Ria's Visions (Hearts of ICARUS Book 6)

by Laura Jo Phillips

  “Ria, how would you like to stay here, on the Hilgaria, with us for a while?” Talon asked. “I don’t mean just for a day or two.”

  Ria turned her face to look up at him, and he saw the wariness in her eyes. But there was hope there, too.

  “What did you have in mind?”

  “Getting to know each other.”

  “I think I’d like that,” she said. “What about the suppressants?”

  “What about them?” Tee asked, but Thorn understood.

  “What do you want to do?” he asked.

  “They don’t change anything for me,” she said, dropping her eyes to her hands. “They change things for you three, though. If it turns out getting to know me ends in you hating me after all, maybe you’ll be glad of them.”

  Talon understood that she was protecting them as well as herself, and that her concerns had nothing to do with them, personally. It would take time to convince her she had nothing to fear, that they wouldn’t turn on her, or hate her.

  “Since it changes nothing for you, we’d prefer that you stop taking them,” he said, speaking for all of them.

  “You’re sure?”

  “We’ve waited more than three hundred years for you, Ria,” Thorn said. “We don’t want to miss a moment of this.”

  She nodded her head jerkily, then crossed her arms tightly over her chest, protecting herself again. “I have to warn you of one thing.”

  “Okay,” he said, trying not to reveal his sudden worry.

  “I may not be ready to…it may take me a while to feel….” She stopped and huffed impatiently at herself.

  “Sex,” Talon said calmly. This time her nod was barely perceptible. “Like Thorn said, we’ve waited a very long time for you, Ria. Now that we’ve found you, we’re in no rush. Before anything else, we need to get to know each other. The rest will come in its own time.”

  “I like that idea,” she said, smiling again. After a moment it faded just a little. “Star and the cubs room with me, all right?”

  “Absolutely,” they all said at once.

  ***

  When Thorn put Ria back into bed, she fell into a deep and restful sleep within minutes. The corners of her mouth were turned up ever so slightly, which the Katres happily noted. They moved away from the bed and spoke quietly, making plans until Dr. Jula returned.

  After informing her that Ria and Star would be remaining on the Hilgaria, confirming that Ria would be released the following day, and making sure she knew to call them if anything happened, they hurried away. Dr. Jula watched them go with a rare grin. She didn’t know why Vari had such a skewed idea of who her sister really was, but she’d come to like the quiet, thoughtful, intelligent young woman very much.

  She’d been so pleased to see the strong bond between Star and Ria. They needed each other, that much was obvious, and it’d been a wonderful thing to witness. Even though Ria had been sad about something, Niri had noticed a positive change in her. She’d stuck with Star every minute, soothing her, explaining things to her, even touching and petting her almost constantly. All things she’d never seen Ria do before.

  Before she’d gone to lunch she’d noticed an even bigger change in Ria. She was more relaxed than she’d ever seen her, and much more talkative. Now that she knew the Katres were Ria’s destined mates, she understood those changes, too.

  Niri pressed her palms together and bowed her head. After sending heartfelt prayers on Ria’s behalf to the God of Beneficence, she smiled again, then went to check on her patients.

  ***

  Ria didn’t sleep very long, and when she woke up she felt…happy. She sat up carefully and looked around to see Star standing over her cubs, arching her back in a long stretch.

  “How’re you feeling, Star?”

  “Wonderful,” Star said with a touch of surprise. “How are you?”

  “Wonderful,” Ria replied with a grin. She heard soft laughter in her mind as Star checked the sleeping cubs, then crossed the room to her. She rested her chin on the edge of the bed and studied Ria quietly.

  “You are better,” she concluded with relief. “Not just in your body but in your spirit, as well.”

  “I am, as are you, Star. By the way, Dr. Jula told me that you sensed something happened to me this morning.”

  “Yes, I did, and it was frightening,” Star said. “But I am also glad I felt you.”

  “I’m glad too, and I thank you, but I don’t understand it.”

  “It’s because you’re my pack sister,” Star said. “And also, I think, because we are connected somehow.”

  “Yes, I think so too. I’ve never felt such a closeness with anyone before, and I like it very much.”

  “As do I, Ria. I would ask that you take more care of yourself, though. I truly cannot bear to lose you.”

  “I will, Star,” Ria said, feeling the Brun’s fear and understanding it completely.

  “I thank you.”

  “I have something I want to talk to you about.” She sensed Star’s immediate worry, surprised as usual that she didn’t have to reach for her absent ability to do it. “Relax Star, it’s nothing bad.”

  “That’s a relief.”

  “I’ve decided to stay on the Hilgaria for a while.”

  “Is there something wrong that I don’t know about?”

  “No, everything’s fine. I didn’t mean in the infirmary. I meant in a guest room.”

  Ria didn’t have to see Star’s ears fold down to feel her emotions. “I wonder if you’d mind staying with me. You and the cubs, of course.”

  “You want us to remain with you,” Star said with obvious relief.

  “Yes, of course I do,” Ria said, reaching out to dig her fingers into Star’s neck fur and scratch gently. “We just established that we’re connected. Besides, we’re pack, right?”

