Interlude

Chapter 25

Lila

The next morning, I’m woken by what I’m sure they think is a quiet conversation, but it sounds like a bunch of pissed off cats hissing.

“A large craft just appeared in the orbit of Husadavia. It’s cloaked, but I can feel its presence,” Zeydan tells my dragon. He sounds worried, which is a concern in itself, considering he’s a god.

“Were you expecting anybody?” Tirrian asks calmly, and I’m impressed. I thought he’d hit hyperdrive on panic.

“No. No one visits this planet except the harvesters I employ. The only reason the carevasta bears got onto the planet was because I was on Z68, gathering the crew. I’m surprised they got as far as they did—unless they beamed directly to the spot where they left Lila’s grandmother’s stasis box, which should have been impossible. They must have had intel from someone who knows the planet, and the only living people would be my fellow gods.”

“Do you know where it is?” Tirrian asks as I stretch, deciding I need to be involved in this conversation as well. I look around for some clothes as Zeydan answers.

“Yes, I searched for it last night while you were otherwise occupied. The bears’ bodies are nothing but bones scattered around it, but I couldn’t penetrate the box. It has a signature I recognize on it though, which makes me think one of my fellow gods is definitely involved, but I have no idea why. What would be the benefit of keeping Liliana Adams in stasis?” Zeydan sounds aggrieved. “If I were at full power, opening it would be child’s play, but I don’t have access to all of my powers.”

I hate how defeated he sounds. I spy Zeydan’s cloak on the end of the bed. He must have picked it up after I dropped it to run from Tirrian. I snatch it up and pull it around me, my movement drawing the males’ attention.

“Lila, you’re awake.” Tirrian’s worry drops for a moment as he smiles gently at me.

I crawl down the bed and join them on the seats we used last night. Outside the glass, I see Zeydan’s murder puppies all on alert. Their ears and tails are up, and their eyes are on the dark forest.

“Yeah, why didn’t you wake me? I definitely overslept. I bet the harvesters returned. We need to meet them at the next field.”

Zeydan shakes his head. “They can’t without me, otherwise they will die. They don’t come down until I send them the okay,” he reminds me, and I feel a rush of panic for Brannock and Xavier.

“Shit, we better get going then.” I look around for the little dress I wore in my other form. I can’t return naked.

Zeydan puts up a hand. “Don’t worry about the harvesters now. Lila, we have another problem. There is a ship in the atmosphere other than the circus’s and the harvesters’ ships.”

“Do you know who it is?” I ask, and he frowns.

“It has a Madovian energy signature.”

I gasp and shudder. That isn’t good. “Do you think the Syndicate sent them? How would they know we were trying to rescue Grandma?”

“I’m guessing that’s why they are there. There is no other reason for them to be in orbit.” Zeydan sounds unconcerned, but I’m starting to panic.

“But how would they know we are here?”

“We weren’t very quiet about what we were doing. They could have found out any number of ways,” Tirrian suggests. “Will the flora and fauna attack them?”

Zeydan nods decisively. “Yes, but Madovians are fairly hardy creatures, much like dragons. Their skin is resilient. If I was expecting any creature to have a chance on my planet, it would be them.”

“I don’t know. Laser beams do a fairly good job of killing them.” I remember what the one we killed on the circus ship looked like after the gun did its job.

“Why don’t we just teleport the stasis box straight back to the ship?” I ask, and Tirrian and Zeydan shake their heads.

“They need specific coordinates to be able to beam it aboard, which means one of us has to be touching it,” Tirrian explains

“Okay, so we teleport directly to it, slap our hands on it, and then we’re back on the ship.” I’m grasping for ideas at the moment, but I seem to be the only one.

Zeydan shoots me down once more. “The surrounding forest is too dense to teleport in. We’re going to have to walk until we get to the clearing the box is in, which is in the very middle of the forest. There was a funny forcefield on it too, which may not allow for teleportation.”

“We’re definitely going to need Ghosie,” Tirrian grumbles, not sounding thrilled with the idea. While he was welcoming and thankful he saved me, Tirrian is still wary of his intentions, especially after Brannock’s bombshell.

“For fuck’s sake, do either of you have suggestions instead of just shooting mine down? What about shooting the Mordovian ship out of the sky? The circus ship has weapons!”

Tirrian grimaces, and I know I’m not going to like what he says. “It’s cloaked, and they have to be able to see it to shoot it down.”

I feel a wave of dejection before a burst of confidence. “Right then, I guess we’re going to have to fight. Tirrian and I can shift into dragon form and burn them all.”

Zeydan winces and shakes his head. “You’ll set the whole forest on fire, and it’s too dense for you to land.”

“But we can make our dragons smaller,” I argue, remembering what Tirrian told me.

“Not that small.” Tirrian shoots another idea down.

