chapter 12
Crorver's entire family came to the signing, dressed for celebration, it seemed. I felt sorry for Crorver, who'd given his life to his groves. He'd allowed Erbrin to draw him into petty rivalries with Edward, however, who saw no need for such trivialities. In his opinion, there was more than enough room for competition. He'd grown gishi fruit before his rivals. He'd also been foresighted enough to buy the land that made up EastStar Groves. He had no time and certainly no desire to involve himself in petty rivalries.
Erbrin and two employees had shown up as well. The local magistrate was there to witness the signings, as had everyone's solicitors.
Edward had a small interest in both groves, but the majority was owned by the others, who'd put up nearly all the funding. I had no idea how they'd gotten their hands on fifty carats of Tiralian crystal—that was worth a fortune by itself. "We will have all our belongings out by this afternoon," Crorver and Erbrin acknowledged to the magistrate, who had them sign agreements to that effect, along with the promise to not damage any of the property or fines would be levied. I think Dragon and Crane were going with them to make sure nothing was amiss. I wouldn't want to cross either of those strong Falchani.
"If I donate a portion of my gishi fruit allotment, will I get ice cream out of it?" Glendes leaned down to whisper.
"Of course," I laughed. "As much as you want."
"We will invite you to Grey House very soon, to a family dinner. As our guest," he added.
"That sounds nice," I replied.
* * *
"Some updating needed," Adam inspected the Crorver estate with a practiced and critical eye. The house needed enlarging as well, especially the kitchen and baths. I think Adam was planning a larger pool area, too, when all was said and done. With the power the Saa Thalarr held, it would probably be done within an eight-day.
"Reah, you and Edward need to tell us what the groves require," Merrill stood at my elbow, a drink in his hand. "This one is yours, mine will contain alcohol when it comes," he grinned and handed the glass of fruit juice to me.
"Let's go look now," I said. "And we'll have to interview employees. I have a feeling we'll be forced to send a few packing."
We did. Almost half from both groves. Adam and Merrill, both former vampires, laid compulsion on the exiting employees, telling them there would be no retaliation of any kind. They nodded, gathered their things and loaded onto buses bound for Adrixx.
"We'll be hiring more employees, and both groves will be combined," Merrill said as we examined sprinkler systems, talked with supervisors about harvests, pruning, fertilizing and insect control. Edward offered very good advice, in addition to the services of one or more of his supervisors, just to make sure the transitions went smoothly. Lissa went with us, as did Shadow Grey, who pulled her against him as they walked through the spaces between trees.
"You'll make your money back in three years," Edward predicted. "We've gotten rid of the fruit thieves and the incompetent workers. The next harvest will come in four moon-turns. There is much to do within that time. We'll need at least six more supervisors. We'll either hire or train."
"In four months, Reah will be out to here," Drake and Drew appeared. Drew, the scoundrel, made that observation, holding arms far out from his stomach. I swatted at him. He answered by lifting me for a careful hug. "That's our great-nephew, you know," he laughed and rubbed my belly. "We'll be happy to teach him bladework."
"Hah. In less than a year, your own will be driving you crazy," I snapped before thinking. And then blinked at Drake and Drew in embarrassment. "Uh, Lissa," I said, "where's Karzac right now?"
"I don't know. Do you need him?" she smiled at me.
"I don't. Except to check on something for me."
Karzac and Kevis were there in seconds. "What is it, Reah?" Kevis came right to me, his green-gold eyes displaying concern.
"It's not me. I think Lissa's pregnant. With Drake and Drew's babies. Don't ask me how I know. I can't answer that."
Karzac put his hands on Lissa's belly while she stood there, staring at her healer-mate. "It's true," Karzac grinned. "Young Falchani, I hope you are ready for fatherhood. Both of you." Drake whooped and slapped his palm against Drew's.
"I don't know what to do with twins," Lissa grumbled. "Tory and Ry were bad enough together."
"Come on, baby. We have plans to make," Drake and Drew now flanked Lissa, who was vainly attempting to fend both of them off.
"I'll laugh if it's girls," Kevis whispered in my ear. I snickered.
* * *
During the next moon-turn, I had more than enough to keep me busy. Kevis took up my mornings, at least two or three clicks, followed by lunch, a click or so in the ice-cream plant, mostly to make sure things were going smoothly and the employees were doing what they should, and then it was off to the newly-acquired groves. Many new names were kicked around, but eventually it was decided to call them NorthStar Groves. They were slightly to the north and west of EastStar, after all.
