Askance

Recovering from damage done by a psycho, Silari, Agent of the Alliance, has been waiting for a new assignment. When that assignment turns out to be one of two dozen women in line for a shot at becoming the bride of an Avatar, she is slightly disappointed. What man would want a woman damaged in body and mind? Maksuan has shied away from women who used their wiles to get his attention, but the shy Terran shines in every room she enters. He tries to get closer to her and when he finds out why she is dodging him, he takes action and removes clothing.

The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage the electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Askance Copyright © 2012 Viola Grace ISBN: 978-1-77111-179-9 Cover art by Martine Jardin All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher. Published by eXtasy Books Look for us online at: www.eXtasybooks.com

Askance A Terran Times Tale By Viola Grace

Chapter One

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fter three months of therapy and regeneration treatments, Silari was ready to rejoin the workforce and hopefully, today was the day. She fidgeted with her hair, still amazed that the follicle stimulation could take her from one inch to her normal shoulder-length hair in just a few hours. The assignment officer smiled slightly as he looked through her file. “Agent Henderson, you have completed your rehabilitation after your capture and retrieval.” “I have.” “And your recuperation is complete? Your counselling sessions as well?” “They are as complete as they are getting and my counsellor gave me a clear workup.” She sat with her hands in her lap, fighting the urge to touch the scars that had been carved into her skin. The Raider who had tortured her considered himself an artist. He carved matching bands of designs around each wrist bringing the design up to the elbow, the same with ankle to knee. Her abdomen bore the largest of the scars, remembered agony flared every time she looked in a mirror after a shower, so she had simply stopped looking at her reflection. 1

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The torturer had followed each cut with a chemical compound that burned all the way through her skin, making the marks permanent. The Alliance medical teams had been unable to heal her without removing her skin, so she had engaged in therapy to come to grips with her altered appearance. Today, she wanted her job back as an investigative agent for the Alliance. “Good, good. Well, I have good news, Agent Henderson. We have found an assignment for you.” “I am ready for duty.” She tried to give the appearance of being in control of herself, but she could feel the look of pity on her dispatcher’s face. “The assignment we have for you is not active duty, per se. You are being sent to Niiko.” Silari cocked her head. “I don’t understand. Am I investigating someone on Niiko?” Her dispatcher rubbed his head and sighed. “No. You have been declared unfit for active duty. The assignment on Niiko is more of a tryout.” She was confused. “For what?” “Niiko wants his Avatar to take a wife and Maksuan is being difficult. The only thing that his Avatar would agree to would be to choose from a few dozen women with compatible biology. You are one of those chosen.” Silari sat in shock. “I am unsuitable. You have seen my files. You know what my body wears.” “As does Niiko, but he has chosen you as one of the candidates. He saw something that pleased him and you will go to see and be seen.” “What happens when he chooses someone else?” Her fingers knotted in her lap. 2

Askance “You will be given a full pension and sent to begin your retirement. Several of your planetary sisters have offered you a place in their homes or on their worlds.” Silari jerked her head in a nod. “Fine. When do I leave?” “The shuttle is waiting. It will take you to the ship.” “Fine. I will go and pack a bag.” She got to her feet and her hand was on the door when she heard, “Agent Henderson, I wish this could have come out differently for you.” Silari turned her head and spoke over her shoulder as the door opened. “So do I.” With a determined step, she walked out of her dispatcher’s office on Nodak Station, returning to her quarters to gather her things. Her life was about to redirect itself and she could either fight or go along for the ride. Silari planned on a happy medium. Days on board the Dakramic Hind had her pacing in frustration. She needed to have somewhere to run, someone to talk to, but the ship was sparsely populated and conversations were fleeting. The Hind had carried six of the other women. She was the last to be chosen as a candidate. From what the crew had told her, the planet had created a facility for the women that kept them separate from the population until the full complement was achieved. Maksuan was not to choose one simply because he had known her longer. He had to have equal exposure to all of the women selected by his world. When Silari arrived, the introductions could start. 3

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She sat on the observation deck and watched the stars pass. Her future loomed ahead of her, unformed and shapeless. The feeling of being out of control had begun on the day that her routine arrest had turned into her nightmare. She had no psychic talent, merely a strong personality and that changed the Raider’s plan. He had handed her over to a talent who had used a combination of blades and his own acidic secretions to mark her. Her stamina had fascinated him and he had been planning to continue his artwork, but the Sector Guard had found her and intervened. They took her to a healer, but the acid that her torturer used had burned its way into her cells and attached to her DNA. He was part of her for life now. Silari shook her head and brought herself out of her memory. All of her uniforms covered her from wrist to ankle and were high necked. The less comment she elicited, the better for her peace of mind. She was simply Silari Henderson, Agent of the Alliance, retired. A woman cleared her throat and smiled, fidgeting with her uniform. “Agent Henderson, we are nearing Niiko. Please collect your things and a pilot will meet you at shuttle bay nine.” “Thank you, crewman.” With one last look at the panorama of stars, she got to her feet and returned to her quarters. Her bag was ready and waiting for her, just as it had been every day since she boarded the ship. There was no sense unpacking when she knew she wasn’t staying. 4

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With the bag slung over her shoulder, she made her way down to shuttle bay nine. She nodded at the crew as she passed them, but few, if any, responded. She had kept to herself on this trip and they had sensed that she wanted to be left alone. The shuttle pilot was waiting for her when she approached the designated location. “Good afternoon, Agent Henderson. Are you ready for your trip to Niiko?” She sighed and clasped hands with the pilot. Having him be another Terran made things so much worse. “As ready as I can be. How soon will we be there?” He smiled and waved for her to enter the ship. “Four hours or so. It is a pretty straight shot and the Hind will get us as close as she can.” “I would say I can hardly wait, but that would be a lie.” She moved into the shuttle and stowed her bag before she took the navigator seat. The harness pressed against her suit and she tried to ignore the press against her scars. This was coming up far too quickly. She wasn’t at ease with her body yet, so how could she expect to make a positive impression in the arena of physical appearance? She couldn’t even guess at why she had been selected in her current state and when the pilot got clearance to leave and smiled encouragingly at her, she responded with a matching smile. No sense ticking off the last friendly face she was going to be seeing for a while. Silari watched the Hind fall away from them as they turned toward the spinning orb of Niiko. Silari just had to humiliate herself and then, she would be able to retire somewhere and live quietly for 5

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the rest of her natural life. It wasn’t much of a career plan, but it was all she had.

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7

Chapter Two

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he shuttle touched down on Niiko and her pilot inclined his head. “It was a pleasure meeting you, Agent Henderson.” She nodded and unbuckled. “Thank you for your prompt delivery, pilot.” He caught her hand. “It will get better, Silari. You just have to give life the opportunity to prove it to you.” Bitterness welled up in her and she tried not to cry. “I really doubt it. I have just recovered from a rather traumatic event and this is throwing me back into a situation where I have no control. It isn’t fair.” “Life out here isn’t fair, Henderson. You simply get on with your duty and do what you can to get through.” He smiled again. “My name is Robert Anders, by the way. I have been wed for the last two years to the wife that the Alliance chose for me. She is everything I wanted and yet was afraid to hope for.” That brought her a little way out of her misery. “Did you have a choice?” He rubbed a hand through his short brown hair. “No. She was part of a lottery to get new genes into her species. She didn’t want me, I didn’t want her and yet, 7

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now I can’t think of a day going by without her. You met Lohra actually, she was sent to notify you of the shuttle.” “Lavender skin, brown hair and bright blue eyes?” She was grateful for the distraction of the conversation. “Yes, that’s her. Lohra is one of the Dekkanic people. She agreed to accompany me to the stars in an effort to keep me happy while we settled into married life. We have a home on Dekkan, but it will wait until I retire or she becomes pregnant.” “Do you have a problem being used like that?” “Henderson, men and women have been using each other like that back on Earth since time began. There is nothing wrong with it unless you are facing a partner you absolutely can’t stand. If there is mutual attraction, where is the harm?” He made a good point and she smiled until the com beeped. “Pilot Anders, please return to the Hind. We are waiting for you.” She sighed. “Thank you for the kind words, Robert. I needed to talk it out a little. Please don’t let me keep you.” He followed her to the hatch and as soon as she slung her bag over her shoulder, he brought her in for a hug. “Take care and simply let what happens, happen. Niiko and Maksuan have a good reputation for being reasonable and intelligent. Don’t worry about anything. You will be free and clear in no time.” Silari smiled. “Thanks again. Say hello to Lohra for me. She’s a sister-in-law of sorts and I am afraid I was a little rude to her.” He chuckled. “She lives with a Terran, she is used to 8

