They sailed directly to Orion without delay. One of the largest brothels in Carrabon had purchased the three children—Holly and two lads—as servants since they were too young for prostitution. Fern knew some people had unnatural yearnings for younger children, so she was relieved they felt Holly was too young. The first time Fern had been raped, she was about eight years old, and Holly was nearly nine. As much as she hated the thought of her little girl being abused in such a manner, her main focus centered on Holly being alive. They could deal with the aftermath of this situation as long as she lived.

  They reached Orion about a week later, and immediately went to the brothel, soldiers at their backs. Though Carrabon wasn’t subject to the empire’s rules, Reuben believed the king did not support the practice of buying slaves, especially children. If they arrested the proprietors of the brothel for breaking international laws, the king would need to honor Reuben’s claims.

  They burst inside, fully armed with weapons drawn. The madam looked around at the display and pointed the way into her office. “What can I do for you?” She leaned over her desk toward Reuben, full cleavage on display.

  Fern knew enough Carron to follow most of the conversation. The woman rang a small bell and a servant entered. She ordered the servant to find some people, and again, smiled flirtatiously at Reuben. To his credit, he did not seem one bit impressed with her over-the-top make-up and revealing gown. Didn’t this silly whore know he had three beautiful wives at home? Why would he lower himself to bed someone like her?

  The two boys were shoved inside the room. Fern vaguely recognized one of them as one who Holly had spent time with. She believed he was the son of one of the maids who worked at the castle. “Where is Holly?” Fern’s patience was at an end. If these two were here, then Holly must be, too.

  The woman glanced at Fern as she signed her question to Reuben. She still wore the fake smile, but that had slipped when Reuben repeated Fern’s question in Carron. She batted her eyelashes, but then looked away as she explained how they lost custody of Holly.

  Fern frowned while attempting to understand what was being said. Did someone steal her from here? Was it dragonkin? How did they find her here? So many questions swarmed her mind, but she waited until Reuben finished his interrogation before she could ask.

  They left shortly after, and the two boys were happy to be on their way back home. Fern kept her head down, putting one foot in front of the other and biting down on her lip to keep the tears at bay. They had come so close to success and now must leave without gaining the prize. Once aboard, she went directly to the cabin she had been using. She barely made it to the cot before succumbing to the wracking sobs building inside. She didn’t even notice when Reuben came inside, wrapped his arms protectively around her, and rocked her in his lap until she ran dry. His shirt was drenched with her tears when she finally lifted her face from his chest, and he simply smiled lovingly down at her.

  “We will find her, sweetling. I promise you. I’ve heard of the ship that left immediately following her abduction. Shifty Drake. The captain fashions himself as a hero to children, or something like that. I’ve spoken to the boys who claim Holly was in danger; apparently, the madam had received a large sum of money for the use of a young virgin. They heard the story in the kitchen where gossip thrives. I believe that Shifty saved our girl from certain pain and abuse. This is the way he works, and I plan to learn more about him soon.” Reuben seemed optimistic about Holly’s situation, believing she was rescued and not captured.

  Fern sniffled and found a soft cloth to wipe her eyes and nose. He always knew exactly what to say to make her feel better. She was still sad and upset over not finding Holly, but if someone saved her from rape, could she complain? She leaned into Reuben’s solid chest. He had unbuttoned the wet shirt and pushed the sides away, so she had a dry spot to rest her head. Fern moved her fingers down his chest, hearing his heart rate increase. She caught the familiar scent of arousal and a sense of intense heat unfurled through her core in response. He had been away from his wives for quite a while, and she wanted to return the favor and help him feel better.

  EPILOGUE

  LEGACY

  So many years have passed since I first arrived in this world. I’ve suffered losses, but they are outweighed by the gains I have been blessed with. My children grow and flourish, as well as the empire.

