Revealed (50 page)

“Well, I have to admit that Lissa had some pretty spectacular powers,” Sophie said thoughtfully. “I mean, she could move mountains of sand around with her
mind
. But I felt really sorry for her, anyway. She didn’t really want to be there on
First World
—she said her mother had exiled her there. Her older brother spoke up for her but he was overruled. At least…” She frowned. “I
think
he was her older brother. The Touch Kindred seemed to have some funny ideas about familial relationships.”

“To prevent inbreeding,” Lauren said. “I remember now—Xairn
did
say something about that. There weren’t enough of them to begin with and they intermarried too much. That was what caused the touch gene to become dominant in the first place. They’re trying to breed it back out again now so the Kindred High Council will accept them and allow them on board the Mother Ship. ”

“Oh, so that’s why they’re so picky about who you can and can’t marry over there,” Sophie said thoughtfully. “Makes sense, I guess.”

“So they want to come on the Mother Ship? I don’t know that I’d want to be in such close quarters with a bunch of guys who could reach out and ‘touch’ me anytime they wanted to, just by thinking about it.” Olivia shivered.

“Which is exactly why they’re not recognized by the Council and banned from the ship,” Lauren said. “You know how protective and possessive Kindred men are.” She smiled. “And that goes double for Scourge.”

“There would be fights breaking out all over the place!” Sophie exclaimed. “You know, even when Rast healed me and Sylvan knew he was doing it for my own good, he told me later that it was
really
hard for him to let me get so close to another male without doing something about it.”

She’d already told them about the healing and Nadiah and Rast’s joining, but now, of course, they had to discuss it all over again.

“All I can say, is hurry up and get preggers, womb-mate,” Olivia said when they had exhausted the topic of Nadiah’s simple but elegant ceremony with Lissa presiding. “My little guy and Lauren’s little girl are going to need company.”

Sophie laughed. “I’ll do my best. In fact…”She blushed. “Sylvan and I have already been trying on the trip back home. You wouldn’t believe how creative he can get, even in one of those cramped little ships.” She looked at Kat. “What about you, Kat? All aboard the pregnancy express—where’s your ticket?”

“That’s one ticket I’m not ready to get punched yet, thank you very much,” Kat said tartly. “Besides, who’s going to wait on all the pregnant ladies if we’re
all
pregnant? Somebody has to be available to make the pickled seaweed sandwiches and pass the ketchup.”

“Don’t,” Lauren and Liv said together.

“You’re making me so
hungry
,” Liv added.

Lauren groaned. “Just the thought makes me want to puke.”

Kat and Sophie laughed together and Kat said, “See what I mean? This is what it’s been like. And with you gone there just weren’t enough minions to go around.” She sighed. “I swear, when you get pregnant too, I’ll have to clone myself.”

Lauren looked pale. “Don’t say that, Kat. I
was
cloned you know. It wasn’t much fun.”

“Sorry, hon.” Kat patted her knee. “I forgot all about that. But didn’t you say they were all—what did you call them—seed clones? Temporary?”

“All but one.” Lauren shivered. “One of them was exactly like me. She even had my memories.” She shook her head. “I have nightmares about that sometimes—wondering what became of her. I just can’t imagine what it must have been like, being left behind in that awful place but feeling like she belonged back here. She must
hate
me just for being me.”

“That’s so
creepy
.” Sophie made a face. “Let’s talk about something else.”

“Like what?” Liv asked. “You’ve already told us every single detail of Nadiah’s adventure on
First World
.” She sighed. “It’s so sad she can’t ever leave again.”

“No, it’s
Rast
who can never leave,” Sophie corrected. “Not unless he wants to lose his wings.”

“I know something you didn’t tell us,” Kat said. “What ever happened to Y’dex?”

“She told us that,” Liv said. “He fell off the ledge when Rast jumped after Nadiah, right? So he must have gone
kersplat
all over the ground.” She put a hand to her mouth. “Oh God, how disgusting. I think just made myself sick.”

