Chapter Sixteen

Drin was assured that clothing would be there when she woke. When she woke, Vikor was kissing his way down her spine. She checked the time and leaned into his caresses.

“Morning, Vikor.”

He growled lightly. “Morning, Drin.”

He nipped the base of her spine and started working his way back up to the mark he had left behind. He wrapped his arms around her and pressed a hand flat on her belly before sliding it between her thighs.

She clutched at his arms and held tight as he brought her senses high and kept her there while he was inside her, moving slowly.

The moment that she came, he joined her with a heavy grunt. She felt the heat, and then, it disappeared.

She sighed. “It’s definitely going to have to be canister pregnancies. I don’t think that my body hangs onto the semen long enough for a pregnancy.”

He kissed her neck and turned her head to kiss her mouth. “However you want to do it, I am just glad that you are considering giving Vaken a cousin. However, I did not think it would be this soon.”

She sighed and leaned back against him. “I had a chat with Techor, and he reminded me that I was no longer short on funds and didn’t have to bust my butt for a living, so I could actually stop and think about what I wanted to do with the rest of my life.”

“Aside from us.”

She giggled softly. “Right, aside from you. The only one of the four that me being out here inconveniences is Klauz.”

“Not as much as you would think. He has a place a block over. Kritz has the lot next to his. You will be good for his work-life balance.”

“Uh, do Kritz and Arcady know?”

“I don’t know if he has shared the information.”

She slumped with relief. “That’s good then.”

He nibbled her neck. “That’s what you think. We are going there for lunch.”

There was a knock on the door, and Klauz came in with breakfast. He grinned. “I was alerted to your schedule today, so I brought breakfast now that we know you need to keep up a calorie count in addition to your other appetites being sated. So, a proper breakfast for you, and Vikor’s is downstairs in the kitchen.”

Vikor chuckled. “I will take the hint.” He kissed her softly and left the bed.

“You will be with her all day. Allow me a few minutes.” His golden eyes gleamed, and one went dark.

She grabbed the sheet to her chest. “Morning, Kritz.”

Klauz chuckled. “He greets you and passes on greetings from Arcady.”

“I thought you could just do visuals.”

“There is a rudimentary emotional exchange.”

He set the tray within easy reach. “Let’s see if we can’t get you fed and showered on time.”

While her mouth was busy, his mouth was busy, and he beat her to the finish, smiling into her eyes as he nipped at her neck with his human-shaped teeth. She gasped when there were pinpricks that hadn’t been there before.

He chuckled. “I didn’t get the canines with my activation like my twin did. Apparently, you have inspired me into a minor evolution.”

He was still slowly spreading heat inside her.

“How long do you do that?” She undulated against him and breathed deeply as she felt the pulse again.

The moan was spontaneous, and she clutched at his back. His com chimed, and he said, “Time to get you showered and dressed. You will have to bring your nephew to the restaurant when you have him during a lunchtime.”

She touched her forehead to his. “I may be taking a leave to figure out how to make all of this fit. I can do most of my work in half the time if I don’t have to stop to eat, so I can keep the textiles research department going until they find my replacement.”

He slid out of her and carried her to the bathroom. “Can you order my supplies for me, too?”

She shrugged. “Sure. I just need to get really invasive with your files for a while, maybe go to a few pre-dawn markets. Lots of taste-testing.”

He chuckled. “I would enjoy that. More time with you and maybe some better relations with vendors.”

“Even if it is super early in the morning?” She yawned as he got the shower going.

He chuckled. “We can gather some samples and take them back to my place for that taste-testing you were interested in.”

“Wait. They do samples?”

“Not for the public, but for customers, they definitely do.” Klauz chuckled and bathed her. His fingers massaging her scalp made her groan, and he laughed. “Your hair is really thick.”

“Good thing since some of you like getting a handful.”

He wound her hair in his fist and tugged her head backward. “Like this?”

