Unexpected Hero, page 12
He chuckled and walked with her to the drying air column and stood there until she was warm and pink.
She sighed and put her hand over the marking on her belly. It was still there and grew a tiny bit each day. By the end of the term, she would be covered if it kept going.
“It seems it’s okay.”
“We will have a physician check on you... tomorrow. I had no idea that you could pull your own energy back and use it like that.” He walked to their bed and sat with her.
“Is that what that was? It felt very familiar. That was probably why.”
He chuckled and said, “I wasn’t mad at you. I was very, very worried. I just wanted to get you out of there as fast as I could.”
“It’s cold for me when you fly at that speed.” She blinked.
“I know. I tried to keep you surrounded and protected, but I failed.” He pressed his forehead to hers.
“Warm me up?” She looked at him hopefully. To her, this was the test for whether or not he was still considering her a lover after she held back thousands of pounds of metal.
“Do you feel up to it?” He frowned with concern.
She blinked and looked away. “If you don’t want to... that’s fine.”
He stroked her head and cheek. “I definitely want you, but if you are upset, I don’t want to take advantage of that.”
Misty looked at him and said, “I just need to feel normal again. Just for a while, then I won’t bother you.”
“What do you mean by that?”
She swallowed at his sudden frown. “I know that someone who could do what I did today wasn’t what you contracted to. It isn’t a breach, but it is grounds to negate the contract on your end.”
“You think that I will reject you because you showed strength in defense of the innocent?”
Her tears started up again. When are they going to run out? “Yeah. I’m a freak.”
He set her down, and her heart broke. “Get dressed and come downstairs.”
Her throat swelled, and she nodded, walking to the wardrobe and picking something that covered everything. She put some utilitarian slippers on and headed downstairs.
Misty looked in at Kekkari. “Do you know where I am supposed to go?”
He looked at her, and his expression was stricken. “He’s in the entertainment room. You don’t look well.”
“It’s fine.” She turned and walked down the hall toward the entertainment room and remembered spotting the doorway before darkness took her over.
* * * *
Abigail heard the panic in Kekkari’s tone as he screamed, “Mekked!”
She ran inside and saw Mekked kneeling next to Misty, his skin pale. He gathered her up, and then, he blurred, and they disappeared.
Kekkari looked at her. “She collapsed. She was so quiet, so calm, and then she went down.”
Soith asked, “What happened? She developed a power; that’s wonderful.”
Kekkari sighed. “She doesn’t think so. Mekked left the security cams on. She thinks she’s not right anymore. She’s not the same person he contracted to, so he has the right to cancel, according to her.”
Abigail blinked. “Oh, shit. I think I know what has happened.”
Aldrun grunted, “What?”
“She was treated like shit by her family because she was different. They were generations with the same hearing loss, and because she had hearing, it made her stand out, and standing out was a bad thing. She had no right to be special.”
Soith blinked. “Shit. Does Mekked know?”
Abigail shrugged. “I doubt it. She told me as we limped to the shuttle when she had to explain how she ended up with those guys. Her mom sold her one last time for some food.”
Soith touched his com. “Did you hear that?”
Mekked’s voice came out of the wristband. “Yes. She’s with the doctors. They are running scans.”
Abigail asked, “Can you guys take me to her?”
Aldrun nodded. “Let’s go.”
They all got into a transport, including Kekkari. The trip was short, and they invaded the hospital, looking for Misty and Mekked.
They found them, and he had a sad expression on his features. Abigail thought the worst.
“Is she...”
He looked at her. “Her mind has retreated deep and doesn’t want to surface. They are contacting a specialist.”
Abigail sighed and walked over to him, beckoning him down so she could whisper in his ear.
He blinked. “That’s it?”
“Just those two things.”
He leaned in and kept hold of her hand as he whispered in her ear.
Nothing happened for a minute. He kissed her softly and then more aggressively as she slept. Her hand came up and tangled in his hair as she met him kiss for kiss.
Mekked shuddered in relief as he kissed her again and again.
Misty blinked. “You still want me?”
“I want you; I need you. Stay with me.” His voice was thick.
Abigail smiled and shooed the other three out.
Kekkari frowned. “What did you tell him?”
“He just had to tell her that he needed her, wanted her, and their baby needed her. That was it. She always does what is needed.”
Kekkari blinked. “Ah. I see. So, with the events this morning...”
“She thought she was different and would be rejected... again. I am guessing that he backed off from his normal behaviours and didn’t have sex with her when they got home. She changed, and he was acting different... so she was upset that the life she had been hoping for was shattered. It was one rejection too many.” Abigail wrapped her arms around herself.
Aldrun frowned. “How can this be fixed?”
“It can’t be fixed, but she needs to find her worth. She needs to be able to stand on her own feet. Personal pride and self-confidence are what she needs.” Abigail looked at the door. “And she has to be allowed to address her own needs.”
Soith said, “What do you think would help?”
“A modified version of peacekeeper training. I know she can do it, but she doesn’t. Singing with me at a concert.”