“Actually, he
didn’t
splatter all over the ground,” Sophie said. “We never saw him hit bottom. Of course, everybody was watching Rast and Nadiah instead and it was awhile before we thought to look.”

“So what happened to him?” Lauren asked. “Did you ever find the body?”

Sophie shook her head. “Huh-uh. But Sylvan saw one of those huge black hunting birds they have on
First World
flying away with something in its beak. So it’s possible…”

“That Y’dex ended up as bird chow,” Olivia said. “Yuck, now I really
am
going to be sick.”

“Serves him right,” Kat said, frowning. “Going all the way to
First World
to try and break Rast and Nadiah up after he lost the challenge fair and square. How did he even get there?”

“We don’t know,” Sophie admitted. “He said something about the Kindred not being the only ones who had interstellar travel abilities or something like that.” She frowned. “But according to Sylvan, it takes enormous amounts of power and really complicated technology to fold space—I don’t see how he could have done it and followed Nadiah from Tranq Prime all the way to
First World
in one of those little ships.”

“He could have used wormholes,” Lauren pointed out. “Xairn did when he took me to get our DNA altered.”

“Maybe so,” Sophie said thoughtfully. “I guess that would make sense. But then why would he brag about his ‘interstellar abilities?’”

Kat snorted. “Honey, why does
any
man brag? He was probably trying to impress Nadiah. Not that she’d ever go back to him—the slime.”

“Well, however he did it, I guess his secret died with him,” Lauren said.

Sophie nodded. “I guess so. There’s no way anyone could have survived that fall.” She looked at Liv. “And now you have to fill me in on what’s been going on in the Mother Ship. All I’ve heard about so far are you and Lauren’s weird pregnancy cravings. There must be
something
else going on.”

“There is,” Liv said, trying to sit up. Her belly was getting bigger by the day. “Ugh, in another two months I won’t be able to
move,
I swear,” she panted.

“What’s the news, oh rotund one?” Kat asked, giving her a hand.

“You’re going to pay for that remark once you finally
do
get preggers with twins,” Liv snapped. “But anyway, Elise Darden is awake and she and Merrick are
really
hitting it off.”

“Oooh.” Sophie smiled. “That’s wonderful! But I thought he wasn’t supposed to be able to form bonds because he’s a hybrid?”

“I thought so too,” Olivia said. “But
something
is definitely going on between them. He’ll hardly leave her side for a second—he even watches her while she sleeps. And it’s not a one way street, either—the minute she wakes up, she looks for him. If he’s not there—which is rare—she gets
really
upset. And here’s the thing—he
knows
she’s upset, even if he’s halfway across the ship. He can feel it and he comes running.”

Kat frowned. “But that’s not possible without
some
kind of a bond. Are you sure they’re haven’t done the bonding sex hanky-panky in her hospital bed when you weren’t looking?”

“Positive,” Liv said, frowning. “You know all the med station rooms are monitored. The point is—this type of connection between them
shouldn’t
be possible.”

“What does Sylvan say about it?” Sophie asked.

Liv shook her head. “Well I just told him last night when you guys came in. He seemed concerned but he said he’d have to do more research before he could address it.”

“So
that’s
why he was reading that huge long medical paper about the ‘extended effects of stasis sickness’ into the wee hours last night,” Sophie exclaimed. “I could hardly get him to come to bed. I tell you, if we hadn’t had so much fun on the trip home, I would have been really upset.” She pointed a finger at Olivia. “Luckily for you, womb mate, I was too tired to care.”

Liv held up her hands in a “don’t shoot” gesture. “Hey, just doing my job.” She frowned. “I’m just worried about Elise.
Merrick
can take care of himself but she’s been through so
much
.”

“We all know how she feels,” Lauren said quietly. “You tell her if she needs someone to talk to about what she went through, we’re here for her.”

“That’s sweet, cuz.” Liv smiled and reached across Kat to pat Lauren’s hand. “I’ll let her know. But to be honest, I think she just wants to forget.” She shivered. “Can’t say that I blame her.”