She rolled her eyes and panted. “Don’t tease.”

He chuckled and released her hair. “I won’t... anymore.” Then he snickered. “Today.”

She rinsed, towelled off, and headed out of the bathroom to see a soft silk sundress with a flippy skirt and a light jacket. The underwear was laid out on the bed. It matched the dress.

Pumps were sitting next to the edge of the bed. Drin snorted and got dressed, flipping her hair into a thick braid that hung over her shoulder.

The entire outfit was a royal blue.

Klauz laughed. “Blue again?”

“Ekron likes blue, so this is what I get when he takes me shopping.”

“Looks like I am going to need to schedule a day off for shopping. I like red, and several designers come through the restaurant. I think I can get one or two to let us into their salons off hours.”

He smiled. “But you do look lovely. All bright and sprightly.”

“Is that an elf joke?”

He pressed his lips to hers. “Maybe. Now head on downstairs. You are going to be late, and you haven’t had coffee.”

She nodded. “Right. Dealing with a six-year-old... coffee is essential.”

She kissed him softly and stroked his cheek. “See you later.”

“Oh, I am following you down.”

“Without pants?”

He pulled on a set of loose trousers and came downstairs with her.

Vikor and Ekron were wearing tight t-shirts and well-worn jeans. She stared. “You are both going somewhere?”

Ekron chuckled. “Varun and I get along, as do I with Niseth. I also look forward to meeting the other man in your life.”

“Fine, but Shisha is going to shit herself.”

Ekron hugged her. “I have the strangest effect on women.”

She laughed and turned her head to Vikor. “How hard is it to get a t-shirt over your head?”

He shrugs. “It just takes practice. Here’s your coffee. Let’s get going. I don’t want to be late for a playdate with my nephew.”

She took the travel mug and sipped, smiling. “Thank you, Techor.”

He was sitting at the kitchen island, and he grinned. “You are welcome, precious.”

She kissed Techor and Klauz goodbye and promised to see them later, and she was swept into the car and off to the playpark.

Shisha’s vehicle was waiting in the parking lot, and Drin headed for it the moment that Ekron’s car stopped. Vaken jumped out of the car, looked both ways, and then ran for her. She picked him up and spun him around. “Hey, little buddy. How was school?”

“Boring. Tyler wanted to know where you were this week. His daddy was asking.”

“Ah. Tyler’s daddy is handsy. You remember what handsy is?”

“Touches without permission. You don’t like that.” Vaken nodded. His eyes went wide. “Who is with Mr. Vikor?”

“Uncle Vikor. That is well, Uncle Ekron, I guess.” She looked at Ekron. “How would you like Vaken to address you?”

He smiled. “Uncle Ekron is fine. I am pleased to meet you, Vaken. Your aunt talks about you a lot.”

Shisha stepped out of her car, talking on her com. She saw Ekron, and she grinned. “Wow. Couldn’t happen to a more deserving woman. I am her sister, Shisha. Hey, Vikor.”

Vikor nodded. “You have an enormous son, Shisha. You have done a great job with him.”

Vaken looked at Vikor and frowned, sticking his arms out. “Can I hug you?”

Vikor blinked but took his nephew in his arms and ruffled his hair.

“You look scary, but you feel right.”

“Right?”

“Like you are supposed to be with Auntie Drin.”

“What about Ekron?” Vikor was grinning.

“I haven’t checked him yet, but she keeps looking at you, so I thought you were more important.” He nodded in Vikor’s massive arms. “You feel important, and she has a soft look on her face now that she saves for when I hold a kitten.”

Drin felt her face flare, and Ekron hugged her while laughing. “We’ve all seen that face when you look at him, pet.”

Shisha smiled. “Or when you used to talk about him.”

Vikor walked them to the entrance of the playpark as his father and mother pulled up. Drin watched as Techor pulled in behind them.

