by L M Lacee
After two cups of coffee, Penny decided Peyton had wasted enough time. So with a look daring her to complain, she pulled up on her comp’ requests from Governors and Ambassadors, wanting to visit the Embassy.
Apparently someone had been keeping tabs on the comings and goings of her Embassy and especially who was visiting. Now after the visit from the Governors and Ambassador Kassapi from Kallistro and the Haffee family. It appeared the other Governors and Ambassadors had decided they were being unfairly slighted by the Star Daughter. Their requests smacked of desperation, they were concerned their worlds would be found wanting by the Star Daughter.
Peyton hummed as she denied another request for an audience and found she was enjoying herself. It was fun finding polite ways of saying no. She had a bet with herself on how many ways she could say the same word without giving offense. After another fifteen minutes, she eventually grew bored and shut down her comp’
‘Jax, how long until second-meal?’
Two hours and no you cannot leave, it will annoy Penny and you know you promised Kerol not to upset her.
‘Dayam, I did say that. There must be something else I can do.’ She looked around, then remembered. ‘Where did I put the tech from the Shodian’s restaurant that Kinn gave me?’
Penny is coming.
‘Shoot, so close, thanks Jax.’ She was almost sure she heard him giggle, but before she could call him on it. Penny entered and gave her a sharp look, asking with what Peyton considered an unnecessary tone of suspicion in her voice. ‘What are you doing?’
‘Nothing.’
Penny eyebrows arched as she asked. ‘Are you not meant to be looking over the requests for visits?’
Smirking, she told her. ‘Done that.’
Up went the eyebrows again, and she barely concealed her tone of disbelief. ‘What… all of them?’
‘Yep.’
‘There had to be over six hundred.’
‘Uh-uh!’
Now she did not even try to disguise the disbelief as she said. ‘I see.’ She placed the tablet she was carrying on the desk in front of Peyton and opened it. ‘You need to look at this.’
‘What is it?’
‘The final agreement for Somnea and other products from the Haffee family, it needs your signature.’
‘Okaaay! What are we trading and how much and how often?’
‘You could read it and find out for yourself?’
‘I could or as my personal assistant you could keep your job and tell me.’
‘Huh, I could, but as you did not hire me, we are back to you reading it.’
THIRTY-THREE:
Kardan entered the office. Both Peyton and Penny looked at him with smiles on their faces and laughter in their eyes. Which slowly left as they saw the way he was dressed.
‘You have two choices, my heart.’
‘What would they be?’ She asked as she felt Penny’s hand on her shoulder.
He seemed to brace himself as he said. ‘You can render this world to shards or you can allow my Elites and our Warriors to do what we do best?’
She did not reply as she watched first Netta then Hawk, followed by Reeve, Dinas and Wolf enter fully kitted out with Rage and Rave by their sides. Her voice was hoarse as she battled the anger that lay within her from rising.
‘Who did they take?’
Kardan demanded. ‘Your choice?’
She stood quickly, causing Penny to step hurriedly behind her chair as she demanded. ‘Tell me!’
‘No!’ He softened his voice as he asked again. ‘My heart, your choice?’
Kardan’s face was devoid of expression but his eyes. His beautiful, loving eyes held all the understanding and belief in her she could ever want, from the one person who knew her heart better than she did.
As the power of the Star Daughter raced under her skin. She stared at her mate and felt the determination and trust he had that she would make the right decision. In that minute she knew this was not about her choice, it was about her trust in him, her belief in him. ‘You, I trust you.’
‘They took Hope!’
She felt her heart stop as her hands slammed down on the desk. They all watched as a crack appeared and snaked along the surface. Power fueled with rage swept through the Embassy dropping people and Prowlers to the floor.
Only to stop at the doors and walls of the Embassy halting its drive to enclose the Capital in her anguish. The building bulged outward once, then resettled, her power locked inside as was the scream behind her teeth.
She nodded, her voice strained as she leashed her power. ‘I will wait here for you to bring our daughter back.’
