“Do you think we’re ready?” Grinnell asked Tosci. They had been pushing themselves for several cycles, knowing they needed to get back to Emori.
“Why?”
“Because we need to get back to Emori before your brother gets impatient and harms one of my friends.”
“It would take yepas for me to make you masters of your craft. But have I taught you enough to face my brother? I hope so. There’s no way to test it. I don’t know how strong my brother has gotten. You have passed my ability in the few cycles you’ve been here, and that is all I have to go on.”
Grinnell took Mehanna’s hand in his. “Then let’s get ready and go.”
Lawaya demanded that they bring fresh vegetables, and a few dried meats with them so she could continue to cook for them. Grinnell promised she could use the food sources on the ship to help her with her meals.
It would take them about a cycle to get to Emori. Tosci used that time to work on their finesse. Each duro they went to bed exhausted. When they were only a few duras out, everyone was feeling the tension of what they had to face.
Grinnell planned a surprise for Mehanna. They had worked so hard, even though they didn’t know if it was worth it. The two other ladies had settled into their rooms, and he and Mehanna reclined in the sleeping area he had created for them.
They had gotten comfortable. Mehanna was snuggled up against him, her head on his shoulders. He pulled a sheet over them.
“Everyone seems so tense,” said Mehanna.
“We’re scared.” He brushed his knuckles against her cheek. “We have no idea what is happening on Emori. Everything could be fine, or Moorac could be causing trouble for our friends. We won’t know until we get there.”
She shifted so she could brush her hands across his forehead. “I wish I could wipe that worry from your brow.”
“I am fine.” He took her hand and kissed her palm. “My goal is to keep you safe.”
“Funny, that is my goal as well. If he harms you, I will kill him.”
He kissed her. It was soft, deep, and took her breath away. “I have something I want to show you.”
“A little more magic?” She settled against him again, resting a hand and her head on his chest.
“Something like that.” He hit a button on the seat and held her close as the bulkhead cleared and became transparent. Her breath caught in her throat when she realized that she was looking at the stars surrounding the ship.
“How are some of the stars standing still while others streak past like meteors?”
“The ones that stand still are very far away. You’ll see some that oscillate, and a few that will move so slow you might not realize they’re moving, but then you’ll suddenly realize they’re no longer visible. Those that are the closest are the ones you see streaking by.”
“This is beautiful.”
“I had hoped you would like it. Every time I look at this, it calms me. It also puts things into perspective. I am one person in the cosmos.” His voice came out soft and low. “It humbles you.”
“I remember sitting at the mouth of my cave looking up at the stars. They were so pretty. Like perfect crystals on a black cloth.” She linked her fingers with his. “You’re right. It is humbling.”
“It puts things into perspective.”
She looked up at him. “Does Moorac frighten you, Grinnell?”
“I’m not sure how to answer that question.” He brushed his fingers through her hair. “Of what he could do to you? Yes, that frightens me a lot. Of what he could do to me? I don’t care, as long as you are safe.”
“But I care what happens to you. I won’t let him harm you.”
She said it with such conviction it worried him a little.
“I can take care of myself. It’s you that I worry about.” He touched her face with his fingers. “I am a warrior. I know what to expect from someone like him. I have dealt with too many like him. You haven’t.”
“I am strong.”
“Of that I have no doubt.” He smiled at her. “But this was the man who raised you. He knows you and could use that against you.”
“Really? How?”
“He could make you believe that he is only trying to protect you. That I’m a bad influence on you.”
“He won’t be successful.” She rested her head on his chest once again. “You and I are bonded. That bond is stronger than any mind control he could try on me.”
“That’s good to know.” He rested his chin on top of her head. “I just know that people like him can be quite devious. I want to be sure he doesn’t make you believe something that isn’t true.”
“Grinnell, you worry too much. He is just a man, like you. He bleeds like you, too.”
“True, but he thinks he’s a god.” Grinnell watched the stars fly by. “He would never expect normal people to even try to best him, would he?”
