Chapter Five
Hemma watched as Ival stood and faced the door. “Come in.”
A woman that Ival had only seen on the news stepped in, followed by an equally familiar male, then a male Sethir with a scorpion tail and a lovely woman holding his hand.
“Hello. Here to visit Hemma?”
The woman smiled. “No, we are here to speak to you, Ival, but does Hemma mind?”
Hemma put her hands under her chin and stared.
“She wants to watch.” Ival kept her hands against her abdomen. “What can I do for you?”
“The Sethir have looked up your files, and there is an issue that needs to be addressed.” The man from the stronghold spoke softly.
“I have nothing to do with the stronghold. My grandparents didn’t want to raise me, so they threw me back to Uradda.” Ival was calm.
“It was your uncle who had you sent away. Your grandparents were mourning their son, your mother took her own life, and everything was going wrong. You were supposed to be safe in his household, but his children didn’t care for you, so he responded to an offer from Uradda and was paid to return you to what he was told were your other grandparents.
An older couple met him at the border, and you were given over to them. ”
“And my cousins got new dresses. That is what they wanted.” Ival kept her voice calm.
He frowned. “You knew?”
“Yes. I have enhanced hearing and the ability to keep myself quiet.”
“But you were five.”
“Yes. I was five, and Uncle Mekalion was always trying to keep his family happy, and I did not make them happy. I went to Uradda and into the creche.”
The scorpion man said, “They didn’t bring you to your family?”
“They were my family. They didn’t want me either. Mom had disgraced her family when she actually fell in love with her alpha. I was an embarrassing byproduct for all parties.”
He frowned. “That isn’t the case. After their mourning period, your grandparents went to collect you. They were shocked to find that their son had disposed of you.”
“Yeah, well, it was a long time ago.”
He nodded. “They are still alive. They want to welcome you home again.”
“Home is a fluid concept. Besides, they were huggers. I can’t be hugged, I can’t be touched, and I can’t touch others.”
“They just want to keep you safe and know you are well.”
“I am well. I can speak with them on the com until my visa runs out.”
Salmet said, “What is the issue with your visa?”
“I am self-employed. I am not necessary to Aksalla. I am out of here in four weeks and already have a few places in mind.”
Salmet winced. “Your occupation?”
“Author. I publish under the name I.R. Righter.”
Riko grinned. “I love your stuff. Just the right touch of humour and sensuality.”
Ival nodded. “Thank you.”
Salmet said, “Have you registered your activation?”
“Yes, I am in the dangerous and unnecessary category. My books are goofy, so I don’t qualify for the artist visa. You can’t make an exception for me, Prefect. Even Caska can’t find an option. I have enjoyed your country. It has been a good place to recover.”
The man from the stronghold said, “Where will you go?”
“Wherever I like.”
He looked at his wife, and she shook her head. “I don’t see anything.”
“Oh, that is because I have died a few times. It changes the pathway of my future.”
The woman said, “Baola could see Nelith, and she had died a few times.”
Ival smiled. “She is linked to Baola and the family. She saw Nelith in her own future.”
The woman blinked. “Well, fuck.”
Her husband covered his eyes.
Ival smiled. “Indeed. I am not upset about it. I am toxic from head to toe. I have been in contact with a grand total of two people since I activated. One was my husband, and the other was in a fighting pit.”
Hemma looked shocked. She held up her hand and pointed at her left hand.
“Yes, Hemma. I was married. He died away from home.”
Hemma’s mouth was hanging open.
“Zukker Ilando. Serpent activation. We married the first time I got loose and had a few years together before he died on a mission. I was in the news a lot at that point, and Uradda demanded me back, so I went. There didn’t seem to be a point in fighting.”
Salmet looked sad. “Where were you?”
“Thorassen. He was the Frozen Serpent. The memorial is lovely. Zephyr takes me to visit now and then.”
Salmet said, “Would you go there?”
“No. Now that he is gone, I have no place there. They don’t have citizenship via spouse after the spouse is dead.”
“Oh. Damn.”
“Yeah. So, today, I am here, and since I am watching over Hemma, I figured I would give the biochem department a thrill and offer some toxin samples.” She smirked. “Keeps the little raccoons busy.”
Riko smirked. “Can you control it?”
“It’s a neurological agent. I can alter it to be stronger or weaker, but it always is. Unlike Khytten’s adaptation, mine emerges from all over my skin.”
Hemma made a wavy signal with her hand.
“Yes, Hemma, he had scales all over. Yes, all over.”
Riithan blinked. “You are an omega?”
“Hah. No. Thankfully. When my husband died, I felt grief but not suicidal. My world didn’t end, it just got lonelier.”
