Jeneev looked around the equipment and smiled. It was all clean and ready for folks to work out. She sat and used the terminal that Sgoth had set up for her and declined a few requests for more interviews, agreed to meet with Salmet later in the week, and then her family’s contact requests rolled across her screen. “Huh.”
She read the notes from her parents and nodded. They were upset that she had exposed their motivation to their siblings. She didn’t reply. Challenging them about their bringing Gorel to the mutilation of his wings wasn’t worth her breath.
Mia’s note called her an ungrateful bitch. That was probably right. It was Gorel’s calm message that made her relax. Well, it also explained a lot.
She heard a noise and looked up as the on-duty guards with their young shadows arrived to occupy the training centre. She looked at her brother, and he nodded and smiled. They were adopted. Their parents were a couple who was supposed to have been sterilized both before and after Jeneev, but they managed to have Gorel after they met a healer who helped fix things. When he was brought to their parents, their parents had been destroyed. Their attraction eventually caused their deaths, but every child had a chance to be normal. Mia had been their natural child. She was the one they had hopes for. They had protected her and left Jeneev and Gorel to the knives. He had learned all about it after the interview. The other refugees had demanded answers.
Ekron grinned. “Ladies and gentlemen, this is where you build your body, strengthen your wings, and practice with your projectiles. This is our trainer, Jeneev. If you ask nicely, you can call her Jen.”
Jen got up and waved. “Hi. I am Jeneev, and I am a physical trainer. I have worked with every kind of active and even some humans. My goal is to figure out what your limits are and then get you comfortable with them, make you stronger, and make new limits... and then blow those out of the water. If any of you want to start after Ekron finishes his little tour, let me know. The equipment is ready when you are.”
Ekron waved at the facility. “They are free to explore. I am going to get some coffee.”
Gorel walked straight toward her. “Have anything for guys with wings?”
“I have just the thing. How are the scars?”
He grinned wide. “What scars?”
She checked out his wings, and her horrifying stitch work was a thing of the past. “I am so happy for you.”
“It happened because of you. Dr. Torenne said she was impressed with you not kicking our parents out onto the street, which would cause their deportation.”
She shrugged. “Time for that later. They have weeks to get themselves some kind of occupation. If they don’t, the government takes over, and out they go. I am not going to stop them from going. How did you find out the details?”
“The welcome centre sent me copies of our family’s genetic profiles. I noticed the markings that indicated that we were not related but that you and I are. It is a relief and explained why you and I were given over for experimentation while Mia was protected.”
“Knowing that she isn’t related to me is a bit of a relief.” She smiled. “So, did you want to learn how much your wings can lift on their own?”
“Yeah, that would be kind of cool. Can we keep living at the country house?”
“Sure, or you can move into the house here in the city. It has been recently renovated, and the ones around it are slated for the same treatment.”
“How can you afford that?”
“Um, Sgoth paid for the first reno as a present, but I have gotten some work bonuses for helping the heavy hitters on the guard team to boost their capabilities so far.” She led him to one of the machines and carefully set his wings in the padded clamps. He lifted, and she increased the weight slowly until he tapped out, and then she dropped it back, and he started doing reps.
“So, you really lucked out finding Sgoth.” He grunted.
“He claims he was lucky.” She chuckled. “He’s certainly patient.”
“You know that he’s younger than I am?”
“Yup. It has been established. We had a chat or two. Keep the wings straight.” She grinned and did her job.
They went through his first three sets, and then she called a halt.
“I can keep going, Jen.”
She smiled. “I know, but if you do, you won’t be able to help me practice my flight trials.”
“You are going for your license?”
“Sort of. I have to do flight proficiency for guard certification.”
“Wait, you? I thought this was just a trainer position.”
“It is. I just need to get active certification so that I meet the criteria for working with the guards. I have six months.”
He straightened and flexed his wings. “Why don’t you ask Sgoth? He has wings.”
“Oh, he keeps trying to make out with me in mid-air. We haven’t gotten past the grope when we see each other stage yet.”
“Ick. But, good for you. You look happy.”
“Finding out that you are my only blood relative in Aksalla is the best news I have had all day. It’s a relief.” She hugged him, and the other trainees paused. Ekron laughed from across the facility.
