Chapter Forty
Sequestered away in weightless darkness Kivar felt his senses expand the prison of flesh dropping away.
In the absence of sight, sound, and touch other senses expanded, the barriers of the physical fell away opening up a world of possibilities. While most humans considered this sensory deprivation Kivar thought of it as a state of profound freedom and limitless potential. It was a skill that had been taught to him, learned as part of his training and improved upon through rigorous practice, eons of trial and error. It made everything else possible.
After all if one was too rooted in one form that excluded the potential of taking on others. This practice had been developed for just that purpose. He’d just expanded on that original idea.
Relaxing into his current state Kivar allowed his mind to turn inward seeking solutions to help him achieve the goals that had been set for him. So much depended on it. This course had been set in motion long ago. Zan had tried to change his course once and failed. This new life of his had led him to exactly the place he’d been trying to run from in the first life. Kivar didn’t believe in running. He’d make the circumstances suit him, he wouldn’t run from them.
Soon he would have a new form. One chosen by him down to the smallest detail, created to mold these circumstances into what he needed them to be. This was one of many small discomforts he suffered through to reach his goal.
He wasn’t overly attached to this body anyway. It wasn’t of any importance to him. She needed to accept him, to be as comfortable as possible with him. That was what was important.
The swift impact to the protections he had set in place broke him from his thoughts sending him down the distant pathway to her. Seeking the thing that had triggered his alarms.
Surely they were too busy fending off his forces to move on her so soon. He had reduced whole planets to rubble, crippling them to keep her safe, to allow her the time. Time he needed to put things in place.
When he finally reached her he couldn’t have been more surprised by what he found.
~~~~~~~~
All his good intentions had melted away under the heat of her body against his. She moved restlessly against him, her bare silky thigh sliding over his cloth covered one, he needed to touch her. For just a few more minutes, then he’d stop.
Without a word she drew him closer sealing their sweat slicked chests together. Liz didn’t know if this was a mistake or not but she couldn’t turn away from the desperation in his eyes. The need burning there for her. For whatever she could give him.
For him she would try to ignore the memories stirring inside her. They were the past and they had no place here.
Watching her eyes so intently he couldn’t miss the brief flicker right before her eyes fell from his. Forcing tense muscles to relax he kept his touch light, gliding down the sides of her ribs to stroke slowly over her hip even as he eased down far enough to recapture her gaze. “I’m still here. I promise I’m not going anywhere. It’s just us here now.”
Biting her lip Liz nodded in agreement even as she felt the presence of another. Rising her eyes to the stars she wondered how they could ever be alone under the canopy of so many watching eyes. She could feel their focused attention. Even now the sting of the burn on her chest was receding as if someone were stroking the pain away with cool soothing fingers and suddenly she was so afraid.
Afraid that if she didn’t get it right this time Max was going to slip away from her somehow. “Kiss me,” Liz whispered tightening her fingers to urge him even closer. “Just kiss me.”
Confused by the slight tremor in her voice and the fear darkening her eyes he eased them onto their sides into a position where they were more equal and he was less dominate. Combing her hair back with his fingers until they reached the nape of her neck he guided her closer, easing her lips against his.
Tears pricked her eyes so she closed them, closing out the stars and holding onto him, his breath washing over her parted lips. Demons, there were demons here a voice whispered softly. As sweet as his kiss was now it was going to hurt, it was going to hurt her.
Max’s eyes popped open suddenly hearing clearly the voice that spoke to her, stirring buried memories. Tess’s voice. “No, Liz, look at me,” Max demanded, waiting until her shimmering eyes opened.
Taking a deep breath Liz released him to curl her fingers around her pendant, clutching it tightly and drawing the strength to force the voice back into silence.
“This is me, just me,” Max assured her feeling her easing away as more then a physical sensation.
“No, it’s not,” Liz denied looking up. “Don’t you feel it? It’s more then just us.” Searching the sky she sighed unable to explain what was just a feeling. The soothing coolness of the stone pressed so tightly into her palm calmed her, allowing her to focus. “It’s not just her either.”
“She’s gone, Liz,” Max said drawing her eyes back to his face. “She’s gone remember?”
“She’s never really been gone, Max, and you know it. You’ve felt it too. If you didn’t then….” Liz trailed off leaving the rest of her sentence unsaid. Because if he didn’t feel it then it was just her, just inside her and he was pulling away from her because….
“No!” Max almost shouted. Flooding their connection with energy he reached harder needing to hear what she wasn’t saying. “You don’t feel the same at all, in any way. Okay, I’ve felt it but it’s just….residual feelings from everything she did. She touched things inside us and that leaves a mark. That’s all it is.”
Liz wasn’t convinced. It had been years but it didn’t feel that way. It felt like Tess was just around the corner watching and waiting. “He’s watching, Max.”
“Now?” Max asked knowing without asking who she was talking about. His image shimmered between them.
“Yes, now. Up there somewhere he’s watching and he’s not the only one.” Liz turned back into him, burrowing closer to feel only him. She didn’t want to feel anything else.
Pulling her closer still, despite the uncomfortable knot her fist made trapped between them like it was, he rested his chin against her hair. Worry creased his brow, made his heart thud hard inside his chest. How was he going to keep her safe from enemies they couldn’t see? “Who else?”
Liz shrugged awkwardly not knowing the answer to that question. The thought had arrived fully formed but with no helpful details. No names or faces just the certainty that it was truth. “I don’t know.”
Resting there against him she almost despised herself. For being so afraid, so unable to give him the answers he needed, for being so insecure that she couldn’t seem to get past something that had happened years ago. Years and here she was, still caged by old insecurities. How was she supposed to figure out what was happening now when she still didn’t understand what had happened before? They all expected her to come up with something, some plan or idea to figure out what they needed to do, how to keep the danger from reaching them but she had nothing. Just the same unfocused dread she’d been carrying since she’d seen a pair of leather clad legs on her balcony. Even now, in the midst of everything her body was clamoring for her attention. What kind of person was she? There were far more important things to focus on.
Feeling the weight of her thoughts and emotions Max searched for a way to get through to her. “I never told you much about-about, you know, before did I?”
“Before you came here?” Liz asked surprised he was bringing it up when he normally flatly refused to discuss it.
“Yeah, umm, then,” Max confirmed squirming inside but forcing himself to continue. “Royals didn’t form bonds, ever. Did I tell you that before?”
“No,” Liz responded scooting away to see his face.
“It just wasn’t done. You couldn’t afford to be weakened by unnecessary attachments. They tried to breed it out of us, the need for bonding. We took partners based on political needs, there were breeding programs to ensure the lines. That’s what Tess was, why she was called my bride and not my wife or bonded. She never would have had my child,” Max stopped waiting for her to ask the questions he could feel welling up inside her.
“But…why? Even if you weren’t bonded she could have still…”
“It wasn’t done that way,” Max sighed looking away, not wanting to venture into things he never wanted to discuss. “It would have given her too much power. That’s why there was the breeding program. Well, that and the fact that they could breed certain things out of the line and increase others.
“All along there were stories of kings that had gone to war over their bonded mates, or been toppled by the loss of them. I was raised with those stories. Then there was the prophecy. I didn’t believe. I never thought I would find you, Liz. I did things to make sure I wouldn’t. I married Tess, I refused the standard measures to ensure my line, I was so sure I was not the one the prophecy spoke of. I was sure. I was going to live forever so how could I be?”
“But you didn’t. Live forever, I mean,” Liz pointed out watching him fidget with the ends of her hair in effort to avoid her eyes.
“No, I didn’t.” Max agreed then smiled. “That was the best thing that ever happened to me. The measures put in place, that I had put in place in fact, sent me here, to you. Millions of miles from where I died I found you. And I didn’t remember anything from before. I saw you and….things that weren’t supposed to be possible were suddenly the only things I wanted. You saved me, Liz. Just by being you. You’re my miracle. You changed me just by existing. You have no idea how much. So please, for me, don’t be so hard on yourself. You’re not any of the things Tess told you that you were. Don’t you remember how it was before she came here? The way we felt even during the scariest moments? Searching for the orb when all I really wanted to do was make love to you. Surrounded by the Crash Festival hordes trying to think about mud to distract myself from your lips. Hiding from the FBI but kissing you because I needed you, whatever the situation was. It doesn’t make you any less beautiful to me, only more. I feel all those same things. You never think I’m a monster for it.”
“But you’re….” Liz clamped her lips shut before she could finish that thought.
“Not human? A man?” Max teased finishing her sentence for her.
“Umm, let’s just move on, okay?” Liz squirmed.
“Okay,” Max agreed dipping his head to capture her lips to save them from the abuse of her teeth. He wasn’t able to tear himself away from her. Although the situation was serious and becoming increasingly dangerous he couldn’t let her think she was somehow abnormal for feeling any of the things she did. He wanted her, his body craving the safe haven of hers, needing her desperately, and needing to strengthen their connection. Knowing they would be safer if they could just make this work like it was supposed to. It was natural to need your bonded mate, to crave a physical union as means of reformation, recreating each time the bond between you. That’s what they’d been missing all this time.
It was the only way he could see making it though all this, together. Together they’d already made it through so much.
Her skin was so soft he couldn’t resist touching her. Stretching out beside her, slowly stretching to shelter her smaller form, easing her into as perfect a fit as he could bring them. He didn’t want to rush her, he’d wait all night, days if he had to. She was light in a life that had been so cold and dark before she’d been in it. Until her he hadn’t known he could be this person, he hadn’t been this person. He’d been something alien, not just in body but in his soul. Until he’d met her he hadn’t known any other way of being. He didn’t know if he’d ever felt so gentle or tender toward another person, even Isabel, but each time he looked at her those and other emotions filled him.
She murmured his name, a soft breath of sound against his neck, and his body thickened, hardened even more until he groaned a protest against urgent demands he couldn’t wholly control. Only her thin pants, slipping more with each movement, separated him from the soft haven offered by her body. To prevent a mistake that might rush her he started kissing his way lower, from the dampness of her neck down to the sweat slicked skin over her collarbone. His goal wasn’t seduction he was courting her.
More then anything he wanted to marry her. For both of them to stand up and make a conscience choice to join their lives. He wouldn’t jeopardize that dream by continuing to make the same mistakes he had before. She was precious to him, beautiful and vulnerable.
Allow me to touch you. I need to touch you.
Although unsaid Liz heard the words all the same. Her eyes opened slumberous and naturally sensual, meeting the burnished amber of his and saw what she felt. She wanted to be touched, to feel his skin against hers, his mouth on hers, his hands on her. She had wanted him from almost the first moment she’d allowed herself to see him, here she didn’t have to think about her responsibilities, for this moment she could just relax and allow it to be whatever it grew into. And unlike her dreams she didn’t have to worry about being controlled.
Max’s breath caught as she rolled onto her back exposing her perfectly formed breasts, his hand sliding onto her bare midriff with the movement. His hand looked like a dark shadow on her pale golden skin not yet tanned by the sun his fingers splayed wide. She looked more delicate then he knew her to be under his larger boned more heavily muscled form. Even his hand looked huge resting on the expanse of her belly.
His hands moved over her slowly, inch by beautiful inch, pushing her remaining clothing lower carefully. He felt her response in the way her body tightened, muscles clenching while her blood heated and pooled. He wanted to know her, know every inch and where she liked to be touched. Wanted to touch her, taste her, inhale as much of her as he could.
When his head bent to the warmth of her skin Liz sighed her fingers sinking into his hair as the wet heat of his mouth opened over her skin. Each soft brush of his tongue sent her temperature soaring, each gliding stroke of his hand tightening her hold on him until she was moving restlessly under him uncertain if she could handle the next but willing to find out.
Carefully tenderly taking the fullness of her breast into his mouth he heard her gasp, felt her move under him and he soothed her movement, his hand brushing over her ribs down across the slight rise of her belly. Moving over her hip he felt the sleek movement of her muscles under his hand as she arced into him. Hesitating for just a moment he pushed at her pants sending them to her knees where she kicked them free before turning into him.
The ends of his hair drifted over her skin tickling the skin of her stomach as he nipped at her skin, kissing away the sting before she really registered it. Her breathe sped up, hitching slightly at every gasp of pleasure, so focused on his mouth she didn’t notice his hand until his fingers found the tight thatch of curls at the juncture of her thighs, slick now with moisture.
She was moist and hot as he pushed his palm against her. Her hips surged against him in response even as she gasp in surprise. His response was muffled against her midriff, a humming vibration of sound lost in her silken skin. His body burned uncomfortably, drawn tight, the heat spreading from his groin into his abdomen need spilling into him unchecked from the connection he held open. It gave him enough confidence to slip off her panties.
His mouth and hands were everywhere, kissing and caressing her until she matched the heat pouring off of him. She opened her eyes, not remembering when they had closed, to find herself staring up at the stars shining down from the heavens. Seeing not a huge black void making her feel small and helpless, or numerous stars looking back at her, but instead saw the sky and stars as she used to see them in flashes from Max, feeling the same sense of wonder. The difference was in him, in his presence, and it made her feel safe in his embrace.
When his hands urged her thighs to part while his tongue swirled around her belly button her eyes flew down to him, her hands catching at him. “What are you doing?”
She whispered the words her body painfully aroused. She should be moving away, knowing exactly what he intended, but she couldn’t quite shake off the veil of need clouding her mind.
Looking into her eyes he answered her seriously as he settled into the space he had created. “I’m courting you.” His teeth nipped along the curve of her his eyes never leaving hers, watching them darken, seeing her gasp. “Persuading you that I’m here with you. That I’m not backing away from you and leaving you alone.”
With those words she melted allowing him to ease her legs even wider. The first brush of his tongue had her squirming, bringing his hands to her hips to hold her to his mouth. She barely had time to catch her breath before his tongue delved into her, lightly caressing her wet folds tasting her before increasing the pressure drawing a low broken moan from her throat as the lightening bolt of sensation igniting a glowing pressure that built higher with every touch. He was very tender, very though, taking great care with her reducing her to a quivering mass in minutes and still he didn’t stop. He enjoyed it too much, he never wanted to stop because then he’d refocus on himself and that was trouble waiting to happen.
There was such strength in his hands, his mouth, he easily peeled her layers apart like something ripe and sweet. Something inside her had been waiting all this time for him to open it, spilling her in rush of pleasure leaving her limp and sensitized to each touch as he moved away from her. Reaching for him with heavy arms she drew him up to her placing nuzzling kisses along his jaw to his mouth felling the hardness of him through his pants.
“You okay?” Max asked his voice strained.
“Mmmhmm,” Liz affirmed now occupied with his ear.
“No bullshit? You’re really okay?” Max asked easing away to see her eyes almost groaning at the lazy slumberous look that greeted him.
“Absolutely,” Liz said with certainly. “You?”
Her smile then, along with the gentle humor in her gaze, relaxed the lingering anxiety he felt worrying about somehow messing up again. “I’m good-great.”
“You feel a little…tense,” Liz observed still smiling slightly in amusement. She felt no fear now, almost certain things wouldn’t spiral out of control should they go forward from here.
“No, I’m ah..” He floundered having trouble with his denial since he couldn’t tear his eyes from her long enough to gather the words. “Okay!”
Liz’s smile grew at his yelped response as she worked her hand between them. “Okay?”
“Uh.” Feeling the constraint imposed by his pants loosen he reached for the higher function of speech. “Better. Now. I’m better now.”
She couldn’t even believe she was doing this. That she was actually reaching into his pants. “Yeah?”
“Liz, wh-what are doing?”
“I guess I’m-um courting you. Is it working? For you I mean, cause….I could-” Liz babbled nervously only to have Max cut her off.
“Baby, you had me years ago, the second I saw you. Before that if you believe in prophecies.” Max said feeling her relief at his words clearly. Feeling her. “Are you sure about this? Because we can stop, right now if you want.”
Liz shook her head slowly. “I don’t think I do but-You’ll stay. With me?”
“All the way,” Max promised humbled that she had to ask but still had enough faith to go forward.
“Then I’m sure,” Liz said already dragging on his pants. Equal parts astonished at her own nerve and anxious about her decision.
Max studied her, feeling her anxiety bleed over into him, she didn’t feel sure. Working with that feeling he decided to move forward only at a crawl, stopping if things took a turn for the worse. Praying he retained enough awareness to know when that point came, if it came.
She felt that resolve but she felt something more. His mind and his mouth were trying to give her a way out if things went sour but his body wasn’t as reasonable. It wasn’t difficult to sense that, it was in the way he pinned her into the seat, in the tightness of his hold, and in his eyes.
Looking into his eyes she saw nothing but need. Need that she’d never seen in any other man. It wasn’t merely desire, it was true need, like those for food or water. If she turned him away now, when he was opening up and showing so much of himself, they might never have another chance. They might stay together, may have sex at some point in the future, but would he be able to open up like this again?
“I’m a hundred percent sure. Now take off those pants.” She watched as he rolled, struggling to comply with her request, tearing at his pants until he tore them free.
He rose above her kneeling between her legs and looking down at her running his hands back and forth along her thighs, drinking in the sight of her sprawled under him like an offering. It seemed to him in that moment that the very air shivered, as if reality itself froze, remaking itself just a little bit differently then it had been before.
Then she reached for him.
Leaning down to kiss her he held himself away from her just enough to keep from their bodies from meeting. He had to do this right, slowly so he didn’t hurt her. Their lips met on a sigh of acceptance softly caressing each other, dizziness rushing through her, her mouth parting to mold more precisely to his.
Taking full advantage he slanted his mouth over hers needing deeper contact, his arms trembling from holding all of his weight but he didn’t notice.
Fingers feathering over his chest and shoulders she felt his tremors and started tugging at him. When he wouldn’t budge she sent her fingers lower stroking over his abdomen, then lower still feeling his substantial erection jump under her touch. She bit back a moan as he tore his mouth from hers panting.
“Liz, don’t,” Max panted as easily as that pushed to the breaking point. “I can’t think when you touch me like that.”
“You don’t need to,” Liz responded feeling the raging heat inside him glowing like a live coal. Encouraged by the strong steady flow him she stroked him tentatively until his arms gave out.
Max shuddered as her grip tightened around him in reaction when he landed directly on her but she didn’t break eye contact. Her pupils were dilated with passion but direct, steadily trustingly looking back at him. Taking a deep steady breath he lowered his guard even more, reaching for her as he flexed his hips sliding through her hand until the very tip of his penis nudged her wet sex.
Response thrilled through her, as irresistible as the tide and her hand fell away from him giving him tacit permission to continue.
Giving her time to change her mind he guided his erection nudging deeper into the delicate folds, parting her to rub back and forth groaning when she tilted her hips pushing back against him. Unable to wait any longer he pushed inside her, watching for any sign of protest but saw none. Groaning he worked himself deeper fingers clenching, digging into the upholstery in an effort to go slowly.
Biting her lip as her body stretched to the point of pain in an attempt to shelter his intimidating length. She knew from experience that the uncomfortable feeling would fade, this time was different then before though. She had to fight to keep from withering underneath him even before he’d filled her before the uncomfortable feeling of being stretched could fade. He filled her, so stiff and large but fitting perfectly all the same.
Then he dragged himself back out of her in small increments, pushing back in, and the small waves of pleasure began.
Feeling her inner muscles tighten around him, squeezing then releasing, he groaned thrusting harder feeling his control start to slip. She was trembling violently, nails digging into his sides in an effort to control the wild rush of sensation. Feeling that he held her tighter, holding their connection open, knowing that she would steady him if he faltered. Knowing how close he was he repositioned himself until he knew he grinding against the exposed nub of nerves that had her crying out, straining against him with every thrust.
A door opened inside her. Trembling on the edge of the void she was suddenly afraid that instead of Max saving her, she would drag him over with her.
“No!” Struggling against the yawning panic she reached for Max feeling the sharp click of their bond snapping into place as he grabbed onto her.
Holding her tight as the heavy ungovernable pleasure swelled then released and the fierce pulsing flood of sensation swept through her and into him binding them, weaving them together as he thickened, emptying into her in gut wrenching bursts.
Wrung out he collapsed sweaty and exhausted but unable to stop a grin from splitting his face.
Still breathing hard, chest heaving under his weight as aftershocks rippled through her tightening her muscles around him and her heart raced and for just a moment she thought she could feel the stone in her necklace throb against her breast.
World In My Eyes (CC,M/L,Adult) Ch 54 - 08/22/06 [WIP]
Moderators: Anniepoo98, ISLANDGIRL5, truelovepooh, Forum Moderators
Last edited by Lelea on Sat Feb 12, 2005 1:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Finally a new chapter!
Chapter Forty One
Propped on her side Liz watched the aimless glide of her fingertips over Max’s skin, totally mesmerized with how it looked. Her fingers drifted over his sweat slick skin like she knew what she was doing, like they belonged there, it was amazing.
The way it felt was even more then that.
It was like even if she didn’t think she knew how to touch him her fingers did. It felt strange, wonderful but scary too. Like some part of her recognized something in the random patterns she was tracing over his back or maybe it was something in the act itself that she found innately peaceful. She didn’t feel the urge to get up and create some space between them, between what had happened and what she was feeling. For the first time in her memory she didn’t feel conflicted about what had happened, just drifting in the moment for once, not thinking ahead or worrying.
Stifling a yawn against his shoulder her fingers paused as light seared across the dark sky. Looking up she watched it pulse, strobing in bright flashes, the rhythm echoed against her chest before darkness fell once more. Sitting up abruptly she waited, watching uneasily for the next disruption to the night sky.
Feeling the ripple disturbing the mood Max rolled over to rest back on his elbows halfway between sitting up and lying down, hearing her gasp as the sky brightened. “Heat lightening,” Max said softly drawing her attention briefly before she looked back up at the sky.
“Yeah,” Liz agreed doubtfully, her eyes following what to her seemed to be the direction the light had taken. Heat lightening didn’t have a focus like that. It didn’t cause her heart to race in reaction either.
Feeling her growing agitation Max moved closer while drawing her back into him. “You aren’t upset about anything we did are you?” Max asked well aware of her usual state of disquiet after previous attempts at intimacy. This didn’t feel quite the same as those times, and she hadn’t pulled away and rolled out of bed while refusing to look at him, but something wasn’t right.
Startled Liz looked over her shoulder directly into his eyes. “No, it’s not anything like that. Just-just watch okay?”
Confused he never the less did as she asked, waiting with her silently. After a few moments the sky brightened with greater intensity, charging the very air with energy before pulsing with light so bright it seared away the darkness with brutal force, bolts of lightening rippling across the sky in jagged waves before striking the ground in the distance to the west of them.
“That’s not heat lightening,” Liz whispered her eyes glued to the display of power.
“No,” Max agreed grimly, already reaching for his pants. He was getting them the hell out of here. Just in case.
While Max jerked on his pants and climbed into the drivers seat Liz sat twisting her necklace absently around her fingers, eyes on the sky so high above her. “This isn’t going to work. I’m not letting you ruin this moment for me. I won’t.”
*****
K’deem froze in an instinctive prey response when Khivar suddenly loomed over him. “Sir, I did not anticipate-I mean I did not expect you to be-out so soo-“
“Is it ready yet?” Khivar asked cutting off K’deem’s stumbling vocalizations. Peering into the tank he studied what was inside. His new body, a blank slate.
“Yes,” K’deem confirmed, privately worried about the shortness of Khivar’s preparatory cycle but keeping that worry well hidden. It was not his place to express concern. “While you were indisposed we received a request for a meeting.”
“From?” Khivar asked only half paying attention. He’d sent a very explicit warning but he knew he wouldn’t rest until he could keep an eye on the situation personally. To do that he needed this body. He was uncomfortable with how fast things were moving. He couldn’t afford to be far away any longer. So even if he wasn’t sure of every detail, this form would have to do.
“Zan, sir,” K’deem answered promptly.
Khivar’s breathing slits widened sharply, his attention completely captured by K’deem’s words. “Zan? How is that possible?”
“Langley, sir,” K’deem responded made suddenly nervous by the crimson flushing Khivar’s breastplate. “He claims to be the K’liusi’s advocate as well as her bonded’s protector.”
“Interesting,” Khivar mused out loud, his mind rapidly processing this development. For the deposed king’s protector to also be Liz’s advocate was surprising to say the least, and possibly a conflict of interest but that wasn’t his concern at the moment. Service could be compelled but advocacy was a choice made of free will, a choice to be involved. A swell of excitement bled crimson tones closer to orange. “What reason did he give for such a meeting?”
“As her advocate he was claiming his right to defend such overt efforts to breech her defenses. He also added Zan’s request to his petition, as her bonded mate it is his responsibility to see to her welfare.”
“Which has been the problem all along, hasn’t it?” Khivar responded, not expecting a response and receiving none. “Alright, I will meet with them. Set it up.”
“Sir?” K’deem blurted, the hood shielding his soft underbelly receding with shock. “It will delay your transfer several days and the energy expended for such a meeting would be-“
“I will meet with them, arrange it. Face to face if they wish. That is the best judge of someone isn’t it? She has faith in him. Let’s see if he can back up her belief, if he has changed at all from what I knew him to be.”
Dipping his head in assent K’deem found himself amazed at this turn of events. Khivar did not offer second chances, to do so now when time was short and every ounce of energy needed was beyond his limited scope of understanding. That he would consider another’s opinion above his own was as inconceivable as a king rewriting the destiny of untold worlds.
“Finish any preparations here. I want the transfer to take place in two cycles, make sure everything is ready, K’deem. I trust this task to you alone.”
“It will be as you wish.” K’deem lowered himself before Khivar hiding the flush of inappropriate emotion. Khivar was just recognizing his dedication to duty that was all. It was not his place to inject emotion into what was only duty. He prized his position with Khivar, his duty to his people. There would be no mistakes made. He would see to it.
*****
Shutting the door behind them Max breathed a sigh of relief. He’d been sure that on the way home something was going to happen. Something bad, like a rain of fire falling from the sky or something, but instead nothing.
Well, not exactly nothing.
The horizon behind them had continued to draw his attention every few moments, brought into sharp relief with each flash of light, highlighting the desolate landscape.
No other cars, no people, and virtually nothing between them and…whatever was causing the entirely to precise flashes of what appeared to be lighting.
After locking the door securely he turned to find Liz watching him, his shirt and her shoes still dangling from her hand. She looked both awkward and intensely sexy to him.
Liz silently watched him walk toward her, noticing how his hair curled damply at the ends and how he hadn’t bothered to button his pants or do up his belt and sucked in her breath. Suddenly she wanted to climb him, wrap her legs around his waist, and have him hold her forgetting all about everything else. Blowing a wayward strand of hair out of her eyes she watched his eyes dilate and realized that he knew exactly what she was thinking.
Of course he knew.
Before she could think of anything to say he was right there in front of her and she found herself staring directly at his bare chest.
Max smiled watching her take only quick peeks at his face while biting at her lower lip. Slipping his arms around her waist he took satisfaction in the fact that she didn’t hesitate to lean into him even though she was nervous.
“Whatcha thinking?” Max teased his hands dropping to her hips, unwilling and completely unable to keep his hands off of her.
Liz darted a glance up at his face just long enough to get a peek at the glint in his eyes. “Umm-I was just thinking-“
“Thinking?” Max prompted when she trailed off to nibble nervously at her swollen lip.
Instead of answering him she released her grip on everything she was holding, the thunk of her shoes hitting the floor loud in the absolute silence of the empty house, freeing her hands to touch him. Leaning forward even more she kissed his bare chest directly over his heart, tasting salt and feeling the kick of his pulse increase under her mouth.
“I was thinking about how much I wanted to touch you. Like this,” Liz paused to allow for another quick taste. “And maybe even like this.”
Max’s eyes closed as her fingers stroked over his back as she rubbed her mouth against his chest, planting soft kisses in trail up toward his mouth.
Reaching the hollow of his throat she barely hesitated before licking away the salty moisture that had gathered there as his hand moved to cradle the back of her head, holding her against him, encouraging her to keep going.
“Where do you think Cal is?” Liz asked softly before scraping her teeth against the ridge of his clavicle. Going further, testing herself with each action she took.
“I don’t-I don’t know,” Max answered his fingers tightening involuntarily, praying she wouldn’t stop to go find the shape shifter. He was afraid to so much as move on the off chance she’d back away.
“Do you think we should call him?” Liz posed the question knowing Max’s answer without really hearing his response. For once she was listening to what she wanted, not any little voices that were trying to discourage her from acting on her desires.
“He’s busy. We really shouldn’t bother him right now,” Max answered not having a clue whether Cal was busy or not. “It’s late.” The sound of his breathing and hers filled his ears, the only noise in the entire house except for the ever so quiet sound of each of her kisses. Standing in the dark with Liz in his arms the rest of the world faded taking all of the problems it held along with it. He could stand here just like this for hours, days if she wanted him to.
Stretching up onto her bare toes Liz rubbed up against him deliberately as she sucked lightly at his throat, not hard enough to mark him, just hard enough to draw a rumbling groan from deep in his chest. Focusing only on how this felt, reading the sensations like tealeaves, finding her way slowly.
“What about what happened in the desert? Don’t you want to talk about that?”
Talk? He didn’t think he could string together enough words to make sense. “Yes, later. We’ll talk about it later.”
With that he claimed her mouth, her surprised inhalation pulling the breath from his body her cloth covered breasts rubbing against his chest as she lifted her arms, wrapping them around his neck and holding on as her toes left the floor.
Liz smiled against his mouth as his hands guided her legs around his waist. “Yes, this was exactly what I was thinking.” Laughing she held on, gripping him harder with her thighs when she started to slip as he walked them across the floor.
Seeing her laughing and happy filled him with a fierce swell of love, this was everything he’d ever wished for right here in his arms. It was so easy to make her happy. Why hadn’t he remembered that? How easy it could be.
“Where are we going?” Liz asked her eyes shining.
“Somewhere comfortable where I can hold you for as long as you’ll let me,” Max answered intending to make at least this one thought live up to reality. He wanted to encourage her to act on any of those thoughts and any opportunity to hold her was one he’d snap up in heartbeat.
Sinking down onto the couch Max held her securely watching her eyes as she rode him down into the soft cushions the variegated shadows hiding much of her face. “Okay?”
Wiggling into a more comfortable position across his thighs, careful not to crush anything important, she thought it was better then okay. “Yeah. You okay?”
Max smiled feeling happier by the minute. “Yeah.”
“I’m not too heavy?” Liz asked matching his smile as his fingers drifted over the bare skin of her lower back.
“No,” Max denied pulling her closer to keep her exactly where she was. “I’ve pictured you here, like this. This is better though. Because it’s real.”
“Maybe you’re just dreaming,” Liz suggested tracing a finger over his ear to play with one damp curl. It was so cute she couldn’t resist.
“Let’s see.” Curling forward he kissed her like he’d been wanting to, hungry for the taste of her. His lungs squeezed and the pit of his stomach got tight, rumbling loudly in the stillness. When she leaned into him even further his dick got so hard that it almost hurt when she nudged against him.
Through her shirt he felt her hard nipples against his chest. If he’d been standing she would have brought him to his knees. Lust combined with love thrumming through his body like a cord had been plucked, grasping his testicles in a fiery squeeze of heightened desire.
Her mouth opened and she kissed him back, a sweet liquid warmth invading her limbs making them feel weighted, too heavy to move.
Their tongues touched and he gave in to the urge to touch her everywhere, loving the way her back arched under his hand. He bunched her shirt in his fist and broke the kiss to pull it over her head, taking the fact that Liz went right back to kissing him as soon as it was clear as a good sign.
Liz moaned as his palms slid over her breasts, down over the smooth skin of her belly. He slipped his hand between her legs, feeling her on the outside of her clothes, her damp heat warmed the seam of her pants, and he pressed his fingers tight against her.
Feeling her surge into his hand, rubbing her now bare breasts against his chest stirred the deep primal response he’d tried to so hard to resist all evening. It rose up and demanded that he devour her. Eat her up and not stop until he was immersed in her.
Liz pulled back just far enough to see his face and watch the struggle taking place there. She didn’t need to see his eyes to know that they burned with desire. She didn’t need to feel the long hard press of his erection against her to know how much he wanted her. It surrounded them in hot waves, pressing in then ebbing back out again, taking over. She found that this was one of the times she didn’t mind being dominated by something stronger then herself.
She ran her hands up his chest watching the shudder that ran through him at her skimming touch.
The light from the streetlight outside only lit up bits and pieces of him. Fragments and shadows disjointed, and none of it seemed quite real. His warm palms pressed against her nipples and the ache between her legs constricted down to a painful knot that urged her to rub against him harder.
“Liz, this is better then anything I could dream up. It’s definitely real.”
She leaned forward and kissed his neck as his hands roamed over her, finally kneeling so he could push her pants over her hips. She wondered how they could remove them without any awkward fumbling but then his mouth drew one of her nipples into his mouth and she didn’t think at all anymore. Her hands gripped his shoulders as he garbled with his pants shoving them down only far enough so they were out of the way, then a blur as they fought a way around her pants that were shoved down onto her thighs, one hard shove and he was inside her huge and thick. A deep primal groan was ripped from his chest as he struggled to push deeper despite the complication of her pants.
“Get them off,” Liz panted squirming in effort to remove them moaning when he slipped from her.
Impatient Max tugged hard and the sound of elastic tearing shocked a gasp from her throat and she clutched him tightly as he jerked and pulled at the material keeping him from her. Then she was sinking back down onto him as his hand slid across her bare behind. She bit at her lip to keep from moaning and rested her forehead against his as he pushed deeper, stretching her as he filled her. Holding her there for a long moment, the hot wash of her rapid breaths gentling him. Giving her the chance to protest.
What she did was far from a protest.
Lifting up she cupped the sides of his face and kissing him as she slid back down, rocking her hips in a smooth rhythm, feeling his hands move to grip tight.
“Max Evens, I love you with everything in me. And right now that’s a lot,” Liz whispered against his mouth, ending in a gasp as he thrust up into her.
Max smiled at her teasing comment and combed her hair back with his fingers, closing his fingers around the silky strands and holding on. “God. Liz.” Giving up on words he sealed his mouth to hers allowing his control to slip showing her the depth of his love and hunger for her.
If he hadn’t been holding her, the next deep thrust would have toppled her off his lap onto the floor. She responded with a moan of pleasure that would have embarrassed her at any other moment. She felt his hot mouth move to her shoulder, the sharp edge of his teeth dragging along her skin raising goose bumps in their wake causing her muscles to clench around his intruding length.
He started slow, following the rhythm that had she started, finding it easier this time to relax into their joining. He knew how to touch her without trying to know, the knowledge was just there, a part of him. Caressing her skin he knew she loved the reverent way his hands glided over her and knowing that, seeing it, increased his own pleasure. Each sensation seemed to feed the next, building between them. The way she gasp when his lips moved from her mouth down to suckle lightly at her neck, down further to scrape his teeth along her collarbone, finally reaching her beautiful breasts.
Liz watched his tongue circling her left nipple, once then twice before drawing it into his mouth, the suction pulling fire to the surface of her skin. Her knees grew weak as he continued suckling her breast his hands moving to support her lower back, fingers splayed down onto the swell of her ass. That’s when he rolled them over, rising above her to lift her legs tugging the last tangled scraps of clothing over her feet.
She returned to Earth only briefly when they landed in heap on the floor, but when he looked down at her his intensely tender yet possessively intent gaze had her womb tightening. When his hand lifted to caress her nose she melted and Earth was a long way away.
“Max…” His name escaped her, part sigh part panicked moan.
He pushed back inside her and the panic receded instantly.
And then he shifted a bit, watching her until he found the spot that had her back arching off the floor as pleasure seared a path through her. A loud groan split the air but she didn’t know if it was hers or his, and didn’t care.
He continued to thrust against that spot, his butt flexing as he worked her harder and harder bringing the first hard tug of orgasm. She came in a rush of pleasure spilling into him with a sharp cry and he kept pumping into her, prolonging the sensation. And she thought that maybe she’d never touch earth again.
She convulsed once more, squeezing him tight.
“Liz,” Max moaned, driving deep the head of his penis pressing against her cervix making her cry out loudly. Then his whole body trembled as he reached his own release his erection throbbing and throbbing inside her.
Minutes later he spoke close to her ear, his breathing fast and hot through her hair. “Was that what you were thinking?”
Liz laughed weakly and shook her head. “Not even close. Real is better.”
Max smiled and kissed her damp neck lightly too tired and content to move. So he just held her, holding onto her as her breathing evened out and her nose wrinkled lightly as she dozed off.
*****
Around her everything was motion, so fast she couldn’t make sense of it, the noise hurting her ears and throbbing in her chest. Burning. She was burning.
“Well, Liz. Bravo,” Tess mock clapped from somewhere in all that motion. “You are quite the little Breeder aren’t you?”
Swallowing back her nausea Liz set her shoulders and lifted her chin. “Tess.”
“You do that well at least.” Tess strolled around her, running one finger down Liz’s arm as she circled her. “Other then that you have no idea what you’re doing. Do you?”
Stopping in front of her Tess smiled sweetly. “You’ll find out though. I’ll make sure of that.”
“What are you talking about?” Liz demanded fighting to move but held there by an unseen force.
“They want you, Liz. They’re going to change you. They’ve been watching you all this time, so close and yet you’ve had no idea. You won’t until it’s too late, not even he can stop them now. Warnings won’t stop them either, it’s too late for that.”
