Chapter Eleven

Chapter Eleven

Viktal ~ Sister Solidarity

When she orgasmed, holding on to Viktal's mating nubs, all Kaitlyn's secrets flooded his conscience.

Never mind that she found out he had called Makayla. The important thing was—now he knew her secret.

It didn't take him long to react, "Ye gods, Kait. How many beasts are coming?" he demanded.

She mumbled, "Six horses. But only two will be here. Makayla will take Scout to her place, along with one of the mares. She'll bring them to us when she has to go off-planet. Lauren will take Lightning to the castle and one of the mares. And Hercules will be here with the third mare. We all ride stallions, so three of the ranch mares were chosen for breeding, to send with the horses we each raised from a colt."

He grunted and didn't comment.

Kaitlyn winced. "That means we'll need a stable. The horses are put away at night and they each need a private stall. Plus, room for the others when they visit. We need space for feed and tack, and an enclosed pen where they can graze and get exercise." She took a breath and continued. "Then there are the cows. I think Kayla said she requested enough to start a breeding herd. Which typically means one bull to twenty-five cows. But I bet she planned to bring in a few extra to use for meat for the first two years. So maybe four more. I don't know how many chickens. Again, I think we'll eventually split those between the three households because everyone will want fresh eggs. But we'll need one of the small buildings surrounded by a pen. The building will need nesting boxes. I think Makayla said that the Guardians were sending supplies to use." She stopped. Frowned. "I know that isn't all. But I can't remember the rest."

He could see she was worried. This had been bothering her. He didn't think it was worth crying over, but it was obviously something she wanted.

Viktal thought about it. What she asked for wasn't hard. There weren't so many of the beasts to care for. Six of what she called horses and there would only be two of them at the village full-time. Possibly thirty of what she called cattle. Kait told him many weeks ago that the cattle she raised on her ranch were similar to the Yesla, only smaller. Again, they should be easy to care for. Then there were a few silly birds. Chickens. They could make room for them.

But he frowned at her, intending to bargain with his mate. He would have done this for her without the exchange, but he needed her to agree to his conditions. "I'll see the enclosures get built along with areas readied to hold supplies and all the animals. But you will do something for me."

Kaitlyn huffed. "Fine. What do you want?"

"When your sister gets here with the spaceship, you will go to the med bay and willingly take all the tests she deems necessary." Viktal didn't hesitate to turn over responsibility for this to Makayla. She would be just as careful with Kaitlyn's well-being as he was. And she would have a better understanding of what was needed.

Kaitlyn blew out an exaggerated breath. "Fine. You build the pens and whatever Makayla thinks we need for the animals—I'll take the tests."

Viktal realized that his mate believed she had the better part of the deal. To make sure she was healthy, he'd have built her much more than the stock pens she needed.

But he was uneasy. He didn't feel that worrying about her Earth animals and where they would live was enough reason for all those tears. This issue may have been bothering her, but it wasn't the only problem.

He helped his mate out of the bathing pool and started drying her. He had just wrapped her in a large cloth when Falcon and Makayla flew overhead. He knew they would land in the space created near Viktal's tent.

"I don't know why you called Makayla. It's a little like getting in trouble at school and being taken to the principal, then having to call your mother," she complained.

They were walking up the little hill to their tent and then past to the ship.

Viktal frowned down at her. "I have no idea what you just said, and it doesn't make sense. I don't know what a principal is, but you aren't in trouble. And Makayla is your sister."

Kaitlyn sighed. "We both know she's more mother than sister. I thought you'd be mad that all these Earth animals are coming to your planet," she mumbled.

He shrugged. "I didn't worry about that. The Guardians are pretty strict when it comes to combining species. If Falcon approved their shipment, it's fine."

They reached the ship, and the door opened to show Makayla waiting on the threshold.

His mate immediately started running, her arms outstretched to her sister, and she fell into her embrace. He could hear her sobs.

Makayla caught Kait to her and glared at Viktal over the top of Kait's dark head. She whispered something to Falcon and disappeared with his mate into the bowels of the ship.

He sighed and shook his head at the Guardian. "Makayla is mad at me."

Falcon laughed. "Have you done something that will make her mad? Hit Kaitlyn maybe? Or locked her in your tent?" He paused and frowned. "I think if you locked one of these women in your tent, they'd find something sharp and cut their way out. So that isn't a good idea."

Viktal couldn't help it. He laughed at the image. Falcon was right. His tent would be reduced to strips of fabric if he tried anything like that. Then he sobered. "No. I haven't hurt her in any way. But I don't know what is wrong."

Falcon shook his head. Tonight, the man's hair was brown with red highlights. His eyes were green. Viktal knew that this was the form he used when he met Makayla. So, it was one he preferred. But the Guardian could change his appearance at will.

Falcon sighed. "You aren't the only one who is concerned. Makayla has been tired and… demanding . Insatiable. She wears me out. Also, very much out of character, she wants to stay home and work on the property where we've settled the ship, instead of going out to explore with me. I don't understand it."