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rude.” It brought a genuine grin to her features for the first time in a very long time. With that smile still in place, she left the shuttle and crossed the tarmac to the building where a guard waited for her. The guard didn’t speak but led her through a maze of halls and eventually, Silari heard feminine conversation in the rooms they approached. He gestured for her to enter the room at the end of the hall and she inclined her head. If everyone on Niiko was as silent as the guard was, she might just get through this with her dignity intact. The moment that she walked through the doors, her hope went out the window. Twenty-three pairs of eyes fixated on her and one woman said what they seemed to all be thinking. “Oh, great. Another one.” “Where do I put my bag?” The spokesperson for the group gestured down a hall. “The door will open for you when you approach. Watch for the light to warm up.” Silari nodded with a jerky motion and walked down the hall that had been pointed out to her. The doors all had small lights above them and as she walked, the door at the end of the hall began to glow. Silari headed to her room with relief and was stunned to see the panoramic view that took up the entire corner of the chamber. If the other women knew that she had this view, their attitude was far more understandable. It was a room to kill for. Silari unpacked her ship suits and coveralls before she explored her room. There was a lav, a wide bed 9

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with crisp sheets and a small entertainment unit, as well as a low couch and table. It was perfectly comfortable, but there was no food dispenser, so she had to join the others if she was to have any sort of sustenance. She checked her reflection out in the mirror of the lav and as soon as her cuffs hid all traces of her scars, she walked back to the common area to face the rest of the two dozen. She could only name about half the races of women that were sitting around on couches and drinking either tea or wine. “Good afternoon, ladies.” She kept her voice blank and calm. The woman who had spoken earlier turned to her with a scowl. “We were having a discussion and it did not include you.” Silari smiled and went to the dispenser to get a cup of tea. Her sense of hearing was the most exceptional thing about her, so she sat at the edge of the grouping and simply listened. The other women were discussing the most likely of them to get the attention of the Avatar and they were wondering about when he was going to make his appearance. Silari sipped at her tea and listened to the footfalls that were coming down the hall. If all the women were gathered, there could only be one possible new entry to the mix. **** Maksuan deliberately made his footsteps audible to the 10

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women waiting for him in the chambers designed for this purpose. When he saw all the women in the room, he forced himself to keep walking. If Niiko wanted him to take a mate, he would find a woman that he could converse with and leave the more wild behaviour to others. Niiko was the one who wanted a female Avatar to complement Maksuan’s presence. It was a trend that many sentient planets were trying and Niiko was no exception. A Selna, Azon, Wyoran, Borthic and Oefric were easily identifiable by their auras, but the others were generic blends based on the glow of their skin. The women were all dressed in revealing clothing and he winced at the exposed flesh. Sitting to one side was a Terran, but her aura was showing dark colouration and a deep emotional pain. Her clothing covered her from neck to ankle and the demure way she was sitting caused a flutter of relaxation in him. “Good afternoon, ladies. If you would accompany me to the dining hall, we will share a meal and introduce ourselves.” He watched their reactions to his presence and gauged their attitudes based on their body language. He repelled four, three were confused, ten were indifferent, six were attracted to him and the woman sitting on her own simply watched him warily. She was reserving judgement on him and her situation. He quirked his lips as the others got to their feet and lined up to follow him. He led the way down the halls, past the endless pillars and into the grand dining hall 11

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with its long table set for twenty-five. He stood next to the chair at the head of the table, unsurprised to see the Selna snake in next to him. The lush Wyoran took over the seat on his other side and the women slowly arranged themselves next to their seats, waiting for his authorization to sit. The Terran took a seat at the far end of the table without waiting, facing his chair. There was a stillness to her that should have been unsettling, but she was simply there, taking up space while her mind was elsewhere. She was not focussed on him, not waiting for his attentions but rather, simply waiting. What could a woman with a face that lovely be waiting for if it wasn’t the chance at being a planet’s secondary Avatar? Maksuan was resigned to the amusement that Niiko was emanating from deep within. With the planet manipulating events, it was unsurprising that there was a woman who caught Maksuan’s interest. He just wondered what the Planet saw in the quiet woman at the far side of the table. What lay beneath her concealing clothing and behind her sombre face?

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Chapter Three

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ilari sat and waited as the courses of food were brought out and the women were at their most charming with their host. She kept concentrating on the thought that she only needed to make a tolerable impression in order to make it seem that she was an active participant in this ridiculous process. The other women were in a series of alluring costumes or traditional dress. As a Terran Volunteer, she had no native costume. A number of Volunteers had tried to get jeans and t-shirts in as official garb, but the Alliance wasn’t that gullible. After she gave her name and planet of origin, Silari kept to herself. The food of Niiko tasted nice and the preparations were not too exotic. She found herself eating with good appetite and a focussed ear on what was going on around her. Rashharna, the Selna, was positively purring into Maksuan’s ear. The Wyoran, Thira, had one of her hands suspiciously off the table. Silari found a teeny bit of amusement in the discomfort in the eyes of the Avatar. It was rather comforting to see that she was not the only one less 13

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than impressed by the process. “Ladies, I offer you the full run of the grounds, but please do not leave the compound as the local population is less than thrilled at the move that the Planet is making. Niiko means well, but the Yeruan have dignity beyond what they feel their Planet can tamper with.” He got to his feet and the light of the candles flickered and illuminated his elegant clothing. Aside from his long, loose hair, he reminded her of a samurai. Maksuan’s clothing echoed the boxy, pleated fabric of those Earth warriors and aside from the greengold tinge to his skin. He could have stepped out of an ancient piece of Terran artwork. His skin was silky black with a gold shine as the light caught it. His eyes were black unless Niiko joined the conversation, when they turned a glowing emerald green. Silari was curious about the shape of his ears, but she was content watching him from a distance. He was pretty enough, but all admiration was going to be a oneway street. When they got to their feet, she immediately gravitated to the gardens that she had been looking at through the glass during dinner. The flowers were lovely, exotic and peculiar but exactly what her mood needed. She wandered down a path and it wasn’t until she came to a dead end that she realized she had stepped into a maze. “Damn it.” She stroked the flowers near her and listened for any of the other women in her vicinity. Humming to herself, she placed a hand on the 14

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blooms and gently caressed them as the light faded and she found herself in darkness. “Holy…” Lights began all around her, the flowers glowing in the darkness and letting her move with relative ease. She took slow and careful steps, always keeping her right hand on the wall. A voice came to her out of the shadows. “He is ticklish, you know.” She squeaked in surprise. “Avatar?” “Yes, Agent Henderson. We have not had a moment to speak and I simply wanted to know what you thought of this whole process.” He moved out of the shadows to face her in the glow of the flowers. The elegant bow he offered her showed the grace of years of practice. The black silk of his hair slithered over his shoulders and back again as he straightened. She bowed stiffly in return. “I apologize for my lack of grace.” “You have done very well considering that you are coming here off an injury.” She froze. “You know about that?” He inclined his head. “Not the details, but I am fairly sure that it was not pleasant.” She barked a laugh and tried to move past him. “You have a knack for understatement.” He caught her by one arm and took her hand. “You are safe here. No one will hurt you.” Silari looked up into his dark eyes and she kept her voice calm with effort. “I am not worried about injury here. There is little left to do to me that has not already been done. My body is damaged beyond repair and my 15

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mind hangs on by a thread. I don’t know why I was selected as a candidate for this.” He paused and Niiko surged to the fore, the green glow of his eyes casting shadows on the high cheekbones. “You are here because I wanted you to be. I have read your dossier, but do not worry, Maksuan is unaware of the details. I chose you because you have survived horror and came out on the other side with a desire for life. You are my choice, Silari Henderson, but Maksuan will have to know you the way that I do.” She shuddered, near tears. “Does he know what you are saying?” “No. I have blocked him, but he is eager to return to you. His society has a similar fashion sense to your current garb. The appeal is in not knowing what lies beneath.” “Thank you for not telling him.” The colour faded and she was looking up into dark eyes that were illuminated by the flowers around them. “Did Niiko say something to upset you?” She quickly drew in a deep breath. “No, no. He merely told me that he was the one who placed me here as a candidate. He didn’t say why.” “May I escort you out of the maze? You must have had a tiring journey and you have not had time to rest.” “Thank you. That would be very kind.” She chuckled softly and looked down at their joined hands. He looked surprised when he saw that he was still holding her hand, but he released her slowly and held his arm, wrist up, to her. She placed her fingers over his pulse and together, 16

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they walked out of the scented floral maze. “Where are the others?” She looked around and was surprised by the lack of women watching for Maksuan. “I dismissed fourteen of them to return to their homes. They are packing and the other nine are no doubt hatching some sort of plot to further their chances with me.” “Do you mind being chased like a small, fluffy animal?” She fought her grin as they approached the huge house that she now realised was the Avatar’s residence. “It has its perks, but I am finding it a little shocking. There is a cultural divide that the women don’t seem to be taking into account. Courtship among my people is rather different than most races of the Alliance. The male is responsible for making all the overtures and the woman is expected to remain aloof until the moment of declaration is upon them.” It made sense, several of the more traditional races held a similar bias. The more physically aggressive sex engaged in courtship and the more delicate of the sexes kept the home and engaged in support actions. It was a fairly equal partnership, as long as the efforts and strengths were both accepted and acknowledged. He led her through the halls and past a number of soberly dressed servants, slowly pacing at her side until they reached the quarters where the candidates were housed. He leaned forward to kiss her wrist, but she saw the trailing edge of her scar jutting from her sleeve and Silari jerked her hand away. She blushed at his confused look. “I am sorry. Please. Sorry.” 17

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She scuttled into the women’s quarters and met nine pairs of accusing eyes. With a sigh, she braced herself for the onslaught and they didn’t wait long before they attacked.