* * *
"Come on, Reah needs baby things. We'll need baby things," Drake and Drew were coaxing Lissa away to go shopping. The entourage that went with us was enormous. I saw people staring, openmouthed when the stores were invaded. Dragon and Devin, about to be grandparents, were there, as were Crane, Grace, Kiarra and half the Saa Thalarr, I think. All of my mates had come, including Nefrigar, who'd shortened himself but retained his blue skin. Teeg held me against him as we looked at cribs.
"Reah, money is no object," Lendill handed over a comp-vid. I stared at the information on the screen. It showed funds. In my name. In the trillions. I almost dropped to the floor. Teeg held me up. "This is what Ildevar and the others said should come to you, breah-mul. Half of what was hidden in accounts for the pirates. The rest went to pay restitution to the victims and provide new equipment to the ASD. This is yours, Reah. All of it. You shouldn't have to worry about money for a while."
"Yeah," I whispered hoarsely.
Furniture was purchased. A crib each for Teeg's palace, the reptanoids' plantation and EastStar's manor. Garwin Wyatt would have a bed no matter where he slept. Lissa was having a friendly debate with Drake and Drew over what to buy for their children. I think Karzac already knew the sex, he just wasn't telling. And Lissa, hands on hips, was telling her twin Falchani they were getting ahead of themselves since she was only three months pregnant. I snickered, thinking about how it was that she was pregnant by both at the same time.
"What are you laughing at?" Lissa stared at me.
"Nothing," I burst out laughing. I couldn't help it. Teeg had to hold me up; I laughed so hard tears came. And these were going to be his half-brothers. I wiped more tears away.
"Are you all right?" Kevis asked, his concerned face in front of mine.
"I am," I said. "Teeg's going to be a brother."
"True," Kevis agreed. "Come along, I think we're done for the evening."
"Hey, honey," I said to Astralan, who'd appeared inside the kitchen while I drank a protein fruit jumble that Kevis shoved at me.
"Reah, my love, are you well?" He looked worried.
"I am."
"What was that laughing fit about?" Kevis was almost tapping a foot.
"Well, since they're not here," I snickered. "I was just thinking about how it was that Lissa is pregnant by both her Falchani at the same time."
"Ah," Kevis gave an exaggerated nod. Astralan laughed, sat next to me and laughed again.
"See, even you're smiling now," I poked at Kevis. His smile widened. "How about some ice cream?" I asked both of them. We ended up sharing a small tub of gishi fruit ice cream. I even fed Astralan and Kevis the last few bites. Astralan leaned in to kiss me afterward.
"Come to bed with me," he kissed me again. "I want to hold you against me. F*ck you until you see only me for a little while. And someday, this bump will be mine." He rubbed my belly.
"Are we possessive?" I asked.
"More than you know," he said.
"I like it," I wrinkled my nose at him.
"Good," he said and folded me to his bed.
* * *
"My brother will treat her like a queen," Stellan put a hand on Teeg's shoulder. "Reah's all he's seen for a very long time."
"Here," Edward handed over a generous dish of ice cream. He pushed another in Ry's direction, and soon Tory, Lendill, Farzi, Nenzi, Lok and Aurelius were having gishi fruit ice cream.
"This is amazing," Aurelius sighed.
"We're on our way to being wealthy, just from the ice cream. My distributor is offering even more money if he can get his hands on more of it."
"We'll be making NorthStar Groves more efficient and profitable, with your and Reah's help," Merrill appeared with Adam and Kiarra. "We've got half the updates done on the house." He grinned and accepted a bowl of ice cream. Edward handed one to Merrill and Kiarra as well.
"Reah is a genius," Kiarra sighed, dipping into her ice cream. "This recipe is perfect."
"It's a shame none of her girls showed an aptitude in the kitchen," Adam agreed. "I don't think any of them know how to approach her, now. To offer apologies or anything else."
"They don't see her," Teeg mumbled. "Garde and Jayd and Glinda. They don't see how beautiful she is. On the inside as well as the outside. They wanted what she had. What she could give them. Was it selfishness? Jealousy? I don't know," he shrugged. "But she gave it to them. Her girls. Her time, her talents, her dignity. And they stripped her bare. Never gave a damn thing back. I realize I don't have much room to talk, but I never want to see her standing on the edge of that f*cking volcano again."
"Here, boss." Stellan handed Teeg a glass of bourbon.
