Turbulent Waves, page 11
“How about my dancing?”
“Flawless.” She laughed and tried to forget everything else except enjoying herself. Whatever happened at the temple wasn’t normal and was something to think about, as was Galen’s mention that the head of her guard, Laud, wasn’t there. Kai hadn’t shared anything to do with security yet, but Steve and his people were all dead. That Pontos and his people had gotten so close meant there was still danger, and she’d worry about it, only not tonight. There wasn’t anything to be afraid of unless some human-world military found them. That, though, was unlikely tonight.
All she wanted in the months ahead was to enjoy the gift of loving Kai and what had come about because of that love. There was a lot to unpack that she couldn’t begin to understand, like the physical changes both she and Frankie had undergone, and she wanted answers.
The one who had the answers was Oba. There was no way of knowing if the priestess would tell her the truth. It wasn’t a matter of Oba’s relationship with Kai, but one of trust. She doubted Oba trusted her yet, but she wasn’t giving up until she had all the answers. She did at least want to try, since she had six months to give their daughter a future without any threat hanging over her. And unlike her parents, she vowed to believe her child if she had a story to tell, no matter what happened in her daughter’s life, and she’d champion her in whatever battles she faced.
* * *
Hadley turned the video on and nodded to Laud. Galen kissed the top of Hadley’s head before sitting and smiling at the screen. “We missed you at the wedding,” Galen said.
“I would’ve loved to have been there in person, but the team and I watched it. We’re starting to make progress, though, so it wasn’t the time to go.” Laud split the screen, and she and Hadley saw Tanice sitting in her cell smiling and talking to one of Laud’s team. The conversation was animated even without the sound on, and Tanice appeared happy.
Galen imagined for a second losing Hadley and what the grief would do to her. For all of Tanice’s crimes, she was a woman grieving the person she loved. Their new technology made Tanice believe she was not only at home on planet Atlantis, but sitting with Pontos. After a moment of laughter, Tanice leaned forward and kissed her interrogator.
“I’m not sure how all this works, but she’s really convinced it’s Pontos?” Galen asked. There was no reason to listen in since they’d get the report shortly, but it was interesting. “Has she divulged anything useful?”
Laud nodded. “Pontos arrived with his team, which by all accounts was small, in three ships. He feared being trapped here if things went wrong, so the other two ships were backups. His sister was the one who set up the link between the Oberon family and our people. He didn’t bring a large force because he had one here ready to follow orders.”
Hadley tightened her grip on the arms of her chair and leaned forward toward the screen. “Tell me you have names.”
“I’m sorry, I should’ve said, he thought he had troops who would do his bidding. Francesca Yelter overexaggerated the number of people with her as well as her military service and experience.” Another screen came up, and she and Hadley saw a screenshot of the homepage for a site called Devotion to Our True King. “It’s a closed site, but we have the names of all the members and a way to trace them.”
“Are any still in the capital?” Hadley asked.
The wedding celebrations were still going on, and Galen felt a duty to go back, but she had to hear this. The new development actually made her want to run back and check on Kai and Vivien. If any enemies willing to kill them were still hiding within their walls, she needed to protect her family. She had to force herself to relax and take a breath. The sudden fear had squeezed the joy and air right out of her.
“My people are rounding up the ones in the city, and I called on Belm to take care of the most troublesome.”
“Who?” Hadley asked.
“Cara Cosh.” The minister of agriculture. They’d set aside acres of land to bring to fruition Cosh’s ambition to expand their food sources. Cosh was also ambitious when it came to trying to get closer to Galen. “She’s part of your court and can get close enough to do damage.”
“Hadley,” Galen said, looking at her consort. Cosh was at the wedding and close enough to her family to carry out any violence she’d been ordered to do.