The only sign Kardan had been affected was the clearing of his throat as he vowed. ‘Blood will flow on the streets.’
‘Bring my daughter back to me.’ She swept them with eyes that burned as a ring of iridescent blue emerged with the flames, and nodded to a stone faced Netta as they marched from her office. Without turning, she asked. ‘Penny, are you well?’
‘Yes.’ She replied in a small voice.
Peyton closed her eyes and was proud of how much her voice sounded normal as she told her. ‘Let us go, the others will be worried.’
With tears lodged in her throat, Penny asked. ‘Peyton, are you okay?’
‘No... No, but I will hold for my Hope.’
When she opened her eyes once more, they were now a bright green, still with the ring of iridescent blue, a color none had seen before. She looked up when she heard Helen say.
‘And we will hold for you.’ She looked at Peyton but did not touch her, knowing it was not what she needed now, instead she stated. ‘It was the right choice.’
‘I know, but so hard to do.’
‘Yes dearle, the big ones always are.’ She held her hand out to the visibly shaken Penny.
‘Penny come dearle, Kerol went as well.’
‘Okay… I am... I should…’
‘Come with us Penny, we need you to be with us.’ Helen gently led her from the office as Peyton followed.
They encountered no one on their way to Peyton’s suite, where they were met by Miko. She took one look at Peyton’s expressionless face and strange colored eyes and gave Helen a fearful look.
With a nod, Helen placed Penny’s hand in hers. Clearing her throat, Miko said. ‘Come with me, sweetie. We will take a seat by the window. Lady Brenda is bringing you tea. You’ve had a shock, this is not good for the babies.’
Penny whispered, tears in her eyes as she clung to Miko’s hand. ‘Miko, they took Hope.’
With another quick look at Peyton as Helen led her to a couch, she whispered back. ‘I know sweetie, I know, but her family will get her back.’
Helen sat with Peyton and stated in a firm voice. ‘They will get her back, remember we knew this could happen.’ When there was no response she said sharply. ‘Look at me, Peyton!’
She turned her green and blue eyes on her, and it took everything inside Helen not to flinch at that look. ‘We prepared for this, she will come home.’
‘Not to her… never her.’
‘Star Girl, it had to be someone.’
Peyton stared at her and Helen clasped her hands together as she said. ‘Do not look at me like that, you know what I mean.’
‘I could bring her back.’
‘And kill millions doing so. Would Hope want that? Could you live with yourself afterward, if you did?’
Peyton shook her head, then with a small sob laid her head on Helen’s shoulder.
She wrapped her arms around the trembling body of the most powerful being in the Universe and rocked her gently, as Peyton whispered. ‘No, she would be disappointed if I did so.’
Helen smoothed her hair as she looked into the frightened eyes of Miko and Penny and nodded as she mouthed. It will be okay.
‘That is right, dearle, but in saying that. After she is back with us. I expect you to teach the ones who did this a lesson this Universe will never forget.’
P
eyton lifted her head from Helen and looked into her tear-filled eyes. Now it was her turn to offer comfort. ‘Hush Helen, I am sorry. You are right, we have the best people in the Universe hunting her. She will be alright.’
‘Yes, she will.’
THIRTY-FOUR:
Heather rushed into the lounge, and Helen relinquished her place beside Peyton with a smile. Without a word, Heather gathered Peyton in her arms and asked. ‘You alright?’
Peyton sighed and shook her head.
Helen kissed her forehead and with a caress of her hair said. ‘I will get coffee.’
Heather hugged Peyton again. ‘Well, haven’t you grown?’
Peyton, Miko, and Penny looked at her as she raised her eyebrows. ‘What, the Embassy is still standing.’
‘Oh!’ Miko nodded. ‘That’s true.’
They all felt the building tremble as Peyton breathed out the sob clogging her throat and whispered. ‘Heather, they took my baby girl.’
‘Yes hon, they did, and now they have her Adee wearing, knife wielding, Rie gifted auntie, along with her father and uncles hunting her and the Desoul’s, who took her.’