“No.” She pushed herself up so she could look him in the eyes. “He would expect you to be in awe of him.”
“And if no one showed him the respect he is expecting?”
“I believe that would make him very angry.”
“But if we bowed and scraped at his feet?”
“Then he should be all smiles and sweet. At least until he tries to take me with him. Or when he sees his sister.”
“Do you think he’d believe me if I were to tell him I don’t know what happened to you?”
“That’s something I don’t know. I don’t think anyone has ever tried to cross him. His anger is the worst.” She looked at him. “Why?”
“I’m just trying to figure out how to deal with him. I want to put as much as I can in our favor.”
Once they were close enough to send a private message to Orla, he let them know to land at the palace retreat in the mountains. It was where the royal family would go to meditate or mourn the loss of family members. Astrid had gone there when her father passed, and that was how she had been able to escape from Varal’s clutches.
May was still out learning the planet, and they needed to find her before they returned to the main palace. Moorac was still Orla and Astrid’s guest, but he didn’t know that May was on the planet. She had stayed far enough away that he couldn’t detect her magic. Or if he did, Orla said, he was very good at pretending.
Once they reached the retreat, Orla would send one of the private transports for them to fly where he believed May and Grenta were, the main center on the other side of the planet.
Grinnell followed the route Orla gave him to keep them undetected and landed the ship on the private landing pad. Using the combination Orla gave him, the walls of the hangar opened and he moved his ship inside.
“So what do we do now?” asked Lawaya.
“We wait until the transport arrives.”
Orla worked on the controls of the transport. He uploaded as much information as he could to give Grinnell everything he needed. As he was reattaching the panel, he heard a voice.
“What are you doing, Orla?”
“Moorac?” He stepped out of the shadow of the ship, cleaning his hands with a sonic cleaner. “I didn’t expect you to show up here.”
But he did. The man might be behaving as a proper guest, but Orla knew better. He had searched the palace for the girls. He must have sensed their magic but knew it was old. What Orla didn’t understand was why he didn’t go looking for them. It was like he was expecting Orla to hand them over on a silver platter.
Two could play at that game. The moment he got this ship to Grinnell, they would have a plan to save these girls from him.
“Since you’re here, do you want to help me finish up?” Orla asked. “I have a few more things to check out before I send it back to the retreat.”
“Oh no. I’m not very technical. My talents lie elsewhere.”
“I see.” Orla went to a small panel on the outside of the ship. He removed the cover and worked on the computer inside. “I love working with anything that can be considered technology.”
“You said you were sending this back to the retreat? Where is that?”
“In the mountains. It’s where my family can go when they need to reflect on anything bothering them. It’s also where we can go to mourn. My mate went there after the death of her father. It’s how we escaped Varal.”
“Then you need to fly there to reach it.”
“Yes.” Orla smiled. He knew what the next question was and was ready for it. “Every craft we use has the royal seal. It’s instantly recognized. I have this craft and several like it located all over the planet. If we ever need to escape again, we have vehicles to do it in.”
“Which you didn’t have the first time?”
“Exactly.”
“You think what happened with Varal will happen again?”
“I don’t know. That’s why I need to be vigilant.”
“And why he is such a good mate,” said a feminine voice behind them.
“Astrid.” Orla was beside her in securs.
“I’m fine.” She rested her hand on her rounded belly. “Our child isn’t ready to see us yet, but it will be soon.”
“I thought you were supposed to be on bed rest.”
“And I have been a good patient. The nurse recognized that I was restless and thought a walk would be good for me.” She pointed to the private nurse assigned to her. “I have proof.”
Her ever-present nurse waved at him.
“I don’t mean to upset you.” He put an arm around her waist and rested a hand on her womb as well. “I just know that we’re two different races, so I worry.”
“I do too.” She put her hand on top of his. “But the doctors are quite happy with our progression and don’t foresee any problems happening with the birth.”