  - Emperor Tadesse

  Charlie’s excitement was palpable. They had made camp two nights earlier just to the south of where the gateway would appear. Reuben had made the trip a year earlier and left messages for Oliver, and he hoped his old friend followed through. The last stack of letters indicated that Rusty had passed away in March 1960. The brokerage firm was now in the hands of Oliver’s son Harold, since Rusty’s daughter wanted nothing to do with it.

  When Reuben left Indiana in the fall of 1922, he was sixteen years old, and now twenty-one years later, he was still a fairly young man. The same could not be said for Oliver. When Reuben left, Olly was eighteen but due to the difference in time passage, he was now nearly sixty. The last he heard, Oliver was in good health, but had begun to pass on information to his son, especially since Harold was in charge of the business end of Reuben’s trade deals.

  There was still a huge amount of capital involved with the gems. Their value had rebounded after the depression, and due to Rusty’s exceptional financial acumen, their investments were now worth several million dollars.

  Charlie had proven to be blessed with a strong travel talent, and the first signs arrived shortly after puberty. Reuben wanted Charlie to experience the other side of the gateway, and he had spent many hours training his son for this moment. Though Electra fought against the idea, she finally relented with the stipulation that they would wait until Charlie turned seventeen. He would spend nearly a year with Oliver, though only be gone from their lives less than half that time.

  As his eldest son, Reuben wanted Charlie to have a wide education and worldview. Charlie had excelled in the education provided in the empire. He especially loved the old-world history and begged to be allowed to travel there ever since he first learned he had the talent.

  Though Electra had the travel talent in her bloodline through her father, she didn’t ever want to cross over. Not only because of the severe side effects, but because the old world suppressed magic. Thus, her healing talent would be cut off, leaving her feeling empty. Reuben knew the sense of loss as well, but since Charlie’s talent was still in its infancy, his son should be able to function without it for the time he would be away.

  Reuben had read so many stories about Harold but had never met him. He was certain the boy—man—would have inherited his father’s better characteristics: honor, honesty, and kindness among them. Since Harold was born around the same time as Charlie, it was difficult to imagine he was over thirty years old.

  When he felt the first stirring in the air, Reuben turned to his gaping son. “Do you think you can open it? You should be able to feel the difference in the atmosphere.” Charlie stood beside him, moving his hands in the exact area where Reuben could sense the slight turbulence.

  “I think I can manipulate it. Do I push or pull?”

  “Neither. Try to gather the lighter pockets together and move them aside to allow the heavier threads to form. Then it’s like opening a window shutter—slide them apart. Yes, exactly like that. Well done, son. Now, bid your mother farewell, because you will experience some upset when you cross and may be incapacitated for a short time. I don’t think you’ll want to cross back and forth.” Reuben recalled his first few episodes and wanted to spare his son some of that discomfort.

  He heard Electra’s whimper behind him as he waited for their child to bid her goodbye. Charlie often spent weeks at a time at school in Dankin, and though this would be a longer time, he was nearly a man and should spend some time away from his parents. At least, that was what he kept telling himself, knowing he would worry the entire time they were apart.

  Once they crossed, Reuben steadied Charlie by holding his arm. Though his son staggered a couple of steps, he seemed to recover better than Reuben thought possible. “Good, you can walk, so I don’t need to carry you.” He did notice that Charlie wasn’t able to speak yet. His stomach probably hadn’t settled enough.

  “Olly?” Reuben called out. He noticed a small campfire not far away. It was set up in the usual spot, except now there was a circle of metal surrounding it.

  “I’m here.” Oliver walked toward them with another man—Harold? The resemblance became clear when they were close enough to see in the limited light. “This is Charlie?”

  “Yes, let’s get acquainted, and then I’ll need to leave so Electra knows he is safe on this side of the portal. It’s so good to see you again, old man.” Reuben made a joke of it, but it was true. Oliver was an old man—nearly bald, with bits of wispy gray hair, his back seemed stooped, and his gait looked unsteady or painful.