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Chapter Four

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ashharna scowled, “So, you have been stalking him in the gardens all this time?” Silari twisted her lips in a matching grimace. “No. I went for a walk and the light disappeared. He came and found me.” Thira fluffed her hair. “It won’t do you any good anyway. Why would he want a woman like you when he can have one of us?” Silari held up her hands. “Whatever. You can have him. If you don’t mind, I am off to bed.” The Azon, Ydella, smiled. “Good night. He said we are going exploring in the morning.” Rashharna threw a slipper at Ydella. “Why did you tell her?” Silari rolled her eyes and waved good night to the women still in the common area. Fine, they wanted to have secrets. She could play at that game as well. Her room opened for her as she approached it. With a sense of relief, she stripped the moment the door shut and faced the open view. Inside her, she knew that Niiko had selected this room, because it had the best view and was probably the largest, but she didn’t care. 19

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It was lovely no matter the reason that she had been installed in it. With a heavy exhalation, she flopped onto the bed and worked her way under the covers. The day hadn’t been a disaster, but she didn’t know what to call it. Somehow, things had gone beyond her control. Oddly enough, disaster had not followed. There was a small smile on her lips as she drifted off to sleep, images of the glowing wall of flowers teasing her thoughts. Flowers surrounded her and each one was glowing with a different colour. A figure separated from the glow and walked toward her. “This is the way you could see the flowers if you joined us. The life force of each blossom is different, the colour more vibrant than the one before it.” The eyes of Niiko smiled at her in Maksuan’s face. “Where are we?” She gestured to their surroundings. “We are in your mind. I merely took your favourite memories of the evening and crafted them to suit my perceptions. Would you care to walk?” He extended his hand, wrist up, and she had little choice but to place her hand on his wrist and let him lead her. They walked through the gardens until the rush of water showed her a beautiful cascade down a quartz cliff. “It is lovely.” “Thank you. My surface has many such treasures and they will all be yours if you agree to take on my Avatar as your mate.” She chuckled. Her clothing in the dream was a long 20

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toga-like gown. Her arms were unscarred, but she knew that it was simply her dream state that made them so. “I don’t think that it will be possible. Once he knows the extent of my damage, he will be revolted.” “Do you find him offensive?” “No. Of course not. He is very handsome and you chose well to have him represent not only you, but also his species. He also seems kind and polite, so he is an excellent catch.” “I am glad that you think so. He was a little taken aback that you rejected his kiss earlier.” “He would have seen my scars.” Her voice came out in a whisper. Niiko sighed. “I am sure that you are aware that I have a different criterion for attraction. I want to see joy in Maksuan’s soul. He had a few flickers of that this afternoon.” “It was probably when Thira had her hand in his lap.” Niiko snorted. “No, it was when he saw you caressing the flowers. The Yeruan are attracted to women who like to take things slowly. It woke any number of instincts in him and not one of them was linked to pity.” “Do you honestly think that he will not be disgusted by the marks on me?” Silari needed an honest answer. “I think he will pity you for the pain that you were put through and admire you for surviving. He has his own issues that he can explain to you in time, but for now, know that he is definitely more interested in you than any of the others.” Niiko lifted her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to her wrist where her scars started. 21

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Light cascaded and painted her marks on her skin in a glow that lit the night. Her belly, calves and arms all wore the designs carved into her physical body. “This is much prettier than the real thing.” “If I promised that it could be the everyday appearance of your marks, would you be more favourable?” Niiko led her to the quartz wall and showed her how to enter the cavern behind it. A huge chamber waited for them once they slipped through the narrow and well-hidden hallway. “Wow. I know that this is of your doing, because I have never seen anything remotely like it.” Silari looked around at the images carefully carved onto the quartz walls by expert and ancient hands. Columns of images depicting what she imagined to be the first Avatar of Niiko covered every surface. “She was Caragial, a lovely woman who had an open heart and a generous spirit. When I walked within her, Caragial’s people listened and obeyed both my words and her knowledge of their customs. We walked together for one thousand and one hundred years before she asked to rest.” Silari stared at the walls and moved on to the next Avatar. “Who was he?” “Orac. He was killed before we could completely bond.” Niiko was grim. It didn’t take much for Silari to figure it out. “You destroyed him.” Niiko nodded shortly. “He wanted power, eternal life and the opportunity to take advantage of his own people. This was hidden from me until we started to bond. When I read his true intent, I simply gave him 22

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everything without building him up before I did it.” “Is that what normally happens?” She bit her lip as she proceeded to the next set of images. “Yes, most planets take an Avatar in a series of stages. The first stage strengthens the Avatar, gives them power to survive the changes. The second stage alters their bodies, creates new nerve channels and locks their physical state. The third stage is moving into their minds. Once the first few changes have been enacted, the third can take place over an extended period of time.” Silari walked to the next set of carved images. A woman about to be executed but she stood and green light flared out of her eyes, killing the invading army. “You took her during a battle.” “I did. I had to give her only enough power to help subdue the invading army, but once she was mine, they stood back. They didn’t know that she wasn’t fully mine at that point, but Ukani was a treasure. She was my Avatar for eight hundred years. She met a male, fell in love and wanted a family. I carefully released her and she got to live out her life as she chose to.” A singular image of another male made her frown. “How long did he last?” “Parkalo was only my Avatar for eighty years. When Ukani came to visit me for the last time, she brought her grandson, Maksuan. Parkalo and I had never been a perfect fit and he was only too happy to resign and begin a normal life of his own. That was over three hundred years ago and Maksuan and I have been together since then.” “It sounds like you are happy with the pairing.” 23

Viola Grace “I am, but I fear that he will wish to leave me as his grandmother did. If he has a mate of his own, this is less likely.” “You don’t want him to leave you.” Unable to control herself, she reached up to trace the relief carving of Maksuan in the rock. She also knew another thing—Niiko carved these images himself. “I want to keep him with me and I will provide him with everything I can think of to keep him happy. He has not been happy for a very long time.” Silari smiled and looked up at Niiko. “If he is waiting for someone in particular, I don’t think I will fit the bill.” Niiko smiled and pressed another kiss to her wrist. “I think you are far closer to his match than you think.” As she looked up into his face, he leaned forward and put a slow kiss on her lips. She was up on her toes with her heart pounding for a moment and then… Silari sat up in the predawn gloom and looked at her arms. The glow was no longer visible, but her memory replayed the glowing details over and over again. She got up and watched the light bring life and colour to the panorama offered to her by her windows. Morning was coming to Niiko and she couldn’t help but feel changed by the night before. With a calm certainty, she took a shower and brushed her hair before getting dressed again. It was a new day for her and if Maksuan was amenable, she was prepared to accept his advances. She just hoped that she had not scared him off the previous evening when she dodged his kiss. 24

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Chapter Five

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en women were waiting in uncomfortable silence when Maksuan came in. Silari let her lips twitch into a grin as he took in the tense atmosphere with surprise. “Good morning, ladies. Please come this way. We are to have breakfast and then a tour of some of the more interesting surrounding areas.” He gestured for them to follow him and turned on his heel to leave them behind. Snorting and keeping away from the Selna, who was glaring daggers at her, Silari joined Linorial the Oefric and kept close to Ydella the Azon. They were interested in Maksuan, but they were not aggressive enough to try to destroy a competitor. Breakfast was a quiet affair, Thira and Rashharna snuggled up next to their host once again, but he made an effort to speak to the other women at his table. Servants ebbed and flowed around them while they ate and the moment that the dishes were cleared, Maksuan got to his feet. “I have a skimmer waiting for us. Please, follow me.” 25

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She caught that it was the second time that he had said please to the women who were under obligation to make themselves more attractive to him. There was no need for him to curry their favour. It was completely the other way around. Silari took her position in the skimmer, choosing her seat for the best vantage point of the surroundings. While the others formed a semicircle around Maksuan, she was alone on the upper level of the open vehicle, enjoying the sights of Niiko. The grasses were green with a hint of blue. The lakes and rivers were slightly more purple than those on Earth, but there was a definite similarity. Silari found that she had a smile on her face as they travelled and she didn’t care who was watching. To be out in the wild feeling air that had not been over processed by populations and industry was refreshing. Her assignments had often taken her to the lowest areas of cities on worlds without Avatars. While several of the worlds were in a holding pattern, many had simply felt dead and the species living there had simply used what little life force it had until there was nothing left but buildings and highways. It was a strange system that killed the planet the populations lived on until there was nothing left and they had to move to another world. Criminal elements flourished on worlds that lacked a soul and Silari had apprehended quite a few of them. To be on a planet that was fresh and alive was relaxing. The smile continued as the wind whipped through her hair and she felt the sun on her face. When the skimmer stopped, she was disappointed but followed Maksuan and the others to a waterfall that 26

