I looked upon Arachne through the viewport on the bridge as though I gazed down upon my salvation. The Alarics and Montgomerys knew I wanted to get on my land as quickly as possible and had therefore agreed to wait for our arrival at the Alaric Estate, foregoing greeting us at the land port. Being out in the open wasn’t what I wanted. There were a couple of Galaxic Militia starships docked at the land port, but I didn’t know their captains. However, Eric and Quaid did and had assured me that they would come to our aid should the need arise. Captain Ricimer and my crew would remain aboard the Empress while we were docked, but he would be granting shore leave. Teams of my Omnes Videntes would remain in place to monitor everyone boarding the Empress.
Thunderdrop’s chirping had become incessant. I knew how he felt. Both of us had been longing for home. The hour drive from the land port seemed to take at least twice as long. Finally, we came to a stop underneath the high wood-beamed awning at the Alaric Estate. The wide doors were open, and Lord Ethan Alaric waited on the front steps with a large smile on his handsome face.
I opened my door and ran to him. “Daddy!” I cried out in anguish as I threw my arms around his chest. The fear and shame I had been smothering under poured from me. Ethan held me close and stroked my hair. The empathic bond between us snapped back and strengthened with a comforting ferocity.
“You’re home now. Everything is alright.”
I felt the truth of his words in my bones. I gazed up at his ice-blue eyes and felt his love. Then, Gram tore me away, pulled me into the sitting room, and kissed me all over my face until Simon grabbed me and spun me around the room.
Yukihyo was busy making introductions. I heard Neema running around screaming with little Evan Alaric, who was already bigger than her. Then, Niklos joined them. It wasn’t until ZeeZee and Cass made their appearances that the children calmed.
Neema sat on her butt, looked up at ZeeZee, and said, “Oh.”
Gina had Peter and was making cooing noises at him. Violet and Auria, Eliot’s wife, were hugging. I had just finished kissing Simon all over his face when Eliot pulled me away and spun me around. Yukihyo was now seated on a couch with a tiny redheaded baby in his arms. Isadora, who had put on some weight, sat beside him. I laughed until I cried.
Jorge let Thunderdrop, Cass, and ZeeZee outside. Everyone, with the exception of Niklos, Neema, Evan, and Peter had calmed down. I had my head on Gram’s lap and a smile on my face. Sherman was loading Farowyn, his men, Izaac, Cedrenus, Binder, and Ross into a long open roller to take them on a tour and show them our spiders. I had gotten to cuddle Susanna Montgomery, our newest family member, until she got cranky, hungry, and to wanting her mommy. I was happy for Isadora, but even happier that I had gotten to see her so soon after the birth while she was still fat and bloated. I smiled as I remembered how she had called me short and round. Simon didn’t care about her weight. He was happier than I had ever seen him. Simon was an adorably overprotective daddy.
After dinner, we decided to drive home to the house my husbands and family had built for me. Niklos was sound asleep in Nico’s arms, and Neema stared off at nothing through her window as we drove along the private road to my property, situated between the Alaric and Montgomery lands. I got out of the transport and walked to the beautifully carved front doors. Inside, the wood floors gleamed back at me. The three tan couches with their pink, orange, and red throw pillows were just as I had left them. I smiled at the large painting of Thalassa on the wall above the center couch with its pink and orange sky, blue water, sand, and red floating flower petals.
I heard the sounds of the others as they began to trickle in behind me. Nico carried Niklos into the dining room and into the lift on the left. Pierce followed with Neema, and Lorca followed with Peter. I knew where they were taking them, to their nursery designed to look like the one Grandmother had decorated in the house on Coronis. Neema was old enough now to fall in love with that room with its glittering ceiling of stars and planets.
Violet looked worn out. Kaoti had Poppy cradled in his arms. I was relieved they had their own room with Neema’s previous crib already set up. Then, I remembered that Xavier and Jazon had their own rooms as well. I didn’t have to worry about Sparrow and Tracy feeling at home.
