Chapter Sixteen
Unaware her fingers are making little circles on Grim’s chest. Lisa lets her mind wander in the early morning hours. Their time on the Raptor has past too quickly. The girls have had full access of the upper levels, happily running from one place to another, every male watching over them. They’d loved it when Grim had taken them to the top of the ship, opening the dome so they could feel like they were traveling in a bubble. They were young and carefree again, arriving at Tornian today will change that.
Hadar scanned her every day, pouring over the results, still she hasn’t told Grim about the baby, knowing it will make what they need to do that much harder on him.
“My Lisa?” Grim question’s, his arms tighten around her as he wakes, rolling, he pulls her under him.
“I’m here Grim.” Opening she takes him in. They’d loved long and hard late into the night, neither wanting to waste a moment but now the loving is soft and slow, each wanting to draw out the moment, making it last forever.
“Goddess Lisa.” Grim groans as he thrusts one final time and she joins him in heaven.
Grim growls softly, watching Lisa adjust the capes over the girls’ purple gowns. His heart had nearly burst when he'd seen them wearing his colors, stating for all to see that they were his. Now they were covered by the noncommittal grey of the Joining capes.
“Remember what I told you girls.” She says giving them a serious look.
“Yes mommy.” They answer with eyes just as serious. Nodding she stands to put her own cape on, when Grim stops her.
"Grim?" She looks at him questioningly. They'd arrived at Tornian shortly after first meal and were now preparing to transfer to Emperor's personal transport that will take them down to Tornio, where they were to meet with Wray. The Joining Ceremony scheduled for after mid-day meal.
“You have it?” He asks and she knows he’s referring to the Claw.
“Yes.” Pulling back the sleeve of her own purple gown, she reveals the Claw strapped to her upper arm.
“You will use it if you need to my Lisa.” He orders with hard eyes.
“Nothing matters but keeping you and our girls safe.”
“I will Grim.” She stares deeply into his eyes, knowing its killing him that they will be separated, even for the short time it will take to join the other women before the Ceremony.
“Never doubt that I will do whatever it takes to get us to be back to your side.”
"There is one more thing..." Reaching into his jacket, he pulls out the Raptor's Heart, presenting it to her.
"Grim..." Lisa looks at the necklace in his hands. She’d seen it before, in the visual of the ancient King and Queen of Luda.
"This is called the Raptor's Heart." He carefully reaches out, fastening it around her neck. "It is yours because you have mine." He's fingers trail down the thick charoite encrusted chain before coming to rest on the crest that matches the one he wears. Lisa's eyes fill as she touches his.
"And you have mine Grim, always and forever." Knowing their time is short, Grim forces himself to step back and smile down at the girls.
“You both look very pretty.” He tells them, kneeling in front of them.
“Are you ready to meet the Emperor?”
“Can I ask him Grim?” Carly asks her eyes full of excitement.
“Ask?" He gives her a confused look. "Ask who what Carly?”
“The Emperor.” She replies as if he should understand.
“Can I ask him what an Emperor does?” Grim finds he’s laughing. With everything else that’s going on, there is still innocence in the universe.
“You most certainly may my Carly, just ask me first okay?”
“Okay.” The smile she gives him is beaming. He is about to stand when Miki tugs on his arm, her little eyes full of doubt.
“Miki, what is wrong?” Worry instantly fills his heart.
“Can I be yours too Grim? Like mommy and Carly?” Her little lips tremble, waiting for his reply, suddenly Grim realizes what she’s referring too.
“Of course you can, you are, you are my Miki.” The joy that fills her eyes at his words humbles Grim. Wrapping his arms around them, he looks to Lisa and sees she understands.
“Thank you my Lisa.”
Both Guard surround them as they move from the Raptor to the Emperor's transport. The Lanyard is the main transfer station for Tornian, with all the Lords arriving for the Ceremony it is full. Nevertheless, all part for the King of Luda, trying to catch a glimpse of the three females he has claimed.
Grim carries his daughters as they move swiftly through the passageways. He’d prefer to have his hands free but it would take too long for the girls walk and he wants no other male carrying these precious gifts, not even the Guard that surround them. Only when they are secure inside Wray's transport does he set them down, securing them in their seats.