Aldrun blinked. “She can sing?”
“Better than I can. She gave me the idea to travel, singing Terran songs and using the memory projector.” She smiled. “So that is what I did.”
Soith smiled. “And it brought you here.”
“It did. At the end of the world, I had made a friend, and I did not want to lose her.” Abigail sighed. “And I nearly just did.”
Aldrun and Soith moved to sandwich her in a hug, and it felt nice.
* * * *
Misty sat wrapped in Mekked’s arms, and he pressed soft kisses to her cheeks and temples. He whispered, “I am sorry. I missed what you were saying.”
She swallowed. “I am not good at insisting. It scares me.”
“Why?”
“It has rarely been well received,” she murmured.
“I want you to insist. I need you to insist. You aren’t just my consort. You are Mistress of Vecchin.”
“Your dad?”
“Hah. Funny. The planet. The world beneath our feet belongs to you.”
“No.”
He chuckled. “Yes. Our child will grow up here and be educated to travel the stars or settled with a cousin, like Hazda, as a mentor.”
“It’s okay?” She had been feeling panic and dread all day. It was the reason they had a contract at all.
“It’s fine. The tiny speck of our cells is still producing and growing at a steady pace.” He kissed her lips. “You were really worried.”
“Still am. Don’t want to do anything wrong.”
He sighed and cuddled her tight. “You can’t do anything wrong. It is yours as well. You are the mother, and you will be bright and strong for the child’s sake and your own. Your assignment is to find a career or hobby or charity that you want to support, and then, you join it.” He grinned. “The world has seen your power now as well. What do you think you need to do another feat of strength like that?”
“You. You fully charged. I was afraid I had pulled too much out of you when you were busy catching the shuttle.”
“I barely felt it. You have been taking such good care of me that I was fully topped up. That is why I didn’t have you this morning. I thought you could use a day off.” He chuckled. “Of course, I was planning on using the trip home to top up any energy I may have expended. That malfunctioning shuttle wrecked my plans.”
“Should you have stayed to file a report or something?”
“No, that is what Hazda is doing right now.” He chuckled. “That’s her job.”
She smiled. “Right. Were the kids okay?”
“They were fine. One little girl wants to be just like you when she grows up.”
Misty blinked. “Really?”
“Really. It’s on the news feed.” Mekked stroked her cheek. “Those children are alive because of you.”
She shivered and relaxed against him. “Can we go home?”
“As soon as the others let the doctor pass so he can confirm that you are stable.”
She blinked. “They’re here?”
“Everyone important in our household except for Hazda is here. She is busy cleaning up my mess.”
“That’s embarrassing.”
“For those who have affection for you to show it? That isn’t embarrassing. That is the way things should be. Just like when you see I am tired, you pull my head to your lap and stroke my hair. If you care for someone, you take care of them. I have faltered in that because you have a need to care for others that I did not properly appreciate. I was greedy. I will try and do that more in the future.”
She smiled and looked up at him. “Can I paint you with dessert and lick it off?”
He laughed. “I believe you should do that before the sun sets or the moon sets; you should do it soon. I will ask Kekkari to make something with that in mind.”
“I can ask him. I have a few things in mind.” She smiled. “It can be assertiveness training.”
He threaded his fingers in her hair, and the kiss was not consoling. She was straddling his thighs when the doctor came in, her hands locked in his hair and his pressing her spine and cupping her ass.
“Well, I see she has recovered full mobility. Congratulations on your reviving powers, Overseer.” The doctor smiled. “Mistress, I would like to run a final scan before we release you into his custody again.”
She nodded. “Of course.” She tried to climb off Mekked, but she was stuck. She looked at him. “I need to do this so we can go home.”
“Pay the toll.”
Misty snorted and kissed him until his hands clenched on her back, and then, she leaned away. Her pulse was fast, and her skin was hot, but she knew she was smiling. “I will ask you for the change later.”
He grinned, and she slid away from him. The doctor helped her into the scanner, and then the exam began.
It was several minutes in when she heard him say, “Huh. That’s odd.”
“What’s odd?”
“I thought that the event this morning was a camera trick, but no. You are exhibiting the secondary powers of a Hmrain.”
“That makes sense.”
He opened the scanner. “And you have created an energy field around your womb.”
She laughed. Mekked laughed. The doctor looked confused. “You knew about this?”
Mekked picked her up again and hugged her. “She’s a caretaker.”
Misty blinked and thought about it. It suited what she knew she could do. “Can we go home now?”
The doctor nodded. “You can go home.”
She smiled and said, “Yay!”
There was an answering sound in the hallway, and when she was carried out, she was hugged and patted by the guys, Kekkari, and Abigail.
They went to the exit, and she ignored the press, who wanted to know if something was wrong. She beamed up at Mekked, and he kissed her softly before he took to the air, flying home. She knew the inference they would draw, and she didn’t care if folks talked about her. She was ready for it.
She had someone to defend again, and it was herself. It was about time.
