There was a lot to be said for living in a climate that consisted of a rainy season and a dry one. An outdoor event could be planned without fear that rain would spoil it. Even so, Sara was pleased to awaken on the morning of her wedding day to a cloudless sky and the promise of a hot afternoon.
Bonnie had volunteered to help with the preparations. Lucy and Tarq would be providing the main course, and the rest was a pitch-in. Salan and her parents were bringing cheese and ice cream, which was all Bonnie’s kids cared about, aside from the chance to swim in Jerden’s lake. Sara was surprised when Nate accepted the invitation, but she wasn’t about to let his presence ruin the day for anyone else. Perhaps he and Salan could commiserate.
Bonnie’s friend Zuannis, a Twilanan native and the best baker in the region, was providing the wedding cake, and fortunately, didn’t charge an arm and a leg for it. Sara reminded herself that Jerden’s fortune made her continued attempts at economy superfluous, but it was a hard habit to break.
Sara’s parents, Bob and Linda Shield, had arrived two days before, and her brothers, who were unable to attend, both sent their love. Neither of her parents had ever met a Zetithian before, but having traveled from Earth on Jack’s ship, which was filled with two families of them, her mother—a tall, slender woman from whom Sara had also inherited her coloring—was in complete accord with Sara’s decision to marry one.
“I’ve always considered your father to be a handsome man,” she confided to her daughter. “But he can’t hold a candle to these Zetithians.” She paused, tapping her chin with a contemplative finger. “They seem to age well, too—and so have their wives.”
Cat and Jack might have been in their fifties, but they certainly didn’t look it, and neither did Leo and Tisana, who were roughly the same age. Being Zetithian, Sara wasn’t surprised that Cat and Leo didn’t show their age—Leo’s hair was as golden as Cat’s was black, and both were still tall and handsome, despite the scars acquired during twenty years of slavery—but why Jack and Tisana didn’t was a mystery.
Jack’s tall, athletic build hadn’t sagged anywhere. Her only wrinkles were the laugh lines around her eyes and mouth, and her hair was still dark brown without a hint of gray. Tisana was bewitchingly lovely with dark hair and green eyes and a body that hadn’t suffered a bit from giving birth to two sets of triplets. Now that she thought about it, Sara realized that Bonnie didn’t look like a mother of seven who was pushing forty, either.
Being the outgoing sort who rarely guarded her tongue, Jack showed no reluctance to enlighten anyone who cared to listen. “Vladen says it’s from carrying Zetithian children. It’s pretty technical, but apparently mothers pick up billions of stem cells from their babies, which help them live longer than men in general. Getting stem cells from the children of a race with a longer lifespan and remarkable regenerative capabilities is sort of like finding the fountain of youth, whether the mother is Zetithian or not.” She gave Sara a hearty pat on the back. “I’ve carried three litters so far. Best I can tell, I’m gonna live forever.”
Sara couldn’t imagine a better fate than living a long, healthy life with Jerden. And to think, she’d actually resisted Bonnie’s efforts to introduce them.
Things happen for a reason.
It was the kind of cosmic karma thing best not dwelt on for very long, because otherwise simple, random events would take on too much significance. If, for example, at this point in time, she were to turn left instead of right, how would that affect the rest of her life?
Sara’s reverie was interrupted when Jack eyed her with sudden suspicion. “You aren’t doing anything to keep from having children, are you?”
Sara’s eyes widened. “Well… no. I’m not.”
“Good,” Jack said with a firm nod. “Glad to hear it. Jerden’s already sired a bajillion kids, but a few more couldn’t hurt.”
Actually, Sara had an idea that delivering triplets would hurt a great deal. The fact that Jack had done it three times said a lot for her dedication. Then again, Cat was probably every bit as irresistible as Jerden was.
“And don’t worry,” Jack went on as if she guessed Sara’s thoughts. “Having triplets isn’t as bad as it sounds, and there seems to be a built-in form of birth control so that litters don’t arrive too closely together. Tried like hell to get around that, myself, but no dice. Still haven’t figured out why that is, but it’s probably for the best.”
Sara tended to agree. Jack had already given birth to nine children, ranging in age from eight to sixteen—something Sara couldn’t imagine doing herself.
