Chapter Eight
Diena woke up, and she felt... better. She also felt really warm. Jenaki was curled against her back. He wasn’t wearing body armour, so that was a blessing.
She touched his bare arm and twisted in place. He was there, he was awake, and he was naked. “Oh. Hi.”
He grinned. “Sorry. I don’t have pyjamas here... yet.”
“And if they were here, would you wear them?”
“In bed with you?” He looked thoughtful. “Doubtful.”
She snorted and sat up, flicking the sheet over him. A quick look at herself and she said, “I am going to need the illusion of a recent pregnancy for walking around work when I check in at the clinic.”
Jenaki chuckled. “I can give you an exam right now.”
She laughed. “Your flirting is a little heavy-handed.”
“I think you appreciate the direct approach.” He nuzzled her neck.
“I do, but I haven’t engaged in this behaviour before.”
“So you went straight to maternity?”
“I had to test a theory. My family doesn’t have children easily. I was the first of our adaptation to bring a child to term.” She smiled. “I kept notes in case my mother wants to have kids, but I suppose I can offer the information to her cousin as well.”
“Cousin?”
“Aluhara.”
“Oh, wow. What do you mean? Your adaptation. Your activation?”
“Sort of. The exceedingly slow aging. It takes meditation and focus to keep the child growing. That is why I took the job at Z-Corp. I needed not to be elsewhere. A physical job keeps your body restrained while your mind can fly. I needed that. The hardest part for her will be getting a working ovum. Getting them at the right time is the tricky bit. I think Ados’s grandmother can help with that if the Sethir let her. ”
Jenaki smiled. “You have thought this through.”
“I needed to, so I did.”
He caressed her arm. “So why Lorn?”
“It was a need. It needed to be cleansed, so I did.”
“So, right now, there is no one there?”
“There is officially one person in the entire country. A friend with a certain skillset. Unofficially, one or two more.”
“What activation?”
“True sight.”
He sat upright. “That is an exceptionally unusual activation.”
“It is. Weirder than seers, as she often tells me.”
“Why is she there?”
“If I have a need for mineral samples, she gets them from the safe and sends them to me. She’s content to live there because being around people is fucking annoying. Her words.”
“True sight would do that.”
“Yup. Well, I should get dressed. I hope that Alody and Ithal took me seriously. I bought this house for my family.”
“Before you reconnected with them?”
“Yes. I know my mother, and if my brother is anything like me, he will like the additional space. My mom wanted to keep a low profile, but since that has been blown out of the water, we get to be family for the first time.”
“Just like that?”
“It is a start.” She flipped the sheet off her and grabbed some clothes, getting dressed efficiently in loose trousers and a soft shirt.
Jenaki sighed and got up. His clothing was a soft wrap shirt and loose trousers. The gold was still on his skin. It was all over him.
“So, the gold is natural to you?”
He grinned. “Yes. It grew as I did.”
“Right. And it’s... everywhere?”
“It is. You didn’t see?”
“I was focused on covering you up, not examining you.”
“So, your experience is...”
“Limited.” She gave him a serious look. “What time is it?”
“Mid-afternoon.”
She nodded and said, “Thank you for watching over my sleep.”
He smiled. “It was my honour. Now, when would you be all right with a first date?”
“Oh. Like, actual date?”
“Yes. Dinner, dancing, a movie, the theatre.”
“So things that get me used to you being there.”
He smiled. “I am also good at small home repair and moderate carpentry.”
She snorted. “Well, that is a little mind-boggling, but I am going to see what I can conjure in the kitchen. I need water and fruit.”
“And some lean protein.”
She sighed. “Come on. I am wondering what will be waiting for us in the living area.”
She walked to the door, straightened her shoulders, and walked toward the living room. Jenaki followed her, and they walked into a very domestic situation.
Ithal was sitting with Eskin, looking at a tablet. Sgoth and Ekron were trying to cook... something. Alody was sitting in a corner and reading on a tablet, smiling as they came in. “Diena, you look better.”
Ithal’s head snapped up, and he ran over to her, hugging her. “Diena. We moved in.”
“That’s wonderful, Ithal. That is just what I had hoped when I bought this place.”
Alody looked up. “You are serious?”
“I am. This is a family home. There are times you will want to go out with Eskin, and I am a built-in babysitter. Even if I am working, I will now be working from the playpark, and I don’t think Ithal will mind that.”
Her brother’s eyes were shining. He whispered, “Best sister ever.”
She grinned. “We also have parks planned for four different countries. Family trip?”
He hugged her again.
Alody chuckled. “You are always going to be the favourite sister.” She got up. She held up the tablet. “It opened to your accounts for some reason. There was a message from someone named Syrella.”