  “You look as young as my son! Harold, this is your uncle I’ve told you about. Reuben is only two years younger than I am, but look at him!”

  After exchanging pleasantries, Reuben verified the dates for the next meeting and hugged his eldest once more. “Pay attention to everything they say and do. Make me proud, son. I love you and will miss you terribly.”

  Reuben left them behind, feeling hopeful. This experience would be fantastic for Charlie. A year of living without magic while learning about all the technology that Reuben had only read about should help in so many ways. He couldn’t wait to hear everything the boy experienced.

  Once they returned to the ship in Zuska, Reuben had a chance to read some of the letters Oliver had written. His friend always added newspaper clippings about all major events across the globe, and there were several he reread multiple times, like the first man in space. “Electra, look at this! This is the reason I felt it was so important for Charlie to experience the old world. They launched a man into orbit in a space capsule. Wait until I tell your father.”

  They carried a shipment for the dragonkin—wine and whiskey. Reuben hadn’t planned to disembark, letting Joe deal with the steward for payment. He hoped no one even realized he was aboard. The overlord still scared the crap out of him, so the less contact, the better. When they rounded the final bend, he noted the hidden signal that Bahran’s leader was not in residence. Their informant would open one of the curtain panels of a certain window on the fourth floor when he was gone from the realm, which seemed to be more often as the years passed. He hoped that was good news for Stella, who remained a prisoner inside the walls of the palace.

  Before Reuben could sneak back to his cabin unnoticed, the steward stood on the dock, waving his arms in panic. “Please, if you have a healer?” Joe did keep a physician onboard, and though he didn’t have healer talent, he could treat the common illnesses and injuries that were received on the ship.

  Joe looked at Reuben with a question in his eyes, but then seemed to stare beyond Reuben’s shoulder. When he turned to check, he found Electra, her medical bag in hand. “I’ll go.”

  “You don’t have to, sweetheart.” They all knew the danger. “Joe could send his physician or simply tell them we don’t have one.”

  “You know this is my calling, Ruby. I’ll be all right.”

  “Well, if you go, I go. Not that I can do much in a fight with dragonkin, but I’ll not let you enter alone.” Though it looked like she would try to stop him, she clamped her lips shut and gave him a curt nod.

  Once they reached the dock, the steward began talking so fast that Reuben’s rusty Paxton skills weren’t enough to understand much. It did appear that they were to see Stella, who was in some sort of life-or-death state and needed immediate attention. He rattled on about the overlord’s mental state—something about total annihilation of the city . . . or was it country? Reuben made sure Joe stayed close since his understanding of Paxton exceeded his and Electra’s.

  When the steward attempted to keep all but Electra from entering Stella’s quarters, Reuben insisted. “If you insist on my wife’s services, then I need to accompany her.” He wondered if he got the words right due to the confused look that came across the man’s face, but Joe explained a bit better, and finally was allowed to enter.

  Life-or-death had been a literal statement. Reuben wondered how close to death’s door Stella was. Her skin looked dull gray, her cheeks were sunken, and if not for the occasional slight movement of the cover, he would assume she had passed away peacefully.

  Electra reached the bedside in seconds and placed both her hands on the sides of Stella’s face as she sank into a deep rapport. Having witnessed his wife’s actions multiple times, Reuben searched the room and requested various supplies—hot water, towels, clean bedding, and a small table to work on.

  Once the steward left to fulfill his demands, Reuben turned to Joe. “Did you catch all he said? I missed half of it.”

  “Yes, Stella recently had another miscarriage, and the overlord was so upset he killed the healer and several of the servants in his rampage. He claims the overlord has become more unstable and is afraid that if Stella were to die, he would lose his final chance for an heir and would completely snap. He’s certain every single remaining dragonkin would die, along with the residents across the bay. If the overlord goes berserk, no one is safe.”

  Moans from the bed caught their attention. Electra sat back, her eyes fluttering open. She looked drained from the healing, and Reuben went over to kneel beside her. “What do you need? Can I offer some of my strength?”

