Deadly Star, page 12
“You look like an evolved nasat. They are natural to this world, so you will look familiar to all. No alterations necessary.” He stroked her hair.
“So, I need you to get through the pregnancy?”
“Yes. Not all Hmrain are the same, but I am insisting that you need me.” He smiled. “I will travel with you, and you can see the stars you are so interested in.”
She stroked his neck. “For two years, the stars in the sky disappeared. Now I have been hauled away from the stars that were so familiar, and I just want to get some orientation. I think I want to find my place again, and I want to go fast. That’s important.”
Understanding lit his eyes. “Ah. That I can help you with. I have already ordered you some custom-designed personal transports so that you can have the freedom of this world.”
“I can make do with some non-custom ones in the meantime so that I can explore.”
“Your introduction to the other continents will be done at my side.”
“Can it happen soon?”
He slid a hand down her back, over her butt, and casually gripped her thigh with his fingers pressing between them. “I will show you a map, and we will begin to go to one city or outpost per day. Twice in an eight-day period. We can stop it when you request.”
Nova smiled. “Seriously?”
“Yes. If you wish to learn my world, I will show it to you.”
“If I am going to be here for decades or centuries, I should know where I am going.”
He nodded slowly. “You should. And if it comes to full term, you can show our child around.”
“If?”
“I take nothing for granted. Loss is common among the people of Hebor. It is one in every five pregnancies.”
“Wow. That is horrible. For my species, it is higher, but the majority of those that end do so before the woman is even aware of it.” She sighed. “I am a little nervous about knowing so soon.”
“We will watch it, and if it leaves, we will mourn and try again next year.”
The acceptance in his tone made her tear up, so she blinked to clear her vision.
He kissed her softly, and he shared his plans for her future, including her greeting the incoming humans the following day. Once the new Terrans had gone through the bond auction, she would have a reason to visit all of their homes.
He chuckled. “We can bring some of your medics as well when we do visits. Your friend can come with us.”
“Reeda? Really?” She grinned.
“Yes, her effect on your mind was astonishing. She’s a walking mood enhancer.”
“That does describe it.” Nova lost the fight with her smirk. “I have known her for twenty years, and she has always been that way.”
“That is interesting. How did you meet?”
“She was the older sister of my best friend at the time. Lea passed away when she was twenty years old. Reeda took care of the funeral and dispersed her accounts and possessions. When that was done, she left. I only got the occasional email from her, but each one was like she was there in the room. She just has that way about her.”
“Her mind is interesting. It is like quicksilver. Nothing sticks.”
Nova nodded. “It is one of the reasons she had to travel when her sister died. She has what we would term to be a mental illness or an alternate means of thinking. I have no doubt that her way of thinking, unsubdued and uncontrolled, saved dozens of lives. There is no one who was better at seeing danger before it struck.” She smiled. “Despite appearances, she is very dangerous. I am pretty sure that she could chain dance with the best of them.”
“The guards will be upset if she is better than they are.”
“Will they be? No one around her ever gets mad at her.”
He chuckled. “They use the chain dances for courtship. If your friend is better at it than they are, she will be getting the attention from the females.”
“I am fairly sure she isn’t into females. She is... I haven’t seen her into anyone.” She shrugged.
“You trust her to help you with your pregnancy?”
Nova smiled. “I do.”
“Then, we can offer your friend a chance to learn the chain dance.” He chuckled.
“She will deal with whatever happens. I am sure.” Nova grinned. “There is nothing that she can’t do.”
He hugged her. “Now, can we celebrate the uniting of our cells?”
She kissed him slowly. “I believe we can, Overseer Heboren.”
She could feel his hand gather her skirt, and she grinned before kissing him again. Finally, something to celebrate.
Chapter Twelve
Lily had been a little nervous about going to Hebor with Nebel, but they had presents to deliver to Nova. She looked at Nebel and felt the rings in her face move. “This is going to be a bit of a shock for Nova.”
Nebel stood next to her and took her hand. The rings on her fingers were clicking as she gripped his fingers.
“Why do you think she will be shocked?”
“I am gold, Nebel. My fucking skin is gold.”
He chuckled, pulling her close as the ship descended. “It is an interesting side effect of your pregnancy. You look lovely in that colour. You match your wings and your jewellery.”
She snorted. “You made everything on me. And in me, come to think of it.”
He raised one of her hands to his lips. “You are very sweet, Lily. I like making pretty things for you.”
“Well, I do like the wings.” She flexed her shoulders.
“Good. We will be flying from the landing area to Heboren’s home.”
Lily looked down at her barely-there loin covering and her iridescent top hanging on by thin strands of chain. “Nova’s gonna be a little shocked.”
They shifted as the ship settled on the landing pad, and Nebel grinned. “The air here is a little thinner, so we have to work harder to stay aloft.”
“Okay. You are going to keep an eye on me anyway.”
Nebel bent and pressed his forehead to hers. “Of course, I will. Both of you.”
She closed her eyes for a moment and then breathed him in. “Thanks for that.”
He took her hand again and walked her into the sunlight of Hebor. A flock of drones came with them, and together, they launched into the sky.