“I am glad. For me, too. Mia was always... wrong. I have applied for them to get housing elsewhere. The others are great, and I have no problem being with them, but that family... isn’t my family and doesn’t deserve your help. They can rise or fall on their own, just like you did.”
She chuckled. “They ain’t gonna make it.”
“You seem detached from them.”
“I always was.” She shrugged. “It was you two that kept me in touch with them.” She touched his cheek. “Mainly you.”
They hugged, and Ekron cleared his throat. “No hugging the guard trainees, Jeneev. The others will expect the same.”
She flipped a finger at him and looked to the young woman who fired darts from her palms. “Hiya. What are you interested in learning?”
“I get lower back pain when I use my activity, and I have an appointment for active diagnostics, but I was wondering if you could help me with some exercises I can do.”
Jen smiled, and they walked to the trial range. She observed, and they had a talk. Kinesiology was a hobby as were other body mechanics. She had the new guard shooting from the hip before she helped her with exercise that worked out the knots.
With that recruit working on slow and careful stretching and weightlifting, the last two recruits eventually wandered over, and she got them working out in a slow and safe manner.
She corrected Gorel’s form once and kept an eye on the others, correcting when necessary. When they had all been carefully worked out, Ekron took them on another tour of the facility while they bounced with the energy from the workout and explored the different places to rest, relax, and research around the building.
The active team walked in just before lunch, covered with dirt and heading for the showers. They looked exhausted, and it wasn’t even noon.
After they showered, they came to the living space with heavy-duty couches, and Sgoth grinned and grabbed a handful of cookies from the low table in the centre of the room.
Jen grabbed her bag and went over to him, kissing him gently on the lips. He tasted like butterscotch.
“Hey, sweetie.” She smiled down at him.
“Ah, dearest. Going out for lunch? I can come with you.”
She chuckled. “Aren’t you on duty?”
“I am, but I can still leave the building as long as I answer the dispatch call.” He snapped out his tentacles and pulled her onto his lap. “Hold my cookies.”
She snorted, and he took them one at a time. The other two members who had been dispatched for the bridge collapse looked at them and grinned. The cookies were rapidly dwindling. Ekron was making sure he got one of each kind.
When Sgoth had his cookies, he sighed deeply and kissed her. “Thanks for the cookies.”
“You are welcome.” She smiled and ran her hands over his shoulders and chest. He quirked a brow. “Just trying to make sure you are in one piece.”
“I am. I just had to get into the water to fish out survivors.” They started kissing.
The other two looked to Ekron. “Come on, that isn’t fair.”
“He has a girlfriend, Voss. Leave him be.”
“But... She’s more my age than his.”
Jen lifted her head and looked at Voss. “This isn’t a dibs situation. Sgoth and I get along. A lot and frequently.”
Sgoth chuckled. “I do like the frequently.”
“But, you are just dating,” Tevek mentioned.
Jen nodded. “You are right. We are just dating.”
Sgoth rumbled a growl.
She looked at him. “Knock it off, Junior.”
He looked at her and smirked. “Kisses.”
She snorted and then leaned to him and kissed him softly. The kiss got more intense, and his tongue slid from shape to shape until she pulled back, spluttering, “No tongue tentacles in my mouth!”
Sgoth grinned, waiting for something.
Voss muttered, “Does that mean that he puts tentacles—”
Tevek chuckled. “Elsewhere?”
Sgoth started laughing, and she moved to get off him, but he held her close.
Ekron laughed and asked, “Really?”
She muttered, “We started slow; it didn’t mean we stayed that way.”
Sgoth cuddled her. “Now, do you want to go for lunch, my sweet?”
Her stomach growled, and that was answer enough.
The guards and recruits got up and headed to the local restaurant. Sgoth just wore her out, carrying her easily and nuzzling her neck as they went. It was probably the weirdest first day at work she had ever had, but the restaurant had breadsticks.
* * * *
One year later.
Jen listened to the announcement on her com and whispered, “No fucking way.”
She absorbed what she had just heard. The Uraddan military was flying toward Aksalla, and their goal was to retrieve their actives.
“Sgoth, are you on your way?”
“I am. Gorel is getting some weapons, and he is right behind me. Are you safe?”