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reminded her of her dreams. There was a wide meadow that was bracketed on either side by the quartz cliffs. The waterfall was much larger in reality than it had been in her dreams, but it was the same in every other respect. Silari took a seat on the grass as the others stretched their legs. She wrapped her arms around her knees and stared at the waterfall, wishing that she had the nerve to see behind it. The part of her that accepted that it was genuinely the waterfall in her dreams fought letting the other women in on her secret. If Niiko had visited any of them, there was no sign of it in their body language. Maksuan eventually got away from Rashharna and he gracefully sat next to her on the grass. “You are staring very intently at that waterfall, Silari.” “It reminds me of a dream I had once, Avatar.” He gave her a surprised look and she turned her head to meet his gaze. “You dreamed of this?” She smiled slowly. “I dreamed of this, of the black sands of the Arekur Mountains and the oceans of the Perrigan continent. Looking at it, one could almost imagine what lay behind it.” His mouth opened slightly in amazement. “This was a dream, you say?” “It was. Sometime between midnight and dawn, my mind wandered the hills of Niiko.” She rested her cheek on her knees. He nodded and blinked. “Why do you wear the concealing clothing? The others are all so minimally clothed that a good wind would render them indecent.” 27

Viola Grace Silari took in a deep breath. “I am scarred. My body bears the marks of a twisted soul who worked out his rage on my flesh. I hide the marks that I try to forget.” A concerned frown crossed his brow. “May I see?” Steeling herself, she extended her arm to him, tugging up her sleeve with her opposite hand. Maksuan took her hand in his and gently trailed his fingers along the scars. “Do they hurt?” “No. The medical centres were able to patch me up almost completely, but there was a chemical component that was added to the open wounds that changed my genetic composition within the cuts. This is as healed as they will ever be.” Thira glided up and watched jealously as Maksuan caressed Silari’s hand. “Oh, that is disgusting. Are those marks all over your body?” The loud voice got the attention of the other women and soon, women trying to look at her scars surrounded Silari and Maksuan. Maksuan swiftly tugged her sleeve back into place, but he kept her hand. “They were acquired in the line of duty, ladies. I don’t regret the events that created them. I simply don’t show them off. Your repulsion is the exact reason why.” Her own repulsion was the other reason why, but they didn’t need to know that. She tugged lightly at her hand, but Maksuan kept her fingers in his grip. He got to his feet and pulled her with him. They walked to the skimmer and the other females drifted after them. “Why are you holding my hand, Maksuan?” She bit her lip as soon as the words were out of her mouth. 28

Askance “Because I believe that you need it, Silari. Now shush and have a seat. There is a challenge that I am certain you will be very interested in.” “A challenge?” She breathed in and sighed as he settled her next to him in the front of the skimmer and the others silently took their places in the seats behind them. “Yes. It seems that the remaining candidates all have much to offer and I wish them to take an active role in the Yeruan society. Tonight, we will have a gathering and it will be seen which of you can adapt best.” He released her hand and took the controls. She nodded and tried to hide the flutter of fear. Formal gatherings meant formal clothing and she didn’t have anything concealing enough to wear with confidence. Her nervous anticipation was boiling inside her by the time they were back at the residence. The other women quietly filed out of the skimmer and into the building, but Maksuan caught her hand before she left. “You seem afraid.” She swallowed the lump in her throat. “My wrists are not my only marks.” “Then, I believe it is time to get them out in the open where they cannot hurt you anymore.” He ran his thumb along the shining skin at her wrist and she shivered at the gentleness in that small motion. “Fine, but I don’t have anything to wear.” “I will take care of it. All of the candidates will be wearing clothing provided, but it will be to simply make you a little more comfortable. Will you do it?” He raised a dark eyebrow and smiled. 29

Viola Grace She sighed at the sincerity in his dark eyes. “I will do it. It is what I am here for after all.” His lips twisted in a sarcastic smile. “That’s the spirit, but I will take it. I am off to make arrangements, don’t get lost in the gardens again.” Silari stifled any of the nineteen epithets that sprang to mind and instead, she walked back to the residence with as much dignity as she could muster. It wasn’t nearly as much as she would have hoped.

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Chapter Six

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hen the box was delivered to her room, she blinked in surprise. It was larger than she thought it would be. Wrapped only in a towel after her long soak, she opened the box carefully. “Oh wow.” She was going to be embarrassed, but this clothing was far more interesting than it was exposing. The skirt and top were simple rectangles of fabric and they were hung from a framework of dark gold in a swirling pattern that precisely matched her scars. The delicate silk framed against the dark metal gave her a peculiar sensation. She felt pretty, sensual and strong all at the same time. The matching cuffs and greaves that wrapped around her calves covered and highlighted her scars in turn. They were oddly comfortable. The final accent to the outfit was a tiara that settled on her head and sparkled with a pattern of stars outlined in gems. Silari looked in the mirror and saw all of her flaws marked and accentuated by the clothing. Surprisingly, she didn’t mind nearly as much as she thought she would. 31

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Her feet were bare and the contact with the floor gave her a sensation of being anchored to the world below them. A delicate chime sounded and Silari stopped staring at herself in the mirror and turned to join the others in the common area. To her surprise, the other women were all dressed in concealing garments that hid every inch of their bodies. Rashharna looked frustrated and if she could have changed colour when she saw Silari, she would have. Rashharna’s silver eyes narrowed and she gestured to Silari’s clothing. “What is that?” “This is the clothing that I was provided.” Silari reached inside herself and pulled out the aura she had worn as an Agent. “You, ladies, look lovely. Shall we join the Avatar and his guests?” The other women looked surprised that she had changed from timid to confident, but there was no other way to be when the only thing covering your naughty bits was vulnerable to a stiff breeze. You either embraced it or you hid in your room and Silari was done hiding. The stares that she received from the staff members were amusing and the moment that she led the group into the ballroom, every gaze was on them. Fifty dignitaries of the Yeruan were staring at her with shock and amazement, but she only had eyes for Maksuan. He was wearing a toga in the same gold silk as her clothing. To her surprise, scars delineated his torso and exposed the traces of old whip marks. She walked to him as if hypnotized. Her hand was 32

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drawn to the lines on his skin. It looked as if he had been hung from his wrists and whipped from both sides at the same time. “The marks should be worn proudly. My grandmother brought me to the Avatar to save my life. Niiko healed the wounds, but I asked him to leave the scars themselves. It reminds me that while most of the folk of Niiko are good souls, there are those who would attack for the purpose of manipulating the Planet for their own gain.” Her hand was pressed to his chest and she felt the heat burning her palm. “Who did this to you?” “Those who tried to manipulate my grandmother into contacting the Planet for mineral locations. They captured me, tortured me and eventually, my grandmother called the Avatar to rescue me. He gave up his position in order to let Niiko save my life and I will always be indebted to him.” “Parkalo.” Maksuan smiled. “Precisely. He was given swaths of land and mineral rights and he and his companion lived together happily for years. Niiko and I visited regularly and confirmed for him that his sacrifice was not in vain.” “So, you know how it feels to be…exposed.” He reached out and touched the metal that acted as a corset. “I know exactly how it feels and I know that the sensation of being stared at never gets better, but perhaps together, we can stand against the curious and callous.” His kiss was surprising and the assembled men and women gasped. 33

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Silari went up on her toes and wove her fingers through his hair as he pressed his hands to her back, hauling her tight against him. A polite round of applause broke out as well as hissing and cursing from a few of the women. When Maksuan lifted his head, he smiled. “And the decision is made, though it really could not have been any other.” Niiko surged to the fore as he addressed the assembled. “And so I present to you Silari Henderson of the Alliance Protectorate of Terra, my bride and secondary Avatar. The ceremony will be held tomorrow for those who wish to attend and witness.” Seven of the women who had been there for selection turned and left the party. Ydella and Linorial remained and circulated throughout the event. Silari spoke quietly. “You could have asked me.” “You might have said no and really, there was no need to keep the others here. They have been most unpleasant to you and it was grating on my nerves.” Maksuan’s face showed his irritation. She realised that he had actually rushed this to defend her. It was sweet and touching to know that in his own way, he was taking steps to remove obstacles for her. Silari turned in his embrace and faced the crowd with a forced smile. “Hello all. Thank you for attending this announcement.” From the corner of her eye, she could see Maksuan smile and she walked into the crowd, head high and half naked. If this was the way Niiko wanted her to meet his people, this is the way she would do it. She met mayors, councillors and the occasional 34

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prefect. There were three physicians attending and those ladies met her with a sense of relief. Dr. Aksai Natrio smiled at her and bowed. “We are grateful to have a female Avatar for Niiko once again. A married woman will have an insight into the needs of women that the male Avatars have lacked.” “I understand. That is a common problem with the male Avatars. They mean well, but since most of them are chosen before they have wed, they are lacking a little vital information on the inner workings of the women that they are in charge of.” Aksai shook her head. “The Avatar has not been allowed any input into the state of women on Niiko. We believe this is why the Planet determined to have him find a mate the moment that they returned from their planetary summit.” Silari looked over at Maksuan and caught his gaze with her smile. “So, there was a recent turning point.” “Indeed. Apparently, the Planet immediately engaged in an intensive search to find a mate perfect for the Avatar and finally, you arrived.” “So, you didn’t think that the other women would make a good choice?” Her lips were twitching as she watched Ydella move among the councillors, smiling and chatting. “They have not had to face anything near what you and the Avatar have faced. It is having pain thrust upon you and coming out on the other side that my people respect. Pain is wisdom or so they have begun to believe since Maksuan took over as Avatar. His calm and rejection of entanglements of the flesh have gained him much respect in the eyes of his people. Choosing a 35

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woman such as you matches him with an equal, not a woman who must be raised up to be at his level.” Seeing the man brave enough to wear a golden toga to a cocktail party just to make her feel better about herself, she smiled. “I still have a way to go, but I have a very good example to follow.”

