Chapter Four #3
Eliana nodded. “My grandsons would attack each other, but after they worked it out, they worked well together.”
“How many worlds do you guard?”
“Eighteen. There is always room for more family.” She smiled. “Will she come with me without fuss?”
“Well, she is barely Hmrain-compatible, but time with your grandson will expand her mind and other portions of her. She will come without a fuss because I am not going to tell her. You will request her, and she will be flustered and flattered. She needs additional training and further education, but I believe that can be accomplished on your way home. I will let the station know to prepare clothing for her.”
Eliana waved her hand away. “I will handle that. We have fabricators on my ship.”
“Fine. Pass that sentiment over to the station.”
“You only want her punished with a short contract?”
“Until the four children are with her. Yes. I don’t care if she adopts them, but after that, she can be offered a one-hundred-year contract, and having fulfilled the contract, she and your grandson can live together happily as a Hmrain descendant and consort.”
“So the embarrassment of the short contract for twenty years. That is her punishment?”
Aubrey sighed. “I am not good at punitive measures. If she is humbled a little, a very little, it is enough. That is what I see. I see four contracts. Four children. One contract and a planet-wide party. I hope I am invited. I would like to meet my nieces and nephews.”
Eliana laughed. “You will be invited, or my grandson will have to find a new planet to work on. I may invite you to my world just for a social visit.”
“That is very gracious of you. I am here waiting for my own mate.”
Eliana blinked. “Who has the honour of being the match to the oracle?”
“A male named Vress.”
Eliana froze on her way to refill her teacup. “No one has seen him for years.”
“He will be here in three more days.”
“He killed one of his consorts.”
“I see.” She thought about it. “I don’t care. If he gets pissy with me, I can take him.”
“He’s one of the elders.”
“I know. I haven’t had a thing for older men before, but he is all I see, and I see thousands and thousands of images of him. That generally means I have seen him that many times. Many of those images are unclothed.”
Eliana nodded. “I see.”
“So do I, and it is getting annoying.”
Eliana laughed. “You are not what I imagined the oracle to be.”
“I do not pretend to be other than what I am. I have been telling anyone who asks what their bondmates look like. They are filing requests with the administration.”
“Oh, that won’t go over well.”
“I know. Don’t care.” She sipped at her tea.
“What do you want as the oracle?”
“A place to simply be. To have a garden, perhaps a family. Nothing extravagant, though I am liking these outfits. I have had to fight for quite a while and just want to relax for a few moments.”
Eliana paused. “Oracle, will you see what my life holds?”
“Let me finish my tea. This one is going to take a while. You live a very long time. What are you looking for, specifically?”
“Will I feel love again?”
“Ah. That is worth searching.”
She got up and sat next to Eliana, lifted her hand, and touched her middle finger to the Hmrain’s forehead.
The years moved slowly, and the great-grandchildren came.
That was love. She moved beyond and smiled.
“Seventy-five years beyond this point, there is a defender who arrives on your home world for planetary defense. He is a second-generation Hmrain born to a Terran-Hmrain union. His skin is dark blue, and his wings are both feather and fluff. He laughs a lot, loves his family, and has room in his heart for a beautiful overseer with her heart in her eyes.”
Eliana was dazed. “Do we have children?”
“Your son gets brothers and sisters. Your second children take to the stars and make their matches there with plenty of visits home.”
The Hmrain smiled, and she was happy. The vaguely sad air was gone. “My love’s name is engraved all over my world, but the possibility of another life is something that I look forward to.”
“Good. The past is a place to visit, not live.”
“Thank you, Oracle. This visit has done more for me than all of the therapists on my worlds.”
“It was my pleasure. Now, if you want to keep things easy, claim Avery and introduce her to her new life.”
“I will. I have already summoned an administrator from the bond department. They will be appalled by the contract, but I will make the funds worth the effort. Is three million appropriate?”
“Absolutely. Not everyone has Nebel’s deep pockets, but he and Lily are doing very well. He made his Terran fly.”
Eliana smiled and hugged Aubrey before wishing her an excellent day and offered, “If Vress doesn’t suit you, I have more grandsons on other worlds.”
“Thank you, Lady. I will keep that in mind. Karek is also willing to seek out a mate for me, as is Elder Ra. I do love having options.” She returned the hug, and when she left, Eliana was sitting in astonishment. Not everyone could drop the name of the eldest Hmrain of them all.