I said, “Drex, I don’t think Quaid would mind you staying in his room.”
“I’ll show him where it is,” Eli offered.
I assumed Eli also intended to show Drex where their weapons rooms were. There was one between Eli and Xavier’s rooms hidden behind the lift, and another on the opposite side of the floor between Kaoti and Jazon’s rooms. Since a few of my Ponidi brothers were remaining aboard the ship, I had rooms for Cedrenus, Binder, Ross, Farowyn, and his men. It was nice having a mansion with eighteen apartment-like bedrooms and an additional master suite for Yukihyo, Nico, and me. Our central suites upstairs were designed like my wing of the Palace with my large bedroom, bathroom, and dressing room along the back wall of the house. To reach my bedroom, I had to walk down a long hall with three opulent bedrooms to each side. The three rooms on the left belonged to Lorca, Pierce, and the children. The rooms on the right belonged to Fitz, Zared, and Quaid.
Along the east and west sides of the second floor were the guest bedrooms, lifts, and hidden weapons lockers. A comfortable sitting area, like the one at Yukihyo’s family home on Chione, was at the entrance to my private suites.
Once I had Terre and everyone settled, I went to my room. The large picture window across from the bed was dark. I turned to the right and into my bathroom where I began filling the corner tub. The window there was dark as well. I let my clothing fall and stood on the pile before stepping into the hot water.
“May I join you?” Yukihyo asked.
I smiled at him. “You may.”
His clothes joined the pile. Nico entered the bathroom, looked at us, and stripped. He got in the tub, too, making the water level rise dangerously high. I shut off the faucet, saw Yukihyo’s expression, and laughed until I cried.
“Coming here was the right choice. You seem better,” Nico said.
“I felt better the moment I was in Ethan’s arms.”
“You called him daddy,” Nico said.
I met his brown eyes and stretched my legs out over his to give Yukihyo more room to put space between his hip and Nico’s. “That’s what he feels like to me. I’m sorry about how I’ve been the last few weeks.”
“Teagan, don’t be. You are in no way to blame,” Nico said.
“Have they caught them yet?” I asked.
Nico turned his head to look out through the window and into the darkness.
“What would you like to do while we are here, Lady Wife?” Yukihyo asked.
“Oh, it’s like that. Is it?” I shrugged, knowing Nico didn’t have any good news to share. “I want to spend some time here in our home. Why don’t you and Phillip spend some quality time with Hiroshi? I’m safe here.”
Yukihyo grinned at me. “I would like to do so, and I am assured of your safety here. However, prying Phillip from Terre might require more strength than I possess.”
Nico said, “I tried to explain to him the lengths Parvac males will go to when courting a female. Terre has been courted and fought over since she came of age. She’s become jaded to it.”
“I hope he doesn’t get his heart broken. He’s never before offered it to anyone,” Yukihyo said.
Saddened by his words, I said quietly, “I hope that I am not breaking either of yours.” I gasped as water was splashed in my face and looked up at Yukihyo and Nico, who were both grinning at me.
“No, never,” Yukihyo promised.
The comforting routine that I had followed the last time I had enjoyed my home came back to me. I woke up and put the children in their stroller. Yukihyo kissed me on the cheek as he and Phillip were leaving. “We will bring Hiroshi by later.”
“Okay. Have fun.”
“Call us if you need us, Cupcake.”
“I will.”
“Chirp!” Thunderdrop scurried after me and used the stroller and the top of my head to jump over me and outside.
Kaoti already waited outside near a tree and watched me and everything else. Then, I realized that eight other eyes were watching me and the children.
“Good morning!” Neema called out as she waved.
They bowed to us.
I said, “It looks like you are all ready to explore. Do you want to come with us on our walk?”
“Will there be spiders?” Ross asked.
Nodding, I said, “Always.”
Izaac, Cedrenus, Binder, and Ross walked to the sides of us while Kaoti became a silent shadow. The boys observed my bodyguard with apparent envy. “How does he move like that? I know he is near but have no idea where,” Cedrenus said.
