Quell (8 page)

The representative blubbered and tried to go on the attack about the contract that had been in effect when Amylia had been taken.

Artruo stepped forward. “All contracts cease to hold effect when the employee is deceased. Both Guard Caxton and my wife, Kreatha, were technically dead on extraction from the court. We have the records and medical vids to prove it.”

Amylia had been treated to that bit of info the day before, so she didn’t go into shock, but it still felt weird. They saved her life and then tortured her. Messed up.

“So, Representative, you can see that I would never allow one of my subjects to be removed for an act of self-defence.”

“Of course. Please allow me to communicate with the high courts, and I will tell you what action we are taking.”

She smiled and knocked the entire contingent out.

She was crouched next to the representative when he woke and his men were down at the shuttle.

“So, just so you understand, everything I am is at the disposal of Rohul. I will defend this world and her people to the best of my ability, and if you have read my file, you know what that means. So, call your shuttle and get off my world.”

She stood and returned to her group.

There would be other altercations between the Imperium and Rohul, but today, she was drawing the line with plenty of backup.

The shuttle retrieved the man and took to the skies.

She smiled. “Well, I think I need to head back and talk to the other alpha. She will be driving Dorren crazy by now.”

Kreatha sighed. “I was hoping you could help us celebrate.”

“What are you celebrating since yesterday?” Gyrion wrapped an arm around Amylia.

“I have had a successful conception. We are waiting a few weeks before we announce it, but a micro scanner was able to locate it.”

“In one day?”

“I am lucky. Some try for years with no success, but my body was just waiting until someone took the burden of prime queen from it. Thanks, Amylia.”

Artruo wrapped his arms around his mate. “Thanks, Amylia.”

Gyrion chuckled. “I suppose she should meet Mother.”

Amylia was shocked. “She’s still alive?”

“Of course. She just had to go into hiding when she had us. I will explain it on the way.”

They walked to their riding beast, and he explained on the way. His mother could have been a queen, but she loved her mate and hid when her time came. She would simply be pregnant and there was nothing that the ruling consort could do. She didn’t want him, but he watched her like a hawk.

When she had two children in a keep with a queen, the ruler passed away and the consort was in search of the next queen. Gyrion’s father was talented but not a warrior, and when the challenge came, he died.

Rather than submit to the man who killed her mate, Yadora ran. She raised her boys outside of the keep system until she was beyond childbearing. She turned to the communities for support and finally retired to a house in the hills. Her talent for manipulating water was still in demand, but she didn’t need the funds, so she took on projects as she wanted to. For now, it was high water so she had time off.

They skipped the keep and headed for a small white stone cottage in the hills. Amylia could see it gleam from a distance.

The woman didn’t look old enough to have a son Gyrion’s age, but she patted him with the familiarity of a parent.

“So, you are the alien that the waters are whispering about.” Yadora scowled at her as she walked into the small yard in front of the cottage.

“Apparently.”

“And already the prime queen. You work fast. So, have you seduced my son?”

Amylia smiled. “No. He did all the work. I just didn’t run away.”

Yadora snorted. “I hear you can fight.”

“I hear you can cook. I am willing to take it on faith if you are.”

There was a chuckle, and the woman with midnight hair and laughing eyes rushed forward and hugged her. “Welcome, daughter.”

Gyrion looked relieved and gave her a big grin. Amylia was about to speak when she heard a familiar sound.

She turned, and the farm beast walked up to her for their daily communing. “Apparently, she can find me anywhere.”

Yadora was impressed and said so as Amylia and the other alpha female had their moment.

After the communication, the beast returned to the farm and Yadora made dinner.

Amylia looked at Gyrion. “Are there ever days when there is nothing to do?”

He lifted her hand to his lips. “Those are the days we do each other.”

Amylia grinned, Yadora snorted and one of the uncomfortable moments shared by family commenced.

Mel watched her parents argue, and she was smug when she took the information to her siblings.

“They are only pretend fighting, Lil. You can come out now. We just can’t see them until tomorrow.”

Tov gave her a sober look. All his looks were so serious. “How do you know, Mel? They seemed serious.”

“Dad grabbed the oil. They are having one of
those
fights.”

Mel took her place in the schoolroom and held the fruit in her hand, levitating it until it was even with her eyes. She held it there for as long as she could and then started over.

Like Mom said, there is always time to start over, as long as you mean it to be a better effort. Mom and Dad always make the effort and each child just makes things better.

With six siblings, Mel was happy to be part of the largest family on Rohul. It made them special and made them stronger. They might not have the brightest strips, but they would be breeding queens and consorts, bringing their people back from the brink. Mel already had her eye on one of the young guards, but it would be another twelve years before she could act on it. Plenty of time for him to grow into those shoulders.

She smirked and continued her lessons in telekinesis. There was plenty to learn before it was her turn. She wanted to know it all.

Okay, one more to go.
Quit
is going to answer a lot of hints I have been planting in the series, and now, I finally get to get everything up and out in the open.

I want to thank everyone who has read all the Terran Times and hope that they will tune in for my next series of novellas that begins in August.
Untrained Fascination-Book One Brace for Humanity.

Thanks for reading,

Viola Grace

Viola Grace (aka Zenina Masters) is a Canadian sci-fi/paranormal romance writer with ambitions to keep writing for the rest of her life. She specializes in short stories because the thrill of discovery, of all those firsts, is what keeps her writing.

An artist who enjoys a story that catches you up, whirls you around and sets you down with a smile on your face is all she endeavours to be. She prefers to leave the drama to those who are better suited to it, she always goes for the cheap laugh.