“That does make me feel better.” He pressed a kiss against her forehead. “I can’t wait to see our child.”
“Me either. I would like to see my feet again as well.”
He laughed as he hugged her.
“Do you wish to walk me back to our rooms?”
“I would love to.” He looked at Moorac. “Hope you don’t mind if we cut this short?”
“No. It’s time for me to rest anyway.”
Orla sent the ship on its way then took his mate’s hand. Moorac hadn’t moved. He just watched the ship shrink in size. “You coming Moorac? I need to lock this place up.”
“Of course.” He fell into step with them as they headed back to the palace.
Grinnell watched as the transport came into view.
“Is that what we’re waiting for?” asked Mehanna, pointing.
“Yes.” He grinned as the transport landed. “This will allow us to go to one of the major centers where we can blend in while we look for May and Grenta.”
“Do we want to find them?”
“We need the strength in numbers. Grenta is a master Barou, like Lawaya. They can look like they have the same magic you do.” He climbed on the small carrier and checked the vehicle out. He let out a joyful shout and then stepped out of the ship. “Orla has given us everything we need.”
“What do you mean?” asked Mehanna.
“We have clothes and fake identities that will allow us to travel without suspicion.” He’d also given them a chip to purchase anything they needed.
“Is the security tight here?” asked Lawaya.
“Every citizen is free to go anywhere they want, but we all are registered in the system.”
“And you are famous.”
“I don’t like to think of me that way, but my name is well known because I helped Astrid and Orla take the planet back from Varal.”
“What about your face?”
“There are a few pictures of me out there, but I asked Orla to keep my face out of any media that would go off world. I have enemies that could come looking if they wanted to.”
“You worry too much,” said Mehanna. “But this time it will help us, won’t it?”
“Yes. Since few know what I look like, I can move about the people with this new identity and not worry that someone might recognize me. The chance someone would recognize me is small.” He took her hand. “We also have information on Moorac since he arrived, as well as information on where we should find May.”
“Then let’s go.”
Grinnell landed the small transport at the main port. Their fake identities said they were from a small town on one of the islands and had come to do a little sightseeing. Orla had left out some details so Grinnell could personalize. He made the changes, showing he and Mehanna were husband and wife. They had also created identities for Tosci and Lawaya. Tosci and Lawaya would be sisters, and Mehanna’s aunts. They had kept their names for simplicity. Grinnell wasn’t a very common name on Emori, but he knew how to play it off if someone were to say something. It would also make it easy for them to stay in character.
The ladies were excited like tourists should be. He had given them their files so they could memorize their personal information and backgrounds. Grinnell escorted them out of the port. They all stopped and stared when they saw the Crystal City for the first time.
“How beautiful,” said Mehanna.
“It lives up to its name, doesn’t it?” Grinnell looked around the city. It was beautiful with its crystalline skyscrapers. The buildings were made of a common crystal found on Emori. The qualities of the material made it perfect to use. It could retain heat during their cold season and stay cool during the warm season, maintaining perfect temperature without having to use any power. Light worked the same way: The building absorbed the sunlight, then glowed at duro.
“Are there living quarters in these buildings or are they for businesses only?” asked Mehanna.
“A little of both. The lower half is normally for businesses. Shops and restaurants on the bottom floor. Things like mechanics, servers, that kind of thing, are on the lower floors, then the housing starts. Those who work in the city live here so they don’t have to travel far.”
“Then we can live in one of these buildings?” asked Mehanna.
“Yes. We can live anywhere you want, but there are a lot of cities just as pretty as this one,” said Grinnell.
“You want to leave our little island for this?” asked Tosci, trying to play the character of a concerned aunt.
“I know we’re only here for vacation, but it’s very tempting. We could start anew.” She wrapped an arm around Grinnell’s waist. “We’re just starting our life together, and this would be a great place to begin that life.”
“What would you do?” asked Tosci.