Breathing faster, fighting to break free Liz felt the burning on her chest increasing. Screaming in pain she reached for the thing that always calmed her, lent her strength when she needed it and he came.
Everything stopped. Cut off like a power cord somewhere had been pulled.
“What did I say to you, Tess, the first time I saw you?” Khivar asked, his voice quiet but echoing inside her just the same.
“I don’t remember,” Tess said defiantly tossing her hair in apparent unconcern.
“I told you that you have no place in the future. That has not changed. I warned you then about your actions. I told you what would happen.” Khivar started circling them, much like Tess had circled her earlier. But where Tess had seemed smug and mocking Khivar was like a shark, circling with cold intent.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean..”
“You chose your path. There is no changing it now. Be gone from here.” With a wave of his hand Tess was gone.
“What are you doing here?” Liz asked, her brow furrowed with anxiety.
“You know the answer to that. You accepted me here. You called and I came.” Kivar went still just watching. Waiting for her reaction.
“No, I don’t…” Liz stopped as his eyebrow arched.
“You recognize me now. You know me I have been with you for some time now. You know I will help you if you ask. The crystal, where is the crystal you used to destroy Tess?” Kivar switched subjects to keep her just slightly off balance. To keep her from asking him questions he did not want to answer.
“I don’t know. Max had it, I think,” Liz answered slowly trying to remember. “Why?”
“You need to find it and get rid of it. Permanently, destroy it, then she will not be able to reach you as easily as she does.”
“But Max said that-he was sure that the crystal would kill her.”
“And it did,” Kivar agreed. “But she left enough of herself behind to still have a presence, but here only. Get rid of the crystal.”
Liz nodded feeling the dream slipping away, knowing Max was sensing that something was wrong and was trying to reach her.
“You will have my protection if you should need it. If you call for me I will come.”
Liz sat up with a gasp reaching for her necklace but finding nothing. It was gone. When her fingers touched her skin she winced in pain. Looking down she saw a symbol burned into her skin, a raised scar still an angry red.
“Liz?” Max asked sleepily raising up onto his elbow to see her. “You have another nightmare?”
“I think it was more then that. Look,” Liz pointed to the raised symbol between her breasts.
He reached out and touched it, feeling a shock similar to static electricity he withdrew his hand. “Hurts?” Max asked seeing the tears in her eyes.
“I think I really messed up this time,” Liz whispered guilt bringing tears to her eyes.
Propped on her side Liz watched the aimless glide of her fingertips over Max’s skin, totally mesmerized with how it looked. Her fingers drifted over his sweat slick skin like she knew what she was doing, like they belonged there, it was amazing.
The way it felt was even more then that.
It was like even if she didn’t think she knew how to touch him her fingers did. It felt strange, wonderful but scary too. Like some part of her recognized something in the random patterns she was tracing over his back or maybe it was something in the act itself that she found innately peaceful. She didn’t feel the urge to get up and create some space between them, between what had happened and what she was feeling. For the first time in her memory she didn’t feel conflicted about what had happened, just drifting in the moment for once, not thinking ahead or worrying.
Stifling a yawn against his shoulder her fingers paused as light seared across the dark sky. Looking up she watched it pulse, strobing in bright flashes, the rhythm echoed against her chest before darkness fell once more. Sitting up abruptly she waited, watching uneasily for the next disruption to the night sky.
Feeling the ripple disturbing the mood Max rolled over to rest back on his elbows halfway between sitting up and lying down, hearing her gasp as the sky brightened. “Heat lightening,” Max said softly drawing her attention briefly before she looked back up at the sky.
“Yeah,” Liz agreed doubtfully, her eyes following what to her seemed to be the direction the light had taken. Heat lightening didn’t have a focus like that. It didn’t cause her heart to race in reaction either.
Feeling her growing agitation Max moved closer while drawing her back into him. “You aren’t upset about anything we did are you?” Max asked well aware of her usual state of disquiet after previous attempts at intimacy. This didn’t feel quite the same as those times, and she hadn’t pulled away and rolled out of bed while refusing to look at him, but something wasn’t right.
Startled Liz looked over her shoulder directly into his eyes. “No, it’s not anything like that. Just-just watch okay?”
Confused he never the less did as she asked, waiting with her silently. After a few moments the sky brightened with greater intensity, charging the very air with energy before pulsing with light so bright it seared away the darkness with brutal force, bolts of lightening rippling across the sky in jagged waves before striking the ground in the distance to the west of them.
“That’s not heat lightening,” Liz whispered her eyes glued to the display of power.
“No,” Max agreed grimly, already reaching for his pants. He was getting them the hell out of here. Just in case.
While Max jerked on his pants and climbed into the drivers seat Liz sat twisting her necklace absently around her fingers, eyes on the sky so high above her. “This isn’t going to work. I’m not letting you ruin this moment for me. I won’t.”
*****
K’deem froze in an instinctive prey response when Khivar suddenly loomed over him. “Sir, I did not anticipate-I mean I did not expect you to be-out so soo-“
“Is it ready yet?” Khivar asked cutting off K’deem’s stumbling vocalizations. Peering into the tank he studied what was inside. His new body, a blank slate.
“Yes,” K’deem confirmed, privately worried about the shortness of Khivar’s preparatory cycle but keeping that worry well hidden. It was not his place to express concern. “While you were indisposed we received a request for a meeting.”
“From?” Khivar asked only half paying attention. He’d sent a very explicit warning but he knew he wouldn’t rest until he could keep an eye on the situation personally. To do that he needed this body. He was uncomfortable with how fast things were moving. He couldn’t afford to be far away any longer. So even if he wasn’t sure of every detail, this form would have to do.
“Zan, sir,” K’deem answered promptly.
Khivar’s breathing slits widened sharply, his attention completely captured by K’deem’s words. “Zan? How is that possible?”
“Langley, sir,” K’deem responded made suddenly nervous by the crimson flushing Khivar’s breastplate. “He claims to be the K’liusi’s advocate as well as her bonded’s protector.”
“Interesting,” Khivar mused out loud, his mind rapidly processing this development. For the deposed king’s protector to also be Liz’s advocate was surprising to say the least, and possibly a conflict of interest but that wasn’t his concern at the moment. Service could be compelled but advocacy was a choice made of free will, a choice to be involved. A swell of excitement bled crimson tones closer to orange. “What reason did he give for such a meeting?”
“As her advocate he was claiming his right to defend such overt efforts to breech her defenses. He also added Zan’s request to his petition, as her bonded mate it is his responsibility to see to her welfare.”
“Which has been the problem all along, hasn’t it?” Khivar responded, not expecting a response and receiving none. “Alright, I will meet with them. Set it up.”
“Sir?” K’deem blurted, the hood shielding his soft underbelly receding with shock. “It will delay your transfer several days and the energy expended for such a meeting would be-“
“I will meet with them, arrange it. Face to face if they wish. That is the best judge of someone isn’t it? She has faith in him. Let’s see if he can back up her belief, if he has changed at all from what I knew him to be.”
Dipping his head in assent K’deem found himself amazed at this turn of events. Khivar did not offer second chances, to do so now when time was short and every ounce of energy needed was beyond his limited scope of understanding. That he would consider another’s opinion above his own was as inconceivable as a king rewriting the destiny of untold worlds.
“Finish any preparations here. I want the transfer to take place in two cycles, make sure everything is ready, K’deem. I trust this task to you alone.”
“It will be as you wish.” K’deem lowered himself before Khivar hiding the flush of inappropriate emotion. Khivar was just recognizing his dedication to duty that was all. It was not his place to inject emotion into what was only duty. He prized his position with Khivar, his duty to his people. There would be no mistakes made. He would see to it.
*****
Shutting the door behind them Max breathed a sigh of relief. He’d been sure that on the way home something was going to happen. Something bad, like a rain of fire falling from the sky or something, but instead nothing.
Well, not exactly nothing.
The horizon behind them had continued to draw his attention every few moments, brought into sharp relief with each flash of light, highlighting the desolate landscape.
No other cars, no people, and virtually nothing between them and…whatever was causing the entirely to precise flashes of what appeared to be lighting.
After locking the door securely he turned to find Liz watching him, his shirt and her shoes still dangling from her hand. She looked both awkward and intensely sexy to him.
Liz silently watched him walk toward her, noticing how his hair curled damply at the ends and how he hadn’t bothered to button his pants or do up his belt and sucked in her breath. Suddenly she wanted to climb him, wrap her legs around his waist, and have him hold her forgetting all about everything else. Blowing a wayward strand of hair out of her eyes she watched his eyes dilate and realized that he knew exactly what she was thinking.
Of course he knew.
Before she could think of anything to say he was right there in front of her and she found herself staring directly at his bare chest.
Max smiled watching her take only quick peeks at his face while biting at her lower lip. Slipping his arms around her waist he took satisfaction in the fact that she didn’t hesitate to lean into him even though she was nervous.
“Whatcha thinking?” Max teased his hands dropping to her hips, unwilling and completely unable to keep his hands off of her.
Liz darted a glance up at his face just long enough to get a peek at the glint in his eyes. “Umm-I was just thinking-“
“Thinking?” Max prompted when she trailed off to nibble nervously at her swollen lip.
Instead of answering him she released her grip on everything she was holding, the thunk of her shoes hitting the floor loud in the absolute silence of the empty house, freeing her hands to touch him. Leaning forward even more she kissed his bare chest directly over his heart, tasting salt and feeling the kick of his pulse increase under her mouth.
“I was thinking about how much I wanted to touch you. Like this,” Liz paused to allow for another quick taste. “And maybe even like this.”
Max’s eyes closed as her fingers stroked over his back as she rubbed her mouth against his chest, planting soft kisses in trail up toward his mouth.
Reaching the hollow of his throat she barely hesitated before licking away the salty moisture that had gathered there as his hand moved to cradle the back of her head, holding her against him, encouraging her to keep going.
“Where do you think Cal is?” Liz asked softly before scraping her teeth against the ridge of his clavicle. Going further, testing herself with each action she took.
“I don’t-I don’t know,” Max answered his fingers tightening involuntarily, praying she wouldn’t stop to go find the shape shifter. He was afraid to so much as move on the off chance she’d back away.
“Do you think we should call him?” Liz posed the question knowing Max’s answer without really hearing his response. For once she was listening to what she wanted, not any little voices that were trying to discourage her from acting on her desires.
“He’s busy. We really shouldn’t bother him right now,” Max answered not having a clue whether Cal was busy or not. “It’s late.” The sound of his breathing and hers filled his ears, the only noise in the entire house except for the ever so quiet sound of each of her kisses. Standing in the dark with Liz in his arms the rest of the world faded taking all of the problems it held along with it. He could stand here just like this for hours, days if she wanted him to.
Stretching up onto her bare toes Liz rubbed up against him deliberately as she sucked lightly at his throat, not hard enough to mark him, just hard enough to draw a rumbling groan from deep in his chest. Focusing only on how this felt, reading the sensations like tealeaves, finding her way slowly.
“What about what happened in the desert? Don’t you want to talk about that?”
Talk? He didn’t think he could string together enough words to make sense. “Yes, later. We’ll talk about it later.”
With that he claimed her mouth, her surprised inhalation pulling the breath from his body her cloth covered breasts rubbing against his chest as she lifted her arms, wrapping them around his neck and holding on as her toes left the floor.
Liz smiled against his mouth as his hands guided her legs around his waist. “Yes, this was exactly what I was thinking.” Laughing she held on, gripping him harder with her thighs when she started to slip as he walked them across the floor.
Seeing her laughing and happy filled him with a fierce swell of love, this was everything he’d ever wished for right here in his arms. It was so easy to make her happy. Why hadn’t he remembered that? How easy it could be.
“Where are we going?” Liz asked her eyes shining.
“Somewhere comfortable where I can hold you for as long as you’ll let me,” Max answered intending to make at least this one thought live up to reality. He wanted to encourage her to act on any of those thoughts and any opportunity to hold her was one he’d snap up in heartbeat.
Sinking down onto the couch Max held her securely watching her eyes as she rode him down into the soft cushions the variegated shadows hiding much of her face. “Okay?”
Wiggling into a more comfortable position across his thighs, careful not to crush anything important, she thought it was better then okay. “Yeah. You okay?”
Max smiled feeling happier by the minute. “Yeah.”
“I’m not too heavy?” Liz asked matching his smile as his fingers drifted over the bare skin of her lower back.
“No,” Max denied pulling her closer to keep her exactly where she was. “I’ve pictured you here, like this. This is better though. Because it’s real.”
“Maybe you’re just dreaming,” Liz suggested tracing a finger over his ear to play with one damp curl. It was so cute she couldn’t resist.
“Let’s see.” Curling forward he kissed her like he’d been wanting to, hungry for the taste of her. His lungs squeezed and the pit of his stomach got tight, rumbling loudly in the stillness. When she leaned into him even further his dick got so hard that it almost hurt when she nudged against him.
Through her shirt he felt her hard nipples against his chest. If he’d been standing she would have brought him to his knees. Lust combined with love thrumming through his body like a cord had been plucked, grasping his testicles in a fiery squeeze of heightened desire.
Her mouth opened and she kissed him back, a sweet liquid warmth invading her limbs making them feel weighted, too heavy to move.
Their tongues touched and he gave in to the urge to touch her everywhere, loving the way her back arched under his hand. He bunched her shirt in his fist and broke the kiss to pull it over her head, taking the fact that Liz went right back to kissing him as soon as it was clear as a good sign.
Liz moaned as his palms slid over her breasts, down over the smooth skin of her belly. He slipped his hand between her legs, feeling her on the outside of her clothes, her damp heat warmed the seam of her pants, and he pressed his fingers tight against her.
Feeling her surge into his hand, rubbing her now bare breasts against his chest stirred the deep primal response he’d tried to so hard to resist all evening. It rose up and demanded that he devour her. Eat her up and not stop until he was immersed in her.
Liz pulled back just far enough to see his face and watch the struggle taking place there. She didn’t need to see his eyes to know that they burned with desire. She didn’t need to feel the long hard press of his erection against her to know how much he wanted her. It surrounded them in hot waves, pressing in then ebbing back out again, taking over. She found that this was one of the times she didn’t mind being dominated by something stronger then herself.
She ran her hands up his chest watching the shudder that ran through him at her skimming touch.
The light from the streetlight outside only lit up bits and pieces of him. Fragments and shadows disjointed, and none of it seemed quite real. His warm palms pressed against her nipples and the ache between her legs constricted down to a painful knot that urged her to rub against him harder.
“Liz, this is better then anything I could dream up. It’s definitely real.”
She leaned forward and kissed his neck as his hands roamed over her, finally kneeling so he could push her pants over her hips. She wondered how they could remove them without any awkward fumbling but then his mouth drew one of her nipples into his mouth and she didn’t think at all anymore. Her hands gripped his shoulders as he garbled with his pants shoving them down only far enough so they were out of the way, then a blur as they fought a way around her pants that were shoved down onto her thighs, one hard shove and he was inside her huge and thick. A deep primal groan was ripped from his chest as he struggled to push deeper despite the complication of her pants.
“Get them off,” Liz panted squirming in effort to remove them moaning when he slipped from her.
Impatient Max tugged hard and the sound of elastic tearing shocked a gasp from her throat and she clutched him tightly as he jerked and pulled at the material keeping him from her. Then she was sinking back down onto him as his hand slid across her bare behind. She bit at her lip to keep from moaning and rested her forehead against his as he pushed deeper, stretching her as he filled her. Holding her there for a long moment, the hot wash of her rapid breaths gentling him. Giving her the chance to protest.
What she did was far from a protest.
Lifting up she cupped the sides of his face and kissing him as she slid back down, rocking her hips in a smooth rhythm, feeling his hands move to grip tight.
“Max Evens, I love you with everything in me. And right now that’s a lot,” Liz whispered against his mouth, ending in a gasp as he thrust up into her.
Max smiled at her teasing comment and combed her hair back with his fingers, closing his fingers around the silky strands and holding on. “God. Liz.” Giving up on words he sealed his mouth to hers allowing his control to slip showing her the depth of his love and hunger for her.
If he hadn’t been holding her, the next deep thrust would have toppled her off his lap onto the floor. She responded with a moan of pleasure that would have embarrassed her at any other moment. She felt his hot mouth move to her shoulder, the sharp edge of his teeth dragging along her skin raising goose bumps in their wake causing her muscles to clench around his intruding length.
He started slow, following the rhythm that had she started, finding it easier this time to relax into their joining. He knew how to touch her without trying to know, the knowledge was just there, a part of him. Caressing her skin he knew she loved the reverent way his hands glided over her and knowing that, seeing it, increased his own pleasure. Each sensation seemed to feed the next, building between them. The way she gasp when his lips moved from her mouth down to suckle lightly at her neck, down further to scrape his teeth along her collarbone, finally reaching her beautiful breasts.
Liz watched his tongue circling her left nipple, once then twice before drawing it into his mouth, the suction pulling fire to the surface of her skin. Her knees grew weak as he continued suckling her breast his hands moving to support her lower back, fingers splayed down onto the swell of her ass. That’s when he rolled them over, rising above her to lift her legs tugging the last tangled scraps of clothing over her feet.
She returned to Earth only briefly when they landed in heap on the floor, but when he looked down at her his intensely tender yet possessively intent gaze had her womb tightening. When his hand lifted to caress her nose she melted and Earth was a long way away.
“Max…” His name escaped her, part sigh part panicked moan.
He pushed back inside her and the panic receded instantly.
And then he shifted a bit, watching her until he found the spot that had her back arching off the floor as pleasure seared a path through her. A loud groan split the air but she didn’t know if it was hers or his, and didn’t care.
He continued to thrust against that spot, his butt flexing as he worked her harder and harder bringing the first hard tug of orgasm. She came in a rush of pleasure spilling into him with a sharp cry and he kept pumping into her, prolonging the sensation. And she thought that maybe she’d never touch earth again.
She convulsed once more, squeezing him tight.
“Liz,” Max moaned, driving deep the head of his penis pressing against her cervix making her cry out loudly. Then his whole body trembled as he reached his own release his erection throbbing and throbbing inside her.
Minutes later he spoke close to her ear, his breathing fast and hot through her hair. “Was that what you were thinking?”
Liz laughed weakly and shook her head. “Not even close. Real is better.”
Max smiled and kissed her damp neck lightly too tired and content to move. So he just held her, holding onto her as her breathing evened out and her nose wrinkled lightly as she dozed off.
*****
Around her everything was motion, so fast she couldn’t make sense of it, the noise hurting her ears and throbbing in her chest. Burning. She was burning.
“Well, Liz. Bravo,” Tess mock clapped from somewhere in all that motion. “You are quite the little Breeder aren’t you?”
Swallowing back her nausea Liz set her shoulders and lifted her chin. “Tess.”
“You do that well at least.” Tess strolled around her, running one finger down Liz’s arm as she circled her. “Other then that you have no idea what you’re doing. Do you?”
Stopping in front of her Tess smiled sweetly. “You’ll find out though. I’ll make sure of that.”
“What are you talking about?” Liz demanded fighting to move but held there by an unseen force.
“They want you, Liz. They’re going to change you. They’ve been watching you all this time, so close and yet you’ve had no idea. You won’t until it’s too late, not even he can stop them now. Warnings won’t stop them either, it’s too late for that.”
Breathing faster, fighting to break free Liz felt the burning on her chest increasing. Screaming in pain she reached for the thing that always calmed her, lent her strength when she needed it and he came.
Everything stopped. Cut off like a power cord somewhere had been pulled.
“What did I say to you, Tess, the first time I saw you?” Khivar asked, his voice quiet but echoing inside her just the same.
“I don’t remember,” Tess said defiantly tossing her hair in apparent unconcern.
“I told you that you have no place in the future. That has not changed. I warned you then about your actions. I told you what would happen.” Khivar started circling them, much like Tess had circled her earlier. But where Tess had seemed smug and mocking Khivar was like a shark, circling with cold intent.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean..”
“You chose your path. There is no changing it now. Be gone from here.” With a wave of his hand Tess was gone.
“What are you doing here?” Liz asked, her brow furrowed with anxiety.
“You know the answer to that. You accepted me here. You called and I came.” Kivar went still just watching. Waiting for her reaction.
“No, I don’t…” Liz stopped as his eyebrow arched.
“You recognize me now. You know me I have been with you for some time now. You know I will help you if you ask. The crystal, where is the crystal you used to destroy Tess?” Kivar switched subjects to keep her just slightly off balance. To keep her from asking him questions he did not want to answer.
“I don’t know. Max had it, I think,” Liz answered slowly trying to remember. “Why?”
“You need to find it and get rid of it. Permanently, destroy it, then she will not be able to reach you as easily as she does.”
“But Max said that-he was sure that the crystal would kill her.”
“And it did,” Kivar agreed. “But she left enough of herself behind to still have a presence, but here only. Get rid of the crystal.”
Liz nodded feeling the dream slipping away, knowing Max was sensing that something was wrong and was trying to reach her.
“You will have my protection if you should need it. If you call for me I will come.”
Liz sat up with a gasp reaching for her necklace but finding nothing. It was gone. When her fingers touched her skin she winced in pain. Looking down she saw a symbol burned into her skin, a raised scar still an angry red.
“Liz?” Max asked sleepily raising up onto his elbow to see her. “You have another nightmare?”
“I think it was more then that. Look,” Liz pointed to the raised symbol between her breasts.
He reached out and touched it, feeling a shock similar to static electricity he withdrew his hand. “Hurts?” Max asked seeing the tears in her eyes.
“I think I really messed up this time,” Liz whispered guilt bringing tears to her eyes.
Chapter 42
Chapter Forty Two
Hovering beside the bed Max found it impossible to stop even knowing that it wasn’t helping anything. He knew he should be on the phone to Cal but he couldn’t leave Liz. He was afraid to take his eye off of her, even for the few minutes it would take to order Cal back here.
Stroking back the silken tangle of her hair he absorbed every detail of her huddled form. The wet spikes of her lashes, moving restlessly every time her eyes moved under their closed lids, the way her fingers twitched slightly as if they were trying to hold onto something even in her sleep.
That was the real reason he couldn’t bring himself to leave her. Worry gnawed at him as he wondered what she was dreaming about. Should he wake her? Or let her sleep? She looked exhausted, wrung out from the events of the day and the emotional discussion that had dissected the turn things had taken there near the end.
Mulling over what she’d said only whipped up a near frenzy of thoughts and emotions cluttering his head, keeping him from focusing on any one thing long enough to think it through. He couldn’t get past his growing fears for her safety and expanding sense of powerlessness; bringing him back to a time he’d done his best to block from his mind completely.
Pulled from his rambling thoughts by Liz’s sudden movement he watched her uncurl her legs, shifting into her habitual sleeping position with her hands tucked beneath her pillow.
The breath he’d been unaware of holding eased out of him as the constriction gripping his chest eased. Picking up the phone he backed out of the room, leaving the door ajar just enough so he could see her from the hall, he dialed.
“Speak.”
“Langley, I need you back here, now,” Max said ignoring the gruff greeting.
“Kid, I’m a little busy,” Cal said impatiently, his eyes following the sudden spurt of traffic headed out into the dessert. “In case you didn’t notice your neighbors had a sudden urge to move-“
“I don’t care about that. Listen-“
“Then there’s the light show that’s stirring up some interest.”
“Shut up, I’m trying to tell you that we have a problem. Liz thinks that Khivar contacted her again. She’s got this symbol burned into her chest-“
Cal listened to Max’s rambling explanation with a growing sense of dread. Watching the sky through narrowed eyes he saw it differently with every word that tumbled out of Max’s mouth.
“This symbol, how did it get there?” Cal asked his tone abrupt to the point of curtness.
“I don’t-I’m not sure. I think it was her necklace. It’s disappeared now, I’ve looked and I can’t find it anywhere. I was going to talk to you about it in the morning because I thought that it might have burned both of us earlier, when I tried to bring Liz inside my protective shields. It was trapped between us and then-“
“This symbol, does it have an eye? Does it look like the eye of Ra?” Cal interrupted cutting Max off sharply. Inwardly he was cursing himself. He’d asked her if anyone had given her anything. Obviously he hadn’t asked the right questions.
“Eye of-I don’t-maybe, I didn’t think of that. It’s not that simple, it looks like several things overlaid on the same spot.”
“Cloaking it,” Cal mumbled to himself thinking hard. “Okay listen, stay with her until I can get there.” Rearranging his priorities quickly he decided that any repercussions from the light show would have to be dealt with another time. “What happened, exactly, when you both got burned? How sure are you that it was the necklace?”
“Pretty sure. The burns match the size and shape of the pendant exactly. I had just realized why Liz doesn’t have any shields of her own, I’m supposed to protect her with mine.”
Cal rolled his eyes feeling his resentment and anger rising to the surface once more. How many times had he tried to make Max see that? How many times had he tried to tell Max all the things he thought that he needed to know only to be ignored? Unless Max needed him to do something for him, then came the orders. Just like when he was Zan. Trampling down on his feelings he focused on Liz, listening to what Max was saying and trying to pick out the information he needed to help her.
“That’s when I felt it.”
“Okay, so you tried to expand your walls and couldn’t. But it burned you when you tried to draw Liz inside them. That about right?” Cal asked making sure he understood.
“Yes.”
“Okay, then she had the dream. Where Khivar came to her.”
“Right.”
“He’s grooming her would be my guess. You interfered so the necklace reacted, gave a clear warning but a minor one at first. Later it reacted more strongly. Why’s that?” Cal asked his voice devoid of feeling.
“I don’t-We were-I didn’t do anything major. We were just-“
“Getting closer?” Cal suggested helpfully.
“Ahhh.” Max tugged at his burning ear. “Actually she was sleeping at the exact moment that whatever happened with the necklace happened.”
“Uh-huh, got it.” Cal rolled his eyes again. If he were human he was sure he’d either have a headache or a major pain in his ass at this point, scratch that. He already had a giant pain in his ass in the form of Max Evans. “Like I said, Khivar’s grooming her. Any threat to that would cause a reaction.”
“What does that mean? Grooming her. Grooming her for what?” Max asked glancing in to see Liz in exactly the same position that he’d left her, relaxing only marginally seeing her undisturbed.
“What have I been saying all this time? Khivar’s not stupid. You left him a hole big enough to drive a truck through! The surprise isn’t that he did something, it’s that it took him this long to do it. Grooming her, that’s the term they use for pedophiles isn’t it? This isn’t so different. I mean that he gradually worked himself close to her, tested her over time until he found a way in. Put a tangible piece of himself right there next to her so whenever she needed something he’d know. He put himself so close that she got used to the feel of him there, touched him without knowing it, and grew to depend on him. In other words, he gave her what you couldn’t or wouldn’t, something to lean on.”
Cal waited for Max to say something. To defend himself by providing the usual list of excuses but he was suspiciously silent. He was still there, Cal could hear his breathing, a bit fast catching on the exhale almost like he was about to start crying. Shit, Cal’s eyes did another involuntary roll, this kid was killing him.
“How did I not know? Why didn’t I feel it? She doesn’t hide things from me, especially not something like this.” Max forced the words out, breaking out in a cold sweat, feeling his heart race unable to draw in enough air with the short choppy breaths that were all he could manage. No, he couldn’t panic, not now. Liz needed him to remain in control. He needed to hear this, to listen to whatever Cal had to say that could help.
“He made his own path to her. With you two in the state you’re in it was a pretty safe bet that you wouldn’t notice. I told you it was dangerous to allow the bond to stay the way it is. I told you to work on it but you wouldn’t listen.”
Feeling his anger getting away from him Cal paused, looking to the cold crisp light of the stars to remind of what he actually was in this equation, the role he had to play. “Look, you got your dream, Kid. Now it’s on you. Maybe this isn’t exactly what you thought it would be but the main thing is exactly the same. She chose you. The rest doesn’t change that one thing. Now you gotta try and do everything you can, every day, to make sure she chooses you again, that everyday she chooses you. Do you understand? It’s not all white roses and mariachi bands, you did that part, now it’s about all the little things. Making it work on a daily basis. Her instinct should be to lean on you first but it’s not. It’s to try and go it by herself, because you’ve been so shut down that you might as well not be there at all. That’s what got Khivar in the door. Don’t you get it? He knows what her habits are. He knows how her mind works and what her fears are. He can encourage those fears, play on those habits, and wait for just the right moment to bring her closer to him and further from you. Now you’re going to have work for it. It’s on you to keep your end of the bond open, to provide what it is that she’s looking for.”
“Yeah, okay, yeah I can do that,” Max responded nodding to himself to reaffirm the commitment he was making, had already made. “But will it help? It sounds like you’re saying that Khivar has formed some sort of bond to Liz.” Max was extremely careful not to say that Khivar had a bond WITH Liz. That wasn’t something he wanted to think about or even consider. “Is that what you’re saying?“
“If I had meant that they had a bond I would have said they had a bond. Liz would have to accept such a thing. She can’t be tricked into it. You didn’t trick her; she wanted to be bound to you. What you have is permanent, that’s not the case here. He’s put himself in a position to feel her, it’s not something she sought out or agreed to. He’s forced this thing on her, that’s why she’s so afraid of it. It’s also why he’s going about this the way that he is. Because he knows she wouldn’t choose this, so he’s trying to confuse her, turn her around until she’s off balance and doesn’t know what the truth is anymore. You need to help her remember what’s real, you understand?”
“Yes,” Max said his voice ringing clear, gaining strength. “Yes, I understand.”
“Good, now for once, do as I say. Stay with her. He’ll try to contact her as often as he can from now until I can straighten this out. He’s already agreed to meet with us. I’m about forty-five minutes away. When I get there we’ll talk.”
Cal hung up with his usual abruptness, his thoughts already five steps ahead of where he was. Already dialing as he got into the car he did what he knew he was best at, pulling everything together behind the scenes.
******
Liz scrubbed at her eyes hardly able to lift them she was so tired. Forcing herself to sit upright wincing as she tried hard to focus, confused.
The reddish glow cast by the candles around her balcony played tricks with her eyesight. Blinking to bring things into focus she thought she saw movement over by the window.
Wait. Something wasn’t right. She didn’t remember falling asleep out here. The last thing she remembered was….
“Poor little Lizzie. So confused.”
Jumping at the sound of someone else’s voice she jerked her head toward the wall, the too quick movement causing her vision to swim. Pressing her hand to her abdomen against phantom pain she swung her legs to the ground looking up at Tess and trying to figure out what was going on. She felt like she’d walked into the middle of a conversation, one where she should know what it was all about but didn’t.
Tess smiled sweetly, almost angelically, before turning back to the brick wall where she resumed her study of the glowing heart and it’s contents.
“That’s so sweet isn’t it? It makes me feel….almost sick to my stomach.” Tess traced each of the letters with her finger, extinguishing the light as she went along. “There. All done.”
Liz watched silently struggling to put her finger on the wrongness that was plaguing her. The sense of not belonging here was strong.
“What are you doing on my balcony?” Liz asked, very sure about one thing. She would never invite Tess here. This was her place.
Tess smiled at the question amused. “You don’t know?”
“No, I-“ Liz stopped to press the heel of her hand to the worsening pain in her lower abdomen. Something was familiar about this. Fear made her heart beat faster and left a coppery taste in her mouth. “What did you do?”
“It’ll be better soon. You’ll be fine,” Tess dismissed her question with a wave of her hand, frankly unconcerned. “Calm down.”
“Calm down?” Liz asked getting pissed. “What are you even doing here?”
“Yes, calm down or he’ll come here and I don’t think you want that? Do you?”
Again feeling like she’d missed half of the conversation Liz frowned. “Who? Max?”
Tess rolled her eyes. “Yeah, sure, Max. Get a clue, Liz. Max’s busy. He’s not interested in your problems. What does he have to do for you to get that?”
Liz felt the sting of tears coming to her eyes but blinked them away. She was really starting to think something was wrong with her. She’d been a little sick lately but this was actual pain. Almost like those few minutes before Max had healed her gunshot wound. “No,” Liz whispered, two thoughts standing out in her mind. That even though he was angry with her about Alex if he thought she was sick he’d make the time for her. But also strangely enough there was the second thought. That this wasn’t real.
“You just never get it.” Tess ranted, pacing in long angry strides back and forth in front of her. “I’m tired of explaining things, Liz. You’re supposed to be the smart one! This,” Tess flung her arms wide. “Already happened. Old news got it? The pain you’re feeling is just in your head. Why you chose this dream I have no idea, but you did. So here we are. But I have more important things to talk about then ancient history.”
“You can’t listen to him, Liz. He just wants to hurt you understand? Hurt Max through you, right?”
Liz caught herself as she started to nod. Agreeing with Tess was a bad thing. Wasn’t it? Tess hurt her, and hurt Max. That was what she had to remember. But hurt her how?
“Poor little Breeder,” Tess cooed moving to stroke her hair gently. “So confused about her purpose. Let me show you what you’re good for.”
Stumbling as Tess grabbed her arm and started dragging her toward the window to her bedroom Liz yelped at the sudden stab of pain.
“Look!” Tess shoved her at the opening, holding her arms to prevent her from turning away.
Liz gasp, forgetting all about the pain in her abdomen, as what she was seeing finally registered.
“That’s what you are to him, Liz.”
Liz’s mouth opened to respond but no words came.
“I want to slide my tongue into you.” Max panted.
“No,” Liz gasp out working her hips back against him faster. “Not now. Just….harder. Please, right now. Right there!”
Wrenching out of Tess’s grip Liz spun around and hit her in the face with her clenched fist.
“Touchy much?” Tess asked smiling as she wiped at the trickle of blood at the corner of her mouth.
Shaking with rage and something she didn’t want to look at too closely Liz shoved Tess hard, blocking out the sounds coming from her room. The oddity of these two moments weren’t lost on her. “You’re not ruining my life anymore, Tess. You’re full of shit! Breeder, why do you keep calling me that? Just because of what you did to me? Because it’s not going to work! That’s not me. It’s not Max either. If you hadn’t taken a pin and..”
“Keep telling yourself that, Liz,” Tess smirked, more of her true nature leaking out to replace the façade of sweetness. “Maybe someday you’ll even believe it.”
Strolling over to the edge of the balcony she pushed one of the candles off the ledge and hopped up. “I call you a Breeder because that’s what you are. Ask Max what he thinks. He had one on Antar too.”
The sudden bloom of renewed pain in her abdomen stole her breath and her ability to respond to Tess’s taunts.
“It’s not that bad. Looks like you enjoy your work.”
“It’s not about that,” Liz whispered. “I mean sure, we have kids but…”
Tess shook her head sending her curls dancing. “That’s not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about the fact that you can’t stay away from him. You couldn’t then and now…Well, you seem to want to make up for any lost time.”
“That’s not true! We didn’t…..for like years.”
“Riiight,” Tess drawled rolling her eyes. “That’s a lie. It wasn’t that long before Max had you on your couch. Don’t lie to yourself, Liz. You may have freaked out about it each and time but it still happened. And why is that anyway? You freaking out like that?”
Liz absently pressed her hand to her middle short of breath and avoiding Tess’s eyes.
“Maybe it’s because you know the truth.”
Liz shook her head no.
“Maybe, despite what you say, you know your role. He wants you for the same thing ya know.”
“He being?” Liz asked feeling the sinking inside her.
“Khivar, Liz,” Tess answered seriously. “What do you think he calls you?”
“K’liusi’s.”
Liz flinched hunching over around the pain tearing through her.
“What do you think that means? It’s the Antarian word for Breeder.”
Liz awakened with a gasp flinching away from the morning light streaming across the bed. Lifting a shaking hand to her forehead, finding it slick with sweat. Breathing heavy and feeling like she’d run a marathon she uncurled her cramped legs.
Slowly she lifted her shirt to run her fingertips over the echo of pain that had followed her into the waking world.
“Mom! Mom!” Erin yelled bursting into the room and jumping onto the bed. “You wake now?”
Smiling Liz twisted her hair into a coil and tossed it over her shoulder and out of her way, opening her arms to her daughter. “Yeah, baby.”
“Good cause everyone’s waiting. I been wait’in forever!” Erin proclaimed feeling better, safer, wrapped in her mother’s arms.
Seeing Noah hugging the doorway she motioned him in, her smile freer when he rushed across the room, bouncing as he hit the bed. “How was staying with your Aunt Isabel? Did you guys have fun?”
“Yeah! Pepe ate Aunt Izzy’s shoe! And den he licked her on da mouth when she tell him he’s bad!” Erin rattled off, moving over to make room for Noah.
Liz laughed picturing the look on Isabel’s face.
Noah relaxed then, scooting closer and forgetting the tension that had gripped him all night long. The future was still going to happen but not right this second.
*****
Walking into the kitchen fresh from her shower Liz tried to shake off any lingering feelings that had piggy backed their way out of her dreams.
Grabbing a glass from the cabinet she listened to the rise and fall of voices from the living room.
Walking up behind her Max slipped his arms around her waist kissing the side of her neck. “Morning Sleepyhead.”
“Morning.” Liz replied trying not to tense up.
Isabel rounded the corner and stopped, easing back far enough so they wouldn’t see her.
“You okay?” Max asked his hands slipping under her shirt to rub absently over her belly.
“Yeah, yes fine,” Liz answered ducking under his arm and moving casually away from direct body contact.
“Cal said to let you sleep. You’re not mad are you?”
“No,” Liz shook her head. “I was really….out of it. It’s fine.”