Laud held up her hand to stop any panic. “We quietly removed her and her family, Highness. I wouldn’t have bothered you today otherwise, but I didn’t want to take any chances. My job now is to find the connections to Yelter, which will hopefully lead us to her wife and daughter.” Laud exhaled as she switched off the view of Tanice. “I’ll be returning tonight and leaving the team to finish here. Now that Tanice is talking, we should get all the information we need.”
“Thank you, and report in the morning. I want to go with you when you question Cosh.” Hadley sounded like she was having trouble containing her rage.
Galen would’ve called her on it, but she was having the same problem. That anyone was disgruntled enough to commit treason didn’t make sense because of the lives they all led. Her subjects were free to pursue the things that gave them satisfaction, and no one was left behind. This was as close to the utopia humans talked about as you could achieve, and yet some craved the authoritarian rule of a tyrant.
“Safe journey, Laud.” Galen turned to Hadley when the screen shut off.
“It’s time to bring this to everyone’s attention. We can’t allow a few people to put us all in danger,” Hadley said.
“We need to find them all first, love.” Hadley was still upset but Galen softened her tone as she caressed her cheek. “We still have another wedding to attend, and I don’t want anyone to take the chance to escape if we speak too soon. I also have to set the security forces to assure nothing happens while we’re topside.” She took Hadley’s hand and motioned for the guards to open the door. “You owe me a dance.”
Galen knew herself well enough to know she’d worry until all this was truly over. That she’d take care of some of these people with a very permanent solution wasn’t a question. From her first day on the throne, a small group of women had questioned her strength and her ability to be firm when need be. They, along with everyone else, would find out the strength and willingness to kill to protect her child and her family wasn’t going to be a problem. If they’d gambled on her running from conflicts, they’d lose.
Chapter Nine
Kai held Vivien against her and swayed to the music. This would be their last dance before they retired for the night. She’d planned a quick trip to celebrate their joining, but her mothers leaving for an hour meant there was a chance that wouldn’t happen. Security would trump any honeymoon plans she had, and she’d have to agree. She wasn’t taking any chances with Vivien.
“The best part of today is I get to sleep with you tonight.” Vivien squeezed Kai’s shoulders and smiled up at her. “I’ve missed you.”
“Tonight, and every night, Mrs. Merlin, and the missing went both ways.” She watched her parents rejoin the party and head out to the dance floor. Galen seemed tense and Hadley just seemed pissed.
“What’s wrong?” Vivien placed her hand on her cheek and moved her head so she’d look at her.
“I’m not sure, but something’s off.”
“They didn’t change their minds, did they?” Vivien glanced back and Kai’s parents smiled at them.
“There’s no chance of that.” She moved them closer to her parents, and Vivien nodded, not having to ask when Kai handed her off to her mother Hadley. Now face-to-face with her mother Galen, Kai said, “Okay, don’t make me torture it out of you.”
“Laud gathered some information we’ll have to deal with. I’m not keeping it from you because I don’t want you involved, but because I want to give you and Vivien time alone. Take a day, and then I’ll tell you everything.”
“Can I take her anywhere?” She glanced at Vivien laughing at something her mom had said.
“Use the retreat, and don’t fuss at the number of guards that’ll be necessary.”
“Give us the day and then come and join us. We’ll have to figure something out since Vivien’s family is expecting to host a wedding.”
“And that’ll happen,” her mom said, pinching her cheek. “We need to see what we’re up against, so we can put security in place. There’s no chance I’ll put you, Vivien, and her family in harm’s way.”
“Did something big happen today? I’m not naive enough to think that everyone would embrace my choice.” She winked at Vivien when she found her glancing their way. “But this is getting ridiculous. Are these idiots reading some other history of Atlantis I don’t know about? Poseidon and then the Oberons ruled with their boots on everyone’s necks.”
“Honey, you know that no matter what’s going on, someone’s not happy. Whoever’s involved probably sees this as a power grab and is using the Oberons to get more than their share.” Her mother kissed her cheek and hugged her as the song ended. “Right now, you have nothing to worry about. Go enjoy your first night as a married woman. If you hear any wailing, that’ll be all the women who realize you’re off the market.”