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Chapter Seven and Linorial cornered her after the guests had Ydella left. “Silari, we have a question to put to you.” The women’s quarters were completely empty except for their small cluster. “Sure, what do you want?” “Can we stay?” Linorial’s voice was quieter than that of her companion, but it resonated in the empty common area. “What? Why?” Ydella sighed. “I don’t want to go home. I have always dreamed of a life somewhere far from the world of my birth. This is my only chance.” It seemed a reasonable request, so she asked the other woman. “And you, Linorial?” “I was engaged to a man I did not want and he was upset at having to let me go. He threatened me and my family, but they took me from home anyway and sent me here. I cannot be sure, but he seemed the violent sort. I don’t want to chance returning to that situation if he has not yet found another target.” Linorial had iceblonde hair and brilliant blue eyes. She was truly lovely but had a brittleness about her. 37

Viola Grace “I will consult with Niiko after he has begun moving in. I do not see any problem with you remaining here for a few days until we know.” “I thought you could make the decision on your own now that you are his chosen.” Ydella scowled. “Would you like to make a decision that could be overridden the moment a planet jumped into your consciousness? No. Wait and I will see about getting his agreement. I am pretty sure that I can use some assistants, but I will see what happens.” Linorial gave her a quiet smile. “Thank you for agreeing to try. It gives me hope for a brighter future.” “Don’t thank me. I have no idea what the future here will bring.” Silari tried to remain cheerful, but she was reeling with the events of the evening. Ydella smiled, “It will bring what you wish it to once you are a full Avatar.” “I don’t think that I will choose to inflict my will upon these people. They seem to have lives of their own as well as a fully developed society. I do not feel that interference is appropriate.” She smiled to give her words less bite, but the fatigues of the day suddenly overwhelmed her. “Please excuse me, ladies, but I need to get some rest. I get the feeling that tomorrow is going to be a very big day.” Her two companions smiled and laughed in unison. Silari nodded and left the two women to their own devices. She had a wire corset to work her way free of. Her feet pattered lightly on the wooden flooring as she returned to her rooms. She started working to free herself from the bodice the moment that the door slid shut behind her. 38

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The metal was beautiful, but it was taking all of her body heat. The light snacks that had been served during the party were not enough to satisfy her caloric requirement. When she had worked her way free of the cuffs on her arms and legs, she sighed at the release of tension. Her normal, bulky bodysuit slid over her skin like a long-lost friend. Once she was comfortable again, she slipped across her room and listened at the door. Ydella and Linorial must have retired for the evening, because the hall was silent. With slow and deliberate moves, Silari slipped free of her room and walked the halls in search of the kitchen. Her feet made no noise on the wood and she didn’t see any of the servants who normally manned the building. Silari sniffed and used the faint odours of the lovely food from earlier in the evening that eventually came to her nostrils. And the dog has caught the scent. She chortled silently and pursued the smell that teased and taunted her. The moment that she found the kitchen, she held her breath and stifled the howl of triumph. Chillers stood side by side along the walls and a heater was waiting, just for her. She found a plate and quickly opened the chillers, piling a selection of snacks on her platter. Her silent giggles continued as she warmed the tidbits just enough to take the chill out. She parked her butt on the counter and swung her feet like a child, enjoying the feeling of raiding a fridge after midnight. It was almost to be expected that someone caught 39

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her in the act. The light came on, but instead of coming from the fixtures, Maksuan was leaning in the doorway with a grin, his eyes and body lit from within. “Hungry?” She held up her half-destroyed plate with a grin. “Not so much anymore. Care to join me?” He wandered over to her, his skin still glowing in the darkness. “How did you find your way around in the dark?” “I have fairly good night vision and excellent hearing. It isn’t enough to qualify as a talent, but it is more than enough to become an agent of the Alliance.” She grinned and ate something with a sweet purple paste on it. He chuckled and went to the chiller himself, plate in hand. To Silari’s amusement, he went and obtained his own selection, heavy on the sweets. He parked on the counter next to her and she saw his feet swinging slightly. “How much of that glow is you and how much is Niiko?” “About half and half. He was very proud of the way you reacted and spoke to those assembled this evening. I am fairly sure that he was thinking you were going to bolt.” “I notice that you are back in your normal clothing again.” “As are you. We made our point and now, it is time for comfort, although I believe that the Yeruan styles would suit you very well.” She chuckled and munched the last of her collection. 40

Askance “We will put it in for negotiation. I like my bodysuits. They cover everything.” With the glow coming from his eyes, his smile looked devilish. “I have noticed that. When you were wearing the other clothing, I was surprised at how well muscled you are.” Her blush should have had her glowing pink. “I had to be fit to capture those I was sent to apprehend. Agents have a very specific set of job requirements and muscle tone is one of them.” Maksuan laughed. “I have always been afraid of women seeking to seduce me for the power they could gain. It has caused an irrational fear of women in revealing clothing and frankly, your personal enjoyment of concealing clothing was a relief. Though, if I had known what lay beneath, I would have had all of the women wearing as little as I could get away with.” She laughed and nudged him with her arm. “Flatterer.” “I am quite serious. I have craved your company since the moment that you landed and Niiko feels the same. Tomorrow at dawn, we will join together and from that moment, you will no longer be alone.” He continued to eat. “Dawn?” “In two hours.” She froze. “That soon?” “There is no reason to wait. Once you and I are joined, it will take a few days for Niiko to make his way into your body and mind.” “Three days.” She smiled. 41

Viola Grace “Niiko told you?” “He did, in a dream. He told me of the previous Avatars and their lives in his service.” She put her plate down and rubbed her hands together. “He spoke of your grandmother and her desire for a normal life. What do you remember of her?” He put his plate aside. “Grandmother Ukani was a strong woman, but she had lived far beyond a normal lifespan and it showed. She delighted in her children and grandchildren, but she would occasionally sit and stare out at the landscape as if listening to something only she could hear. When I was tortured, she gathered the Avatar and came to my aid. “My body was almost dead when they found where I was being kept and my grandmother quickly addressed Niiko through Parkalo. It took the Planet less than five minutes to get the Avatar to agree and when he gave over the soul of Niiko to me, my grandmother also surrendered what was left in her body, aging centuries in a few minutes. I healed and she died, but I know that she did not regret her actions. Niiko replays the conversation they had every time I have any doubt as to my worthiness.” “So, you know that this was what she wanted for you. That must be an immense comfort.” She thought about her own grandmother’s last words back on Earth. When the reproduction portion of the contract was exposed to the public, her Grandma Henderson had called her a whore and told her to go. It was not a pleasant memory. “It is. I still have a fairly large family descended from Ukani, but they have homes in the outer lands and 42

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it takes a bit of effort to get there.” He shrugged. With his food gone, he hopped off the table. He turned and faced her, her perch on the counter putting her at a level slightly higher than his. Without a word, he pressed a kiss to her lips and she tilted her head to make their joining complete. Her blood sang in her veins as the kiss deepened and when he slid his hands under her hair to cup her skull, she let him control where, when and how intense the kiss was to be. Maksuan tasted sweet, tangy and unique. When he slowly broke the kiss, she looked at him blankly. Her lips throbbed slightly, both above and below. “Time for bed, Silari. I will walk you back to your rooms.” She let him help her off the counter and together, they walked back to her rooms where the wide-open windows allowed her a wonderful view of night on Niiko. Her fingers pressed against her lips and she held herself still while she watched the night fade. Dawn was going to be a bit of a journey for her, but Niiko and Maksuan would be waiting when it was over. She always did do better with a target.