She felt Ekron’s finger on her chin, closing her mouth with a snap. “He’s the court-appointed chaperone that you asked for. Varun isn’t going to get an easy out after what he put your friend through.”

Shisha looked at Techor and then the rising blush on Drin’s face. “Him, too? Damn, girl. You let it out all at once.”

Techor walked over to them with a lazy swagger. He kissed Drin and chuckled. “You are right. You saw me again today.”

She stammered. “Judge Techor, this is my friend and Vaken’s mother. Shisha. Shisha, this is Techor.”

Her chuckling friend shook Techor’s hand, and Vikor held up the child. “Vaken, this is another one of your auntie’s new friends. This is Techor. Tech, do you want to be an uncle or a judge?”

“Uncle Techor is good with me.”

Vaken laughed. “I get three uncles in one day. Tyler’s dad is going to be mad.”

Vaken shook Techor’s hand. Techor asked, “Why will he be mad?”

“He was trying to trick Auntie Drin’s other face into going out with him. She didn’t, though.”

Shisha grinned. “Well, there is a parent-teacher conference next week. Did you want to bring one or two of Vaken’s uncles to scare the shit out of him?”

“Mommy!” Vaken’s admonishment was unmistakable.

Shisha chuckled. “Fine, scare the crud out of him?”

“Better.” Drin smiled.

Varun and Niseth were approaching them slowly.

Vaken whispered. “Are they my grandma and grandpa?”

Drin nodded. “They are. They are your papa’s mom and dad. Did you want to meet them?”

He nodded violently.

Drin looked to Shisha, but her eyes teared. “I can’t. Drin, can you?”

Drin nodded and jerked her head toward Vikor. “You can put him down. His legs work really well. He’s super-fast. Right, buddy?”

Vikor put him down, and he took Drin’s hand. They walked toward Varun and Niseth as fast as Vaken’s legs could carry him. He charged up to them and smiled. “Hi!”

Drin smiled. “Varun, Niseth, this is Vaken. Vaken, these are your grandparents.”

She let go of his hand, and he stuck it out confidently. “Hello, Grandma.”

Niseth smiled weakly. “Hello, Vaken. You look just like your daddy did.”

“Yes.” He smiled brightly. “Auntie Drin showed me pictures of him. Hello, Grandpa.”

The handshake was slower, and Varun stared at him. “You know about us?”

“Yes. Auntie Drin said that maybe one day you would dislodge your head and you would want to meet me. Where was it stuck?”

Drin pressed her lips together and looked skyward.

Niseth gave her a scowl, but there was a smile behind it. “It was stuck in grief, Vaken, but we are out of it now and looking forward to learning all about you.”

“Auntie Drin knows everything. Even stuff my mom doesn’t know. Like, when my mom has a birthday, Auntie Drin reminds me, and my mom is always surprised.” He scrunched his shoulders and giggled, pressing against Drin’s hip.

Varun looked from Vaken to Drin. “You took care of them.”

“Of course. They were going to be Vaka’s family. Him being gone didn’t change their lives moving forward. Despite Shisha crossing her legs, this little guy made his way into the world on a stormy night and has been the centre of the universe ever since.” She stroked Vaken’s hair. “Just like his dad was.”

Niseth swallowed. “You really are Drin. You look so different.”

“Ah, yes. This was the side I wouldn’t let Vaka have. I loved him, but he wasn’t supposed to be mine, so I hid this part of me from him so long it was second nature.”

Niseth murmured, “He loved you.”

“And I loved him, but I wasn’t going to have little Vakens with him. That was why it was so painful to see Shisha mourning the man she loved.”

Vaken curled against her, and he patted her hip. “It’s okay, Auntie Drin. You have the uncles now. They make you happy, so you can stay sparkly-pretty instead of tired-pretty.”

Varun looked surprised. “The uncles?”

“Um, yes. Vikor assembled a family for me to help me deal with my hunger issue.”