‘Yes.’ Peyton affirmed as Heather hugged her tighter. Suddenly remembering who Hope had been with, she demanded of Heather.
‘What of the twins… Amelia and Dana?’
‘All okay… they are okay. They should be here any min.’
‘They were unhurt?’
Amelia said. ‘They are upset.’
‘Thank the stars for that, such brave little Assaens. I am surprised they left anyone alive.’
‘Me too!’ Heather muttered. ‘They must have been caught by surprise.’
Brenda coming in with tea gave Heather a disapproving look as Peyton just raised her own eyebrows at her comment.
Uncomfortable she had spoken her thoughts out loud, she became defensive. ‘What… like you don’t know they are as dangerous as their brothers?’
‘They are your girls.’ Brenda told her as she hugged Peyton. ‘And we are all aware of who and what they are.’
‘We are just surprised you are?’ Helen told her as she passed a cup of coffee to Peyton.
Heather whispered. ‘They are ours to love and cherish, no matter how dangerous they are.’ She looked at Peyton. ‘Just like you and all those looking for Hope. We love you, even though you have weird colored eyes now remember that.’
Peyton echoed. ‘I am loved.’
Helen nodded. ‘What she said, and I did not like to ask before, but dearle one. Are they going to stay like that?’
Peyton felt her lips turning up in a smile as she nodded. ‘Yes, I think they are.’
‘Well, okay.’
Brenda murmured. ‘Well, it is different.’
Heather grinned as Peyton sighed and then her face fell. Her daughter was still not with her. She fisted her hands and Heather covered them with her own. ‘Soon, she will be back soon, just keep the faith Peyton. And when she is back, we will bring the hammer down on those responsible for taking her.’
Helen said. ‘This cannot happen again we must make an example.’
‘It ends here.’ Brenda said in a determined voice.
Peyton agreed. ‘Yes.’
Miko said. ‘You know for mothers you are all very bloodthirsty.’
They all just shrugged. Because she was right.
THIRTY-FIVE:
Melody nodded to the receptionist on duty but did not stop to talk as she would have normally. She entered the lift and ordered. ‘Jax recall our people, notify their guards to tell them what has happened when they make it back to the cars. Let’s not panic everybody.’
The doors opened as she made Peyton’s floor and was greeted by Marlo, she continued. ‘Jax tell them to remain calm and show no outward sign that anything is wrong. Let’s not give the olesho’s who will be watching, the satisfaction of thinking we are panicked.’
Understood Tivna Melody.
Marlo hugged her. ‘Good thinking, furin olesho’s will not cower us. How yah doin’ kiddo.’
Melody let herself soak up the comfort his arms provided. Her reply was muffled against his chest. ‘Not so good, they have our Hope and I have to tell you, I am shocked the city still stands.’
Marlo held her to him as he told her. ‘We should all be thankful for the Amahka. No one else could have done what he has.’
‘As much as we would like to think we could have coped with this…’ She looked up at him and said solemnly. ‘You and I both know, it is only because of him that the world still survives.’
He agreed, although he did not say the words, she could see written in his eyes. She knew he was as fearful as she was at what they would find behind those closed doors.
‘Did Coraan take the Draygons?’
Melody nodded, her eyes glued on the doors to Peyton’s suite. ‘Yes, he took all of his fliers.’
‘I thought he would.’
Melody shrugged her shoulders as she quietly said. ‘Well, should we go discover what state she is in?’
Marlo looked at the closed door and nodded. He twisted his head from side to side to loosen the muscles and gruffly said. ‘Let us go den the bear!’
Melody laughed, then halted abruptly, shocked she had a laugh within her. ‘You, my dearle Marlo, are priceless.’
He cocked an eyebrow up and mimicked Reeve. ‘Of course I am, I am Warrior.’
‘Oh, my stars.’
Together they opened the doors and entered the suite to find a sane and a dry eyed Peyton. Melody rushed to her and took her in her arms, assuring her. ‘She will be home soon.’
Marlo kissed her forehead. ‘Hold for her luv… hold.’