“I don’t know, but it’s comforting.”
“Look, Mommy!” Neema pointed at several spiders that were hanging from lines of silk and others that slowly walked above us on their webs.
“Beautiful, aren’t they?”
“Oh, booty full,” Niklos agreed.
Grinning, I pushed the stroller along, breathed in the air, and relaxed. “This is my favorite place to be. I love it here.”
Binder seemed unnerved. “It doesn’t frighten you, being surrounded by silent predators who could strike and kill at the slightest provocation?”
I snorted. “No more than being at the Academy with all of you in basically the exact same situation.”
Kaoti laughed loudly from above us.
The boys all looked up. “How’d you get up there?” Ross asked.
Kaoti dropped down and showed off his bracers which were equipped with small retractable grappling hooks amongst other things.
“May I try?” Ross asked.
Kaoti removed his bracers, helped Ross put them on, and then instructed him on how to operate them. Izaac and I continued walking.
“Whoa!” A swoosh of sound accompanied the warbled yell. I turned and discovered Ross dangling and swaying frantically from high in a tree. “How do I get down?” he yelled. He was swinging from at least twenty feet above.
Kaoti said, “I warned you about the stabilizers.”
“The traction is stuck!”
“That’s because your leg is wrapped up in it. It’s a safety feature, so you don’t lose a limb.”
“How do we get him down?” Binder asked.
“A ladder,” Kaoti suggested.
Meanwhile, Ross’ face was turning red.
“Thunderdrop!” I called.
“Chirp?” he answered from somewhere nearby.
“Will you please help Cadet Ross?”
“Chirp!” Thunderdrop climbed the tree.
“Izaac…” I began, but knowing my thoughts, he had already started recording while I snickered at my friend’s predicament.
Thunderdrop attached a line to the branch above Ross and then dropped down to him. My spider’s black legs were barely visible against the cadet’s uniform. Thunderdrop began circling Ross with silk as he would prey. Then, my spider sent me an image of releasing the grappling lines.
“Ross, release the grappling hooks. He has you. You won’t fall.”
Trusting us, Ross let the hooks retract back into the bracers and then bounced horizontally on Thunderdrop’s line. He seemed relieved if not a little dizzy. Thunderdrop lowered Ross to the forest floor and then severed his lines with his back claws.
“Thanks. I owe you a favor,” Ross said to Thunderdrop as his coloring returned to normal.
Thunderdrop blinked at Ross a few times before disappearing again into the trees.
Kaoti stared at Ross with his usual dead expression and said, “Try again.”
Ross froze and stared for a moment at Kaoti before getting to his feet. I turned and continued on my walk. Izaac knew my destination.
“Neema wants out, Mommy! Please!”
“Izaac, will you help me with her?”
He nodded and took Neema out of her seat. Niklos cried. I pulled his socks off his cute little feet and kissed his toes. His nose was red from crying for his sister, but he was laughing at the same time. “You are so handsome!” I said as I kissed his dirty blonde hair on the top of his head. Niklos looked just like me, Kane, and Uncle Kagan.
I slipped out of my shoes and took Niklos from his seat. Peter was sleeping, so after making sure the stroller wheels were locked, I carried Niklos over to the stream that ran through the middle of my land and sat with my feet in the water. Niklos sat between my legs with my arms around him and copied me.
“Zak! Neema wants to do that!”
Izaac carried her over from where she had been pulling on a web to sit beside us. She threw her socks into the water and laughed before we could stop her. One little purple sock sank. The other floated downstream.
“Cedrenus, your mission is to retrieve two purple baby socks,” I said.
He laughed and fished them out with a stick.
The next morning, I got my period. I sat on the waste unit and cried.
“Teagan, what’s wrong?” Nico asked before realizing what had happened. “We will have more children. It’s alright.” He found me some lady protection and hovered near the sink.
His concern helped, but loss and failure warred for control of me. Each of my husbands desperately wanted children, and I realized that I needed to feel another life growing within me.