Niseth snorted. “My son would never do that sort of thing.”

Drin felt her appearance fading. She stroked Vaken’s hair, but Techor, Vikor, and Ekron walked up behind her.

Vaken made the introductions. “These are my uncles.”

Varun stared at Techor, and Niseth stared at Vikor as he wrapped an arm around Drin’s waist and pressed a kiss to her neck.

Vikor smiled. “Hello again, Dad. Hi, Mom. I did, indeed, create a consortium to take care of Drin. It was about time someone took care of her.”

Niseth stared. “But, she’s your brother’s best friend.”

Drin looked at her. “It has been Vikor for me since I activated. Keeping that from Vaka was difficult. It was a lot easier to just pretend that I didn’t feel anything for anyone. That kept Vaka calm. When he left us and I was legally cut off from Vikor, it hurt. A lot. But, he had never reciprocated as far as I knew, so I just focused on Vaken.” She ruffled her nephew’s hair. Varun was staring at her and Vikor.

Vikor chuckled. “And then one day she showed up at my club, and I wasn’t going to resist any longer. Ekron had just vented his own desire for her a little, and she hadn’t reacted favourably. So, I went to rescue a familiar damsel in distress and found the woman I had been waiting for. She didn’t seek me out. She was doing the singing challenge for her sister-in-law.”

Vaken looked up. “Did she win?”

“She won the singing and lost the sportsmanship. She put her knee in a sensitive spot on your uncle Ekron, and he fell down.”

Ekron smiled. “But she apologized very nicely, and we danced together to show that there were no hard feelings.”

Vaken nodded. “Apologizing is important when you do something that hurts someone else.”

Varun looked at him. “You are absolutely right.”

Niseth nodded. “I think so, too. Excuse us, Vaken. We are going to need a moment with your mom.”

The grandparents walked toward Shisha, and Ekron lifted Vaken into his arms before Ekron kissed Drin. Vaken muttered, “Eww.”

Ekron kissed her again, and Drin heard the curious voice. “Auntie Drin, can you breathe?”

She gave him a thumbs-up, and he giggled. The kiss went on and on, and at some point, Vikor took Vaken, and there were other voices. Ekron’s kiss was a warm golden glow around her, and when he lifted his head, she was limp but knew she was back to being all sparkly again.

Techor smoothed a hand down her back, and they all headed inside the playpark. Vikor and Techor had to show their identification, but Ekron slid his arm around her and said that they were planning to visit a lot over the next few months. Drin’s eyes went huge as he intimated that they were pregnant.

Vikor was snorting as the dazed woman led Ekron and Drin to a lovely table in the parents’ watching area, where Shisha and the grandparents were sitting at another table. Red eyes were seen all around.

Drin looked at the play area, and Vaken was playing with other kids already, and everyone was laughing. Suddenly, he turned and smiled. “Auntie Drin!”

He waved his small arms and smiled. Then, he turned to his new friends and explained who she was. They all waved at her, yelling, “Hello, Auntie!”

She grinned and walked down to the play area, crouching to introduce herself.

She shook small hands, kissed Vaken on the forehead, and then returned to the guys.

Techor took her hand. “You are very good with kids.”

“It is just patience and practice. Vaken makes it easy. He’s a really good kid.” She took a sip of water.

“So, any idea when you will be ready to start a family?” Techor sat back and grinned as a cup of coffee was delivered.

Drin coughed. “What?”

Ekron grinned. “Yeah, when are you going to want to have kids?”

She crossed her arms. “When you grow up.”

Techor laughed, and Vikor scooped her up and sat her on his lap. “You can decide this in your own time.” He nuzzled her neck.

Drin caught Niseth’s look, and there was a smile and hope in her eyes. It had never occurred to her that the family had been worried about Vikor.

Niseth smiled. “You make a cute couple. Were you seeing someone before you and Vikor connected?”

