22
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Myla
Sitting in front of a floating holo screen, I’m nervous as I wait for Aunt Viv. My stomach is fluttering, my palms are sweaty, but this is a nice trial and error meeting before talking to my parents.
A 3-D projection of Aunt Viv appears from the holo screen, and the moment she spots me, her big, blue eyes turn wide.
“Myla? Oh, Myla! I feared you were dead!”
“Hi Aunt Viv.” I offer a tiny, very nervous smile.
“Where have you been? What happened? They told me that no one survived when the transport was attacked.”
“Do Mom and Dad think I’m dead too?”
Her face drops and she nods. “Telling them was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.”
“Without telling them why, is there a way to get in contact with them?” I ask, deeply pained at the thought of them grieving for me all this time.
“Yes, I can send a message to Earth’s government for a time and place, and I’m sure your parents will be there waiting.”
“Okay, let’s do that.”
“Fine.” Aunt Viv’s eyes narrow. “Now tell me what happened.”
I describe everything, leaving nothing out. The more I talk, the more Aunt Viv’s jaw drops until she’s sitting and utterly gaping in pure shock.
“I…I don’t know what to say, Myla.”
“I know. I don’t know how to tell Mom and Dad.”
She takes a deep breath, then nods. “Just tell them the truth. They’ll be so happy that you’re alive, I doubt they’d care that you’re shacking up with three men.”
“Um, please don’t use that phrase. It makes me sound like a hussy!”
Aunt Viv laughs. “If there are any single men on Taugon, I may need to come for a visit myself.”
“I would like that.” And just like that, a burden lifts from my shoulders. One down, two to go.
Someone is talking; Aunt Viv looks back over her shoulder and then the smile drops from her face. “I must get back to work. But don’t worry, I’ll arrange everything and then send you all the contact information. It will take around 24 hours before we can get your mom and dad there.”
“So, tomorrow?”
“Yes. That gives you one night to think about what to say. But honestly Myla, I wouldn’t worry so much. They are happy with their life; you have to be happy with yours.”
“I know. Thanks, Aunt Viv.”
“You’re welcome.” She gives me another smile. “I’m glad you’re alive and well, sweetie. I’ll send the information soon.”
And then the screen goes blank.
Scooting back from the desk, I stand and exit the tiny communications room. Tekil is waiting outside.
“How did it go?”
“Good. She’s getting everything set up, so I can talk to my parents tomorrow.”
We head down to the galley where everyone else is waiting. Seated at a huge table with Tia and her guys on one side, and Zeno, and Vi’del along with two empty chairs on the other, Tia is the first to spot us coming.
“Hey, how’d it go?” she asks.
“Really good. Aunt Viv said she may come for a visit sometime.”
“She’s more than welcome.”
Everyone’s talking. I hear bits and pieces of the guys’ conversation as I talk with Tia.
“I think she’s hoping to find a single guy.”
Tia laughs. “There will be plenty.”
“Zeno, you and I will head off security,” Bastian says, planning our new lives on Taugon.
“We need useful people to begin our new…” Tia’s eyebrows draw down as she studies me. “It’s confusing, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” I admit.
Jax sets plates of food around the table, then places Tia’s favorite fruity drink in front of both of us. When I look up to say thank you, he winks.
“We need a new set of rules; we must form our own governing body. It needs to be different from Kintuke,” Moak says.
“I agree,” Tekil replies.
As the guys keep on planning, Tia takes a drink and shakes her head. “It’s a new everything. The guys are a new species called Kintolf , but what happens when we start having children? They’ll be half-Human, half- Kintolf .”
I let the information sink in. I like the idea of having children, but I’m not sure it’s even a possibility.
“Can we have babies?” I ask in a whisper.
She shrugs. “I think so. I hope so. But either way, we need useful people to aid in the building of our society—our new world.”
“I like the sound of that.”
We sit around for a long time, discussing what we each hope for and envision in our new lives. Moak, Serkan, and Bastian want my three guys to help govern; they want a checks and balance system, something like Earth used to have. This will keep Moak, Serkan, and Bastian from having absolute power.
Tekil in particular knows exactly how the Ruling Quad worked and how the laws were created and carried out, which makes him absolutely invaluable.
Like Bastian, Zeno worked in security. I can’t imagine anyone will cross those two.
Meanwhile Vi’del, like Serkan, has a vast knowledge of technology.
As I listen to all of them, I’m suddenly anxious and excited to see Taugon.
My mind, however, keeps drifting back to my parents. I’m both excited and nervous, but I cannot regret what I’m about to do.
Tomorrow
Walking to the communications room, Zeno puts his large hand over mine, to keep me from wringing them.
“Sorry.” I blow out a deep breath.
“Don’t be. This is a big deal for you,” he says kindly.
“It is. I’ll feel better when I get this over with.”
All three of them are with me—my moral support. Maybe they want to remind me of why I’m doing this in the first place? I don’t think they’re worried I’ll run back home, but you never know. Guys are weird that way. They act strong, but you can never really tell what makes them nervous.
We make it to the small room. I turn and face them.
Tekil offers a smile. “We will be right out here, if you need us.”
“Thanks.”
I hate that I don’t want Mom and Dad to see them right now, but it’s a really delicate situation.
I slide into the chair and face the dark screen. Any minute, I’ll see their faces, but as each second passes, the butterflies turn into birds and peck at my stomach. My knees shake, and I drum my fingers on the table before shifting in my chair.
Then I notice the link connecting and my heart beats wildly.
Mom and Dad project from the screen with confused expressions.
When Moms’ eyes collide with mine, she shrieks, “Oh my God!”
And then she bursts into tears.