Her wings beat heavily and quickly, clawing their way into the sky. Nebel remained next to her with his wings stroking calmly.
The drones were at a safe distance but analyzed her focus on keeping herself aloft. The pyramids reminded her of a vacation in Mexico, and she wondered if the structures were still there after all the humans were gone.
Nebel made a sharp whistle, and she banked. They had practiced it in wind pillars and on Bellen. She had been working with the wings for four out of the six months she had been there. Lily was pretty sure that she had gotten pregnant on the night she celebrated her first flight. Well, he had been celebrating her first flight. She had been gripping the headboard. All wings had been up and out.
She followed Nebel down to the ground a few yards from Heboren and Nova. Lily folded her wings back and walked to stand next to her Hmrain. He held out his hand, and she set her fingers in his palm.
They bowed, and Nebel grinned. Nova was standing next to another human who looked curious. Nova just looked shocked.
“Hiya, Nova. You have a bump.” Lily grinned.
“Yeah. Lily. Holy shit!” Nova blinked and then rushed over to deliver a hug.
Lily hugged her back, and she whispered into Nova’s ear, “I brought a set for you in black, but you have to get the filaments installed.”
Nova’s arms got tighter. “You are looking... healthy.”
Lily released the hug and laughed. “I look like a movie award.”
Nova’s companion laughed loud.
“Oh, Lily, this is Reeda. Reeda, this is Lily, consort of Nebel.” Nova smiled. “Reeda was an old friend, and now, she is going to be my midwife. Well, whenever this is done cooking. Heboren says it takes a bit longer.”
Lily nodded. “I got that briefing as well. Pleased to meet you, Reeda.” She shook the other woman’s hand, and astonishment filled the woman’s face.
“Oh, my god. You are human.”
Lily rocked a hand in the air. “It is fifty-fifty at this point. The wings are prosthetics. They can come off.”
“Cool. May I look?”
Lily grinned and turned as Reeda moved around her wings.
“They are wired into you.”
“They are. I had them inserted the same day I got my ears pierced.”
“Speaking of that is... intense.”
Lily laughed. “Where I am living, this is modest.” It was true. Men and women embedded tech all over their bodies, removed what fell out of fashion, and put more in and on. Everyone she knew socially had enough armament on them to take down a dozen tanks or a well-armed shuttle. Lily was wearing a lot of blast weapons, and her arms had been retrofitted for her first-month anniversary on Bellen.
She turned her back to Nebel, and he ran a hand over her lower back. She shivered. It was his favourite part of her. He called it the place between earth and sky. It was embarrassing but also really hot because he usually was growling it against her neck.
Nova was staring at the wings.
Heboren caught Lily’s gaze. “Lady Lily, we have refreshments for you and my sibling. There are also some exhibitions planned.”
She glanced at Nebel. “He just ate.”
Heboren laughed, and their party walked to the pavilion that had been set up for the afternoon.
Lily looked over and saw the drones delivering Nova’s toys. The small shuttle, open-platform runner, and something that looked like a motorized scooter with a small sled-style platform but would hover above the ground. There was also a box delivered to Lily. She extended her arms, took the large box, and looked at Nova. She stepped forward. “Lady Nova, I present a gift from Nebel’s design table to you. The filaments are included with instructions and a few extra in case they screw the first few up.”
Nova took the box and made Heboren hold it while she opened it. Black wings with gold highlights were nestled in the box. She was so excited that she was giggling uncontrollably. Heboren was smiling as well.
Heboren smiled at Lily. “Your doing?”
“She wants to fly. We were trapped. Everything died. Those we cared for died. Flying to safety or to look for survivors would have been handy.”
Nova looked at her and nodded. “Skin like yours would have been handy as well.”
“What? To reflect and act as a beacon?”
“No, to stop bastards from trying to take supplies from the vulnerable.”
“Oh, yeah. That. I am pretty resilient now.” Lily smiled.
Nebel’s hand was at the base of her spine again. “She is. She is very durable.”
Lily laughed. “Right. That is how women like to be described.”
He steered her to one of the Hmrain chairs, and he sat and pulled her carefully across his lap. “If I describe you as I would prefer, you blush and threaten to punch me.” He murmured it against her neck.
Lily sighed and leaned into the lips he was trailing over her skin. He tugged her hair back, and she moaned then muttered, “I thought we just did this in the ship.”
He laughed. “You look gorgeous in this light. You look gorgeous in all light.”
“That is because my skin is highly reflective and usually sweaty.”
He gnawed gently on her neck as Nova’s presents landed in the huge courtyard. Nova squealed and left her pretty wings to head out to check out the flying machines.
Reeda watched them with her head tilted as he caressed Lily into soft giggles. Lily grinned. “Are you getting used to Hmrain households?”
Reeda blinked. “You are going to talk to me while you two are doing that?”
Lily chuckled. “He is going to continue through fire and flood. They are very determined when they make themselves hungry.”
“Wait. Made himself hungry?” Reeda looked intrigued.
Nebel was grinning against Lily’s collarbone. He didn’t have to stop, so he didn’t care.
