Micah's Mate (Dark Sky) (12 page)

             
“Brother, if you think I had a choice think again. Katlyn made some valid points about needing a way to defend herself, I agreed. But we are having a little problem.” Micah and Stochi watched as another fireball fell flat.

             
“Darn it!” Katlyn looked over at the two men and cursed under her breath.

             
Stochi looked over Katlyn’s pleading face and knew where the problem was immediately. Turning to Micah he smiled, “Mom was looking for you. Why don’t you go see what she wants, I’ll stay with Katlyn. Maybe it will work better if you are a little ways away.”

             
Micah looked over to Katlyn, “Do you mind? I’ll be just a few minutes. Thank you Stochi.”

             
Once he was out of sight Katlyn looked over at Stochi. “Okay, so what am I doing wrong?”

             
He eyed her, “You are allowing Micah’s presence to interfere on your concentration. Block it out and aim.”

             
Katlyn held her hand out and concentrated on the target in front of her. She felt the burn building and pushed with her mind. The fireball exploded out of her hand and took not only the target but also the tree behind it.

             
“Whoops.” She grinned guiltily at him shrugging her shoulders.

Stochi
took a step forward, “It happens. Good, but too much power. Try again.”

             
Katlyn did it again but held tighter, controlling the burst of energy.

             
“That’s it, now release.” Katlyn could hear Stochi say softly next to her ear.

             
Perfect. Katlyn watched as the next target was taken down but the tree behind this one still stood. “Thank you Stochi.”

             
“Thank you for allowing me to help. Now we will see if you can do it again once Micah is next to you.”  He moved closer, “Until he comes back we can practice moving things. Now, can you try to lift the rock on the ground in front of the target?”

             
Katlyn stilled, “Lift? Can I do that?”

             
Stochi smiled, “We will see, try.”

             
Katlyn concentrated on the rock and laughed as it seemed to jump into the air.

             
He patted her back, “Great. Now you can do what most of us cannot.”

             
“What?” Katlyn stilled. “What do you mean?”

             
“That is what we developed the training for but it is not something that we have ever achieved. You on the other hand have it.” He smiled at her.

             
Katlyn looked at him, “How am I able to do this and not you or Micah?”

             
“I don’t know. It may be your genes are different from ours on a fundamental level; it may be that you are more open with your thoughts and feelings; it may be that you have a ton of frustration rolling around in you at the moment. If it is your feelings I really don’t wish to see you pissed.” Stochi chuckled at her.

             
Katlyn laughed with him, “My sweet brother, you don’t want to see me pissed with or without that trick.”

             
“Katlyn, are you ready for us to talk?” Maria came around the house looking for her. Katlyn smiled at the small petit woman. She was so small and sweet mannered, it would have been hard to not like her.

             
“Yes, let’s go to your office if you don’t mind.” Katlyn looked over at Stochi, “Thank you for your help, I’ll see you at dinner tonight. Do you mind telling Micah I am with Maria?”

             
“I will look forward to dinner little sister and yes, I will tell him.” Stochi turned and moved back toward the house.

             
“You don’t wish for anyone to know about what we are trying?” Maria frowned at her slightly, “I don’t like secrets Katlyn. They tend to become lies and grow.”

Katlyn nodded as they walked, “I don’t like secrets either but this one is well intentioned. I simply do not wish to get anyone’s hopes up.”

Maria looked ahead at the road but smiled softly, “I understand your desire for secrecy at this stage, but at some point we will need to explain to the family what we are doing. Also, I will need to consort with a few people in this field for advice. It has been so long since we have used this particular science that I will need their expertise but I promise to be discrete, if that is okay with you.” Maria smiled at Katlyn, “You are doing a wonderful thing you know.”

             
Together they moved away from the house and began walking toward her office in town. Contrary to what Micah had thought Maria had graduated with honors from her classes and had already begun her service as a doctor.

