Rise of the Faire-Amanti (The Ascendant Series Book 3) (25 page)

Her lips twitched over the thought as she eased out of Ty’s embrace and rose from the cushions. She noticed that his breathing didn’t even change, and figured she had completely worn him out. That made her want to laugh, but she stifled it as she collected her robe and pulled it on. If she was being honest, they had worn each other out.

Never in her wildest dreams had she ever pictured the Proce-Amanti like that. No wonder it was such a private thing. Did the witnesses actually
witness
everything? She hadn’t bothered to consider that when she jumped Ty’s bones the night before. The entire Dane megai could have been watching and she wouldn’t have cared.

Was that normal? she wondered. Or had everyone been completely shocked when she and Ty started having sex right in front of them?

Heat flamed in her cheeks as she headed towards the door leading into the house. Her bladder was speaking to her, and she couldn’t afford to let a little humiliation stand in her way. It occurred to her as she opened the door that she had done a fair share of embarrassed skulking in Ty’s parents’ house since arriving there.

She considered what to say when she saw Elly and J’ael. Thanks for letting me boink your son? Sorry you’ve got such a horny female for your daughter-in-law? Now you know why you’re going to be grandparents?

Ugh
.

Needless to say, she was deeply relieved when she didn’t encounter anyone on the way to the bathing chamber.

When she reached it and stepped inside, she saw a large pile of clothing on the counter. She puzzled over it for a moment, thinking that either Elly or J’ael was about to come into the room to have a shower and change. Then she lifted a blouse from the top of the pile and held it up against herself. It was a perfect fit. Elly had obviously put the clothes there for her and Ty.

Kyr’s heart stumbled as she thought of everything Ty’s mother had done for both of them. Ever since her arrival, she’d only treated Kyr as though she was her own child. She knew from Ty’s thoughts that Elly had every reason to resent her based off Shaya’s actions. Instead, Elly was intent on making her feel welcome and protecting her every way she knew how.

Hell, just the night before, she had given Kyr her son. There was no question that Ty’s family had very quickly become hers.

Tears filled her vision as she carefully put the blouse back on the pile and moved over to the shower to start the water. She took care of her personal needs and then climbed under the steaming water, letting it beat down on her shoulders as she considered the changes her life had taken since her days living in a college dorm on Earth.

There had been so many changes. So many obstacles. From finding out she wasn’t actually from Earth, to getting attacked by Shelvaks, to transitioning to Alametria, to finding out there were forces at work against her on her home planet, to losing her life, to now.

The one constant was Ty. He was her rock.

The words he had spoken during the ceremony ran through her mind. She had never heard him say anything so heartfelt and romantic. She would carry the words with her for the rest of her days.

Thinking this brought on a sudden pang of heartache. She really missed Ty. In fact, she really needed to make sure he was okay.

Right now.

A sense of urgency had her opening the shower door with her hair only half-rinsed. Before she could step out, the bathing chamber door burst open. Ty rushed into the room and hauled her up against him, bringing his lips to hers.

Her entire body relaxed. She sank into the kiss, relishing the taste and feel of him. The feeling of panic evaporated as the kiss melted away all of her unspoken troubles and fears.

Ty kicked the bathing chamber door shut and shed his robe, then climbed into the shower with her. Neither of them spoke.

His mouth slanted over hers again and again, indulging in long, drugging kisses as the water cascaded over them. He managed to grab the soap without breaking away from her mouth. His calloused hands glided leisurely over her body. She would have moaned when he encircled her breasts, but his kiss captured the sound.

Quiet
, he conveyed as his hands worked their magic.
No noise
.

The idea that they were doing something illicit brought a whole different element to their encounter. Kyr’s arousal spiked. She wanted to give voice to it, but not doing so heightened every sensation. When Ty’s hand slid between her legs, she was practically panting.

Go over
, he urged as he touched her where she so badly needed it.
Silently
.

She did. Even after everything they had done together the night before, the orgasm struck her like a bolt of lightning. Her cry of release remained unvoiced, but she did let out a little whimper when Ty lifted her and slowly penetrated her even as her body throbbed from pleasure.