“Not funny, Mama.” They joined their mates and Vivien immediately took her hand. “Ready to go?”
“More than ready, and thank you both so much for this wonderful day. I loved it from beginning to end.” Vivien hugged Kai’s parents and followed them to the top of the dais. They had to stay for one more toast. Quiet fell over the room when her mother raised her hands.
“Parents dream of the day their child finds the kind of love you pray they will. Today is that day for Hadley and me. We raise our glasses to Kai and Vivien.” Her mother raised her glass and smiled at them. “May the goddess bless you with happiness, wisdom, and long life.”
Everyone followed her mom’s lead and waited. When her mom took a sip everyone else did too, then cheered. That was the last duty performed that released them to go. She led Vivien back to her room and closed the door after placing the guards farther away than they’d wanted.
“Was there anything wrong? Hadley gave me no clue.” Vivien came closer and unbuttoned Kai’s jacket.
“Something happened, but Mama isn’t talking. She did, though, offer her retreat that’s a few hours away. It’s in a series of caves, which made it possible to build beautiful beaches. They’ll give us a day and then join us to tell us what’s happening.” She folded the jacket and dropped it over a chair.
“Good, but we don’t need to talk about that right now.” Vivien started on the buttons of her shirt next. “You know,” Vivien said, leaving the shirt open but on. “Before I met you, I hardly ever thought about sex.”
“Really? That’s surprising.” She glanced down when her pants dropped to her ankles.
“Why? When we met, the only person who was interested in me was Steve. Believe me, I never had any sexual fantasies about him. You came along, though, and woke up that part of me, and now I want you all the time.”
“That sounds like a good thing. It puts us on the same wavelength. You’re the fuel that feeds the fire in me.” She turned Vivien around and unzipped her. “You’d think I’m a horny teenager, the amount of time I think about getting you naked.” She gently bit Vivien’s earlobe, enjoying the moan it produced.
“Horny’s a good word for it,” Viv said and laughed. “It’s a good thing we only had to wait three days.” Vivien pulled Kai’s underwear off next and put her hands on her ass.
“Are you trying to tell me something?” Kai asked.
“There’s plenty I have to say, but really it’s more something I want from you.” Vivien glanced between her and the bed. “Are you going to make me wait?”
She walked backward until she hit the bed after getting naked. Tonight she wanted to give Vivien everything she wanted and the freedom to claim it. Vivien lowered her head and kissed her. It seemed as if Vivien was frantic by the way she was trying to devour her mouth.
“Slow down, baby. We have time.”
Vivien sat up, straddling her. She shook her head to clear her hair out of her face. “There’s no sin in rushing the first time.” Vivien wiggled her eyebrows as she said it, then cupped her breasts like she was trying to get her to fall in line. “You know you want to.”
Kai ran her hands up Vivien’s thighs to her waist. There were very few things in her life that she enjoyed more than touching Viv. She’d had relationships with a number of women, the most serious being Oba, but none of them made her this desperate. Vivien had turned her inside out from their first time together, and to prove the rightness of the relationship, she was sure they’d conceived that first time.
“I do want to,” she said as she sucked in a nipple. The way Viv pulled her hair and moaned made her want to rush. She was turned-on, and the desire made it hard to concentrate on what she was doing. “I want you.”
She moved down and kissed Vivien’s abdomen next. She kept going down and put her head between Viv’s legs. Viv pulled her hair a little when she kissed her sex.
“Are you going slow for a reason?” Viv raised her head and stared down at her. “Paybacks, honey.”
The tease made her circle Viv’s hard clit with just the tip of her tongue. She lifted her head slightly, and Viv followed by lifting her hips. “You are so gorgeous—especially like this.”
