Chapter 2
CHAPTER TWO
Lila
When we reform and Xavier pulls the mist away from us, we are in a smaller room, and when I look around, I realize it is very much like a coach.
There are rows of seats, albeit more luxurious than a coach, and at the front of the vehicle is a windshield with two chairs and a console with a whole heap of controls on it.
Turning to the back, I spy a galley area and possible toilets, so maybe it’s more like a plane in business class.
Xavier and I are the only people on it, but I can hear voices outside the open door.
“Why don’t you take a seat where you feel comfortable, and I’ll go let everyone know you’re here?
” He leads me down to the front seat just behind the pilot’s chair.
“This has the best views,” he tells me, helping me down before leaning over and kissing me.
“Have fun with Cas, and I’ll see you both when you get home.
I’ll miss you.” He nuzzles my cheek before kissing me again, and my heart twists.
I love this man. He really is the biggest softy, even if he is an arrogant asshole to everyone else.
“Love you,” I tell him, resting my hand against his cheek. A slow grin creeps across his lush lips, and he winks.
“Of course you do, I’m amazing.” He kisses me harder and longer this time, only pulling away when I’m breathless.
He turns and practically struts off the shuttle, but before he leaves, he turns. “Love you too, phoeall.” He blows me another kiss before his mist covers him again, and then he floats off the transport.
I’m a mess of feelings while I wait for Cas and the rest of the passengers to board—horny because Xavier is a fucking tease and anticipation for what’s to come, and nervous and scared to actually activate the pregnancy.
I mean, come on, I can barely look after myself, let alone three infants.
Thank God for multiple mates. I’m also nervous to meet Cas’s family.
Both of his parents are kraken shifters, and I know the females can be rather cantankerous.
Mine is the perfect example. Calling her a horny psychopath describes her perfectly.
Her opinion of people is based on whether we can fuck them, and if not, let’s just kill them.
I swear I get whiplash trying to keep up with her.
I stare out of the window, trying to get a look at the space.
We appear to be in an aircraft hangar of some kind, as there seems to be a line of shuttles docked in here.
Grandpa Will said this was the main transport hub for Skarr, and that everyone needs to come through here before transporting onto the planet.
I think it works like their passport control as well.
He said that while we are on Fluxx, he will have all my official documents drawn up now that I know what my Skarrian powers are.
Footsteps have me swiveling to see who’s coming, and I see the smiling face of Captain Broderick looking down at me. “Bubby, what are you doing here?”
“Well, I couldn’t let my favorite person have her first shuttle flight without me being the pilot, now could I?
” He reaches out and affectionately ruffles my hair before sitting down in the front seat.
“Would you like to sit up here with me? I could give you a flying lesson.” He gestures to the co-captain’s chair, and my eyes widen.
“But don’t you have a co-captain?”
He shakes his head. “Nah, this thing is a piece of cake to fly after the big ship. Come on, you would have learned to fly one of these when you turned sixteen if you’d been on Skarr.
I still remember your dad’s first lesson.
You’d think that learning to fly would be easy because there isn’t much out here to hit, but your dad still managed to dent his dads’ shuttle.
It was the only small bit of space junk for miles, and he flew straight into it.
” Bubby chuckles, and his eyes mist up slightly.
He and my dad must have been really close.
“God, I still can’t believe he’s gone. Did you know I asked your grandpas if I could become your guardian?
Your parents wanted you to have a semi-normal childhood, which is why they had you on Earth, and I was prepared to move there to honor that.
When they died, though, your grandpas wanted you here.
They were devastated that you were lost in the system. ”
Not lost, but hidden by the warlock king and queen.
I don’t tell Bubby that, though, because he doesn’t know about the orb, and I won’t put him at risk with that knowledge.
That’s another thing we are going to have to discuss once we get back.
So much has happened that we haven’t had a chance to talk about the snake woman stripper—I can’t believe I just thought those words. My life really has turned upside down.
