Chapter 17 #2
I can see these two are in sync with one another, and I so desperately want this for myself with Lila.
Not seeing her all that much over the last twenty-four hours and worrying about her during her bonding with Saxon made me realize how much I’ve come to care for her.
Her resilience with everything that’s been thrown at her is nothing short of admirable, not to mention she’s sweet, funny, kind, and sexy as fuck.
I hadn’t realized how much I wanted to have someone to share my life with.
I’d flat out been avoiding it because the people throwing themselves at me were always chosen by my mother, or people who were more impressed with me as heir to the Pleasure Bot Industries empire than me, Dr. Link.
It’s why the circus was the perfect escape. No one cared who I was here.
Susie and Mark murmur quietly to themselves, marveling over the sight before them. To me, it’s normal, but I can imagine seeing it all for the first time must be nothing less than extraordinary.
“I think the scope of what we’re doing only just hit me,” Mark comments as the two of them step back from the viewing window.
“Sure, the aliens and teleportation and all of that was eye-opening, but I didn’t comprehend the amazing thing we’re doing until that view just there.
We’re in space, something most humans will never experience. ”
“Not to mention we’re on our way to meet a whole other race who may be your family.” Susie squeezes his hand reassuringly, but she is unable to hide the excitement and nerves she’s feeling.
“Speaking of which, if you want me to run your DNA, I can do that. It won’t take long to find out if you are the missing Celestian heir. All of that information is on an official database from when they went missing. We can know within minutes if you are or not.”
I think what I said has shocked them both, and they exchange a glance that seems to be full of words.
“Ah, yeah, I’d like that. Not knowing is kind of driving me crazy. Not that it will change anything, but at least I can go into meeting them prepared.”
“Have they been advised of your possible existence?” I ask as we start walking again, and Mark shakes his head.
“No, not yet. Aura was going to message someone, but they didn’t get a chance to before we were raided. I admit, I’m worried about how they are going to react. What if they don’t care after so long?”
“I very much doubt it. By all reports, the royal family, especially the queens, has been despondent since you disappeared. The only thing holding onto the crown is King Jotan. There have been rumblings of a republic, but so far, he’s managed to hold onto the monarchy despite his partners not being fully functioning. ”
“Do they have other children?” Susie asks, and I shake my head.
“No. Celestian reproduction is fascinating in that it involves magic, and each partner needs to want that baby. If they don’t, the magic won’t happen no matter how hard they try.
Again, rumors say they have tried for another child, but I guess someone’s heart wasn’t in it.
Pining for their missing child would be enough to stop the magic from happening. ”
“Magic?” Mark sounds curious.
“Yes, I don’t know exactly what kind, but I do know that every partner in the relationship needs to be involved.
Celestians are polyamorous, and if there are same sex people in the relationship, they are always sexual.
I’m not sure of the mechanics, but everyone needs to have sex with each person in the group, and then the magic takes over.
From what I understand, the magic takes a piece from each partner, combines it, and then implants it into whoever has been chosen to carry the child.
If it is an all-male grouping, the magic allows for one of the males to temporarily carry a baby.
The baby is always a genetic blend of each partner.
This also works with non-Celestian partners. ”
We finally make it to the room they have been assigned. I knock, and it’s answered by Crimson, who looks relieved to see Mark and Susie. She pulls them both into a hug. “I was worried you would change your minds and stay,” she says when she pulls away.
“I don’t think that was ever an option—not that we’d want to,” she quickly reassures Crimson when her face falls slightly.
“I’m going to leave you to it and let you settle in for a while. The others can explain about the replicators, and someone should have delivered communication watches by now.” I look at Crimson for confirmation.
She nods and holds up her wrist. “They did. I’m excited to get out and explore. Come on.” She pulls them both inside and then waves to me.
“We’ll see you soon. I really want to have the test done,” Mark calls over his shoulder.
“Just send me a message. I won’t be far away if I’m not in my clinic.
” The door closes behind them, and I turn, moving toward Lila’s room.
I want to check on her before I go back to my clinic.
I need to reassure myself she’s still coping with the change.
She was looking a little flushed when they arrived back from Earth, and I want to ensure that’s because Xavier put it there and it wasn’t some adverse reaction to the change.
When I get to her room, I knock on the door, but there is no answer, so I press my watch.
“Find Lila,” I order it. It takes a moment to scan the ship.
“Lila Jenson is on the Aquilia level,” the monosyllable robot voice replies. I smile. I was almost certain it was going to tell me that.
“Find Caspian.”
“Caspian is on the Aquilia level.”
Good, he found her. I’ll leave them, but as I make my way to my clinic, I send a message for them to find me once they have finished their swim.
Back in my clinic, I collapse into a seat and sigh. It’s been a busy couple of hours, and I really could do with some food. Just as I’m about to get up and program my replicator, the incoming call alert sounds. Looking at the big screen in front of me, I grimace at the name it’s displaying.
Deianira Delrose, my mother.
Fuck, what does that woman want now?
I press the button to accept the call, and her face appears on the screen.
We take a moment to study each other. My mother has a mane of luxurious, shiny, copper metal-colored locks with matching eyes.
She has sharp cheekbones and lush lips, and she is curvy in all the right places.
It’s all part of being the CEO of Pleasure Bot industries.
I know she didn’t look like that when she was younger, but she has manipulated her nanobots so she has an appealing package despite being rotten to the core.
“Son,” she finally says, looking down her nose at me.
“Mother,” I reply, sounding equally as unenthusiastic. “To what do I owe this pleasure?”
She scowls at my obvious sarcasm. “I have been trying to reach Josa, but he is not answering his communications.”
I scoff, unable to contain my laughter, and her scowl deepens.
“What is it, Link? Stop being obtuse.”
“Well, there is a good reason why you can’t reach him. He’s dead.”
Her scowl turns to a look of fury. “What? How? Who is responsible? I will bring my wrath down on them.”
I lean back in my chair and cross my arms with a smirk, knowing this will drive my mother crazy. “Josa made an unwise political alliance which almost resulted in the Adams brothers’ granddaughter’s death.”
“That’s hardly worthy of a death sentence,” she scoffs insensitively, and I tamp down my own wave of anger. I don’t need her paying attention to how much I care about Lila.
“To you, maybe, but the Adamses value their family members, not to mention she is the Crown Prince of Westalin’s intimate. He was none too happy with the situation and meted out his own punishment, as is his right.”
Now this gets a worthy reaction. My mother pales and shrinks back from the screen slightly, but I still catch it.
The woman is off balance, and I love seeing it.
As big as her political ambitions are, she won’t risk catching the eye or the wrath of the warlocks.
My mother is not stupid enough to take on one of the superpowers of the galaxy.
“Well, that is unfortunate.” She recovers quickly, sighing like she’s been inconvenienced. “I guess I will have to select you a new fiancé.”
I sit up in my chair and shake my head. “I assure you that will not be necessary. I am in a relationship, and I am very happy.”
Her eyebrows jump in surprise, the only outward sign of emotion on her face. “Oh? Who?” she asks, and I hover a finger over the button.
“No one of any interest to you, Mother. I’m sorry to cut this short, but I have a patient coming in soon.
Give my love to Father if you see him.” I cut off the call before she can start badgering me for answers, but just before the screen dissolves, her surprise gives way to fury once more, and I shudder at the look in her eye.
My mother is scheming, and that is not good, but it’s a problem for another time.
I have other things to worry about now, namely finding the DNA profile of the missing Celestian heir so I can compare it to Mark’s when he comes down. That will keep me distracted until Cas and Lila surface again.