Chapter Eighteen
Lucy:
Six months flies by but the return trip to Earth doesn’t scare me.
We have big, big plans.
Samantha will announce her decision to return to Pimeon and of course, will insist that I stay with her. But I still have a house down the street from the commune, so Skiden and I will stay there from time to time.
There’s a new man that Mikhail found when they searched for the east location of the commune’s sister group. The one that Duke was supposed to find refuge in. Mikhail thinks he’ll be a wonderful new prophet—he’s the son of the current prophet there—and we’re going to help him get set up on our side of the continent. Sort of break the mind control that the community is under and get them to think a little more logically. After all, the only reason why the commune was able to shift the mentality thus far was because Prophet Josiah didn’t have any sons to inherit his seat and crack the whip further. I think maybe when he passed, they would have had second thoughts about some of his ways if there were no sons to inherit his position. Maybe he was going to pass the buck to Donald Templeton, but we thwarted that move too by arresting both.
Without them here, the community has truly grown and expanded their ways, even showing curiosity about the miracle of life on other planets.
Lilaina sentenced Duke to prison and while Steve, Isabel’s dad, is free, it didn’t take long for his world to come crashing down around him. A fourteen-year-old daughter who he falsely shunned? Married off to a jerk of a husband who kept her shunned despite being properly married? Isabel’s Law, where anyone pregnant under the age of eighteen is tested to find out the father’s DNA, is a hugely popular ruling. I think with a female leader initiating it sort of woke women up. They realize that—much like the communes followed a leader because they were born into it—women were ruled by men because we were born into it. Crazy when you think that we outnumber them and yet we followed idiotic rules like a female can’t be president. Never even questioned it because that’s how it’s always been.
How it’s always been.
There’s no more settling. Not for humans.
And maybe if the trusted Britonians weren’t involved, we might swing the other way and begin punishing men for the infractions we suffered for years. But that’s not the way, either. As one strong voice in the new political movement says: men were victims too. They were raised from birth to accept multiple wives and to shop for breeding stock the way one might stock their farm.
The rising superstar is Amos Mitchell and strangely enough, he once considered marrying Lilaina’s sister-in-law, Tessa. Before she was engaged to the late President Montgomery—and the second bride in the Match Program. But the Britonians trust him and so he became the voice of men, much like Lilaina is the voice for women.
And with the former, evil President Eric long gone, Eden—the small city once marked as annexed land from Earth’s governmental laws—has citizens that are both human and Adroki. It’s not so strange to see Bronians anymore because people are starting to become familiar with Adroki.
“Are we ready, Lucy my love?”
I swear that endearment never fails to make butterflies flit around in my belly.
“I’m ready, handsome.”
We all filter out of the pod into the same park where we’d been six months earlier. It’s no longer decorated with festive flowers, but our gazebo-stage is still there.
And all the commune folk gather around. This time, there isn’t the smaller group of people under Donald’s reign who wear pastels.
River makes everyone feel welcome by mingling through the crowds of people, acknowledging each person by name and letting them know we’re staying a couple days, just like the last time, and will have a little party. Several people promise to come, and there are smiles—actual smiles—all around.
Finally, Mikhail gets up on stage. “Now, I know it defeats the purpose of bringing a maiden back to make her decision without influence when she shows up with the same clan she mated into”—he sweeps his arm around toward the rest of us— “but Samantha wanted to bring everyone with her. She already knew what her decision would be, wants to make an announcement and hopes you’ll continue to get to know everyone by sharing food and drink afterward.”
He motions for her to get up on stage. Kalrian goes up first and takes her hand while Mejak comes up from behind. They take a stance behind her while she moves up to where Mikhail is.
And my cousin’s smile has never been so bright or beautiful. She looks around the crowd and then falters. “I see my parents aren’t here. I really hoped they’d come to see me off for good. But it’s okay. It’s their choice. And I’d hoped to break it to them first, but I guess they’ll have to learn along with the rest of the world. You see, my mating is a little different. While I’ve been protecting my little cousin Lucy over there from my Uncle Duke—”
“And mine,” Isabel calls out with an eyeroll and several people laugh, though some are uncomfortable and others have real pity for her.
“—it turns out I fell in love with both these males.” A few gasps ring out. “I accepted a mateship with them back on Pimeon, and I’m so happy, I wish every woman could find the same.”
There are shocked faces and wide eyes all around.
“Two?” One wide-eyed woman mouths to her friend.
But Samantha just grins. “I know, shocking, isn’t it? Funny how it’s normal for a man to have multiple wives but it doesn’t make any sense for a woman to fall in love with two males.” Then she gives a rather unladylike snort.
I cover my mouth to chuckle. She’s lost all that upper crust in six months.
“Heck, it was just a few years ago that we were appalled that we were being mated to aliens. With tentacles!” She gives a wink to a woman who fans herself and refuses to make eye contact. “And let me tell you, there is no cause to settle for less, if you know what I mean.” She waggles her eyebrows, then reaches for her mates, taking a hand from each of the males in hers, and raises their arms together. “Let the headlines show: I proudly choose two of them!”
I whistle loudly, and next to me, River starts clapping, which makes the other people start hesitantly clapping also. Then it grows louder and a few of the ladies take over, one even whistling too. The male standing next to her has wide eyes at her approval, then he claps a little louder.
Good for the commune folk.
It gives me an idea.
