Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Lila
Caspian and I finally got a chance to reconnect when we went for a swim.
It was the first time since we emerged from the deep with the babies in tow, and it was well and truly overdue.
Judging by the smug feeling from my kraken, I’m pretty sure our beast enjoyed the little swim as well, and so I went off to Rilu with a smile on my face, and although I will miss them all dreadfully, I’m not worried about any of them.
Our little family is working as a well-oiled machine, and apart from being completely indulged, the babies are in safe hands.
Rilu is a five-day trip from Skarr, and my grandpas insisted that I take their personal spaceship.
I have no clue how to drive it despite my lesson from Bubby when we went to Fluxx, but between Xavier and Silac, they have me covered.
Oh, and Tirrian. Yup, that’s right, when we arrived at the spaceport above Skarr after a teary goodbye with the rest of my family, Silac was waiting for us with the surly dragon.
He claims he had nothing better to do and dragons cope well with extreme heat.
His father insisted on him accompanying us when he heard what happened to John and our plight to obtain the flamegem flower.
The two-bedroom ship has warp speed and is comfortable enough for us to make the journey to Rilu in style. We’re taking turns in two-person shifts, while the other two take their rest. That way there is always someone manning the helm and looking out for space pirates.
“So how is motherhood treating you?” Silac asks as he and I take a turn to man the helm while Xavier and Tirrian each make use of the bedrooms. The dragon has been his usual, grumpy, passive aggressive self, and I wasn’t sad to see him retire.
I offered to accompany Xavier so he could feed, but he just laughed and claimed that he was still full from our time yesterday.
I look up from my tablet. I had been reading about the warlock race, especially the part about breeding.
I need to be better informed so no more accidents happen.
Thankfully there is a magical process that allows a warlock to breed, and it’s not something that can be forced, so that’s one less accidental pregnancy I need to worry about.
“Really good. I was actually terrified. I’ve made some mistakes, and I know I will continue to make mistakes, but between the six of us, I’m sure our babies will make it to adulthood relatively unscarred both physically and emotionally,” I joke, but I’m also serious.
“Ah, yes. Caspian told me you now have two more mates. The lightning cats you stepped up for during the mating challenge. That was very brave of you, Lila.” I see admiration in Silac’s eyes, but it’s not creepy. In fact, it gives me a warm feeling that I push very far down and ignore.
“Well, I could hardly let Natalia take Maxsim from Echo, could I?” I reply, trying to play down the incident, and Silac shakes his head.
“Many people would have. Lots of species don’t like to get involved in altercations like that.” His eyes turn a little cloudy, and I wonder if Silac is having his own kind of trouble.
“Are you okay?” I ask, reaching over and squeezing his leg. He’s in his human form today, since his half form wasn’t practical for sitting at the ship’s console. He looks down at it for a moment before plastering on a smile and shaking his head.
“Ah, yeah, I’m fine. It’s nothing you need to worry about,” he assures me, but I can’t help thinking something is wrong. I’ll ask Cas if he knows next time I speak to him.
“Well, I’m not the kind of person who will let that kind of injustice happen. Thankfully it all turned out okay.”
“I’m really happy for you, Lila, and Cas. He deserves someone who loves him with all their heart, and he looks like he hit the jackpot with you.” He grabs the hand I had on his leg and gives it a squeeze of his own. I feel the telltale tingle on my shoulder as a new attraction mark forms.
Wow, okay. I can’t help but feel excited. I thought he was being friendly strictly for Cas because they are former lovers, but it feels like maybe my interest in the snake is not so one-sided. Well, this is kind of awkward. I wonder if he’s still carrying a torch for my kraken hubby.
His eyes widen in surprise, and one of his hands reaches up to his shoulder. A small hint of fear shows in his eyes, but before I can ask him what’s wrong, a clearing throat has us both jumping back and letting go of each other’s hand.
“Well, isn’t this cozy?”
I heave out a big sigh and turn my back to the dragon who is seriously a pain in the ass. I should have said no to him joining us for this mission.
“Don’t be an ass, Tirrian.” Xavier pushes past him, and I realize that they’ve been gone six hours.
