Chapter Five
Two hours after breakfast, Syar grinned. “We have a volunteer to transport you instead of using one of the charters. Some friends of mine have a large yacht, and they are willing to take you over to Wonder.”
Moira asked, “Who?”
“Sokar, Loken, and Aeryn. Friends of this island and of Venetia. Their vessel has plenty of room, and the crew has already loaded your supplies, Moira.”
Rache asked, “How long is the travel between islands?”
“If they are going at a normal speed, four to six hours, weather permitting.”
She nodded. “Okay.”
Eden smiled. “Get used to island time. Everything arrives when it is meant to and not before.”
Moira smiled. “You get it. No rushing.”
Rache sighed. “I am going to have to brace myself. Rushing is what I do.”
Eden snorted. “She isn’t kidding.”
There was a soft knock, and Syar looked up. “There they are. These are crewmen from Sokar’s ship, and they will escort you to the vessel so you can get underway.”
Moira looked at the alphas and betas who were waiting for them. “That was a lot of nautical chitchat for one sentence.”
Syar looked at Ven. “I am really proud of myself.”
Ven snickered and got up. “Ladies, we are planning a visit in a few weeks, so take care, and let us know if you need anything.”
Moira got up, stroked Penina’s cheek, and then went to hold the twins’ chubby hands. “We stand warned.”
Eden and Rache got up and made their farewells, and then the ladies walked off toward the beach with the crewmen from the large yacht in the distance.
Rache asked, “Why can’t the ship get closer?”
One of the crew explained, “The water has reefs and sandbars that are too close to the surface for a larger, deeper vessel.”
“Oh. Right.”
Moira nodded. “Another thing that isn’t direct. We are going out in a zodiac and then onto the vessel. If there were a dock here, they would use a larger, faster launch. Be prepared to wear a lot of salt. It’s going to encrust us, like a salmon.”
The guys chuckled, helped the ladies settle into the zodiac, and then they pushed off and were on their way.
Rache was wide-eyed as they left the shore and headed for open water. “This is so... open.”
Moira nodded. “At night, in deep water, you can just see shining ocean on all sides, the moon dances and shatters, and the stars bloom above in a bright and dazzling display. Zero cloud cover. Nothing between you and the sky. Algae blooms beneath the surface, glowing creatures under the water. There is light everywhere if you just wait for it to come for you.”
The crewmen were looking at her with wonder in their expressions. She shrugged. “I used to live here.”
One of them said, “That would explain it, and it is definitely a stirring description.”
“Um, thanks. Part of my change was being infected by a poet.”
The crew laughed.
They crossed the early-morning waves, and the vessel got bigger.
The zodiac was tied off when they reached the yacht. Moira looked at the crew on the vessel and said, “Permission to come aboard?”
The man grinned. “Permission granted.” He held out his hand and helped her up and out of the vessel, with the crew supporting her arms and a hand on her back.
Eden asked, “Do we have to ask?”
The crew shook their heads. “No, once asked for one vessel’s inhabitants, it just indicates you aren’t pirates, not that you would want to take on the owner of this vessel.”
The ladies were all helped up and then climbed a stairway. The crew escorted them up to the top deck, where a very cute family scene was taking place. A woman, who was definitely pregnant, was sitting and leaning against her alpha while another alpha was sitting and typing on a laptop.
The woman struggled to her feet when they arrived. “Hey! Welcome. I am Aeryn, my pillow is Sokar, and that is Loken. He’s game testing right now and very focused.”
Moira smiled. “I am Moira, this is Rache and Eden. Thanks for volunteering to transport us to Wonder.”
Aeryn stroked her belly. “We have finally collected the last of our furniture for our place on Breakridge, so it was literally on the way. Despite what Sokar wants, I am not giving birth on this ship. My child is going to have a country of origin, not just near the creepy island or next to the big reef.”
Sokar snorted and got up. “Creepy island?”
“Dude, all the stones on you are highly toxic. That is creepy.”
He sighed. “I suck the poison off for you.”
“Yes, and it tastes like grapes, but the modern era needs an actual country of origin. This little monster gets every advantage.” She patted her belly.
Eden said softly, “You wanted to get pregnant?”
Aeryn looked at her curiously. “I did, and the guys are making sure I don’t regret my decision. That is taking a lot of work. Mood swings are hellish.”
Eden blinked. “Right.”
Rache and Moira went to stroke Eden’s shoulders and hands.
Aeryn looked at them. “What am I missing?”