“I don’t know. Let’s see what’s in some of the shops. Maybe they will inspire me.”
Mehanna enjoyed the shops. She saw so many things that she had never seen before. Grinnell explained a lot to her in a soft voice, filling her in on things she should know as a member of the planet. They got to taste a lot of different foods she had never had before. Grinnell also bought her two new outfits, as well as a new outfit for everyone else.
“That was a lot of fun,” said Mehanna.
“I’m glad.” He escorted everyone to an inn where he had reserved rooms for them. “If you ladies would like to freshen up, we can go to our rooms for a while. Later, though, I’d like to take everyone to evening meal.”
“Oh, that’s so nice,” said Lawaya. “I’ll get to try a professional’s meal that I can replicate.”
That didn’t surprise Mehanna. Every time they went into a spice shop, Lawaya would look at every spice and herb there. Grinnell picked up the herbs she spent the longest time with and made sure they were sent to her room. Mehanna wondered how she would react when she found them.
Grinnell took Mehanna to a separate room from the other two.
“Grinnell, this is wonderful.” A large bed dominated the room. She sat on it and laughed. “This is so plush. I think I could crawl under the covers and sleep for duras.”
“We’re here to sightsee, not sleep the duras away.” He sat down beside her. “Is that what you want to do? Sleep the dura away?”
“It is tempting.” She rubbed her hand along the softcover. “Wouldn’t you like to spend as much time as we want in bed?”
“With you? I’d love that.” He pulled a small bag out of a pocket. “I bought this for you.” He didn’t say anything else, just sat it on the bed. “I’m going to shower.”
Mehanna watched him step into the bathing area, then looked at the bag Grinnell sat on the bed. She picked it up but didn’t open it right away. He had been with them all dura. How had he gotten this without her noticing? Her curiosity got the best of her, and she opened the bag and dropped the contents into her hand. The prettiest blue stone winked in the light.
“Where did he get this?” she wondered aloud. The setting was beautiful. Very delicate twists in the metal made it look like the stone floated in the center. She stared at it. It reminded her of the crystals she saw at the bazaar on the planet where Leabo lived.
Mehanna put the necklace on and removed her clothes. She stepped into the bathing area and waited for Grinnell to notice her.
“Do you need to shower now?”
“I just wanted to ask you where you picked up my beautiful gift.” She had her hands clasped behind her.
“And the fact that you’re naked?” He had the sonic shower on, but he turned that off and turned the water on.
“I thought it would be smart, or I would get my new dress wet.”
“That was a good idea.” He offered his hand to her, and she stepped in with him. “Do you like it?”
“Very much. Please tell me where you got this.” She touched it with gentle fingers.
“You remember when we met Leabo?”
“I had wondered if that was where it came from.” She touched the stone again. “You did spend some time at that crystal booth when I was having my first dress altered.”
“I had to have it the moment I saw it.” Water danced against his skin. “It’s the exact color of your eyes.”
“My eyes?”
Grinnell picked her up so they could look each other in the eyes. “Yes, your beautiful eyes.”
She wrapped her legs around his waist to give her some stability. The moment she did, Grinnell could feel her moist heat against his erection. They moaned at the contact.
He wanted her with a passion only she could drive him to. Lifting her a little, he centered himself and let her slide down his shaft. They groaned again. Grinnell had her up against the wall of the shower. He started to move, driving in and out of her. His lips searched for hers. When he found them, he claimed them, drinking from them like they were his lifeline. He finally broke the kiss.
“I love the feel of your body as it hugs mine,” Grinnell said in a soft voice.
“My stars, you make my body sing.” Mehanna clung to him. “Every time is better than the last. Will it always be this way?”
“Gods, I hope so.” He pressed his lips against her throat. “Making love to you is addictive.”