“At this minute? Yes, I am.” She was happy to tell him the truth. She smoothed a hand over her belly.
Liathen came in with a tray of lemonade. “Is that Sgoth?”
Jen smiled. “It is.”
“Hello, my boy. Your mate is refusing to sit down.” His mother spoke in a bright tone.
“Jen, you are supposed to be resting.”
“Yes, Junior. Now keep the Uraddans from snatching me up again.”
“Yes, ma’am. Yes, tiny one.”
The heavy beat of wings soon cut off.
A humming filled the air.
“Aw, shit.”
Jen walked onto the deck and looked at the slow seeker vessels sweeping the ground with beams.
Liathen was tense. “What are those?”
“Sweepers. Our bones absorb the minerals of Uradda, and they can find us using those beams. We light up on their screens. Before you ask, they will see me inside the house.”
“What can you do?”
Jen chuckled. “I can piss off your son.” She rose into the air and headed for the mountains on her left, going wide around the vessels before she got close enough to drop them. There were eight sweepers, and she blocked their engine frequencies, and they fluttered to the ground like maple seeds.
The baby kicked violently, and she sighed and turned back to Sgoth’s family home.
“Really?” Sgoth was in front of her and glaring.
“They are sweepers. They would have just yanked me out of your mother’s home. Or worse, shot her first.” She stroked her belly and dipped a bit. “You can yell at me later. Baby doesn’t want to be airborne anymore. Go catch the bad men who were hunting me, please. Use as many tentacles as you like.”
He bowed to her and flew toward the downed vessels.
She headed for the house as she felt something starting. “Shit!”
She dropped twenty feet before getting control of her descent and landing in the woods. She headed for the house, but it was going to be close. She called Liathen on the private line.
“Hey, Liathen, can you call Dr. Torenne and see if she has any experience delivering babies, and if the answer is yes, can she meet me at your place in half an hour.”
“Jen? Where are you? I can’t see you.”
“I am walking back to the house and about to take flight again. I will be hopping there, but the contractions have started, and I am leaking. See you in a few.”
She got herself calm, got over the treeline, and flew as far and as fast as she could before the next contraction. Unfortunately, she didn’t make it to the ground.
She held onto the treetop and grunted as her belly was squeezed by an invisible hand. At least she was pine fresh.
She heard a distinct thumping, and then hands gripped her shoulders. “Let go, Jen. I’ve got you.”
She nodded with gritted teeth before she let go, and he pulled her against him.
He flew them the last few minutes to the family home. Avioth looked pleased but panicked.
Liathen was grim. “Right. I have assembled everything I could think of. Torenne is on the way with Khytten. Theira won’t be home for two hours, and the twins are still in school.”
Jen grunted. “I may have overdone it. Just a little.”
Sgoth stroked her jaw. “You knocked out all the military and brought the sweepers down neatly. All the guards are defending around the country, but our corner is clear, and the Uraddans are learning how efficient active forces can be.”
She twisted in his grip as she was squeezed again. “I didn’t want them crashing the birth. Can we go and get this started? I don’t know how long I can keep my legs together.”
Sgoth chuckled. “Ah, memories of our wedding night.”
She smacked him on the shoulder as he carried her into the guestroom that had been given to them for when they came over for holidays or moments like now when Jen wasn’t allowed to be on her own or else.
Three hours later, the baby was in her arms. Sgoth was stroking their little girl with his hands and tentacles. His parents were hugging each other and grinning madly at their granddaughter. Torenne was sitting back and smiling with Khytten. Their attendance hadn’t been necessary. Sgoth had looked it up, and his tentacles eased little Evie into the world.
Jen grinned. “There, now everyone can stop watching me like I am going to blow.”
Ledia skidded into the room. “Aw... I missed it!”
Jen chuckled. “It was pretty quick, considering.”
“And I had to pull her out of a forty-foot tree while she was in active labour,” Sgoth muttered.
Gorel came in with an armload of flowers and a box of her favourite cupcakes. “There. Now, if I am not the favourite uncle, I am going to take on all comers.”
She grinned. “Come on. Meet Evie.”
Sgoth eased their daughter away from her, and Jen took the flowers and cupcakes.