Lily chuckled. “He was worried about the flight from the shuttle to here because we are not at home and the air is thinner. So, when he worries, he likes to soothe himself, and that means me. He was inside me almost constantly when I was getting used to using my wings.”
Reeda opened and closed her mouth before following Nova.
Nebel chuckled and ran his hand over her belly. “It seems our tiny one has weathered the space travel well.”
“It has been between your spine and mine most of the trip. Pretty safe place to be.” She chuckled.
He laughed. “Yes, it is. Turn around, Lily. I have worked up an appetite.”
She smiled and moved to face him. He rearranged the folds of the knee-length wrap he was wearing, and her covering didn’t even need to be pushed aside. She was already slick enough to let him in, so she slid onto him and pressed her forehead to his chest. He thumbed her nipples and twisted the piercings. She gasped and slid onto him further.
He chuckled, she moaned, and they slowly started to move her over him, her wings and his flaring out for privacy.
* * * *
Nova looked over, blinked, and shook her head. “Wow. That is just... pretty.”
Heboren followed her gaze. “Yes, they are. Do you wish I was gold?”
She looked at him in astonishment and fed him how she felt with every image of his hands on her body that she remembered over the last six months. “I like you as you are.”
He grinned. “Good. I always thought Nebel was a little too flashy.”
“Oh, he definitely is. Shiny though. Lily seems to get along with him.”
“Enough about them. They are going to be busy for a while. Here. Step onto this personal transport and check the controls.”
Nova grinned and got onto her personal scooter which was part skateboard and part chariot. She went for a little jaunt, and Heboren followed closely. Over the afternoon, she tried all the other vehicles that he had ordered for her.
When she had set the small shuttle down, she smiled at her partner. “So, thanks for this. Being able to move around on my own is going to become more important as time passes here.” She slid a palm over the small bump that now had a strange black and gold etching around it.
“I can help you.” He put a hand over her belly, covering it from hip to hip.
She chuckled. “When I need help visiting the ladies, I will definitely ask for assistance. Their pregnancies are going a lot faster than mine.”
He snorted. “I would apologize, but watching your curve is delightful. I want it to continue as long as possible.”
Nova glared at him. “Remember that when all you get from my mind is fantasies about crushing your cock with a brick.”
He blinked slowly.
She pictured herself trying to get out of bed with swollen ankles. He countered with images of both of his hands fitting on her belly and the sensation of a back rub.
She grunted. “Fine, but the moment you slip up, I am getting a brick.”
He leaned in and wrinkled his nose. “I expect nothing less, but beware of unlocking a new type of play.”
Nova looked at him and then started laughing. He plucked her out of the scooter and carried her back to the pavilion where a tangle of gold wings had only drooped enough to show Lily slumped and relaxed on Nebel.
Heboren chuckled. “You are very lucky in your consort, brother. She emits quite the spectrum.”
“Yes, I am lucky. Would you like to know something amusing?”
“Certainly.”
Nova watched the Hmrain.
Nebel spoke with a huge grin. “Since she got pregnant, she gets hungry.”
Heboren paused and chuckled. “Nova has warned me that might happen later in the process. But not to this extent. Hungry, you say?”
Lily ducked her head.
Nebel chuckled. “It struck Lily when she passed her twelfth week. It has been a very entertaining gestation. She requires coupling. Frequently.”
Nova chuckled. “Before you get ideas, Heboren. All women are different. In my family, the women usually go bonkers later on. Well, that is if I follow the pattern.”
Heboren squeezed her gently. “I am content with what you offer me, Nova. I was just commenting on Lily’s frequency. She broadcasts when she is with Nebel.”
“Oh, is that a problem?”
He chuckled. “As they are not planning on having apprentices with them, it should be fine.”
“Why would that make a difference?”
She got a series of rapid impressions and a wave of lust from him. “Oh. Sexy catnip.”
He chuckled. “Seeing the reference. Yes.”
“I am rather hoping that I will keep self-control as I progress.”
“I am hoping you won’t.” He pressed his head to hers.
She smiled and kissed him. “Keep hoping.”
Lily and Nebel had uncoupled, and Lily’s golden skin looked rather flushed. “Sorry about that.”
Nova grinned. “I have done far worse in front of a lot more. One gets used to it.”
Reeda spoke from a few feet away. “Yeah. It is interesting and fairly predictable.”
Heboren snorted. “I will have to try and be less predictable.”
He settled on a chair, and Nova beckoned to the server, who was waiting for the signal. The Hmrain might not need to eat, but she and Lily did. Reeda, too.
* * * *
Lily watched the performers, ate more than she should have, and gasped as Reeda performed a chain dance. She had seen something similar at ren faires when she had been home, but the crackle of energy at the end of the chain that was swung around gracefully was a deadly threat. Reeda handled it with style, and her leather costume made her look as primitive as the Terrans were out here. The population of nobility from both races were astonished as Reeda had been told that only their kind could manage the dance, so when the consort’s companion had started dancing four months ago, they had met her efforts with sneers until she picked up speed and threw the chain before twisting it around her to the heavy beat of traditional music.