“Agh!” I scream, and the murder puppies yip and run inside to see what the problem is. They surround me, whining and pawing at my legs. I reach down and give them little scratches. “It’s okay. I’m just frustrated,” I tell them.

“We’re going to have to call in reinforcements. Can you protect more of us from the creatures?” Tirrian asks, and Zeydan finally gives a positive answer.

“Yes, as long as we don’t drift too far apart, but it isn’t the actual creatures that’s the problem in the death forest, it’s the trees themselves.”

“Was the green circle of magic yesterday your limit?” I ask him, standing up, and he gives me a decisive nod.

“It was about a hundred feet in diameter. Plenty of space for a few others.”

“I don’t know this feet measurement, but I think it’s time to invite some of the others to the party.” Tirrian lifts a piece of cloth that was under his arm on the chair. I’m surprised to see it’s the dress I was looking for, and the communicator that was in the hem is now ripped out.

“I spoke to the ship last night to let them know you were okay,” he explains when I give him a quizzical look, wondering why he pulled it out.

“Oh, thank you, that was nice of you.” That was super thoughtful. Of course the others would have been worried.

“Don’t worry about radioing them. I’ll go get them.” Zeydan doesn’t wait for a response. He stands up and whistles, and his foxes flow back into him, appearing as his tail behind him. He magics up another cloak and quickly disappears.

“Well, I guess his idea of low powers and ours is slightly different,” I say in amazement, staring at the empty space.

“I’m afraid he’s going to use up a good portion of them retrieving our friends though.” Tirrian’s brow crinkles.

My stomach rumbles, drawing his attention.

“Zeydan made breakfast,” he says, getting up and moving over to the kitchen. He spoons something into a bowl for me and returns, handing it to me. It’s a thick, black grainy substance. I wrinkle my nose, and Tirrian chuckles. “Try it, I think you’ll be surprised. Even my dragon enjoyed it.”

I scoop up a spoonful and take a small amount into my mouth. The flavors hit my taste buds, and my eyes widen in surprise. It has a slightly chewy texture, but it tastes like honey oats with dried fruit pieces mixed in.

“It’s good,” I tell him as I quickly devour the rest.

“Lila.” Tirrian sounds hesitant, and when I look up, he’s biting his thumb nail, his eyes unfocused like he’s thinking hard. “I think you need to mimic Brannock and go into berserker mode if the Madovians try to stop us from getting to your grandmother.”

“Why that form? What about my Madovian form? I’d be at an advantage,” I ask him, and he quickly shakes his head.

“No, you remember how hard it was to control. We may never get you back. At least the Aaz’axian berserker is lethal, and Brannock should be able to coax you back.”

“Well, what about the warlock or the Barcoa?” I argue, and this time he focuses on me.

“Why don’t you want to mimic Brannock? And the truth please, I think I deserve it.”

I sigh and try to put my thoughts into words. “Because I don’t want to be seen as just a baby factory. I want them to like me for me, and not the fact that I am their only option.”

“You said them. Do you mean Brannock and Ghosie?”

I wince, I did say them, didn’t I? “I’m not there with Ghosie yet despite being attracted to him. I barely know him, but I mean Silac too.”

“Yes, you are a chance for all of them to flourish again.”

I shake my head vigorously. “Maybe the Aaz’axians and the carevasta, yes, they have more bloodlines, but from what I understand, the nagas are only Silac’s family. Any children he and I might have will be his brothers’ nieces or nephews. That doesn’t help in the long run.”

He mulls over my words. “No, you’re right, but I don’t even think that’s what we need to focus on. We need to focus on the fact that you think they want you to breed babies for them. Why wouldn’t they want you for you? Hell, Silac was attracted to you before we even knew you were a mimic, and Brannock certainly isn’t that shallow. He had an Earth female for a wife. He already has a child who needs us, so he may not want any more.”

I fiddle with Zeydan’s cloak, not wanting to look at him. “Yeah, you’re right. I guess I’m just being silly.”

He slides off his chair and shuffles over on his knees. He’s wearing the skirt Zeydan gave him and nothing else, and in the light of day, the shimmer on black scales is distractingly pretty. All the exposed flesh doesn’t help either. When he gets to me, he’s smirking, but he grabs my hands and gives them a squeeze.

“And don’t forget this isn’t being forced on you. You can do it the Skarrian way, so if you find you’re unable to control your urges in that form, then one little fuck fest won’t seal you together for all eternity.” He pulls me close and gives me a kiss before pressing our foreheads together, looking me straight in the eye.

“I love you, Lila. I don’t think I told you that, and being bonded to you for all eternity is a blessing. The others will feel the same way, trust me. Take the Aaz’axian form and keep yourself safe.”

I slide off the chair and onto the floor. He wraps his arms around me as I hug him tightly. Who would have thought the dragon had a romantic bone in his body?

My hands brush across his wings, and he shivers. I feel his cock press against me as he pulls me harder against him. I slide one of my hands up and under his skirt and find him, stroking the hard flesh.