Gorel took her, looked at her tiny fingers and toes, and pronounced her the best niece that ever there was. He would teach her all kinds of things, including everything he learned from her mom.
Jen peeled the wrapper off the cupcake and bit it right down the centre.
“Including how to finish a cupcake in three bites.” Gorel laughed.
Ledia gasped. “She’s so pretty. Nassic is a sturdy little dude. He looked tiny for a week and a half, and then poof. Big old baby boy.”
Renz came in holding Juro’s firstborn son in his arms. He peeked over Gorel’s shoulder. “She is a dainty little thing. Sgoth, what were you eating when Jeneev got pregnant?”
Jen saw the gleam in his eyes, and she raised her hand. “Don’t you say it, Sgoth.”
He grinned. “I just got lucky.”
Renz started laughing, and that was when Jeneev remembered that he was a psychic. “Aw, shit.”
Evie had been conceived on poker night. Strip poker night. Jen had never gotten the hang of the game, and Sgoth loved to play with her. The mask didn’t help.
Renz snickered. “You know he cheats, right?”
“Of course I do.”
Sgoth grinned in surprise.
“But, it saves me the trouble of initiating foreplay.” She grinned at Ledia, and her friend chuckled.
“Oh, I finished the statue of you two at the resort.” Ledia projected the image of a pregnant Jen in a gauzy gown with her back to Sgoth’s chest, his arms wrapped around her and holding her belly. His wings and tentacles were out, and the wings flared back while the tentacles went below and above her belly, around her arms, and two curved together in a heart over Evie’s previous resting place.
“Oh, Ledia, it’s wonderful... but it isn’t right for the erotic sculpture garden.”
Ledia nodded. “Right. You are right. That one is going to be in the public park at the guard and agent memorial.”
Jen blinked. “What?”
“You are a guard... on documentation. Sgoth is a guard. You definitely belong as representatives of the kind of people that Aksalla needs defending it. They tried something with Khytten and Salat, but it always comes out lewd.”
Khytten grinned.
Torenne got up and walked over to kiss Jen’s forehead. “You could have done that on your own, but I am glad I got to see the first baby in this generation to be delivered by tentacles.”
Jen smiled. “It was weird, but no fingernails.”
Khytten hugged her and kissed her cheek. “I hope you have a fast recovery, cousin. My little ones need more playmates.”
“I am not whoring myself out for a playgroup, Khytten.”
“Naw. Well... if you are getting paid for it.” Khytten grinned.
“Shut up.” To her surprise, she had started to get large payments to her account about a month after her brain injury. Sgoth had signed a long-term contract with milestone bonuses. Her first night was one, then the engagement, the pregnancy, the wedding, and now that the delivery had happened, there would be another deposit.
Sgoth got the baby back from Gorel. “It’s a good thing it is a long-term contract.”
Khytten giggled. “How long-term?”
Sgoth tucked Evie’s arms and legs into the blankets. “Forty years. If she wants to find another partner at that point, we can discuss it.”
Jen snorted. Khytten grinned and waved. “Talk to you soon.”
Ledia held out her arms for the infant. The little one was held, and she crooned and stroked the little cheek. “You can totally bring her to Hyreno for a visit or the embassy.”
“I think we will start at the embassy.” She smiled at Ledia’s rapt expression. “How many are you planning on?”
“Oh, a few more. Juro makes cute and sturdy kids, so next, we have to see if Renz’s creations can keep up.”
Renz laughed. “My creations?”
“Or sperm, whatever you like.” Ledia was swaying with the baby.
Everyone chuckled, and the grandparents held their little Evie while Jen went for a walk. Sgoth held her as she did slow laps on the deck.
“I can’t believe you did that,” Sgoth murmured.
“What? Challenged an invading force while I had been in labour for a few hours? Flew back to your parents’ place with rapidly progressing labour? Got myself stuck in a tree? Or had the most perfect and pretty baby?” She laughed.
“All of the above, but mainly the last one. I think my heart doubled in size the moment that she slid into my hands.”
“I can’t believe you delivered her.” Jen chuckled as she slowly walked with him. Torenne had done a good job with the healing, but her belly had spent nine months getting bigger, and it would take a bit to retract. Of course, if Jen got impatient, there were a few vials from Khytten in the freezer.