Later in the day, the children and I were in the sitting room at the back of the house playing when Sparrow, Violet, Tracy, and Terre converged on me.
“Yes?” I asked almost fearfully.
“Are we just going to sit here the whole time?”
“Sparrow!” Tracy admonished.
“Um, no. You can do whatever you want to do,” I said as I rubbed Peter’s back. He was doing a good job of sitting up all by himself.
“Aren’t you coming?” Terre asked.
“Not today. Go have fun. Really. I am perfectly content.”
“She’s telling the truth,” Jazon said.
I made eye contact with Xavier. “Please, take your wives out and show them my favorite planet. Take Kaoti with you.”
“I will not leave your side,” Kaoti said from where he stood with his back to the wall.
“Sorry, Violet,” I said.
“I expected nothing else,” she said. She kissed his cheek and whispered, “We’ll be back later. I want to show Poppy off to everyone I know.”
Kaoti grinned at her before becoming stoic once more.
One day progressed into the next, and I enjoyed a constant stream of family visits. Yukihyo, Hiroshi, and Phillip had been inseparable. Tora’s hold was filled with merchandise from Parvac that Yukihyo had brought. At the moment, they were all in Yukihyo’s office. I walked in, sat on Hiroshi’s lap, and hugged his neck.
“I hear my baby sister is now an ensign.”
Nodding proudly, I said, “That’s true!”
“I am proud of you. I have my own news to share. Ling is going to make me a father.” Hiroshi had a happy sparkle in his eyes.
I squeezed his neck. “Oh, Hiroshi! I’m so happy for you!” I hoped that I hid the fact that everyone had already guessed his happy news well enough.
“But not surprised,” he said with a raised eyebrow. He knew me too well.
I grinned at him.
Phillip congratulated him as well, but all of us had no trouble detecting the hint of sadness in him. His eyes strayed in the direction of Terre’s voice.
Hiroshi said, “She is very beautiful, the Parvac woman.”
Phillip said, “Yes, but she’s more than that. Can I get anyone anything from the kitchen?” Phillip didn’t wait for our responses.
Hiroshi shook his head and grinned. “I have stores of silk from the families to deliver and wish to do so quickly. I want to keep my time away from Ling to a minimum.”
“Understandable,” Yukihyo said.
“How long will you remain on Arachne and dare you leave Teagan for a short jaunt to Aurilius?”
“We could be there and back in less than two weeks’ time,” Yukihyo said to me.
I gave him what I hoped passed as a haughty stare. “Would you bring back stuffed olives and things of that sort?”
Hiroshi laughed and squeezed me. “I will bring my baby sister and Ling more such treats than they could want.”
“I’ll leave the two of you to discuss your plans. Please consider that Tracy and Jazon may want to go with you. She misses her mother.” I was missing mine as well.
Tired of studying, I stood and stretched. The view from my sitting room was amazing. I gazed out at the trees and tried not to be annoyed. I still didn’t understand my chemistry assignments, but I was finally all caught up. Nervous rustlings accompanied the strong empathic feeling of safety and family. The cadets had made the noises while rushing to stand. The comfort had come from Sherman.
“Find somewhere else to be,” he said to them in the imposing tone that I no longer believed.
“Princess?” Cedrenus asked. He wasn’t allowing himself to be intimidated.
I turned to him and raised an eyebrow. “You’d better do as he says.”
The cadets bowed to me and took their leave.
Sherman said, “Simon said you boys could go for a swim at his house. You remember how to get there?”
“Yes, sir,” Binder answered. They wouldn’t have any trouble getting there since Yukihyo had provided each of them with a roller to use during their stay.
Kaoti didn’t budge from his position, but Sherman didn’t expect him to. However, he did wait until the boys were gone to speak. “You let them run you off Parvac. Now, you’re afraid to leave your house.”
With my heart speeding up, I turned from the windows to face him. I took in the sight of him from his bright-red hair and pale blue eyes to his barrel-like chest. “No one ran me off. I needed to come home. I needed to feel safe.”