Max watched her pour some juice, looking for something to give him some sort of queue on how he should act. “Well, um, Cal’s next door. Said I should come and get him when you woke up.”
“Okay,” Liz agreed.
Eyeing her, suspicious when she didn’t ask what Cal was doing next door, he decided to confront the issue. “You’re freaking out about last night, aren’t you?”
“No!” Liz almost yelled, taking a sip of juice to stall for time before continuing at a more reasonable volume. “I’m just-so much happened last night and I’m just-taking it all in still, I think. What happened with us was-is-nice, great even.”
“Uh-huh,” Max nodded skeptically. “So what we did was nice.”
Liz glanced up at his tone. “Wasn’t it?”
“Yes, it was. It was really, really nice. As long as you’re okay with it.”
“I’m so okay,” Liz teased rising up out of her chair, going to him, wrapping her arms around him and pressing her face into his chest. Closing her eyes when he held her back.
Resting his chin on the top of her head he tried to glean something from their connection but what he got was so scattered and confused it wasn’t much help. It wasn’t until she kissed him that he chose to believe her words, letting his happiness break free.
Isabel watched, saw the joy on Max’s face and the way he practically bounced out the back door, but she also saw Liz.
“So, Max looks happy today,” Isabel commented dragging Liz’s attention from her contemplation of the floor.
“Yeah,” Liz agreed forcing a happy chirp into her voice.
“I guess I have you to thank for that.” Isabel watched as she ducked her head, hiding her eyes. Liz never could lie for shit. Pretending wasn’t really her bag either.
Liz tucked her hair behind her ears nervously, looking around and not meeting Isabel’s gaze. She wasn’t up for the thank you for having sex with my brother conversation. Not today. This was the downside to having a sibling so involved in things that should be private. The creep out factor alone was huge.
“Your welcome doesn’t seem to be an appropriate response,” Liz drawled.
Isabel grinned relieved when Liz finally met her eye. “It doesn’t does it? You can however thank me for not murdering that rat you call a dog.”
Liz gave a shaky laugh relieved that Isabel wasn’t pushing. That relief was short lived.
“Are you really okay, Liz?” Isabel asked unable to keep from asking. “You can tell me, you know. That’s what I’m here for, to listen from a girl’s point of view. One that will just listen, if you need for me to.”
“It’s nothing really. I just had this dream and it-threw me, I guess. It’s nothing that Max did, he was great-is great. I’m not going to let it bother me.”
Isabel was about to respond when she saw Max and Cal walking across the yard. “Later, we’re going to talk.”
Liz rolled her eyes but it lost its effect since she was smiling with a mixture of relief and gratitude.
Hovering beside the bed Max found it impossible to stop even knowing that it wasn’t helping anything. He knew he should be on the phone to Cal but he couldn’t leave Liz. He was afraid to take his eye off of her, even for the few minutes it would take to order Cal back here.
Stroking back the silken tangle of her hair he absorbed every detail of her huddled form. The wet spikes of her lashes, moving restlessly every time her eyes moved under their closed lids, the way her fingers twitched slightly as if they were trying to hold onto something even in her sleep.
That was the real reason he couldn’t bring himself to leave her. Worry gnawed at him as he wondered what she was dreaming about. Should he wake her? Or let her sleep? She looked exhausted, wrung out from the events of the day and the emotional discussion that had dissected the turn things had taken there near the end.
Mulling over what she’d said only whipped up a near frenzy of thoughts and emotions cluttering his head, keeping him from focusing on any one thing long enough to think it through. He couldn’t get past his growing fears for her safety and expanding sense of powerlessness; bringing him back to a time he’d done his best to block from his mind completely.
Pulled from his rambling thoughts by Liz’s sudden movement he watched her uncurl her legs, shifting into her habitual sleeping position with her hands tucked beneath her pillow.
The breath he’d been unaware of holding eased out of him as the constriction gripping his chest eased. Picking up the phone he backed out of the room, leaving the door ajar just enough so he could see her from the hall, he dialed.
“Speak.”
“Langley, I need you back here, now,” Max said ignoring the gruff greeting.
“Kid, I’m a little busy,” Cal said impatiently, his eyes following the sudden spurt of traffic headed out into the dessert. “In case you didn’t notice your neighbors had a sudden urge to move-“
“I don’t care about that. Listen-“
“Then there’s the light show that’s stirring up some interest.”
“Shut up, I’m trying to tell you that we have a problem. Liz thinks that Khivar contacted her again. She’s got this symbol burned into her chest-“
Cal listened to Max’s rambling explanation with a growing sense of dread. Watching the sky through narrowed eyes he saw it differently with every word that tumbled out of Max’s mouth.
“This symbol, how did it get there?” Cal asked his tone abrupt to the point of curtness.
“I don’t-I’m not sure. I think it was her necklace. It’s disappeared now, I’ve looked and I can’t find it anywhere. I was going to talk to you about it in the morning because I thought that it might have burned both of us earlier, when I tried to bring Liz inside my protective shields. It was trapped between us and then-“
“This symbol, does it have an eye? Does it look like the eye of Ra?” Cal interrupted cutting Max off sharply. Inwardly he was cursing himself. He’d asked her if anyone had given her anything. Obviously he hadn’t asked the right questions.
“Eye of-I don’t-maybe, I didn’t think of that. It’s not that simple, it looks like several things overlaid on the same spot.”
“Cloaking it,” Cal mumbled to himself thinking hard. “Okay listen, stay with her until I can get there.” Rearranging his priorities quickly he decided that any repercussions from the light show would have to be dealt with another time. “What happened, exactly, when you both got burned? How sure are you that it was the necklace?”
“Pretty sure. The burns match the size and shape of the pendant exactly. I had just realized why Liz doesn’t have any shields of her own, I’m supposed to protect her with mine.”
Cal rolled his eyes feeling his resentment and anger rising to the surface once more. How many times had he tried to make Max see that? How many times had he tried to tell Max all the things he thought that he needed to know only to be ignored? Unless Max needed him to do something for him, then came the orders. Just like when he was Zan. Trampling down on his feelings he focused on Liz, listening to what Max was saying and trying to pick out the information he needed to help her.
“That’s when I felt it.”
“Okay, so you tried to expand your walls and couldn’t. But it burned you when you tried to draw Liz inside them. That about right?” Cal asked making sure he understood.
“Yes.”
“Okay, then she had the dream. Where Khivar came to her.”
“Right.”
“He’s grooming her would be my guess. You interfered so the necklace reacted, gave a clear warning but a minor one at first. Later it reacted more strongly. Why’s that?” Cal asked his voice devoid of feeling.
“I don’t-We were-I didn’t do anything major. We were just-“
“Getting closer?” Cal suggested helpfully.
“Ahhh.” Max tugged at his burning ear. “Actually she was sleeping at the exact moment that whatever happened with the necklace happened.”
“Uh-huh, got it.” Cal rolled his eyes again. If he were human he was sure he’d either have a headache or a major pain in his ass at this point, scratch that. He already had a giant pain in his ass in the form of Max Evans. “Like I said, Khivar’s grooming her. Any threat to that would cause a reaction.”
“What does that mean? Grooming her. Grooming her for what?” Max asked glancing in to see Liz in exactly the same position that he’d left her, relaxing only marginally seeing her undisturbed.
“What have I been saying all this time? Khivar’s not stupid. You left him a hole big enough to drive a truck through! The surprise isn’t that he did something, it’s that it took him this long to do it. Grooming her, that’s the term they use for pedophiles isn’t it? This isn’t so different. I mean that he gradually worked himself close to her, tested her over time until he found a way in. Put a tangible piece of himself right there next to her so whenever she needed something he’d know. He put himself so close that she got used to the feel of him there, touched him without knowing it, and grew to depend on him. In other words, he gave her what you couldn’t or wouldn’t, something to lean on.”
Cal waited for Max to say something. To defend himself by providing the usual list of excuses but he was suspiciously silent. He was still there, Cal could hear his breathing, a bit fast catching on the exhale almost like he was about to start crying. Shit, Cal’s eyes did another involuntary roll, this kid was killing him.
“How did I not know? Why didn’t I feel it? She doesn’t hide things from me, especially not something like this.” Max forced the words out, breaking out in a cold sweat, feeling his heart race unable to draw in enough air with the short choppy breaths that were all he could manage. No, he couldn’t panic, not now. Liz needed him to remain in control. He needed to hear this, to listen to whatever Cal had to say that could help.
“He made his own path to her. With you two in the state you’re in it was a pretty safe bet that you wouldn’t notice. I told you it was dangerous to allow the bond to stay the way it is. I told you to work on it but you wouldn’t listen.”
Feeling his anger getting away from him Cal paused, looking to the cold crisp light of the stars to remind of what he actually was in this equation, the role he had to play. “Look, you got your dream, Kid. Now it’s on you. Maybe this isn’t exactly what you thought it would be but the main thing is exactly the same. She chose you. The rest doesn’t change that one thing. Now you gotta try and do everything you can, every day, to make sure she chooses you again, that everyday she chooses you. Do you understand? It’s not all white roses and mariachi bands, you did that part, now it’s about all the little things. Making it work on a daily basis. Her instinct should be to lean on you first but it’s not. It’s to try and go it by herself, because you’ve been so shut down that you might as well not be there at all. That’s what got Khivar in the door. Don’t you get it? He knows what her habits are. He knows how her mind works and what her fears are. He can encourage those fears, play on those habits, and wait for just the right moment to bring her closer to him and further from you. Now you’re going to have work for it. It’s on you to keep your end of the bond open, to provide what it is that she’s looking for.”
“Yeah, okay, yeah I can do that,” Max responded nodding to himself to reaffirm the commitment he was making, had already made. “But will it help? It sounds like you’re saying that Khivar has formed some sort of bond to Liz.” Max was extremely careful not to say that Khivar had a bond WITH Liz. That wasn’t something he wanted to think about or even consider. “Is that what you’re saying?“
“If I had meant that they had a bond I would have said they had a bond. Liz would have to accept such a thing. She can’t be tricked into it. You didn’t trick her; she wanted to be bound to you. What you have is permanent, that’s not the case here. He’s put himself in a position to feel her, it’s not something she sought out or agreed to. He’s forced this thing on her, that’s why she’s so afraid of it. It’s also why he’s going about this the way that he is. Because he knows she wouldn’t choose this, so he’s trying to confuse her, turn her around until she’s off balance and doesn’t know what the truth is anymore. You need to help her remember what’s real, you understand?”
“Yes,” Max said his voice ringing clear, gaining strength. “Yes, I understand.”
“Good, now for once, do as I say. Stay with her. He’ll try to contact her as often as he can from now until I can straighten this out. He’s already agreed to meet with us. I’m about forty-five minutes away. When I get there we’ll talk.”
Cal hung up with his usual abruptness, his thoughts already five steps ahead of where he was. Already dialing as he got into the car he did what he knew he was best at, pulling everything together behind the scenes.
******
Liz scrubbed at her eyes hardly able to lift them she was so tired. Forcing herself to sit upright wincing as she tried hard to focus, confused.
The reddish glow cast by the candles around her balcony played tricks with her eyesight. Blinking to bring things into focus she thought she saw movement over by the window.
Wait. Something wasn’t right. She didn’t remember falling asleep out here. The last thing she remembered was….
“Poor little Lizzie. So confused.”
Jumping at the sound of someone else’s voice she jerked her head toward the wall, the too quick movement causing her vision to swim. Pressing her hand to her abdomen against phantom pain she swung her legs to the ground looking up at Tess and trying to figure out what was going on. She felt like she’d walked into the middle of a conversation, one where she should know what it was all about but didn’t.
Tess smiled sweetly, almost angelically, before turning back to the brick wall where she resumed her study of the glowing heart and it’s contents.
“That’s so sweet isn’t it? It makes me feel….almost sick to my stomach.” Tess traced each of the letters with her finger, extinguishing the light as she went along. “There. All done.”
Liz watched silently struggling to put her finger on the wrongness that was plaguing her. The sense of not belonging here was strong.
“What are you doing on my balcony?” Liz asked, very sure about one thing. She would never invite Tess here. This was her place.
Tess smiled at the question amused. “You don’t know?”
“No, I-“ Liz stopped to press the heel of her hand to the worsening pain in her lower abdomen. Something was familiar about this. Fear made her heart beat faster and left a coppery taste in her mouth. “What did you do?”
“It’ll be better soon. You’ll be fine,” Tess dismissed her question with a wave of her hand, frankly unconcerned. “Calm down.”
“Calm down?” Liz asked getting pissed. “What are you even doing here?”
“Yes, calm down or he’ll come here and I don’t think you want that? Do you?”
Again feeling like she’d missed half of the conversation Liz frowned. “Who? Max?”
Tess rolled her eyes. “Yeah, sure, Max. Get a clue, Liz. Max’s busy. He’s not interested in your problems. What does he have to do for you to get that?”
Liz felt the sting of tears coming to her eyes but blinked them away. She was really starting to think something was wrong with her. She’d been a little sick lately but this was actual pain. Almost like those few minutes before Max had healed her gunshot wound. “No,” Liz whispered, two thoughts standing out in her mind. That even though he was angry with her about Alex if he thought she was sick he’d make the time for her. But also strangely enough there was the second thought. That this wasn’t real.
“You just never get it.” Tess ranted, pacing in long angry strides back and forth in front of her. “I’m tired of explaining things, Liz. You’re supposed to be the smart one! This,” Tess flung her arms wide. “Already happened. Old news got it? The pain you’re feeling is just in your head. Why you chose this dream I have no idea, but you did. So here we are. But I have more important things to talk about then ancient history.”
“You can’t listen to him, Liz. He just wants to hurt you understand? Hurt Max through you, right?”
Liz caught herself as she started to nod. Agreeing with Tess was a bad thing. Wasn’t it? Tess hurt her, and hurt Max. That was what she had to remember. But hurt her how?
“Poor little Breeder,” Tess cooed moving to stroke her hair gently. “So confused about her purpose. Let me show you what you’re good for.”
Stumbling as Tess grabbed her arm and started dragging her toward the window to her bedroom Liz yelped at the sudden stab of pain.
“Look!” Tess shoved her at the opening, holding her arms to prevent her from turning away.
Liz gasp, forgetting all about the pain in her abdomen, as what she was seeing finally registered.
“That’s what you are to him, Liz.”
Liz’s mouth opened to respond but no words came.
“I want to slide my tongue into you.” Max panted.
“No,” Liz gasp out working her hips back against him faster. “Not now. Just….harder. Please, right now. Right there!”
Wrenching out of Tess’s grip Liz spun around and hit her in the face with her clenched fist.
“Touchy much?” Tess asked smiling as she wiped at the trickle of blood at the corner of her mouth.
Shaking with rage and something she didn’t want to look at too closely Liz shoved Tess hard, blocking out the sounds coming from her room. The oddity of these two moments weren’t lost on her. “You’re not ruining my life anymore, Tess. You’re full of shit! Breeder, why do you keep calling me that? Just because of what you did to me? Because it’s not going to work! That’s not me. It’s not Max either. If you hadn’t taken a pin and..”
“Keep telling yourself that, Liz,” Tess smirked, more of her true nature leaking out to replace the façade of sweetness. “Maybe someday you’ll even believe it.”
Strolling over to the edge of the balcony she pushed one of the candles off the ledge and hopped up. “I call you a Breeder because that’s what you are. Ask Max what he thinks. He had one on Antar too.”
The sudden bloom of renewed pain in her abdomen stole her breath and her ability to respond to Tess’s taunts.
“It’s not that bad. Looks like you enjoy your work.”
“It’s not about that,” Liz whispered. “I mean sure, we have kids but…”
Tess shook her head sending her curls dancing. “That’s not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about the fact that you can’t stay away from him. You couldn’t then and now…Well, you seem to want to make up for any lost time.”
“That’s not true! We didn’t…..for like years.”
“Riiight,” Tess drawled rolling her eyes. “That’s a lie. It wasn’t that long before Max had you on your couch. Don’t lie to yourself, Liz. You may have freaked out about it each and time but it still happened. And why is that anyway? You freaking out like that?”
Liz absently pressed her hand to her middle short of breath and avoiding Tess’s eyes.
“Maybe it’s because you know the truth.”
Liz shook her head no.
“Maybe, despite what you say, you know your role. He wants you for the same thing ya know.”
“He being?” Liz asked feeling the sinking inside her.
“Khivar, Liz,” Tess answered seriously. “What do you think he calls you?”
“K’liusi’s.”
Liz flinched hunching over around the pain tearing through her.
“What do you think that means? It’s the Antarian word for Breeder.”
Liz awakened with a gasp flinching away from the morning light streaming across the bed. Lifting a shaking hand to her forehead, finding it slick with sweat. Breathing heavy and feeling like she’d run a marathon she uncurled her cramped legs.
Slowly she lifted her shirt to run her fingertips over the echo of pain that had followed her into the waking world.
“Mom! Mom!” Erin yelled bursting into the room and jumping onto the bed. “You wake now?”
Smiling Liz twisted her hair into a coil and tossed it over her shoulder and out of her way, opening her arms to her daughter. “Yeah, baby.”
“Good cause everyone’s waiting. I been wait’in forever!” Erin proclaimed feeling better, safer, wrapped in her mother’s arms.
Seeing Noah hugging the doorway she motioned him in, her smile freer when he rushed across the room, bouncing as he hit the bed. “How was staying with your Aunt Isabel? Did you guys have fun?”
“Yeah! Pepe ate Aunt Izzy’s shoe! And den he licked her on da mouth when she tell him he’s bad!” Erin rattled off, moving over to make room for Noah.
Liz laughed picturing the look on Isabel’s face.
Noah relaxed then, scooting closer and forgetting the tension that had gripped him all night long. The future was still going to happen but not right this second.
*****
Walking into the kitchen fresh from her shower Liz tried to shake off any lingering feelings that had piggy backed their way out of her dreams.
Grabbing a glass from the cabinet she listened to the rise and fall of voices from the living room.
Walking up behind her Max slipped his arms around her waist kissing the side of her neck. “Morning Sleepyhead.”
“Morning.” Liz replied trying not to tense up.
Isabel rounded the corner and stopped, easing back far enough so they wouldn’t see her.
“You okay?” Max asked his hands slipping under her shirt to rub absently over her belly.
“Yeah, yes fine,” Liz answered ducking under his arm and moving casually away from direct body contact.
“Cal said to let you sleep. You’re not mad are you?”
“No,” Liz shook her head. “I was really….out of it. It’s fine.”
Max watched her pour some juice, looking for something to give him some sort of queue on how he should act. “Well, um, Cal’s next door. Said I should come and get him when you woke up.”
“Okay,” Liz agreed.
Eyeing her, suspicious when she didn’t ask what Cal was doing next door, he decided to confront the issue. “You’re freaking out about last night, aren’t you?”
“No!” Liz almost yelled, taking a sip of juice to stall for time before continuing at a more reasonable volume. “I’m just-so much happened last night and I’m just-taking it all in still, I think. What happened with us was-is-nice, great even.”
“Uh-huh,” Max nodded skeptically. “So what we did was nice.”
Liz glanced up at his tone. “Wasn’t it?”
“Yes, it was. It was really, really nice. As long as you’re okay with it.”
“I’m so okay,” Liz teased rising up out of her chair, going to him, wrapping her arms around him and pressing her face into his chest. Closing her eyes when he held her back.
Resting his chin on the top of her head he tried to glean something from their connection but what he got was so scattered and confused it wasn’t much help. It wasn’t until she kissed him that he chose to believe her words, letting his happiness break free.
Isabel watched, saw the joy on Max’s face and the way he practically bounced out the back door, but she also saw Liz.
“So, Max looks happy today,” Isabel commented dragging Liz’s attention from her contemplation of the floor.
“Yeah,” Liz agreed forcing a happy chirp into her voice.
“I guess I have you to thank for that.” Isabel watched as she ducked her head, hiding her eyes. Liz never could lie for shit. Pretending wasn’t really her bag either.
Liz tucked her hair behind her ears nervously, looking around and not meeting Isabel’s gaze. She wasn’t up for the thank you for having sex with my brother conversation. Not today. This was the downside to having a sibling so involved in things that should be private. The creep out factor alone was huge.
“Your welcome doesn’t seem to be an appropriate response,” Liz drawled.
Isabel grinned relieved when Liz finally met her eye. “It doesn’t does it? You can however thank me for not murdering that rat you call a dog.”
Liz gave a shaky laugh relieved that Isabel wasn’t pushing. That relief was short lived.
“Are you really okay, Liz?” Isabel asked unable to keep from asking. “You can tell me, you know. That’s what I’m here for, to listen from a girl’s point of view. One that will just listen, if you need for me to.”
“It’s nothing really. I just had this dream and it-threw me, I guess. It’s nothing that Max did, he was great-is great. I’m not going to let it bother me.”
Isabel was about to respond when she saw Max and Cal walking across the yard. “Later, we’re going to talk.”
Liz rolled her eyes but it lost its effect since she was smiling with a mixture of relief and gratitude.
New part
Chapter Forty Three
Coming in the back door Cal watched Liz turn away from Isabel, noticing the way her whole body tensed for a split second before she slid her hands into her back pockets and forced herself to relax.
“Sleep okay, Kitten?” Cal asked still studying her closely.
“Umm, about the same,” Liz supplied her eyes seeking Max’s over Cal’s shoulder.
Cal replied with a noncommittal noise bothered by her stilted evasive response but not exactly surprised by it.
Liz sighed, shifting her focus back to Cal. “Nothing out of the ordinary, okay?”
“So you think that things being burned into your chest isn’t anything out of the ordinary.”
“That’s not what I said. You asked how I slept.”
“I thought that happened while you were sleeping. Max? Did I misunderstand?” Cal asked without looking at Max.
Isabel whistled silently. She hadn’t seen Cal this upset with Liz since….well, never actually. Not like this.
“I thought you were asking me about after-I thought Max told you-“ Liz started but was abruptly cut off by Cal.
“I want you to tell me. I need to know everything if I’m to be of any help to you. I’m only trying to help.”
“I know,” Liz whispered suitably chastised. She didn’t take offense to Cal’s tone or his words, she knew he was just upset. He always got colder, more clipped in tone and manner, when he was struggling to hide his emotions, because unlike Nesado he did have them. “I’m sorry it’s just that it’s really not new. I’ve been having dreams like this since-since Tess mindwarped me.”
Pulling her hands from her pockets Liz moved to the counter. Picking up the discarded dishtowel she folded it carefully and hung it back up where it belonged. Turning back to Cal she smiled remembering all the nights he’d eased her mind when she’d run to him because Noah had sneezed, or he was running another fever, or he wasn’t sleeping. He’d checked on the twins every night when they’d lived with him, on his own, just to be sure. He’d checked on her too. Closing her book every time she’d fallen sleep reading, or walking Erin back and forth all night to ease her crying every time Noah was sick, or just driving them around and around Los Angles until both the twins were asleep in their car seats. He didn’t do it because she’d asked him to, Max hadn’t told him to either, he’d just done it.
“When it was something more then the usual stuff I spoke up.”
“No, you didn’t,” Cal said softly moving closer to force her to hold his eyes. “You called out, you didn’t speak up.”
“That’s not fair,” Liz whispered. “I didn’t know-it was as bad as it was. I swear I didn’t. It wasn’t like Kivar was coming to me every night and I didn’t say anything. I told Max about the dreams, maybe not every detail but the details change, they aren’t the important part. I told him the theme of the dreams and I never hid the fact that I had nightmares.”
“She did tell me,” Max spoke up not flinching from Cal’s hard flat stare. “We discussed it a long time ago but it seemed like normal stuff. We both have a few nightmares left over from that time. I didn’t think it was strange for Liz to have a couple a week after what she went through.”
“Didn’t either of you think that maybe you should have told me? How can I do my job if I don’t know what’s going on?”
“So now you actually want me to call on you?” Max demanded instantly irritated. How was this helping?
“Look, if you wanted someone to do the job better then you should have picked someone who wanted the job. A volunteer, not someone you had to force into the role through genetic programming.”
Isabel quickly stepped between Max and Cal before another round of the same old argument could heat up any further. “This isn’t helping. Who did what isn’t the point at the moment. Arguing about who’s to blame isn’t going to fix anything so lets focus on what to do about the current situation.”
“Liz! Come here!” Maria’s shout from the living room cut off any more discussion.
“What is it?” Liz called already on her way to the doorway.
“You’re on TV!” Maria called back.
Liz cast a confused glance at Max who bypassed Cal, reaching her side in three long strides, ushering her in to take a seat on the floor in front of the television. Isabel and Cal trailed after them silently.
“What are you talking about, Maria? That looks like the desert to me,” Liz asked confused.
“It is,” Maria answered only to be cut off by Michael.
“Just wait till they to the view from the chopper,” Michael said gruffly hoping to hear the rest of the news report.
Liz barely listened to the reporter talking about the storm last night, the freak lightening strikes that had repeatedly struck the ground outside of Roswell creating this amazing display for which there seemed to be no explanation. Instead she was trying to figure out what the reporter was standing in front of, it was sparkling in the sun, and then they switched to the reporter circling the site from above in the news helicopter.
“See?” Maria pointed.
“Oh my god,” Isabel whispered seeing exactly what Maria was talking about.
“That’s the pod chamber, Max.” Michael said grimly leaning forward, intently studying the screen as the camera showed more of the area surrounding the site before focusing once again on the point of the report.
“The repeated lightening strikes turned sand into glass. What no one can explain is how random strikes of lightening could create this,” The reporter gestured behind him. “From the air it seems form a picture of remarkable detail. Who is this woman? What are those symbols framing the edges? Was this portrait formed by nature or something else? Officials are studying the site for answers. Back to you, Carla.”
“Thanks Tom. That’s something isn’t it Jim?” The generically attractive anchorwoman turned to her co-anchor with a bright plastic smile.
Cal’s craggy face was utterly blank, his eyes cold beneath jutting brows. The only sign of the great turmoil within were the slowly bulging muscles of his jaw, tensing and relaxing again and again, holding back the obscenities that wanted to spew from his lips. Fear and impotent rage flooded him as he watched the stakes rising faster then he could formulate a plan of action. He hated being outmaneuvered.
“It really is you, Liz,” Isabel whispered perching on the arm of the couch next to Michael. “Right down to the scar above your eye.”
“No, Isabel, that doesn’t look anything like me,” Liz disagreed scooting closer to Max without thinking about it. “It could be anyone.”
Slipping his arm around her Max pulled her between his legs taking comfort from the way she leaned against his chest. “What does it say, Cal?”
“It declares Liz royalty, afforded all the protection that entails. It says that any hostile action towards her will be considered an act of war against Antar as a whole. It says she has an advocate, which is in accordance to Council law for all potential Seers and is therefore inviolate.”
Max felt Liz’s breath shudder out of her and wrapped his arms around her hugging her closer.
“Why? Why is he doing this?” Liz asked unable to look away from the TV screen.
“I don’t know but I intend to ask him,” Cal’s answer grated out through clenched teeth.
“What does k’liusi mean?” Liz asked turning her head to look at Cal.
“Where did you hear that?” Cal asked startled.
“Tess. What does it mean?” Liz repeated as Max’s arms fell away from her.
“It depends on who you ask,” Cal replied shooting Max a pointed look.
“I’m asking you,” Liz said feeling Max stiffen at her back as Cal’s jaw started flexing like he wanted to answer but wasn’t able to. “Max?” Turning around she glanced between him and Cal waiting for one of them to say something. “She always calls me a breeder. I thought that it was because of…she said that Kivar-k’liusi means breeder doesn’t it?”
Cal struggled against his programming, sweating as he tried to force out an answer. Shooting Max a look fueled by rage he grunted before turning away.
“Max, tell me,” Liz said softly.
“Sometimes it does, but it means so much more then that, Liz.” Max felt exposed by her steady stare and had to resist the urge to squirm. “A breeder was assigned to certain royals, to provide the heir. They were chosen carefully to ensure the genetic superiority of the offspring. The slang term some used was k’liusi, taken from an old legend.”
“I see,” Liz nodded.
“What does this have to do with our current problem,” Michael demanded. “We’re on the News now. I think that’s a little more serious then what insult someone used when talking to you, Liz.”
“It’s not an insult,” Cal broke in, finding his voice. “Not everyone thinks of it that way.”
“Sure sounds like an insult to me,” Maria muttered.
“That’s why Kivar left that message isn’t it?” Liz asked looking to Cal. “Max and I aren’t married so I’m just….breeders weren’t royalty right? More like a servant. So no big deal if something happened to them, another one could be found. It’s also why he used that word, inviolate. He’s trying to say I have real status. Isn’t he?”
“That’s one possibility,” Cal agreed.
“He’s also outing you to the whole planet,” Michael pointed out loudly.
“Anyone who cares would already know who I am by now.” Liz’s thoughts raced comparing what Tess had said to what Kivar had told her.
“You’re forgetting that we’re surrounded by humans who have no idea who’s living among them. That some of us aren’t human. This little display will draw all kinds of attention. That isn’t something we want right now,” Michael reminded them.
“We can’t do anything about that now,” Isabel pointed out dryly.
“Liz?” Max leaned forward to whisper into her ear.
“I know,” Liz said before he could say anything else. Leaning back against his chest she trailed her fingers over his arms. “I already know that’s not how you think of me. That’s not the point.”
“What’s the point then?” Max asked.
“The point is that you know things that you’re keeping from me. You ordered Cal to keep things from me too didn’t you?” Liz asked quietly.
“I didn’t think-it didn’t seem important to anyone but me. I didn’t want you to know about-“ Max trailed off on a sigh.
“I think I understand because there are some things that I don’t want you to know-about me I mean.” Liz looked down to where she was touching him noticing how every hair on his arm was standing on end. “Not allowing Cal to use his own judgment wasn’t the best decision you ever made though.”
Max ducked his head leaning his forehead against her hair. “I’m forgiven?”
“I’m not the one you need to ask forgiveness of,” Liz answered slowly. “Cal’s not a servant, Max. Not anymore. This life is different. Isn’t it?”
“Yeah, it is,” Max agreed, thinking that he wanted it to be different. He hoped it was different.
Liz closed her eyes tilting her head against his, feeling his breath warming the hair by her ear. “Okay, so, what do you think about this?”
“I don’t know,” Max said, so focused on Liz that he didn’t even hear the others arguing among themselves. “I don’t like it. This isn’t going to be easily explained away. I’m just hoping no one else realizes it’s you. We have enough to worry about.”
“I know. God, Max, I can’t believe this.”
Before Liz could say any more Erin burst into the room with Pepe on her heels and Dane chasing them both.
“Mommy! Pepe’s hunwgry now. He wanna have hot dogs wif yots of ketchup on it.”
“He does?” Liz asked suppressing her smile and waving away Dane’s apology for the interruption.
“Yup,” Erin nodded seriously dancing around to avoid Pepe’s attempts to snatch the ribbon from her hair.
“Are you sure you don’t want one?”
“Pepe gonna share wif me.”
“That’s very nice of Pepe,” Liz said feeling Max’s chest shake against her back.
“They’re about to stage a revolt on the grounds of hunger.” Dane reported with a grin. “Ava’s already started the grill in an attempt to pacify them.”
“Okay, I guess we’re breaking for lunch.” Max agreed.
“Lunch?” Maria asked perking up at the mention of food.
“Pepe!” Erin shrieked loud enough to shatter glass. “That’s mine! Drowp it!”
Liz watched Erin dart after the fleeing dog her pink ribbon dancing along the carpet just out of reach of small grasping fingers and foresaw a shopping trip in her future. Pepe didn’t seem like the sharing sort. He seemed more of the thieving type.
*****
After lunch Cal led Max and Liz back into their bedroom, leaving Michael to monitor the television for any more news and the others to clean up and distract the children.
Closing the bedroom door Cal turned to face Liz. “Okay, show me the mark.”
Keeping her eyes lowered Liz undid the three snaps at the top of her shirt and pulled it down exposing the raised mark between her breasts.
Moving closer Cal leaned down, studying the mark carefully and seeing what Max had meant. Several symbols were overlaid one on top of the other.
“I’m going to touch it. Tell me if you feel anything unusual.”
Liz nodded tensing in anticipation of pain but felt only the cool brush of Cal’s finger. Her eyes darted to Cal’s looking for any hint of what he was thinking.
“Okay?”
“Yeah,” Liz nodded feeling more then seeing Max hovering behind her.
“Okay, hold still. I’m going to try to read each symbol separately.”
At the first touch of Cal’s powers Liz gasp feeling a rending pulling sensation. Biting her lip she remained still tolerating the unpleasant sensation without complaint.
Tracing each raised curve and line Cal tried to distinguish each layer separately confused only when he got to the last layer. Thinking that it might be more then one seal he sent a stronger burst of energy through it trying to force it apart.
Liz cried out as her legs were swept out from underneath her, the flash of power blinding her momentarily as Cal was thrown across the room striking the wall with enough force to leave an imprint of his body in the drywall.
Max caught Liz before she could hit the floor feeling the sweep of power rush along his skin causing a stinging sensation but that was all. “Liz?”
“I’m okay,” Liz responded weakly, shaken by the sudden violent response.
“I’m okay too in case you were wondering,” Cal said from his spot face down on the carpet.
Max smiled slightly in amusement. “That worked out well for you huh? Any ideas?”
“That last seal isn’t something I know. It’s what all the others are trying to hide though. Khivar’s Birth stone wouldn’t carry that much power. That was something else.”
“Kivar’s what?” Liz asked confused.
“In certain sects a child is given a Birth stone. It’s hung over the child as it develops. It’s a gemstone that is believed to protect the child from harm, harnessing the child’s own potential until such a time as the child can be taught to use it’s powers safely. I believe he used his to mask this last seal.” As he talked Cal slowly picked himself up off the floor and dusted himself off. “I’ll need to do a little digging. Tell me how you came to have this missing necklace.”
“I bought it. Maria and I were shopping right in town. I saw it and…I wanted it so Maria haggled the guy down,” Liz shrugged forgetting about her shirt being undone.
Cal looked away from her chest politely noticing Max’s attention being drawn, smiling when he started to do up her snaps for her. “When you saw it-touched it-what did you think?”
“That it was mine,” Liz answered slowly, honestly. “That it was meant for me. I loved it.”
“How did it make you feel?”
“Stronger,” Liz responded. “Like when I needed it to it lent me strength. I thought it was just-like Noah’s binky was to him, a way for me to shift my attention until I was more in control. You think it was him?”
“Partly, maybe,” Cal replied still thinking about that last seal. It was old. The langue so ancient he wasn’t able to place it. “Legend says the K’liusi would give birth to life. That all life originates with her. That’s why the breeders were called k’liusi’s. It was taken from that part of the story. It isn’t an insult but the highest of compliments.”
Liz smiled at Cal’s attempt to make her feel better. “I doubt Tess meant it that way.”
“Tess is irrelevant.”
“Cal, it’s getting late,” Max reminded him pointedly.
“Yes, we can’t be late.”
“Late? Late for what?” Liz asked.
“We have a meeting we need to attend. Michael and Isabel will stay with you and the children while we are gone.”
“What meeting? Max?” Liz asked turning to him for answers.
“It’s okay, we won’t be long.” Max smoothed his hand down the fall of her hair more determined then ever to keep her safe.
“I have hired some staff that Max needs to approve of. I have set up interviews, before all of this happened but it’s too late to cancel them now.”
Liz watched Cal stride to the door and disappear down the hallway. Arching her eyebrows at Max she waited for him to say something.
“I’ll be home soon.”
After giving her a peck on the mouth he followed Cal.
“Interviews my ass,” Liz muttered eyes narrowed.
Coming in the back door Cal watched Liz turn away from Isabel, noticing the way her whole body tensed for a split second before she slid her hands into her back pockets and forced herself to relax.
“Sleep okay, Kitten?” Cal asked still studying her closely.
“Umm, about the same,” Liz supplied her eyes seeking Max’s over Cal’s shoulder.
Cal replied with a noncommittal noise bothered by her stilted evasive response but not exactly surprised by it.
Liz sighed, shifting her focus back to Cal. “Nothing out of the ordinary, okay?”
“So you think that things being burned into your chest isn’t anything out of the ordinary.”
“That’s not what I said. You asked how I slept.”
“I thought that happened while you were sleeping. Max? Did I misunderstand?” Cal asked without looking at Max.
Isabel whistled silently. She hadn’t seen Cal this upset with Liz since….well, never actually. Not like this.
“I thought you were asking me about after-I thought Max told you-“ Liz started but was abruptly cut off by Cal.
“I want you to tell me. I need to know everything if I’m to be of any help to you. I’m only trying to help.”
“I know,” Liz whispered suitably chastised. She didn’t take offense to Cal’s tone or his words, she knew he was just upset. He always got colder, more clipped in tone and manner, when he was struggling to hide his emotions, because unlike Nesado he did have them. “I’m sorry it’s just that it’s really not new. I’ve been having dreams like this since-since Tess mindwarped me.”
Pulling her hands from her pockets Liz moved to the counter. Picking up the discarded dishtowel she folded it carefully and hung it back up where it belonged. Turning back to Cal she smiled remembering all the nights he’d eased her mind when she’d run to him because Noah had sneezed, or he was running another fever, or he wasn’t sleeping. He’d checked on the twins every night when they’d lived with him, on his own, just to be sure. He’d checked on her too. Closing her book every time she’d fallen sleep reading, or walking Erin back and forth all night to ease her crying every time Noah was sick, or just driving them around and around Los Angles until both the twins were asleep in their car seats. He didn’t do it because she’d asked him to, Max hadn’t told him to either, he’d just done it.