He finally pulled away from her mouth so he could give her a wicked grin.
No noise
, he repeated.

Then he started moving.

In the end, it was a challenge for both of them to remain quiet, but they managed. This round of lovemaking included a tenderness that they’d lacked the night before. Kyr couldn’t say if one version was any better than the other. If anything, she enjoyed them both equally. Judging by Ty’s smile as they toweled off, he felt the same way.

Getting dressed was a bit of a process in the rather cramped quarters, but once again, they managed. Kyr considered the fact that Elly had left clothing for both her and Ty in the bathing chamber and idly wondered if the intuitive female had envisioned this sort of scenario.

Once they were done getting dressed, they took a moment to connect with Gren. It was with great relief to them both that they connected instantly.

What’s going on?
Ty thought.
Were you successful in rescuing Scarlyt?

In a manner of speaking
, Gren replied.

They both felt his continued exhaustion, though he was trying to keep it from them. He was also in pain. Kyr frowned in concern and exchanged a look with Ty.

Scarlyt managed to escape Malak and his Marauders
, Gren continued.
Jenna helped her before I could break in and get to her. But Ruby was killed in the process
.

Kyr thought of the cheerful Peace Keeper who was nearly as small in stature as she was, and was filled with sorrow over her death. So much senseless violence, and there was no end to it in sight. She wished it was the last time she would receive such news.

Scarlyt’s rescue came about easier than it sounds
, Gren shared with them. W
e both picked up on the fact that Malak was distracted by something. I saw the Marauders loading things into their vessels, and on the inside, Scarlyt recognized the V’larian markings on most of the containers they took out.

Kyr’s heart thumped heavily as she realized that Vycor had begun implementing his plan.
When was this?
she asked.

Just after midday here…dusk by you
, Gren said.
I tried to reach you both last night, but I couldn’t.

Sorry
, Ty replied.
My mother conducted the Proce-Amanti last night.

Is that what happened? I wondered why it feels like I’m only communicating with one of you but I hear both of your voices. That’s new. Congratulations.

Kyr smiled, feeling his sincere happiness for them.
Thanks, Gren. Let’s fill you in on the plan we’re moving forward with over here.

Gren seemed equally uncertain about involving the Shelvaks as Kyr felt, but none of them had any better ideas. Much as Owyn had suggested the day before, Gren hoped it would be as “simple” as them arriving at the palace and killing Vycor. As she had told Owyn, she let Gren know that was definitely still Plan A.

In the meantime
, she told him,
do your best to stop Malak. We can’t afford to have battles waging on both sides of us.

No one knows that better than me
, Gren thought.
We’ll do what we can. Now get your asses to the palace
.

Chapter 30

Gren’s order that they get to the palace ran through Kyr’s mind as she and Ty finally left the bathing chamber and headed out to the family room. Knowing that Vycor had definitely started implementing his plans generated a whole new sense of urgency in her. It had all seemed much more nebulous before. This made it clear that lives could be taken at any time.

We’ll do this, Kyr
, Ty told her as he twined his fingers with hers.
Nothing has changed. We’ve suspected for a while that he’d moved forward with his plan. If anything, this strikes me as good news. He didn’t start until now. We’ve got time to catch up with him before things get out of our control.

It didn’t escape her attention that he wasn’t using Vycor’s name. She knew the visceral reaction it caused in him, and she couldn’t blame him for it. She nodded to show she’d heard him and agreed with him. Then her attention turned to greeting Elly and J’ael.

Ty’s parents were standing very close to each other in the cooking area. In fact, J’ael’s lips were currently making their way along his amanti’s slender neck. Kyr’s eyebrows lifted. She felt Ty debating whether to make a noise to alert them to their presence or scramble out of the room and pretend he’d never seen anything.

“Good morning,” Kyr announced, making the decision easy for him.

Elly started, but J’ael grinned and eased a step away from his amanti. “Good morning,” he returned, moving around the counter and drawing Kyr into a hug. “Glad to see you’re both looking well rested.”

