Chapter Ten
Diena rolled over and came face to face with Jenaki. “You could have picked your own room.”
“I like this one. It’s warm and soft.”
“And cranky. Don’t forget cranky.”
He grinned. “The OR nurse who takes care of clinic procedures is far crankier than you are. But if it makes you feel better, I am afraid of you both.”
Diena snorted. “Good to know.”
“You took out a dictator because you were hormonal.” He grinned and propped his head on his fist. “That is worthy of respect.”
“And a bit of fear?”
“Absolutely.”
She snickered and sat up. “It needed to be done, and I was in the physical shape to do it.”
“So, according to the seer, I have five months to make it into your bed.”
Diena looked around the space and flapped her arms. “Well, you are here.”
He smiled. “I know, but you also know that the courtship will continue.”
“Yeah. You are pleasant enough and have a nice bedside manner. You also have comforting hands.”
He sat up and looked at his hands. “What?”
“You don’t lose your grip when things get slippery.” Diena grinned. “I have to shower and make pancakes. You are invited to both. Skip the body armour.”
He stood and nodded, heading to the bathroom. She smiled and followed him, feeling the new citizen marks emerging on her skin. She could hide them most of the time, but she was tired of obscuring the identifiers.
Jenaki slid the robe off her shoulders, and she heard his intake of breath. “I have made it to your realm of care.”
She chuckled. “Thank you for noticing.”
“How many do you wear?”
“Thirteen now.”
He kissed her shoulder. “Thank you for welcoming me.”
“Not yet, but I am working on it. Shower first, Doc.”
He smiled. “Of course.”
Diena looked at him and felt the calm feeling she experienced when she trusted people.
It was coming fast, but it was the same feeling she had when she helped Keska get to the hospital.
This person was part of her pattern, part of the thing that kept her soul calm so she could leave the rest of herself ready for action.
She mentally groaned. And he was shiny and covered with gold vines that she wanted to trace with her fingers.
Well, at least her libido was waking up.
Progress was progress.
She got the griddle heating, and the bacon was in the oven. She was wearing a sweatshirt and jeans, and Jenaki was dressed in office gear, black slacks and a white shirt. She smiled and started to pour the batter.
“You look remarkably at ease with the expansion of your family.”
“Alody and I have met a few times before. I was not a secret. She was not a secret. Ithal was a surprise, but he is my brother, and I am so happy to have him in my life.”
She suddenly heard little feet, and small arms were around her waist. “I love you, too, Diena.”
She stroked his head and ran her thumb along his fin. “A beautiful surprise back then and a wonderful start to a growing family. You will be an uncle, maybe a brother, a friend, and so much more.”
Ithal smiled up at her. “I know. Brother to the empress, hammer of Khaskik.”
“And hopefully straight A student?”
He giggled. “Yes, sissy.”
Alody came out. “That is what I like to hear.”
Diena held her brother as the pancakes started flipping.
Jenaki grinned. “I will get the coffee.”
Alody smiled. “I will chop some fruit.”
Diena made the pancakes without touching them, and Ithal watched with wide eyes.
Diena asked, “Where did Eskin end up?”
Alody chuckled. “I sent him to find a hotel. This place is for family, and he isn’t family yet.”
Diena smiled. “Well said. Yet.”
“Right. He’s picking me up later to go to our intake at the academy.”
Jenaki snorted. “You think they are going to hire you?”
“Well, they offered me the position last night. In case it escaped your attention, I am Katta of two thousand missions. I never lost a defender, team member, or civilian under my care. They would be idiots not to listen to my instructions. I am quite the draw.” Alody grinned as she chopped a fruit salad.
When the pancakes were ready, they sat around and had breakfast together. Diena smiled at her mother. This was what they had been moving toward. Moments of peace and harmony in a life of chaos. This was worth fighting for.
They discussed the plan for the day: Diena would get her appointment and return home so that she could take Ithal to the playpark. Ithal asked if he could invite Vaken and Kessie, and of course, Diena said yes.
Alody smiled. “We have the dishes. You two get going.”
Jenaki nodded. “I will be back after work.”
Diena nodded. “I will be at the playpark until my duty managers kick me out.”
Ithal asked, “When will you have the grand opening?”
“When we have the paintball up and running. I think it should be ready by the end of the month.”
Ithal grinned. “Can I go back for it?”
“If your homework is done, you can help me design new challenges.”
Ithal’s eyes were wide. “Can I start now?”
“Sure. Design a paintball course with pop-up targets and safe zones. There is a program with basic topography called Doodles, and you can use that as a template.”