The time flew by, and Silac and I coexisted comfortably the whole time. It was kind of awesome, with just the quietness of space and us not needing to talk, happy with our own company. I meant to ask him what he’d been reading, but I haven’t had a chance to. I’ll do it during the next shift.
“Hey, how are you?” Xavier asks, leaning down to give me a kiss. He smiles when he sees what I’m reading. “It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy that you are learning about warlocks.”
“I don’t want to fuck anything up. When we get a chance, can we practice some warlock powers? I want to get them down so it’s locked into my mimic abilities.”
Xavier nods. “Yes, of course. You’ll probably be more powerful once we solidify our intimate bond, but we can work with what you’ve got now.
” He purses his lips and looks between the two shifters.
“I think you should also mimic these two and add both of their forms to your repertoire. They are both powerful animals and will be a big asset if you ever get into trouble, not to mention helpful in the caverns of Rilu.”
I bite my lip and look between the dragon and the snake.
I’m not opposed to the idea, since I want every power available to give me, my family, and the orb every possible protection, but I don’t know how they feel about it.
It’s almost kind of like stealing an identity.
Sure, I’m me, but I’m also kind of going to be them, or a me version of them. It’s confusing.
Silac and Tirrian exchange what could only be described as a loaded glance. Tirrian crosses his arms. “No,” he grunts, and Xavier’s eyebrows almost jump into his hairline.
Ouch. I mean, I know we’re not besties, but I didn’t think he hated me that much.
“Okay, and what about you?” He looks toward the naga shifter, who grimaces.
“It’s not that I don’t want Lila to have everything she needs, but…” He trails off, looking uncomfortable.
“Spit it out, snakelet,” Xavier growls, and Silac’s cheeks redden with embarrassment.
“I’m already attracted to her. My snake is practically frothing at the mouth to see her in the same form, and I’m afraid he will imprint on her.”
“Silac has an arranged marriage. His parents and his fiancé have agreed to allow him to perform in the circus for one year, but after that he must return and marry his fiancée and assume the CEO role of his parents’ business empire,” Tirrian explains gruffly.
“Him imprinting on Lila would be a disaster and make him miserable when he returns to Fluxx to marry her.”
I stare at the man in question, my own confusion and hurt now prickling at my emotions.
An arranged marriage? I guess that means neither of us can act on the attraction marks that just appeared on our skin.
I refuse to be the other woman, and I have a feeling Silac is too honorable to step out on his fiancée.
And what’s the point if it can’t lead anywhere?
“But I thought he had joined the circus to rekindle his relationship with Cas.” I’m a little confused, and Silac shrugs, dropping his head and not looking at me.
“I would have liked to, even if it had been temporary. Cas knows I have an arranged marriage, and our relationship was fun, since neither of our animals wanted to create mate bonds with one another. I do love him, but I see how he loves you, and I can’t compete with that.
Also, my snake is very much interested in you.
If I were to change and let you mimic me, I might not be able to stop him from imprinting, and that’s not fair to anyone.
” Although I’m still confused, I am grateful that he is thinking ahead.
I do not need to accidentally mate anyone else.
“Why didn’t you say anything?” Xavier demands, anger evident in his tone. “You are less than useless on this mission if you can’t change into your snake form.” He turns to Tirrian. “And what about you? What’s your excuse?”
Tirrian grunts and shrugs. “I don’t want to.”
Xavier starts to pulse, his power filling the control deck.
“Hey, hey.” I stand up and put my hands on him, hoping to calm him.
“It’s okay. It’s fine. I completely understand.
They don’t need to share their forms with me.
I’m sure there are other dragons and nagas that I can ask.
We don’t need to force them, that’s kind of like rape.
I also don’t get that uncontrollable urge to mimic everything anymore, so it has to be a conscious decision. ”
Xavier takes a deep breath and nods, his anger turning to calculation.
“Fine. There is a space station on the way to Rilu. It’s kind of a meeting place, part trading station, part pleasure palace for merchants to blow off some steam.
I say we stop there and find you a few new forms to mimic.
There are bound to be some other shifters or powerful beings that I can mesmerize. ”
“Ah, remember what I just said about rape?”