“I have spent all my free time researching how taxing delivery was going to be. After that, the mechanics of the thing got me interested so that I could help us get our daughter out safely with minimal pain.”
“You did good, Sgoth.” She leaned against him.
He kissed her forehead. “So did you. Evie is perfect.”
“Yeah, but she’s going to hate me.”
“Why?”
“I get the feeling that she isn’t going to be as tall as her siblings.”
He wrapped his arms around her. “Siblings?”
“Well, your father saw at least four. It is going to be rough for them to play at the apartment.”
He chuckled. “My mom has listings for family homes that are within a kilometre of this very spot. Or... they are willing to put up an addition on this property.”
“I wouldn’t want to impose.”
“Oh, you are not imposing. We will have readily available babysitters with the mildest of requests.” He turned her and kissed her softly. “Why don’t we ask the family to see what they want? I want a return to date night as soon as it can be managed.”
She grinned. “Really? Why? I am a mom now. Who wants to roll around with a mom?”
He laughed. “I was deep inside you last night. Even one day away from you is going to be a strain. We made you into a mom, so all efforts between us are a group effort.”
Jeneev nodded. “Yeah, I do vaguely remember it.”
“I will remind you as soon as we have the all-clear.” He smiled. “She’s gorgeous.”
“Of course, you think so; she looks just like you.”
“She has your eyes.” He stroked her cheek.
She laughed and stared into his glowing amethyst gaze. “Since we don’t want to chase after an active infant, I will be happy that she advances at a steady pace. Preferably when she’s ten or twelve.”
He smiled. “I agree with that.”
She heard a wail from inside and chuckled. “She’s agreeing and probably requesting lunch.”
Liathen came out with Evie in her arms. “Uh, Jen. She needs you.”
Jen hugged her mate, husband, and partner. Time to go and tend to their child. She was going to grow up to be an Aksallan hero. Jen could tell.
* * * *
Jen smiled at Evie as she worked to get her wings to pull her upright. Wing-propelled push-ups were the best way to get her used to bad falls.
“Did Dad have to do this?” Evie grunted and got closer to getting herself upright before she fell forward.
“Yeah. And your Uncle Gorel. If you fly with wings, the muscles of your back are constantly lifting you up and keeping you flying. You are not even able to get your body upright. You aren’t prepared to deal with wind or lashing trees. First comes the strength, and then comes the provisional flying license.”
Evie’s face got determined, and then she pushed, flapped, and pulled herself to standing. Jen grinned and high-fived her. “Excellent. Three more, and we can wash up and get to your party.”
Evie nodded and dropped to her palms before flapping and pulling herself upright.
The three push-ups took ten minutes, but then the wings were pulled in, and they headed to the official showers at the guard gym, and Jen flew them home for the party to follow.
“When will I be able to carry someone?”
Jen chuckled. “When you are strong enough. Your uncle couldn’t carry someone until he was eighteen. I don’t know when your dad was that strong, but he was up for it by the time we started dating.”
“Mom. Ew.”
Jen pulled her in and put on the speed. They landed gracefully and walked through the crowd that was gathered. Their extended family was there, including guards, agents, and ambassadors... and the cousins.
Evie ran to her dad and siblings, hugging everybody. Jen remained watchful, so she saw Ciro walk up to her daughter and offer her a flower. The flower changed colour as Evie held it, and Jen looked at her husband. He loomed near Ciro, and the teenager swallowed. Then Salat walked up, and he and Sgoth had a quiet conversation before he gently steered his son away from Evie. Evie was blushing, and she held onto the flower.
Jen knew that look. She remembered the first date with Sgoth and the excited fluttery feeling. She walked up to her daughter. “Not until you are twenty-one, and even then, you need to run it past us.”
“Mom.”
“I know. You two can still talk at family events, but...” She had a thought. “When you can fly him around comfortably without strain for an hour, you can go on a date if he asks you.” She sighed. “But if you start to date, you can’t go out with him if you are on a guard team. Not until you are twenty-one, at the earliest.”
“Why until I am twenty-one?”