  “Yes, we are pack,” Star agreed happily.

  “I’d like you to stay in the same room with me, but there are empty guest rooms available if you’d rather have your own.”

  “I wish to remain with you, Ria, no matter where you are,” Star said seriously.

  “I’m glad. But if you change your mind, or feel you need your own space, please do not hesitate to say so.”

  “I’ve had many weeks of my own space, Ria, and have no desire to experience it again anytime soon.” Her head tilted a little. “You, on the other hand, may wish your own space once the cubs begin running.”

  “What about when they start walking?”

  “They may be calmer then, we’ll have to wait and see.”

  “When do they begin walking, anyway?”

  “It varies. Usually a few months after they begin running.”

  Ria laughed softly. “I’m looking forward to all of it. I just know they’re going to be even cuter and more adorable than they are now.”

  “We shall see how adorable you think they are when they play tug of war with you as the rope,” Star said. “May I ask you a personal question?”

  “Of course.”

  “Why is it that you wish to remain on this ship now, when a couple of days ago you did not?”

  “Ah, very good question,” Ria said, nodding. “And one that will take some time to fully answer. The short answer is that the Katres are my destined mates.”

  Star was so surprised that she didn’t know what question to ask first. After a moment, she chose the one that puzzled her most. “You have three mates?”

  “Yes, I do,” Ria said. “Sort of. They aren’t my mates yet, but three mates are normal for Clan Jasani.” Ria heard a door open and looked up to see Corin enter the infirmary.

  “Hello Ria, Star,” he said, approaching the med panel beside the bed.

  “Hi Corin,” Ria replied. Star greeted him as well, then silence fell as he checked her chart on the med panel.

  “Looks like you’re doing great, Ria,” he said, smiling. “Is Dr. Jula in her office?”

  “Yes, I believe so.”

  “Then I’l
l let you two get back to your conversation,” he said with a smile she could hear in his voice.

  “Thank you, Corin,” Ria said, surprising herself by returning the smile. She waited to hear a door open and a moment later, close. “Most of what I want to share with you is very personal, Star, so maybe we can hold off on the discussion of mates until we’re in our own room.”

  “Of course,” Star agreed. Though she was very curious, she was also happy to know that Ria trusted her so much.

  “There is something else I should tell you though, and now seems a good time for that.”

  “Very well,” Star said eagerly.

  “Clan Jasani are shifters.”

  “Shifters?”

  Ria nodded, then explained what she meant. Star listened avidly to every word. Some of the things Ria told her she did not go into great detail about, and Star respected that, accepting what she was told without digging for more. She did not need to know everything. She was fascinated enough by what she did learn, especially the fact that Ria’s parents shifted into a creature much like herself. When Ria was finished, Star remained silent for a time, thinking.

  “I wonder if the Cloud People chose you to be my new pack because you have Lobo blood.”

  Ria thought about that, then shrugged. “Maybe. I certainly wouldn’t discount the possibility even though I’ll never shift into a loboenca like my parents do. To be honest, Star, I don’t care what the reason was. I’m just happy about it.”

  “As am I,” Star agreed. “Do you shift into another type of creature?”

  “No, I don’t, but most females can’t shift until after they’re mated. Then they shift into the clan of their mates.”

  “So you will shift into whatever it is that the Katres shift into.”

  “That’s right.”

  “Can you tell me what that is? Or is that too personal?”

  “No, it’s not personal,” Ria said. “They shift into what we call a katrenca. It’s like a cat in the same way that a loboenca is like a wolf, if that makes sense.”

  “It does,” Star said. “I’d like to see them shift. Do you think that might be possible one day?”

  “Of course,” Ria said. “They can’t shift in here because their alter-forms are much too big. But all Clan Jasani ships have what’s usually called a Roar Room. It’s a large padded room they can go to when they want to shift and run or fly.”

  “They fly?” Star asked in surprise.

  “No, they don’t, but some clans do. Declan, who you met yesterday, is a dracon, so he flies in his alter form. The Falcorans, the Gryphons, and the Owlfens all fly, too. The Lobos, Katres, Bearens, Vulpirans and Tigrens don’t.”

  “Is that all of the clans?”

  “Yes, it is.”

  “I am looking forward to meeting all of them, Ria. I must admit that I’m surprised to learn that Thorn is your mate, though.”

  “I can certainly understand that.”

  “You’re not unhappy about it, are you?”

  “No, I’m not,” Ria admitted. “We all have our warts, Star. Myself included.”

  “What is a wart?”

  “I just mean we all have our flaws. None of us are perfect. I understand Thorn better now, and I see beyond the things he said and did to the reasons why he did them. In return, he has done the same with me.”

  “I understand what you mean,” Star said. “You are very wise.”

  “No, I’m not wise at all,” Ria said. “It’s just that like knows like.”

  Star tilted her head at that, but couldn’t quite grasp the meaning. Ria sensed her confusion and smiled as she thought of the perfect way to help her understand.

  “You were lonely for a long time, Star. I’ve been just as lonely, though in a different way and for different reasons. But lonely is lonely. You ease my loneliness, so I don’t need you to explain to me how you feel. I already know.”