Who is behind the Syndicate, and why are they searching for the orb? That’s the million-dollar question. Fuck me, I now understand why Mom and Dad wanted to raise me on Earth. The thought of bringing three innocent lives into a world where people are gunning for us is terrifying.
“Lila?” Bubby is looking at me with concern in his eyes, so I smile reassuringly at him.
“Sure, that would be fun.” I climb into the seat next to him, and he shows me how to strap in.
Next, he walks me through some of the basic controls.
I can hear other passengers taking their seats behind me, but I’m focused on what Bubby is showing me.
It actually looks fairly basic. There’s a wheel yoke you use just like a steering wheel, but if you push it forward, the shuttle will go down, and you pull it back to make it ascend.
There are also accelerator and brake pedals just like an Earth car.
“This button here is for cloaking—we don’t need to use it very often—and this one here is for communications.
Any messages will sound a short alert before the message plays.
To respond, you push the blue button here.
This is the internal comm system if you need to make announcements to our passengers.
I think that’s as much as you need to know for now. ”
“Don’t forget to show her how to arm the shields.
I’d like to survive this trip home to see my family.
” The grumpy voice has me turning in my seat.
Standing there is Tirrian. For the first time since I met him, he’s not in half form.
His scales and wings are hidden, and he looks like a human apart from his unusual skin color.
My body itches, and I scratch at my arms. Bubby must notice, because he jumps up and puts his body between Tirrian and me, and the itch subsides.
“You idiot. You were told that if you wanted to be on this flight, you had to assume your human glamour. Lila can’t be mimicking you. It’s dangerous for her and the babies,” he snaps at the dragon, and I hear another growl.
“You fucking asshole.” Caspian sounds livid.
“You deliberately changed between outside and here. Do you want my mate to lose our babies? Are you still punishing her for your idiot cousin? I ought to throw you out of the airlock. You need to get your shit together, otherwise I will speak to Will and Eric about not letting you back into the show, and I am sure your father will not be happy about that. He values his relationship with the Galaxy Circus. Maybe it’s time one of your female relatives joins us.
I will send him a message. You have a sister, don’t you?
I’m sure she is more than capable, and we can rework the act once more,” Caspian threatens.
“Seriously, Tirrian, man! What is your problem with Lila? She hasn’t done anything to you,” Silac berates his friend.
There’s a tussle, and I can’t see what’s happening because Bubby’s big body is still in the way, but a few moments later, he’s climbing back into the seat next to me, and Tirrian is nowhere to be seen.
Caspian is seated where I was, and next to him is Silac in his human glamour—not a bit of green and orange scales to be seen.
The man is smoking hot, and I need to clamp down on my fuck me vibes, lest my kraken decides to add one more to my lineup.
“Thank you. I know it’s not fair for you all to have to do this, but I appreciate it,” I tell him.
“My mimic powers are wonky. They were urging me to shift my skin color to match Tirrian’s, or that’s what I’m assuming the itch meant.
Once the babies are here, I’m going to work hard on trying to figure out these abilities. ”
“It’s no problem at all,” he assures me with a smile. He’s gorgeous, but there’s something about him in his real form that’s just more.
“I know it’s uncomfortable for you, so I appreciate it.”
He shrugs. “The flight isn’t long, so I can deal with it for a few hours.”
“Captain, everyone is seated. I’m about to close the hatch, and then we can prepare for departure,” a female voice calls down the aisle from the back of the ship.
“Thank you, Cerise,” Bubby replies, and I turn around to focus on what Bubby is doing.
“Okay. This is the start button, Lila. Would you like to do the honors?” Bubby points out a round button in the middle of the console. It’s backlit with a red glow and says “start.”
Taking a breath, I lean forward and push the button. There’s a loud whirring sound, and the shuttle shakes for a moment before the engines catch, smooth out, and fall silent. There’s a slight vibration, but apart from that, it doesn’t feel much different.