“When it was something more then the usual stuff I spoke up.”
“No, you didn’t,” Cal said softly moving closer to force her to hold his eyes. “You called out, you didn’t speak up.”
“That’s not fair,” Liz whispered. “I didn’t know-it was as bad as it was. I swear I didn’t. It wasn’t like Kivar was coming to me every night and I didn’t say anything. I told Max about the dreams, maybe not every detail but the details change, they aren’t the important part. I told him the theme of the dreams and I never hid the fact that I had nightmares.”
“She did tell me,” Max spoke up not flinching from Cal’s hard flat stare. “We discussed it a long time ago but it seemed like normal stuff. We both have a few nightmares left over from that time. I didn’t think it was strange for Liz to have a couple a week after what she went through.”
“Didn’t either of you think that maybe you should have told me? How can I do my job if I don’t know what’s going on?”
“So now you actually want me to call on you?” Max demanded instantly irritated. How was this helping?
“Look, if you wanted someone to do the job better then you should have picked someone who wanted the job. A volunteer, not someone you had to force into the role through genetic programming.”
Isabel quickly stepped between Max and Cal before another round of the same old argument could heat up any further. “This isn’t helping. Who did what isn’t the point at the moment. Arguing about who’s to blame isn’t going to fix anything so lets focus on what to do about the current situation.”
“Liz! Come here!” Maria’s shout from the living room cut off any more discussion.
“What is it?” Liz called already on her way to the doorway.
“You’re on TV!” Maria called back.
Liz cast a confused glance at Max who bypassed Cal, reaching her side in three long strides, ushering her in to take a seat on the floor in front of the television. Isabel and Cal trailed after them silently.
“What are you talking about, Maria? That looks like the desert to me,” Liz asked confused.
“It is,” Maria answered only to be cut off by Michael.
“Just wait till they to the view from the chopper,” Michael said gruffly hoping to hear the rest of the news report.
Liz barely listened to the reporter talking about the storm last night, the freak lightening strikes that had repeatedly struck the ground outside of Roswell creating this amazing display for which there seemed to be no explanation. Instead she was trying to figure out what the reporter was standing in front of, it was sparkling in the sun, and then they switched to the reporter circling the site from above in the news helicopter.
“See?” Maria pointed.
“Oh my god,” Isabel whispered seeing exactly what Maria was talking about.
“That’s the pod chamber, Max.” Michael said grimly leaning forward, intently studying the screen as the camera showed more of the area surrounding the site before focusing once again on the point of the report.
“The repeated lightening strikes turned sand into glass. What no one can explain is how random strikes of lightening could create this,” The reporter gestured behind him. “From the air it seems form a picture of remarkable detail. Who is this woman? What are those symbols framing the edges? Was this portrait formed by nature or something else? Officials are studying the site for answers. Back to you, Carla.”
“Thanks Tom. That’s something isn’t it Jim?” The generically attractive anchorwoman turned to her co-anchor with a bright plastic smile.
Cal’s craggy face was utterly blank, his eyes cold beneath jutting brows. The only sign of the great turmoil within were the slowly bulging muscles of his jaw, tensing and relaxing again and again, holding back the obscenities that wanted to spew from his lips. Fear and impotent rage flooded him as he watched the stakes rising faster then he could formulate a plan of action. He hated being outmaneuvered.
“It really is you, Liz,” Isabel whispered perching on the arm of the couch next to Michael. “Right down to the scar above your eye.”
“No, Isabel, that doesn’t look anything like me,” Liz disagreed scooting closer to Max without thinking about it. “It could be anyone.”
Slipping his arm around her Max pulled her between his legs taking comfort from the way she leaned against his chest. “What does it say, Cal?”
“It declares Liz royalty, afforded all the protection that entails. It says that any hostile action towards her will be considered an act of war against Antar as a whole. It says she has an advocate, which is in accordance to Council law for all potential Seers and is therefore inviolate.”
Max felt Liz’s breath shudder out of her and wrapped his arms around her hugging her closer.
“Why? Why is he doing this?” Liz asked unable to look away from the TV screen.
“I don’t know but I intend to ask him,” Cal’s answer grated out through clenched teeth.
“What does k’liusi mean?” Liz asked turning her head to look at Cal.
“Where did you hear that?” Cal asked startled.
“Tess. What does it mean?” Liz repeated as Max’s arms fell away from her.
“It depends on who you ask,” Cal replied shooting Max a pointed look.
“I’m asking you,” Liz said feeling Max stiffen at her back as Cal’s jaw started flexing like he wanted to answer but wasn’t able to. “Max?” Turning around she glanced between him and Cal waiting for one of them to say something. “She always calls me a breeder. I thought that it was because of…she said that Kivar-k’liusi means breeder doesn’t it?”
Cal struggled against his programming, sweating as he tried to force out an answer. Shooting Max a look fueled by rage he grunted before turning away.
“Max, tell me,” Liz said softly.
“Sometimes it does, but it means so much more then that, Liz.” Max felt exposed by her steady stare and had to resist the urge to squirm. “A breeder was assigned to certain royals, to provide the heir. They were chosen carefully to ensure the genetic superiority of the offspring. The slang term some used was k’liusi, taken from an old legend.”
“I see,” Liz nodded.
“What does this have to do with our current problem,” Michael demanded. “We’re on the News now. I think that’s a little more serious then what insult someone used when talking to you, Liz.”
“It’s not an insult,” Cal broke in, finding his voice. “Not everyone thinks of it that way.”
“Sure sounds like an insult to me,” Maria muttered.
“That’s why Kivar left that message isn’t it?” Liz asked looking to Cal. “Max and I aren’t married so I’m just….breeders weren’t royalty right? More like a servant. So no big deal if something happened to them, another one could be found. It’s also why he used that word, inviolate. He’s trying to say I have real status. Isn’t he?”
“That’s one possibility,” Cal agreed.
“He’s also outing you to the whole planet,” Michael pointed out loudly.
“Anyone who cares would already know who I am by now.” Liz’s thoughts raced comparing what Tess had said to what Kivar had told her.
“You’re forgetting that we’re surrounded by humans who have no idea who’s living among them. That some of us aren’t human. This little display will draw all kinds of attention. That isn’t something we want right now,” Michael reminded them.
“We can’t do anything about that now,” Isabel pointed out dryly.
“Liz?” Max leaned forward to whisper into her ear.
“I know,” Liz said before he could say anything else. Leaning back against his chest she trailed her fingers over his arms. “I already know that’s not how you think of me. That’s not the point.”
“What’s the point then?” Max asked.
“The point is that you know things that you’re keeping from me. You ordered Cal to keep things from me too didn’t you?” Liz asked quietly.
“I didn’t think-it didn’t seem important to anyone but me. I didn’t want you to know about-“ Max trailed off on a sigh.
“I think I understand because there are some things that I don’t want you to know-about me I mean.” Liz looked down to where she was touching him noticing how every hair on his arm was standing on end. “Not allowing Cal to use his own judgment wasn’t the best decision you ever made though.”
Max ducked his head leaning his forehead against her hair. “I’m forgiven?”
“I’m not the one you need to ask forgiveness of,” Liz answered slowly. “Cal’s not a servant, Max. Not anymore. This life is different. Isn’t it?”
“Yeah, it is,” Max agreed, thinking that he wanted it to be different. He hoped it was different.
Liz closed her eyes tilting her head against his, feeling his breath warming the hair by her ear. “Okay, so, what do you think about this?”
“I don’t know,” Max said, so focused on Liz that he didn’t even hear the others arguing among themselves. “I don’t like it. This isn’t going to be easily explained away. I’m just hoping no one else realizes it’s you. We have enough to worry about.”
“I know. God, Max, I can’t believe this.”
Before Liz could say any more Erin burst into the room with Pepe on her heels and Dane chasing them both.
“Mommy! Pepe’s hunwgry now. He wanna have hot dogs wif yots of ketchup on it.”
“He does?” Liz asked suppressing her smile and waving away Dane’s apology for the interruption.
“Yup,” Erin nodded seriously dancing around to avoid Pepe’s attempts to snatch the ribbon from her hair.
“Are you sure you don’t want one?”
“Pepe gonna share wif me.”
“That’s very nice of Pepe,” Liz said feeling Max’s chest shake against her back.
“They’re about to stage a revolt on the grounds of hunger.” Dane reported with a grin. “Ava’s already started the grill in an attempt to pacify them.”
“Okay, I guess we’re breaking for lunch.” Max agreed.
“Lunch?” Maria asked perking up at the mention of food.
“Pepe!” Erin shrieked loud enough to shatter glass. “That’s mine! Drowp it!”
Liz watched Erin dart after the fleeing dog her pink ribbon dancing along the carpet just out of reach of small grasping fingers and foresaw a shopping trip in her future. Pepe didn’t seem like the sharing sort. He seemed more of the thieving type.
*****
After lunch Cal led Max and Liz back into their bedroom, leaving Michael to monitor the television for any more news and the others to clean up and distract the children.
Closing the bedroom door Cal turned to face Liz. “Okay, show me the mark.”
Keeping her eyes lowered Liz undid the three snaps at the top of her shirt and pulled it down exposing the raised mark between her breasts.
Moving closer Cal leaned down, studying the mark carefully and seeing what Max had meant. Several symbols were overlaid one on top of the other.
“I’m going to touch it. Tell me if you feel anything unusual.”
Liz nodded tensing in anticipation of pain but felt only the cool brush of Cal’s finger. Her eyes darted to Cal’s looking for any hint of what he was thinking.
“Okay?”
“Yeah,” Liz nodded feeling more then seeing Max hovering behind her.
“Okay, hold still. I’m going to try to read each symbol separately.”
At the first touch of Cal’s powers Liz gasp feeling a rending pulling sensation. Biting her lip she remained still tolerating the unpleasant sensation without complaint.
Tracing each raised curve and line Cal tried to distinguish each layer separately confused only when he got to the last layer. Thinking that it might be more then one seal he sent a stronger burst of energy through it trying to force it apart.
Liz cried out as her legs were swept out from underneath her, the flash of power blinding her momentarily as Cal was thrown across the room striking the wall with enough force to leave an imprint of his body in the drywall.
Max caught Liz before she could hit the floor feeling the sweep of power rush along his skin causing a stinging sensation but that was all. “Liz?”
“I’m okay,” Liz responded weakly, shaken by the sudden violent response.
“I’m okay too in case you were wondering,” Cal said from his spot face down on the carpet.
Max smiled slightly in amusement. “That worked out well for you huh? Any ideas?”
“That last seal isn’t something I know. It’s what all the others are trying to hide though. Khivar’s Birth stone wouldn’t carry that much power. That was something else.”
“Kivar’s what?” Liz asked confused.
“In certain sects a child is given a Birth stone. It’s hung over the child as it develops. It’s a gemstone that is believed to protect the child from harm, harnessing the child’s own potential until such a time as the child can be taught to use it’s powers safely. I believe he used his to mask this last seal.” As he talked Cal slowly picked himself up off the floor and dusted himself off. “I’ll need to do a little digging. Tell me how you came to have this missing necklace.”
“I bought it. Maria and I were shopping right in town. I saw it and…I wanted it so Maria haggled the guy down,” Liz shrugged forgetting about her shirt being undone.
Cal looked away from her chest politely noticing Max’s attention being drawn, smiling when he started to do up her snaps for her. “When you saw it-touched it-what did you think?”
“That it was mine,” Liz answered slowly, honestly. “That it was meant for me. I loved it.”
“How did it make you feel?”
“Stronger,” Liz responded. “Like when I needed it to it lent me strength. I thought it was just-like Noah’s binky was to him, a way for me to shift my attention until I was more in control. You think it was him?”
“Partly, maybe,” Cal replied still thinking about that last seal. It was old. The langue so ancient he wasn’t able to place it. “Legend says the K’liusi would give birth to life. That all life originates with her. That’s why the breeders were called k’liusi’s. It was taken from that part of the story. It isn’t an insult but the highest of compliments.”
Liz smiled at Cal’s attempt to make her feel better. “I doubt Tess meant it that way.”
“Tess is irrelevant.”
“Cal, it’s getting late,” Max reminded him pointedly.
“Yes, we can’t be late.”
“Late? Late for what?” Liz asked.
“We have a meeting we need to attend. Michael and Isabel will stay with you and the children while we are gone.”
“What meeting? Max?” Liz asked turning to him for answers.
“It’s okay, we won’t be long.” Max smoothed his hand down the fall of her hair more determined then ever to keep her safe.
“I have hired some staff that Max needs to approve of. I have set up interviews, before all of this happened but it’s too late to cancel them now.”
Liz watched Cal stride to the door and disappear down the hallway. Arching her eyebrows at Max she waited for him to say something.
“I’ll be home soon.”
After giving her a peck on the mouth he followed Cal.
“Interviews my ass,” Liz muttered eyes narrowed.
Chapter Forty Four
“So what now?” Max asked feeling a chill in the vast empty warehouse despite the heat of the day. They’d been sitting here for over an hour and nothing.
This place should feel as familiar as it looked to his eyes but the longer he sat here the more alien it felt to him. They’d used it a number of times in the past, in fact Cal owned it, but today it seemed different, foreign somehow. The emptiness not quite as empty as it should have been.
“We wait.” Cal said gruffly still smarting from the earlier argument. He didn’t feel like chatting. The less they spoke to each other right now the better.
“For how long? We can’t just sit here all day.”
Cal shot Max a sour look but didn’t respond.
“Do you think Liz knows?” Max asked after a brief silence.
With a long suffering sigh Cal picked up his brief case and pulled out a stack of file folders. “Here. Read these over.” Shoving the files into Max’s chest before walking away.
“What are these?” Max asked juggling the stack around before any of them slipped to the floor.
“Potential employees. Now you can tell yourself you didn’t lie to Liz,” Cal replied over his shoulder, the sharp angry sound of his tread on the bare cement floor echoing loudly off the surrounding walls. “All of them have been screened and their references checked. Any one of them could answer the phones or whatever.”
As Max picked through the applicants Cal walked the perimeter, checking the surrounding landscape through the broken windows looking for any approaching vehicles. The last thing he needed was any more surprises.
Now that the only sound was the quiet rustle of pages being turned Cal’s thoughts drifted to all the questions he hadn’t had the time to ask Liz. It bothered him that Tess seemed to be so present in their daily lives. That wasn’t right somehow.
He was missing something. Something important.
*****
“So.” Liz said plopping down next to Michael. “Anything new?”
“No,” Michael grunted frustrated by the lack of answers being provided by the so-called newscasters, he wasn’t seeing anything he’d call hardcore news, he needed facts not wild speculation. Instead of being able to go and get the answers to his questions he was stuck here on babysitting detail.
Liz shared a glance with Isabel, who eased into position on Michael’s other side.
“Wish we could tell how close they are to the pod chamber,” Isabel mused casually leaning forward as if she were trying to get a better look. “I wonder if anyone’s been sent up there yet.”
“Yeah, I mean, Kivar could have left something there.” Liz added as if the thought had just occurred to her.
Maria watched Isabel and Liz work Michael like concert pianists and wondered what exactly they were up to. Deciding to help them out she pushed another of Michael’s buttons. “Too bad one of us can’t go and see. It might help if we knew who those “experts” are that are examining the sight.”
Michael grunted in agreement. Why were they just sitting here anyway? Doing something would better then doing nothing right?
“Maybe we could even get close enough to pull a little switch, change the image a little bit so it don’t look so much like Liz,” Ava said adding even more enticement. “Of course that would take someone that had some artistic talent and that ain’t me, for sure.”
“Max said to stay here,” Michael said, the protest sounding lame even to his ears.
“I’ll stay with Liz,” Isabel volunteered all wide-eyed helpfulness.
“See Mickey,” Ava said smiling like that answered any protest. “No prob. Izzy’ll stay and keep an eye out. It ain’t like the Army’s gonna come and drag Liz outta her home or anything.”
Dane sat silently and watched the women manipulate Michael with the skill of born masters, wondering how Max had thought this was going to work. It took less then an hour of flipping from channel to channel with the girls each making pointed comments about the news reports for Michael to come to a decision, minutes later he and Ava were walking out the door.
“Now, what are we doing?” Maria asked ready for just about anything.
“We’re going to drop the kids off with my parents and then we’re going back to the shop where we bought that necklace,” Liz said already looking for her keys.
“Honey?” Dane spoke up, looking for Isabel to be the voice of reason. “Do you think this is a good idea?”
“Oh don’t worry. We sent Ava with Michael. She’ll keep an eye on him and keep him out of trouble.” Was Isabel’s answer.
“That’s not what I meant. Khivar gave Liz the necklace right? Do you think it’s a good idea to hunt him down?”
“Oh, it wasn’t Kivar in that shop,” Liz assured him.
“So why go there?” Dane asked.
“Just because he wasn’t Kivar doesn’t mean he won’t be able to give me some answers. If he has them I want them,” Liz said her eyes taking on a squinty look that warned Dane she wasn’t about to be talked out of her chosen course of action.
“Exactly,” Isabel agreed. “And we’ll get them.”
“I think they’d much rather talk to me don’t you think?” Liz asked pointedly. Max wasn’t known for talking. The aliens he searched out usually weren’t seen again. She didn’t think this would be the exception either.
“I’m totally on board, just let me change my shoes,” Maria said as she searched under the couch for her ass kickers. Damn Michael for hiding them on her again.
Without protesting further Dane stood up, resigned to being the only male and therefore the only sensible one in the group.
“Don’t worry,” Isabel said giving Dane a peck on the cheek. “We won’t be gone long.”
Liz smiled at Dane’s disgruntled expression. “Look at it this way, at least she didn’t lie to you first.”
“That’s comforting, Liz, thanks.”
Liz just grinned at Dane’s sarcastic retort and Isabel’s frown.
“But seriously don’t you think that you should stay here?”
“Why? Because Max says so?” Liz asked her smile disappearing just that fast. “No, look, even if someone does look at me and connect me to that thing in the desert what are they going to be able to do about it? Lightening made it remember? I haven’t done anything wrong. Let’s say the Army makes a connection back to me, it wouldn’t be this fast and I’ll have Isabel to help me if I get in any trouble. I can’t hide in this house forever. I need to know what that necklace was. At least you’ll know where we’re going which is more then I can say about Max right now.”
“We aren’t going to be able to make any progress here,” Isabel stepped back into the discussion. “We’ve talked about this and the risks are relatively low. We’re not planning an armed assault, we’re just doing a little harmless shopping. Nothing suspicious about that.”
Dane sighed but didn’t argue further. It wouldn’t help and honestly he didn’t know that they were wrong.
*****
“Someone’s coming,” Cal said, staring out at the lone figure approaching on foot from the highway. He’d say one thing for Khivar, he didn’t lack for confidence. He was bold as brass coming here alone.
If that was actually him.
The minutes crawled as they waited. Max sat on the edge of the table only to get to his feet seconds later his mind racing with all the things he wanted to say.
Cal moved from the window over to stand beside Max, utterly still as he waited. He didn’t expect much from this meeting in the way of answers. His goal was to stop Khivar from approaching Liz in the manner that he was currently. He would declare himself her advocate and confront Khivar on violating the standards for any challenge to his protection.
The door screeched as it was pulled open, louder then a shout of warning but still Cal didn’t move. Watching silently as the sun burned away everything but the dark shape of the man on the threshold.
Khivar stepped inside unafraid, not even waiting for his vessels eyes to adjust before striding forward. He even smiled in anticipation of what was to come.
“Langley,” Khivar greeted Cal with a nod of acknowledgement a smile still hovering around his mouth.
“Khivar.” Cal replied his tone dead and filled with chilling frost. He looked into the other man’s eyes ignoring for the most part his physical body; this wasn’t actually him, just some poor human he'd borrowed to wear for this meeting.
“Zan, or should I say Max? Nice to see you again, in person I mean, it’s been a long time.”
“Not long enough,” Max responded anger leeching into his voice causing Khivar’s eyes to crinkle at the corners as his smile widened every inch the harmless mildly attractive human male he’d chosen to present for this performance.
“You’re the one that asked for this meeting,” Khivar shrugged, perfectly relaxed.
“I want you to leave Liz alone,” Max, said, taking a step forward only to be restrained by Cal’s hand on his arm.
“If only I could,” Khivar said studying the two in front of him closely before dismissing Max to focus on Cal. “You’ve managed to surprise me Langley. Choosing to get involved this way. It’s not really your style is it?”
Cal shrugged a smirk sliding across his face. “Why’s that? You know I don’t agree with what you’re doing.”
“What I’m doing?” Khivar asked his eyebrow quirking skyward. “What exactly am I doing?”
“You know this isn’t how the system works, destroying it won’t accomplish anything. She’s gone. That fact isn’t going to change. Liz doesn’t have anything to do with what happened before.”
“Like you agree with the system people like him created, a perversion of power that’s gone on long enough,” Khivar scoffed dropping the laid back pretence. “That is what got you here, a slave to a man who isn’t really a man at all.”
Walking over to the table, the only piece of furniture in whole building, Khivar perched casually on the edge before speaking again. “I can’t wait any longer. I’ve given you over three years to step up to the plate. I’ve watched you both running around picking off the weak and stupid but where has that really gotten you? Nowhere. She’s just as vulnerable, more so even then she was at the start. She still has no idea of what she is. You’ve allowed him to cut you off at the knees, crippling you. What kind of advocate can you be for her when he controls what you are allowed to tell her? Teach her?”
“So you are challenging me?” Cal asked unable to dispute Khivar’s accusations. He was severely hampered by the genetic imperative that demanded he obey Max’s orders despite his own wishes. It was a constant source of contention.
“I didn’t say that,” Khivar drawled the yet, although not spoken was clearly heard. Looking to Max his scorn seeped out into his vessels facial expression. “You are just as foolish as I remembered you. When last I saw you, you were running from your destiny like a coward. Are you still running?”
Max stiffened his hands fisting at his sides with the desire to lash out. “This isn’t about me, it’s about Liz. She doesn’t want you violating her, there’s no real difference between you and Tess. You’re both forcing something on her that she doesn’t want.”
Khivar studied him silently for a moment, glancing at Cal but finding nothing there to read. “There is a difference, that difference is intent. I have no desire to harm her. I have not forced my way into places she has not allowed me into. The blame for this is largely your own. I wouldn’t have taken this route if you had not hidden from her like a frightened child. Is it really her that doesn’t want it, or is it you? You have actively hampered her development from the first. Is that what you can’t let her see? Or is it that you are cowering from what you are?”
“What am I?” Max challenged.
“You would know that better then I. Everyone keeps telling how this is, for you, a different life, that you are different. I don’t see any difference. I see the same man that took his own life rather then face what he had done to his people. I see the same man that thought to deny fate, creating a new lifeform to hide in, thinking that his fate would pass him by. Instead you crashed right into it but still,” Khivar shook his head in disgust. “Still you try to hide. You haven’t learned anything. I won’t allow you to drag her down with you. She will have the choice that you are trying to keep from her. She is what she is, I didn’t make her into something she isn’t.”
“I didn’t do anything, I followed the Councils mandate. You’re trying to hold me accountable for things that I can’t change, had no part in deciding. Ziya knew what I was doing,” Max said going to the heart of the conflict between them.
“You didn’t even try to stop it. Your father..”
“Our father,” Max interrupted.
“Yours.” Khivar gritted out between clenched teeth his eyes blazing. “I was deemed unsuitable remember? She was my only family and you destroyed her.”
“I never touched her!” Max shouted taking a half step forward and shaking off Cal’s hand, still trying to hold him back.
“What do you think they did to her? After you fled to this life? When she failed to fulfill her duty to produce your heir? She was brought before the Council, before YOUR father, and murdered for treason to the throne. I couldn’t stop it; no one would hear me or anyone else on her behalf. She was going to be so much, a Seer; she had true sight, a clarity that no one has equaled to this day. She was my responsibility and I failed her. I will not fail again.”
“But there is our problem,” Cal interrupted, stepping in front of Max, inserting himself bodily into the argument. “Liz is not your responsibility. She is mine as her advocate and Max’s as her bonded mate. You are over stepping your bounds and I must insist that you stop all contact made through improper channels.”
Khivar took a moment to gather himself, searching for that same sense of stillness that he often found, which had deserted him the moment he engaged in the same old dispute with Zan.
“I don’t recognize any boundaries. Not any more. There is no Council to run to now. They are all cowering in whatever hole they have dug to hide in,” The cold resolve behind those words where echoed in Khivar’s rigid stance. “When you start being a real advocate I will consider adhering to restrictions. Until then she has only her mate to protect her, which is no protection at all as we have seen.”
Max’s fist sent Khivar staggering back a step but brought back Khivar’s smile full force. Wiping the blood from the corner of his vessel’s mouth he laughed. “That’s going to hurt. Too bad it’s not me that will feel it huh?”
Chuckling he shook his head watching Max struggling to control his emotions. “This normal life you seek, she isn’t the one that wants it so desperately. You are. She has always accepted that she left normal behind through her own choices. She has repeatedly chosen what’s important to her, normal wasn’t a choice that she made. Stop fighting your destiny and hers. It is only hurting you both. Despite your father’s best efforts to destroy the old ways you’ve found yourself exactly what he fought hardest against, a true bond. That was your choice, not the human norm.”
“I thought it was destiny, not choice,” Max spit out without thinking, causing Cal to grit his teeth and hold back the scathing retort that came to mind.
“Destiny is the sum of your choices. You chose to run which brought you here. You chose to heal her instead of letting her die. Those were your choices, foretold long before you existed. Would you really have chosen differently? If you were presented with those same choices again, could you stand and watch her die? That is really the only thing that would change destiny in any significant way. You followed your father’s way, adapted his beliefs and sought to circumvent nature, yet still nature brought you to her. The one being in the entire universe that was meant to be your mate and still you act as if you were tricked, not blessed. You are foolish, worse then foolish. Your choices are still determining your path. If you don’t like it make different choices.”
Dismissing Max he turned to Cal.
“Langley, it was interesting to see you again. Choosing to get involved,” Khivar shook his head and laughed. “That I didn’t expect.”
“I can’t say I expected your sudden interest in art. What are you trying to do? Get her killed? It’s a pretty big wanted poster don’t you think? You could see it from space,” Cal continued to ask questions not really expecting the truth. “It’ll get her noticed by more then just every alien on the planet.”
“She is already wanted by others and the humans are of little consequence to me but is normal really an option now? I will not allow you to sit still and do nothing any longer. It will be difficult to hide from this won’t it?”
“Is that why you marked her?” Cal asked speaking of the symbols burned into her chest.
“I don’t need any mark to find her. I just have to listen. Even now she is searching for answers. In those answers what do you think she will find?”
“So what now?” Max asked feeling a chill in the vast empty warehouse despite the heat of the day. They’d been sitting here for over an hour and nothing.
This place should feel as familiar as it looked to his eyes but the longer he sat here the more alien it felt to him. They’d used it a number of times in the past, in fact Cal owned it, but today it seemed different, foreign somehow. The emptiness not quite as empty as it should have been.
“We wait.” Cal said gruffly still smarting from the earlier argument. He didn’t feel like chatting. The less they spoke to each other right now the better.
“For how long? We can’t just sit here all day.”
Cal shot Max a sour look but didn’t respond.
“Do you think Liz knows?” Max asked after a brief silence.
With a long suffering sigh Cal picked up his brief case and pulled out a stack of file folders. “Here. Read these over.” Shoving the files into Max’s chest before walking away.
“What are these?” Max asked juggling the stack around before any of them slipped to the floor.
“Potential employees. Now you can tell yourself you didn’t lie to Liz,” Cal replied over his shoulder, the sharp angry sound of his tread on the bare cement floor echoing loudly off the surrounding walls. “All of them have been screened and their references checked. Any one of them could answer the phones or whatever.”
As Max picked through the applicants Cal walked the perimeter, checking the surrounding landscape through the broken windows looking for any approaching vehicles. The last thing he needed was any more surprises.
Now that the only sound was the quiet rustle of pages being turned Cal’s thoughts drifted to all the questions he hadn’t had the time to ask Liz. It bothered him that Tess seemed to be so present in their daily lives. That wasn’t right somehow.
He was missing something. Something important.
*****
“So.” Liz said plopping down next to Michael. “Anything new?”
“No,” Michael grunted frustrated by the lack of answers being provided by the so-called newscasters, he wasn’t seeing anything he’d call hardcore news, he needed facts not wild speculation. Instead of being able to go and get the answers to his questions he was stuck here on babysitting detail.
Liz shared a glance with Isabel, who eased into position on Michael’s other side.
“Wish we could tell how close they are to the pod chamber,” Isabel mused casually leaning forward as if she were trying to get a better look. “I wonder if anyone’s been sent up there yet.”
“Yeah, I mean, Kivar could have left something there.” Liz added as if the thought had just occurred to her.
Maria watched Isabel and Liz work Michael like concert pianists and wondered what exactly they were up to. Deciding to help them out she pushed another of Michael’s buttons. “Too bad one of us can’t go and see. It might help if we knew who those “experts” are that are examining the sight.”
Michael grunted in agreement. Why were they just sitting here anyway? Doing something would better then doing nothing right?
“Maybe we could even get close enough to pull a little switch, change the image a little bit so it don’t look so much like Liz,” Ava said adding even more enticement. “Of course that would take someone that had some artistic talent and that ain’t me, for sure.”
“Max said to stay here,” Michael said, the protest sounding lame even to his ears.
“I’ll stay with Liz,” Isabel volunteered all wide-eyed helpfulness.
“See Mickey,” Ava said smiling like that answered any protest. “No prob. Izzy’ll stay and keep an eye out. It ain’t like the Army’s gonna come and drag Liz outta her home or anything.”
Dane sat silently and watched the women manipulate Michael with the skill of born masters, wondering how Max had thought this was going to work. It took less then an hour of flipping from channel to channel with the girls each making pointed comments about the news reports for Michael to come to a decision, minutes later he and Ava were walking out the door.
“Now, what are we doing?” Maria asked ready for just about anything.
“We’re going to drop the kids off with my parents and then we’re going back to the shop where we bought that necklace,” Liz said already looking for her keys.
“Honey?” Dane spoke up, looking for Isabel to be the voice of reason. “Do you think this is a good idea?”
“Oh don’t worry. We sent Ava with Michael. She’ll keep an eye on him and keep him out of trouble.” Was Isabel’s answer.
“That’s not what I meant. Khivar gave Liz the necklace right? Do you think it’s a good idea to hunt him down?”
“Oh, it wasn’t Kivar in that shop,” Liz assured him.
“So why go there?” Dane asked.
“Just because he wasn’t Kivar doesn’t mean he won’t be able to give me some answers. If he has them I want them,” Liz said her eyes taking on a squinty look that warned Dane she wasn’t about to be talked out of her chosen course of action.
“Exactly,” Isabel agreed. “And we’ll get them.”
“I think they’d much rather talk to me don’t you think?” Liz asked pointedly. Max wasn’t known for talking. The aliens he searched out usually weren’t seen again. She didn’t think this would be the exception either.
“I’m totally on board, just let me change my shoes,” Maria said as she searched under the couch for her ass kickers. Damn Michael for hiding them on her again.
Without protesting further Dane stood up, resigned to being the only male and therefore the only sensible one in the group.
“Don’t worry,” Isabel said giving Dane a peck on the cheek. “We won’t be gone long.”
Liz smiled at Dane’s disgruntled expression. “Look at it this way, at least she didn’t lie to you first.”
“That’s comforting, Liz, thanks.”
Liz just grinned at Dane’s sarcastic retort and Isabel’s frown.
“But seriously don’t you think that you should stay here?”
“Why? Because Max says so?” Liz asked her smile disappearing just that fast. “No, look, even if someone does look at me and connect me to that thing in the desert what are they going to be able to do about it? Lightening made it remember? I haven’t done anything wrong. Let’s say the Army makes a connection back to me, it wouldn’t be this fast and I’ll have Isabel to help me if I get in any trouble. I can’t hide in this house forever. I need to know what that necklace was. At least you’ll know where we’re going which is more then I can say about Max right now.”
“We aren’t going to be able to make any progress here,” Isabel stepped back into the discussion. “We’ve talked about this and the risks are relatively low. We’re not planning an armed assault, we’re just doing a little harmless shopping. Nothing suspicious about that.”
Dane sighed but didn’t argue further. It wouldn’t help and honestly he didn’t know that they were wrong.
*****
“Someone’s coming,” Cal said, staring out at the lone figure approaching on foot from the highway. He’d say one thing for Khivar, he didn’t lack for confidence. He was bold as brass coming here alone.
If that was actually him.
The minutes crawled as they waited. Max sat on the edge of the table only to get to his feet seconds later his mind racing with all the things he wanted to say.
Cal moved from the window over to stand beside Max, utterly still as he waited. He didn’t expect much from this meeting in the way of answers. His goal was to stop Khivar from approaching Liz in the manner that he was currently. He would declare himself her advocate and confront Khivar on violating the standards for any challenge to his protection.
The door screeched as it was pulled open, louder then a shout of warning but still Cal didn’t move. Watching silently as the sun burned away everything but the dark shape of the man on the threshold.
Khivar stepped inside unafraid, not even waiting for his vessels eyes to adjust before striding forward. He even smiled in anticipation of what was to come.
“Langley,” Khivar greeted Cal with a nod of acknowledgement a smile still hovering around his mouth.
“Khivar.” Cal replied his tone dead and filled with chilling frost. He looked into the other man’s eyes ignoring for the most part his physical body; this wasn’t actually him, just some poor human he'd borrowed to wear for this meeting.
“Zan, or should I say Max? Nice to see you again, in person I mean, it’s been a long time.”
“Not long enough,” Max responded anger leeching into his voice causing Khivar’s eyes to crinkle at the corners as his smile widened every inch the harmless mildly attractive human male he’d chosen to present for this performance.
“You’re the one that asked for this meeting,” Khivar shrugged, perfectly relaxed.
“I want you to leave Liz alone,” Max, said, taking a step forward only to be restrained by Cal’s hand on his arm.
“If only I could,” Khivar said studying the two in front of him closely before dismissing Max to focus on Cal. “You’ve managed to surprise me Langley. Choosing to get involved this way. It’s not really your style is it?”
Cal shrugged a smirk sliding across his face. “Why’s that? You know I don’t agree with what you’re doing.”
“What I’m doing?” Khivar asked his eyebrow quirking skyward. “What exactly am I doing?”
“You know this isn’t how the system works, destroying it won’t accomplish anything. She’s gone. That fact isn’t going to change. Liz doesn’t have anything to do with what happened before.”
“Like you agree with the system people like him created, a perversion of power that’s gone on long enough,” Khivar scoffed dropping the laid back pretence. “That is what got you here, a slave to a man who isn’t really a man at all.”
Walking over to the table, the only piece of furniture in whole building, Khivar perched casually on the edge before speaking again. “I can’t wait any longer. I’ve given you over three years to step up to the plate. I’ve watched you both running around picking off the weak and stupid but where has that really gotten you? Nowhere. She’s just as vulnerable, more so even then she was at the start. She still has no idea of what she is. You’ve allowed him to cut you off at the knees, crippling you. What kind of advocate can you be for her when he controls what you are allowed to tell her? Teach her?”
“So you are challenging me?” Cal asked unable to dispute Khivar’s accusations. He was severely hampered by the genetic imperative that demanded he obey Max’s orders despite his own wishes. It was a constant source of contention.
“I didn’t say that,” Khivar drawled the yet, although not spoken was clearly heard. Looking to Max his scorn seeped out into his vessels facial expression. “You are just as foolish as I remembered you. When last I saw you, you were running from your destiny like a coward. Are you still running?”
Max stiffened his hands fisting at his sides with the desire to lash out. “This isn’t about me, it’s about Liz. She doesn’t want you violating her, there’s no real difference between you and Tess. You’re both forcing something on her that she doesn’t want.”
Khivar studied him silently for a moment, glancing at Cal but finding nothing there to read. “There is a difference, that difference is intent. I have no desire to harm her. I have not forced my way into places she has not allowed me into. The blame for this is largely your own. I wouldn’t have taken this route if you had not hidden from her like a frightened child. Is it really her that doesn’t want it, or is it you? You have actively hampered her development from the first. Is that what you can’t let her see? Or is it that you are cowering from what you are?”
“What am I?” Max challenged.
“You would know that better then I. Everyone keeps telling how this is, for you, a different life, that you are different. I don’t see any difference. I see the same man that took his own life rather then face what he had done to his people. I see the same man that thought to deny fate, creating a new lifeform to hide in, thinking that his fate would pass him by. Instead you crashed right into it but still,” Khivar shook his head in disgust. “Still you try to hide. You haven’t learned anything. I won’t allow you to drag her down with you. She will have the choice that you are trying to keep from her. She is what she is, I didn’t make her into something she isn’t.”
“I didn’t do anything, I followed the Councils mandate. You’re trying to hold me accountable for things that I can’t change, had no part in deciding. Ziya knew what I was doing,” Max said going to the heart of the conflict between them.
“You didn’t even try to stop it. Your father..”
“Our father,” Max interrupted.