Diena paused. “What did it say?”
“Dark, pointy boy scouts are camping out at the barrier.”
Diena went pale and held out her hand for the tablet. “Please.”
Alody frowned in concern and handed it over.
Rella, are you receptive?
Usually. I don’t know where they came from, but they are trying to glare their way in, expressing their irritation. Is that an activation?
Not that I know of. You are safe?
I am. They are all wearing the same symbol. She sent an image.
Diena swallowed. How many are there?
Eight. Why?
Those are reapers. That means someone has put a price on you.
Oh, that makes sense. So I will just hide out here and keep doing what I am doing. If the wards come down, I know where to hide.
Be safe. If they start to attack the barrier, let me know immediately. I don’t know what I will do, but it will be something.
Yes, my Empress.
Shut it.
Never!
Diena grinned and then sobered. She looked at Ekron. “Do you know any reapers?”
“No, but Salat hangs out with them frequently.”
“I need to speak to one.”
“I will call my cousin.” Ekron caught on and walked to the backyard, talking on his com.
Alody nodded. “We will come with you.”
She smiled. “Thank you.”
Ekron came in and said, “They are at Auntie’s house. We can meet them there for a chat. The prefect wanted to speak to you anyway, Alody, or should I say, Katta.”
She smirked. “Well then. Let’s go.”
Diena said, “I am hungry. And thirsty.”
Ekron typed into his com and smiled. “We are invited for dinner, and the housekeeper is having a coronary. There will be appetizers.”
Diena smiled. “I can help cook. It has been my job for a while now.”
“I think that would be worse for her. She will make sure you are fed and hydrated.”
Diena shrugged. “I just need to ask Salat a few questions about reapers.”
Sgoth grinned. “Well, it’s on my way home, so if you could drop me off, that would be great.”
Ekron laughed and nodded.
Ithal grinned. “We get to drive in the team transport.”
Diena looked around. “No one told him it flies?”
Ekron shrugged. “I don’t have my pilot’s license.”
Alody stepped forward. “I do. I keep it current.”
Ithal shot his fists in the air. “Woo!”
Ekron grinned. “I will tell my aunt we are on the way.”
Diena turned to Jenaki. “Are you joining the circus?”
“I wouldn’t miss it.” He offered his hand, and there was a snack bar in it.
She laughed and started eating. They all headed out the door, and Alody skipped ahead, making Eskin grin.
Alody had held a lot of herself back, just as Diena had. They were mother and daughter, after all.
Diena watched Ithal buckle up, and Jenaki checked her harness before stepping out with Eskin. They were flying escort.
After pausing to let Sgoth fly home to his wife and daughter, they glided to the secured landing area of the prefect’s home.
There was a crowd of people waiting for them, and the moment that Alody stepped out, she was rushed by the prefect, her husband, Jennela, Halko, and a few others Diena couldn’t identify.
They surrounded Alody and hugged her.
Ithal held Diena’s hand. “They really like Mom.”
Jennela’s head came up. “Mom?” She looked at Ithal and then saw Diena. “Holy shit.”
Diena smiled and gave a small wave. “Hello.”
Jenaki was at her back a moment later.
Salat was nearby, grinning at Alody. He looked at Diena and blinked. “What the actual hell?”
Diena looked down at Ithal. “How are you with cursing?”
“They each owe me five credits.”
“Okay, five from Jennela and five from Salat. Oh, Salat, I need to ask you questions about reapers.”
He frowned. “What about them?”
“How can I find out if someone I know has a contract out on them?”
“Are they dead?” he asked wryly.
“Not yet.”
There must have been something in her expression because he blinked. “Right. I will call a brother-in-law. He’s a reaper, and he can find that information for you.”
“Thank you. Ithal, where do you want to go?”
“I will head for Mom. There are a lot of actives here.”
“Yes. Some families are developing solid bloodlines. The odds of active children are increasing.” Diena smiled.
“Neat. More kids for the playpark.”
“Yes.” She met Eskin’s gaze, and he came over to bring Ithal to his mother. Actives were big, and Ithal needed a physical buffer.
Jenaki came with her as they followed Salat, who was calling someone on the com. They were standing a hundred feet from the reunion when shadows flexed and bent, and a man with a lean dog’s head emerged.
“Denier, this is Diena. She has a question.”
The serious man in black leather from clothing to trench coat looked at her. “What do you wish to know?”
“I wish to know whether there is a contract out on a woman named Syrella. If there is, do you reapers often compete for a kill?”
That made him blink. “Just a moment.” He stepped back and made a call, speaking in a language she had no reason to know, but she did. She needed to know.
“I am looking for information on a contract for a woman named Syrella. When was it issued?”