To Moira’s surprise, Eden said, “I have been used as a forced breeder for the last seven years. Six live births. Five of them were Elite, and one was to a family who actually wanted the baby. My brother sold my services.”
Aeryn blinked. “Oh. Fuck. Does this bother you?”
“No. I can offer you some tips for support and movement practice, as well as exercises to help delivery.”
“Oh, well, in that case, sit by me. We are underway and should be there in mid-afternoon.”
Eden nodded. “My approach isn’t romantic and is very clinical. I realize you have a lot of information to draw on, so ask for anything, and I will be honest with you.”
Moira went to show Rache the open view as they began picking up speed.
“Do you think Eden will be all right?” Rache said softly.
“I think she will be fine. She is sharing with honesty and without duress. I think she needs to be able to talk about it. All of her births were successful, so that helps.”
“What happened to the Elite babies?”
“I think they were fostered off with sympathetic families, and time will tell if they grow into white elves.”
“Does she ever mention them?”
“No. I think to keep sane, she had to live in the now, but now there is a future offered.” Moira smiled.
“Why didn’t you go to the elves, to the new palace, when you changed?”
Moira blushed. “Aside from being pale, I am nothing to write home about. The dark elves all seem to have themselves together, and I want to know who I am first before I jump into a relationship, so I decided to come home to remember what I am. Who I am. That will give me the base for what I can become.”
Rache reached out and hugged her. “I get it. I was a competitive dancer, and one of my friends quit when her partner ran off with her best friend, destroying her reputation in the process. She’s on Wonder now. Three mates and a baby on the way.”
“Why Wonder?”
“Because fate put her there. You will meet her when we arrive.” Rache smiled. “I can’t believe it is only a few hours away.”
“Have you been in touch with her?”
“Now and then. She’s gotten busy with her family starting, but she did offer to host me if I ever made it to the island.”
“Does she know you are coming?” She glanced at the communications array on the roof of the bridge.
“I think so, but I should probably tell her we are actually on the way.”
“Good idea. Go get the wi-fi password.” She chuckled.
Moira watched the waves, whales in the distance, tiny islands studding the surface just on the edge of vision. She took in the water, inhaled the air, and smiled. Her hair was fluttering around loose, so she focused and attached it together in ponytails and loops.
She wanted to be presentable when she met the royal family again.
* * * *
HARAVIN LOOKED AT THE launch as it approached.
Narro held her hand and said, “Excited?”
“I would be more excited if they weren’t lurking to snag her.”
“They won’t snag her. Both of their alternate species are dancers. They are going to seduce her with fancy moves.”
“You have fancy moves. Don’t use them on her.”
He chuckled. “All my fancy moves are yours alone, Hara.” He lifted her hand to his lips.
She laughed and watched the launch get closer. “Wait. Is that actually an elf?”
“I will call Mickey and see if she knows her.”
“I don’t think she will.”
“Why?”
“She’s moving like a beta.”
“What?”
“She’s not moving like a dancer, and all light elves I have seen look like dancers.”
Narro looked at her. “No, not like a dancer but like an athlete after an injury.”
“Oh, shit. I see it now. She’s getting used to her body.”
“Right. She’s recently activated.”
Narro looked over. “What are the porters doing?”
“I think Rache said something about a dress shop.”
“Ahheel is going to love that.” He chuckled.
“This is going to be simpler stuff for the most part. Rache says it is super comfortable.”
“If it is what they are wearing, I would have to agree that it looks comfortable and seems to fit a number of sizes easily.”
Hara grinned. “She even got Aeryn. Damn, that does look comfy.”
Narro blinked. “And yet very feminine. That is a hard line to straddle.”
Hara watched the flowing trousers Aeryn was wearing and realized they were the same as the others had on but in dress form. No seams, no ties, just playful fluttering. “I want one.”
Narro laughed. “Yeah, Ahheel is going to hate this, possible Kekoa as well.”
The launch was being tied off, and Aeryn walked down the dock with the ladies behind her. The porters surged forward the moment the dock was clear, and bolts of fabric and boxes were loaded up for transport. The elf walked over to the guys and smiled. They nodded and continued their work.
Rache grinned. “Hara! Oh wow. You are huge!”
Hara snorted. “Due any day now. Come here, Rache.”
Hara was surprised at how Rache’s skin felt. “What the hell?”
“Oh, I activated as an elf, same as Eden. Moira, too, but she’s stuck.”
Narro covered his mouth. “Stuck?”
The woman’s ear twitched. “Yes. Stuck. I can’t cram back into beta, so I came home where there are fewer excited crowds and more chances to figure out what is going on.”