He grinned. “I will get on it.”
“Homework is done?”
“Yes, sissy.”
She grinned and touched his cheek. “I hope to be back before nine.”
“Nice. I will go call my friends.” He grinned and ran for the stationary com in the other room.
Alody smiled. “He is smiling more now than he has in the eight years he has been with me.”
“I am glad. I think that goes for you and me as well. Right. I have to go get scanned.”
Diena followed Jenaki to the door. He changed into his shining form and picked her up. He smiled. “This is my favourite way to fly.”
He lifted off gently, and they flew to Z-Corp at a slow pace.
“Are we going to get there today?”
He grinned. “Don’t ruin my fun. Holding you is addictive, and I am getting my fix.”
She snorted and noticed the grinning folks who watched them land in the designated zone, and when she was on her feet, his hand around her waist gave away their relationship.
Jenaki swiped in and waited by the elevators while Diena signed in for her medical check. The guard checked her and her credentials and then smiled and gave her a visitor’s pass.
Jenaki wrapped her in his arms and bustled her into the elevator. He held her and sighed. She muttered, “Let me select the floor.”
He grunted. “No.”
The door opened, and the next traveller stood there, snorting a laugh. The dark-haired woman said, “What floor?”
“Seven, please. Medical.”
The woman looked over as they started to move. “Trying to have him removed?”
“I think getting him lanced would be equally as effective.”
Jenaki grinned. “Morning, Heraina.”
“Morning, Doctor. You are looking particularly festive this morning.”
“It is all about motivation.”
Heraina got off on the fifth floor, and Diena said, “Bye!”
The woman grinned and waved.
The doors closed, and they continued up. He tightened his arms and walked her to the reception desk. The receptionist smiled. “You are the early appointment?”
“Yes. He just has to make a quick change, and I can get my final scans done.”
The woman smiled. “Miss Diena, please have a seat. The doctor will be with you in... oh, look, there he is.”
She turned, and he was back in his white shirt and black trousers. “All right. Let’s get this over with so I can resume my life.”
He nodded and led her to the room, closed the door, and helped get her out of her sweatshirt, unsnapping her jeans, and she swatted at his eager digits. “Give me a second, and I will lose the clothing. I thought you were supposed to leave me alone as I disrobe.”
“Nope. Not with actives.”
She got everything off and wrapped the gown around her. “There. Ready.”
He smiled, and they got the internal exam over with first. He checked the healing and withdrew his hand, peeling off the glove. “Your vagina and cervix are back to normal. No signs of your occupant.”
She smiled. “Great.”
“Now I just need to answer some questions that Z-Corp has about your physiology.”
She nodded and submitted to a barrage of equipment, including full-body scans and scans over her reproductive organs, especially.
When she was bristling with energy from exposure to the scans, he stopped. “Is that enough? I covered most of the stuff on the list.”
“There was a list?”
“Oh, yes. The prefect wanted to know all about you, Empress.”
“Ah. That.”
“Yes. Well, Miss Diena, you are in remarkable health with a bristling energy signature. It is both static and pulsing at the same time.”
She grinned. “Flatterer.”
“Do you know what it is?”
“The pulses seek need. The static signature keeps me as I am. Sweatshirt and all.” She got dressed.
His com pulsed.
He read it. “Zera is requesting a conversation with you.”
Diena checked the time. “I have twenty minutes before I head home. Where?”
“Conference room three on five.”
“When is your next appointment?”
He grinned. “Nine-thirty.”
“Want to hug me in the elevator again?”
He chuckled. “Certainly.”
She made sure her clothing was on and correct, and then she walked out with him. He notified the receptionist of his location and that he would return before patients arrived, and then they were cuddling in the elevator as they descended.
When they left the elevator, she waved at the floor receptionist. “Conference room three?”
The woman sat up straight and inclined her head. “Yes, Your Majesty.”
Diena blinked. “Oh. It’s about that.”
Zera walked toward her calmly. This was a woman who knew how not to draw fire. “Miss Diena, welcome to Z-Corp.”
Diena smiled. “Pardon my lack of handshake, but I know what you do. Besides, you already play sexy dress-up as the empress. No sense giving you more ammunition.”
Zera blushed. “Right. This way.”
“Oh, you know Dr. Jenaki?”
Zera nodded. “Yes.”
“Good. He is one of mine. Just let that circulate among the ladies of the med pool.”
Jenaki grinned. He wasn’t objecting to the claim.
“Now, what did you want to discuss?”
Zera snapped out of her analysis of Jenaki. “This way, please.”