“Because that is how old the Bennari have to be before they can have physical romances. Your grandma is a Bennari, and we adhere to her rules because it is safer for you and your body. You will also know yourself well enough to say yes or no without just wanting to please the person you are with.”
“Mom. I wouldn’t do something like that.”
“No, but having that rule gives you strength to fight against pushers. That date being in your soul will keep you from falling into someone’s trap.” She pressed a kiss to Evie’s forehead. “Not everyone is mean or out to get you, but some folks are, and those are the ones to guard against. Being able to fight for yourself and for those that you love is something that not everyone can do. You have the skills, so it is up to you to train to use them.”
“I am only twelve.”
“So, until you can defend yourself, your dad, and uncle and aunts, and I will watch out for you. If you don’t want to become a guard, you can at least learn how to take care of yourself and any other little Evies you might have someday.” She hugged her. “But, for today, you got yourself up from a prone position and fought yourself to standing. And it’s your birthday. Today is a day to celebrate. Do you want me to weave that flower into your hair?”
Evie smiled. “Yes, please. And, Mom?”
“Yeah, baby?”
“Thanks for watching me until I can take care of myself. Who watched over you when you were my age?”
Jeneev had a seat and got to work on the hair and the fat braid that Evie had. “Oh, I had to watch out for myself. I didn’t have anyone who could or would protect me. That is why you being safe is so very important to me. My life was harder than it had to be because I didn’t have anyone, and I would not wish that on you or your brothers and sister.”
Evie suddenly stiffened. “Vaken is here.”
Jen looked around, and the vehicle rolled in with Drin, her quad, and her family. “You felt him approaching?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh, boy. What is the rule?”
“Twenty-one.”
“Will it break your heart if they don’t wait for you?”
“No. I will create my own life with those I love inside it. If they have left my circle, they will not be allowed back in.”
Jen blinked. “Where did you learn that?”
“Dad. He said that while he may have played with others, the moment that he was twenty-one and Grandma said yes, he was at your door.”
“Sort of.” She chuckled. “But yes, that is when we started to interact on that level that led us together.”
The rose was twisted up in Evie’s hair, and she turned and kissed Jen before running to greet her new guests and Vaken. He was eighteen and dismissive on the face of it, but when he thought no one was looking, he scowled and shook his head.
Jen sighed, but Vaken was enrolled in agent training. He would be gone for a few years.
Having activated children with a large quantity of activated children of similar ages was great, but it meant that when they got close to dating age, things got nerve-wracking.
Sgoth walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. “You look tense. You feel tense.”
“She’s starting to gain attention. Now we see if... There she goes.” Jen flew over to her daughter, and she whispered in her ear. Jen lifted her, and they flew to the house for the same dress in a different material. It was time for Jen to enact her super-secret wardrobe.
“Mom, what’s going on?”
“It looks like you got my activation as well, at least part of it. You are pulling attention from other actives, and your body is storing it for power usage. Sort of like walking through porcupines and collecting quills to use later.” She helped her daughter into the dress that Liitha had made to contain and transfer energy. “This dress has a battery pack in the lining that will keep the extra energy from swelling you up. You are going to have to use your com to discharge the energy. The clothes that have been made for you will let you know when they are at capacity.”
“But, I won’t swell up?” She asked as Jen zipped it up.
“Nope. You can use an app on your com, which will discharge the power into the ground. Do not ever discharge your energy into a person unless it is an emergency. It is bad for you and worse for them. It will burn their nervous system and could paralyze them. It also overcharges them, so it leaves a lot of damage and can also hurt you in the backlash.”
Evie smoothed her dress and smiled. “It’s smaller.”
“Yeah, it is absorbing all the psychic attention that is sticking to you. You are lucky. I didn’t have this tech growing up. So, don’t take it for granted.”
Evie turned and hugged her. “I won’t, Mom. Can I ask you when there are... things?”
“Yes. Please. You are going to have to help any of your siblings who develop this way as well. It’s a heavy burden, but if or when they activate, I will have clothes made for them as well.”
She smiled and stroked her daughter’s cheek. “Now, let’s get back to your party, and as you grow up, expect to feel your body struggling to contain the power. You are very pretty, just like your dad.”
Evie giggled. “That’s what Dad says about you. You are too good for him.”