"Let's take a little trip," Kevis suggested. "To Cloudsong."
* * *
"Something happened here, I'm sure of it," Kevis said, as they looked around the cold and empty stone shell that had once housed the audience chamber of the royal palace. "Those cages were in this anteroom," he walked to the western edge of the vast room. Black marks where blasts had been leveled at Reah littered the stone floor. Some of the cages, with metal bars melted and misshapen, were still scattered about the smaller room. If Reah hadn't protected the prisoners, they'd have died in the firefight after she turned Thifilatha.
"They were all trying to kill her," Adam pointed out. "How many blasts did she take? If Kiarra had been pregnant and in that situation, I might have taken the entire planet apart."
"But nobody came for her," Kevis sighed. "Not until she'd already taken most of them down. The ASD showed up in time to take Dantel Schuul, his daughter and some of their cronies into custody. That's all that was left. They'd sent everything else they had against Reah, and she was forced to kill them all while they blasted her with lasers and other weapons."
"It was the same thing she'd faced for twenty-five years, don't you think?" Aurelius sighed. "Nobody came. She was forced to do it by herself. With no help."
"Any other High Demon female in this situation would have had half the population of males enraged and tearing the place apart," Tory admitted. "We've cast her out, haven't we?"
"I gave the King and Queen what they desired as I promised," Kifirin appeared. "At great cost."
"You did this for Jayd and Glinda?" Merrill studied Kifirin disapprovingly.
"Yes. It was a promise to them. It almost cost us something far greater. I promised Jayd that the race would thrive. Reah was the path to that promise. I robbed her of her children. I did not remove the mute from them. They will provide the High Demon race with other daughters. All their children will be female. I know not how to make this up to Reah."
"I don't think you can," Kiarra stood before Kifirin. "Everything you attempt to hand her from now on will be tainted. You failed in your creativity, dark god."
"Those girls will never belong to their mother. As they should." Aurelius observed. "You did that to her? And you call yourself a god?"
"I cannot take it back now," Kifirin sighed. "It frightened me when she almost died with the last set of twins. I'd overstepped my bounds. I knew it then. My father's way of telling me I'd erred. If she'd not been so fragile, I'd have forced other pregnancies upon her. I would have. She wouldn't have stepped back from the edge of Baetrah, then. I allowed Gardevik's prejudices to go unchecked, just to keep Reah where she was. Keep her under the Crown's thumb until things were brought back to where they should be. I slept while my planet almost died. I promised Jayd it would thrive again."
"I hope they know how to stand on their own feet, now. Reah's done it for them up to this point," Lendill said. "She won't willingly go back there. Ever. That was supposed to be her homeworld. She's High Demon. Only Garde doesn't think much of her ancestry, does he? Do pointed ears matter that much?" Lendill knew that bitterness. He was half-Elven. That had burned when his older brothers had tortured him with it.
"Part of your mistake is not calling your King and the others to task for not giving aid to Reah. For not working alongside her. If they had, they would not be facing the troubles now, in their groves." Nefrigar appeared. "We do not interfere. Not with mortals or immortals alike, unless they threaten us or our mates with death. And the Wise Ones came and said not to interfere with this," he gestured around the audience chamber. "They said that something would come of this that we could not stop or alter, else I would have come and none of these would have survived. Their particles would have been separated quickly. But you, dark god; has not your parent called you to task? The Wise Ones said that this would come to be."
"He has called a meeting. I have been putting it off," Kifirin admitted.
"I will not pity you, whatever happens," Nefrigar snapped angrily. "I know what happened here. Every Larentii does," Nefrigar turned to Kevis. "Had anyone come, it might have been avoided and Reah would not now be torturing herself over it. It was something that could not be helped or averted, given the circumstances. I hope you get to the bottom of it, soon. I grow tired of waiting." Nefrigar disappeared.
"Wow. I've never seen a Larentii that angry," Kiarra blinked in astonishment.
"I wish we had all the images from this," Kevis said, examining the floor beneath him. Black soot was everywhere.
"The Larentii gave as much as they were willing to recreate for us," Lendill pointed out. "If it weren't for them, we'd have had nothing. There were no working cameras here."
* * *
"Reah, you were moaning in your sleep, my love." Astralan stroked hair back from my forehead gently.
"Honey, I'm sorry I woke you up," I mumbled, my eyes refusing to open completely.
"No," he whispered, pulling me close. "It sounded as if you were in pain. I was afraid it was the baby or something."