Salmet asked, “How did you get out the first time?”
“Oh, I was smuggled out when I activated but before I was recorded. I was sent to Thorassen and entered high school there. That is where I met Zukker. He was there on a recruiting binge, having graduated six months before me, and he was so pretty and shiny. When I started college, he asked me out. We married six months later.”
“So, you could be around other students?”
“Sure. Back then, the effect was restricted to my palms. When Zukker died and I was returned to Uradda, they worked with me to develop my activation, and my body bears the scars.”
Hemma gestured.
“No, I am not taking my clothing off. The scars are all on record with the Aksallan immigration authority.”
Salmet prodded at her com unit and said, “I swear, you Uraddans are fascinating.”
The scorpion said, “So, you weren’t always completely toxic?”
“No. I used to have a nice, controlled emanation. Palms and the soles of my feet. Saliva if I was really irritated.”
“Do you have fangs?”
“No. Just really good at spitting.” She smiled and fluttered her lashes.
Hemma started laughing, bent over.
Salmet smiled and then paused. “Oh.”
“Ah, you reached my file, you curious little minx.”
Riko snorted, and then his smile faded as he saw the projection of her body with the marks catalogued.
The seer gripped the scorpion’s arm. “That’s...”
Salmet said softly, “Do you—were you used to fight?”
“Yup. My punishment for leaving my motherland. They tried to get me working next to Hemma for a while, but I wasn’t any good in the hotter regions where I had to wear gloves and cover all my skin. Hard to seduce someone when you can’t show skin.”
“When did the bite to your shoulder occur?”
“Um...” She closed her eyes. “Eight years ago.”
The seer blinked. “How old are you?”
“Forty-six. I moisturize.”
Salmet smiled. “Her biology is unusual, but no further examination was engaged in.”
Ival laughed. “Great. So, I am guessing you are the prince of the Sethir?”
He nodded. “I am. Riithan. This is my wife, Ylara.”
“Pleased to meet you. Can you get me my grandparents’ information? I don’t actually know their names.”
He paused and then nodded. “I will send the information to Zera. She will get it to you.”
“Thank you. I really want to visit my cousins and auntie, but that is a whole other thing.” She looked at the folks staring at her and smiled. “Plausible deniability.”
Riko chuckled weakly.
She looked at her visitors. “Did you get what you needed?”
Salmet looked at the image on her com. “Yes. Thank you. If I can find a way for you to stay, will you?”
“Do not put yourself out on my behalf. You are busy enough with those partnering up. I am deliberately solo.”
Zera knocked softly, and Hemma started clapping. Ival looked at her and shook her head.
“Ival, if you register with the BDC, you get visa approval. You don’t have to stay here, but it might be entertaining to watch men drop at your feet and be paid for it.”
“You just want to let your chem lab take more scrapings.”
Zera paused. “That is part of it. Khytten’s effect is localized, and your entire glandular system is involved. We would like to try to reduce the effect again. Put you back where you started.”
Ival cocked her head. “Why the BDC?”
“We may have a few males with armoured skin who are seeking contact. You may be a match.”
“Do any of them bite?”
Zera paused. “Two. Why?”
“I have had one bite, and it took a very long time to heal from. I am guessing he was venomous as well.”
“Yeah, I have the records from the fighting pits. He was venomous all right. He’s a registered patron. He has also been requesting an escort with toxic skin.”
“That is weirdly specific for a request.”
Zera said softly, “What would your request be?”
“Someone I could touch; someone I can draw on a book cover.”
“Doesn’t have to be good in bed?”
Ival snorted. “They can be taught.”
Salmet snorted, and Ylara covered her mouth.
Zera nodded. “Fair enough. We will test their reactions to your toxin and pick any of them for the short list if they don’t need emergency treatment.”
“Ah, so that is why they are trying to make a treatment for it.”
“Don’t get me wrong. It is the most exciting chemical cocktail they have seen in years.” Zera smiled.
“Why keep me in Aksalla?”
Zera said, “Because a seer said you were needed. I trust that. Not for your future, but for the future of the person you were with.”
“Oh. Talk vaguely to me.” Ival smiled. “If I stay, I won’t have to move my books. So, that’s something.”
Salmet nodded. “I really want to hug you.”
“That would be very unwise.”
“Yes, but I still want to do it.”
As Salmet stood there, she turned silver and slowly moved forward to hug Ival. It was strange being hugged by someone her own size who was so cool to the touch, but Titanium didn’t fall. She backed up and smiled. “There.”
Ival said softly, “Now go to a decontamination shower and wash me off before you kill your spouse.”