Lauren nodded. “Well, if she wants to talk, my door’s open.”

“I’ll let her know before she goes back down to Earth,” Olivia promised. “She’s healing remarkable quickly. I don’t know if it has to do with
Merrick
or not but she’s really bouncing back from her ordeal very well.”

“Maybe she just has a good nurse.” Sophie leaned forward and gave her twin a quick hug. “The best.”

“Aww…” Liv hugged her back. “You really mean that, womb-mate?”

“Of course I do.” Sophie smiled.

“Then…do you think you could make me a sandwich? Pretty please?” Liv begged. “The pickled seaweed is in the fridge and the ketchup’s on the counter.”

“And on that note, I’m leaving,” Lauren said.

“Why?” Kat grinned at her. “You need to get home and
whip
something up for dinner?”

Instead of blushing and laughing, Lauren looked troubled. “Very funny, Kat. But you can stop teasing—there’s no whipping or spanking or handcuffing going on at my place at the moment.”

“Oh no—that’s bad,” Liv exclaimed. “Is everything all right, Lauren?”

Lauren sighed. “Well yes, and no. I’m super excited and happy to be pregnant but Xairn seems…conflicted. And ever since we got the pink flower, he won’t touch me. I think he’s afraid he’ll hurt the baby.”

“What?” Kat shook her head. “Did you tell him she’s probably only the size of a lima bean right now?”

“Yeah, send him over to Sylvan if you want,” Sophie said. “I’m sure he can explain.”

“It’s not just that. It’s…” Lauren shook her head. “I’m not sure what it is. But I’m hoping it will all work itself out pretty soon.”

“Well, you know you can talk to us anytime, right cuz?” Liv asked. “In fact…come here.” She reached across Kat to give her cousin a hug.

“Help!” Kat exclaimed. “I’m being squished! Attack of the pregnant ladies.”

“The very
hormonal
pregnant ladies,” Lauren said, sitting back and sniffing. “Why does being pregnant make you so emotional? I haven’t cried so much since I was a teenager.”

“Hormones—they make you do crazy things.” Liv swiped at her eyes. “Like right now, I’m even willing to forgo my seaweed sandwich if you want to stay.”

Lauren sighed. “No, I really have to go. Xairn will be back soon and I need to do a new batch of cupcakes while I still have the energy.” She looked at Kat and Sophie. “Either of you non pregnant ladies want to be my sous chef? I could use an assistant.”

“I’ll come,” Sophie volunteered. “Sylvan won’t be back to our suite until late.” She frowned. “He’s talking to the Council about something Rast told him.”

“What?” Liv asked.

Sophie shook her head, feeling troubled. “He didn’t say exactly. Only that there’s some kind of threat to
First World
. It sounded pretty scary.”

Kat frowned. “Well, I’m sure the Council will know what to do. I guess it’s a good thing Rast turned up when he did.”

“The Goddess works in mysterious ways,” Sophie said seriously. “I just wonder what she’s got up her sleeve for us next.”

“Who knows,” Olivia said. “But whatever it is, you can be sure it won’t be boring. Come on Kat, since Sophie is helping Lauren
you’re
on sandwich duty.”

Kat groaned. “Again? All right but someday you’ll pay for making me handle that nasty pickled seaweed.”

“I promise I will,” Liv said sweetly. “Just as soon as you’ve got your own two buns in the oven, Mrs. Twin Kindred.”

They all laughed and got up to go. But as Sophie hugged everyone again and followed Lauren out the door, she sent up a silent prayer for Rast and Nadiah that everything would be all right. Though they were light years away from
First World
, she couldn’t help feeling like whatever was happening there might spill over into their part of the universe as well.

“Keep us safe, Goddess,” she whispered. “Keep us safe and our children too.” Secretly, she stroked her flat belly where even now a seed might be sprouting. She promised herself she would ask Sylvan to do a pregnancy test soon. Very soon.