“How long until they return?” I ask as he parts my robe and fondles my breasts, smoke drifting out of his nose.

“Not long enough,” a dry voice remarks, and Tirrian jumps to his feet, growling and spreading his wings to protect me.

I blink to clear the lusty fog from my mind, pulling my robe closed again before peering around his legs. Xavier, Brannock, Saxon, Silac, Ghosie, and Maxsim are all with Zeydan. All but Maxsim are wearing black leather-like armor I saw Xavier in the first time. Shit, It’s too hot here for Maxsim.

“What are you doing here?” I ask, scrambling to my feet as I try to keep my large robe closed but failing, if the interest in their eyes says anything. “You’re going to get sick or die from the heat.” I hurry over to him and run my hands up and down his arms. “Take him back now,” I plead to Zeydan.

“Lila, it’s okay, Xavier gave me this.” Max holds up the necklace I noticed around his neck. “It’s a permanent protective charm. I can go anywhere now.”

I sigh with relief and throw my arms around him, hugging him hard.

“Fuck, I was worried, but I’m glad you’re here.” I give him a kiss before turning and stomping over to my warlock. “I love you,” I tell him, and he smirks and pulls me in for a kiss.

“Of course you do,” he says smugly, and I hear the rest of them mutter under their breaths.

Tirrian doesn’t hide his scoff.

“Nice skirt.” Xavier smirks at the dragon as I pull away from him. Tirrian just flips him off as Xavier waves a hand and puts him in the same armor as the rest of them.

“I’ll need to shift,” Tirrian says, shaking his head.

“It will shift with you. It’s like the performance outfits.” He waves his hand again, and weapons appear, floating in front of him. Tirrian grabs two laser guns and sticks them into the holsters built into the leathers. All of them are armed to the teeth. “Now let’s deal with you two.” He turns his attention to Zeydan and me.

“Do you want me to outfit you?” he asks the god carefully. I’m surprised he’s being delicate, since he’s usually tactless.

“No, there are a lot of things I can’t do, and my power is reduced, but I can still conjure. I am going to scout ahead anyway. There’s nowhere in that forest where they can hide from me, and I will let you know if you walk into an ambush.” Zeydan strips off his robe, and I have to hide a chuckle when the others’ eyes widen at his form.

“Damn,” my horny warlock mutters.

“You have a little drool,” I tell him, pointing to the corner of his mouth.

He rolls his eyes and slaps my hand away, and I giggle, admiring my supposed new mate.

“How are you all here so quickly?” I ask as we follow Zeydan out onto the patio.

“I sensed the ship when it dropped out of hyperspace, and Brannock and I returned to the galaxy ship. There was no need to keep up the farce any longer,” Xavier explains, not hiding his admiration of the half naked god in front of us.

“What about the harvesters?” I ask Zeydan as his hands go to the waistband of his skirt.

“They will wait. I will cast the repelling spell out here and link it to you, Lila. It will give you protection when I leave and follow.” He holds up both hands and mutters something, and the house is surrounded by the same ring of green magic as we were in yesterday. “Be careful. I will speak into your minds when I have news.” He pulls his skirt off with a flourish, and his body starts to shimmer, but not before I catch an eyeful of what he’s hiding under his skirt. Holy hell, he gives the dragon a run for his money, and it has a twist in it. I turn my head to the side a little to see if I can work out exactly what I’m seeing.

“Double damn,” Xavier mutters again, also tilting his head slightly, and this time, I elbow him. We watch as his body contorts and shifts until a huge foxlike creature with nine tails stands before us. I mean, he’s almost as tall as an elephant. Three of us could ride on his back. I walk down the steps and reach out to stroke his pointy nose.

“Be careful,” I tell him, and he clicks at me, before his large tongue lashes me, leaving behind a trail of slobber.

“Eww.” He makes a laughing, chattering sound before shimmering and disappearing.

“Lila, let’s get you outfitted.” Saxon is the one to approach me. “This is the one coded to your blood, but I bought another for you to activate,” he tells me, holding guns in each hand.

“And you’re going to need a whole new outfit. As much as we would like to see you run through the jungle naked, it isn’t going to work for this.” My warlock starts to wave his hand, but I snap my own out to stop him.

“Hang on please. There’s something I need to do first.” I look around. Tirrian, Ghosie, Brannock, Max, and Silac stayed inside the house while Zeydan changed. Only Saxon and Xavier followed us outside.

Xavier gives me a nod, following my gaze inside. “We’ll just wait here. Don’t be too long, the sooner we get moving, the sooner we can be back on the ship. Your grandpas are stressed, and so are your mates we left behind.”

A wave of guilt washes over me. Woman up, Lila, it’s just mimicking a new form. Stop overthinking it.

I take a big breath and let it out, then I march inside to ask Brannock if I can mimic him.