  “She’s had some internal bleeding from one of her fallopian tubes. I believe her last pregnancy damaged it. I’ve healed what I could, but I believe her emotional well-being is what we need to worry about. I’m not sure how she is still alive after all she has endured. I realize she isn’t human, but she has a mother’s love for her babies. If I lost so many babes, I know I wouldn’t recover.”

  The steward returned with the supplies and a couple of maids to help, but Reuben waved them out. “We need space and fresh air . . . and privacy. Joe, go finish our business transaction and we’ll see to Stella. Electra believes she will recover in time.”

  Joe spoke to the steward and convinced him to leave the room. Though he nervously looked back over his shoulder at them, Electra reassured him with a smile.

  “She is going to recover, right?” What would happen if Stella died, and they were the last ones who had contact with her? Would they be blamed?

  “She needs to find the will. Talk to her, Ruby. Tell her something of Holly’s early years, something she wouldn’t know about. Tell her about Fern and how you two have searched for so many years.”

  And that was exactly what Reuben did. While Electra changed some of the soiled bedding and washed Stella’s body, Reuben regaled her with how sweet and loving Holly had been. He recalled times when she had squabbles with some of the other children. “They fought and argued, but there was love and camaraderie as well. Charlie was her solid protector. How he loved that little girl . . . Oh, he loved his sisters as well, but Holly was special.” Reuben stopped when he heard her sigh. Stella had her eyes open, and Electra quickly ran a soft wet rag around them to wipe the crud away.

  “Tell me more,” she whispered.

  So Reuben did. He told her about their mad dash to Orion after hearing the pirates sold her as a servant to the brothel, and he told her how devastated Fern had been.

  “Fern is still with you?” Her eyes widened with curiosity, and her color had improved dramatically. “She cannot return here. Ever. He will kill her if he catches a whiff.”

  “Yes, Fern has told me this. She is safely on the opposite side of the ocean.”

  “She . . . she told you? How?” Stella looked completely confused.

  “Oh, we learned sign language. Fern can sign her conversation while I’ve ensured all those around her can understand the words.”

  “Why didn’t I ever think of that? I assumed she didn’t know any alphabet. I’m so happy for her. She was a great help to me, but I kept failing to protect her here. Thank you for taking such care of her.”

  “Ah, thanks isn’t any problem, I assure you. In fact, um . . . we are married now, Fern and me. We have children, too. A beautiful set of twins.” Reuben smiled, but the shocked look on Stella’s face turned into concern.

  “Twins? You do know she has some dragonkin blood in her, right? I didn’t realize at first because it was so minimal, and I later learned the reason for her tongue removal was because her compulsion magic came in so strong. She was shunned because she is a mongrel, but she can still produce a shifter—a dragon—if she produces twins. Don’t you know any of our lore?”

  “Huh? Not much is known, and Fern doesn’t seem to know that much, either. She had never received any education while here.”

  “Oh, my . . . you need to find some information. Twins always balance. My twin brother could shift, while I remained his balance. The overlord, Zephrit, can also shift. He lost his twin many years ago and found balance through the mate-bond, though she died in childbirth as many do. Rumor has it he created another mate-bond but lost her as well. He could not bond with me as shifter bonds are limited, but because he has no bond, he is completely unstable without the balance.”

  “We’ll watch for any signs and try to find some help if it comes to that.” Reuben didn’t know what to make of this revelation. He had known that Fern was a quarter dragonkin but hadn’t believed that would be an issue. She had heightened senses but little of their magic.

  “Keep them close. If Zephrit hears of them, he will attempt to steal or kill them. That is why I’m happy Hollywood is still at large. She is far safer wherever she is than here.”

  “Hollywood? I’ve never heard her called that.”

  “Yes, I named her after the city I used to live in . . . Hollywood, California.” Stella smiled dreamily, like she was envisioning that town.

 

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