"No, honey. I think the baby is fine."
"You're not feeling ill, are you?" His fingers stroked my belly.
"No, honey. Maybe a little hungry, but that's it. What time is it?"
"Nearly dawn. Lie here with me a while longer, and then we'll find breakfast for you and Master Garwin Wyatt." I ran my hand down Astralan's ribs. He drew in a breath and then followed up on my overture.
* * *
"Reah?" Teeg crowded against me as I put sauce together at the stove for eggs. Astralan and I wanted eggs and shaved ham on toasted bread with sauce. The cook and her helper were waiting for breakfast just as Astralan was—all of them seated at the island.
"Teeg?" I leaned back my head to look at him while I stirred. He kissed me, and then kissed me again before going to sit with the others.
"I wish my sauce would turn out like this," the cook sighed. She was in her fifties, just as I was, and in her prime. I liked her. Very much. Edward had a knack for hiring the right people.
"It will." I smiled at her from my seat between Teeg and Astralan.
"What? Where's ours?" Lok looked upset at what we were eating. Flyer, who'd been off with some of the Saa Thalarr Falchani, learning some tricks, as Lok put it, was right behind Lok.
"I'll get you some breakfast, stop fretting," I flipped his braid before going back to the stove. I'd made enough sauce for everybody; I only had to do the eggs.
"Reah, this is very good," Flyer complimented me.
"I'll let you make noodles later," I smiled at him.
"Be happy to," he agreed.
"Reah, can I get something quick before going off to fight the war for justice?" Lendill walked in dressed in his ASD uniform.
"I've got another egg right here, keep your clothes on," I muttered, putting a plate down in front of him. He gave me a brilliant smile as he began to eat.
"Oh, good, breakfast," Ry came in with Erland and Corolan. Three more plates of food were set down. Lendill rushed off as soon as he finished, giving me an egg-flavored kiss first.
"Brush your teeth!" I yelled as he folded away. That caused a bit of snickering around the table.
Farzi, Nenzi and Edward walked in, followed closely by Kevis. The cook and her helper were clearing dishes away by that time. I gave them a conspiratorial grin as they worked beside me.
"Reah, can I get a kiss?" Cory asked as I leaned against him to put a plate of food down for Edward.
"Cory, you can have whatever you want," I threaded my fingers through his dark-blond hair.
"Good," I was on his lap in seconds. "Now, want a bite of this?" he offered some of his food to me.
"I'll take toast."
"Here." He put a bit of jam on it before handing the piece to me. "Want some milk with that?" A glass was poured using power and it floated to me. His fingers stroked my ribs while I ate. "Too thin," he kissed my shoulder. I still wore my stretchy pajama top and cotton bottoms.
"She is," Ry agreed. "Let's take her to Desh's tonight. I'll see if we can get in." Ry has a slight dimple, but it doesn't show itself often. The dimple was present now.
"Good. I want to check on Dee's while we're there," I said. "Since I have money now, I'd like to see if anything needs upgrading."
"We can go today, if you want. I'll take you," Kevis offered. "Feel like visiting your relatives at Desh's to make the reservations?"
"We could. I wouldn't mind seeing Fes." Lok and Aurelius escorted Kevis and me to Tulgalan. Fes broke into a huge smile when we walked into his kitchen.
"Uncle Fes," I hugged him back when he wrapped me in his arms.
"Reah, I was so scared for you," he said while his kitchen staff served us coffee and tea inside his private office. "I saw those vids, and mother and I were shouting at the screen. We knew better, we just couldn't convince anyone else. When Hild Marolla did his exposé, it was such a relief."
"How is your mom?" I asked. Farla was nearing one hundred fifty.
"She's fine. Comes in and helps on Six and Seven-days."
"Have you been to Dee's lately?" I asked.
"Things are great since we got rid of those two," he snorted at my question. He'd meant Ilvan and Radolf. Ilvan was his brother, so I was surprised. "Reah, they stole from you. You know how I feel about that. That's not just theft, it's theft from family. Baby girl, you could have asked us for money anytime. Mother and I would have gladly helped."
"I know. But you have your own business to run and the family to support," I said. "It wasn't your responsibility."
"It was ours, and we failed that test, too," Aurelius growled.
"It's behind us," I said. "Fes, does Dee's need any upgrades or remodels? I can do that now, if it's needed."
"The three banquet rooms need to be redecorated, and some of the kitchen equipment needs upgrading. I can see to it," he offered.
