Chapter 49 #3
“Two weeks,” Tuvo said, giving all of them a hard look. “That’s how long you have. By the end of two weeks, I want everyone back here. If you aren’t back by then, I’m coming to get you.”
“Yes, sir,” Alanna saluted him human style.
“Relax, Tuvo,” Peony laughed, nudging him with her elbow. “We’re okay. Right, Atem?”
“I didn’t want to separate at all,” her mate said, frowning. “I was outvoted.”
“You’re also paranoid.”
“An aversion to being killed is not paranoia.”
“Sir.” One of the security team jogged up to them, speaking to Tuvo though he wouldn’t be able to understand. “The plane to Paris and London is ready.”
“Thank you,” he said after Scarlet translated. “They’ll be along shortly.”
The security man saluted – human style – before jogging off to continue loading the other two private planes that were waiting on the tarmac.
Alanna’s life was weird.
“That’s our boarding call,” Holly said, smiling at Romival.
He grunted in confirmation, one hand on her lower back, his jaw tight and uncomfortable.
Since Holly had become visibly pregnant, he had become more and more uncomfortable with her being away from their room – their nest. But they had already learned from Peony’s pregnancy that the domini instincts transplanted from the fetus weren’t strong enough to completely override the human need to get out and be around family.
Scarlet was pregnant as well, but since she wasn’t showing beyond a small baby bump yet, Havali’s instincts hadn’t been tripped and he wasn’t nearly as tense. He did, however, watch Romival and Holly closely like he was taking mental notes about what to expect.
The four of them said their goodbyes to everyone.
There were hugs and demands for pictures and to be safe.
Holly and Romival said they’d probably be back first. They had already been to London, after all, and he really only wanted to visit the ancient university.
Once finished with that, they would return home. Probably a week, maybe even less.
Alanna wasn’t sure how much of that was because they were only visiting one university – no matter how big or ancient – and how much was him wanting to return Holly to their nest.
Scarlet, on the other hand, was eagerly talking about everything they were going to be seeing while in Paris. Alanna easily imagined them taking the full two weeks. She promised them all souvenirs before the four finally separated.
They watched as they climbed into the private jet. Holly and Scarlet waved backwards one last time before disappearing inside. The door almost immediately shut, and, within short order, the jet began to taxi out towards the distant runway.
It took a bit more time for Hattie and Tuvo’s plane to finish being prepared.
Keith was already inside. He had come in the same car as Hattie – they had taken multiple – but almost immediately abandoned her to rush into the luxurious jet. No doubt, he was probably in there taking videos for the socials he had wanted to boost.
That was fine. No one missed him.
When the security team finally came to inform them that the plane was ready, she thanked them before translating for Tuvo. Not that she really needed to do so. He got the gist and already nodded in understanding.
“Time to go,” she said, forcing a smile. “I’ll miss you guys!”
“It’s only two weeks,” Peony said, holding out her arms. “Hugs first?”
“Always!” Hattie rushed to her, embracing her tightly. Hattie gave the best hugs. Alanna eagerly waited for hers after Atem got one.
“Be safe,” she said, squeezing the small girl in return.
“I’ll be fine,” she promised, stepping back. Hesitating only a moment before stepping to Tuvo’s side – the first time she had really been that close to him deliberately in a while. “Are you ready, Tuvo?”
He grunted before looking at the others. “Two weeks. Be careful. And use the comm if you need to. And don’t forget to get the others if something happens.”
“Relax, First Warrior,” Survii chuckled, putting his arm around Alanna. “We’ll be fine. Now, get going. Hattie’s eager to see her family again.”
The plane emptied of security, leaving only the pilot and Keith inside. Hattie waved to them both at the base of the stairs, then again at the top. Tuvo remained close at her rear, saying nothing as she yelled her farewells – the sound completely lost under the idling of the plane.
Then, they were inside, and the door was shutting behind them.
The moment it closed, that uneasy feeling Alanna woke with yesterday returned. It clenched tight in her belly, and she found herself frowning.
But nothing could be done as the stairs were taken away and the jet began to taxi.
“Our turn next then.” Survii beamed at her. But his face almost immediately dropped. “Something wrong?”
Alanna hesitated. “I don’t know. I don’t feel right.”
“Are you sick?”
“No, not like that. It’s like… the aura of fate is weird. I guess.”
“I thought auras were something people had.”
“No. Anything living can have an aura. It’s a feeling. An innate understanding. And I feel kind of wrong for some reason.”
Survii frowned, looking at her curiously.
Not like he didn’t believe her, but like he was trying to understand what she said.
But his people didn’t have a concept of fate.
It was something he had to learn when he left Turv.
And because he only learned about it during adulthood, it was a concept that was hard to truly comprehend.
Adding her aura talk to it just put a whole other layer of confusion into the mix.
The private jet screamed as it took off down the runway. Blasting into the air, leaving behind only lines of heat and an echoing roar from the engine.
“Do you not want to go?” Survii asked, forcing her attention back onto him. “We don’t have to take this honeymoon now. We can do it later, if you like.”
Alanna hesitated before shaking her head. The bad feeling had only returned when Hattie and Tuvo left – so she was pretty sure it was just related to them.
“No. We can go. I just… want them to be careful.”
Atem and Survii were definitely confused. Peony was amused at her strangeness. Alanna’s bad feeling didn’t abate. It was too late.
“They’ll be fine, vi Vitralai,” Survii promised, holding her from behind. “Tuvo is First Warrior. An experienced and decorated soldier. There is no challenge Earth can present him he hasn’t already conquered before.”
Alanna felt that rather sounded like a challenge to the universe. But there was nothing she could do as the security team told them that their plane was ready. It was time for them to go.
They said goodbye to Atem and Peony. She congratulated them on their marriage again.
Then, with one final wave, she climbed into the jet.
But that bad feeling still hadn’t gone away.