“Yours.” Khivar gritted out between clenched teeth his eyes blazing. “I was deemed unsuitable remember? She was my only family and you destroyed her.”
“I never touched her!” Max shouted taking a half step forward and shaking off Cal’s hand, still trying to hold him back.
“What do you think they did to her? After you fled to this life? When she failed to fulfill her duty to produce your heir? She was brought before the Council, before YOUR father, and murdered for treason to the throne. I couldn’t stop it; no one would hear me or anyone else on her behalf. She was going to be so much, a Seer; she had true sight, a clarity that no one has equaled to this day. She was my responsibility and I failed her. I will not fail again.”
“But there is our problem,” Cal interrupted, stepping in front of Max, inserting himself bodily into the argument. “Liz is not your responsibility. She is mine as her advocate and Max’s as her bonded mate. You are over stepping your bounds and I must insist that you stop all contact made through improper channels.”
Khivar took a moment to gather himself, searching for that same sense of stillness that he often found, which had deserted him the moment he engaged in the same old dispute with Zan.
“I don’t recognize any boundaries. Not any more. There is no Council to run to now. They are all cowering in whatever hole they have dug to hide in,” The cold resolve behind those words where echoed in Khivar’s rigid stance. “When you start being a real advocate I will consider adhering to restrictions. Until then she has only her mate to protect her, which is no protection at all as we have seen.”
Max’s fist sent Khivar staggering back a step but brought back Khivar’s smile full force. Wiping the blood from the corner of his vessel’s mouth he laughed. “That’s going to hurt. Too bad it’s not me that will feel it huh?”
Chuckling he shook his head watching Max struggling to control his emotions. “This normal life you seek, she isn’t the one that wants it so desperately. You are. She has always accepted that she left normal behind through her own choices. She has repeatedly chosen what’s important to her, normal wasn’t a choice that she made. Stop fighting your destiny and hers. It is only hurting you both. Despite your father’s best efforts to destroy the old ways you’ve found yourself exactly what he fought hardest against, a true bond. That was your choice, not the human norm.”
“I thought it was destiny, not choice,” Max spit out without thinking, causing Cal to grit his teeth and hold back the scathing retort that came to mind.
“Destiny is the sum of your choices. You chose to run which brought you here. You chose to heal her instead of letting her die. Those were your choices, foretold long before you existed. Would you really have chosen differently? If you were presented with those same choices again, could you stand and watch her die? That is really the only thing that would change destiny in any significant way. You followed your father’s way, adapted his beliefs and sought to circumvent nature, yet still nature brought you to her. The one being in the entire universe that was meant to be your mate and still you act as if you were tricked, not blessed. You are foolish, worse then foolish. Your choices are still determining your path. If you don’t like it make different choices.”
Dismissing Max he turned to Cal.
“Langley, it was interesting to see you again. Choosing to get involved,” Khivar shook his head and laughed. “That I didn’t expect.”
“I can’t say I expected your sudden interest in art. What are you trying to do? Get her killed? It’s a pretty big wanted poster don’t you think? You could see it from space,” Cal continued to ask questions not really expecting the truth. “It’ll get her noticed by more then just every alien on the planet.”
“She is already wanted by others and the humans are of little consequence to me but is normal really an option now? I will not allow you to sit still and do nothing any longer. It will be difficult to hide from this won’t it?”
“Is that why you marked her?” Cal asked speaking of the symbols burned into her chest.
“I don’t need any mark to find her. I just have to listen. Even now she is searching for answers. In those answers what do you think she will find?”
Chapter 45
Chapter Forty Five
“So what do you think we’ll find?” Maria asked glancing over at Liz who was walking beside her with Noah sandwiched between them.
“I don’t know,” Liz admitted keeping her hand on Erin’s shoulder to prevent her from racing ahead as she shrugged. “But I want to find out.”
“Are you sure?” Isabel asked from a couple steps behind them, forced to bring up the rear as she pulled Javen away from the electronics store window. “We could just hang out at the Crash, visit with your parents.”
Noah stared at the tips of his sneakers as he walked, his hands hot and sticky with nervous perspiration. Worried that his hand would slip right out of his mother’s grasp, he gripped her hand even tighter.
“I’m sure. I need to go back to that shop,” Liz answered, feeling driven there. Like everything would make sense if she could just understand what the marks meant. She wasn’t all that sure that Max would let Cal tell her the whole truth so finding out on her own seemed like her only option right now.
“Mommy, no,” Noah protested as her fingers moved to release his. He refused to allow it, holding on to keep her from thoughtlessly brushing the marks, drawing on their power from habit. She was strong enough without them.
“I’m sorry.” Liz stopped walking and stooped down to look directly into Noah’s eyes. Reading his sudden surge of fear incorrectly. Noah took all safety lectures very seriously including the rules for crossing the street. “I forgot, you’re right. We’re not supposed to cross the street without holding hands. I’m sorry.”
Before Noah could speak up a shadow fell over them both diverting his attention.
“Liz Parker! I can’t believe it!”
Liz plastered a fake smile on her face to match the fake sweetness saturating the chirped greeting. “Pam. How- um what a surprise, to see you like this.” Rising to her full height she turned to face the bane of her early teens.
Although Pam was arguably human there was something about her tall over-blown voluptuousness that was clearly predatory, a sly smugness behind her words that never failed to set Liz’s teeth on edge. Of course the fact that Pam had tried to have sex with Kyle while he was at a party with her might have influenced her opinion just a tad.
“Oh how cute! These must be your babies!” Pam gushed while casting a sly glance in Liz’s direction.
“I not a baby,” Erin piped up her expression turning stormy.
“Isn’t she just the sweetest little thing? She looks just like you, Liz.”
Maria rolled her eyes feeling a spurt of anger bloom inside her. This skanky ass bitch thought they were going to play her game? Well, they weren’t in high school anymore and if this tramp thought she was going sit back and let her go after Michael then she was sadly mistaken.
Turning toward Maria, Pam eyed her up and down before speaking. “It doesn’t look like your appetite has suffered any, what with being pregnant and unmarried and all. That’s great. You’re so brave, Maria.”
Isabel’s jaw dropped even as Maria’s face flushed with anger, her eyes narrowing down to mere slits.
“Really, I mean it. You’re all so modern.” Pam’s attention turned back to Liz and she smiled sweetly before her next jab. “Why I just ran into Kyle and I told him that it was just so sweet of him to stick by you like he has, even though your twins clearly aren’t his and all.”
“That’s it!” Maria declared through gritted teeth, dropping her purse getting ready to kick this bitch in her doublewide ass.
Isabel neatly cut her off, stepping in front of her and managing to look perfectly posed even as Maria rammed her in the back in an effort to get to Pam. “That’s funny because I just had a similar conversation with Pauly when I ran into him at the Shop and Save the other day. I was so sorry to hear about your divorce. I mean, it must have been so embarrassing to have him shouting like that in the delivery room.” Isabel gave a coolly mocking smile. “I mean, oops. Who could have guessed the baby would be so….ethnic looking right from birth. Have they finished all the DNA testing to figure out who the real father is yet?”
Pam’s eyes narrowed, lips pinching tight as she struggled for something to say in response. Before she could come up with anything Erin stepped forward her expression having gone from story to downright thunderous.
“You a skunk!” Erin announced loudly, a fierce scowl darkening her face. “Aunt Ria says…”
“Erin!” Liz gasp clamping her hand over Erin’s mouth and muffling the rest of what her daughter was about to repeat. “You don’t talk to people like that! We’ve talked about this before.”
“But…” Erin protested while trying to wiggle out from under her mother’s hand. The stern look she received quickly put a stop to her struggles.
“But nothing! We don’t act like that or talk to people that way, understand?” Liz asked firmly casting a sharp look in Maria’s direction.
“Yes,” Erin agreed still glowering at the smelly skunk lady. She was being mean to her Mommy and that wasn’t nice at all, so why did she have to be nice? She didn’t want to be nice. Noah didn’t like it either.
“Alright then, let’s go,” Liz checked for traffic before shepherding the kids across the street calling back to Pam as they reached the curb on the other side. “Tell Jose hello for me won’t you? See ya!”
Pam gasp, staring after them in shock wondering how Liz could possibly know about the two of them. No one knew, not even Jose’s wife.
“Jose? What was that about?” Maria asked Liz in a low voice.
“What? Nothing,” Liz responded confused by the question, then stopped dead in her tracks a huge grin spreading over her face. “Hey cowboy! What are you doing here?”
“Looking for you.” Kyle said bearing down on them and sweeping Liz into big hug.
Liz laughed as her feet left the ground hugging him back hard in return. “Well you found me.”
“So has someone else apparently. You’ve been immortalized in open desert art, sculpted out of glass, or so I hear?” Kyle asked releasing her only to see her roll her eyes. “What are you doing out here? Where’s Evans?”
“Um right here,” Isabel waved to draw his attention. “One Evans standing right in front of you.”
“Former Evans,” Kyle reminded her shifting his attention and flashing his most charming smile. “Congratulations on that by the way.”
“Don’t think you’re smoothing this one over. You missed my wedding!” Isabel scolded him, punching him lightly on the arm.
“Uncle Kyle! Uncle Kyle!” Erin squealed pulling at his shirt and dancing around impatiently.
“Hey princess!” Kyle lifted her up and tossed her high into the air provoking an ear splitting shriek of excitement. Plucking her out of thin air as if he did it everyday Kyle grinned. “Miss me?”
“Yes!”
“Show me what I taught you,” Kyle asked setting her on her feet and crouching down to be at her level.
Erin got into her batting stance, holding an imaginary bat, spitting once before the swing.
Kyle hooted loudly. “Out of the park!”
“Kyle,” Isabel rebuked wrinkling her nose in reaction to the spitting. Kyle just grinned unrepentant.
“Hi, Uncle Kyle,” Noah said jostling Erin out the way, smiling when he was pulled into an affectionate headlock.
“Hey big man,” Kyle greeted ruffling Noah’s hair. “Whoa!” Kyle exclaimed as Javen landed on his back and Erin latched onto his arm like a barnacle. “You guys think you can take me? FBI! Freeze!”
Maria watched him play wrestle with the three children in the middle of the sidewalk, looking as if he was having just as much fun as they were. There was no hint of Noah’s usual reserve with everyone’s favorite playmate. Speaking of playmate’s…
“Hey, Kyle!” Maria called drawing his attention. “How’d you get here so fast? I thought your new boss was giving you some static over taking time off.”
“She was,” Kyle admitted, gently extracting himself and drawing the fun to a temporary close. “But then I sorta got under her skin and she just wanted to send me far, far away.” Kyle joked then turned serious. “But as soon as reports started coming in about the up and coming art scene around here, I was ordered to haul ass and lay the ground work with the local law. My boss should be here by this afternoon to take over.”
“Great,” Isabel sighed, just imagining how Michael was going to react to that news. Not well would be a safe bet.
“So, you never answered my question.” Turning back to Liz, Kyle prepared to interrogate her until he got an answer. “Why are you here without El Presidente in tow? ‘Cause I know he had to have blown a circuit when he saw alien version of the Mona Liz. He doesn’t know you’re here does he?”
“Here, as in right here?” Maria asked sliding up and taking his arm. Turning him back toward the CrashDown she started walking, dragging Kyle along with her. “I’d have to say no, but we didn’t ditch him or anything if that’s what you’re implying.”
“I’m not implying anything. I’m flat out asking.”
“Max isn’t home today,” Liz inserted.
“So you snuck out.” Kyle observed with a nod.
“Sneaking implies that we’re disobeying our father or something,” Isabel grumbled.
“Brother,” Kyle corrected glancing over his shoulder in time to catch Isabel’s frown. “Oh come on, Iz. You expect me to believe Max didn’t try to tighten his fist and tuck Liz safely away?”
“Well, when you put it like that…” Maria trailed off not having even a shaky defense to that.
“Look, we have a plan.” Liz stepped in when Maria faltered.
“Of course you do. So let’s hear it.” If it sounded too dangerous he’d call Max or Michael to help him haul them all back home.
~~~~~~
After brooding for much of the ride out to the desert and saying very little since, Ava finally broke the silence to ask the question that had been eating at her, the one she really wanted to ask of someone else entirely. “So what is it about Liz anyway?”
Casting a sharp glance over at his passenger Michael responded with ill humor. “Why are you asking me? I never dated her.”
“You’re a guy right? Surely you have an idea,” Ava snapped back.
Michael just shrugged uncomfortable with the subject.
“You never once thought about it?” Ava persisted.
“Problem with Sean?” Michael asked, neatly ducking her question by supplying his own. That usually worked with Maria.
“All he talks about is Liz,” Ava huffed, her hands gesturing wildly, clearly agitated. “I mean, really! Asking all kinds of questions about her when the last thing I want to be thinking about is her!”
“What kind of questions?” Michael asked suddenly engaged in the conversation. If Sean was going to be a problem he wanted to know about it.
“What I want to know is what’s the big deal? So he dated her a couple of times, so what! That was years ago!”
“It was more then a couple of times,” Michael replied then winced as Ava’s heated glare landed on him. “Hey, I’m just saying!”
“Thank you, Michael! So much, really,” Ava huffed and turned toward the window. Is this what it was like for Tess? Always being compared to someone else and never measuring up? Blinking back tears she tried to remember that she didn’t even care that much. Sean wasn’t that important.
“Look, just tell the guy to shut up,” Michael suggested, finally understanding that Ava was really upset. “Maria tells me that all the time.”
“Forget it,” Ava said flatly, focusing on the road ahead.
Michael stayed silent for a few minutes squirming inside at Ava’s abrupt silence.
“Okay, I can only tell you what I think. I don’t know Sean that well.”
Ava turned toward him, focused and ready to listen.
“I think Sean really sort of fell for her, back then, I mean. It might have started out as playing but they were both in a weird place. Sean had just gotten home and everyone treated him like a dangerous felon, and a major screw up, except for Liz. And Liz was all broken up over Alex, having issues with Max, they sort of understood each other I guess. Guys have a tendency to want to play the hero with her. Kyle did it, god knows Max did, but in his own way that’s what Sean was doing too. Trying to make her laugh, helping her break into the school, he was there for her in a way the rest of us couldn’t be. But in the end he had no chance with her, he knew that the same as everyone else did. Doesn’t mean he didn’t give it a shot. Doesn’t mean he doesn’t have feelings for you. Sometimes people are just a little slow in completely outgrowing the past, you know?”
“Yeah, I know,” Ava agreed softly, then after a sigh she slanted Michael a glance. “So you never once thought about playing the hero?”
“Nope, I’m not hero material.”
Ava laughed at the short fast answer.
~~~~~
Looking in through the window of the store Kyle didn’t understand the appeal. What had drawn the girl’s inside? It looked like a hodge-podge of crap to him. “You’re sure you bought a necklace here?” Kyle asked glancing over at Liz.
“Yes, I’m sure.”
“It’s a resale shop,” Isabel supplied, her brow wrinkled doubtfully. There was no name on the exterior of the building and unpacked boxes littered one the interior. There was no organization, no visible attempt made to draw in customers. It wasn’t strictly a resale shop either.
“Come on, let’s go in.” Maria pushed her way into the shop, tired of staring in through the window.
Liz trailed after her more slowly, taking in the shop and the absence of customers, the deserted feel of the place like they weren’t expecting any customers and had in fact planned it that way.
Suddenly the door to what she assumed was the backroom opened and same salesman appeared, taking them all in at a glance but focusing his attention on Liz after that first sweeping glance.
“Ah, my favorite customer! What can I do for you today?”
Kyle stepped up to the counter noting his military rigid bearing, so at odds with the unorganized mess of their surroundings. “You can tell us where you got that necklace you sold her.”
“I just came across it. It was what you were looking for?” Never taking his eyes from Liz, absorbing everything about her appearance like he was going to be tested on the details later.
“I lost it,” Liz said, not stepping any closer to the counter. Any normal person would have had to strain to hear her.
“I doubt that,” Shaking his head the man moved, coming around the counter only to come to a stop as Isabel placed herself between him and Liz. “You can’t loose what belongs to you. It always finds it’s way back. That necklace was made for you.”
“I know,” Liz agreed, hearing the truth in his words. She’d known the moment she saw it that the necklace belonged to her. “I need to know…”
“Why?”
“Yes,” Liz nodded, fully meeting his eyes for the first time. They were just as dark, just as compelling as she’d remembered them.
“I don’t know the answer to that. The mysteries of the universe are not as clear to me as they are to him. He was right. You wear it well.”
“What?” Maria blurted out, tired of being left out of the conversation. They were talking in code and she didn’t like it. “Look here, buddy, we want some answers. Not gibberish.”
“What are these marks?” Liz asked her fingers lifting to brush over the marks, seeing the sharp dilation of his eyes as her fingers brushed over her own skin.
“The marks aren’t important. It’s what’s behind them that you should be asking about.”
“So? What’s behind them?” Maria asked seeing Kyle and Isabel pacing around to more offensive positions boxing the shopkeeper between them.
“She carries our last living relic. It’s a most important piece, carried only by the…” His words faltered as he failed to find a translation adequate for the Antarian title that had no English counterpart. “Z’heir.” He rolled his shoulders in a wordless gesture that conveyed his inability to explain further. “A Seer chosen for their special abilities.”
“No, that doesn’t sound right,” Liz disagreed. “I’m not…I don’t see things.”
“The answer is there, inside you. The relic was taken directly from the Z’heir and brought here, to you. This was not done lightly.” D’moto remember clearly the agonized screams of the dying Z’heir as he tore the relic from his still living body. No this had not been done lightly. Inside the small fragile human shell before him was the hope of an entire people, he could feel it’s signature just beneath the surface, even through the layered protections K’hivar had insisted on.
Closing his eyes he focused the faint ebb and flow, in perfect harmony with the beating of her heart.
“Hello? We’re talking to you. Wake up,” Maria’s frustrated outburst and snapping fingers had his eyes blinking open.
“If you’re questioning your ability, don’t.”
“What is this relic exactly?” Isabel asked, moving even closer, encroaching on the man’s personal space deliberately.
“It is the last living source of Granolith. It is all that’s left. The Way is dying. A new path must be taken.” Looking between each person D’moto’s gaze was once again drawn back to Liz. K’hivar had chosen, he saw no reason to find fault with that choice. He just hoped that she was strong enough, protected well enough, for this to work.
“Mind if I have a look around?” Kyle asked, dissatisfied with the answers, or lack of them, that he was providing. Without waiting for a response Kyle glided away, poking into every box, going behind the counter, looking for anything to tell him more. Like who this guy was working with. How many others might be here in town right now.
~~~~~
“I’ve been played. Haven’t I?” Michael asked.
The site was crawling with people; the surrounding area had no less then six cameras recording every movement. Take your pick from two branches of military, four sheriff’s deputies, several people that he couldn’t pin a label on, the place was a zoo.
“Huh,” Ava said, all innocence. “Lot of people here.”
Michael didn’t bother responding. Pulling his phone from his pocket he dialed quickly, turning his back on Ava.
“Hello.”
“Maria, where the hell are you?”
“With Liz. We got bored so we went shopping.”
“Uh-huh, right. Sell that to someone who doesn’t know you. Now where are you?”
“We’re in the shop where we bought the necklace. We’re just asking a few questions.”
“What?”
“It’s okay. Isabel’s here and so is Kyle.”
“I’m on my way. Meet me at the CrashDown in twenty minutes.”
“Michael…”
“The CrashDown in twenty minutes, Maria,” Michael said through gritted teeth, reminding himself that yelling wouldn’t get her out of there any faster. She’d only dig in her heels, but the thought of her tracking down unknown aliens in her condition turned his blood to ice.
Ava had to run to keep up as Michael headed for the car.
“So what do you think we’ll find?” Maria asked glancing over at Liz who was walking beside her with Noah sandwiched between them.
“I don’t know,” Liz admitted keeping her hand on Erin’s shoulder to prevent her from racing ahead as she shrugged. “But I want to find out.”
“Are you sure?” Isabel asked from a couple steps behind them, forced to bring up the rear as she pulled Javen away from the electronics store window. “We could just hang out at the Crash, visit with your parents.”
Noah stared at the tips of his sneakers as he walked, his hands hot and sticky with nervous perspiration. Worried that his hand would slip right out of his mother’s grasp, he gripped her hand even tighter.
“I’m sure. I need to go back to that shop,” Liz answered, feeling driven there. Like everything would make sense if she could just understand what the marks meant. She wasn’t all that sure that Max would let Cal tell her the whole truth so finding out on her own seemed like her only option right now.
“Mommy, no,” Noah protested as her fingers moved to release his. He refused to allow it, holding on to keep her from thoughtlessly brushing the marks, drawing on their power from habit. She was strong enough without them.
“I’m sorry.” Liz stopped walking and stooped down to look directly into Noah’s eyes. Reading his sudden surge of fear incorrectly. Noah took all safety lectures very seriously including the rules for crossing the street. “I forgot, you’re right. We’re not supposed to cross the street without holding hands. I’m sorry.”
Before Noah could speak up a shadow fell over them both diverting his attention.
“Liz Parker! I can’t believe it!”
Liz plastered a fake smile on her face to match the fake sweetness saturating the chirped greeting. “Pam. How- um what a surprise, to see you like this.” Rising to her full height she turned to face the bane of her early teens.
Although Pam was arguably human there was something about her tall over-blown voluptuousness that was clearly predatory, a sly smugness behind her words that never failed to set Liz’s teeth on edge. Of course the fact that Pam had tried to have sex with Kyle while he was at a party with her might have influenced her opinion just a tad.
“Oh how cute! These must be your babies!” Pam gushed while casting a sly glance in Liz’s direction.
“I not a baby,” Erin piped up her expression turning stormy.
“Isn’t she just the sweetest little thing? She looks just like you, Liz.”
Maria rolled her eyes feeling a spurt of anger bloom inside her. This skanky ass bitch thought they were going to play her game? Well, they weren’t in high school anymore and if this tramp thought she was going sit back and let her go after Michael then she was sadly mistaken.
Turning toward Maria, Pam eyed her up and down before speaking. “It doesn’t look like your appetite has suffered any, what with being pregnant and unmarried and all. That’s great. You’re so brave, Maria.”
Isabel’s jaw dropped even as Maria’s face flushed with anger, her eyes narrowing down to mere slits.
“Really, I mean it. You’re all so modern.” Pam’s attention turned back to Liz and she smiled sweetly before her next jab. “Why I just ran into Kyle and I told him that it was just so sweet of him to stick by you like he has, even though your twins clearly aren’t his and all.”
“That’s it!” Maria declared through gritted teeth, dropping her purse getting ready to kick this bitch in her doublewide ass.
Isabel neatly cut her off, stepping in front of her and managing to look perfectly posed even as Maria rammed her in the back in an effort to get to Pam. “That’s funny because I just had a similar conversation with Pauly when I ran into him at the Shop and Save the other day. I was so sorry to hear about your divorce. I mean, it must have been so embarrassing to have him shouting like that in the delivery room.” Isabel gave a coolly mocking smile. “I mean, oops. Who could have guessed the baby would be so….ethnic looking right from birth. Have they finished all the DNA testing to figure out who the real father is yet?”
Pam’s eyes narrowed, lips pinching tight as she struggled for something to say in response. Before she could come up with anything Erin stepped forward her expression having gone from story to downright thunderous.
“You a skunk!” Erin announced loudly, a fierce scowl darkening her face. “Aunt Ria says…”
“Erin!” Liz gasp clamping her hand over Erin’s mouth and muffling the rest of what her daughter was about to repeat. “You don’t talk to people like that! We’ve talked about this before.”
“But…” Erin protested while trying to wiggle out from under her mother’s hand. The stern look she received quickly put a stop to her struggles.
“But nothing! We don’t act like that or talk to people that way, understand?” Liz asked firmly casting a sharp look in Maria’s direction.
“Yes,” Erin agreed still glowering at the smelly skunk lady. She was being mean to her Mommy and that wasn’t nice at all, so why did she have to be nice? She didn’t want to be nice. Noah didn’t like it either.
“Alright then, let’s go,” Liz checked for traffic before shepherding the kids across the street calling back to Pam as they reached the curb on the other side. “Tell Jose hello for me won’t you? See ya!”
Pam gasp, staring after them in shock wondering how Liz could possibly know about the two of them. No one knew, not even Jose’s wife.
“Jose? What was that about?” Maria asked Liz in a low voice.
“What? Nothing,” Liz responded confused by the question, then stopped dead in her tracks a huge grin spreading over her face. “Hey cowboy! What are you doing here?”
“Looking for you.” Kyle said bearing down on them and sweeping Liz into big hug.
Liz laughed as her feet left the ground hugging him back hard in return. “Well you found me.”
“So has someone else apparently. You’ve been immortalized in open desert art, sculpted out of glass, or so I hear?” Kyle asked releasing her only to see her roll her eyes. “What are you doing out here? Where’s Evans?”
“Um right here,” Isabel waved to draw his attention. “One Evans standing right in front of you.”
“Former Evans,” Kyle reminded her shifting his attention and flashing his most charming smile. “Congratulations on that by the way.”
“Don’t think you’re smoothing this one over. You missed my wedding!” Isabel scolded him, punching him lightly on the arm.
“Uncle Kyle! Uncle Kyle!” Erin squealed pulling at his shirt and dancing around impatiently.
“Hey princess!” Kyle lifted her up and tossed her high into the air provoking an ear splitting shriek of excitement. Plucking her out of thin air as if he did it everyday Kyle grinned. “Miss me?”
“Yes!”
“Show me what I taught you,” Kyle asked setting her on her feet and crouching down to be at her level.
Erin got into her batting stance, holding an imaginary bat, spitting once before the swing.
Kyle hooted loudly. “Out of the park!”
“Kyle,” Isabel rebuked wrinkling her nose in reaction to the spitting. Kyle just grinned unrepentant.
“Hi, Uncle Kyle,” Noah said jostling Erin out the way, smiling when he was pulled into an affectionate headlock.
“Hey big man,” Kyle greeted ruffling Noah’s hair. “Whoa!” Kyle exclaimed as Javen landed on his back and Erin latched onto his arm like a barnacle. “You guys think you can take me? FBI! Freeze!”
Maria watched him play wrestle with the three children in the middle of the sidewalk, looking as if he was having just as much fun as they were. There was no hint of Noah’s usual reserve with everyone’s favorite playmate. Speaking of playmate’s…
“Hey, Kyle!” Maria called drawing his attention. “How’d you get here so fast? I thought your new boss was giving you some static over taking time off.”
“She was,” Kyle admitted, gently extracting himself and drawing the fun to a temporary close. “But then I sorta got under her skin and she just wanted to send me far, far away.” Kyle joked then turned serious. “But as soon as reports started coming in about the up and coming art scene around here, I was ordered to haul ass and lay the ground work with the local law. My boss should be here by this afternoon to take over.”
“Great,” Isabel sighed, just imagining how Michael was going to react to that news. Not well would be a safe bet.
“So, you never answered my question.” Turning back to Liz, Kyle prepared to interrogate her until he got an answer. “Why are you here without El Presidente in tow? ‘Cause I know he had to have blown a circuit when he saw alien version of the Mona Liz. He doesn’t know you’re here does he?”
“Here, as in right here?” Maria asked sliding up and taking his arm. Turning him back toward the CrashDown she started walking, dragging Kyle along with her. “I’d have to say no, but we didn’t ditch him or anything if that’s what you’re implying.”
“I’m not implying anything. I’m flat out asking.”
“Max isn’t home today,” Liz inserted.
“So you snuck out.” Kyle observed with a nod.
“Sneaking implies that we’re disobeying our father or something,” Isabel grumbled.
“Brother,” Kyle corrected glancing over his shoulder in time to catch Isabel’s frown. “Oh come on, Iz. You expect me to believe Max didn’t try to tighten his fist and tuck Liz safely away?”
“Well, when you put it like that…” Maria trailed off not having even a shaky defense to that.
“Look, we have a plan.” Liz stepped in when Maria faltered.
“Of course you do. So let’s hear it.” If it sounded too dangerous he’d call Max or Michael to help him haul them all back home.
~~~~~~
After brooding for much of the ride out to the desert and saying very little since, Ava finally broke the silence to ask the question that had been eating at her, the one she really wanted to ask of someone else entirely. “So what is it about Liz anyway?”
Casting a sharp glance over at his passenger Michael responded with ill humor. “Why are you asking me? I never dated her.”
“You’re a guy right? Surely you have an idea,” Ava snapped back.
Michael just shrugged uncomfortable with the subject.
“You never once thought about it?” Ava persisted.
“Problem with Sean?” Michael asked, neatly ducking her question by supplying his own. That usually worked with Maria.
“All he talks about is Liz,” Ava huffed, her hands gesturing wildly, clearly agitated. “I mean, really! Asking all kinds of questions about her when the last thing I want to be thinking about is her!”
“What kind of questions?” Michael asked suddenly engaged in the conversation. If Sean was going to be a problem he wanted to know about it.
“What I want to know is what’s the big deal? So he dated her a couple of times, so what! That was years ago!”
“It was more then a couple of times,” Michael replied then winced as Ava’s heated glare landed on him. “Hey, I’m just saying!”
“Thank you, Michael! So much, really,” Ava huffed and turned toward the window. Is this what it was like for Tess? Always being compared to someone else and never measuring up? Blinking back tears she tried to remember that she didn’t even care that much. Sean wasn’t that important.
“Look, just tell the guy to shut up,” Michael suggested, finally understanding that Ava was really upset. “Maria tells me that all the time.”
“Forget it,” Ava said flatly, focusing on the road ahead.
Michael stayed silent for a few minutes squirming inside at Ava’s abrupt silence.
“Okay, I can only tell you what I think. I don’t know Sean that well.”
Ava turned toward him, focused and ready to listen.
“I think Sean really sort of fell for her, back then, I mean. It might have started out as playing but they were both in a weird place. Sean had just gotten home and everyone treated him like a dangerous felon, and a major screw up, except for Liz. And Liz was all broken up over Alex, having issues with Max, they sort of understood each other I guess. Guys have a tendency to want to play the hero with her. Kyle did it, god knows Max did, but in his own way that’s what Sean was doing too. Trying to make her laugh, helping her break into the school, he was there for her in a way the rest of us couldn’t be. But in the end he had no chance with her, he knew that the same as everyone else did. Doesn’t mean he didn’t give it a shot. Doesn’t mean he doesn’t have feelings for you. Sometimes people are just a little slow in completely outgrowing the past, you know?”
“Yeah, I know,” Ava agreed softly, then after a sigh she slanted Michael a glance. “So you never once thought about playing the hero?”
“Nope, I’m not hero material.”
Ava laughed at the short fast answer.
~~~~~
Looking in through the window of the store Kyle didn’t understand the appeal. What had drawn the girl’s inside? It looked like a hodge-podge of crap to him. “You’re sure you bought a necklace here?” Kyle asked glancing over at Liz.
“Yes, I’m sure.”
“It’s a resale shop,” Isabel supplied, her brow wrinkled doubtfully. There was no name on the exterior of the building and unpacked boxes littered one the interior. There was no organization, no visible attempt made to draw in customers. It wasn’t strictly a resale shop either.
“Come on, let’s go in.” Maria pushed her way into the shop, tired of staring in through the window.
Liz trailed after her more slowly, taking in the shop and the absence of customers, the deserted feel of the place like they weren’t expecting any customers and had in fact planned it that way.
Suddenly the door to what she assumed was the backroom opened and same salesman appeared, taking them all in at a glance but focusing his attention on Liz after that first sweeping glance.
“Ah, my favorite customer! What can I do for you today?”
Kyle stepped up to the counter noting his military rigid bearing, so at odds with the unorganized mess of their surroundings. “You can tell us where you got that necklace you sold her.”
“I just came across it. It was what you were looking for?” Never taking his eyes from Liz, absorbing everything about her appearance like he was going to be tested on the details later.
“I lost it,” Liz said, not stepping any closer to the counter. Any normal person would have had to strain to hear her.
“I doubt that,” Shaking his head the man moved, coming around the counter only to come to a stop as Isabel placed herself between him and Liz. “You can’t loose what belongs to you. It always finds it’s way back. That necklace was made for you.”
“I know,” Liz agreed, hearing the truth in his words. She’d known the moment she saw it that the necklace belonged to her. “I need to know…”
“Why?”
“Yes,” Liz nodded, fully meeting his eyes for the first time. They were just as dark, just as compelling as she’d remembered them.
“I don’t know the answer to that. The mysteries of the universe are not as clear to me as they are to him. He was right. You wear it well.”
“What?” Maria blurted out, tired of being left out of the conversation. They were talking in code and she didn’t like it. “Look here, buddy, we want some answers. Not gibberish.”
“What are these marks?” Liz asked her fingers lifting to brush over the marks, seeing the sharp dilation of his eyes as her fingers brushed over her own skin.
“The marks aren’t important. It’s what’s behind them that you should be asking about.”
“So? What’s behind them?” Maria asked seeing Kyle and Isabel pacing around to more offensive positions boxing the shopkeeper between them.
“She carries our last living relic. It’s a most important piece, carried only by the…” His words faltered as he failed to find a translation adequate for the Antarian title that had no English counterpart. “Z’heir.” He rolled his shoulders in a wordless gesture that conveyed his inability to explain further. “A Seer chosen for their special abilities.”
“No, that doesn’t sound right,” Liz disagreed. “I’m not…I don’t see things.”
“The answer is there, inside you. The relic was taken directly from the Z’heir and brought here, to you. This was not done lightly.” D’moto remember clearly the agonized screams of the dying Z’heir as he tore the relic from his still living body. No this had not been done lightly. Inside the small fragile human shell before him was the hope of an entire people, he could feel it’s signature just beneath the surface, even through the layered protections K’hivar had insisted on.
Closing his eyes he focused the faint ebb and flow, in perfect harmony with the beating of her heart.
“Hello? We’re talking to you. Wake up,” Maria’s frustrated outburst and snapping fingers had his eyes blinking open.
“If you’re questioning your ability, don’t.”
“What is this relic exactly?” Isabel asked, moving even closer, encroaching on the man’s personal space deliberately.
“It is the last living source of Granolith. It is all that’s left. The Way is dying. A new path must be taken.” Looking between each person D’moto’s gaze was once again drawn back to Liz. K’hivar had chosen, he saw no reason to find fault with that choice. He just hoped that she was strong enough, protected well enough, for this to work.
“Mind if I have a look around?” Kyle asked, dissatisfied with the answers, or lack of them, that he was providing. Without waiting for a response Kyle glided away, poking into every box, going behind the counter, looking for anything to tell him more. Like who this guy was working with. How many others might be here in town right now.
~~~~~
“I’ve been played. Haven’t I?” Michael asked.
The site was crawling with people; the surrounding area had no less then six cameras recording every movement. Take your pick from two branches of military, four sheriff’s deputies, several people that he couldn’t pin a label on, the place was a zoo.
“Huh,” Ava said, all innocence. “Lot of people here.”
Michael didn’t bother responding. Pulling his phone from his pocket he dialed quickly, turning his back on Ava.
“Hello.”
“Maria, where the hell are you?”
“With Liz. We got bored so we went shopping.”
“Uh-huh, right. Sell that to someone who doesn’t know you. Now where are you?”
“We’re in the shop where we bought the necklace. We’re just asking a few questions.”
“What?”
“It’s okay. Isabel’s here and so is Kyle.”
“I’m on my way. Meet me at the CrashDown in twenty minutes.”
“Michael…”
“The CrashDown in twenty minutes, Maria,” Michael said through gritted teeth, reminding himself that yelling wouldn’t get her out of there any faster. She’d only dig in her heels, but the thought of her tracking down unknown aliens in her condition turned his blood to ice.
Ava had to run to keep up as Michael headed for the car.
Chapter Forty Six
“This one.”
Cal glanced away from the road only long enough to see which resume Max was holding. “Kendra LeFluer? Why that one?”
Max shrugged turning his head to look out at the passing scenery. “She’s got all the qualifications we need. Plus, I remember the name from back in high school. I think she was a couple of grades behind us. The others I don’t recognize.”
“Okay, I’ll call her,” Cal agreed already loosing interest. He had other things on his mind. He couldn’t care less who they hired as their secretary. They had more important things to worry about.
Like finding out how Tess was still a factor years after her death.
Death, of course, why hadn’t he thought this through sooner?
Tess was dead, of that he was sure. But then she’d died once before hadn’t she? Was it possible, after all this time, to use the samples originally taken for their re-creation? No, that wouldn’t play out. To re-create memory the sample would have had to have been taken from Tess directly, not Ava as she had been more then fifty years ago but the version that had lived here on Earth. It would have to contain more then just DNA.
“What ever happened to the crystal we used to destroy Tess?” Cal asked suddenly. He knew he didn’t have it.
“I don’t know. Why?” Max asked startled out of his own thoughts by Cal’s abrupt question.
“Because it might answer some of the questions I have. Like how Tess is still contacting Liz. If that’s what is happening.”
“Is that possible?” Max asked feeling his chest begin to ache. If it was Tess and he’d known about the dreams all this time and not done anything…
“You tell me,” Cal demanded curtly. He was sick and tired of only being told what Max wanted to tell him. If he’d only known about this sooner it would have saved everyone a lot of trouble. “You’re the one that started the project. Is it possible?”
“I didn’t start anything.”