Watching the care Grim gives their daughters, Lisa's eyes fill. She can't wait to see him holding their baby. He is going to be such a good daddy, looking from him to the Guard she frowns.
"Where is Veron?" She asks.
"He and Hadar are already on the surface." Grim tells her standing. "Veron had someone he needed to speak to and Hadar was going to speak to Yakar. Come my Lisa, sit, it will take some time to get to Tornio." Moving to do as he asks she sits.
"Then we'll be meeting with Wray?"
"Yes. In his private chambers.”
“Kim will be there?” Grim sees the concern his Lisa has for the other female and realizes he shouldn’t be surprised. She’s shown it for every male in Luanda, of course she would for one of her own.
“I requested she be there but whether Wray will allow it I do not know.”
“Allow?”
“She is with offspring my Lisa. We are very protective of our females, you know this, but when they carry our offspring…”
“I understand that Grim but life doesn’t stop just because we've conceived. We don’t lock ourselves away and hide.”
“He will find it very difficult to allow her to be there my Lisa. If it were you…” Grim finds he can’t go on.
“If it were me?” She encourages.
“If it were you I would be going crazy right now, knowing you are at risk.”
Lisa can immediately tell that the male sitting before them is Wray. He skin is bronze like Grim's and although he's not as massive, there is can be no doubt they are blood brothers. The woman at his side though, is obviously not Tornian. Her skin is even paler then Lisa’s and her flaming red hair is pulled back from a strained face, her green eyes shuttered. She sits ramrod straight in her chair, her stomach protruding. Lisa can't imagine how she’s managing it.
"Sit Grim." Wray gestures to the chairs across from them. "I had not realized you would bring the young females with you."
"I would not have left them on the Raptor Wray. They are my daughters." Grim informs him, moving forward.
"Daughters?" Wray repeats questioningly.
"It's what a manno calls their young females on Earth." Kim informs Wray, who frowns slightly.
"You did not sire these females Grim."
"It matters not Wray, I have accepted them. They are mine. This is my Carly and this is my Miki.” He smiles at each. "Girls this is my brother, Emperor Wray and his Empress Kim."
"Hello." The girls say quietly, watching Wray closely.
"And this is my Queen, my Lisa." Lisa nods slightly, acknowledging them.
Wray assesses the female his brother’s claimed as his Queen. She is smaller than she appeared in the visuals from the Searcher. He'd reviewed what happened in the control room and had been intrigued by her actions. His Kim, while willing to stand up to him now, hadn't at first. This one however, she’d not only taken on Veron, his most trusted Captain, but Grim, the most feared warrior in all the empire. Now she stands before him, at Grim's side, staring just as intently back at him before turning her attention to Kim.
Lisa wondered how she’d feel when she finally met Kim, but it wasn’t this…this rage…for a woman that barely looks twenty. Feeling her gaze Kim stiffens even more.
“Grim?” Lisa turns confused eyes to him.
“What is wrong my Lisa?” He frowns at her, sensing her unease.
“I…there’s something…” Grim turns, carefully putting the girls in a chair behind them before turning back to her.
“What is it?” Framing her face with his hands, he looks deeply into troubled eyes.
“I…I feel so much anger…such rage…I don’t understand it...but it’s all directed at Kim.”
“That’s because this is my fault.” Kim says quietly with a deep sadness, looking from the girls, to Lisa, then down.
“No Kim, it’s not!” Wray bursts out angrily.
“It was never your fault. It is mine.” Ignoring them, Grim concentrates on Lisa.
“Tell me my Lisa.” Grim whispers softly.
“It wasn’t there before…not like this…especially not after you told me what happened to Kim, what she had to survive to get here but now...the educators…” She whispers horrified.
“Bertos.” Grim immediately understands what she’s says.
“Grim…” Lisa’s eyes fill with tears.
“Shhhh it will be okay.” He pulls her into the safety of his arms, his rage at Bertos growing.
“But the other women…they aren’t going to understand…not until we explain.”
“They won’t talk to me.” Kim whispers, finally looking Lisa in the eye as she turns in Grim's arms.
“I tried, when they first arrived…to explain…but they were so angry when they saw me.” Her eyes fill with tears.
