? Shit!”
“Lady Lacey,” Wythe turned so he was facing her with an almost pitying look on his face. “I could lie to you and tell you the false, comforting words I could give a child, or I can treat you like the fellow Warrior you are. If you were a child, I would say that the Lord of Life will guard you, and not to worry. But because you are a Warrior, I will tell you that you will be able to guard yourself and your family from harm because it is how the Lord of Life made you. On Earth, you were the one who was sent into battle to defend the innocent. You were the one who went into danger to rescue those in situations most people would fear. You will survive any attempts on your life, and you will make them pay for daring to strike at you and yours.”
The intensity in his gaze never wavered, and while compliments usually made her super uncomfortable, she liked the way he saw her.
It made her feel strong, it made her feel powerful, and she straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin before giving him a grin. “You give great pep talks.”
The corner of his mouth tilted in a melancholy smile. “I had a lot of practice on the front lines, invigorating my men before a battle.”
“Roxy is still in the Baladium. Is she safe?”
“As sa
fe as we can make her. Her bondmates are in charge of her security and, as a fully bonded Matriarch, she has rights and powers you do not. But you are an unmated female offspring of a Kadothian Matriarch, and that gives you a great deal of protection. A child, in the eyes of most of the Bel’Tan Galaxy, because of your young age.”
“I’m twenty-two. That’s an adult on Earth.”
“Regardless, your unique status has allowed us to bring you back to Kadothia without the permission or knowledge of the High Congress.”
“And Orushel was in on it? I thought he was totally loyal to Gwarnon and Chel? Doesn’t that make him a traitor?” She frowned as various lights from the dashboard played out over Wythe’s sharp features.
“No! He is not a traitor!” Wythe said with such anger that she jerked away from him, her body automatically going into a defensive fighting stance.
“Easy,” she said as he snarled at her.
Visibly gathering himself, Wythe took some deep breaths, the dark flush leaving his lean cheeks. “Forgive me, Lady Taylor. I didn’t mean to frighten you. But you must understand, for a Kadothian Warrior, being called a traitor is the ultimate insult.”
Dropping her hands, Lacey bit her lower lip before giving him an apologetic wince. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to insult him.”
“No, I am sorry, you see—Orushel is my blood brother, and I tend to be a little defensive on his behalf.”
Surprised, she cocked her head, trying to imagine the much younger looking Wythe in a relationship with the older and nice, if a bit gruff, Orushel. “I am guessing he works for Lord Rell as well? Or did he just assist you because you asked?”
The dimple popped in Wythe’s cheek as he smiled. “Correct. Lord Rell is like…what is that song your daughter loves and makes me sing over and over with her? Ah, yes— Lord Rell is much like a spider. He has a vast web of resources and is always spinning plots within plots. Anything that happens in the Bel’Tan Galaxy eventually gets caught up in his web.”
All her interest in Kadothian politics fell away as she smiled at him. “You know Jillian?”
The corner of his eyes crinkled as he grinned. “I do. I am one of her personal guards on Kadothia. She is a very bright spirit, spreading happiness wherever she goes. She is a joy.”
Maternal pride glowed through Lacey as she smiled. “She was fussy as a baby, and for the first two months, she seemed to barely sleep. But once we got her reflux diagnosed and under control, she’s been nothing but smiles ever since.”
“There is much competition among the men to be a part of her guard. While of course our planet is filled with all kinds of female children from those who have immigrated over the centuries and become citizens, it is exceedingly rare for a Kadothian male to have a female offspring.”
Information about the Hive flashed through her mind, and her stomach clenched. “Because your DNA has been altered to only allow you to produce male heirs.”
“Correct.” Wythe’s sharp face grew grim then lightened again. “So having Lady Jillian in our lives is a rare blessing. Her grandfathers are certainly as proud and full of joy as two male hestras with their flock of younglings.”
Again, her mind seamlessly supplied the information that a hestra was a large bear-like creature that walked on two legs instead of four. When the males took the young out of the burrow for exercise, the big male’s chests would puff up, and they would indeed strut around their young. The image made her smile before it faded away.
“Tell me about my mom’s, uh— husbands.” She shook her head, a million questions racing through her brain that her crystal implant couldn’t answer. “Husbands. Shit, I can’t believe she got married! I thought I’d return back to Earth and find her freaking out because I was missing, not ruling a Territory in Kadothia. This is all too crazy.”
“Do not misunderstand.” Wythe gave her a stern look. “Your mother was beside herself with grief. We managed to keep the dire nature of your situation from Jillian, but we were all dreading the moment we had to tell her that you were missing, and you might not come back.”
Tears burned her nose as she hugged herself.
“Ahh, Lord’s Balls,” Wythe said a moment before he gave her an awkward pat on the back. “Do not cry, Lady Lacey.” A strange pulling sensation filled the pit of her stomach as Wythe let out a soft whistle. “We are now in Lady Tara’s Territory and should be arriving momentarily.”