Drin bit her lip. “Yes and no. It’s complicated, but I wasn’t in a romantic relationship with anyone before he snagged me in his club.”

Niseth asked, “How is your family, dear?”

“Just me and my brother. My parents passed three years ago.”

Niseth had a stricken expression. “Oh. Did you have someone?”

Drin looked at her soberly. “Do you want that answer?”

“Oh. Sweetie, I am so sorry.”

Drin shrugged. “They had affection for me in their own way, but my brother got the house and all assets, so I came out of it with no physical baggage.”

There were a thousand other questions in Niseth’s eyes, but Drin smiled. “I can also answer a lot of questions about Vaken if Varun and Shisha are busy talking about schools and colleges. He might even qualify to join the Aksalla agents.”

Niseth swallowed. “I don’t know if I want him on a team.”

“It will be up to him, but he’s going to be activating early and will have years to get control of himself before he makes up his mind.” She sighed. “I wish he could stay small and cute. Boys are so much more manageable at that size.”

Niseth laughed. “Vaka was only two years older than Vaken is now when he met you.”

“Yeah. The music lessons were fun, but we liked doing math when no one was looking.” She chuckled. “That and racing.”

Vikor whispered in her ear, “I have not seen her this calm in years when talking about him.”

She smiled slightly. “Is there anything you would like to know about your grandson?”

Niseth’s eyes lit up, and the questions started. Vaken was different from Vaka. He liked different colours, played the drums, and only had three vegetables that he didn’t like, but he would still eat.

By the end of the conversation, they were standing together and watching over the play structure, slides, and swings.

“He’s good with the other kids.”

Drin nodded. “He is. He’s a natural-born caretaker and leader. Pretty impressive for a guy that needs help some days tying his shoes.”

Niseth chuckled. “He’s so different. He’s more like Vikor was.”

“That will probably be a good thing in the long run. Vaka was a people-pleaser. He needed to do everything that people expected of him, and I tried to help him when he asked for it. It wasn’t enough.” Tears ran down her cheeks.

Niseth looked at her and made a low sound. The hug was unexpected, and they stood there holding each other for minutes before their grief had met and matched. Shisha joined them, and Drin pulled her in. In this moment, she stood between Shisha and Vaka’s family. She was not fond of being the bridge, but if it would smooth the transition, she would do it.

When Vikor pulled her out of the hug, Shisha and Niseth clung together. She wrapped her arms around him and burrowed her face into his chest. He pulled her against him and soothed her. She took in his scent and let it calm her down and comfort her.

A small body hit her in the butt. She was startled into laughing. “Hey, little buddy.”

She turned, and it wasn’t Vaken. One of the other children was wrapped around her. “Oh, hey. Miihan, right?”

The little girl nodded. “You had a sad. I am hugging the sad away. My mom says I am a good hugger.”

“You are an excellent hugger, Miihan. Is your mommy around?”

Miihan pointed, and a woman was at the end of her direction, with a hand covering her mouth. The woman mouthed, sorry.

Miihan looked at her and said, “You still have a sad, but it is smaller when he is hugging you.”

Vikor asked, “Then, I should keep doing that?”

The little girl grinned. “Yes. The sad is deep. It is going to need lots of hugs to stop hurting.” The little girl with huge purple eyes and thick black curls smiled.

The mom walked over. “Sorry about that. She’s from a family of early activators. The empathy came in first.”

Techor smiled, and the little girl’s eyes lit up. “I can hear him!”

Ekron smiled. “Sorry about that. He’s a telepath that wakes up when he sees another psychic. We have tried to housetrain him, but it doesn’t work.”

Miihan giggled and walked over, sticking out her hand. “Pleased to meet you, Judge Techor, and I am hoping that she does. Vaken wants cousins.”

The little girl laughed brightly and ran back to play with the other kids.

Miihan talked to Vaken for a moment, his face fell, and then he perked up, and they ran off to play on the swings.