“She’d have had ten litters by now if she could,” Tisana said drily. “With nineteen of us aboard, the ship is already pretty crowded.”
Jack waved a dismissive hand. “The Jolly Roger is plenty big, and there’s lots of room to expand if we put living quarters in the cargo hold.” She ran a hand through her short locks, shaking her head. “And to think I used to fly around in the damn thing all by myself. Shocking waste of space.” She winked at Sara. “Nothing to stop you out here, though. With two houses and all this land between you, you and Jerden could have dozens of babies.”
Linda gave a little gasp and Sara felt the blood drain from her face. “Dozens?”
Tisana chuckled. “Don’t pay any attention to her, Sara. Like she said, Jerden already has children scattered all across the galaxy. One litter will be plenty.”
Once again, Jack fixed her penetrating gaze on Sara. “All those other children don’t bother you, do they?”
Sara had already given this some thought and knew exactly how she felt about it. “No. That all happened before Jerden and I ever met. I mean, everyone has a past.” Some better than others.
“Good girl.” Jack nodded her approval. “Now that that’s all settled, let’s quit fiddling around and get this show on the road.”
***
Sara and Jerden might’ve had two houses, but since the number of bedrooms was limited, they had set up several tents for their guests. As a result, the area around the lake looked like a family campground. Sara gave up her room to her parents, and she and Jerden moved to his house for the duration of the festivities. Though her own home was comfortable and peaceful, the lakeshore setting and rustic furnishings appealed to Sara.
With so many children visiting, Jerden’s pets got plenty of extra attention. Cria was especially content, purring serenely while the younger kids brushed and petted her. The rest of his menagerie seemed pleased to be back home, the wide verandah being far more conducive to lounging than the small stoop that constituted Sara’s back porch.
My back porch… She sighed, recalling the night that Danuban had deposited a senseless Jerden on that very spot. Yet another turning point in her life, as well as his.
What if Danuban hadn’t brought him there? What if I hadn’t taken him in? The thought of how close she’d come to never meeting him at all chilled her to the marrow—yet another possibility it was probably best not to dwell upon.
Jerden must’ve noticed her pensive mood, despite the flurry of activity as they set up tables under the large canopy they’d erected near the lake. “Having second thoughts?”
She smiled, shaking her head. “Not at all. Just thinking about everything that had to occur before we wound up here together.”
“Scary, isn’t it?” Obviously, he understood.
“You bet it is.” She glanced toward the road where a large hovercraft was approaching. “Looks like we’ve got more company coming.”
“That’ll be Dax, Ava, and Onca—and three more kids.” He raised a hand in greeting and then lowered it to shield his eyes from the sun. “Looks like they’ve brought Waroun, too. He’s Dax’s partner and navigator.” With a wink, he added, “Don’t worry, you’ll like him. He’s Norludian.”
Though she’d never considered the matter before, Sara did like Norludians, possibly because she envied them the ability to carry on sexually oriented conversations without batting an eyelash—something she’d never been able to do herself. “I don’t think I’ve ever been around two of them at the same time, which should be interesting. Reutal will be pleased.”
“Jack won’t be. She can’t stand them, but they’ll keep us laughing, you can count on that.”
Sara certainly couldn’t argue with that. “When you’re right, you’re right. C’mon, let’s go say hello.”
Jerden took her outstretched hand and kissed it before tucking it into the crook of his arm.
They waited while Dax brought the Juleta to a halt and shut down the engine. Onca was the first to climb down the ladder. “Hey, hot stuff! I hear you got your mojo back.”
Jerden hugged his old friend. “You could say that. I prefer to say I fell in love.”
Onca laughed, his green eyes twinkling with mischief as he shook his thick auburn mane back over his shoulder. Having known Onca nearly all his life, it was a gesture Jerden remembered well. He hadn’t realized how much he’d missed him until that moment. “I always knew someone would catch you eventually. I just hope it doesn’t happen to me.”
Onca had been one of the few babies rescued from the demise of Zetith, and thus had no memory of his family or his homeworld. His only home had been aboard the ship, his fellow refugees his only relatives. Jerden could understand his attitude toward settling down; never having had real a family, Onca had no idea what he was missing.