“Maria, I don’t wish for them to be di
sappointed if it doesn’t work.” Katlyn smiled at her, “If it does work then think of how many women can have children from donated eggs. If it doesn’t work then no one is the wiser, no one is disappointed.” Katlyn took a breath and sighed,

             
“And you are okay with me speaking with some colleagues?”

             
“You know better than I who can be trusted and who cannot.”

“
Micah will be so mad.” Maria frowned.

             
“Maria, can you tell me that this will have no risk? That there is a zero chance of this harming me?” Katlyn watched as she shook her head.

             
“Of course not, any procedure has risk.”

             
“Then we can’t tell him. He will keep me from doing this if he knew.” Katlyn moved to hold the door open for Maria. “It is my body to do with as I please. This is my choice.”

             
Maria sighed and went into the office, “I understand, I don’t agree with your choice but I understand. Let’s get started.” Mariah moved around the office as Katlyn lay on the cot.

“Our process is slightly different than on Earth. Where they have to have a series of shots for
weeks on end we require one. By giving this to you today we can harvest them tomorrow. Once I have them I will try to get them fertilized. This is the challenging part; no one on this planet has done this in over ten years. If it does take Sophia has agreed to be implanted with it.” Mariah looked up at Katlyn, “I have not told her the full extent of what we are doing, All I have told her that I am trying something new with the fertility problems. She has helped me on research before so it won’t cause any red flags to go up. Katlyn, if this works the people here do not realize yet that this is even an idea. If it works and this becomes public knowledge it could cause problems. Things could become complicated.”

             
Katlyn chuckled under her breath, “Complicated? That is an understatement. But Maria, what we are trying to accomplish; it will be worth it, complications and all.”

             
Maria smiled and filled a needle with the hormone, “Here you go.”

             
Leaning to the side she winced as Maria gave her the shot. If this worked then hundreds of families could benefit. “Maria; if this does work we will need to figure out how to distribute. We can’t have children outside of the family mixing together.”

             
Maria stopped what she was doing, “I had not thought of that. You’re right; we can’t run the risk of interbreeding. I’ll think on it this evening. Katlyn, as much as I hate not being open with Micah about this. I think that what you are doing is a wonderful thing.” Maria stood back and smiled at her. “Let’s head back to the house.”

Chapter 7

              Katlyn entered the clinic the next day and smiled at the receptionist. “Hi Santi, Is Maria in?”

             
Santi looked up from her computer, “She is, go on back she’s expecting you.”

             
Katlyn walked through the building to the back room and smiled at Maria. “I’m here for the torture.”

             
Maria laughed, “I have no sympathy you are doing it to yourself. Come, we’ll get started.”

             
Katlyn hopped up on the table and unfastened her pants.

             
Maria numbed the area and turned on a machine much like an ultrasound.  Rubbing the wand over Katlyn’s stomach she smiled, “Ahhh, look at that. Plenty there for us go get.”

             
“Good. How many do you think?” Katlyn and Maria had discussed what they were going to do distribution wise if this worked. It was more complicated than either had imagined. They had planned on sending six, one from each of the women coming from Earth, to each region. But if they donated to not just one in that area but to all the females in one family they could spread this out and make more of a donation. It also allowed for them to lesson the chances of interbreeding if they kept it to individual families.

             
“A fairly good amount it looks like, probably around fifty. Let me take what is there; we will implant two and freeze the rest.”

             
“Implant two? Who is getting the second one?” Katlyn turned as Roslyn moved into the room.

             
“I am.” Roslyn sat next to Katlyn and smiled, “Thank you for this.”

             
Katlyn took her hand, “I hope that it gives you a chance.”

             
“Katlyn, I have wanted a child since I took my husband for a mate. You are a blessing for us.” Roslyn wiped her eyes; “I hated you, you know.”

             
Katlyn smiled, “Hated me? Why?”

             
“You were able to do the one thing I could not; have a child. You were coming here and I would have to watch while you raised a child with my brother. I would have to watch this little person grew up and know that he was here because of you and it was the one thing I could not give my mate. I never in my wildest dreams would have thought that we would be here. Even if I had known it was a possibility I never would have assumed that you would agree to this.” Roslyn smiled through her tears.

