Chapter Three #2
“Well, one of them was already travelling to visit family so she could show them her new face. She’s stuck in the upright position.”
Avor frowned. “Did you speak to the ladies?”
“No, but I am aware of them, just as I am of all those who have activated.” Regis nodded. “They are fine for now and in safe hands. Joy is taking care of them.”
Avor thought and then nodded. “The flight attendant.”
“Correct.”
“Good. She will call you when they land?”
“She won’t have to. I will know when they are safe. Part of the joy of being me.” She smiled, and her husband kissed her. They could hear Ira running around and explaining her project to the ladies working in the kitchen.
Regis laughed and then sobered. “It’s a pity that Elaheh isn’t here anymore. She could have helped with a robotic exploit instead.”
“She is safe in the emperor’s household, just as our little girl is.” Avor stroked her cheek.
“In cuffs.”
“You know why she needs to be restrained.”
“Yes, but it doesn’t mean I have to like it.”
He hugged her. “I know, but we may be grandparents again.”
“There are four hundred thousand of our descendants on this world.”
He chuckled. “Yes, and one percent of them are enhanced betas or omegas. And out of those, two hundred are elf omegas. How many have you accounted for?”
“Uh, about fifty.”
“Well, the alphas need to keep their senses on alert. I would have gone mad if I weren’t able to find you.”
“I think you are only partially here sometimes, and then you see me or Ira and you snap back together.”
He nodded. “I think of our past often, of what happened, and how I will never let it happen again.”
Regis nodded. “You do that. I am going to get you a cupcake.” She patted his cheek and eased past him. “Give the boys a pep talk, would you? Patience is one of your strengths. I think the scorpion is really agitated.”
“Right. Not a desirable situation. Chocolate, if it’s available.” He smiled.
She nodded and headed into the kitchen.
When Regis returned with a tray of cupcakes, the alphas were all hunkered together and talking quietly.
She walked up to Avor, handed him his cupcake, and then offered the other guys a sweet treat.
Regis walked out and went to talk about what her daughter was going to need for her project.
It was a pity that Rache was out of town.
She was a wonder with wiring; her work was all over the new palace.
* * * *
EDEN WAS SLEEPING WITH a super soft blankie over her. Moira got up and walked over to Joy. “What can I offer you in exchange for coffee?”
Joy smiled. “Coffee is free, but if you are giving hugs, I am always willing to take one.”
Moira reached out and hugged Joy, unsurprised when Joy grew to six one with pale skin and hair.
She laughed. “Figured. You move a certain way.”
Joy stroked Moira’s cheek. “You are really stuck?”
“Yup.”
“Make your first stop sunscreen.”
She smiled. “Will do. Where are we landing?”
“The royal village. You will stay there overnight in the residence, and you will be taken to Wonder by private vessel the next morning.”
“Oh, I didn’t think about it. My parents are in the city.”
“They were contacted and will be in the village. Get some sleep. I am guessing you are going to talk all night.”
“Right. Coffee, please, Joy.”
“With a need for sleep?”
“Caffeine and I have an understanding. It gets to help me focus and doesn’t mess with my sleep.”
“Sounds like a good trade. One coffee coming up.”
Moira smiled and took the coffee back to her seat, where she let her mom know that they were going to be meeting them in the royal village. She looked to Joy. “What time are we landing?”
“Six in the evening, local time.”
Moira thanked her and warned her family that she was paler than they remembered.
She finished her coffee, went back and forth with emails with her family, put the laptop away, and settled in for a nap. Her parents were tiring at the best of times. Moira smiled. She came by it honestly.
Moira got changed and handed out clothes to Rache and Eden. “These will be comfortable and breezy but still cover everything until you have the nerve for a sarong.”
Rache looked her over. “Are they like yours?”
“Yup.” She let the gauzy trousers swish as she twisted. The tunic was loose and comfortable with a loose tie.
Rage grinned. “Good enough for me. Back in a minute.”
Eden just stood up and stripped, pulling on the tunic and the loose trousers.
She smiled and tied the trousers and then the waist of the blouse. “It is super comfortable. Thank you.”
Moira smiled. “Glad you like them. They are closer to what the guys wear, but I am tall enough that it doesn’t matter.”
Eden sighed. “I can’t hold my elf size. I only use it to deliver babies.”
“I think that will change eventually, just like I will be able to shrink to normal again. I hope. There are a surprising number of guys going bald in the city.”
Joy barked a laugh.
Moira grinned, and Rache came back and said, “If it’s as warm as I think, this is going to be my morning outfit.”
“It’s definitely suitable for a walk before nine in the morning.”
Eden blinked. “Before nine?”
“Yup. If you are near the water, it’s cooler, but if you are up in the jungle areas, you should be wearing as little as possible.” Moira smiled. “I have that, too. I guessed on the breast band that you would both be on the larger size. I guessed right.”
Rache laughed and folded her clothes up.
Moira looked at her feet. “We will get you shoes when we arrive. I don’t want your feet swimming in sweat. It makes them look white and wrinkly.”
Rache chuckled. “I agree.”
Joy rolled a silent cart to them and got them all a snack plate and the beverage of their choice.
Eden ate, but Rache said, “Why did my urge for alcohol die when I activated?”
Moira chuckled. “It dulls the senses. It slows your ability to know when you have a mate near you. So, your body lets you drink in moderation, but getting hammered takes a lot of effort. Being on Wonder will be a challenge.”
“Why?” Eden asked softly.
“It’s a party town. I have never been allowed to run around loose there.
The alpha concentration is extreme, and they like to play with tourists.
” Moira nibbled at her cheese and crackers and explained the cuffs.
“Oh, right. First thing we have to do is set up your accounts. If you want, we can get you pay implants. It acts like a debit card in your hand.”
Rache said, “Can we get it on Wonder?”
“Yup. But the account setup is the same.”
Eden frowned. “I don’t have an account.”
Moira smiled. “I will spot you.”
“Why?”
“Because my family is fairly well off, so all of my income goes into my private accounts, and I have been saving for years. I will set you each up with twenty thousand to start, so you can use your own finances for your own purposes. To change your physical funds to digital has to be done on Emerald.”
Eden blinked. “Good tip. Can we do it today?”
“Tomorrow. Tonight is for relaxing and meeting locals and feeling the wind on your everything.”
The ladies laughed. They were on their way to the islands.