It surprised her to discover that she didn’t feel embarrassed around Ty’s parents, after all. If they could stand in the kitchen necking over a plate of frying breakfast meat, they were surely not offended by the ritual Elly had performed.

“We are, thanks,” she said as she pulled out of the hug. “The cushions were a nice touch.”

Behind her, Ty sighed.

“That was my idea,” J’ael said, taking Kyr’s arm and leading her over to the dining table. “When Elly and I were joined, we had to settle for a highly uncomfortable straight-backed chair.”

“Good Lord,” Ty mumbled as he took a seat beside Kyr.

Kyr laughed loud and long.

When Elly had flipped the meat, she walked over and gave Kyr a hug. “Welcome to our family, Kyr,” she said. “Officially.”

“Thank you,” Kyr replied.

She thought about how kind Elly had been the day before when she helped prepare her for the ritual. Ty’s mother had expressed so much excitement over the fact that she was about to gain a new daughter. The truth was, she’d felt like a part of Ty’s family from the moment Elly referred to her as her daughter while confronting Owyn.

This sense of family filled a void she hadn’t even been aware was there. Her love for Elly and J’ael settled right alongside the love she held for Wyk and Ullah. Between the two sets of surrogate parents, perhaps one day she’d no longer feel the pain over the lack of love from those who had given her life.

Ty leaned over and kissed her. That was all.

But it was enough.

“So, what’s with the eyeshades?” Kyr asked Elly in an effort to change the subject.

“Didn’t Tae tell you? Even before the Proce-Amanti, the two of you were radiating so much energy that I couldn’t look directly at you without these. It’ll take a while before you can get that energy under control so it doesn’t hurt the eyes of female Mynders.”

“Especially talented ones,” J’ael tacked on, earning a smile from his amanti.

Elly added, “It’ll also take a while for you two to fight the physical draw caused by the Proce-Amanti.”

“Especially based off the reaction last night,” J’ael thought to add. This time, he earned a warning look from Elly as she moved back to the cooking fire. “What? You saw how quickly they reacted. It’s just stronger than anything I’ve heard of, is all.”

Kyr decided that she harbored some embarrassment, after all. Fortunately, Ty read her feelings and turned the topic.

“We’ve heard from Gren,” he began, and shared everything they had learned. “He wants us to get to the palace as soon as possible, and I don’t blame him. Whatever’s been happening out in the Dark Lands has pushed him to his limit. He’s working with a questionably trained group with even more questionable loyalties. It’s going to be extremely difficult for him to stop whatever’s happening out there with his limited resources.”

J’ael was all seriousness now. “If you and Kyr intend to influence your way into the palace and then get through it undetected, that’s going to expend a great deal of energy. And you’ve said yourself that you don’t know how many Mynders are now under Vycor’s influence. You won’t be able to control or influence all of them, from what you’ve said.”

“That’s true,” Ty allowed, pausing to thank his mother as she set a plate of food in front of him. “We haven’t figured out why we can’t get around the influencing in everyone. And there’s still the matter of finding someone to disable the tracking system on an intergalactic ship. I’ve thought about seeking out EyraRowe, since he helped me when Vycor sent me out to the Dark Lands. But his mental state is a little shaky, at best.”

Kyr’s stomach rolled over when her plate was set in front of her. Before she could so much as blink, Ty had removed her breakfast meat and put it on his own plate. She let out a sigh of relief and gratitude.

“He’s under a close watch by Vycor,” she said as she lifted a biscuit and broke it in two. “He helped me and Gren escape the palace. Even though I protected his mind, Ty’s right that it couldn’t handle much more meddling. Besides, I plan on saving Sem and Caelys before we go anywhere outside the palace.”

“What a coincidence,” boomed a voice from the back of the house. “I plan on rescuing Sem, too.”

Owyn marched in as though the house was his own. He wore light armor, a de’llum, and a satchel that bulged at the seams. Kyr was impressed that he had entered without any of them realizing it. She hadn’t picked up on his thoughts, and judging by everyone else’s surprised reactions, they hadn’t, either.