“You got something against being happy?” Jerden teased.
“Nope. Just not ready to tie myself to one woman. Not sure I ever will be.”
“With that attitude, it’s probably just as well,” Dax said as he climbed down the ladder. He took up a position at the bottom while his pregnant wife, Ava, came down after him. “But then, I once felt the same way myself.”
Actually, Dax’s problem stemmed more from not finding a woman whose scent aroused him than not wanting to be tied down, but until recently, Jerden had never appreciated how much the love factor must’ve added to the equation. Dax had been a thirty-three-year-old virgin when he met Ava and had fallen hard for the lovely human/Aquerei woman.
Their three daughters were herded toward the ladder by Waroun, the Norludian navigator. “Hurry up, you little catfish! Jerden’s waiting!” Squealing with laughter, the tiny girls clambered down the rungs and ran to Jerden. He knelt down as they approached, receiving multiple hugs and kisses from each of them.
Why they remembered him with any kind of affection surprised him a little. He couldn’t imagine why a bunch of three-year-olds would care anything about the man he’d been when he’d traveled to Terra Minor aboard Dax’s ship. Then again, having still been in shock from Audrey’s death, he didn’t remember much about that voyage.
What he did remember was how beautiful the children were. Unlike the offspring of unions with other species, these girls didn’t appear to be pure Zetithian. They all had the larger, more rounded eyes that Ava had inherited from her Aquerei father, and, like their mother, could breathe underwater. And if the way they greeted Jerden was any indication, they didn’t share the standoffish attitude toward men that characterized purebred Zetithian females. Aside from that, they resembled their father, with the same catlike fangs, pointed ears, and long, curly hair—though not as tightly curled as Dax’s, which grew in such tight spirals it was often mistaken for dreadlocks.
Though Dax still wore a single earring and a tattoo flamed up over one side of his face and neck, he clearly no longer lived up to the renegade bad boy persona he’d done his best to cultivate. He was a family man to the core—a goal to which Jerden now aspired. He couldn’t wait to have lots of kids with Sara’s flaming locks and dazzling green eyes.
The girls ran off to join the other children as Waroun scampered down the ladder. “I hear you’ve got a Norludian working for you, Sara. Bet he’s getting high on your essence!”
“I doubt that,” Sara said drily. “It isn’t as though he’s got his fingers on me all the time.”
Waroun smacked his lips. “Not like he hasn’t tried, I’ll bet.” He waggled his fingers at Sara. “I’m surprised I can’t feel it in the air. You’ve got a hot one there, you know.”
“Yeah, I know,” Sara said, grinning.
“He can go all day and all night—or so I’ve been told. There are a lot of ladies who were very upset when he retired.”
“I didn’t exactly retire,” Jerden said. “It was more like a permanent sick leave.”
Waroun waved a dismissive hand. “Makes no difference. They’re still pining for you.”
“As long as none of them come looking for me, we’re okay,” Jerden said. A frisson of warning tightened his scalp as he remembered the woman he’d seen on the square in Nimbaza. In a purely instinctive move, he put his arm around Sara, pulling her close. “None of them have been asking questions, have they?”
“Don’t worry. We’re not telling anyone where you are,” Onca said quickly. “Though I can’t promise word won’t get out. You know how people talk.”
Jerden figured he had nothing to lose by tossing the idea out for discussion. “Haven’t heard anything about the woman who killed Audrey, have you?”
“Chantal Benzowitz?” Onca shook his head. “As far as I know, she’s still locked up somewhere.”
Sara gaped at him. “As far as you know? They’d tell you if she wasn’t, wouldn’t they?”
“Let’s hope so,” Onca said with a shudder. “That woman was nuts.”
Chantal… Jerden had somehow managed to block the name from his memory—if indeed, he’d ever known what it was. He couldn’t even recall testifying at her trial, though he must have. Then again, he hadn’t been the only witness. She’d killed Audrey right out in the middle of a busy street, making it an easy case to prove. Unfortunately, it was also a relatively easy crime to commit—and one for which there was no protection.