‘I will. I am. You know Coraan left as well?’ She asked Melody, who frowned and looked at Peyton. ‘I do, he took Zen, Ran and Lucca. I have no pity for those scum and neither should you.’
Peyton did not reply, just nodded as Briark and Leiark raced into the room ahead of Fanharr. Braace and Larson followed seconds later by every kit and adult Prowler. Briark and then Leiark rubbed along her leg as he told her.
We are here, Beloved.
Fanharr rubbed against her saying. As we all are Beloved.
‘Thank you my bondmates and you as well Fanharr, thank you all.’
Moments later, Enara and Enuru ran into the room and flung themselves into Peyton’s opened arms. She hugged them. ‘My brave, brave girls.’
Enara said. ‘Auntie Peyton we left her.’
Amelia and Dana hurried into the lounge, and Amelia quickly told them what she knew had happened. When she finished Peyton nodded but said nothing, only looked at the girls in her arms and said. ‘I am so thankful you were there and could find help.’
‘We did, but they took her. She is all alone. We are not with her.’ Enuru cried as she cuddled into Peyton.
‘And I and everyone here thanks the stars you did what you were told to do and reported to Amelia and Dana. So you did not end up taken as well. Or we would be hunting three little girls, not just one. I am so proud of you, you did not endanger each other or Hope. Thank you, my brave girls.’
They cried harder until Heather and Patty gave them both a sedative. Peyton held them until they went to sleep. Brenda stroked each of the girl’s hair. ‘Poor wee girls, they must have been so frightened.’
Heather looked at Peyton and saw the same knowledge in her eyes. They had not been frightened, they had been enraged that they could not administer their punishment on the kidnappers. Fear only came when they realized Hope was by herself.
All Heather said was. ‘Let’s get them into bed, so they can sleep off their umm… fear.’
‘I will come with you to settle them both and let Rita and Rata know.’ Brenda told Patty and Heather, who with one last look at Peyton followed Brenda from the room.
Peyton sipped her coffee while she fought for control, fought to keep her power locked behind a wall of granite. This was not her battle, her battle would come after her girl was safely ho
me, in her arms. Later would be time to unleash her anger and punish those responsible. But for now she sat with her hand in her sisters, her family and friends circling… waiting for word of Hope’s return.
Because like her, no one was in any doubt.
The storm had finally arrived!
THIRTY-SIX:
Hope shivered again as the hot stinky breath of the male holding her touched the exposed skin on her neck. He had grabbed her in the dress shop as she and Enara were coming from the fitting room.
They had just changed into their clothes, after trying on the special dressers for Mama’s big party. Enuru had got angry with her and Enara because she said they were taking too long and she wanted to go to the toy building. She had gone to get Auntie Amelia to make them hurry.
After Enara helped her put her new shoes on, they hurried into the hallway. Enara had run ahead to make sure Enuru had not followed through on her threat to tell on them.
When the hallway went dark, Hope laughed as Enara yelled at Enuru for making the lights go out. That was when she felt someone behind her. She had giggled thinking it was Enuru playing tricks on them. But as she turned, a male’s large hand covered her mouth, and he picked her up. She had mind-screamed at Enara to run to Auntie Amelia.
Enara had stopped running and turned to Hope, and when she saw her in the male’s arms, her eyes had got small like they did when she was angry. She snarled and took a step toward them, only stopping when Hope mind-yelled again for her to run.
Instinct as old as time had her obeying and before she registered who had given her the order she found her feet running away. Enuru had just entered the hallway when she heard Hope yelling and as with her sister, she ran. Except she ran toward Hope and Enara only to come to a sliding stop as she crashed into her twin. Who pushed her back the way she had come, mind-yelling. We have to go… we have to go!
With a scared but determined Enuru by her side. Both girls burst into the showroom screaming that Hope had been stolen.
Maya had come running at Hope’s call to Enara, only to stop as she entered the hallway. Seeing what was happening, she slipped around the corner where she hid in the dark. Lying flat on the floor, she cried repeatedly for Rage as she watched the males take her Hope from her.