Viktal turned and looked at the ship. "Let's go back to the tent. I have food and some of Makayla's vodka."

Falcon nodded. "Good idea. We aren't going to solve the problem of our women tonight and I could use both food and drink. While we wait for them to sort things out, I have some questions for you about the tunnels."

So, they talked about Falcon's plan to map the tunnel system he'd discovered near his home. It didn't seem to be in use, but was in good repair. "There are two main branches. One appears to come in this direction, the other heads toward the dragon castle and Lauren. I'd like to figure out where they go. It would be nice to have options for travel between the three locations no matter what the weather is like, or if there is any danger. I plan to take one of the jet bikes back to the entrance tomorrow and see where the one leading in this direction… ends."

Viktal grinned. "Got two of them? I'll go with you in the morning if you'll help me build the horse and cattle pens in the afternoon."

"Deal," Falcon quickly agreed.

Kaitlyn

Makayla took her into the spaceship, and they sat on the couch in the little kitchen area. For a long moment, her sister simply held her. Let her cry.

Finally, Kait stopped. She mumbled, "I'm so tired of crying."

Kayla stretched back so Kait could put her head in her lap. Then she smoothed Kait's hair out of her eyes and rubbed her temples. It felt so good she relaxed into the light massage.

"Then what is going on? Why are you crying?"

Kait sighed, "I don't know."

There was silence for a few moments. Then Makayla asked, "Did Viktal hurt you?"

"What? No." She bounced up and made direct eye contact so her overprotective sister could see Kait was serious. "He is the sweetest, most loving man. I've been so tied up inside because I didn't tell him about the horses coming and all the cattle, pigs… ah god. I forgot to tell him about the pigs. I keep crying because I've been too tired to get a place ready for them."

"What? That's why you're crying?" Kayla's voice rose. "It's okay hun. I'll keep them. Or maybe we can make room for them at the castle. We'll work it out. You shouldn't worry about that."

Kait shook her head. "No. No, you don't understand. I told Viktal about the animals tonight. He's fine with it. In fact, he said something about the Guardian knowing what animals and vegetation could coexist on this planet, and if Falcon was okay with them coming, then there was no issue. Tomorrow he'll work on the pens and buildings we need."

Again, there was silence for a moment before Makayla pointed out, "Yet you are still crying."

"I know. And just when I think everything is okay… I do it again. I don't know why I'm crying."

Makayla puffed out air. "Damn. I have always hated doctors and I know I passed along the same attitude to you and Lauren. I would take either of you into the clinic when you needed stitches or had a broken bone, but I hated it and we never went in for checkups. If we got the flu, we treated it with chicken soup and NyQuil."

Her sister brooded for a moment and then met Kait's gaze. "I have always hated doctors. Then, when the Siloth abducted you and Lauren, I fought the red bastards. Killed one, hurt others. And ended up breaking my leg. Badly. It wasn't going to heal correctly. It needed surgery that I refused because I couldn't stay in the hospital and continue to search for you."

Kaitlyn leaned over the couch and examined her sister's legs. "Which one was it? I don't see anything wrong with either of them."

"It was on my right, and there isn't anything wrong with it now. When I met Falcon, he took me to his ship, and we went into space to find you. Becoming the Keeper to his Guardian changed my body and healed all of my injuries."

"That's right. I remember you told us that the transformation healed anything wrong with you. I didn't know your leg had been broken. But you also said that the process not only turned you silver, but you would live longer."

Her sister nodded. "Yes. That is true." Kayla sighed. "Something else that is true, and I hate to admit, I'm tired. When I'm not tired, I'm restless. I keep refusing to go into the desert with Falcon, because something inside is forcing me to stay behind. All I can focus on is fixing up the deck or the ship. I've even been doing what you'd call decorating." She laughed.

Kaitlyn sat up. "What's wrong? That isn't like you." She reached out and put her hand on Kayla's forehead. "You don't have a fever. Are you sick? What is it?"

"I don't know. Something is happening, and I would rather not worry about it. If we had a doctor, I wouldn't go to him." Makayla hissed. "But something is wrong with you, too. I might not go to the doctor for myself, but I would for you."

Kaitlyn rolled her eyes. "It's a moot point. There is no doctor." She crossed her arms over her chest and narrowed her eyes. Speculating. "And if there was, I wouldn't go unless you did too."

Makayla didn't laugh, she just sighed again. "No. We don't have a doctor… However, if I thought you needed one, I'd figure that shit out. But we have a ship with a medical unit." She stood up and held out her hand.

Kaitlyn looked at her and didn't move. "The last time I was in one of those was on the Siloth ship."

Makayla wiggled her fingers. "I know. But this time I will be right there with you. In fact, I'll go first."

She put her hand into her sister's and agreed. "Deal," Kaitlyn said. She already promised Viktal she would. But this way, she made sure Makayla got checked.