“I…” The Empress can’t continue.
Lisa watches as Kim’s eyes fill, sees the pain and guilt she's carrying and knows it isn't hers, at least not hers alone. While she may have unknowing started this, Grim is the one that found Earth, Wray is the one that sent the warriors and Bertos is the one who is poisoning the woman against one of their own.
“Grim, what are you talking about?” Wray demands.
“I told you we discovered Bertos tampered with the programming in the educators, withholding information. Now it seems he also added something, something to turn the females against Kim.”
“Mind manipulation is outlawed.” Wray says angrily.
“I don’t think Bertos really cares.” Lisa tells him angrily before turning to the girls sitting quietly in the chairs, watching and listening.
“Girls, go over and grab some pillows off the couch for Kim.”
“Yes mommy.” They chorus, quickly sliding off their chairs to do their appointed job. Giving Grim a gentle kiss, she eases out of his arms and moves to Kim.
Wray immediately stands to block her. He will not let this female upset his Kim further, his brother’s or not. Kim had been devastated when the other women verbally attacked her.
“I’m no more like your females than Kim is Wray. I won’t hurt her.” Still he doesn’t move.
“She needs to sit back." Lisa tries again to get by him. "It isn’t good for her to sit that way, not when she is so far along.” Wray’s eyes flash to Kim and see the discomfort she’s tried to hide.
“She would never hurt her Wray, truth.” Looking to his brother, Wray can see that truth in his eyes and slowly steps aside. Lisa is at Kim’s side in an instant, her heart breaking at the anguish in her eyes.
“Oh Kim.” Lisa whispers, as tears roll down the young woman’s cheeks and she does as she would if she were one of her girls, she wraps her arms around her.
“It’s going to be okay Kim.” She coos.
“Everything will be fine. This isn’t your fault.” Both males watch uneasily as Kim completely breaks down in Lisa’s arms.
“Oh god!” Kim sobs, tightening her grip on Lisa.
“I’m so sorry!”
“No.” Lisa denies.
“You have nothing to be sorry for. You survived so much just to get here.” She sees the girls cautiously approach.
“Carly put those behind Kim’s back. Lean back Kim, come on, sitting up like this has got to be killing you." She helps her lean back. "How far along are you?”
“Eight months…I think.” She groans in relief as the pressure eases.
“Nearly full term.” Lisa’s mind races at what that means.
“Yes.”
“Miki put…” She sees Grim and Wray standing there, watching them with wide eyes.
“Don’t just stand there you two, move that table over here. Kim needs to put her feet up.” Lisa would smile later at an Emperor and King moving furniture, but right now, her only concern is for the woman in front of her.
“Now put her feet on the pillows.” She orders Wray.
“God that feels so good.” Kim admits.
“Why did you not say something my Kim?” Lisa can hear the guilt and worry in Wray’s voice as he kneels at her other side.
“You’ve had so much going on with the arrival of all the Lords." Kim cups Wray's cheek. "That it didn’t seem to matter.”
“You are all that matters my Kim.” It is at that moment Lisa realizes Wray loves Kim the way Grim loves her and is as ill prepared to handle a pregnant female as Grim will be.
“Mommy?” Lisa turns to her oldest.
“Can I feel the baby, like I did Miki?” Her eyes look from her mother to Kim’s distended belly.
“Like me?” Miki looks at her sister confused.
“When you were in mommy, she’d let me touch her belly, you’d kick me.” Carly smiles at her sister. A smile so like her mother’s that Grim’s heart stutters.
“Sometimes I’d sing to you.”
“You did?” Miki looks at Kim’s belly in awe.
“Can I too?” She looks to her mother.
Lisa smiles at her girls.
“That’s up to Kim.”
Wiping away her tears Kim laughs.
“Sure why not. He’s very active today.”
“He? You know you’re having a boy?” Lisa gives Kim a sharp look.
“No, I just assumed it would be, since females are so rare here.” Taking Miki’s hand she moves it to where the baby is kicking, she is rewarded with a huge smile.
“That is so cool!” Miki whispers before innocently kissing Kim’s stomach.
“Hi baby, I’m Miki. Can we be friends?” Grim and Wray look on in amazement.
“You haven't seen a healer?” Lisa questions.