“This is your home, and I want you here, but not if it’s hurting you to stay.”
“How could being here hurt me? I’m happy here.” I crossed my arms over my chest and looked back out of the window.
“I overheard you’re afraid to have relations with your husbands, you’re afraid to be in your wing of the Palace, and I see for myself that you haven’t once left the properties since you’ve been here. That’s not like you, except when you’re afraid of Parvac soldiers. My question is how can a woman who can command Parvac soldiers be afraid of them? Hell, you’re working towards becoming one of them yourself, Ensign Alaric Montgomery Lee. Decide whether you’re going to be confined within a prison of your own making, or if you’re going to be a woman with her own starship, personal army, and the freedom to go anywhere she chooses.”
I whispered, “What about my enemies?”
“You can hide and cower or face and defeat them,” Sherman said. He walked closer and enclosed me in his big strong arms, holding me in silence while sharing with me his strength.
“You’re right, and I could use some orange chicken.”
“My transport is right outside.”
After making sure the children were okay with their nurses, I joined Sherman with Kaoti glued to my side. Embarrassingly enough, my palms were damp all of the way to the Sun Palace.
Uncle Lee met us at the door with open arms. “It is so very good to see you! Come in and sit down!” He grinned as he led us to a corner table and poured us glasses of ice water. Then, the platters of food started coming.
“Wow, Sherman. You’re really putting it away.”
He shrugged. “Isidora and I were sneaking over here almost every day before she had my granddaughter. Her cravings are gone, but mine aren’t.”
I laughed and forgot about my nerves.
Uncle Lee said, “The two of them have made me very wealthy.” He put a plate of fried wontons in front of me and turned from us when he heard the door chime.
“So, the reports I received were correct. You got her to leave the house. I should have thought of this myself.” Yukihyo pulled out the chair beside me. Hiroshi followed and stole half of my wontons. Phillip was behind him.
Uncle Lee looked at Phillip and asked, “What’s wrong with you?”
Hiroshi said, “A woman took his heart from him and won’t return it.”
“Aw, that is unfortunate. You must win her.”
“I’ve been trying. Nothing works.”
Uncle Lee asked, “Have you tried taking her to enjoy some fine dining? I do not believe you have, or I would have seen you here.”
Phillip sighed.
Uncle Lee brought out more food.
A few days later, Yukihyo, Hiroshi, Phillip, Tracy, and Jazon left for Aurilius. Before she had gone, we had presented Tracy with several Arachnean Silk dresses to share with her mother and friends along with a few suits for her brothers. Not long after Phillip had gone, Terre became rather morose.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
Terre stopped sketching Eloneave fashion designs on her vid-screen to look at me. “I don’t know. It just seems so very quiet is all.”
I raised an eyebrow at her. “I agree. I haven’t heard a particular male praising your beauty for several hours now.”
“He is rather ridiculous. Isn’t he?”
“Well, it is a new experience for him.”
“How so?”
Thinking of the countless women who threw themselves at Phillip, I worried I shouldn’t say anything.
“Teagan, tell me what it is you seem to have thought better of saying.”
“Look. I love Phillip like a big brother.”
“I know you do. I have no intentions of hurting him. However, I do believe that you and I have become close, and if such is true, we should not hide things from each other.”
I sighed, knowing she was right. With a frown, I said, “Phillip isn’t accustomed to pursuing women.”
Terre snorted. “He seems experienced in his pursuits.”
“Oh, he is very experienced, but in my observations, women run and fling themselves into his arms. After a charming smile and a witty remark, he has to tire them out just to get them off of him.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes, I’m sorry, but it’s like that at every port. I’ve seen several women going after him at once. They’re married now, though.”
“The women you relocated to Ephors,” Terre said.
“Yes, so don’t feel badly. He might give into one of them, and then he won’t bother you anymore. Phillip just hasn’t ever had such strong feelings for a female before as he does for you, well since I’ve known him anyway.”