“But back to my cousin,” Samantha says. “Little Lucy was dumped off in an orphanage, her name changed so it would be impossible to get a decent job. Impossible to track her politician father… but he could track her. I’m sure a lot of you who met her six months ago wonder how she lived for seven years under the radar. Let me tell you how. Women band together to take care of each other. I hid Lucy in my mother’s basement until I met another woman who also needed to hide. Isabel couldn’t leave the house without being dressed in her traditional clothing so she took Lucy in, helping someone else when she could barely help herself. Remember Tessa, the second bride in the Match Program? Well, during her capture she was imprisoned without anyone knowing so she could be set up for the murder of two of Amos Mitchell’s wives by our ex-president. Thankfully, we have proof that Tessa was locked up at the time and didn’t do it. And those guards, who testified, now serve on Lilaina’s secret service. They kept Tessa’s pregnancy safe by allowing her to work the milk farms instead of the harsher jobs in the prison. Women help women. Let’s remember that, sisters.”
There’s cheering as she exits the stage, Mejak swinging her into his arms at the bottom and making a few of the commune women titter.
The party begins.
“Yoohoo! Sister dear,” River calls out, making me turn with a smile. I never get tired of hearing that.
She has a man with her—big and burly, with a rugged beard. Normally his musculature wouldn’t be considered fashionable, but those muscles weren’t obtained by a gym. This is a man who’s used to outdoor work.
My silly mate tightens his arms around me, as if convinced I’ll fall in love with other handsome males now that I’m free to be around other people.
“Can’t help it,” he mutters. “He’s handsome.”
“Sexy as hell,” I agree.
“He even smells good. Look a crowd of females follow him. Wears his clothing well too,” he says thoughtfully.
I lean up to kiss him. “You’re way too enamored. I’ll be watching you, sneaky.”
Skiden barks out laughter.
“This is Amos Mitchell. A new political leader representing the Rights For Men Movement. If you and Sky decide to live here a few months out of the year, or even travel back and forth like Lilaina and Juris, you’ll be working with Amos,” River says.
“Pleased to meet you,” I say, holding out my hand to shake.
“These are his wives,” River says. “Ruth Ann, Vicky Lynn, and Marjorie.”
Skiden relaxes and River winks at him.
“Amos is the one who had two other wives that were killed. President Montgomery thought to blame the murders on Tessa,” River says softly.
“I’m so sorry for your loss,” I say to Amos. “All of you.”
“Thank you.”
“Please, join us.”
He and River take seats at the picnic table while Skiden pulls up one of the special “chairs” set throughout the park for the Bronians, parks it behind me, and pulls me back to lean on his chest.
“Ladies, I heard some of you sing?” Samantha asks Amos’s wives, coming up from behind us with another person in tow. “This is Leslie, she’s in charge of the church choir. She’d love to pick your brains about the acoustics in the church if you’re willing to help her out.”
Amos smiles kindly at his wives and they head off with Samantha and Leslie.
People are mingling much more freely this time.
“I brought you to Lucy and Skiden because they’re going to be working with the new prophet of the commune here. I figure you should all get to know each other,” River says.
“Any word about what he’s like?” Amos asks.
“Tessa met him,” I say. “We stopped by their village on our way here. The main portal is right on their beach and I guess Mikhail had brought him for a visit. She said he was very honorable and a nice guy. She’s a good judge of character.”
“She always was,” Amos says. “I hope she’s happy?”
I smile. “She has it all. Two best friends who are now her sisters, a devoted mate, an adorable little boy, and she’s pregnant again. Oh, and she’s a princess.”
He smiles and it’s happy and sad at the same time.
“What about the old prophet?” Skiden asks him, like he wants to change the subject. “How’s he feel about a new one stepping in?”
“Didn’t you hear? Prophet Josiah met his maker last month.”
“Oh! No, I hadn’t heard.”
In my ear, Skiden whispers, “Wonder which maker that was.”
I suck in a breath so I don’t laugh because this is a serious conversation that Amos is continuing with.
“Turns out, his brides weren’t provided for like some thought. That’ll be one of the new prophet’s first duties, dealing with what to do with thirteen brides, plus the retired crew.”
“Maybe the retired wives can teach?” I murmur. “While the younger ones might want more schooling. Or the chance to do something physical.”
“I think those are the ideas the prophet needs to hear,” Amos says. “Both Duke and Donald are in separate prisons. Just in time for all of the milk farms to be abolished. Even the last few that lingered at the prisons.”
“How are Donald’s wicked wives?” I ask in a low voice, knowing that River’s curious too.
She gives me a grateful wink.
Amos leans in and speaks quieter. “Gone. Sold his gold and diamonds and didn’t share anything among the community. Didn’t want to remain a family unit any longer. All three went their separate ways. I think that’s why the rest of the commune here is so open to suggestion, so willing for change. They saw how they had to share when they had any profit, but Donald himself was hording his own riches and his wives didn’t bother to think of anyone else in need. They were gone overnight.”
“Well, we can build up the farmlands,” I say, squeezing Skiden’s hands where they sit around my waist. “We met another clan at our last gathering. The Soans. I think they’d be willing to come to Earth.”
“That’s where I help out,” Amos says. “I’ll trade ideas with them, get to know them, learn about the cultural differences between our people. I’ll be the bridge between human men and them.”
“You might want to visit Eden, the city annexed from the government. The Britonians have set up farmlands, and a lot of the Adroki clan stay there,” Skiden says.
Amos nods. “I’ll do that.”