             
Feeling her pain as if it were her own she squeezed her hand, “Roslyn, If this does not work the way I hope it will we will find another way, even if I have to carry the child myself.” Katlyn reached out and took her hand. “One way or another you will have that child.”

             
Roslyn grasped her hand, “You would do that? Carry a child and then give it away?”

             
“If it is the only way you are able to have a child of your own, yes.” Katlyn answered without hesitation.

             
Leaning down Roslyn hugged her, “I am so very glad my brother found you.”

             
Katlyn wiped her eyes, “I am the one that is blessed. You all got me but I? I got a whole family.”

             
“Okay guys, let’s get this done before the men come looking for us.” Maria looked up from the screen, “You know Micah does not like being away from you.”

             
Katlyn laid back and tried to relax while grasping Roslyn’s hand, the needle looked enormous. “Did I ever mention that needles terrify me?”

             
Maria chuckled under her breath, “No, you didn’t mention it. Okay, be very still and take a deep breath.” Maria took extra care to try and be gentle.

             
Roslyn began talking in order to distract her. “Did you know that Micah and Stochi were inseparable when they were younger? They did everything with each other and they were always in trouble.”

             
Katlyn took another deep breath and smiled, “What did they do?”

             
“Momma used to make these treats for dessert. Oh they were good; little cakes with pom pom on top. Um, pom poms are much like your pineapples. Once they were sitting on the table to cool each one would come through and steal the fruit off of the top. Momma would get so mad at them. The rest of us would only be able to eat the cake.”

             
Katlyn smiled at Roslyn knowing that she was trying to distract her. “Tell me something else.”

             
Roslyn smiled, “Did Micah tell you about his first girlfriend?”

             
“No. He is pretty quiet about any women here outside of the family.”

             
“She was a pretty thing, so beautiful and sweet. She catered to him really. Anything he wanted she would make or find for him. All he had to do was whistle and she would come running.” Roslyn rolled her eyes in annoyance.

             
Katlyn scowled, “Why did he not keep her? She sounds perfect.”

             
Roslyn laughed, “Because she was perfect. It absolutely drove him nuts after a couple of weeks. Maria, do you remember how he would hide in the woods until she left? You would have thought she was torturing him the way that he acted. Honestly, can you really see Micah with a woman that revolves her whole life around him? He would have been bored to death if he had stayed with her! He needs someone that will light a fire under him, someone that will challenge him. He is not like William or Lenec; the mild mannered women of our kingdom will not satisfy him or Stochi. They are very different from us. They need women like you. Women that have fire in their eyes, women that show their passionate nature in everything they do.”

             
Katlyn smiled up at Roslyn, “How do you think Stochi will find a mate? He is always here. I don’t think I have seen him leave since I got here.”

             
Roslyn looked at her intently, “He is here because of you. Although you have mated with Micah, Stochi is drawn to you because of the person you are. He has not lived in our home in five years. He came back to see Micah on your arrival but it was you that kept him here.” Roslyn sat back, “I should probably not say this but we are hoping that he will file a petition to leave to find a mate. He is able to, being the second born, but before you came he was adamant that all women were the same. You are proving to him that he is wrong.” Roslyn smiled, “It seems I have many things to thank you for, not only for what you are doing now but for bringing my brother home to me as well.”

             
Katlyn felt a pinch of the needle and grimaced; “Thank me when this works.”

             
Roslyn grimaced at Katlyn’s look of pain, “I bet that hurts.”

             
“I’m good.” She gasped and squeezed Roslyn’s hand, “Maria, what happened to numbing it?”

             
Maria glanced up as she tried to find the spot on the ultrasound, “Sorry Katlyn, I’m doing the best I can. Can you take it another couple of minutes?”

             
“Do I have a choice?” Katlyn tried to joke as she felt another pinch of pain.

             
Micah stormed into the kitchen and towered over Stochi, “Where is my mate?”

             
Stochi looked up at his furious brother and set his drink down. “I don’t know. Why what’s wrong?”