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Chapter Eight

S

tanding in a pale pink kimono with a crowd of people watching her sign the writ that acknowledged Niiko’s, and therefore Maksuan’s, claim on her was slightly surreal. He had signed what amounted to a property agreement with the Alliance to maintain her health, both mental and physical, as well as settling a swath of land in her name for any of her heirs to claim at her eventual demise. She named her family back four generations to confirm that the person who eventually would be able to claim her property would indeed be a relation. The Representative of Niiko smiled and held his hands out, palms up. “Avatar Maksuan and Agent Silari, please take my hands.” Silari smiled as the elderly Yeruan took her hands in one of his and she stared up into Maksuan’s eyes. He was wearing an outfit in stiff contrasts of silken fabric held in razor-edged folds. The colours Maksuan was wearing were his family’s colours, rich dark blue with a silvery pattern embroidered to run along the hem and blaze across the back. She had not been able to figure out what it was, but 44

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she was sure that she would be able to at a later date. She wasn’t going to be leaving Niiko any time soon. “A bonding is always a matter not to be entered into lightly. In the case of an Avatar and his bride, it is a bond created and honed over centuries. “Maksuan Nikan, do you take this woman to cherish, to hold, to comfort and to stand beside as partner as long as you both shall live?” Maksuan’s face was serious as he looked into her eyes. “I do and I will.” At the representative’s nod, Maksuan took her right hand in his. “Silari Henderson, do you take this man to cherish and to hold, to comfort and to stand beside as partner as long as you both shall live?” She ran through something her father had always said and he had gotten the reference from a movie. It was fine to love someone, but if you genuinely liked him or her, you were off to a much better start. She liked Maksuan and there was no hesitation in her mind. “I do and I will.” The rep guided her left hand to Maksuan’s and they stood in front of witnesses while their crossed hands were bound together with a silk ribbon bearing the Nikan family crest. “Your lives will be bound as your souls join. This ribbon symbolizes the bond that you have forged today.” The rep looked up and smiled. “Usually, we would ask Niiko to bless this union, but today, he is part of it. “Niiko, will you guard and protect this couple as they walk the path that you have laid out for them? Will 45

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you guide them, protect them and make them the best that they can be in your service and in ours?” Maksuan’s eyes glowed and Niiko paused to look over the crowd. “With this day, this moment, this bond, I bring to this world a new Avatar who will help those who hesitate to ask for help amongst the population. I will guard Silari and keep her safe, I will give Maksuan whatever I can to help him guide and guard his new mate. To this I do pledge myself, my power and my Avatars.” Niiko leaned forward and kissed her, a spark of power jumped from his lips to hers at the light touch and she shivered slightly as the warmth spread from her lips to cascade in waves through her body. As Niiko straightened, Maksuan took control of his body and nodded to the official. “And so, with the blessing of the Planet conferred, I pronounced Maksuan and Silari Nikan bonded mates, for as long as they both shall live.” The crowd bowed low before breaking into applause and laughter. Silari tried not to groan. For the next three hours, her hands would be bound to Maksuan’s so that the people of Niiko would have to feed them. It was a wedding ritual that showed how dependent folk were on those around them. There were even special arrangements for toilet breaks. Silari looked to Maksuan and they carefully turned to one side and stepped from the podium, walking to the reception hall with measured steps. “Has the power begun to burn yet?” Maksuan’s low 46

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tone was a soft whisper in her ear. “No, not yet. It just feels warm so far, like walking outside on a hot day.” She stumbled slightly and he stabilized her with their bound hands. “Well, you have just proved one portion of the binding. Walking side by side with support is always easier than alone.” He smiled and his fingers kept a snug grip on hers, tight but not uncomfortable. “I think I should take you everywhere I go. I have more than a dozen memories of stumbling ass over teakettle down back alleys. Even if folks try and kill me here, it will still be safer than life as an agent.” She smiled. Soon they moved into a sitting position in the chairs arranged for them by the representative and the dignitaries that were assembled. “What exactly were your duties as an agent?” She grinned. “I was sent to apprehend criminals and return them to their home worlds, their prison facilities or anywhere else the Alliance wanted them sent.” “I thought hunters did that.” “Hunters look for people. Agents know where they are and simply go to pick them up. The apprehension can get a little violent, but agents are good at what they do.” “That was how you came to get those scars?” “Yes. I was after a Raider who was living as bold as you please in the middle of an Ontex colony. I went after him and he ran, but then he came back to get me and you know the rest.” They didn’t have a chance to continue their discussion, food and drink started arriving and their 47

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community fed them and gave them beverages for the next three hours. The women helped her eat and drink. It was a long ritual and the moment that the ribbon was undone, she massaged her hands, noting that Maksuan was doing the same. The representative smiled. “Enjoy the next eight days. After that, you will be asked to resume your duties.” Maksuan grinned. “We will.” He got to his feet and addressed the gathered crowd. “Thank you all for coming to witness our bonding. Please enjoy the food, drink and music. Our bride has some acclimating to do and it is best done in private.” There was a wave of polite laughter as he took Silari’s hand and they walked out of their reception to the skimmer. “Is this traditional, leaving the reception like this?” Silari enjoyed the warmth of Maksuan’s body next to hers. “No, but you are about to start your change, so it is best that we get home for the privacy.” To her surprise, instead of the large residence that she thought of as his home, he directed them into the mountains, toward the waterfall and its secret cavern. “We are returning to the cavern behind the waterfall.” It wasn’t a question. He grinned. “You are right. I have all the supplies that we need for the week and I am quite a good cook.” In a flash, Niiko took over. “This will not be a pleasant process for you. Your body is not quite as compatible with my energies as the Yeruan are.” 48

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She winced at the thought of pain to come, but in her heart, she knew that Niiko would make it as easy as possible for her. Silari sat with her hands in her lap, watching her new world pass by. The first spike of pain came as she was leaving the skimmer to walk to the waterfall. It was so sharp that she stumbled and would have fallen if Maksuan had not caught her. Her breathing helped her calm herself, but when she stood upright, she knew that the next searing burn was not far behind. “I think I had better move quickly.” He nodded and lifted her off her feet, carrying her on the invisible ledge that allowed them to pass behind the waterfall. Her body twisted in his grip as he passed through the dark interior into the glowing cavern beyond. Through gritted teeth, she smiled. “It is bigger than I thought.” There was a bedroom, a small kitchen and a partition that she imagined must lead to the lav. “It is. Niiko has already etched your face into his memory. This is his heart and we will stay here once or twice a year to renew our bond with him.” Maksuan put her on the bed and the pain wracked her anew. “Wait here, I will be right in with the supplies. Niiko will keep you company while I am gone.” She didn’t know what to make of that until a golden form came out of the wall and walked toward her. It had no one particular set of features but rather had a constantly shifting face. 49

Viola Grace “Niiko?” The creature smiled and sat at the edge of the bed, running his hands down her body slowly. The twisting agony turned into an irritating prickle as it spread across her skin instead of burning from the inside out. She bared her teeth and controlled her pain with measured breathing, but she knew that this was about to be the suckiest honeymoon on record.

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Chapter Nine

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fter two days of physical torture, the pain suddenly stopped. Silari looked over at Maksuan with a smile. “It’s over.” Relief was a mild word for his expression. Even the energy form of Niiko visibly relaxed. “Can I have a bath now?” Maksuan lifted her from the bed, a sheet the only thing around her. “Shower first, then a hot soak.” She chuckled weakly and held on. Maksuan had not left her side for the entire ordeal. He had held her every moment when he was not bathing the sweat from her body or wrapping her against the drafts. Her shame over the marks on her body had disappeared three hours into the change. He had removed her wedding clothes to keep them safe and wrapped her in the first of many sheets. She had fought the wrap, then shuddered with cold in turns. When he had started to sponge the sweat from her, she had fought him, at first. But the bliss she felt at being reasonably clean for a few minutes outweighed her embarrassment. 51

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Now, he carried her into the bathing room and sat her on a chair while he removed the wrap around his hips. Naked, he lifted her again and stood her up under the warm spray of the shower. “Thank you, Maksuan. I don’t think I would have made it through this without you.” He stroked her hair, untangling it with his fingers before applying soap and lathering her up. With care and patience, he washed her from head to toe. When she was clean, he set her back on the chair and took care of his own cleansing. The moment that he was done, he lifted her again and carried her to the huge hot spring that provided them not only with water for bathing, but other fissures could be used to cook meals. As he lowered her in to sit on the ledge carved out by Avatars past, she groaned. “What is it? Do you still hurt?” She chuckled and reached up to kiss his hand. “No. It feels good. My muscles are sore from being tense for so long.” He slid in and settled next to her before moving her so that she was sitting between his thighs. “Lean back and relax. I remember the stiffness from the pain, but it was a shorter duration for me. I was almost dead already, so he was healing and burning his own pathways at the same time.” She grunted as he started a massage on her neck that moved on to her shoulders and down her arms. Silari dozed off while he worked on her, but it was a peaceful sleep and not the fitful writhing of the last two days. His touch on her soothed her into dreams of walking 52

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the world of Niiko, her scars glowing to light the way. Snug in her bed with Maksuan around her, Silari opened her eyes to see Niiko smiling down at her. The glowing figure brushed her hair with his hand and she felt pleasure at his touch instead of the burning pain. Maksuan stirred behind her and his hands moved from around her waist and between her breasts to cupping her breast and sliding between her thighs. Silari leaned her head back against his shoulder and placed her own hands on top of his, encouraging him to stroke, squeeze and explore. He trailed his lips along her shoulder while his other hand parted her sex and slid two fingers inside. Maksuan started a rhythm that started slow and then when she arched into his touch and parted her thighs, he worked her with more intensity. The soft, wet noises of her sex made her blush, but when he turned her and moved over her, sliding his cock against her wet, swollen folds, it became a worry of the past. She didn’t get a good look at his member, but as he pushed into her, she realized that he was very wide and long enough to bottom out with just a few thrusts. Silari was adapting to the feel of him inside her when Niiko moved behind Maksuan and fell through him, resting within her body. Her channel moved, shifted and Maksuan slid forward until he was completely inside. Niiko remained inside them both as Maksuan began to thrust, rocking at first and then a heady pounding that had Silari crying out with each contact. 53