“No.” Kim pulls her eyes away from the girls.
“You really need to Kim, especially this close to delivery."
"I…" Her eyes take a shuttered look.
"I will call Yakar.” Wray immediately goes to stand.
"No!” Kim exclaims grabbing his arm.
“Kim…” Lisa watches her closely.
“You don't trust Yakar?"
"I…It's not like he's really done anything it's just…"
"You don't trust him.” Lisa looks at her nodding understandingly.
"No. I don’t.” She says, looking at Wray stubbornly, telling Lisa this is a reoccurring argument between them.
"Kim…” Wray sighs heavily.
"Trust your instincts Kim.” Lisa gives Wray an irritated look. "Especially when it comes to your children, a mother’s instinct is rarely wrong where her children are concerned. Still you need to see someone. You can't deliver this baby by yourself.” Kim slowly nods and Lisa continues.
“There is a Healer I trust. Years ago, he saved Grim’s life and when I was injured he helped me, we brought him with us.”
“Hadar?” Grim nods at Wray’s question.
“You were injured?” Kim’s eyes fly to Grim. She’s only met him once and was uncomfortable around him then. He always been so remote and well…grim, even though he is Wray’s brother but around Lisa and the girls he is different.
“It wasn’t Grim.” Lisa quickly corrects her.
“Mommy fell out of a tree when the bad males tried to take us from Grim. Grim stopped them.” Carly pipes in causing them all to realize the little ones were listening intently.
“Yes Carly.” The look she gives Kim and Wray tells them to say no more.
“That’s exactly what happened.”
“He really helped you? The Healer.” Kim looks at her, a glimmer of hope in her eyes.
“Yes. He is a good male Kim, loyal to House Vasteri.” Kim looks to Wray who nods reassuringly.
“Then I will see him.” All three breathe a sigh of relief but its short-lived.
“After the Joining Ceremony.”
“You are not going to the Ceremony Kim.” Wray frowns darkly at her.
Kim grips Lisa's arm, slowly pulls herself up, when she moves to stand Wray is at her side.
“I am going to the Ceremony Wray.” She says her eyes firm.
“These women are here because of me. Lisa and her girls are here because of me. I will not hide in our Wing like a scared child while they fate is in jeopardy.”
“You are with offspring!” Wray all but yells.
“That doesn’t make me an invalid!” Lisa watches in amusement as Kim yells back at the Emperor. Here is the woman that had survived so much and was still standing.
“It is not…” Wray starts only to be interrupted by Grim.
“Don’t say it my brother.” Grim decides it is time he helps his brother.
“They are not Tornian, no matter what you’ve declared. My Lisa has every warrior in Luanda hoping they might be able to attract an Earth female.”
“They are good males, they deserve a good female.” Lisa stands watching Wray as she moves to Grim’s side.
“I’m sure you have good males too Wray but the way you are going about obtaining females is wrong.”
“I told him that but no one listened to me.” Kim agrees angrily.
“They will now Kim. We’ll make them listen. All of us.” Lisa tells her confidently.
“How?” Kim asks.
“Well first…”
The rest of the morning passes to quickly, with Lisa explaining to Kim what she is going to try to convince the other women to do.
“That’s possible?” Kim looks at Wray in shock.
“Why wasn’t I ever told this?” She demands angrily.
“I never considered you needed to know.” Wray tells her.
“What else haven’t you been telling me Wray Vasteri?” Kim demands.
“I…” Wray looks at his Kim at a loss for words.
“Maybe the educators could be programmed with the real information that we all need.” Lisa suggests quietly.
Grim looks down at Carly who, having pushed away her plate, pulls on his sleeve. Her eyes full of anticipation.
“What is it my Carly?” He asks softly.
“Can I ask him now?” She whispers and Grim chuckles, drawing a questioning look from Wray.
“Yes my Carly now would be a perfect time.” He tells her and leans back smiling.
Wray looks from his brother’s smiling face, something he never expected to see again, to the little one staring so intently at him.
“What does an Emperor do?” She asks in a voice full of innocence.
“What...” Wray stammers.
“Well…” Wray sends a stunned look to Grim who bursts out laughing.
“Yes my brother, tell us, what is it that you do?”