Cal rolled his eyes at Max’s hair splitting. “Fine, you came up with this application for your father’s interests. Now, is it possible? If a sample was taken from Tess after she left in the Granolith and someone managed to get a hold of the crystal holding her essence, is it possible?”
“Possible for that someone to create her again? Yes, it’s possible, but that doesn’t explain how she could be contacting Liz. She wouldn’t be old enough, or strong enough, even if she did retain her memories.”
“They’ve had over fifty years to improve on the technology. Are you really so sure that it isn’t possible? Really?” Cal asked an ashen-faced Max. “Now I want you to tell me everything. Everything you know about what’s going on with Liz, no more games.”
*****
Liz’s brow creased in concentration as she struggled to understand what she was being told. The man was speaking English, she was almost sure of that, but she just wasn’t getting it.
“I don’t understand. Why would anyone give me this…living relic? I’m not…I’m human,” Liz asked speaking in a slow measured tone of voice.
“Yes, I did notice that,” D’moto remarked his voice dry. “You are exactly what you are supposed to be, nothing more and nothing less. It doesn’t matter what species carries the relic. You have the ability to carry it, that is all that matters.”
“What does it do? This relic?” Isabel asked, not missing the fleeting expression of surprise that crossed the man’s face at her question before it settled back into a neutral mask.
“It is what makes life as we know it possible. It is much more then a relic, it lives. It experiences life through the one who carries it. That affects Sight, how clearly a Path is seen and the focus placed on certain events, which in turn can change history. The relics carrier have influenced which kings sit on certain thrones, who has what council seat, and things that have nothing to do with politics at all. It has made our version of space travel possible. It is more then a natural resource, more then a political tool, it is just more.”
“No, see,” Liz paused fighting the spurt of panic that threatened to cut off her words. “I’m just-I’m not anything special. I don’t have this sight thing that you keep talking about! I was born here, in a small town and if Max hadn’t healed me I’d be the most normal, to the point of boring, person you could ever meet. I can’t determine events for a planet I’ve never even seen! That’s crazy! There’s been some sort of mistake!”
“I don’t think so,” D’moto disagreed, carefully regulating the functions of this form feeling each new source of stimuli acutely. It still felt uncomfortably new almost raw, so he momentarily forgot to breath as the sustained intensity he felt as reverberation inside him scraped across his senses with incredible force. He even lost his expressionless mask as he realized exactly how ineffective the protections K’hivar had insisted on actually were.
“What was that?” Isabel asked, rubbing her arms where the fine hair was standing on end.
D’moto watched the flash of guilt cross Liz’s face and thought that K’hivar had chosen very wisely. She wasn’t inclined to use power to force others compliance. That would be a vast improvement over the last carrier right there.
“Why are you smiling?” Maria demanded advancing on the freaky shopkeeper, entirely forgetting about Michael and the need to leave. Poking her finger into the alien’s chest she felt her temper start to simmer. “What’s so funny? Huh?” Poke. Poke. “This isn’t funny. Liz almost torched herself! Would you smile then? Maybe toast some marshmallows and make S’mores you creepy bastard!”
“Maria!” Isabel snapped, grabbing her hand before she could jab the shopkeeper in the chest again. Please God, let them all live through Maria’s pregnancy!
When it looked like the productive part of the conversation was at an end Liz quietly eased away, not far, just enough to think. Rubbing the center of her chest she tried to slow her pounding heart. What the hell had just happened?
Feeling the walls closing in on her Liz turned toward the door and bounced off a very hard object and was caught by the elbows before she could fall. “Sorry! I didn’t mean to…” Her words trailed into silence as she met his eyes. Immediately seeing through to the person underneath. The escalating squabble that she’d been trying to escape faded away in space between one heartbeat and the next.
Looking down at where his hands touched her skin Khivar was struck by the thought that this was the first time he had ever really touched her. Well, it wasn’t exactly him touching her but he was really here, in the flesh so to speak.
Looking at his smile she came to a very unsettling realization. There was something there between them; she refused to label it as attraction because she didn’t think that applied. At least she wasn’t sexually attracted to him, it was something else, she was almost sure. Without thinking, she stepped back away from him until his hands dropped away. Hugging her middle she eyed him warily.
“Did D’moto answer your questions?” Khivar asked seeing a discomfort that boarded on fear reflected in her eyes.
“Not really, no.” Shaking her head in frustration Liz wasn’t even sure she wanted to hear anymore. Not from him.
“Would you like for me to try and answer some of your questions?” Khivar waited for her response taking in every detail of her appearance while she waged an internal battle, catching her bottom lip between small white teeth as she sized him up. Seeing the familiar mannerism reassured him that what he’d seen of her in dreams wasn’t so far from reality.
“Why do you think I have the ability to see things? Things that could shape history?” Liz finally asked, watching him intently to catch even the slightest nuance to his response, trusting not just her eyes but reaching for what he might try to hide behind the shell that he was wearing.
“Why do you think you don’t? Because you haven’t so far?” Khivar asked in return. “You do have powers. You were trained to use them by Cal, yes?”
Liz nodded made uneasy by how confident he seemed. Like he had expected her questions and had the answers ready for her.
“Max’s protector. Teaching you to use Max’s powers.”
“What? No.”
With a dismissive wave of his hand he continued, determined to have her finally see what was happening around her. “You can heal small things. You have limited blasting capability. You can rearrange molecules to change the appearance of things. These are all things Max can also do. You have nothing that is unique to you at this point correct?”
“Well, no, I mean yes but..”
“Did Langley ever test you? Or did he just show you how to do these particular things?”
“Um, at first he just showed me how to exert control over my powers. Doing simple things when I could find some time to learn between everything else. He did do a relaxation exercise with me.”
Impressed that Langley had seemingly started the testing process he prompted her to continue. “What happened after that?”
“Nothing really, he seemed pleased but then he and Max left to…he was busy after that. Then I got swamped with school and I got an internship.”
“You can’t effectively use an ability that you aren’t even aware of, that you haven’t practiced to strengthen. I am not wrong. Without the ability to see future events you wouldn’t have been drawn to the necklace. My Birthstone wouldn’t be enough to stabilize it once it melded with you. To have the reaction you did you must have your own ability. I wouldn’t feel it matching itself to you, echoing your heartbeat, changing more with every moment you hold it.”
“I’m not “holding” it. It burrowed its way inside me. You sent it here knowing that would happen,” Liz accused.
“Yes, I knew,” Khivar agreed readily. “I knew it belonged with you and you that as well. From the very first moment you saw it you knew because you felt it. I knew and chose my path accordingly. As did Max. He knows what you are. What role you were born to play.”
“What are you talking about?” Liz demanded sharply. Talk, talk, talk and tell her nothing she could hold on to. No facts, not anything at all really.
Drawing her further away from the others and closer to the front of the shop Khivar continued. “Have you ever heard of Italian perspective?”
“No,” Liz answered walking with him only as far as the front windows.
“I like art, looking at it, reading about it…”
“Creating it out of desert sand,” Liz inserted with an arched brow to which Khivar just smiled.
“I read about this Italian perspective while studying your culture. An artist picks a point on the horizon, the vanishing point, and all of the works straight lines head toward that point. It makes the picture or painting look real. When the picture is complete the guidelines are erased along with the vanishing point because that point was never actually there, never meant to exist in the finished artwork. But it does exist. It’s implied in everything else. Nothing in the picture could be without it. Just like you, Liz.”
“You’ve been that point since before you were ever born. Everything that has happened leads to you. That’s what K’liusi means. History has already been altered because of you. Before you existed events were shaped by the fact that you WOULD exist, decisions were made based on that fact, actions were taken along with lives. Now you’re here, that point on the horizon that we’ve all been searching for. Max knows that as I do. We just have different ways of handling that knowledge.”
“So what you’re saying is that Max knows that I’m supposed to be…whatever, this big deal right? And that he’s kept that from me all this time? You’re wrong. He didn’t even know who he was!”
“I’m not saying that he’s always known. He manages to not see what he doesn’t want to acknowledge. I don’t know whether something went wrong with the pods and that’s why he lost his memories or if he deliberately locked that knowledge away somehow. It doesn’t really matter.”
“No, it doesn’t because Max wouldn’t do that.” Liz hugged herself tighter resisting the implication behind his words.
Khivar stayed silent seeing that he needed to shift the direction of this conversation, she was getting defensive and he needed for her to listen.
“You sound like you knew him, Zan I mean,” Liz prodded switching the topic onto him, his past.
“Yes, I knew him. We were schooled together, trained together. I know him very well.”
The grim set to his features didn’t encourage more questions but she was curious. “Were you friends?”
“No, never friends. Competitors would be closer to the truth. We were not encouraged to form friendships as they weren’t necessary. We were there to learn and Zan and I were closely matched in ability so we were often trained together. That is all.”
Right, like she believed that. “What happened to your face?”
“A minor disagreement,” Khivar replied rubbing at his vessel’s sore jaw while smiling slightly.
“Someone disagreed with you? I can’t even imagine.”
Khivar smiled wider and tugged on a lock of her hair as a gentle rebuke.
“Step back away from her or clogging will have a whole new meaning for you,” Maria said shoe raised and ready to brain the creep.
“Maria!” Liz blurted out in shock at her sudden appearance.
“Michael’s going to be so pissed when he finds this out,” Maria accused. “I was supposed to meet him but then that E.T. got all hostile and I forgot. Damn it Liz, what are you doing here with him? You’re going to have to explain this to Michael because I have no idea what to say.”
Liz saw Khivar’s eyes crinkle in amusement as Maria rambled on, right up until the moment she lowered her arm and clogged him.
“Oops,” Maria said watching his eyes roll back into his head. “Think I killed him? Who was he anyway?”
Liz dropped to her knees beside his prone body wincing as she brushed back a stray lock of hair to view the swiftly darkening bump on his head. “How hard did you hit him?”
“Not that hard,” Maria answered then shrugged. “I guess Michael’s head is a little harder then his.”
Blowing out an annoyed breath Liz glanced up at her friend. “Why did you have to hit him? He wasn’t doing anything.”
“So I should wait until he does? Drags you outside and throws you into a black paneled van? Or uses some freaky alien power on you? I don’t think so.” Maria hopped on one foot as she struggled to cram her foot back into her shoe. “Honestly Liz! What were you thinking?”
“Shh, I think he’s coming around,” Liz hushed her.
“Oh God, my head! What happened? Who are you?” Brian blinked several times in an effort to clear his vision. He’d obviously had another blackout.
“You got a tiny bump on the head. I’m Liz and this is Maria.”
“Hi.” Maria gave a sarcastic little finger wave.
“Can you tell me who you are?” Liz asked cautiously watching the confusion flicker across his face and felt a stirring of sympathy.
“Brian. Brain Holbrock.” Struggling to his feet as more people he didn’t know suddenly materialized.
*****
Groaning Khivar sat up, seeing an anxiously hovering K’deem he attempted to smile momentarily forgetting that he’d lost his human form.
Taking a step back at the sight of Khivar’s bared teeth K’deem bowed his head before making his inquiry, showing submission so as not to anger him. “Are you well?”
“Yes, but K’deem, that movie lied. Earth girls aren’t easy. They’re crazy. One of them just hit me over the head with her shoe. With no provocation from me I assure you.”
“This pleases you?” K’deem asked thoroughly confused.
“It was Rath’s mate.”
“I see,” K’deem answered when he clearly didn’t see at all. “She is…” Searching for the correct word he shifted back and forth, groping through his memory. “Pregnant? I believe they’re unpredictable during this time. Carrying their offspring around as they do.”
“I believe you’re right about that.” Imagining Rath dealing with an emotional and unpredictable mate amused him greatly. Enough to overlook the fact that she probably meant to kill him. She was certainly a good friend. “Is everything ready?”
“Yes, I have seen to everything. It is exactly as you have instructed.”
“Thank you, K’deem. I’m ready to begin. Things are really fluid right now. I need to personally oversee things.”
“This one.”
Cal glanced away from the road only long enough to see which resume Max was holding. “Kendra LeFluer? Why that one?”
Max shrugged turning his head to look out at the passing scenery. “She’s got all the qualifications we need. Plus, I remember the name from back in high school. I think she was a couple of grades behind us. The others I don’t recognize.”
“Okay, I’ll call her,” Cal agreed already loosing interest. He had other things on his mind. He couldn’t care less who they hired as their secretary. They had more important things to worry about.
Like finding out how Tess was still a factor years after her death.
Death, of course, why hadn’t he thought this through sooner?
Tess was dead, of that he was sure. But then she’d died once before hadn’t she? Was it possible, after all this time, to use the samples originally taken for their re-creation? No, that wouldn’t play out. To re-create memory the sample would have had to have been taken from Tess directly, not Ava as she had been more then fifty years ago but the version that had lived here on Earth. It would have to contain more then just DNA.
“What ever happened to the crystal we used to destroy Tess?” Cal asked suddenly. He knew he didn’t have it.
“I don’t know. Why?” Max asked startled out of his own thoughts by Cal’s abrupt question.
“Because it might answer some of the questions I have. Like how Tess is still contacting Liz. If that’s what is happening.”
“Is that possible?” Max asked feeling his chest begin to ache. If it was Tess and he’d known about the dreams all this time and not done anything…
“You tell me,” Cal demanded curtly. He was sick and tired of only being told what Max wanted to tell him. If he’d only known about this sooner it would have saved everyone a lot of trouble. “You’re the one that started the project. Is it possible?”
“I didn’t start anything.”
Cal rolled his eyes at Max’s hair splitting. “Fine, you came up with this application for your father’s interests. Now, is it possible? If a sample was taken from Tess after she left in the Granolith and someone managed to get a hold of the crystal holding her essence, is it possible?”
“Possible for that someone to create her again? Yes, it’s possible, but that doesn’t explain how she could be contacting Liz. She wouldn’t be old enough, or strong enough, even if she did retain her memories.”
“They’ve had over fifty years to improve on the technology. Are you really so sure that it isn’t possible? Really?” Cal asked an ashen-faced Max. “Now I want you to tell me everything. Everything you know about what’s going on with Liz, no more games.”
*****
Liz’s brow creased in concentration as she struggled to understand what she was being told. The man was speaking English, she was almost sure of that, but she just wasn’t getting it.
“I don’t understand. Why would anyone give me this…living relic? I’m not…I’m human,” Liz asked speaking in a slow measured tone of voice.
“Yes, I did notice that,” D’moto remarked his voice dry. “You are exactly what you are supposed to be, nothing more and nothing less. It doesn’t matter what species carries the relic. You have the ability to carry it, that is all that matters.”
“What does it do? This relic?” Isabel asked, not missing the fleeting expression of surprise that crossed the man’s face at her question before it settled back into a neutral mask.
“It is what makes life as we know it possible. It is much more then a relic, it lives. It experiences life through the one who carries it. That affects Sight, how clearly a Path is seen and the focus placed on certain events, which in turn can change history. The relics carrier have influenced which kings sit on certain thrones, who has what council seat, and things that have nothing to do with politics at all. It has made our version of space travel possible. It is more then a natural resource, more then a political tool, it is just more.”
“No, see,” Liz paused fighting the spurt of panic that threatened to cut off her words. “I’m just-I’m not anything special. I don’t have this sight thing that you keep talking about! I was born here, in a small town and if Max hadn’t healed me I’d be the most normal, to the point of boring, person you could ever meet. I can’t determine events for a planet I’ve never even seen! That’s crazy! There’s been some sort of mistake!”
“I don’t think so,” D’moto disagreed, carefully regulating the functions of this form feeling each new source of stimuli acutely. It still felt uncomfortably new almost raw, so he momentarily forgot to breath as the sustained intensity he felt as reverberation inside him scraped across his senses with incredible force. He even lost his expressionless mask as he realized exactly how ineffective the protections K’hivar had insisted on actually were.
“What was that?” Isabel asked, rubbing her arms where the fine hair was standing on end.
D’moto watched the flash of guilt cross Liz’s face and thought that K’hivar had chosen very wisely. She wasn’t inclined to use power to force others compliance. That would be a vast improvement over the last carrier right there.
“Why are you smiling?” Maria demanded advancing on the freaky shopkeeper, entirely forgetting about Michael and the need to leave. Poking her finger into the alien’s chest she felt her temper start to simmer. “What’s so funny? Huh?” Poke. Poke. “This isn’t funny. Liz almost torched herself! Would you smile then? Maybe toast some marshmallows and make S’mores you creepy bastard!”
“Maria!” Isabel snapped, grabbing her hand before she could jab the shopkeeper in the chest again. Please God, let them all live through Maria’s pregnancy!
When it looked like the productive part of the conversation was at an end Liz quietly eased away, not far, just enough to think. Rubbing the center of her chest she tried to slow her pounding heart. What the hell had just happened?
Feeling the walls closing in on her Liz turned toward the door and bounced off a very hard object and was caught by the elbows before she could fall. “Sorry! I didn’t mean to…” Her words trailed into silence as she met his eyes. Immediately seeing through to the person underneath. The escalating squabble that she’d been trying to escape faded away in space between one heartbeat and the next.
Looking down at where his hands touched her skin Khivar was struck by the thought that this was the first time he had ever really touched her. Well, it wasn’t exactly him touching her but he was really here, in the flesh so to speak.
Looking at his smile she came to a very unsettling realization. There was something there between them; she refused to label it as attraction because she didn’t think that applied. At least she wasn’t sexually attracted to him, it was something else, she was almost sure. Without thinking, she stepped back away from him until his hands dropped away. Hugging her middle she eyed him warily.
“Did D’moto answer your questions?” Khivar asked seeing a discomfort that boarded on fear reflected in her eyes.
“Not really, no.” Shaking her head in frustration Liz wasn’t even sure she wanted to hear anymore. Not from him.
“Would you like for me to try and answer some of your questions?” Khivar waited for her response taking in every detail of her appearance while she waged an internal battle, catching her bottom lip between small white teeth as she sized him up. Seeing the familiar mannerism reassured him that what he’d seen of her in dreams wasn’t so far from reality.
“Why do you think I have the ability to see things? Things that could shape history?” Liz finally asked, watching him intently to catch even the slightest nuance to his response, trusting not just her eyes but reaching for what he might try to hide behind the shell that he was wearing.
“Why do you think you don’t? Because you haven’t so far?” Khivar asked in return. “You do have powers. You were trained to use them by Cal, yes?”
Liz nodded made uneasy by how confident he seemed. Like he had expected her questions and had the answers ready for her.
“Max’s protector. Teaching you to use Max’s powers.”
“What? No.”
With a dismissive wave of his hand he continued, determined to have her finally see what was happening around her. “You can heal small things. You have limited blasting capability. You can rearrange molecules to change the appearance of things. These are all things Max can also do. You have nothing that is unique to you at this point correct?”
“Well, no, I mean yes but..”
“Did Langley ever test you? Or did he just show you how to do these particular things?”
“Um, at first he just showed me how to exert control over my powers. Doing simple things when I could find some time to learn between everything else. He did do a relaxation exercise with me.”
Impressed that Langley had seemingly started the testing process he prompted her to continue. “What happened after that?”
“Nothing really, he seemed pleased but then he and Max left to…he was busy after that. Then I got swamped with school and I got an internship.”
“You can’t effectively use an ability that you aren’t even aware of, that you haven’t practiced to strengthen. I am not wrong. Without the ability to see future events you wouldn’t have been drawn to the necklace. My Birthstone wouldn’t be enough to stabilize it once it melded with you. To have the reaction you did you must have your own ability. I wouldn’t feel it matching itself to you, echoing your heartbeat, changing more with every moment you hold it.”
“I’m not “holding” it. It burrowed its way inside me. You sent it here knowing that would happen,” Liz accused.
“Yes, I knew,” Khivar agreed readily. “I knew it belonged with you and you that as well. From the very first moment you saw it you knew because you felt it. I knew and chose my path accordingly. As did Max. He knows what you are. What role you were born to play.”
“What are you talking about?” Liz demanded sharply. Talk, talk, talk and tell her nothing she could hold on to. No facts, not anything at all really.
Drawing her further away from the others and closer to the front of the shop Khivar continued. “Have you ever heard of Italian perspective?”
“No,” Liz answered walking with him only as far as the front windows.
“I like art, looking at it, reading about it…”
“Creating it out of desert sand,” Liz inserted with an arched brow to which Khivar just smiled.
“I read about this Italian perspective while studying your culture. An artist picks a point on the horizon, the vanishing point, and all of the works straight lines head toward that point. It makes the picture or painting look real. When the picture is complete the guidelines are erased along with the vanishing point because that point was never actually there, never meant to exist in the finished artwork. But it does exist. It’s implied in everything else. Nothing in the picture could be without it. Just like you, Liz.”
“You’ve been that point since before you were ever born. Everything that has happened leads to you. That’s what K’liusi means. History has already been altered because of you. Before you existed events were shaped by the fact that you WOULD exist, decisions were made based on that fact, actions were taken along with lives. Now you’re here, that point on the horizon that we’ve all been searching for. Max knows that as I do. We just have different ways of handling that knowledge.”
“So what you’re saying is that Max knows that I’m supposed to be…whatever, this big deal right? And that he’s kept that from me all this time? You’re wrong. He didn’t even know who he was!”
“I’m not saying that he’s always known. He manages to not see what he doesn’t want to acknowledge. I don’t know whether something went wrong with the pods and that’s why he lost his memories or if he deliberately locked that knowledge away somehow. It doesn’t really matter.”
“No, it doesn’t because Max wouldn’t do that.” Liz hugged herself tighter resisting the implication behind his words.
Khivar stayed silent seeing that he needed to shift the direction of this conversation, she was getting defensive and he needed for her to listen.
“You sound like you knew him, Zan I mean,” Liz prodded switching the topic onto him, his past.
“Yes, I knew him. We were schooled together, trained together. I know him very well.”
The grim set to his features didn’t encourage more questions but she was curious. “Were you friends?”
“No, never friends. Competitors would be closer to the truth. We were not encouraged to form friendships as they weren’t necessary. We were there to learn and Zan and I were closely matched in ability so we were often trained together. That is all.”
Right, like she believed that. “What happened to your face?”
“A minor disagreement,” Khivar replied rubbing at his vessel’s sore jaw while smiling slightly.
“Someone disagreed with you? I can’t even imagine.”
Khivar smiled wider and tugged on a lock of her hair as a gentle rebuke.
“Step back away from her or clogging will have a whole new meaning for you,” Maria said shoe raised and ready to brain the creep.
“Maria!” Liz blurted out in shock at her sudden appearance.
“Michael’s going to be so pissed when he finds this out,” Maria accused. “I was supposed to meet him but then that E.T. got all hostile and I forgot. Damn it Liz, what are you doing here with him? You’re going to have to explain this to Michael because I have no idea what to say.”
Liz saw Khivar’s eyes crinkle in amusement as Maria rambled on, right up until the moment she lowered her arm and clogged him.
“Oops,” Maria said watching his eyes roll back into his head. “Think I killed him? Who was he anyway?”
Liz dropped to her knees beside his prone body wincing as she brushed back a stray lock of hair to view the swiftly darkening bump on his head. “How hard did you hit him?”
“Not that hard,” Maria answered then shrugged. “I guess Michael’s head is a little harder then his.”
Blowing out an annoyed breath Liz glanced up at her friend. “Why did you have to hit him? He wasn’t doing anything.”
“So I should wait until he does? Drags you outside and throws you into a black paneled van? Or uses some freaky alien power on you? I don’t think so.” Maria hopped on one foot as she struggled to cram her foot back into her shoe. “Honestly Liz! What were you thinking?”
“Shh, I think he’s coming around,” Liz hushed her.
“Oh God, my head! What happened? Who are you?” Brian blinked several times in an effort to clear his vision. He’d obviously had another blackout.
“You got a tiny bump on the head. I’m Liz and this is Maria.”
“Hi.” Maria gave a sarcastic little finger wave.
“Can you tell me who you are?” Liz asked cautiously watching the confusion flicker across his face and felt a stirring of sympathy.
“Brian. Brain Holbrock.” Struggling to his feet as more people he didn’t know suddenly materialized.
*****
Groaning Khivar sat up, seeing an anxiously hovering K’deem he attempted to smile momentarily forgetting that he’d lost his human form.
Taking a step back at the sight of Khivar’s bared teeth K’deem bowed his head before making his inquiry, showing submission so as not to anger him. “Are you well?”
“Yes, but K’deem, that movie lied. Earth girls aren’t easy. They’re crazy. One of them just hit me over the head with her shoe. With no provocation from me I assure you.”
“This pleases you?” K’deem asked thoroughly confused.
“It was Rath’s mate.”
“I see,” K’deem answered when he clearly didn’t see at all. “She is…” Searching for the correct word he shifted back and forth, groping through his memory. “Pregnant? I believe they’re unpredictable during this time. Carrying their offspring around as they do.”
“I believe you’re right about that.” Imagining Rath dealing with an emotional and unpredictable mate amused him greatly. Enough to overlook the fact that she probably meant to kill him. She was certainly a good friend. “Is everything ready?”
“Yes, I have seen to everything. It is exactly as you have instructed.”
“Thank you, K’deem. I’m ready to begin. Things are really fluid right now. I need to personally oversee things.”
Finally!
Chapter Forty Seven
Although Liz was present in body her thoughts were far from the argument raging around her. She didn’t have a lot to add anyway. She’d told them everything, well pretty much everything at least. In fact, it had been her admission that in all likelihood it had actually been Khivar that she’d been talking to that had sent Michael through the roof. He was shouting so loudly it was a wonder that everyone downstairs in the café didn’t hear him.
Her thoughts kept drifting away from his rant and circling back to two things.
The hot surge of fear that had carried her powers along with it until even Isabel had felt it; she’d just wanted him to stop. To just stop talking because she didn’t want to hear anymore and for a moment he had. He’d stopped even breathing. Until she’d realized what she’d done.
Then there was Khivar. That feeling of acute awareness that had been almost painful in intensity increasing exponentially when he’d touched her. What she’d felt wasn’t simple. It was complex, convoluted and thoroughly confusing. He’d had presence even cloaked inside someone else’s body. God, what would it be like when he was really there? Because she didn’t doubt for a moment that he would be standing in front of her again sometime soon.
And where was Max?
Liz snapped to attention when Michael whirled on her and started hurtling accusations at her while shoving his finger in her face.
“What the hell were you thinking? Maria I can almost understand but you? Didn’t Max tell you to stay put?” Michael shouted, the veins in his neck bulging with fury.
“Like he did you?” Liz asked ignoring his finger along with the urge to tear it off.
“That was different!” When Liz just arched her eyebrow in response Michael sucked in air like an enraged bull. “I’m not the one that’s having intimate chats with the enemy!”
Liz rolled her eyes and tapped her fingernail on the edge of her parent’s kitchen table, which just served to fan the flames of Michael’s rage.
“He’s here for you! Not me!”
“How am I supposed to find anything out when no one will tell me anything!” Liz shouted back surprising everyone in the room with her outburst. “Where exactly is Max? Huh Michael? I know you’ve called him. So where is he? If I’m in so much danger then why isn’t Max here?”
“He had to take care of some business,” Michael answered uncomfortably, and began to pace in the limited space angry that he was the one left to deal with this mess.
“Oh. Right.” Liz nodded. “Business.”
“Look. You can’t believe anything Khivar tells you anyway. So why ask the questions?”
“Because maybe I can sort out at least part of the truth. I know I can’t believe everything I hear. Like ‘I’ve got a really important business thing. I’ll be right back.’ See? I’ve got it. I don’t think I’m in danger of forgetting that lesson.”
“Oh come on! This isn’t the same thing!” Frustrated Michael was ready to wring her neck like a chicken. Can’t any female have a reasonable discussion and just admit that he was right?
“He’s right, Liz,” Maria chipped in. “He was…touching you.”
“I almost fell when I bumped into him.”
“No,” Maria shook her head, absolutely sure of what she’d seen. “He was touching your hair. Like Max always does.”
“No,” Liz denied refusing to even entertain the thought for even a second. “It’s not…”
“Why? Maybe that’s what he wants. You.” Michael suggested trying to drive home the point he’d been trying to make. That she couldn’t just walk the streets when everyone knew she was the focus of attention.
“I’d think that’s pretty clear at this point,” Kyle inserted. “The question is why. Revenge? Max pissed him off so bad that he’s still trying to get even over fifty years later?”
“No, I don’t think so,” Liz disagreed. “I don’t think it’s personal like that.”
“He was fondling you! That’s personal,” Michael shot back still wired over the thought of Maria that close to danger.
“He was not!” Liz hotly denied the not so subtle insult. “You think he’s coming all the way here, for what? Sex? With me?” Liz laughed at the very idea. “Are you kidding? That’s crazy. He’s not in love with me either before you go down that road. He hasn’t put the moves on me at all.”
“That’s not true,” Isabel finally spoke up from her spot along the wall. “He has been putting moves on you, before he ever showed up here. He’s been doing it in your dreams. I saw it. I felt it in the way he was absolutely focused on you.”
“He’s intense but…” Liz paused unable to put into words why she thought it wasn’t about that. He did want something from her but she doubted it was anything of that nature.
“Maybe he wants to have a child with you,” Maria suggested, thoughtlessly blurting out the words as the idea bloomed in her head. “Tess keeps calling you a breeder right? Maybe that doesn’t have to do with Max at all. Having a child with you, the chosen mate of the rightful king, might give him an edge in keeping the throne.”
“What?” Liz gasp. “No. No,” Shaking her head as she got up from the table. “That’s not happening.”
Isabel shot Maria a glare as Liz fled the room. “Way to go, Maria. Scare the hell out of her. Like Tess didn’t do enough of that.”
“She needs to be scared,” Michael insisted. “She’s taking chances with everyone’s life here. Max still isn’t right. He won’t be able to handle it if anything happens to her. She has no idea what Khivar’s up to but she waltzes up to him like it’s nothing.”
“That’s not true and you know it. He approached her. We had no reason to believe he’d be there.” Isabel argued in defense of Liz. “We talked about it, about the risks and possible reward of finding out anything that might lead us to some answers. We BOTH decided to go ahead.”
“Then you were both stupid!” Michael roared fed up with the excuses and all the bullshit. Khivar could have easily killed Maria, his unborn child and the rest of them without breaking a sweat.
“And what are you? You think even less about the consequences of your actions. So I wouldn’t point fingers if I were you. You’ll have your own bit of explaining to do when Max decides to show up.”
*****
“It’s not here,” Max said grimly dropping the bag holding the other crystals back into the box, rising from his crouched position and rubbing his forehead with the heel of his hand.
“When’s the last time you saw the crystal?” Cal asked quietly.
“I don’t remember what happened to it after I used it on Tess. Liz was…I was more concerned with Liz and then finding Noah,” Max admitted dropping his hand and cursing himself for making the mistake of letting that particular crystal out of his sight.
Thinking back Cal remembered how frantic Max had been and couldn’t really blame him for not remembering the details. He’d healed two people in less then an hour. After that he’d rarely left Liz’s side, attending to her needs and those of his newborn child.
He should have taken charge of the crystal himself.
For all he knew they had left it laying on the floor of the parking garage.
“Let’s go. Staring at this shit isn’t going to help us.” Long angry strides ate up the distance to the door of the storage area as Cal’s mind raced, sorting information and setting priorities. He didn’t wait for Max to follow. He was already on to the next item on the agenda.
Working his way around the imperative to obey a leader that just kept shooting himself in the foot.
*****
“Mommy?”
“Yes, sweetie?” Liz answered fighting back her runaway emotions as she turned to face her son.
“You sad?” Noah asked trying to read her expression while probing the new barrier between them.
“I was just thinking. It’s nothing to get upset about.” Stroking her fingers over his hair, comforting both of them with the gentle touch, she gained a tentative balance over her warring thoughts.
“Bout when the monster took us from you’s belly?” Noah asked quietly.
Liz paused searching Noah’s face as his wording struck a cord. “Noah? The monster that took you away, can you see her?”
Noah nodded silently, careful not to give voice to his answer just in case she could hear him.
“Does she talk to you? In your head?” Liz asked trying not to betray how important his answer might be.
Halting just outside the room Kyle listened, careful not to interrupt.
Shaking his head no, Noah watched the relief wash over her face even though he couldn’t feel it. Worry puckered his brow almost causing him to miss her next question.
Leading Noah over to the couch she struggled to find the right questions to ask to get the information she needed. “When you see her is it always when you’re sleeping? Dreaming about when she took you and put you in the dark place?”
“Not all da time. Sometime she in a far away place. She verwy angry. All da things she have aren’t ‘nough and it jus make her madder. She rip evwery thing up an start shaking on da floor. Is verwy scary. She keep trying ta find a way out,” Looking up through his lashes he watched his mother’s face, being unable to feel her reaction was scaring him more then the baddest monster. He was trying to be brave but he didn’t like this experiment at all and wished they’d never tried it. It wasn’t supposed to go on this long. Even the big messy tangle of feeling was better then this.
Speechless Liz groped for words, stunned by Noah’s responses. It hadn’t been what she was expecting. “Does anyone come to see her? Visit with her maybe?”
“Uh-huh,” Noah nodded his face scrunching up in thought. “A man dat not a man at all. He sit wit her some time. He talk ta her verwy soft like, he bring her presents but he verwy bad. He prwomise ta let her out soon. He gonna fix her up ‘cause she all broken inside.”
Liz watched Noah tap his temple and felt an icy wave of terror steal through her.
“She not wright in here. He tink she get better if he find da piece a her dat’s missin’. I hope he don’t ‘cause she wanna put evweryone in da dark place.”
Taking a slow breath in an attempt to fight back the panic seizing her, trying to cut off her ability to think. “What kind of presents does he bring her?”
Noah went suddenly still, all of his restless movements coming to a halt, as he walked through a distant landscape before blinking back into the here and now. “I no wanna talk bout dat. They’s bad.”
“What’s his name? What does she call him?” Liz asked moving to the next question.
“Yerak.”
“Oh shit,” Kyle breathed, stepping into the room and meeting Liz’s eye. Seeing all the torment that she was struggling so hard to keep out of her voice as she coaxed answers from her frightened son he felt a sense of dread take up residence and settle in like an unwanted houseguest.
*****
Holding Erin’s warm weight on her lap Ava found it hard to hold onto any resentment. Listening to Erin’s chatter had a strangely calming effect and served to remind her that she was closer to having what she’d always wanted then she’d ever expected to be.
No more living in a filthy sewer stealing to eat. She didn’t have to be scared that violence would suddenly erupt out of nowhere either. Michael might rant and rave but he didn’t use his fists, ever. Max never made her feel worthless, he listened when she talked and so did Liz. She had a sense of family that wasn’t dependant on total compliance. They trusted her.
The proof of that trust was currently squirming around on her lap.
She wasn’t going to mess that up. Not for anything.
“Oh! Yook! Dat’s Perdy. She happy ta see her puppies. See she yiking dem yike Pepe does when he happy.” Eyes glued to the screen Erin once again drew comfort from the cartoon. Mommies and Daddies always found their babies even when bad people came and stole them she never got tired of being reminded of that.
Javen stopped trying to wrestle the squeaky toy away from Pepe to watch, finding as much reassurance from it as Erin did although he wouldn’t say so. Now he had a mom and a dad to come find him too. His birth dad said so. Just in case he should ever get lost, it was a good feeling. A safe feeling. He could see why this was the twins favorite movie.
“Oh,” Erin sighed enraptured by the scenes playing out on the television. Even knowing that the bad lady hadn’t given up yet and dangers lay ahead, it didn’t take away from this moment cause together the family could handle the rough road ahead collecting more family along the way. Just like they were going to. Feeling Noah’s growing agitation she sent her feelings through their connection bolstering his flagging courage automatically.
It wasn’t that bad. Her and Noah didn’t have pretty fur that anyone would want to make a coat out of. Gasping her eyes searched out Pepe. He had pretty fur.
*****
Walking into their house hours later Max fully expected to be confronted by a room full of angry people. He stopped just inside the door looking through the empty living room into the kitchen, which also appeared to be empty; panic spurted through him in a rush until the muted sound of music sank in.
Setting the flowers he carried down on the coffee table he followed the faint sounds down the hallway. Glancing into Noah’s room he found it empty, just the glow of his nightlight chasing away the darkness. Noah always had a nightlight on after dark.
Ducking his head into Erin’s room he relaxed. Both children were asleep on the bed. Erin had her nose nestled by the dog’s ear so that every time she exhaled the dog’s ear twitched. Noah was curled on his side his mouth hanging open snoring softly, his eyes moving behind closed lids.
He was still standing there when Liz found him.
“Hi.”
Turning to face her tentative greeting he sighed seeing her shove her hand into the pockets of her light robe. “Hi.”
“Business all taken care of?” Liz asked hoping that he would tell her what he’d really been doing.
“For now.” Max watched the disappointment flicker across her face and felt a stab of guilt. “I heard you had an exciting day.”
“Michael told you?”
“Yeah, he was-upset,” Liz nodded a weak smile winking on then quickly off again. “So it was Khivar for sure?”
“Yes.” Liz took a deep breath eying the distance between them. Unless she wanted this distance to remain there she had to do something. Get rid of this niggling sense of doubt. “I want to have sex.”
Max blinked, not moving a muscle.
“With you,” Liz clarified when Max just stood there. Pushing down her nerves she reminded herself why she was doing this. She didn’t want to live with doubts. Not about him or herself.