"I'll get somebody on it, but if you wouldn't mind checking on the progress now and then," I said. "You have my comp-code. Just keep me informed."
"Do we have an inside source on getting gishi fruit ice cream?" Fes gave me a shrewdly disarming smile.
"I think we might be able to supply it to Dee's and Desh's, as an exclusive item. And I'll show you how to put that expensive dessert together that they were serving on Stellar Winds."
"That thousand-credit dessert?" Fes was excited, now. The price had jumped and then jumped again as it gained popularity and became more scarce during my illness after moonrush.
"Yeah. That's mine. They called it sex by dessert, but I think we should rename it, don't you?"
"Probably." Fes laughed.
"Reah, I'd like to speak with Fes in private," Kevis said. "Why don't you go check on Dee's and see what they need. We'll order everything and find a work crew afterward."
I blinked at Kevis. They wanted to discuss me, I knew. "All right," I stood and nodded. Aurelius put an arm around my shoulders.
"I'll send mindspeech," Kevis said. Aurelius folded Lok and me away.
* * *
"She seems to like you very much," Kevis looked Fes in the eye.
"She does. Mother and I love her. More than she knows or suspects. Reah kept the business from going under after Father died. He kept his best recipes away from all of us. In spite of all that, Reah managed to recreate all of them, and even improved some of them. When Mother sent her a note after Father died, telling her what would likely happen with the business, we got a reply from Reah immediately, and that reply included every recipe that Desh's needed to stay open. Mother and I have discussed this over the years. We knew Marzi was an evil; we just never did anything about it. She intimidated everyone, including Mother and me. Unfortunately, we didn't know about the abuse Reah suffered when Father sent her off to Edan when she was eight. I'd like to believe we'd have turned Edan in over that if we'd known."
"Do you think your father knew or suspected?"
"I don't know. He may have, but back then, Edan was the golden boy. Desh's number two raked in all the top awards. Of course, we now know that Reah was responsible for those awards, and she wasn't even an adult. Was Edan jealous? Very likely. He hated me because I was first son and Father kept me here at Desh's number one. He, as number two son, was sent to Desh's number two. Edan never got over that, I think. Yes, I know he isn't the same person, now. He and Ilvan both tried to explain that to me. And I should have punched Ilvan in the face as soon as I found out what he was doing."
"I want to have a talk with Edan soon," Kevis said. "To see what he remembers from those days. Recently, I was transported to a time during Reah's youth, where I witnessed a beating he gave her when she was ten. She almost died in that attack. Edan bribed the hospital officials so they'd record the beating as an accident."
"Someone you know can manipulate time." Fes shook his head in wonder. "I wish I had that talent. So many things might be different, now."
"But that's why we don't have that talent ourselves," Kevis pointed out gently. "Any changes in the timeline can result in disaster. We have to leave things alone most of the time, as horrible as that might sound."
"Are you going to be able to help her?" Fes asked. "Sometimes I wish I could bring her to the house and let mother look after her, but she won't come."
"I'm trying to sort this out. She doesn't know it yet, but Ceerah Kade's hearing is tomorrow and the magistrates on Refizan have politely requested her presence. Jalan Wolk has worked out a plea, since this was her first offense. The charges against Ceerah are much more serious."
"I learned so many things about Reah from that program," Fes sighed. "She never talks about those things. Ever."
"The ASD usually prevents their agents from discussing anything they've done. The information is generally too sensitive. Ceerah and that stupid program ruined Reah's cover. Why they thought not to hide her face is beyond belief. Ildevar Wyyld gave permission to release the information on Reah, to clear her name and her record. Those awards are generally kept by the ASD and never shown to the public."
"Did she really take down the drakus seed trade?"
"In ways you can't begin to imagine. Reah is very special, even among High Demons. None of the others can do what she does."
"She's not full High Demon, though. Is she? I'd like to say it's her Desh family genetics, too, but that probably isn't true. Go ahead; dash my hopes that my children might be special if I have any."
"I can't say whose children might be special and whose won't," Kevis smiled. "But in my opinion, aren't all children special? At least to loving parents?"
"Mother seems to think that about me. I try not to disappoint her."
"And there's your answer, right there," Kevis laughed.
* * *
"Get estimates," I told the head cook, who nodded and smiled at everything I said. Aurelius was also smiling and sending mindspeech, telling me the poor man was star struck. Lok, who was also grinning, told me he'd Looked. The man had watched the Hild Marolla special at least six times. I breathed a troubled sigh and went back to explaining what we needed done to Dee's. Head cook Jorden told me he'd get on it right away. We went over the books while I was there, too. Jorden seemed an honest man; Fes had done well when he'd hired him for me.