Dad rubs her back as she cries into her hands. He’s holding back his own tears, even as mine are streaming down my cheeks. I can see for myself how badly my presumed death has impacted them—Dad never cries.
“Myla, is that really you?” he asks.
“Hi Dad.” I give him a shaky smile. “It’s really me.”
“They told us you were killed.”
Mom seems to regain control of her emotions as she wipes her nose with a tissue.
“Myla, honey…when your Aunt Viv contacted us, she was a mess. Where have you been? What happened?”
Here it goes, the moment I’ve been dreading for a while. But seeing how happy they are to see me alive, it’s somehow less daunting.
“I’ll give you the short version.”
Dad nods, still rubbing Mom’s back; that’s the way he’s always comforted her.
“Not long after I left Earth,” I begin, “the transport was attacked by an alien race called the Cadus .” I ignore Mom’s gasp, plunging forward. “They sold me to another species, who held me prisoner while they did…experiments.”
“Oh God! What did they do to you?” she cries.
“It’s hard to describe, but they…they injected me with something that changed my DNA, at least a little.”
I feel my own horror welling up as I remember that terrible time not so long ago, but force myself to push it back down.
“Now you’re an alien?” Mom’s eyes are wide, and a laugh bubbles up from the bottom of my stomach. Only my mom would call her own daughter an alien and believe it.
“Yes…I mean no.” I’m still laughing. Zeno peaks around the corner, probably wondering what’s going on. “That’s just what they do, Mom. I’m still me. Mostly.”
“Please explain,” Dad says, and it’s obvious he’s not amused.
“The Acradidia changed the Kintue people by altering their DNA. They now are able to transform into something like a pre-historic wolf.” Mom starts to speak and I hold up a hand. “They change only when they want to, not like werewolves changing with the full moon.”
Mom deflates a little but this time, I hold back the laughter.
I don’t think there is such a thing as werewolves, but Mom loves reading fantasy novels, so I knew she would ask.
“Do you…also… change?” Mom asks.
“No.” My head teeters. “Well okay, a little. Once when I was in danger, my nails changed into claws, so I was able to free myself. I might get sharp teeth…not sure. Oh, and I have some kind of night vision.”
Dad nods approvingly. “All very useful tools.”
“When are you coming home?” Mom asks, her expression hopeful.
I’m shaking my head before I even say the words.
“I’m not.” Before they can protest, I charge on. “The Acradidia changed me in more ways than you can imagine. They’ve been doing it for a while to the Kintue. The Hi-Cas has declared them a new alien species. His own daughter married—well, mated—three of them.”
“Three!”
“Yes, Mom. The Acradidia also linked them mentally so it’s like one man’s mind with three bodies.”
Yes, it’s a lie, but I really don’t know how else to explain it to her.
“O… okayyyy.”
“The Hi-Cas has awarded them their own planet and renamed the species Kintolf .”
I blow out a slow breath.
Go on, Myla, I silently urge myself. Just get on with it.
“So…me and my three mates are going to help build this new world.”
I hold my breath and wait.
One beat.
Two beats.
Three beats.
Dad looks me in the eyes. “You have three mates?”
I hold my chin up, even though I want to hide under the table and not face his scrutiny.
“I do.”
I watch Mom glance around nervously until she finally asks, “Are you happy?”
“I am. They were held captive with me. When we escaped, they took care of me. I always had food to eat and I was protected. Still am.”
I give them a reassuring smile.
It takes a few minutes for it to sink in; then Mom surprises me with her calm and non-judgmental question. “Is this why you’re not coming home?”
I let out a slow sigh and answer honestly. “Partly. I never once believed that you would accept all three of them—but I can’t live without them. I need all three of them. I love them— all of them. I also know that they need to help build Taugon, and I want to be a part of that.”
I watch as Mom squeezes Dad’s hand. “Can we visit you?”
I lean forward, frowning. “You want to visit?”
Dad looks slightly annoyed. “You are our daughter—of course we want to visit! We also want to meet these…men.”
A slow grin spreads across my face. I never once thought they would be able to accept this. Mom reads my mind.
“Myla, we’ve spent the last few months grieving your death. There’s no way we’re letting your life choice of three husbands stop us from seeing you again, or being part of your life.”
“Okay,” I reply happily. “They’re outside. But I have to warn you…they’re different.”
They both nod. Glancing over my shoulder, I say, “They want to meet you.”
The three of them pile into the tiny room. Mom gasps, her eyes flying to mine. “They’re huge! And blue!”
I laugh. “I’ve noticed.” Pointing, each man inclines his head graciously as I introduce them. “This is Zeno, this is Tekil, and this is Vi’del.” I pause, looking back at my parents. “Without the translator, you won’t be able to understand them. They however can understand you.”
Dad points a finger at them. “Good. Know that if you hurt my little girl, I will hunt each of you down and kill you.”
I laugh. Zeno raises an eyebrow at the threat.
“He’s kidding,” I say.
Zeno shakes his head. “He is not. That is a good thing.”
I smile, amused that he approves of my dad threatening them. We talk a little longer, then Mom gives me a content smile.
“It’s nice to see you happy. And alive,” she laughs joyously. “We will plan a visit soon.”
“Thanks, Mom.” My eyes shift from one to the other. “I love you guys.”
Dad pats Mom’s back again. “We love you too, Myla.”
Then the screen goes dark. I lean back in the chair, delighted. That went so much better than any scenario in my head. I should’ve given them more credit.
Tekil surprises me when he says, “When things get settled on Taugon, perhaps we can also visit them on Earth.”
“Really?”
Vi’del grins. “Of course.”
I bounce to my feet, planting kisses on each of them. “I love ya’ll so, so much!”