Someone stomped into the room. I looked over at Sparrow. “It is so boring here. Why can’t we go do something? If you were just planning to sit around inside all of the time doing nothing, you could have done it at the Palace, and I could have worked in my lab.” Sparrow plopped down on a chair.
I shot Terre a look.
Terre said, “She’s right.”
“Well, I guess with plenty of guards, we could go out for a while.”
“Finally,” Sparrow said.
Lorca said, “The children have a playdate this afternoon at the Alaric Estate, if that still meets with your approval.”
“Yes, that’s fine.” I kissed my babies and grabbed my shoes. “Thunderdrop!” He came to me and held onto my arm. As a precaution, I fastened a blaster to my thigh under my dress.
“I won’t let you out of my sight,” Zared said.
“I know.” I kissed his cheek.
Terre was still mopey in the transport. “Just call him,” I said.
She blushed at me. “I can’t call him. I have no reason to call him. What excuse could I possibly have?”
“Terre, you don’t have to have a reason. Call Phillip, say hello, tell him we’re going shopping, ask how he’s doing, or something.”
“I can’t. I didn’t bring along my vid-screen.”
Sparrow, Xavier, Drex, Fitz, and I all held ours out to her at the same time. She blushed red and took mine. We tried to pretend to ignore her while she called Phillip on Tora.
“Terre, what’s wrong?” Phillip said with panic in his voice.
“Nothing is wrong, Phillip. In fact, we are going to do some shopping.”
“Well, then why did you call?” he sounded completely baffled.
“I might be missing the sound of your voice. I’ve become accustomed to it is all. After all, I’ve heard it incessantly for weeks.”
I looked over at the screen. A twinkling light filled Phillip’s eyes. “You miss me. Buy yourself a new dress if you can find one half as pretty as you are. I’ll take you someplace special the first chance I get.”
“That isn’t necessary. I simply wished to say hello. Now that I have done so, I will allow you to return to your duties.” She ended the communication.
Seconds later, Hiroshi sent me a video of Phillip yelling and jumping up and down like he’d just won a million credits. Of course, I showed it to Terre. She said, “He’s ridiculous.” However, her lips kept forming a smile.
We ended up at my favorite shops. Terre was enchanted by the wooden bridges connecting them all together. I loaded up on my favorite soaps and shampoos and gave my bags to Drex to carry. Xavier and Sparrow were in a dress shop where he was trying to convince her to buy a luxurious red silk dress.
“Terre! Let’s get our hair done!”
“Alright, sure.” She gave me a small amused smile.
“We could get Arachnean braids.”
Arm in arm, we entered the shop. I got my hair washed and then sat with a deep conditioning treatment while Terre went first. I adjusted one of the clips that was pulling my hair, but keeping the gooey mess off of my neck. I hadn’t decided what I wanted to get and flipped through the vid-pad menu of possibilities. The screen became staticky, so I gave it a shake. A face began to appear on the screen. I froze, and my fancy artificial heart pounded.
“Don’t be afraid, Teagan. I merely wish to offer my assistance.”
I looked toward the entrance where Zared stood with his back turned, hands clasped behind him.
“You are rather predictable. There are neural blockers in the clips in your hair. I activated them remotely, but not too remotely.”
“You’re nearby?”
Felix Jiri, the man who had betrayed my parents, left me to be raised by a sadistic racist bastard, and tried to have his clones abduct me, smiled. He and his clones were one and the same to me and equally guilty. This was the man who had killed Luca, my beloved husband, before my eyes. In my tortured memory, I watched Luca fall from my lap to the ground to stare up at the rain with sightless eyes. My heart broke all over again.
“Have they been keeping secrets from you, Teagan? Have you started asking yourself questions? Why did Papa let me travel all of the way to Arachne without Parvac warships as an escort? Why are Inquisitors trying to kidnap me?”
“How do you know about that?”
“Would you like to know, or are you content to be treated like one of these?” Felix held up a little blonde, green-eyed doll with braided hair in a white dress. “Will you be dressed up and played with in your pretty little houses, or will you put an end to being toyed with and used by others for their own self-gratification?”