  “I understand that,” Star said. “Yes, you’re right. I understand your feelings because I recognize them in myself, just as you do. Thank you for explaining, Ria.”

  “You’re welcome,” Ria said, stroking the fur on Star’s head.

  “When will we be allowed to go to our new room?”

  “In the morning, I think.”

  “I am looking forward to that.”

  “So am I.”

  ***

  Talon, Thorn, and Tee left the conference room, satisfied that their engineers understood what they needed, and how quickly they needed it. They were pleased by the engineer’s excitement over the project, and the challenge it represented. After five months confined to one not so large ship, anything that provided a change of pace was welcome.

  A couple of minutes later they were entering the room Ria had spent the previous night in to gather her things together. “I’m not sure we made the right choice in rooms, Talon,” Tee said when they stepped back into the corridor.

  “Why not?” Talon asked. “Between you and Thorn, and directly across from me is as safe as we can make them.”

  “I understand that,” Tee said. “But once the changes we just ordered are made, moving rooms won’t be a simple matter.”

  “That’s true,” Thorn said. “But why would we want to move rooms?”

  “Ria has agreed to stop taking the suppressants,” Tee said. “That means sex is going to be a much stronger issue for us and, I hope, her as well.”

  “We promised not to push her in that area particularly,” Talon reminded him.

  “I know, Talon, but I’m not suggesting we push her. I’m just hoping that Ria will eventually agree to be our berezi in the full sense of the word. Or, even better, our Arima. And I really hope that happens long before we return to Jasan. If it does, she won’t want Star and the cubs to be so far from her and frankly, neither would I.”

  Talon and Thorn nodded. “You’re right,” Talon said. “I don’t know why we didn’t think of that before. And you’re right that we can’t separate Star and Ria.”

  “I agree, but I don’t think having Star and the cubs in the master suite at all times would be very…relaxing,” Thorn said.

  “This is a big problem,” Talon said, frowning.

  “No, it’s not,” Tee argued. “Star and Ria can be close without sleeping in the same room with each other.”

  “What do you have in mind?” Talon asked.

  “The guest rooms run vertically along this corridor. The master suite runs horizontally across the far end of corridor, sharing one wall with each of the two guest rooms at the end. The guest room on the right shares its bathroom wall with the master suite’s bathroom, so changing that wall would be too complicated. The room on the left, however, shares its closet space with the wall in the master suite that holds the sitting area. We can make our changes to that guest room and put all of them in there for now.

  “Later, if and when we move to the master suite with Ria, we can have a door put into that wall. Star isn’t going to need closet space anyway. That’ll provide private access between the two rooms.”

  “Excellent idea, Tee,” Talon said. “I’m glad you thought of this now. It would have been a pain to make changes twice.”

  “I think I should move my things into the room directly across the corridor from Ria and Star’s room though,” Thorne said. “Tee will be right next to me, and your room, Talon, will be right next to theirs.”

  “Agreed,” Talon said. “Let’s get busy. We don’t have a lot of time and I want this done when they leave the infirmary in the morning.”

  Chapter 18

  “We are leaving now?” Star asked the next morning after Ria came out of the bathroom dressed in sweat pants and a t-shirt. The Katres had brought the clothing along with breakfast for both of them, then left them to eat.

  “Yes,” Ria replied, smiling. “As much as I appreciate all that Dr. Jula has done for us both, I’m looking forward to it. How about you?”

  “I feel the same,” Star said as they walked over to the bed in t
he corner where the cubs slept against each other. “Will someone help carry the cubs? I could carry one in my mouth if we aren’t going too far.”

  “I’ll carry one,” Ria said. “I would offer to carry both, but if they started wriggling around I’m afraid I might drop one. Having my left arm broken twice in less than twenty-four hours has left it a bit weak.”

  “I understand. My hip is weak and it was only injured once.”

  “Thanks to Dr. Jula, we’ll both be strong again soon. For now, I think it might be best if one of the Katres carries a cub. Or, if you’d prefer it, we can find a basket or something to lay them in.”

  “I trust you Ria, and will trust whoever you trust to carry one.”

  “Thanks, Star,” Ria said, touched. She had to raise one arm high to hug Star, smiling as she did so because the top of Star’s head was level with her shoulders. The only time they’d stood together was on that horrid planet, but Star had kept her head low to help with balancing on three legs.

  After releasing Star, Ria knelt down to the small pile of red and yellow in the center of the mattress and grinned. “I need to find a way to tell them apart since I can’t see their coloring.”

  “Their voices are different,” Star said. “Belle’s is higher pitched, and when she cries, her whines are short and sharp. Lonato’s whines stretch out much longer.”

  “Thanks, Star,” Ria said. “That helps a lot.”

  “What helps a lot?” Tee asked curiously as they entered the infirmary.

  Ria explained. “Tee, would you mind carrying one of the cubs while I carry the other?”

  “Not at all,” he said eagerly. “As long as Star doesn’t mind of course.”

  “I do not mind, and would appreciate the help.”

  “Thanks, Star,” Tee said, kneeling down beside Ria. “Which one do you want?”