Vivien opened her mouth to say something but let her head drop back when Kai moved to finish what she’d started. She sucked Vivien in and wanted to smile when Viv clamped her thighs together, trapping her in place. It was as if Viv wasn’t taking any chances that she’d stop again for any other romantic declarations.
“Honey, go inside,” Vivien said breathlessly. “I need you…I need…you.” Vivien grabbed her hair and pulled. “Oh.” Vivien was loud when she gave her what she wanted. The feel of Viv tightening around her fingers made her want to slow and enjoy the moment, but Viv had set their pace. “Ah, yes…don’t stop.” The stuttered speech made her thrust faster and deeper, and Viv arched her back. “Don’t stop.” She gave the command one more time, then went rigid.
She kissed Viv’s sex before moving up. Viv reached down and circled her wrist. It was a silent plea for her to stay inside. “You okay?”
“I am now.” The words sounded lazy and easy. “You’ve turned me into a hedonist.”
“I come from a long proud line of them, so get used to it.” She smiled when Viv moved to straddle her again without dislodging her fingers. “Show me how much you want me.”
Viv blushed but cupped her breasts again and started to rock her hips. This time she went slower and looked down at Kai until she moved her thumb to her clit. That stopped Viv altogether, but it seemed to be a moment of enjoying where she was. Vivien closed her eyes as she pinched her nipples, and Kai wanted to melt into the bed.
“You make me crazy,” Viv said as she opened her eyes.
Kai’s hips started to move faster, and she smiled down at her. “I hope I always do.”
“Yes…oh yes.” The movements of Vivien’s hips were smooth as she sped up. She didn’t get jerky until the end. “Absence really does do something to the heart.”
“Let’s hope you don’t get bored now that you’re stuck with me.” She held Viv when she slumped down on top of her. Viv felt warm and soft.
“Not possible.” Viv raised her head and stared down at her. When Vivien lowered her head to reach her lips, the shell around her throat touched Kai’s, and the same blinding light from the temple happened again, only this time it was in her head.
It made no sense, but whatever was happening obscured her vision. The way Vivien was blinking meant she was experiencing the same thing. She stared straight ahead as the brightness became bearable, and she saw Vivien, only now she was very pregnant.
Visions of the future weren’t in Kai’s wheelhouse, and she glanced around, trying to figure out why she was having one now. She concentrated on Vivien’s face and moved toward her. Mentally she knew Viv was in her arms, but it was hard to convince herself of that from what she was seeing. It was all so real.
“Kai,” Vivien said, holding her hand out.
She stretched out to take Viv’s hand, but the darkness behind Vivien was like an avalanche. “Viv,” she yelled and felt Vivien’s fingertips skim her own as something ripped her away in a wave. “Vivien,” she screamed again, but she was gone.
Vivien had been swallowed by the darkness, taking the baby with her.
Despair made her want to claw her skin to add to the pain she was in. She needed the other half of her heart to survive, and the shell around her neck went cold as if it too sensed the loss. The hard ground was biting when she fell to her knees, and all she wanted was to wake and see it was all a nightmare.
Her tears fell even though her eyes were closed, and they turned to sobs when she felt a hand on her cheek. It was as familiar as her own face in the mirror, but it didn’t compute.
“Honey,” Vivien said. Her voice was so compassionate Kai was desperate to believe she was truly there. “Open your eyes.”
Vivien was there, safe, and that brought on more tears, this time, from pure relief. It flooded through her, leaving her cold and tired. “What in the world was that?”
“What did you see?” Vivien stroked her face, and it was calming.
“What did you?” She didn’t want to upset Vivien if she was the only one who’d been affected by whatever had happened. “Did you see anything at all?”
“It was a rush of cold and dark that cut me off from you. I felt your fingers for a moment, like you were trying to save me but couldn’t.” Vivien wiped Kai’s face and kissed her forehead. “I’m not sure what that was, but it wasn’t pleasant.”