             
Micah ran a hand through his hair, “She is hurting, I can feel it. I need to find her.” He had actually felt physical pain from her this time. Something was badly wrong.

             
Stochi stood, “What do you mean you can feel it?”

             
Micah leaned against the counter, “Katlyn is different; she can share her feelings with me as I can send them to her.”

             
Stochi grimaced thinking about it; that couldn’t be good, “How is that possible? Women do not have those capabilities. Was it a side effect of you giving her the other abilities?”

             
“No, this she has been able to do from the time that we met. I think that the reason it’s possible is because the women on Earth do not have the shield that our women do. They are more open to us.”

“
Stochi, I need to find her; now.” Micah grasped his side and grimaced as he felt another pain.

             
Stochi chuckled under his breath; “I bet you are loving this. I think she was headed over to the clinic to see Maria last I heard. It is probably just a little poking and prodding by our lovely sister. You know she has been looking into the sterility problems here.”

             
“Stochi, this is not normal poking and prodding.” Micah headed for the door.

             
“Let me know what you find.” Stochi waited until the door closed then opened his communicator and called Roslyn.

             
“Hey sis. He is on his way.” Stochi closed the devise and took drink. It really wasn’t his place to interfere, heck they didn’t even realize that he knew what was going on but after reading up on the procedure he knew that now was not the time to have a surprise visit. Surprising a woman with a six inch needle was not something you wanted to do.

             
Roslyn closed the communicator with a confused look on her face, “Maria, that was Stochi, Micah is on his way you need to finish up.”

             
Maria finished what she was doing and swabbed the area with disinfectant, “I’m finished. Katlyn, you need to rest for today but this injection will have you healed up by tomorrow; another bonus to our technology.”

             
She had no sooner put up the equipment than Katlyn heard Micah storm in.

             
“Katlyn!”

             
“I’m in the back Micah. Roslyn, go. He’ll ask questions if you are here.” Roslyn squeezed her hand and went out through the back door.

             
Sitting up she waited for him, “What is going on?”

             
“Just some tests that Maria needed me to have done.” Katlyn slid off the table hiding a grimace and smiled at Micah. “I’m done now. Ready for lunch?”

             
Micah looked at her, “You’re not telling me the truth Niflet.” He pulled her back, “You need to tell me what was going on here.”

             
Katlyn stood in front of Micah, “Do you trust me?”

             
“Of course.” Micah cupped her jaw and looked into her eyes.

             
“Then trust me in this.” Katlyn placed her hand against his chest. “I promise you that I will tell you everything this evening when we are alone but I need you to trust in me for right now.” She was not going to tell him in front of Maria, he would bring her into the argument and she didn’t want to hurt Maria like that.

             
Micah paused remembering when he asked for her trust not so long ago. “Okay Niflet. I will leave it for now.”

             
Sighing Katlyn rose up and kissed him, “Thank you.”

             
Micah took her hand in his, “I know you are sore. Let’s go home and let you rest.”

             
Katlyn leaned on him and headed for the door, “I’m fine but I would love to curl up and relax with you in the living room.

             
“Then that is what we will do.” Micah looked down at the small beautiful woman holding his arm. She was so petite but she was stronger than some of the men that he knew. Whatever she had been cooking up with his sister would be a good thing; he could sense that much from her but he also knew that it was not something he was going to like.

             
Katlyn laughed at Stochi’s mimic of Micah; he was doing a perfect job of showing her how he had come barreling into the kitchen.

             
“Thanks Stochi.” Micah grabbed his brother in a choke hold and rubbing the top of his head with his knuckles. “You’re making me sound like a wimp in front of my mate.”

             
Stochi laughed, “I am simply replaying what you did. Acting like a wimp you did on your own.”

             
“It’s not wimpy; it’s showing that you are in love.” Roslyn came through the room carrying a book and headed outside to the patio barely looking up from the page she was on.

             
Katlyn started to get up from her place next to Micah, but he placed a hand on her knee, “What do you need sweetheart?”