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When her orgasm rushed over her, Niiko sent a flaring burn through her and Maksuan’s eyes widened, turning bright green for a moment as his body bucked into her over and over. He rested, his weight on his forearms on either side of her torso, his head against her neck. They were both breathing heavily and with weak arms, Silari raised her hands and wrapped them around him. Three minds were coasting in the afterglow and Silari still wasn’t sure that she would ever get used to having Niiko inside her every day. Casual nudity had never been something Silari had considered as an option for a lifestyle, but it seemed appropriate when the clothing that she had access to involved so many tiny details and so much precision. She was looking at the detailed embossing of Maksuan’s ascension to the post of Avatar. “What were your original plans for your future?” Maksuan was wearing a short wrap around his hips and he looked at her in surprise. “I think I wanted to get married, have a family and work in the family greenhouse. It has always been a source of regret that I was unable to continue with the plants as Avatar.” “Why?” “Why couldn’t I work with plants? It is unseemly. It does not suit the station of the Avatar.” “Why not simply have it as a hobby? A form of stress release.” He paused while scrambling some eggs, quickly moving the pan off the heat. “It has not been done 54

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before.” “Oh, honey, I plan on doing plenty of things that have not been done by an Avatar before. It doesn’t make them wrong, just different.” He grinned and Niiko nodded in encouragement. “Well, apparently you are the excuse that Niiko has been waiting for.” Silari snickered, “That or Niiko considers me an option for stress release.” It was true—every time Maksuan and Silari got together, Niiko was there. His favourite position was when she was on her side, Maksuan was thrusting into her from behind and he was caressing her from the front. To be caressed by nothing less than the soul of the planet was an honour, but the electric prickles were still a turn on. She sat at the low table as Maksuan provided her with breakfast. “I think you should do it. Start small. A planting house on the edge of the residence and then expand it. Hey, take over the room I was in during the selection. That room got amazing light exposure.” He grinned. “Niiko insisted that you were to get that room. Your mind needed the space he said and who am I to gainsay my Planet.” She laughed. She argued with Niiko every time he spoke in her head. Sure, he could take her over whenever he wished, but she and Maksuan both knew that she was there to cater to the female population. In recent years, they had been denied certain freedoms and it was time to right the problem. As she ate her breakfast of eggs and flatbread with a cup of tea at the ready, she understood why he had 55

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brought her here. This place was where Niiko had tapped his first Avatar and their faces were now in place on the wall next to Maksuan’s solo promotion as well as his grandmother’s face forever immortalized in stone and in the genetic line that she left behind. It was a strong legacy and one he should be proud of. If her family had been half as supportive, she might still be back on Earth, sharing holidays with them rather than somewhere across the galaxies eating eggs on an alien world.

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Chapter Ten

S

ilari sighed happily. She was running her hands over the scars on Maksuan’s back and enjoying occasionally reaching around to flick his nipples in a teasing manner. Every time she did so, his cock twitched. As hobbies went, teasing your lover in the shower should always make the top five. It was simply that important. Her slick hands worked around to his cock and the tight balls just under the shaft. He was a clean freak and so she was taking care to get his shower just right. “You delight in teasing me.” His harsh growl made her grin. “I really do.” She pressed her breasts to his back and slid herself over the marks on his spine. It was a meeting of equals now. Their bodies were matched by damage and survival and as Niiko joined them each time they had sex, their responses were now keyed together by power. She laughed as she ran her nails lightly down his chest and he arched against her. He spun in place and lifted her, slick and kicking, into his arms. 57

Viola Grace “Enough teasing. Since you are feeling better, we had better take a soak before we consider getting back to our residence.” He simply walked with her to the edge of the pool and jumped in. She spluttered as he continued to hold her, her jaw just above the water. When he moved back to have a seat on the ledge, she shifted to straddle him, slipping the head of his cock into her and beginning the glow of power in them both. Silari moved down as he thrust upward and she rode him in a slow, deep rhythm while the water around them started to bubble and churn. Like the body in her dreams, her scars lit from within and Maksuan’s did the same. When she looked into his eyes, Niiko was there and in the reflection of her own features shown there, she could see the Planet burning in her own eyes. Power began to spike and twist inside her. New nerve endings, new patterns of pleasure glowed within her and showed on her skin. She started to move faster when Maksuan rubbed her clit with two fingers and she froze in place the moment that her orgasm struck, the energy of Niiko flowing between them at all connected points and magnified by the water. He gripped her hips and groaned as his body spilled inside her. How long they were locked together, she didn’t know, but when she came back to herself, she was cradled against Maksuan’s chest and smiling into his shoulder. “How much more time do we have?” “Two days. We can do whatever you wish.” He 58

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stroked his hands down her slick back in a tireless motion. She looked up at him with a timid smile. “I have an idea, but you might not like it.” His gaze was curious. “Tell me.” With him still inside her, she outlined her request and though a fine tension ran through his body, he agreed to take her where she wanted to go. A less formal robe was waiting for her on the bed. “How does he do that?” “The ways of our Planet are his own. I only know that, somehow, he manages to make beds, cook food and fetch clothing when we are in his heart.” Silari slipped into the blue robe and wrapped the sash around her until she was supported and snug on all sides. “How do I look?” He was back in his normal white shirt with flowing black trousers. “You look lovely, as always.” For some reason, when Maksuan said it in that husky voice of his, she believed it. The sandals that were next to the bed came up to mid-calf when she had finished the laces and buckles. She wished that there were a greater leather-toexposed-skin ratio, but they were typical Yeruan footwear, so she was going to keep her opinion to herself. “Thank you. You look stunning yourself. Are you sure that you are willing to do this?” “If you ask it of me and it is possible, I will do it. I know you would not ask lightly.” He pressed a kiss to her cheek before he started to bind up his hair. 59

Viola Grace “Why are you doing that?” He smiled. “When visiting relatives, it is advisable to not give them anything to pick on, or so has been my experience. This is a pre-emptive move on my part. You are an alien, they will expect nothing of you.” She looked down. “Is something wrong with my method of dress?” He gave her a once over. “The robe is two inches too short. Your hair is too short for a proper Yeruan woman, but then you are the Avatar. You are exceptional in every way.” Her robe twitched and she looked down. It was growing. “What the hell?” Maksuan raised a brow. “You are wearing a robe made of Niiko. My grandmother mentioned it once. She had been bathing and a group of hunters stumbled upon her. Niiko wove her a robe of water and energy.” There was something in his tone. “Your grandfather was in that group, wasn’t he?” Maksuan laughed. “Yes. He had thrown his outer garment around her, not knowing who she was. When she politely handed it back a few minutes later and she was wearing a gown embossed with his family crest, he knew destiny when he ran into it.” “That is a wonderful story. What was his name?” “Wexuan. Wexuan Nikan, head of the Nikan clan.” Silari wasn’t sure if he knew it, but his chest puffed out when he spoke of his family. There was pride involved and she was glad for him. “Shall we see if they are amenable to a visit?” He finished wrapping his hair into a tight queue and smiled at her. “I suppose that now is the only time we 60

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have.” As they walked out of their private retreat, there was not a doubt in her mind that Niiko was with them the whole way, waiting to see if they needed him for support. He would be waiting in the wings in case his power was needed to get the Nikan family under control. The skimmer ride started out fun and he pointed out all the mountain ranges, lakes and towns on their way. They kept to the unoccupied paths, but farmers waved as they passed and occasionally, Maksuan stopped the skimmer to introduce her to the people who were working the farm. As they moved further away from the Avatar residence and the heart of Niiko, the agrarian practices became more involved. It was amazing to see the change in the landscape from the towns and cities to the farms and outlying areas. “Has the planet always been separated like this?” Maksuan grinned, “Every evolving planet has come up on a basis of solid farming. Once you can feed your people, the arts and sciences can flourish.” “Sound reasoning.” She placed her hand on his wrist and asked, “How much farther to your family’s holdings?” “You are able to see the edge of the greenhouses just over that rise.” He slowed the throttle as they got closer. “How long has it been since you visited your relatives?” 61

Viola Grace “Twelve years. My grandnieces and nephews are busy and our paths rarely cross.” There was a tense twist to his lips as he spoke. “Breathe in. If this doesn’t work out, you won’t have to go back to visit, but if it does work out, you will have a new extension to your life. Having relatives who care is a good thing and I hope that that is what we are walking into.” Acres of greenhouses began to appear as they approached. “Maksuan, what does your family do precisely?” “We develop species of plants for alien worlds and a variety of new colony planets. They try to design a plant that will thrive in but not overwhelm the local ecosystem. It is a difficult prospect and each greenhouse row represents a different atmospheric balance.” She was staring at the endless march of glass and gasses with awe when he aimed the skimmer for a large house in the centre surrounded by smaller domiciles. With a deliberate sigh, he set the ship down and turned off the engines. It was now or never and never was no longer an option.