Mekked landed on the balcony of his bedroom and carried her inside. Her shoes were off, she was on the bed, and her dress was missing before she hit the platform.
“Where did you find that dress?” He crawled between her thighs, and his suit was off.
“It was in the wardrobe. I was feeling vulnerable, so I covered up.”
“How are you feeling now?”
“A little nervous. All your teeth are showing.”
He grinned and lowered his head, flicking her clit with his tongue. He repeated the caress a dozen times, and she shivered with a light release. She had been dealing with it all day.
“Aw, you were waiting for me.” He chuckled, and his fingers slid into her while she gripped the sheet.
“Yeah, and you were too dense to pick up on it.”
He returned to licking her clit with slow strokes, and he slid a third finger in and teased her until she shrieked. He moved slowly up her body, and she chuckled. “Abigail is staying.”
“That is not something I thought you would say right now.” He lined up and gripped her hands, pulling them up and over her head. He slid into her and kissed her. “I would rather you were thinking about me.”
She arched. “I am always thinking about you. For a moment, I thought about myself, and Abigail makes me happy. I like knowing she’s safe.” She whined and rocked her hips into his, and he went deeper.
He smiled. “Good, now pay attention to us.” He rocked into her, and she paid attention.
He kept her full attention for several hours.
She spent a few minutes talking to a laughing Kekkari, and he agreed to provide her with what she needed.
Dinner was quiet until Soith asked her, “Misty, did you teach Abigail how to sing?”
Misty spluttered. “Yes and no. I taught her how to use the voice she already had and then showed her occupational options with available technology.”
Abigail grinned. “She’s a far better singer than I am.”
Mekked rubbed Misty’s cheek. “Is she now?”
“It’s subjective.” Misty shrugged and nibbled at her vegetables.
“Will you sing for us?” Mekked asked.
Misty chuckled. “I sang plenty this afternoon.”
Abigail cocked her head. “I would have described that as a warbling scream.”
Aldrun shook his head. “Gasping shriek.”
Misty blushed scarlet. “Got it. I will try and be quiet.”
Mekked wove his hand through her hair. “Don’t you dare. I earned those sounds, and I will have them.”
He tilted her head back and kissed her. She squeaked and cupped his cheek as he continued the kiss until she was limp.
He looked smug when he raised his head. “Do we have an understanding?”
“We do.”
Abigail grinned. “Come on, we can sing a duet.”
“Now?”
“Tonight. We can sit outside, and we can sing something.”
Misty looked toward the nearest window. “It is tonight.”
Abigail grinned. “Exactly.”
They finished the fruit cup for dessert, and Misty smiled. Heading outside, she noted that Aldrun, Soith, and Abigail were close together, and Abigail didn’t seem nearly as jumpy as the day before.
They walked to the seating area. The guys sat, and then, Misty and Abigail argued about the song until they agreed. Abigail brought up the music, and they started to sing together.
Singing was something that had always healed Misty’s soul. She let her voice rise and soar around Abigail’s while the constellation of the Vecchin system swirled above them.
When the song was over, she smiled and hugged Abigail and walked over to Mekked. He was staring at her. “Why didn’t you use that as a job skill here?”
“I wasn’t asked. I was assigned based on my registered education level.” She grimaced. “And my mother’s recommendation. She didn’t like my singing. She couldn’t tell when I was doing it, and it was something she couldn’t control, so there was a punishment.”
He kissed her lips and then her throat. “It is lovely. The frequencies you produce are delightfully soothing.”
Abigail chuckled. “She sang as she helped me away from the scene of the attack. She sang as we marked up the shuttle, and she sang as we flew away from Earth. Her voice is the sound of my survival.”
Abigail looked at the tablet in her hands, looked at the men to either side of her, and signed the document. “For what it’s worth, here you go.” She handed it to Aldrun.
He grinned and chuckled. “Must always reside within ten kilometres of Misty? Easily done.” He authorized the change.
Soith got the tablet next, and he went through the change, authorized it, and then signed it. He handed it back to Aldrun, who got up and walked it back into the house.
Misty whispered, “Where is he going?”
Mekked chuckled. “He is filing the mate contract with the archive. If anyone tries to steal her, the penalty is death and torture. Not in that order.”
“Oh.”
Mekked chuckled and pulled her onto his lap to rub her thigh. “For stealing you, they would lose all their limbs and live like that for ten years before being killed.”
“Oh. That’s nice.”
“It avoids ransom situations. They will literally go out of their way to avoid you.” He chuckled.
“So, how will they know?”
“If you are not at my side, you will wear a beacon.” He nuzzled her neck. “Right on this pretty throat. If you are afraid, your heart rate rises, or you experience pain, it will notify me immediately, and as we have discussed, I am a lot faster since we mated.”
“Yeah, I noticed. When did your hand get in there?” She glanced down. “Checking your work?”
He sighed. “Just enjoying the downtime without an emergency. I have been thinking of adding some more team members to give us some relief now that we have mates to focus on. With luck, the families will begin by the end of the year.”
