Page 9

W earing a soft purple outfit and a bandeau and panties made of the same fabric under it, she sat on the couch with Raek sitting next to her. The prefect, Kritz, and Zera were sitting across from them. The prefect was staring at Raek with wondering eyes.

Battle Harmony. I can t believe you are here, alive and well.

Im-bar snorted. I took care of my brother, as I promised I would.

Raek said, I woke up when Aksalla carried out their contract with me. A partner was found, and only thirty-eight weeks to go.

Zera cleared her throat. I brought Kritz because he would like to examine another harmonic.

Cadence looked at them. Me?

Kritz smiled. Yes.

Would Arcady be there?

Of course. She s my assistant.

Then, I will decline.

He blinked in confusion. What?

I decline to be examined. Arcady has touched me over two dozen times when I have asked her not to.

You were so consumed with me not hurting her that you created a suit that focused my energy back onto my own skin while I am trying to conduct a pregnancy.

I had to craft an insert to keep it from sending the pulses through my abdomen.

He blinked. So, it hurt you?

It was like wearing a suit of needles.

Your bio-signs didn t indicate anything.

I am used to physical pain. This outfit is the first one I have ever worn that lets my harmonics just flow. It is the most comfortable I have ever been.

He blinked. What is it made out of?

Comfy.

Zera smiled. As your contract is with the BDC, I was wondering if you would talk to any of the ladies who are applying to the surrogate program?

No. I am just two weeks in. I know the stats.

Raek squeezed her hand. I am very hopeful.

Salmet leaned forward and said, I have a vial of milk for you if you want to get through the first trimester. With the pressures on you, it might be something for thought.

Cadence said, It goes against the contract.

Raek looked to his sister. Is that true?

We wanted to make sure you had time to wake. There was no way of knowing that you would thaw when she started to walk the property. We could amend it if she would agree to it.

Cadence swallowed. I am sure everyone wants this sped along.

Raek nodded to everyone and picked her up, walking with her to the gardens. His arms were comfortable and fairly muscled for someone who had slept for a decade plus.

He walked deeper into the grounds. Cadence, I do not wish to get rid of you.

My body pulses to yours, and I love the feel of you against me.

It has been a day, but I want you in my bed, in my life, and planning a nursery with me as soon as you make it to your second trimester.

We were designed with complementary energies for a reason, and I think that reason is right below your navel.

A baby is a silly reason to form a partnership.

It is the catalyst. The harmonics are the reason. Standing here with you against me, I can think of a thousand ways I want to combine my body and energies with you.

She blushed. That is blunt.

What are your thoughts on the matter?

I haven t ever... combined. I think you would be disappointed.

I am willing to let your lack of practical application slow me down as we discuss combining theory.

She winced. I am still not sure about it. There wasn t any mention of it in the contract. I think they thought you wouldn t be that interested in the container that the baby came in. That was the way it was explained to me.

They were very wrong. If I had met you and nothing was connecting us, I would be putting effort into seducing you. You are perfect.

I would run like hell.

He kissed her temple, and the vibrations between them lit warmth in her body. She tilted her head up to look at him, and her lips were the next recipient of the kiss. She gasped, and his harmonics went through her, between her lips, down her throat, and settled low in her belly.

He lifted his head. So, push to the end of the first trimester?

She nodded. As long as Im-bar thinks it s a good idea.

She knows how unstable active pregnancies are; I think she will agree. Now, what do you want for a first date?

What?

It s only been a bit of time. What do you like to eat or do on a date?

She stared at him. How would I know?

His eyes widened. Ah. How is pizza and a movie?

I think that sounds nice.

He turned and began the walk back to the house. What kind of beverage do you like? Tea? Soda?

Um, iced tea or lemonade. Double pepperoni pizza with extra cheese. Garlic bread.

He laughed. That is doable. Is Kritz s brother still around?

Yes. He moved to Aksalla with Kritz. Kritz moved here so he could marry Arcady.

Is Klauz married?

No, but he is part of a consortium. He s one of five suitors for a metabolic active named Drin. She works in the specialized textile department with Nelith.

Nelith is still around?

She s paired off now as well and very happy.

Wow. Sleep for more than a decade and the world falls in love.

Apparently.

So, who is Khytten?