Her muscles tightened against him, and he picked up the pace. Everything inside coiled like a snake ready to strike. He knew he was close. His concern was how close Mehanna was. He felt her tighten against him again, giving him an exquisite vice to move through. She sucked in her breath, and he knew she was close. The tight sheath made him pick up the pace once more. He couldn’t stop now. He pounded into her. His release was so close. She clenched against him, sending him flying through his orgasm.
Mehanna made a soft noise, her body stiffened, then she gave him the most beautiful smile as she relaxed against him.
“I wish we could do this again,” Grinnell said, “but I promised to take everyone to evening meal.” Regretfully, he shifted them so she could put her feet on the floor.
“Then let’s make that meal go by fast so we can come back here and do that again.”
They sat around the table at one of the nicer restaurants. Mehanna and Grinnell tried to be attentive to their friends, but all they could think about was getting back to their room.
“You two seem preoccupied,” commented Lawaya.
“No, we’re not,” countered Mehanna. She looked over at Grinnell, who sat at her side. He took her hand in silent support.
“Really? You two are all moons-eyed over each other.”
“Grinnell gave me a gift.”
“And that has made you two behave like moonbats?”
Mehanna smiled. Moonbats were well known for flying in pairs, doing intricate dances in the air while the moons on the planet they were on filled the sky.
“I don’t know about moonbats, but I get the distinct impression that they would rather be in each other arms in their room than with us,” commented Tosci. She took a bite of her food.
Mehanna wanted to retort, but something distracted her. She felt something. She looked at Tosci. “I feel someone searching for me. Could it be my sister?”
“Does May know you’re here?”
She shook her head.
“You have your shields up?” asked Tosci.
“Of course.”
“It has to be my brother.”
“Don’t you sense him?” asked Grinnell.
“No, but he doesn’t know I’m here, so wouldn’t think to look for me. But we know he’s searching for you, and from what your friend Orla told Grinnell, somehow he knew you had been here.”
“I have my shields up, but his pull is very strong.”
“You must find a way to shield your magic,” said Tosci. She looked at Grinnell. “Or make it look like someone else has the power instead of you.”
“Make it look like Grinnell has the power? What if he comes after him?”
“I don’t think he will. Moorac is looking for a female with powers. If he senses a male, he’d probably think it was someone on vacation and would assume he has touched the power of a mixed breed. We did have a few people who left our planet over the yepas, and he would likely assume the power he feels is from one of their descendants.”
“Would a half-breed have the power I do?” asked Mehanna.
“It could come across that way.” Tosci leaned forward. “Let me show you what to do.”
It took only microns for them to prepare. As everyone enjoyed their meals, Mehanna felt Moorac searching for her. She grabbed Grinnell’s hand and brought him into her magic.
“Can you feel him?”
“I can,” said Grinnell. “He’s quite arrogant, isn’t he?”
Power filled him. He tightened his hold on her hand as he drew Moorac’s attention to him. It was odd to work through Mehanna to reach the man.
“Now what?” he asked.
“Flex your power. Not a lot, but enough to make him believe you are the source,” said Tosci.
He did what she told him, allowing the power to fill him then let it escape at different strengths. He made it look like he didn’t know how to control his power. In fact, he made it look like he wasn’t even aware of the power coursing through him.
Moorac stood on the balcony of his guest room. He looked out over the scenic view they gave him and focused. If his wards were on the planet, he would find them. His hosts have been good to him, and he was sure they didn’t know who he was or what he was after.
He emptied his mind and focused. Magic called to him. He mentally followed a path to the source. He frowned when he found it. It was male. He’d been sure he had found one of the girls.
The power this male had was too strong for a half-breed. As he focused, he felt the man’s power wane and then build back up again. He didn’t know how to control it. Not what he was looking for, but he would like to know who had such power. He might be a good ally in the future.
Moorac tried to will the man’s image to turn around, but he continued to ignore him. He probably wasn’t aware someone with magic had found him. Moorac was using more power than he should to identify the man. If he kept this up, he could draw unwanted attention. He pulled back, dampening his power so no one would figure out the real reason he was there.