When I walked onto the floor of the restaurant, there were stares. And then whispers. I thought to duck back inside the kitchen, but Aurelius and Lok had firm grips on my hand and shoulder, so we went through the place. Jorden spoke to some of the lunch crowd, who seemed to be enjoying their food.
"Excuse me," a mother who was there with three children and an older woman, held a hand toward me when I was about to walk past.
"Can I help you with something?" I stopped at her table.
"You're that woman, aren't you? The one from that program." I wanted to sigh or skip away. Other diners were watching, so I could do neither. All I could do was extricate myself as quickly as possible.
"Yes, I am that woman," I nodded and smiled as pleasantly as I could.
"I saw that conference, too, where they asked you questions."
"Yes, that is certainly me," I agreed amiably. "I own this restaurant, and have for many years. I'll understand if you don't wish to bring your little ones here any longer, although I can assure you that your children would be very safe here. I seldom come. I'm only here today to see what upgrades are needed."
"But you're a hero," the woman sighed. "I stopped watching that stupid reality program after I saw what they did to you. I couldn't help thinking that some of those other people might have suffered at their hands as well. I find that attitude demeaning and revolting."
"As do I. I've never been able to watch those programs. We make fools enough of ourselves as it is. There isn't any real need to publicize it."
"I totally agree," she smiled. She was a pretty woman, with pale-blonde hair and hazel eyes. Her children—three girls, must have ranged in age from six to eleven or so. They were all staring at me while I spoke to their mother.
"Auri," I turned to Aurelius, "will you get some ice cream for our guests, here?" I winked at him when I looked him in the eye.
"Right away." Aurelius walked through the kitchen door and disappeared, coming back with two kitchen helpers, a load of bowls and an armload of gishi fruit ice-cream containers. He'd had to fold to Avendor to get it, but he'd accomplished it swiftly.
"We'll be providing free dessert today," I announced. Jorden placed bowls around the tables while the kitchen helpers dipped out generous portions of ice cream for each guest. The screams and excited shrieks began immediately. "This is the ice cream it's impossible to get," the woman was smiling after she tasted it.
"Yes, it is," I agreed. "We'll carry it here as well as Desh's. Here's my comp-code, if you need anything," I handed a small card with the code to her. "It was a pleasure speaking with you."
"Kevis is ready," Lok said when we finally escaped into the kitchen.
"I'll bring in contractors right away," Jorden's eyes were shining. "When will we have the ice cream?"
"Tomorrow," I said. "But I've been working on a special dessert for Dee's, using the ice cream. We'll unveil that next week, perhaps."
"Thank you," Jorden sighed.
"Call me when the estimates come in," I said as Lok, Auri and I walked out the employee entrance.
* * *
"You don't need another mate," Lok laughed. I thought about elbowing him in the ribs. Aurelius folded us back to Desh's.
"I've got one of the banquet rooms reserved for tonight," Kevis said when we appeared. "And an offer for a free meal, if the King of Karathia and the founding member of the Campiaan Alliance will agree to pose with Fes, here."
"What, you're passing on the Prince-Heir of the Elves?" I laughed at Fes.
"Funny, baby girl. Give me a hug before you go," Fes said. I gave him a hard hug and Aurelius took us away.
"Lunch and then a nap," Kevis ordered.
"Do people always do what you say?" I wrinkled my nose at him.
"If they know what's good for them," he replied. "Come along. I think lunch is ready."
It was. A nice soup with crispy finger sandwiches. The soup was wonderful. Farzi and Nenzi, who'd been out with Edward, came in and sat on either side, eating with me. "We lie down for nap," Nenzi announced when I was pointed to my bedroom.
"Sounds good," I said. I brushed my teeth first, as did my reptanoids. They helped me into lounging pajamas and crawled into bed with me.
"Kiss me?" Nenzi said hopefully.
"Sweet man," I brushed his mouth with mine.
"Your sweet man here for you, Reah-love." Nenzi deepened the kiss, placing hands on my face. His kisses became more demanding. As if he wanted something he'd never gotten before. I blinked at him when he pulled away for a moment. "We give Reah what we always want to give," he said, and came right out of his clothing. When I saw what he wanted and what he now had to get it, at first I was shocked. And then I smiled at him.