“What do you want, Felix?”
“A partnership. We can help each other. I can provide you with the information being hidden from you.”
“What’s in it for you?”
“I find myself in need of your political protection. You and I have a common enemy it seems. The Inquisitors are after us both.”
“After me?”
“Oh, yes. You have altered a longstanding institution, and you aren’t the only one in danger. I can tell you everything you want to know. If my information pleases you, perhaps you will take my next call.” Felix gave me his practiced political smile. “The data chip is within the device you hold. Teagan, don’t think to betray me. I took the necessary precautions before contacting you.” A second image appeared at the bottom of the screen. After a moment, I realized what I was looking at. “It was simple capturing them, little boys playing at being Inquisitors. All I ask is that you answer my next call and perhaps agree to a private meeting. Then, they won’t be harmed.”
His face vanished, replaced by a picture of a braided up do. Prying open the vid-pad, I found the data chip and put it in my bra. Quickly, I snapped the device back together.
“Are you ready, Princess Teagan?” the lady asked.
“I’m ready.”
As she rinsed and dried my hair, I was able to reach out telepathically once more to Zared. “Where are the boys?”
There was a long pause before Zared replied. “Nico and Izaac didn’t think they should come all of this way without going on a proper Arachnean adventure.”
“I see.”
I kept my thoughts behind a mental wall of my own making. Zared knew that my team had been taken. They all knew. Did they know that Felix had me under observation and that he would kill the boys if I were to betray him? I did my best to act as though nothing was wrong. While Sparrow, Terre, and I finished our lunch, I overheard Drex whispering to Eli.
“He was found with multiple stab wounds from trying to protect the boys.”
I pretended as though I had heard nothing. Once we were home, I feigned exhaustion and went to my bedroom, alone. Slipping the vid chip into my vid-screen, I watched the recording the hated Felix had made for me.
Once more, Felix’s loathed face appeared on my screen. “A contingent of high-ranking Inquisitors is opposed to members of the Materfamilias Caste being permitted to join their ranks. They find it to be a grave insult and will do whatever it takes to have the decision reverted. I wish for your success. With you being privy to certain sensitive intelligence reports, I might be better able to continue serving in your interests, as I humbly do now. The list of names you see on your screen are those who have been targeted for assassination.”
I read the names. Inquisitor Cormac Gordian was the first one listed. Several others followed. My instructor’s name, Inquisitor Rovek, was at the bottom of the list and had already been crossed through. Poor Rovek. He had lost his life because of my stubborn pride. What terrified me were the names Eli Beck, Drex Licinius, and Kaoti Aegisthus. My eyes began to swell.
Felix’s recording continued. “If you want the ability to quash this rebellion, go to these coordinates tonight, alone.”
I got up and put the data chip in my jewelry box.
“Teagan, are you alright, dearest one? I thought you were resting.”
I looked at Drex. “Will you hold me?” I stared down at my feet. Drex closed the distance, removed his shoes and jacket, and laid with me in bed. My head swarmed with unpleasant thoughts. The man who held me in his arms had been marked for death. He hadn’t always been my favorite person, but now I couldn’t bear to lose him. “I love you, Drex.”
His arms tightened around me. “I love you. You are the only person I have ever loved. Do you feel the need to speak of anything?”
My thoughts raced, but halted abruptly on the faces of Cedrenus, Binder, and Ross. Felix would kill them, just as he had killed my Luca, and just as nameless assassins planned to take Drex, Kaoti, and Eli from me. My thoughts turned harshly to Poppy and Violet. I squeezed Drex even tighter. Then, I kissed Drex, putting all of my love into it. I removed his shirt and trailed kisses across his neck and chest. As I wrapped my palm around his shaft, he sat up kissing me passionately and reaching for the closures of my dress. I panicked.
Sensing the change in me, he drew back and laid down, holding me again in his arms. “It’s alright, Teagan.”
“No, it’s not.”