Chapter Eight #3
Salat brought her a cup of coffee. “You look a little rough.”
She crammed another little bite into her mouth. “Eventful day.”
Jenaki rubbed her back, and the warmth relaxed her.
“You were paying attention.”
“Of course. One more office exam and I can court you as I would like.”
Salat blinked. “What?”
“He’s my obstetrician.”
Salat looked at her abdomen. “You are...”
“I was. The new family has the baby as of this morning. They are over the moon and probably very busy.”
Salat blinked. “I see. Boy or girl?”
“Yes, one of those.”
He looked at her and snorted. “You look exactly like your mother.”
She grinned. “I know. I think it’s on her business card.”
Salat laughed. “Do you share an activation?”
“Yes and no. Same activation but slight differences in execution.” Diena shrugged and kept snacking.
She sighed when the hunger eased.
Salat looked at the devastation. “You are confident.”
“Oh, the food disaster? Yes. I am.” She lifted her hand, and the remaining offerings moved into a lovely spaced-out pattern.
Salat’s eyes widened. “You are telekinetic?”
“Among other things. I have gotten around the requirement for need. If I think it is safer that a thing happens, I have a need, and the thing happens.”
Salat’s eyes widened. “That’s...”
“A helluva loophole.” She grinned. “I knew about Lorn, I knew about Ithal, and I knew that the baby with me would not be safe if that asshole were left in charge, so there was a need to remove him. That would stop him from coming after my mother and brother.”
Salat nodded slowly. “I see.”
“Yes, and because there was a genuine need, I was able to summon the energy to do what was needed.” She smiled. “And I know Alody is telling your mother the same thing.”
Salat smiled. “She is. So, you are really a reproduction?”
Jenaki inhaled. Diena put her hand on his arm.
“I am, but my skills were shaped by an early life being stimulated to mimic Katta’s performance.
I wouldn’t give those fuckers the satisfaction, so I am registered as Active Without Manifestation, and that is how I am still classified.
It meant I had to wait for access to Aksalla, but once I was here, I could relax a little. ”
Salat nodded. “Right. Khytten has had similar issues with the capitol. She has a tremendously powerful activation, but it is non-standard, and her appearance is easy to sexualize. Here she is. Khytten, mother to thousands.”
“And I am Diena, power of need.”
Salat grinned. “You know our families are going to do a lot more stuff together if Alody is agreeable.”
“Yeah, well, it is to be expected.”
Salat tilted his head. “Here they come.”
She looked, and two full-speed toddlers pelted toward him with three unsteady ones following behind. Salat crouched and caught the fastest ones. “Diena, this is Cira and Ciro. Our second and third eldest. Baola is herding the littlest ones, also known as Salat’s folly.”
Khytten walked close, wearing a sundress with a bustier over it. “Yes, or Salat’s lack of judgment made flesh. We are negotiating for the next pregnancy now.”
Salat hefted the children in his arms. “Twins are manageable.”
Khytten snorted. “We will discuss it at the live range.”
One of the little ones was trying to climb Diena, so she lifted the little boy. “Hello, short stuff.”
He gave her a bright grin.
“Oh, all your teeth. How clever you are.”
He giggled and drooled.
His half-sister reached out, and he went with another giggle. All of the children were well-loved and happy.
Khytten chuckled. “They are happy but thankfully growing normally.”
Salat smiled. “No rushing past the fun stuff.”
Diena looked at their glowing faces. Happiness was in every inch of them. It was a family filled with love, with some homicide on the side.
Jenaki put his hands on her waist.
She glanced at him. “Staking territory? Just about everyone here is a couple.”
He smiled and kissed her neck. “Just blending in.”
“Weirdo.”
He chuckled and whispered, “My Empress.”
“Don’t start.”
“Oh, I must. My people came from the area that is now the Lorn Empire. It used to be the Khaskik Empire. Maro drove out my grandmother and her people, and they sought refuge in Renovik. They worked to develop their activations and had children. The women were powerful, and the men were as well, but in a different way.”
“Oh, wow. Your people made the statues.”
“The goddesses covered with the marks of actives? Yes.” He kissed the other side of her neck. “It is the husband’s honour to put the marks on the empress for festivals and events of state.”
He nuzzled at her neck, and she leaned into him.
“Still moving a little fast, Jenaki.”
He chuckled against her skin and carefully wrapped his arms around her. She smiled and looked up at him. He said softly, “I don’t mind losing ground.”
She chuckled. “You just keep moving the line.”
His grin in his bright features was proud of his moves.
She snorted. “Idiot.”
“Dr. Idiot to you, miss. I went to idiot doctor school for moments like this.” He kissed her temple again, and she settled against him.