“I was thinking we should talk.” More then a little confused he continued to stand there trying to figure out what was going on here.
“Maybe later.”
Max watched her turn and walk down the hall toward their bedroom his feet glued to the floor.
“Coming?” Liz asked glancing back over her shoulder.
Max stood in the hall for a good minute after Liz disappeared into the bedroom, just waiting for to make some sense of this. He was afraid of making another mistake and Liz just wasn’t acting like herself.
Eventually curiosity propelled him forward.
Following the sound of running water he crossed the room to the adjoining bath. “Are you feeling okay?” Max asked a slight hesitation present in his voice.
Liz smiled adjusted the temperature of the water and looked up to see Max standing in the doorway looking like he planned to be there awhile. “Yes, I think that I am.”
“Because this doesn’t seem like you.”
“Really? I guess it doesn’t.”
“Then why are you doing this?” Max asked wanting an answer before things went any further. He was feeling cautious after making so many miscalculations. The last thing he wanted was to hurt her in any way.
“Because I need to remind myself that this is where I belong, that I’m not believing in you solely because I love you. I can’t do that by listening to what you say. This way I’ll know.”
Feeling a surge of shame, Max went to crouch beside her. “Liz, I-“
Liz placed her finger over his mouth shaking her head. “Later. We’ll talk later. I have a lot to tell you too, but not right now.”
Max studied her eyes for a moment and saw something lurking there; fear maybe, that he couldn’t quite pin down. That’s when he realized that this wasn’t all about him or any doubts she had concerning him.
Leaning forward he kissed her lips, raising his face to her mouth warmed by how easily she opened to him. A part of him had been afraid that she wouldn’t and still harbored the thought she shouldn’t, she shouldn’t give so much. Not to him.
Rising back away from their kiss she saw in his eyes the look she’d come to know very well. It was a look that was somewhere between pain and insatiable hunger, as if the want was so strong that it hurt him somehow, a hunger that he could never fill. Only Max had ever looked at her like that. Rubbing her fingers over his mouth she felt something inside her relax with that look.
“What?” Max asked softly loving the way she touched him.
“I like the way you look at me,” Liz said just as softly, not even noticing as her robe slipped off one shoulder.
Max noticed. He felt the strong pull of power, the need to touch her, and before it got away from him he made a decision. Capturing her mouth once again he poured himself into it, pushing deep.
Gasping as the rush of power rocked them backward she held onto him twinning around him.
His hands found bare flesh locked on like he’d touched a live wire. He didn’t want to be free, he sank into her already in over his head and not fighting the feeling. He gave in, allowing her to go as deep as she needed.
This was what she’d needed. To know him like this, it was deeper then words and it wasn’t possible to lie. Magic spilled out of them raw and wild, like it hadn’t been since the beginning, and Liz burned in the middle of it.
Then it was over.
“Wow.” Liz whispered with numb lips.
“Yeah,” Max agreed smiling for the first time. Combing his fingers though her hair he kissed her forehead, nuzzled her ear just couldn’t stop touching her.
“Can we talk now?”
“If you can talk while we bathe, then yeah.” Dropping her robe she stood up and stepped into the tub.
After watching her sink into the water and lather up a puffy thing, her skin glistening wetly he remembered that he hadn’t moved to join her. “Yeah no problem. I can talk.”
Liz hid her smile as Max rushed out of his clothes.
No, she wasn’t wrong to trust him despite his tendency to withhold things or even lie. She felt it despite both things.
Although Liz was present in body her thoughts were far from the argument raging around her. She didn’t have a lot to add anyway. She’d told them everything, well pretty much everything at least. In fact, it had been her admission that in all likelihood it had actually been Khivar that she’d been talking to that had sent Michael through the roof. He was shouting so loudly it was a wonder that everyone downstairs in the café didn’t hear him.
Her thoughts kept drifting away from his rant and circling back to two things.
The hot surge of fear that had carried her powers along with it until even Isabel had felt it; she’d just wanted him to stop. To just stop talking because she didn’t want to hear anymore and for a moment he had. He’d stopped even breathing. Until she’d realized what she’d done.
Then there was Khivar. That feeling of acute awareness that had been almost painful in intensity increasing exponentially when he’d touched her. What she’d felt wasn’t simple. It was complex, convoluted and thoroughly confusing. He’d had presence even cloaked inside someone else’s body. God, what would it be like when he was really there? Because she didn’t doubt for a moment that he would be standing in front of her again sometime soon.
And where was Max?
Liz snapped to attention when Michael whirled on her and started hurtling accusations at her while shoving his finger in her face.
“What the hell were you thinking? Maria I can almost understand but you? Didn’t Max tell you to stay put?” Michael shouted, the veins in his neck bulging with fury.
“Like he did you?” Liz asked ignoring his finger along with the urge to tear it off.
“That was different!” When Liz just arched her eyebrow in response Michael sucked in air like an enraged bull. “I’m not the one that’s having intimate chats with the enemy!”
Liz rolled her eyes and tapped her fingernail on the edge of her parent’s kitchen table, which just served to fan the flames of Michael’s rage.
“He’s here for you! Not me!”
“How am I supposed to find anything out when no one will tell me anything!” Liz shouted back surprising everyone in the room with her outburst. “Where exactly is Max? Huh Michael? I know you’ve called him. So where is he? If I’m in so much danger then why isn’t Max here?”
“He had to take care of some business,” Michael answered uncomfortably, and began to pace in the limited space angry that he was the one left to deal with this mess.
“Oh. Right.” Liz nodded. “Business.”
“Look. You can’t believe anything Khivar tells you anyway. So why ask the questions?”
“Because maybe I can sort out at least part of the truth. I know I can’t believe everything I hear. Like ‘I’ve got a really important business thing. I’ll be right back.’ See? I’ve got it. I don’t think I’m in danger of forgetting that lesson.”
“Oh come on! This isn’t the same thing!” Frustrated Michael was ready to wring her neck like a chicken. Can’t any female have a reasonable discussion and just admit that he was right?
“He’s right, Liz,” Maria chipped in. “He was…touching you.”
“I almost fell when I bumped into him.”
“No,” Maria shook her head, absolutely sure of what she’d seen. “He was touching your hair. Like Max always does.”
“No,” Liz denied refusing to even entertain the thought for even a second. “It’s not…”
“Why? Maybe that’s what he wants. You.” Michael suggested trying to drive home the point he’d been trying to make. That she couldn’t just walk the streets when everyone knew she was the focus of attention.
“I’d think that’s pretty clear at this point,” Kyle inserted. “The question is why. Revenge? Max pissed him off so bad that he’s still trying to get even over fifty years later?”
“No, I don’t think so,” Liz disagreed. “I don’t think it’s personal like that.”
“He was fondling you! That’s personal,” Michael shot back still wired over the thought of Maria that close to danger.
“He was not!” Liz hotly denied the not so subtle insult. “You think he’s coming all the way here, for what? Sex? With me?” Liz laughed at the very idea. “Are you kidding? That’s crazy. He’s not in love with me either before you go down that road. He hasn’t put the moves on me at all.”
“That’s not true,” Isabel finally spoke up from her spot along the wall. “He has been putting moves on you, before he ever showed up here. He’s been doing it in your dreams. I saw it. I felt it in the way he was absolutely focused on you.”
“He’s intense but…” Liz paused unable to put into words why she thought it wasn’t about that. He did want something from her but she doubted it was anything of that nature.
“Maybe he wants to have a child with you,” Maria suggested, thoughtlessly blurting out the words as the idea bloomed in her head. “Tess keeps calling you a breeder right? Maybe that doesn’t have to do with Max at all. Having a child with you, the chosen mate of the rightful king, might give him an edge in keeping the throne.”
“What?” Liz gasp. “No. No,” Shaking her head as she got up from the table. “That’s not happening.”
Isabel shot Maria a glare as Liz fled the room. “Way to go, Maria. Scare the hell out of her. Like Tess didn’t do enough of that.”
“She needs to be scared,” Michael insisted. “She’s taking chances with everyone’s life here. Max still isn’t right. He won’t be able to handle it if anything happens to her. She has no idea what Khivar’s up to but she waltzes up to him like it’s nothing.”
“That’s not true and you know it. He approached her. We had no reason to believe he’d be there.” Isabel argued in defense of Liz. “We talked about it, about the risks and possible reward of finding out anything that might lead us to some answers. We BOTH decided to go ahead.”
“Then you were both stupid!” Michael roared fed up with the excuses and all the bullshit. Khivar could have easily killed Maria, his unborn child and the rest of them without breaking a sweat.
“And what are you? You think even less about the consequences of your actions. So I wouldn’t point fingers if I were you. You’ll have your own bit of explaining to do when Max decides to show up.”
*****
“It’s not here,” Max said grimly dropping the bag holding the other crystals back into the box, rising from his crouched position and rubbing his forehead with the heel of his hand.
“When’s the last time you saw the crystal?” Cal asked quietly.
“I don’t remember what happened to it after I used it on Tess. Liz was…I was more concerned with Liz and then finding Noah,” Max admitted dropping his hand and cursing himself for making the mistake of letting that particular crystal out of his sight.
Thinking back Cal remembered how frantic Max had been and couldn’t really blame him for not remembering the details. He’d healed two people in less then an hour. After that he’d rarely left Liz’s side, attending to her needs and those of his newborn child.
He should have taken charge of the crystal himself.
For all he knew they had left it laying on the floor of the parking garage.
“Let’s go. Staring at this shit isn’t going to help us.” Long angry strides ate up the distance to the door of the storage area as Cal’s mind raced, sorting information and setting priorities. He didn’t wait for Max to follow. He was already on to the next item on the agenda.
Working his way around the imperative to obey a leader that just kept shooting himself in the foot.
*****
“Mommy?”
“Yes, sweetie?” Liz answered fighting back her runaway emotions as she turned to face her son.
“You sad?” Noah asked trying to read her expression while probing the new barrier between them.
“I was just thinking. It’s nothing to get upset about.” Stroking her fingers over his hair, comforting both of them with the gentle touch, she gained a tentative balance over her warring thoughts.
“Bout when the monster took us from you’s belly?” Noah asked quietly.
Liz paused searching Noah’s face as his wording struck a cord. “Noah? The monster that took you away, can you see her?”
Noah nodded silently, careful not to give voice to his answer just in case she could hear him.
“Does she talk to you? In your head?” Liz asked trying not to betray how important his answer might be.
Halting just outside the room Kyle listened, careful not to interrupt.
Shaking his head no, Noah watched the relief wash over her face even though he couldn’t feel it. Worry puckered his brow almost causing him to miss her next question.
Leading Noah over to the couch she struggled to find the right questions to ask to get the information she needed. “When you see her is it always when you’re sleeping? Dreaming about when she took you and put you in the dark place?”
“Not all da time. Sometime she in a far away place. She verwy angry. All da things she have aren’t ‘nough and it jus make her madder. She rip evwery thing up an start shaking on da floor. Is verwy scary. She keep trying ta find a way out,” Looking up through his lashes he watched his mother’s face, being unable to feel her reaction was scaring him more then the baddest monster. He was trying to be brave but he didn’t like this experiment at all and wished they’d never tried it. It wasn’t supposed to go on this long. Even the big messy tangle of feeling was better then this.
Speechless Liz groped for words, stunned by Noah’s responses. It hadn’t been what she was expecting. “Does anyone come to see her? Visit with her maybe?”
“Uh-huh,” Noah nodded his face scrunching up in thought. “A man dat not a man at all. He sit wit her some time. He talk ta her verwy soft like, he bring her presents but he verwy bad. He prwomise ta let her out soon. He gonna fix her up ‘cause she all broken inside.”
Liz watched Noah tap his temple and felt an icy wave of terror steal through her.
“She not wright in here. He tink she get better if he find da piece a her dat’s missin’. I hope he don’t ‘cause she wanna put evweryone in da dark place.”
Taking a slow breath in an attempt to fight back the panic seizing her, trying to cut off her ability to think. “What kind of presents does he bring her?”
Noah went suddenly still, all of his restless movements coming to a halt, as he walked through a distant landscape before blinking back into the here and now. “I no wanna talk bout dat. They’s bad.”
“What’s his name? What does she call him?” Liz asked moving to the next question.
“Yerak.”
“Oh shit,” Kyle breathed, stepping into the room and meeting Liz’s eye. Seeing all the torment that she was struggling so hard to keep out of her voice as she coaxed answers from her frightened son he felt a sense of dread take up residence and settle in like an unwanted houseguest.
*****
Holding Erin’s warm weight on her lap Ava found it hard to hold onto any resentment. Listening to Erin’s chatter had a strangely calming effect and served to remind her that she was closer to having what she’d always wanted then she’d ever expected to be.
No more living in a filthy sewer stealing to eat. She didn’t have to be scared that violence would suddenly erupt out of nowhere either. Michael might rant and rave but he didn’t use his fists, ever. Max never made her feel worthless, he listened when she talked and so did Liz. She had a sense of family that wasn’t dependant on total compliance. They trusted her.
The proof of that trust was currently squirming around on her lap.
She wasn’t going to mess that up. Not for anything.
“Oh! Yook! Dat’s Perdy. She happy ta see her puppies. See she yiking dem yike Pepe does when he happy.” Eyes glued to the screen Erin once again drew comfort from the cartoon. Mommies and Daddies always found their babies even when bad people came and stole them she never got tired of being reminded of that.
Javen stopped trying to wrestle the squeaky toy away from Pepe to watch, finding as much reassurance from it as Erin did although he wouldn’t say so. Now he had a mom and a dad to come find him too. His birth dad said so. Just in case he should ever get lost, it was a good feeling. A safe feeling. He could see why this was the twins favorite movie.
“Oh,” Erin sighed enraptured by the scenes playing out on the television. Even knowing that the bad lady hadn’t given up yet and dangers lay ahead, it didn’t take away from this moment cause together the family could handle the rough road ahead collecting more family along the way. Just like they were going to. Feeling Noah’s growing agitation she sent her feelings through their connection bolstering his flagging courage automatically.
It wasn’t that bad. Her and Noah didn’t have pretty fur that anyone would want to make a coat out of. Gasping her eyes searched out Pepe. He had pretty fur.
*****
Walking into their house hours later Max fully expected to be confronted by a room full of angry people. He stopped just inside the door looking through the empty living room into the kitchen, which also appeared to be empty; panic spurted through him in a rush until the muted sound of music sank in.
Setting the flowers he carried down on the coffee table he followed the faint sounds down the hallway. Glancing into Noah’s room he found it empty, just the glow of his nightlight chasing away the darkness. Noah always had a nightlight on after dark.
Ducking his head into Erin’s room he relaxed. Both children were asleep on the bed. Erin had her nose nestled by the dog’s ear so that every time she exhaled the dog’s ear twitched. Noah was curled on his side his mouth hanging open snoring softly, his eyes moving behind closed lids.
He was still standing there when Liz found him.
“Hi.”
Turning to face her tentative greeting he sighed seeing her shove her hand into the pockets of her light robe. “Hi.”
“Business all taken care of?” Liz asked hoping that he would tell her what he’d really been doing.
“For now.” Max watched the disappointment flicker across her face and felt a stab of guilt. “I heard you had an exciting day.”
“Michael told you?”
“Yeah, he was-upset,” Liz nodded a weak smile winking on then quickly off again. “So it was Khivar for sure?”
“Yes.” Liz took a deep breath eying the distance between them. Unless she wanted this distance to remain there she had to do something. Get rid of this niggling sense of doubt. “I want to have sex.”
Max blinked, not moving a muscle.
“With you,” Liz clarified when Max just stood there. Pushing down her nerves she reminded herself why she was doing this. She didn’t want to live with doubts. Not about him or herself.
“I was thinking we should talk.” More then a little confused he continued to stand there trying to figure out what was going on here.
“Maybe later.”
Max watched her turn and walk down the hall toward their bedroom his feet glued to the floor.
“Coming?” Liz asked glancing back over her shoulder.
Max stood in the hall for a good minute after Liz disappeared into the bedroom, just waiting for to make some sense of this. He was afraid of making another mistake and Liz just wasn’t acting like herself.
Eventually curiosity propelled him forward.
Following the sound of running water he crossed the room to the adjoining bath. “Are you feeling okay?” Max asked a slight hesitation present in his voice.
Liz smiled adjusted the temperature of the water and looked up to see Max standing in the doorway looking like he planned to be there awhile. “Yes, I think that I am.”
“Because this doesn’t seem like you.”
“Really? I guess it doesn’t.”
“Then why are you doing this?” Max asked wanting an answer before things went any further. He was feeling cautious after making so many miscalculations. The last thing he wanted was to hurt her in any way.
“Because I need to remind myself that this is where I belong, that I’m not believing in you solely because I love you. I can’t do that by listening to what you say. This way I’ll know.”
Feeling a surge of shame, Max went to crouch beside her. “Liz, I-“
Liz placed her finger over his mouth shaking her head. “Later. We’ll talk later. I have a lot to tell you too, but not right now.”
Max studied her eyes for a moment and saw something lurking there; fear maybe, that he couldn’t quite pin down. That’s when he realized that this wasn’t all about him or any doubts she had concerning him.
Leaning forward he kissed her lips, raising his face to her mouth warmed by how easily she opened to him. A part of him had been afraid that she wouldn’t and still harbored the thought she shouldn’t, she shouldn’t give so much. Not to him.
Rising back away from their kiss she saw in his eyes the look she’d come to know very well. It was a look that was somewhere between pain and insatiable hunger, as if the want was so strong that it hurt him somehow, a hunger that he could never fill. Only Max had ever looked at her like that. Rubbing her fingers over his mouth she felt something inside her relax with that look.
“What?” Max asked softly loving the way she touched him.
“I like the way you look at me,” Liz said just as softly, not even noticing as her robe slipped off one shoulder.
Max noticed. He felt the strong pull of power, the need to touch her, and before it got away from him he made a decision. Capturing her mouth once again he poured himself into it, pushing deep.
Gasping as the rush of power rocked them backward she held onto him twinning around him.
His hands found bare flesh locked on like he’d touched a live wire. He didn’t want to be free, he sank into her already in over his head and not fighting the feeling. He gave in, allowing her to go as deep as she needed.
This was what she’d needed. To know him like this, it was deeper then words and it wasn’t possible to lie. Magic spilled out of them raw and wild, like it hadn’t been since the beginning, and Liz burned in the middle of it.
Then it was over.
“Wow.” Liz whispered with numb lips.
“Yeah,” Max agreed smiling for the first time. Combing his fingers though her hair he kissed her forehead, nuzzled her ear just couldn’t stop touching her.
“Can we talk now?”
“If you can talk while we bathe, then yeah.” Dropping her robe she stood up and stepped into the tub.
After watching her sink into the water and lather up a puffy thing, her skin glistening wetly he remembered that he hadn’t moved to join her. “Yeah no problem. I can talk.”
Liz hid her smile as Max rushed out of his clothes.
No, she wasn’t wrong to trust him despite his tendency to withhold things or even lie. She felt it despite both things.
I know! Again!
Chapter Forty Eight
Max feared he’d overestimated his abilities somewhat. He watched Liz trail her fingers along the surface of the water while she talked and lost the thread of the conversation. The ripples of water lapped at her skin drawing and holding his attention. Sheer force of will dragged his eyes back up to hers.
“So Michael left in a huff and Kyle brought us back here,” Liz concluded enjoying the silken feel of the water around her. Relaxing deeper into the comforting warmth, she smiled when Max remained quiet, a familiar crease of concentration between his brows as he listened. “I know you’re probably upset about today but…”
“I’m not upset. Not exactly,” Max corrected forcing the words out despite the lure of letting the conversation go in favor of other more pleasant actives. Closing his eyes to shut out any distractions he struggled to collect his thoughts. “I’m worried and terrified that things are spinning out of control and something really bad is going to happen. It’s not a good idea to go off on your own, Liz. You know that, you don’t need me to tell you.”
“I wasn’t on my own. I really didn’t think that it was that dangerous. I don’t even know why Kivar was there. It’s not that easy to maintain a host and..”
Max winced inwardly feeling a pang of guilt that he had been the one to insist on meeting Khivar, which was the reason he was using a host at all.
Liz’s words trailed off picking up on what he wasn’t saying. “Right. So, do you have something you want to tell me?”
“A few things actually,” Max said quietly meeting her eyes and steeling himself for the coming discussion. “Cal arranged a meeting for me, with Khivar. I didn’t tell you because…I didn’t want you involved or worried.”
“Didn’t want me involved.” Liz repeated wondering if her hearing was going. If she wasn’t mistaken she was already very much involved.
Max sighed raking a hand through his hair leaving tufts of damp hair standing on end. “That’s not…You couldn’t go. It wouldn’t have been a good Idea. It was just a preliminary meeting announcing Cal as your advocate and my position as your….”
“My what?” Liz asked sensing a hesitation as Max garbled with a litany of choice words.
“Liz, you know I want to marry you. I’ve been clear about that I think and I wish you’d consider it seriously. I understand why you chose to do things this way but now…”
“Why I chose?” Liz blurted out stunned. “I thought you agreed. I thought we agreed on this, Max. Living together with the kids and trying to work things out, that’s what we agreed on.”
Despite the fact that he felt like he was sinking into a hole that just kept getting deeper he pressed on, determined to have her understand his position. “We did, but only because you wouldn’t marry me. It was a compromise.”
“You never asked me!” Liz cried sitting up straighter, so involved in the argument and surprised by the direction it was taking that she didn’t notice Max’s brief struggle to keep his focus off of her body as more of it was being revealed, without even the flimsy veil of water to hide it. “Not seriously.”
“I was always serious. I’ve always wanted to marry you. I wanted to marry you and work things out, both at the same time. You wanted to wait and I understood that but don’t mistake that understanding for any change in my intentions. I’m willing to do whatever it takes until you are ready to marry me. I want to be clear about that, I know what I want and I’ll do whatever you want me to. I love you, Liz. I want to get married to you.”
“Wh-Um,” Liz stopped utterly blindsided. She had been so sure that Max would strongly protest her action that day, involving a long discussion that would work around to what he’d been up to but this she hadn’t anticipated.
“Right now, Cal has the strongest defensive position with Khivar. He’s your advocate, there’s a president there that allows him to protest for you. He could go to the Council and demand that Khivar cease all inappropriate contact, if the Council still had any standing that is. The Council doesn’t recognize bonds, in fact they don’t allow bonds, so I have no standing at all in regards to you. If we were married that would change.”
Liz took that in slowly, examining it from all sides trying to see the possibilities, as if it were a specimen under a microscope but still she came back to the same answer. One based on emotion not logic. “Max, I want to marry you but we’re not ready.”
Although not unexpected her answer caused a shaft of painful disappointment, along with a flutter of fear deep inside him. He harbored the fear that she would never be ready, that past mistakes could never truly be overcome and he couldn’t blame her for that.
“I won’t marry you because of what’s happening with Kivar. I’m going to marry you because we’re both ready to take that step. Into the future and a solid life together. I don’t want it to be something that’s starts off because of anything like fear or solidifying a legal position. How can we get married when you have serious doubts about why we’re together? When I can’t know I’ll be truly at home? It’s not just me that’s not ready, Max. You don’t trust me below the surface; I’m only welcome if you invite me inside yourself and even then only so far. That’s not the way I want to start our marriage. I love you and I know you love me but I also know that you don’t feel comfortable with why that love exists. Is it because of forces beyond your control? Is it because of an accident when the universe was created? You don’t feel like you deserve to have it. No matter what I say it doesn’t change that fact. Are you so sure that you don’t want to marry me just so that I don’t up and leave you? Realize that you aren’t the person I thought I loved? Because I can feel something here that isn’t right. That shouldn’t be here when we decide to get married.”
Ducking his head he watched her toes curling into the bottom of the tub like they wanted to burrow down below the surface, looking for purchase as if it were composed of shifting sand instead of a solid surface. Picking up her foot he absently began a massage, needing to hold onto even the smallest part of her and trying to make them both feel more comfortable.
“Okay,” Max agreed not looking up. Before Liz could question what he meant by that he started to speak. “There are things I’ve never told you about what I remembered, about before.” Glancing up he saw something in her face that made him think that maybe she already knew that, been told by Khivar or even more likely, sensed that he held a large part of himself back from her.
“So tell me now,” Liz suggested leaning back in an effort to relax despite the tension stealing through her.
“Things there are very different from here. I don’t know how to tell you that so you understand how vastly different they really are. The idea of a king isn’t the same, reincarnation, family….none of that is like it is here. The idea of being born again after you die is more vague here. My father believes in reincarnation but it’s believed that you can trace your existence all the back through every life until you reach the Source, or God, whatever you want to call it. Names and places all the way back to the beginning and your social position is based on that fact. Only my father wasn’t satisfied with that. He wanted to engineer that existence, leaving nothing to chance, weed out anything he didn’t agree with. Why bother to die and be recreated if you can skip that unpleasant aspect? Why give the power to rule and a throne to an heir when he spent countless lives working to gain all that he has? He is on the Council. Ruler of not just one planet but many.”
“He’s still alive?” Liz asked studying the top of his bent head. Concern for him blotting out any personal feelings or reactions.
“Oh, yes, he’s very much alive unless Khivar has managed to kill him. But I think I’d know. Khivar would have told me.” Max closed his eyes momentarily as Liz’s fingers brushed over his hair. God, he loved her. She had no idea what she meant to him.
“He started his breeding program with that goal in mind, holding onto everything in this life. The old ways, beliefs that were held for centuries, weren’t good enough. He believes that bonds are dangerous distractions to a beings true purpose and he held up the prophecies and history as proof. So he chose females based on genetic requirements.”
“Your mother?” Liz asked softly.
“Yes, mine and Isabel’s. Khivar’s mother as well.” Looking up into her eyes he watched her pupils dilate with shock.
“You and Kivar are brothers?”
“No, not according to our culture. We don’t share a mother, just our father. But we were raised together, schooled together I should say. They don’t have families like we do here.”
Liz wondered whether he was listening to what he saying, the words he was choosing.
“We weren’t claimed by our father until we completed our schooling and passed the testing process. I passed but Khivar did not. I was put on the throne and, for the most part, Father ruled Antar through me. I didn’t want to be king. I never did, but I didn’t see a way around it. Once I was king I got interested in my father’s project. Not to engineer my own offspring or to delay death but as a way to get out of a life I didn’t want. My father was using the research to prolong his life in the body he had and expand his power base. I wanted a totally different life. I wanted to be different.”
Liz felt what he wasn’t saying, the desolation of never belonging to the life that he’d been born into, the isolation of being what amounted to a lab experiment. An experiment not once but twice in both of his lives. A deep well of sadness filled her middle with leaden weight. Gently she pulled her foot from his hands and moved into his arms, resting against him when his arms wrapped around her, holding on tight.
“All I had that I could count on was Isabel so when things started to unravel I-I couldn’t leave her. I had samples taken, from her and Michael. I wanted to offer them a chance if things went wrong. I don’t know how Tess-I didn’t include her. I didn’t count her as part of my family. She was the wife my father chose for me, part of the price I had to pay to get to where I wanted to be. In charge of my own life, that’s all I wanted.”
“What about Kivar? Where is he in all this?”
“He was in charge of his life, that was the problem. He didn’t like what our father was doing and found people that felt the same. That crap about him and Isabel was a lie. Isabel always liked him, kept in contact with him but it wasn’t because she was in love with him or he with her. She did let him in that night but only because I wanted to talk to him. I don’t-Ziya was-She was my-she was supposed to give me an heir. I couldn’t have that. Since Khivar was her advocate of record and her-brother, I asked Isabel to get him in to see me. I wanted to warn him to take her somewhere that she would be safe but things went wrong. We died. Isabel first, one of my father’s men killed her thinking that then I would fall in line. Michael went nuts. He thought Khivar tricked his way in and he went for him and was killed. Tess wasn’t supposed to be there but I saw her hiding right before I deliberately stepped in front of the bolt of energy that killed me. I couldn’t be what my father wanted to be and I knew I could have a new life. I had prepared for that day. I just hadn’t expected it to happen so quickly. I knew I had to die to move into my planned life so I just…with Isabel and Michael…it was time. “
“I didn’t think about the throne and what would happen to it, or to the people. I just knew that I wasn’t the one that was supposed to be there. I wasn’t the king they needed.”
“So who helped you? Who worked with you to make this happen?” Liz asked moving back to see his face.
“Ziya did. She was a Seer, a very good one actually. “
“Ziya as in Kivar’s sister-“
“She wasn’t related to me,” Max broke in just in case Liz thought that was the case. “Khivar was father’s first, after him another breeder was chosen. Khivar’s mother was bred to someone else and had Ziya, she was raised in the Way. Khivar wanted to bring her into her full potential but my father stepped in and wouldn’t allow it.”
“Max, why didn’t you want to tell me this?” Liz asked curious about why he would hold onto this for so long.
“I had a duty to the people and I deserted them. I wasn’t following a path to find a way to help them. I just wanted freedom, to be whoever I wanted to be. Ziya believed that I was the king that Seers had been writing about for generations and I let her think that. She believed that I was on the Path even if I didn’t see it that way.”
“Maybe you are.” Squirming around she looked him in the eyes, then kissed him, letting him know she was doing it with her eyes wide open. Seeing him as he was in that moment.
“I don’t believe that,” Max denied softly when Liz drew back, not wanting her to believe he was something more then what he was.
“I think you do,” Liz disagreed. “You found me, believing I was connected to you before I even knew your name. Somewhere inside you, I think you do believe and that’s part of the problem.”
“What do you mean?” Max asked fiddling with the wet ends of her hair.
“If I’m who Kivar thinks that I am, then you’re really not in control of your life are you? You’re still on a path someone else set for you, before you were even born. Right?”
Max blinked as her point dawned on him.
“If that’s the case then you love me not because it’s what you want but because it was designed to be that way. That’s a problem isn’t it? Because that also means that I love you not because of who you are but because of what you are.”
“But that’s not who I am.”
“What if it is?” Liz asked quietly.
“I’m not.”
The flat denial and the absolute refusal to entertain the idea, even as a point of discussion spoke volumes to her. It reinforced the uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach.
“Besides, I’m not in control here. You are,” Max teased, tapping her on the nose with his finger.
“Me?” Liz asked surprised.
“Yeah, you. I’m just sitting here turning into a prune doing whatever I’m told trying to get on your good side.”
“Which side is that?” Liz asked smirking. “This one?” Turning slowly and moving onto his lap with her back pressed to his chest she looked over her shoulder to see his face. “Or this one?”
Groaning he willingly gave up control, forgetting even the need for it. “They’re all good. I like them all.”
“You want on all of them? Greedy aren’t you?” Liz teased before making a dive off his lap only to get caught before she made it. Both of them ignored the water splashing into the bathroom floor with every movement.
“So I’ve been told.” Max leaned in and gently kissed her. Thanking her silently for being there, for being the one he could count on to be there.
“You called for me, Max,” Liz whispered against his mouth, reminding him of a promise he’d made to her. To always come when she called for him. “You were calling before I knew how to answer. I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner. “
Ignoring the stinging of his eyes his lips settled on hers, stealing her breath as easily as he’d long ago stolen her heart. His teeth teased her lower lip until she opened to him on a quiet moan, not protesting as he pulled her closer.
Feeling her slick skin gliding along his Max lost his ability to think, forgetting any desire he might have had to be anywhere but here, ever. His tongue swept into her mouth tasting and teasing, pulling her deeper into the water, touching as much of her as possible.
They had no time to feel the ties strengthening between them, pulling tight by mutual desire, drawing them closer to becoming what they were meant to be. They were too caught up in each other to recognize when they slipped past their normal barriers, flowing toward each other like water washing downstream. What he needed she gave, not needing to be asked, knowing as if it were her need all along.
Something intangible kindled between them burning through the thin layer of teasing, a swelling heat that made her skin tight and achy. She lifted away from him, still close enough to feel his breath against her face, each panting breath jerking in and out rubbing his chest against hers. She’d chosen him years ago without fully knowing what she’d chosen him for. She wrapped her arms around his neck the world turning over and over until there was only him, solid and real beneath her fingers. She heard him whispering that she was his safe place and he didn’t want to wreck it, she heard it clearly even though his lips never moved.
Their faces were barely inches apart. He could smell the slight tang of citrus from the soap she’d used and underneath it was just her, fresh and tempting combined.
He lifted her, guiding her legs until she straddled him then pulled her down onto his lap pressing her to his aching flesh. He wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her right where he wanted her.
She couldn’t breath, couldn’t speak. Time warped and stretched tangling them together. She made a mewing sound when he moved, caressing her breasts rubbing his cheek over the wet silken crest and over her tight hard nipples.
What he demanded was far beyond comfort, melting every last feeling in her heart and leaving them to pour out of her filling what little space existed between them. Tangling her fingers in his hair she arched into him and clung.
Using his hands he guided her hips into a rocking motion over the bulge of his painfully hard erection while he cherished her, forcing a whimper of pleasure from her with each wet dragging pull of his mouth. Groaning as the feverishly hot slick folds of her sex slid over his shaft over and over he sucked hard, clamping his arms down around her to hold her still as she started to shake.
“I can’t-Max! I need you to-“ She arched sharply feeling him between her legs.
“I know. Liz, I will. Anything, anything you want,” Max promised.
Anything she wanted, Liz thought as he pushed inside her wringing a strangled cry from her throat. Her fingers curled into his shoulders digging in, he was already giving her what she wanted.
He couldn’t take his eyes off of her. She was arched over his arm like an offering her breasts still rosy from the combination of his mouth and whiskers. Every rocking motion sent her hair trailing out into the water around her. Using his arm beneath the arch of her back he pulled her tighter to him, he was going to fast, being to rough with her. She was too small and tight for this, but he couldn’t ease off or slow down. Her need stroked and mingled with his until he was all thundering blood and pumping muscle, no reason or control.
“No,” Liz moaned afraid he would stop. She felt on the verge of something, some form of freedom that had been missing, taken from her and barely remembered until now. “Don’t stop.”
Brushing up against that feeling inside her thoughts and vividly remembering it in lush detail he reared up, moving and shifting them until she was braced against the edge of the garden style tub. Coming in behind her he nudged her wet tender opening with the tip of his erection, seeking her approval and getting it when she nestled back into his lap and bringing him inside her.
He could feel her lifting at a mask that was so much a part of him he hadn’t realized he was wearing it, hadn’t wanted to know not until she slipped beneath it and laid him bare. Groaning he drove into her, pinning her against the tub with every thrust of his body into hers, and he felt her wild response and slipped his hand down to tangle his fingers in the curls between her legs.
Hearing his low approving sound and knowing it was at finding her so soft and wet, utterly open to him, feeling the possessive grip he needed to hold she quivered so hot that she was sure the stream in the room was coming off of her own body. She pushed against him, seeking more but he controlled her movement only allowing her to work against him so much.
“I’ll take care of you. I promise,” Max grunted and felt her fly, She contracted around him, tight pulses that milked and pulled him even deeper. He wanted to bind her to him even tighter, with a ring, or more babies, whatever he could. Whatever she would allow.
With a low cry Liz gave in to him. Every deep gliding thrust stoked that urge inside her, urging her deeper inside him, every stroke of his shaft was slicker, more liquid until she lost track of where the dividing line was. There was no line, as he gritted out a low cry of protest as he spent himself inside her in long scalding spurts.
He collapsed over with a breathless pant. She murmured, squashed underneath him and pinned over the edge of the tub. Moving off of her he raised a trembling hand to help her up absently heating the chilled water to a more comfortable temperature.
Settling back into his arms she grinned. “Well, you didn’t seem to prune up too badly.”
Max smiled and nipped at her ear. “So you approve?”
“How can you even ask me that? You knew exactly what I was thinking, every minute. It was-“
“Just like it used to be?” Max asked slowly, running his hands over her arms caressing her gently as he waited for her answer.
“No, “ Liz shook her head. “Better.” There were no cameras recording or others present to orchestrate each movement when they fought against her control. “So much better.” Turning her head she accepted his kiss, caressing his cheek with fingers that weren’t quite steady.
Max feared he’d overestimated his abilities somewhat. He watched Liz trail her fingers along the surface of the water while she talked and lost the thread of the conversation. The ripples of water lapped at her skin drawing and holding his attention. Sheer force of will dragged his eyes back up to hers.
“So Michael left in a huff and Kyle brought us back here,” Liz concluded enjoying the silken feel of the water around her. Relaxing deeper into the comforting warmth, she smiled when Max remained quiet, a familiar crease of concentration between his brows as he listened. “I know you’re probably upset about today but…”
“I’m not upset. Not exactly,” Max corrected forcing the words out despite the lure of letting the conversation go in favor of other more pleasant actives. Closing his eyes to shut out any distractions he struggled to collect his thoughts. “I’m worried and terrified that things are spinning out of control and something really bad is going to happen. It’s not a good idea to go off on your own, Liz. You know that, you don’t need me to tell you.”
“I wasn’t on my own. I really didn’t think that it was that dangerous. I don’t even know why Kivar was there. It’s not that easy to maintain a host and..”
Max winced inwardly feeling a pang of guilt that he had been the one to insist on meeting Khivar, which was the reason he was using a host at all.
Liz’s words trailed off picking up on what he wasn’t saying. “Right. So, do you have something you want to tell me?”