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Chapter Eleven

“I

t was Ukani who convinced Wexuan to start this branch of farming. The Nikan plants are now thriving on over fifty worlds.” His grandniece Seehai was the current matriarch of the family and she was giving Silari the family-business history as they sipped tea on the porch. Maksuan was with his oldest surviving nephew and touring some of the newest greenhouses. He had been surprised at their warm welcome, but he was willing to see how far the polite company was willing to go. Silari didn’t know what he was waiting for, but if he were braced for something, she would back him up. “So, the Nikan family has done well from its association with the Avatar.” She held the cup between her fingertips and lifted it to her lips. “It has. We simply wish that he would pop by more often.” Seehai sighed. “My grandson Wexor was to blame for that. He got drunk and insulted the memory of Ukani. Maksuan took offense, but he had to hold Niiko back. The Planet rocked and rolled under our feet and we lost three acres of greenhouses.” “So, it wasn’t Maksuan that caused the problem, it 63

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was Niiko.” Seehai inclined her head. “Technically, it was Wexor. Ukani had been the beloved of Niiko for a very long time. Her handling of matters for the Planet was one of the great sacrifices that she made.” Silari poured tea for the older woman. “What was said?” “Wexor said that Ukani had never loved Wexuan. That she had married him to satisfy Niiko.” Silari blinked in surprise. “Whoa. That is a little over the top. Planets do not choose their Avatars lightly, they select their representatives with care after deliberate investigation.” “It hurt Ukani to leave Niiko, but she loved Wexuan and did not want to watch him slowly die while she lived on, so she begged for her freedom and he granted it.” “You have no idea. Niiko loves and attaches to each one of his Avatars. When he is actively in my mind, I can feel his grief for all of those who have gone before me. It is why he wanted me to join with Maksuan. He wants to feel the joy of love for himself from both sides. It is a feeling that he has been lacking. He has been incomplete.” “So when Ukani left him?” “His soul ached and he took the first mind offered to him. Parkalo was good but not a precise match. Eighty years later, he was eager to take Maksuan on as Avatar, even if it meant losing Ukani completely.” “What do you mean completely?” “No Avatar ever loses their touch with the Planet, we do not merely host him, he becomes us and we him. 64

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You cannot undo what he does to us simply by withdrawing the power. The pathways are burned in our mind, the rivers of power simply dry up, but the riverbed remains. Does that make sense?” Seehai nodded and sipped at her tea, one of her granddaughters walking out to bring them a try of food. “Thank you, Dreena.” “You are welcome, Grandmother.” Dreena knelt nearby and waited in case they needed anything else. “What you have said has explained many mysteries in the family. No one could ask Ukani, it was obvious that the grief was still fresh, though it was pushed aside when she began to have her family.” “Do you have pictures of her?” The image in her mind that Niiko provided did not tell her how Ukani’s family felt about her. “Of course. Would you like to see the family gallery?” Seehai put her cup down silently and when Silari agreed, they both got to their feet. Silari silently thanked the deportment lessons that she had received in basic training. Without those lessons, she would never have been able to get back on her feet without using her hands. At the side of the elder, they walked through the house until they reached the inner atrium. “The gallery of ancestors lines the walls. I will show you the image of Ukani and her family.” Seehai took her directly to the heart of the building where a sombre woman with Maksuan’s dark eyes looked out at her. In the painting, Ukani was wearing the familycrested robe and matching sash. In the next image, she 65

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stood next to a man with Maksuan’s serious brow and gold-black hair. “That is Wexuan.” Silari smiled. “He looks so serious.” “He is. Was. He had to fight his clan to take Ukani as his bride. Her family was long dead and she came to him with only the dowry that Niiko provided.” “That was unusual?” “For a warrior and defender of the clan, the next clan leader in fact, it was very unusual. He wanted her and he would have her and Niiko wanted it to happen, so it happened. But outside their union, many of the family were not pleased with their connection. It was well known to both of them that they stood against the community.” Seehai had the attitude of a woman who had informed her children and grandchildren of this fact. After she stared into the eyes of the woman who had given her life for Maksuan’s, Silari walked down the row to see the gathering of Ukani’s children. “Wow, she may not have been what the family wanted, but she was a good breeder.” Silari pressed her hand to her lips when it slipped out. There were fourteen children in the picture with Ukani and Wexuan. She had a light in her eyes that had been absent in the first picture. “Having a family completed her.” Silari smiled. “It did. So did the community accepting her at last. She had one child every twenty-four months for twentyeight years, forty-three grandchildren in her lifetime and twenty-six after she passed. She and Wexuan had seventy-five years together and her last five years were 66

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lived for her grandchildren.” Images of the children and their families lined the wall and Silari paced until she saw the one she was interested in. Maksuan, his siblings and his parents were staring out at her with the same serious eyes. “They all look like her.” Seehai smiled. “Yes, except for his mother, Maki. She had bright blue eyes that only made it to one of her children. My father, Hako Nikan. His blue eyes popped up randomly in my children and grandchildren. It was said that Maki had blood from the stars in her veins and that is why she took to the son of Ukani.” Maksuan was in a solitary picture, his eyes burning with the light of Niiko. It was the face that had greeted her when she had first arrived. He was wary and bruised, but a survivor and she supposed that that was what the family was all about, surviving after and during the touch of the Planet itself. “He did not think he would be welcome here, you know.” Silari’s voice was quiet. “I suspected as much. Wexor is long gone, off to the city and from there to the stars. He repented his disrespect, but it cost him his place within our family. We are here in the service of the Planet and nothing we can do will change it. The only option is to move to a lifeless world and that is something that we would not do.” “Why is that?” “Niiko gives us life, a purpose and through our work, we have touched thousands of lives and if the Planet is willing, we will touch millions more before our line dies out.” 67

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Silari felt a peculiar sensation and then her hand was on Seehai’s shoulder. “Do not worry, daughter. Your line will stretch into infinity the way you breed. I will continue to give you prosperity for what you have given to me.” Silari was amazed as she watched the woman next to her look up at her face with hope. “Thank you for your blessings, Niiko. Our family has been blessed with your choice of our bloodline as your Avatars.” The green light coming out of Silari’s face was visible on the cast of Seehai’s cheeks. “It is you who have blessed me. Ukani was the best Avatar I have had and I miss her daily. Maksuan feels the separation between love and family most keenly and I wish for you to make an effort to connect with him. Silari will temper my reaction to any disrespect given both intentionally and accidentally. She is good that way. She is good in many ways.” “She seems like a sensible woman. You chose well.” Seehai bowed. “It was your great uncle who did the choosing. I merely gave my authorization when I realised that she was a suitable match for me. The rest was all him and though his courtship was stunted at first, he managed to find the point of commonality that won her heart.” She blinked. “Shy, timid, Maksuan did the courtship?” “He did.” Niiko slid her sleeve back and showed the scars. “There is a point of commonality with all men and women, he was simply smart enough to find it.” Seehai recoiled slightly at the marks. “Are you 68

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telling me that this woman is marked from head to toe like that?” Niiko frowned and inside her own head, Silari winced. “She survived weeks of torture in the line of duty and came out of it sane and alive with a good heart.” Seehai must have seen the anger in Niiko’s face, because she immediately bowed low. “Please excuse me. I was not thinking.” Silari fought her way to control of her own face again. “Do not worry about it. I am not a fan of them either.” Seehai looked nervous. “I was not trying to be insulting. Where did the Planet go?” “I pushed him back. He is having what we call on my world a time out. When he agrees to be calm and friendly again, I will let him out. Now, show me which of Ukani’s grandchildren you are descended from.” Silari kept a close rein on Niiko and when Maksuan joined them for dinner, it was like any other family meal. When he took her hand after the meal, Niiko seeped into their bodies. The Planet joined the conversation and together, they had the first Nikan family gathering in decades. Silari looked out through the green haze of Niiko’s gaze and smiled up at Maksuan. They had been invited to return any time they wished and Silari had offered to host a gathering at the Avatar’s residence any moment it was convenient. They parted ways with hugs and promises for a quick visit at least once a month. 69

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In their bed back at the residence, Silari stroked her thigh up over Maksuan’s hip. “So that went well.” “With the exception of my great niece insulting you. Niiko almost had me through the greenhouse and into the air.” She winced. “I thought he had kept that between us.” Maksuan stroked his hand down her back. “He did not. The moment that you throttled him back, I thought he was going to blow a volcano in the northern continent.” She chuckled. “I was having a perfectly good conversation and I can take care of myself. So, do you want to have a picture taken with me to hang in the Nikan gallery?” He smiled and rubbed his jaw along her hair. “I thought we would wait until we have a few children. Niiko wants to try for at least two.” While she spluttered in surprise, he rolled her to her back and thrust into her, the slickness of their previous coupling easing his way. As they moved together, she thought of a baby with Niiko’s eyes. The way things were going, any child she bore would be part Yeruan, part Terran and part energy creature hosted within a planet. What kind of toy could you give a child who could move mountains? When her body began the familiar tightening that signalled impending release, she decided to think about it later. She had thousands of years after all. No sense rushing things.

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About the Author Viola Grace was born in Manitoba, Canada where she still resides today. She really likes it there. She has no pets and can barely keep sea monkeys alive for a reasonable amount of time. In keeping with busy hands are happy hands, her hobbies have included crossstitch, needlepoint, quilting, costuming, cake decorating, baking, cooking, metal work, beading, sculpting, painting, doll making, henna tattoos, chain mail, and a few others that have been forgotten. It is quite often that these hobbies make their way into her tales. Viola’s fetishes include boots and corsetry, and her greatest weakness is her uncontrollable blush. Her writing actively pursues the Happily Ever After that so rarely occurs in nature. It is an admirable thing and something that we should all strive for. To find one that we truly like, as well as love.