Cat and Jack came over to greet the new arrivals, along with Leo and Tisana. As usual, Jack jumped right into the conversation.
“They should’ve thrown away the key when they locked her up,” she said briskly. “She’s a menace to society. I’m so glad you came here to live, Jerden. This is the safest planet in the galaxy, but you never know. There might be others out there like her.” She rounded on Onca. “Which reminds me… when are you gonna give up that Rhylos gig and settle down?”
Onca laughed. “Not anytime soon. I’m having too much fun.”
Jerden could’ve sworn Jack growled. With fists planted against her hips, she leveled a stern glare at Onca. “It only took one woman making the wrong man jealous to get your planet blown to smithereens, bucko. I’d think you guys would’ve learned a lesson from that.”
“I’m simply providing a public service.” Onca was still smiling, but it was clear that he wished Jack would mind her own business. “The price keeps the numbers down and the casual clients away.”
Apparently considering these arguments to be rather flimsy, Jack continued with her lecture. “Tarq was providing a free public service—which I thought was a great idea until he got the shit beat out of him on Talus Five. Then that Chantal woman killed your fluffer, and as crazy as she was, she could just as easily have killed Jerden while she was at it. You’re playing with fire.”
Jerden felt Sara stiffen beside him and immediately wished he’d kept his worries to himself. Giving her a reassuring squeeze, he took her hand and pressed it to his lips. Though she smiled bravely, he could still see the fear in her eyes.
“I’ll quit when I’m ready to quit,” Onca said with a flick of his brow—yet another gesture Jerden knew quite well. “And I’m not ready yet.”
“Better give it up, Jack,” Jerden said. “He can be very stubborn when he chooses.”
Unfortunately, Onca wasn’t the only one with a stubborn streak. Scowling, Jack threw up her hands. “It’s your life, Onca, but don’t say I didn’t warn you when some jealous asshole tries to mop up the floor with you—or comes hunting for your scalp.”
“I won’t,” Onca said. “I’ll retire eventually—but not right now.”
Jerden knew precisely how he felt. He’d enjoyed his job every bit as much as Onca did and would probably still be working at the Palace if circumstances hadn’t made it impossible for him to continue. The money was extremely good, and if there was a better job than giving women joy, he’d yet to hear of it.
“Okay, then,” Jack said. “I’ve given you my two cents worth. Just be careful.”
Jerden snorted. Jack might’ve pretended to wash her hands of the situation, but he doubted Onca had heard the last from her. Still, it was his life. Of course, before Audrey’s murder, Jerden hadn’t considered that his lifestyle might put anyone other than himself at risk. Now he had Sara to worry about. He hadn’t been in love with Audrey, and her death had affected him more profoundly than he would’ve guessed. Sara’s death would probably mean his own.
“We should all be careful,” he said. “Even here on Terra Minor.” He glanced at Jack. “What about all the trading runs you make? Aren’t you worried?”
“Not as much as I used to be when the damned Nedwut bounty hunters turned up everywhere we went. It’s much better now, but I’m still prepared. Never go anywhere without Tex.” She patted the pulse pistol in the holster at her side. “You just never know.”
“Can we talk about something else?” Waroun asked. “This is giving me the creeps.”
“Hey, you started it,” Dax pointed out. “Should’ve kept your mouth shut.”
To Jerden’s surprise, Sara spoke up. “No. I’m glad he did. Zetithian history being what it is, I can’t help but be concerned, and it’s nice to know that my worries aren’t completely unfounded.” She gazed up at Jerden and his heart skipped more beats than he cared to admit when she smiled. Would her effect on him ever dissipate? He hoped not. “Don’t worry, Jack. I’ll do my best to keep him safe and whole.”
Jack nodded her approval. “You do that. Let me tell you, it’s quite a responsibility.” She swept the surrounding countryside with assessing eyes. “Should be safe enough here, though—broad field of vision, clear field of fire…” She frowned. “I’ll give you a pulse pistol if you don’t have one. Anytime you’re out and about with him, you need to carry it—and a comlink. We can’t take any chances on anything happening to him.” With a wink, she added, “After all, he is the hottest hunk in the galaxy.”