Smoothing her hair and dress, Lacey wished she had a mirror so she could make sure she looked okay. Would Jillian recognize her? Lacey’s face had undergone subtle changes during her transformation. She was definitely taller, and her hair now hit her shoulders instead of her ears. Then again, her daughter had pink hair in the video message, so obviously she’d been taking advantage of the advanced cosmetic technology the Kadothian’s possessed.
Longing and anticipation filled her until all she could do was pace in a small circle, waiting for them to land.
The moment the door leading to the outside opened, she dashed out, momentarily blinded by a bright sunlight that had an odd gold tinge to it instead of blue. Holding her hand up to shield her eyes, she took a brief look around a large landing pad surrounded by what appeared to be giant trees the size of skyscrapers with deep greenish blue and shades of dark purple leaves.
Leaves the size of house.
Her crystal implant tried to supply her with information about Lady Tara Taylor’s Territory, but Lacey shut it down as the most beautiful sound filled the air.
“Mommy!” Jillian cried out from somewhere nearby.
Spinning around, Lacey’s heart leapt as she saw a pink haired Jillian sprinting across the smooth brown stones of the landing area. Ignoring the group following Jillian, Lacey met her daughter in a few steps, easily catching her little body as Jillian threw herself into her arms with a sob. Pure, overwhelming maternal love hit her so hard, she gasped, a strange keening noise coming from her that was a mixture of joy and sorrow.
Dimly, she registered that her daughter wore a pink sparkly dress that matched the pink streaks in her hair, and that the odd white and blue creature from the video was scurrying around her feet making a chirping bark, but it was the feel of Jillian in her arms that utterly absorbed Lacey. They’d been apart for long times before due to deployments, but the homecoming had never been this sweet. She felt like she glowed with love as she rained kisses all over Jillian’s giggling face.
“I missed you, Mommy,” Jillian said as she snuggled close, petting Lacey’s hair. “Your hair looks pretty.”
“So does yours, Jillybean.” Lacey smiled at her daughter’s pink head.
“It matches my dress!”
“It sure does.”
“Mommy?” Jillian asked, putting both her hands on Lacey’s cheeks to make her look right at her, tears filling the little girl’s big brown eyes. “Please don’t go away again, okay? Grandma said you don’t have to go back to your job in the military anymore. That we can stay together now, right?”
“Yes, baby,” Lacey managed to choke out. “I’ll never leave you again.”
Turning her head, she took a deep breath of Jillian’s hair, the usual mango scent of Jillian’s favorite shampoo missing, but the smell beneath was the same. On some deep, primal level her entire being relaxed as she finally held her daughter again. Jillian shook in her arms as she cried, and Lacey startled for a moment as another set of arms wrapped around her, holding her and Jillian both.
She looked up to find her mother, appearing oddly decades younger, giving Lacey a trembling smile.
Dressed in a flowing black gown and an amazing necklace made of glittering green and amethyst shifting stones, her mom looked every inch the Kadothian Matriarch. She even had the dark, liquid black bondmarks on her cleavage that announced to the world who she was. But despite the exotic clothes, elaborate upswept hairstyle, and wrinkle free face, she was still Lacey’s mom.
“Oh, my sweet girl,” her mom whispered, the tears on her cheeks glistening in t
he odd golden sunlight. “Oh, my sweet, sweet girl. We have missed you so much.”
Speech was beyond her as Lacey laid her head on her mom’s shoulder. All the terror and pain she’d felt over these last few weeks came out all at once.
“Lady Lacey,” Wythe’s sharp voice came from right next to her. “You must shield yourself.”
Startled, she looked up through her tears at his face, filled with sorrow, tears shimmering in his own eyes. “What?”
“Your emotions, they are seeping into those around you. We didn’t mind it when it was your love, but please reign in your grief.”
Giving her eyes a brisk wipe with the back of her hand, Lacey glanced around and found they were mostly alone, and the Kadothian Warriors that remained all had tears streaming down their faces.
Jillian shifted in her arms and said, “Mommy, please don’t be sad.”
Realizing she was somehow projecting her emotions, she worked hard on building a mental shield around herself like Chel and Gwarnon had taught her during their training.
Right away, Wythe let out a sound of relief, echoed by two male grunts behind her.
Turning, she watched with wide eyes as two handsome men, one with a beard who was very lumberjack sexy, and one with red and black hair that had a somewhat feral quality to him, lean down and kiss her mother. Both men were dressed in the loose black pants, high leather boots, and fitted black shirts with low collars that her crystal implant said were the normal casual wear among Kadothian Lords. Around their necks they wore thick gold chains, each bearing a large gem that matched her mom’s jewelry.
They made a lovely picture together, her mother beaming as she looked up at the men who had to be her bondmates. The men looked back at her mother with equal adoration, and Lacey’s chest swelled with emotion as Jillian cuddled close. Her mom was happy, really happy, and so in love with her bondmates she practically glowed with it.
Lacey was happy for her. If anyone deserved two men that would love her for all eternity, it was Tara. Her mom had worked hard and sacrificed to make sure Lacey and then Jillian had the best life possible. It was nice, if a bit odd, to see that her mother had finally found someone.