Vikor hugged Drin, and she looked up at him. “You have a deep sad?”

“Yeah.”

“Me, too.”

They stood there, and she felt something that had been aching in her soul loosen up. Vaka had been a good friend, and he had been part of her life for over sixteen years. She missed him.

Vikor murmured, “I miss him, too.”

She started bawling, and he held her until she sniffled to slow sobs, and then, he brought her over to Ekron.

She heard Shisha talking. “She held me for days after it happened. I think this is the first time she’s been able to grieve.”

Ekron’s arms got tighter, and she put her head on his chest and hugged him. The active hugging was nice.

She dozed off at one point, and hunger woke her up with a jolt. She smelled hot dogs.

Ekron laughed. “Someone’s hungry.”

There was a dark undertone to his words, and she looked up at him. “How long was I asleep?”

“Two hours. Techor had you for a while, and Vikor went to play with Vaken and ended up being a climbing frame for the little kids. He makes a good uncle.”

She jolted. “Two hours?”

“Yeah, Techor gave you an assist. Your brain is processing a lot of grief, and seeing Varun and Niseth ripped it wide open.” He caressed her head.

She felt the scratchy itch on her face that said she had continued to cry while sleeping.

Shisha was sitting nearby, and Niseth and Varun were gone. Shisha grinned at her. “Three of them?”

Drin was still dozy. Ekron chipped in. “Four. You know Klauz’s in the Kruak building?”

Shisha blinked. “He works there?”

Ekron smiled. “He’s Klauz.”

Shisha looked at Drin. “Can we go for lunch or dinner or water?”

“Not today.”

Ekron whispered, “Why not?”

Drin couldn’t come up with a good answer.

Techor had been speaking with Shisha, and he sent a message.

Ekron did the same, and Techor got the answer first. “Lunch for five adults and one child is definitely doable at his table. Anytime in the next hour, and we can spend as long as we want.”

Shisha’s eyes lit up. She was going to stand up, but Drin squirmed out of her comfy seat. She said, “I will get them.”

She kissed Ekron’s cheek and headed toward the play area. She walked up behind Vikor and wrapped her arms around him. “We are taking a break for lunch.”

Vaken ran to her. “Really?”

She ruffled his hair. “Really. Have you had fun playing with your uncle?”

“He’s just as big as in the pictures.”

“Sweetie, you have no idea.” She held him where he clung to her hip.

Vikor turned and gave her a hot look. “Would you care to repeat that?”

She grinned. “No.”

“Auntie Drin, your teeth are getting pointy.”

She slapped a hand over her mouth. “Probably because I am hungry. Come on, buddy, we are going to eat, and the chef is another uncle. The last one, I promise.”

He laughed. “It’s okay, Auntie. It’s better that you have people around. You have been alone for as long as I can remember.”

She huffed and rolled her eyes. “Come on. Say goodbye to your new friends for today, and we will try to start getting out here every Saturday.”

His eyes glowed happily. “Okay.”

He darted off and said goodbye while Vikor put his arm around Drin. “So, you are going to haul us here every weekend?”

“Buddy and I can come on our own.”

Vikor snorted. “You still aren’t getting this. That’s okay. You will. We have time. We will make sure that you understand that you are precious and protected.”

She watched him pick up Vaken and head up the steps to the others. “I think I am beginning to get it. I might need reminding.”

He laughed, and she followed them. They were in the parking lot when the first shot rang out. She felt the burn on her arm, and the second caught her in the shoulder. The third was fired, and Ekron was between her and the attack. She watched him flinch, and then there was a roar from Vikor. Techor was standing straight and scowling.

She looked down at the blood streaking her torso. She murmured, “I am going to need to change clothes.” She leaned her forehead against Ekron’s chest and stroked his jaw. “Thanks for that.”

He nodded and held her against him. The wail of peacekeeper vehicles was approaching rapidly, and they were going to be late for lunch.