“A few things actually,” Max said quietly meeting her eyes and steeling himself for the coming discussion. “Cal arranged a meeting for me, with Khivar. I didn’t tell you because…I didn’t want you involved or worried.”
“Didn’t want me involved.” Liz repeated wondering if her hearing was going. If she wasn’t mistaken she was already very much involved.
Max sighed raking a hand through his hair leaving tufts of damp hair standing on end. “That’s not…You couldn’t go. It wouldn’t have been a good Idea. It was just a preliminary meeting announcing Cal as your advocate and my position as your….”
“My what?” Liz asked sensing a hesitation as Max garbled with a litany of choice words.
“Liz, you know I want to marry you. I’ve been clear about that I think and I wish you’d consider it seriously. I understand why you chose to do things this way but now…”
“Why I chose?” Liz blurted out stunned. “I thought you agreed. I thought we agreed on this, Max. Living together with the kids and trying to work things out, that’s what we agreed on.”
Despite the fact that he felt like he was sinking into a hole that just kept getting deeper he pressed on, determined to have her understand his position. “We did, but only because you wouldn’t marry me. It was a compromise.”
“You never asked me!” Liz cried sitting up straighter, so involved in the argument and surprised by the direction it was taking that she didn’t notice Max’s brief struggle to keep his focus off of her body as more of it was being revealed, without even the flimsy veil of water to hide it. “Not seriously.”
“I was always serious. I’ve always wanted to marry you. I wanted to marry you and work things out, both at the same time. You wanted to wait and I understood that but don’t mistake that understanding for any change in my intentions. I’m willing to do whatever it takes until you are ready to marry me. I want to be clear about that, I know what I want and I’ll do whatever you want me to. I love you, Liz. I want to get married to you.”
“Wh-Um,” Liz stopped utterly blindsided. She had been so sure that Max would strongly protest her action that day, involving a long discussion that would work around to what he’d been up to but this she hadn’t anticipated.
“Right now, Cal has the strongest defensive position with Khivar. He’s your advocate, there’s a president there that allows him to protest for you. He could go to the Council and demand that Khivar cease all inappropriate contact, if the Council still had any standing that is. The Council doesn’t recognize bonds, in fact they don’t allow bonds, so I have no standing at all in regards to you. If we were married that would change.”
Liz took that in slowly, examining it from all sides trying to see the possibilities, as if it were a specimen under a microscope but still she came back to the same answer. One based on emotion not logic. “Max, I want to marry you but we’re not ready.”
Although not unexpected her answer caused a shaft of painful disappointment, along with a flutter of fear deep inside him. He harbored the fear that she would never be ready, that past mistakes could never truly be overcome and he couldn’t blame her for that.
“I won’t marry you because of what’s happening with Kivar. I’m going to marry you because we’re both ready to take that step. Into the future and a solid life together. I don’t want it to be something that’s starts off because of anything like fear or solidifying a legal position. How can we get married when you have serious doubts about why we’re together? When I can’t know I’ll be truly at home? It’s not just me that’s not ready, Max. You don’t trust me below the surface; I’m only welcome if you invite me inside yourself and even then only so far. That’s not the way I want to start our marriage. I love you and I know you love me but I also know that you don’t feel comfortable with why that love exists. Is it because of forces beyond your control? Is it because of an accident when the universe was created? You don’t feel like you deserve to have it. No matter what I say it doesn’t change that fact. Are you so sure that you don’t want to marry me just so that I don’t up and leave you? Realize that you aren’t the person I thought I loved? Because I can feel something here that isn’t right. That shouldn’t be here when we decide to get married.”
Ducking his head he watched her toes curling into the bottom of the tub like they wanted to burrow down below the surface, looking for purchase as if it were composed of shifting sand instead of a solid surface. Picking up her foot he absently began a massage, needing to hold onto even the smallest part of her and trying to make them both feel more comfortable.
“Okay,” Max agreed not looking up. Before Liz could question what he meant by that he started to speak. “There are things I’ve never told you about what I remembered, about before.” Glancing up he saw something in her face that made him think that maybe she already knew that, been told by Khivar or even more likely, sensed that he held a large part of himself back from her.
“So tell me now,” Liz suggested leaning back in an effort to relax despite the tension stealing through her.
“Things there are very different from here. I don’t know how to tell you that so you understand how vastly different they really are. The idea of a king isn’t the same, reincarnation, family….none of that is like it is here. The idea of being born again after you die is more vague here. My father believes in reincarnation but it’s believed that you can trace your existence all the back through every life until you reach the Source, or God, whatever you want to call it. Names and places all the way back to the beginning and your social position is based on that fact. Only my father wasn’t satisfied with that. He wanted to engineer that existence, leaving nothing to chance, weed out anything he didn’t agree with. Why bother to die and be recreated if you can skip that unpleasant aspect? Why give the power to rule and a throne to an heir when he spent countless lives working to gain all that he has? He is on the Council. Ruler of not just one planet but many.”
“He’s still alive?” Liz asked studying the top of his bent head. Concern for him blotting out any personal feelings or reactions.
“Oh, yes, he’s very much alive unless Khivar has managed to kill him. But I think I’d know. Khivar would have told me.” Max closed his eyes momentarily as Liz’s fingers brushed over his hair. God, he loved her. She had no idea what she meant to him.
“He started his breeding program with that goal in mind, holding onto everything in this life. The old ways, beliefs that were held for centuries, weren’t good enough. He believes that bonds are dangerous distractions to a beings true purpose and he held up the prophecies and history as proof. So he chose females based on genetic requirements.”
“Your mother?” Liz asked softly.
“Yes, mine and Isabel’s. Khivar’s mother as well.” Looking up into her eyes he watched her pupils dilate with shock.
“You and Kivar are brothers?”
“No, not according to our culture. We don’t share a mother, just our father. But we were raised together, schooled together I should say. They don’t have families like we do here.”
Liz wondered whether he was listening to what he saying, the words he was choosing.
“We weren’t claimed by our father until we completed our schooling and passed the testing process. I passed but Khivar did not. I was put on the throne and, for the most part, Father ruled Antar through me. I didn’t want to be king. I never did, but I didn’t see a way around it. Once I was king I got interested in my father’s project. Not to engineer my own offspring or to delay death but as a way to get out of a life I didn’t want. My father was using the research to prolong his life in the body he had and expand his power base. I wanted a totally different life. I wanted to be different.”
Liz felt what he wasn’t saying, the desolation of never belonging to the life that he’d been born into, the isolation of being what amounted to a lab experiment. An experiment not once but twice in both of his lives. A deep well of sadness filled her middle with leaden weight. Gently she pulled her foot from his hands and moved into his arms, resting against him when his arms wrapped around her, holding on tight.
“All I had that I could count on was Isabel so when things started to unravel I-I couldn’t leave her. I had samples taken, from her and Michael. I wanted to offer them a chance if things went wrong. I don’t know how Tess-I didn’t include her. I didn’t count her as part of my family. She was the wife my father chose for me, part of the price I had to pay to get to where I wanted to be. In charge of my own life, that’s all I wanted.”
“What about Kivar? Where is he in all this?”
“He was in charge of his life, that was the problem. He didn’t like what our father was doing and found people that felt the same. That crap about him and Isabel was a lie. Isabel always liked him, kept in contact with him but it wasn’t because she was in love with him or he with her. She did let him in that night but only because I wanted to talk to him. I don’t-Ziya was-She was my-she was supposed to give me an heir. I couldn’t have that. Since Khivar was her advocate of record and her-brother, I asked Isabel to get him in to see me. I wanted to warn him to take her somewhere that she would be safe but things went wrong. We died. Isabel first, one of my father’s men killed her thinking that then I would fall in line. Michael went nuts. He thought Khivar tricked his way in and he went for him and was killed. Tess wasn’t supposed to be there but I saw her hiding right before I deliberately stepped in front of the bolt of energy that killed me. I couldn’t be what my father wanted to be and I knew I could have a new life. I had prepared for that day. I just hadn’t expected it to happen so quickly. I knew I had to die to move into my planned life so I just…with Isabel and Michael…it was time. “
“I didn’t think about the throne and what would happen to it, or to the people. I just knew that I wasn’t the one that was supposed to be there. I wasn’t the king they needed.”
“So who helped you? Who worked with you to make this happen?” Liz asked moving back to see his face.
“Ziya did. She was a Seer, a very good one actually. “
“Ziya as in Kivar’s sister-“
“She wasn’t related to me,” Max broke in just in case Liz thought that was the case. “Khivar was father’s first, after him another breeder was chosen. Khivar’s mother was bred to someone else and had Ziya, she was raised in the Way. Khivar wanted to bring her into her full potential but my father stepped in and wouldn’t allow it.”
“Max, why didn’t you want to tell me this?” Liz asked curious about why he would hold onto this for so long.
“I had a duty to the people and I deserted them. I wasn’t following a path to find a way to help them. I just wanted freedom, to be whoever I wanted to be. Ziya believed that I was the king that Seers had been writing about for generations and I let her think that. She believed that I was on the Path even if I didn’t see it that way.”
“Maybe you are.” Squirming around she looked him in the eyes, then kissed him, letting him know she was doing it with her eyes wide open. Seeing him as he was in that moment.
“I don’t believe that,” Max denied softly when Liz drew back, not wanting her to believe he was something more then what he was.
“I think you do,” Liz disagreed. “You found me, believing I was connected to you before I even knew your name. Somewhere inside you, I think you do believe and that’s part of the problem.”
“What do you mean?” Max asked fiddling with the wet ends of her hair.
“If I’m who Kivar thinks that I am, then you’re really not in control of your life are you? You’re still on a path someone else set for you, before you were even born. Right?”
Max blinked as her point dawned on him.
“If that’s the case then you love me not because it’s what you want but because it was designed to be that way. That’s a problem isn’t it? Because that also means that I love you not because of who you are but because of what you are.”
“But that’s not who I am.”
“What if it is?” Liz asked quietly.
“I’m not.”
The flat denial and the absolute refusal to entertain the idea, even as a point of discussion spoke volumes to her. It reinforced the uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach.
“Besides, I’m not in control here. You are,” Max teased, tapping her on the nose with his finger.
“Me?” Liz asked surprised.
“Yeah, you. I’m just sitting here turning into a prune doing whatever I’m told trying to get on your good side.”
“Which side is that?” Liz asked smirking. “This one?” Turning slowly and moving onto his lap with her back pressed to his chest she looked over her shoulder to see his face. “Or this one?”
Groaning he willingly gave up control, forgetting even the need for it. “They’re all good. I like them all.”
“You want on all of them? Greedy aren’t you?” Liz teased before making a dive off his lap only to get caught before she made it. Both of them ignored the water splashing into the bathroom floor with every movement.
“So I’ve been told.” Max leaned in and gently kissed her. Thanking her silently for being there, for being the one he could count on to be there.
“You called for me, Max,” Liz whispered against his mouth, reminding him of a promise he’d made to her. To always come when she called for him. “You were calling before I knew how to answer. I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner. “
Ignoring the stinging of his eyes his lips settled on hers, stealing her breath as easily as he’d long ago stolen her heart. His teeth teased her lower lip until she opened to him on a quiet moan, not protesting as he pulled her closer.
Feeling her slick skin gliding along his Max lost his ability to think, forgetting any desire he might have had to be anywhere but here, ever. His tongue swept into her mouth tasting and teasing, pulling her deeper into the water, touching as much of her as possible.
They had no time to feel the ties strengthening between them, pulling tight by mutual desire, drawing them closer to becoming what they were meant to be. They were too caught up in each other to recognize when they slipped past their normal barriers, flowing toward each other like water washing downstream. What he needed she gave, not needing to be asked, knowing as if it were her need all along.
Something intangible kindled between them burning through the thin layer of teasing, a swelling heat that made her skin tight and achy. She lifted away from him, still close enough to feel his breath against her face, each panting breath jerking in and out rubbing his chest against hers. She’d chosen him years ago without fully knowing what she’d chosen him for. She wrapped her arms around his neck the world turning over and over until there was only him, solid and real beneath her fingers. She heard him whispering that she was his safe place and he didn’t want to wreck it, she heard it clearly even though his lips never moved.
Their faces were barely inches apart. He could smell the slight tang of citrus from the soap she’d used and underneath it was just her, fresh and tempting combined.
He lifted her, guiding her legs until she straddled him then pulled her down onto his lap pressing her to his aching flesh. He wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her right where he wanted her.
She couldn’t breath, couldn’t speak. Time warped and stretched tangling them together. She made a mewing sound when he moved, caressing her breasts rubbing his cheek over the wet silken crest and over her tight hard nipples.
What he demanded was far beyond comfort, melting every last feeling in her heart and leaving them to pour out of her filling what little space existed between them. Tangling her fingers in his hair she arched into him and clung.
Using his hands he guided her hips into a rocking motion over the bulge of his painfully hard erection while he cherished her, forcing a whimper of pleasure from her with each wet dragging pull of his mouth. Groaning as the feverishly hot slick folds of her sex slid over his shaft over and over he sucked hard, clamping his arms down around her to hold her still as she started to shake.
“I can’t-Max! I need you to-“ She arched sharply feeling him between her legs.
“I know. Liz, I will. Anything, anything you want,” Max promised.
Anything she wanted, Liz thought as he pushed inside her wringing a strangled cry from her throat. Her fingers curled into his shoulders digging in, he was already giving her what she wanted.
He couldn’t take his eyes off of her. She was arched over his arm like an offering her breasts still rosy from the combination of his mouth and whiskers. Every rocking motion sent her hair trailing out into the water around her. Using his arm beneath the arch of her back he pulled her tighter to him, he was going to fast, being to rough with her. She was too small and tight for this, but he couldn’t ease off or slow down. Her need stroked and mingled with his until he was all thundering blood and pumping muscle, no reason or control.
“No,” Liz moaned afraid he would stop. She felt on the verge of something, some form of freedom that had been missing, taken from her and barely remembered until now. “Don’t stop.”
Brushing up against that feeling inside her thoughts and vividly remembering it in lush detail he reared up, moving and shifting them until she was braced against the edge of the garden style tub. Coming in behind her he nudged her wet tender opening with the tip of his erection, seeking her approval and getting it when she nestled back into his lap and bringing him inside her.
He could feel her lifting at a mask that was so much a part of him he hadn’t realized he was wearing it, hadn’t wanted to know not until she slipped beneath it and laid him bare. Groaning he drove into her, pinning her against the tub with every thrust of his body into hers, and he felt her wild response and slipped his hand down to tangle his fingers in the curls between her legs.
Hearing his low approving sound and knowing it was at finding her so soft and wet, utterly open to him, feeling the possessive grip he needed to hold she quivered so hot that she was sure the stream in the room was coming off of her own body. She pushed against him, seeking more but he controlled her movement only allowing her to work against him so much.
“I’ll take care of you. I promise,” Max grunted and felt her fly, She contracted around him, tight pulses that milked and pulled him even deeper. He wanted to bind her to him even tighter, with a ring, or more babies, whatever he could. Whatever she would allow.
With a low cry Liz gave in to him. Every deep gliding thrust stoked that urge inside her, urging her deeper inside him, every stroke of his shaft was slicker, more liquid until she lost track of where the dividing line was. There was no line, as he gritted out a low cry of protest as he spent himself inside her in long scalding spurts.
He collapsed over with a breathless pant. She murmured, squashed underneath him and pinned over the edge of the tub. Moving off of her he raised a trembling hand to help her up absently heating the chilled water to a more comfortable temperature.
Settling back into his arms she grinned. “Well, you didn’t seem to prune up too badly.”
Max smiled and nipped at her ear. “So you approve?”
“How can you even ask me that? You knew exactly what I was thinking, every minute. It was-“
“Just like it used to be?” Max asked slowly, running his hands over her arms caressing her gently as he waited for her answer.
“No, “ Liz shook her head. “Better.” There were no cameras recording or others present to orchestrate each movement when they fought against her control. “So much better.” Turning her head she accepted his kiss, caressing his cheek with fingers that weren’t quite steady.
Chapter 49
Chapter Forty Nine
“Do you think I’m this Ziya person?”
Max’s fingers stilled as her words broke through his contented haze. Looking down at the dark fall of her hair, wishing that he could see her face, not just the top of her head, but he answered immediately without examining his words.
“No, I don’t.”
“Does Kivar?”
“I don’t have any idea what he’s thinking.” Max answered his fingers sliding down her bare arm even as he considered her question. “Has he said anything that makes you think he does?”
“Not really,” Liz sighed stretching against him before settling back against his chest.
“I don’t see why he would.”
“I thought reincarnation was a big deal. Wouldn’t he believe in it?” Liz asked keeping her voice low.
“Yes, but not in the way you’re thinking.” Fingers combing absently through the ends of her hair he struggled to find that place inside that held bits of the life he’d lived before. Before her. “Earth isn’t considered to be developed enough to count. For so long Earth’s development was so far behind that it was thought you had no past, like a new soul, everyone here was considered to be closer to the beginning.”
“That’s why you chose this place isn’t it?” Liz looked up, turning enough to see his face.
“It sounded good to me. A new beginning without the baggage of having a past.” Max agreed.
“We’re really that far behind?” Liz asked intrigued despite herself.
“On some levels, maybe. Humans look outward to advance and pay very little attention to the inner possibilities for growth. The gadgets you have don’t necessarily show your level of advancement. It’s all a matter of opinion.”
“So Kivar wouldn’t think Ziya would regress this far huh?” Liz teased.
“There would be no reason to think so. It’s not like we had a relationship that would lead anyone to think she’d come back here. She was given to me as a piece of strategy, or a role, that was determined before I was born. It wasn’t like we had feelings for each other. We both wanted something different. That’s what made us allies. That’s all. I barely knew her.”
Max paused trying to think of how to explain a relationship that had no true meaning to either person. “You couldn’t be her not because of any issue around level of development but because there’s no basis for comparison. The first time I saw you, you meant more to me then she ever had or could. I felt more in that first moment then in all of the time I’d known Ziya. She was a part of the landscape of a life I never wanted to live. I could never make the mistake as seeing you as a part of that place. There is no comparison to make between you and her. Apples and oranges,” Max shrugged.
“Khivar knew Ziya from birth, better then anyone else in the universe. He wouldn’t make that mistake after talking to you, walking through your dreams. It’s just not possible. He raised her, cared for her and schooled her from the time she was born. There’s no way he could be fooled into thinking you’re her.”
“Unless he wanted to fool himself,” Liz offered relieved that Max seemed to believe that she was unique and not just a reproduction of someone else.
*****
Not right. Not right. Need all the pieces. Pieces, pieces, pieces always more pieces to find.
Humming softly she placed another piece carefully into its place in the puzzle. She didn’t bother to look up when the door opened.
“Aviana, why did you do it?” Lerek asked closing the door behind him and listening for it to lock in place before walking into the room.
“Do what?” Lifting her head, innocent seeming cerulean eyes regarded her visitor with a steady guilt free gaze.
“She was a child, your child.”
Her eyes rolled and a Madonna like smile graced her pink lips. “I needed that piece, Lerek. He doesn’t mind. He told me that it didn’t matter. We can always make another one. She just had one more piece that I needed.”
Lerek’s eyes never blinked, never betrayed what he was feeling. “What you need isn’t going to be found by ripping the tongue out of an infant.”
“She was a part of me wasn’t she?” Tess asked. “I need all the parts of me. Here where I am. I’ve told you that. I want you to bring them to me. So I can rip out the pieces I need. So I can be whole again.”
Lerek sighed feeling very put upon. “It’s not that simple, Aviana.”
“Simple or not it’s what I want. You’re here to give me what I want.” The sweet smile and flutter of lashes left him unmoved. “And don’t call me Aviana.” Turning back to the puzzle in front of her she picked up another piece studying the complex picture before her.
After exiting and making sure the door was sealed Lerek moved to the next room. Maybe this one would be saner.
*****
“Loose something?”
Max almost landed on his ass at the sound of Kyle’s voice. “Valenti.”
“Evans,” Kyle countered smirking as Max abandoned his search of the refrigerator and stood up. “Liz didn’t tell you I was here I take it.”
“No, she didn’t,” Max agreed leaning against the counter and crossing his arms over his bare chest.
“You didn’t think that I’d just drop her and the kids off did you? Leave them to wait until you decided to show up? No way, amigo.” Kyle matched Max’s attempt at a casual lean, using the doorway to support his weight and let his smirk turn into an outright grin. “You can count on me.”
“Yeah,” Max nodded without enthusiasm.
“Will you be around tomorrow? ‘Cause I’ve been summoned. By my boss.” Kyle prompted when Max didn’t jump in with an answer.
“Max? Are we out of-“ Liz rounded the corner, legs bare under the hem of Max’s T-shirt her hair rumpled cheeks flushed with color. “Oh, hi Kyle.”
“Liz,” Kyle greeted, his eyes twinkling with humor when he saw Max push away from the counter right quick and move to within touching distance of Liz. “Lovely as always.”
“Right,” Liz drawled knowing Kyle was playing with Max and giving him a warning look before he pushed another of Max’s buttons.
“I was just telling Max that I have to work tomorrow. Since you have plans I just wanted to make sure that Max was going to be around.”
“Plans?” Max asked looking to Liz. “What plans?”
“Pascal called and asked me to come down and see the lab tomorrow.”
Max was already shaking his head before she finished the sentence. “I don’t think that’s a good idea right now.”
“It’s okay. Michael’s going to be there remember? He starts work at Meta-Chem tomorrow. I can bring the kids if you’ve got something to do tomorrow.” Liz waited for his response, feeling Kyle watching both of them. What do you think?”
“Let me talk to Michael first, okay?” Max answered unwilling to commit.
Liz smiled and leaned up to kiss him on the chin; happy he was even considering it after what happened earlier with Khivar. “Okay.” Turning to Kyle she didn’t miss the fact that his eyes were on her bare legs. “Night Kyle.”
Kyle looked up and winked unrepentant. “Good night, Liz.” Smiling when Max turned like a windmill in a breeze as Liz went down the hallway toward the bedroom. Kyle relaxed back against the doorway waiting until Max was able to pull his attention back from where it had wandered off to.
Max scowled when he saw Kyle’s grin. “What?”
“Nothing, it’s just nice to see some things stay the same,” Kyle responded not bothering to hide his amusement.
“Yeah well,” Max tugged at his ear feeling them heat up. “About tomorrow. Do you think your boss is going to be a problem? Do I need to keep Liz hidden?”
“Hiding isn’t necessarily going to help. This is Liz’s hometown a lot of people know her. That’s if someone looks at that thing in the dessert and connects it back to her and that’s a big if. My boss won’t be able to do that on her own. She doesn’t know Liz. I’ll let you know if Liz’s name comes up before anyone’s knocking on the door. Then we’ll think about hiding her.”
When Max finally wandered back to bed he found that Noah had already beaten him into bed and was clutching a lock of Liz’s hair in his fist, fast asleep. Liz shot him an amused glance from over the top of Noah’s head. “What is it about aliens and hair? Even your offspring have a thing with it.”
“Maybe because aliens don’t have hair?” Max suggested sliding into bed behind her.
“None?” Liz asked as Max curled around her back, easing close enough to wrap his arm around her and their son.
“Nope, not to my knowledge.” Pressing closer he sighed as Liz snuggled back into him bringing Noah with her. This was home, here or Paris it didn’t matter, this felt like home to him. The only thing missing was….
Erin scooted into the room carrying Pepe and after a short struggle managed the climb onto the mattress.
“Daddy, yift up da covers Pepe yikes ta be unner dem wit me,” Erin whispered then yawned. Seconds after sliding underneath the tent of covers and almost before they settled over her she was asleep.
*****
“Any improvement to report, Lerek?”
“Depends on what ones idea of improvement is, your Grace,” Lerek moved not so much as a muscle, waiting to see which way the wind was going to blow today. Avian’s bizarre compulsion to harm infants was not resolving itself. Why they continued to allow her to see them was a mystery to him.
The show of teeth that comment earned could almost be considered to be amusement. If the head of the council had a sense of humor, which he did not.
“Are any of them….more intact then the others?”
“Each has…..flaws, your Grace. Without the crystal each is missing the memories from after Tess, excuse me your Grace, Aviana left us here until her death on Earth. However I don’t believe that is the whole problem. There is an unstable element to each of them that is not explained by missing memories.” Lerek watched, remaining silent as he waited for a reaction.
“She was always a bit unstable, beautiful to be sure but always a wildcard.”
Lerek’s breathing slits narrowed in revulsion, as if he had caught wind of something foul. The nature his relationship with his son’s wife was repugnant, as was the vile fascination he held for her.
“Worth the hassle, if we can bring her back to what she was. My son managed it, why is this not working the same way?”
“Zan had two sets of samples to work with, one taken before and one after death. We have only the one. Not only that but the manner of her death was-the crystal was designed to prevent the rebirth of the soul. There is clearly something wrong with every attempt we’ve made. “
“Perhaps.”
“Sir?” Lerek asked confused. It was obvious to him there were issues that needed correcting.
“What of my son and his mongrel children? What has been done about that?”
“We’re on schedule there. Khivar has made things difficult but there are ways around that. We’re planning a trial run within the next day or two.”
“Excellent. Keep me informed.”
*****
Isabel frowned in her sleep feeling the weight of Dane’s arm as something else. Moving away from the constricting sense of what wasn’t there.
“Isabel.”
Isabel stopped pulling at the ribbon wrapped too tightly around her and glanced around for the person that was calling her startled when he was right in front of her. “Khivar.”
“I don’t have much time but I needed to talk to you.” Khivar squatted in front of gently untwisting the ribbon.
“I won’t let you work through me to get to him,” Isabel cautioned even as she remained still, allowing him to help her. “He’s my brother and I love him.”
Khivar stopped his piercing eyes locked on hers. “I know that. I know what that means, to have family. That’s not what I’m asking.” Bending back to his task he blindly unraveled her. “Do you really think your father will allow this? That he didn’t expend every resource to locate you? Do you think he’ll sit back and allow you to live your life, mixing with humans? Polluting all his hard work? Zan has never understood the lengths that he would go to. You don’t really think you can hide do you? That he will just let you go?”
“I don’t-“ Isabel stopped confused. “Who? I don’t think-“
“Remember Isabel. You need to remember what you’re hiding from. What these bindings actually are.”
Isabel closed her eyes feeling sudden freedom of movement. Opening them she focused on him. “What is it that you want?”
“I want you to remember so that you’ll know.” Khivar stood up and moved away.
“Know what?”
“That this is exactly what he’s worked all of his lives to destroy. His favored children, the only ones he’s claimed to turn their back on him and reach for what he considers abhorrent.”
“What’s that? Humans?” Isabel asked.
But there was no response to her question. Khivar was gone.
It was time to claim his new form.
“Do you think I’m this Ziya person?”
Max’s fingers stilled as her words broke through his contented haze. Looking down at the dark fall of her hair, wishing that he could see her face, not just the top of her head, but he answered immediately without examining his words.
“No, I don’t.”
“Does Kivar?”
“I don’t have any idea what he’s thinking.” Max answered his fingers sliding down her bare arm even as he considered her question. “Has he said anything that makes you think he does?”
“Not really,” Liz sighed stretching against him before settling back against his chest.
“I don’t see why he would.”
“I thought reincarnation was a big deal. Wouldn’t he believe in it?” Liz asked keeping her voice low.
“Yes, but not in the way you’re thinking.” Fingers combing absently through the ends of her hair he struggled to find that place inside that held bits of the life he’d lived before. Before her. “Earth isn’t considered to be developed enough to count. For so long Earth’s development was so far behind that it was thought you had no past, like a new soul, everyone here was considered to be closer to the beginning.”
“That’s why you chose this place isn’t it?” Liz looked up, turning enough to see his face.
“It sounded good to me. A new beginning without the baggage of having a past.” Max agreed.
“We’re really that far behind?” Liz asked intrigued despite herself.
“On some levels, maybe. Humans look outward to advance and pay very little attention to the inner possibilities for growth. The gadgets you have don’t necessarily show your level of advancement. It’s all a matter of opinion.”
“So Kivar wouldn’t think Ziya would regress this far huh?” Liz teased.
“There would be no reason to think so. It’s not like we had a relationship that would lead anyone to think she’d come back here. She was given to me as a piece of strategy, or a role, that was determined before I was born. It wasn’t like we had feelings for each other. We both wanted something different. That’s what made us allies. That’s all. I barely knew her.”
Max paused trying to think of how to explain a relationship that had no true meaning to either person. “You couldn’t be her not because of any issue around level of development but because there’s no basis for comparison. The first time I saw you, you meant more to me then she ever had or could. I felt more in that first moment then in all of the time I’d known Ziya. She was a part of the landscape of a life I never wanted to live. I could never make the mistake as seeing you as a part of that place. There is no comparison to make between you and her. Apples and oranges,” Max shrugged.
“Khivar knew Ziya from birth, better then anyone else in the universe. He wouldn’t make that mistake after talking to you, walking through your dreams. It’s just not possible. He raised her, cared for her and schooled her from the time she was born. There’s no way he could be fooled into thinking you’re her.”
“Unless he wanted to fool himself,” Liz offered relieved that Max seemed to believe that she was unique and not just a reproduction of someone else.
*****
Not right. Not right. Need all the pieces. Pieces, pieces, pieces always more pieces to find.
Humming softly she placed another piece carefully into its place in the puzzle. She didn’t bother to look up when the door opened.
“Aviana, why did you do it?” Lerek asked closing the door behind him and listening for it to lock in place before walking into the room.
“Do what?” Lifting her head, innocent seeming cerulean eyes regarded her visitor with a steady guilt free gaze.
“She was a child, your child.”
Her eyes rolled and a Madonna like smile graced her pink lips. “I needed that piece, Lerek. He doesn’t mind. He told me that it didn’t matter. We can always make another one. She just had one more piece that I needed.”
Lerek’s eyes never blinked, never betrayed what he was feeling. “What you need isn’t going to be found by ripping the tongue out of an infant.”
“She was a part of me wasn’t she?” Tess asked. “I need all the parts of me. Here where I am. I’ve told you that. I want you to bring them to me. So I can rip out the pieces I need. So I can be whole again.”
Lerek sighed feeling very put upon. “It’s not that simple, Aviana.”
“Simple or not it’s what I want. You’re here to give me what I want.” The sweet smile and flutter of lashes left him unmoved. “And don’t call me Aviana.” Turning back to the puzzle in front of her she picked up another piece studying the complex picture before her.
After exiting and making sure the door was sealed Lerek moved to the next room. Maybe this one would be saner.
*****
“Loose something?”
Max almost landed on his ass at the sound of Kyle’s voice. “Valenti.”
“Evans,” Kyle countered smirking as Max abandoned his search of the refrigerator and stood up. “Liz didn’t tell you I was here I take it.”
“No, she didn’t,” Max agreed leaning against the counter and crossing his arms over his bare chest.
“You didn’t think that I’d just drop her and the kids off did you? Leave them to wait until you decided to show up? No way, amigo.” Kyle matched Max’s attempt at a casual lean, using the doorway to support his weight and let his smirk turn into an outright grin. “You can count on me.”
“Yeah,” Max nodded without enthusiasm.
“Will you be around tomorrow? ‘Cause I’ve been summoned. By my boss.” Kyle prompted when Max didn’t jump in with an answer.
“Max? Are we out of-“ Liz rounded the corner, legs bare under the hem of Max’s T-shirt her hair rumpled cheeks flushed with color. “Oh, hi Kyle.”
“Liz,” Kyle greeted, his eyes twinkling with humor when he saw Max push away from the counter right quick and move to within touching distance of Liz. “Lovely as always.”
“Right,” Liz drawled knowing Kyle was playing with Max and giving him a warning look before he pushed another of Max’s buttons.
“I was just telling Max that I have to work tomorrow. Since you have plans I just wanted to make sure that Max was going to be around.”
“Plans?” Max asked looking to Liz. “What plans?”
“Pascal called and asked me to come down and see the lab tomorrow.”
Max was already shaking his head before she finished the sentence. “I don’t think that’s a good idea right now.”
“It’s okay. Michael’s going to be there remember? He starts work at Meta-Chem tomorrow. I can bring the kids if you’ve got something to do tomorrow.” Liz waited for his response, feeling Kyle watching both of them. What do you think?”
“Let me talk to Michael first, okay?” Max answered unwilling to commit.
Liz smiled and leaned up to kiss him on the chin; happy he was even considering it after what happened earlier with Khivar. “Okay.” Turning to Kyle she didn’t miss the fact that his eyes were on her bare legs. “Night Kyle.”
Kyle looked up and winked unrepentant. “Good night, Liz.” Smiling when Max turned like a windmill in a breeze as Liz went down the hallway toward the bedroom. Kyle relaxed back against the doorway waiting until Max was able to pull his attention back from where it had wandered off to.
Max scowled when he saw Kyle’s grin. “What?”
“Nothing, it’s just nice to see some things stay the same,” Kyle responded not bothering to hide his amusement.
“Yeah well,” Max tugged at his ear feeling them heat up. “About tomorrow. Do you think your boss is going to be a problem? Do I need to keep Liz hidden?”
“Hiding isn’t necessarily going to help. This is Liz’s hometown a lot of people know her. That’s if someone looks at that thing in the dessert and connects it back to her and that’s a big if. My boss won’t be able to do that on her own. She doesn’t know Liz. I’ll let you know if Liz’s name comes up before anyone’s knocking on the door. Then we’ll think about hiding her.”
When Max finally wandered back to bed he found that Noah had already beaten him into bed and was clutching a lock of Liz’s hair in his fist, fast asleep. Liz shot him an amused glance from over the top of Noah’s head. “What is it about aliens and hair? Even your offspring have a thing with it.”
“Maybe because aliens don’t have hair?” Max suggested sliding into bed behind her.
“None?” Liz asked as Max curled around her back, easing close enough to wrap his arm around her and their son.
“Nope, not to my knowledge.” Pressing closer he sighed as Liz snuggled back into him bringing Noah with her. This was home, here or Paris it didn’t matter, this felt like home to him. The only thing missing was….
Erin scooted into the room carrying Pepe and after a short struggle managed the climb onto the mattress.
“Daddy, yift up da covers Pepe yikes ta be unner dem wit me,” Erin whispered then yawned. Seconds after sliding underneath the tent of covers and almost before they settled over her she was asleep.
*****
“Any improvement to report, Lerek?”
“Depends on what ones idea of improvement is, your Grace,” Lerek moved not so much as a muscle, waiting to see which way the wind was going to blow today. Avian’s bizarre compulsion to harm infants was not resolving itself. Why they continued to allow her to see them was a mystery to him.
The show of teeth that comment earned could almost be considered to be amusement. If the head of the council had a sense of humor, which he did not.
“Are any of them….more intact then the others?”
“Each has…..flaws, your Grace. Without the crystal each is missing the memories from after Tess, excuse me your Grace, Aviana left us here until her death on Earth. However I don’t believe that is the whole problem. There is an unstable element to each of them that is not explained by missing memories.” Lerek watched, remaining silent as he waited for a reaction.
“She was always a bit unstable, beautiful to be sure but always a wildcard.”
Lerek’s breathing slits narrowed in revulsion, as if he had caught wind of something foul. The nature his relationship with his son’s wife was repugnant, as was the vile fascination he held for her.
“Worth the hassle, if we can bring her back to what she was. My son managed it, why is this not working the same way?”
“Zan had two sets of samples to work with, one taken before and one after death. We have only the one. Not only that but the manner of her death was-the crystal was designed to prevent the rebirth of the soul. There is clearly something wrong with every attempt we’ve made. “
“Perhaps.”
“Sir?” Lerek asked confused. It was obvious to him there were issues that needed correcting.
“What of my son and his mongrel children? What has been done about that?”
“We’re on schedule there. Khivar has made things difficult but there are ways around that. We’re planning a trial run within the next day or two.”
“Excellent. Keep me informed.”
*****
Isabel frowned in her sleep feeling the weight of Dane’s arm as something else. Moving away from the constricting sense of what wasn’t there.
“Isabel.”
Isabel stopped pulling at the ribbon wrapped too tightly around her and glanced around for the person that was calling her startled when he was right in front of her. “Khivar.”
“I don’t have much time but I needed to talk to you.” Khivar squatted in front of gently untwisting the ribbon.
“I won’t let you work through me to get to him,” Isabel cautioned even as she remained still, allowing him to help her. “He’s my brother and I love him.”
Khivar stopped his piercing eyes locked on hers. “I know that. I know what that means, to have family. That’s not what I’m asking.” Bending back to his task he blindly unraveled her. “Do you really think your father will allow this? That he didn’t expend every resource to locate you? Do you think he’ll sit back and allow you to live your life, mixing with humans? Polluting all his hard work? Zan has never understood the lengths that he would go to. You don’t really think you can hide do you? That he will just let you go?”
“I don’t-“ Isabel stopped confused. “Who? I don’t think-“
“Remember Isabel. You need to remember what you’re hiding from. What these bindings actually are.”
Isabel closed her eyes feeling sudden freedom of movement. Opening them she focused on him. “What is it that you want?”
“I want you to remember so that you’ll know.” Khivar stood up and moved away.
“Know what?”
“That this is exactly what he’s worked all of his lives to destroy. His favored children, the only ones he’s claimed to turn their back on him and reach for what he considers abhorrent.”
“What’s that? Humans?” Isabel asked.
But there was no response to her question. Khivar was gone.
It was time to claim his new form.