“Ready to go back?”
“Yes, please. And Mom, don’t worry. I am going to wait until I am all grown before I go shopping for a partner. Just like you waited for Dad.”
“I waited for Dad because I didn’t know what I was missing.” She grinned, gathered her daughter in a side grip and flew her back to the party.
They landed, and Evie hung out with Drin’s quads and Khytten’s triplets. The younger kids were in other groups, playing on the structures and running at full tilt across the yard.
Gorel was at the buffet with some of the other guards and agents. Jen walked over to the house and watched her family and friends from the shadows.
“Planning an attack?” Sgoth murmured from the shadows as he wrapped his arms around her and then other limbs.
“No. Just dealing with the fact that Evie has activations from both sides of her family tree. First, she gathers the energy, then she is flying, and then curfew is in danger.”
“Relax, Jen. She’s a good kid who has been raised to respect herself and others. But if she has my wild streak, we will deal with that as well. Hope for the best; prepare for the worst. She’s our kid. She will figure it out. She’s as smart as me and tough as you. Don’t worry. We will deal with what happens.”
“You are talking me right out of my tizzy.”
“It is my duty and privilege.” He kissed her neck. “I wonder what our baby girl is going to ask to see tonight.”
“Oh, don’t you dare suggest it to her.”
He laughed. “But you looked gorgeous and fierce.”
She strained at his arms. “I think I have to go and get ice.”
“Nope. I got all the ice we need. And the snacks, beverages, and I can order takeout if we run out of anything.”
She slumped back against him. “Why is that her favourite video stream?”
“Because it was her birth day, and it was spectacular.”
She looked up at him. “You were pretty good that day yourself.”
He turned her, and they kissed before the festivities began.
When the sun was down, the birthday girl went to the family laptop and pulled up the favourite moments of her life. Her birth day was always a crowd pleaser. The security drones caught Jen’s flight toward the sweeper vessels, and she glowed as she knocked out the crew and then the ships.
Evie walked over and cuddled up against her parents. “This is my favourite part.”
Jen flew back toward the in-laws and dipped up and down as the guards flew over her and toward the downed vessels. In the foreground, Jen dropped, and a moment later, she emerged from the trees and flew straight until she dropped again and ended up on the top of the pine tree. Evie laughed at that point, and then Sgoth pulled Jen off the treetop and flew her home.
The next security drone showed the arrivals of friends and family and then the groan from inside the home followed by the kittenish wail of the newborn.
The folks gathered and watching applauded, and Evie grinned. “And that is where I started.”
The rest of the projected videos were her with her siblings, friends, and family members. Her sitting and holding her baby siblings, playing with Drin’s quads. Being taught how to rollerblade by Khytten’s kids. All the high marks of her past twelve years, including plenty of flights with her father. They were all there.
Jen sighed and looked at her kids. Twelve, ten, eight and eight. “How did it go by so fast?”
Sgoth kissed her cheek. “It didn’t go by. We accounted for each and every moment because there were so many good times. We could have one more if you like.”
Jen laughed. “Four is enough. I love our kids more than anything else, and my whole heart is full. Besides, you are going to start slowing down soon, and I am going for my final hormonal run around the block.”
“Let me know if you feel me slowing down.” He gripped her hips and pulled her back against him. “I will do better.”
“You do fine, Junior.” She laughed, and he lifted her against him. Her fortieth birthday had been spent at the resort with the kids at Khytten and Salat’s. Nothing was slowing down. The Beast of Aksalla was just as fast and deadly as ever, and he was all hers until he was called, and then she was at his side when the occasion required it. She had made it out of her cage, fought to stay there, and now enjoyed life out with social freedoms. She was also granted full citizenship for her defense during the Uradda invasion. She was the person she always wanted to be. Free with a loving family.
He whispered in her ear. “So, care to take a flight to celebrate Evie?”
“Uh, no, but once the kids are all in bed and everyone is gone, we can do a security sweep of the area.” She let out a throaty chuckle. “But this time, set the drones to ignore us. That was a lot of footage to delete.”
He laughed loud and long. It was a booming sound that made all of their children grin and made Jen’s heart flutter. It was the sound of a promise kept by a very patient man. She couldn’t wait.