Salat s wife.

He nearly dropped her. Really?

Yeah, she s a lactator who can program her milk and the dose to help actives get into a safe zone and is very popular.

How do you know all this?

Oh, the shy ones lurk in the halls and stand still in corners.

Salat, married.

Oh, yes, and his Khytten is a sharpshooter with peacekeeper training. And Dr. Torenne is with them as well.

Okay. It makes more sense now. How did all these odd actives come together?

The Blind Date Corporation. To get away from the legal strictures that the capitol had introduced, they opened up an escort agency for actives.

The escorts wear a mask that respects the patron s anonymity.

The escort is also hidden from patrons who would get a little more obsessed.

If a couple is monogamous long enough, they are offered introductions.

If either party refuses, it is dropped until they bring it up.

Was that situation ever tempting for you?

To have Zera search the list of patrons to find one physically compatible? It was tempting but not likely that there would be a match.

He carried her back into the living room, where the others were in eager conversation.

Raek asked his sister, Is the acceleration dangerous for her?

No. It has been used successfully on other actives, even those who are lactose intolerant.

Raek and Cadence nodded. Fine, but we have to amend the contract before I do it.

Zera had a tablet and was working on it. I have the amendment. You just need to look it over, and you and Raek have to initial it.

Cadence looked it over and made a slight change in phrasing. She initialled her change and handed it to Raek. He smiled, nodded as well, and initialled.

They returned the tablet to Zera. She smiled softly at the change. Right. Mother. Not surrogate.

Im-bar made a happy noise.

Salmet grabbed a bag and extended it to Raek. Here you go. Each vial is for two weeks. Keep them in the freezer under lockup. We have had one active go a little crazy and dose herself until she could feel the baby moving. Don t do that. Just get through the first trimester, so from here, six doses.

The bag had a frame with twenty vials in it. Raek took it and removed six of them. Im-bar took the others and said, I will hide them, frozen.

Salmet nodded. Kritz got up and said, I will bring a cup with hot water.

Raek shook his head and held the vials in his fist. There was a humming, and he smiled. Okay, Cadence. Here we go.

He opened the first vial for her as Kritz sat down. She tipped the vial back and blinked. Lemon?

Salmet laughed. For adults, she plays with the flavour, but her doses got my three grandkids into the world happy and healthy.

Salat has kids?

Five. Two adopted and three from Khytten. Their house is full of toddlers. It s just down the road as well. Salmet smiled. A very lively place.

Cadence went through all six vials and felt the changes taking place. She kept her hand over it as she felt the pulses of a pattern that was part her and part Raek.

Raek covered her hand with his. I can feel it. It blends our patterns.

Cadence grinned at him. It does.

Salmet had tears in her eyes and then paused. You can feel it in utero?

Yeah. My mother said I was like that, too. She had a drumbeat inside her during her whole pregnancy. She thought it was the word of god. I was a bit of a let down when I cried every time they put clothing on me.

Kritz laughed. How did they get you dressed?

She looked at him. They took me aside, and they beat me with a belt until my back was covered with welts. Then said that the welts made god look on me with disgust, and they told me to cover them. It set a pattern for later in life.

Kritz paused. Oh, I am sorry. I thought it would be cute. Does Arcady know?

I don t think she realized what that was.

She thought I was getting special treatment because my clothing covered my arms and back and legs.

I got new clothing, not hand-me-downs. I was too big for the girls clothing, and the boys clothing was not appropriate.

They had to buy new or risk the marks being seen.

There was suddenly sobbing in the room.

She looked at Kritz. Open com?

I thought it would help her to hear it. She s upset.

Yes. She s upset at my pain. That is fucking weird, Kritz. I envy her way with people, and she envies the way family abused me because it looked like caring. I have had therapy. She should invest in some.

Kritz blinked. I think you might be right.

There was a squawk. Kritz spoke to Arcady. Every time the attention is on your sister, you interrupt and play cute or cuddle up next to her. She isn t trying to take attention; she is just getting medical treatment. Any other patient or client and you would never behave the way you have been.

Silence.

Kritz sighed. We will discuss this when I get home.

Cadence said, I am up for a joint viewing session if she wants to know how things feel to me.

There was a small murmur.

Kritz nodded. She agrees.