Laura Jo Phillips (28 page)

“Now
that
sounds like the Darleen Flowers I know,” Lariah agreed.

Saige nodded.  “The problem is that, my feelings aside, any other woman can give them the children that I cannot.  They want them so much, Lariah.  As do I, to be honest.  I must accept that I cannot have them, but they do not need to make that sacrifice.  My limitations should not doom them to the same fate.  They would be better off if I went home to Earth, and left them to find another woman to mate with.”

Much to Saige’s surprise Lariah’s mouth turned up in a tiny smile.  “I remember when I said much the same thing to my men.”

Saige frowned.  “Tell,” she said.  Lariah grinned. 

“Such a bossy thing you are.”  The grin faded as Lariah studied her friend thoughtfully.  “As I told you yesterday, there are some things it is not my place to say.  But, didn’t they tell you what finding their Arima means to them?”

“Sure they did.  They said that there was only one Arima for them and that there could never be another.  But I also know that they can mate with a human woman.  Every other Jasani male has done so for the past three thousand years until you.”

“Did they tell you anything about mating fangs?” Lariah asked, crossing her fingers that she was not giving anything away that she shouldn’t.  Garen had been quite clear in his request to allow the Lobos to handle the situation with their Arima without interference.

“Yes,” Saige replied easily much to Lariah’s relief.  She felt certain that if they had told Saige about mating fangs, they had explained that theirs had descended and what that meant.  Like herself, Saige probably did not truly understand, or believe, what that meant.

“They said that they cannot now use them in some sort of mating ritual with another woman, and I’m sorry for that,” Saige continued.”  But they can skip that part and just marry another woman and have children.”

“No Saige, they can’t,” Lariah said.  “Jasani biology is not compatible enough with human biology for them to have children together without the mating ritual.  And even if it were, they will never feel desire for another woman now that they have found their Arima.”

Saige frowned.  “They told me that Jasani males could mate with only one woman, but I admit I did not think it was that...well...absolute.”

“Believe it.  It is absolutely that absolute.”

The women fell silent for a time as Saige considered her situation in this new light.  She wondered why she had not allowed herself to fully believe what Faron had told her so plainly.  Probably because I didn’t want to believe it, she told herself. 

“Lariah, what exactly is this
mating ritual
I keep hearing about,” she asked. 

Lariah bit her lip. 

“Tell,” Saige ordered.  But Lariah shook her head.  “I’m sorry Saige, but I can’t,” she said regretfully.  “I love you as I love my sister, but I cannot tell you that.”

“Why not?” Saige asked.  “Is it because someone told you not to?”

“It is true that I was asked not to interfere in matters between you and the Lobos,” Lariah admitted.  “For the Jasani, such matters are intensely private and personal and should never be interfered with by others.  But the biggest reason I don’t want to say anything is that I feel it would be wrong.  Too much is at stake for all four of you.  I would never forgive myself if I said something that caused you to react in a negative way.”

“I appreciate that,” Saige said reluctantly.  They fell silent again for awhile, each lost in her own thoughts.

“By the way thank you for the meds and the toiletries,” Saige said.  “I must remember to thank Suly as well for the clean clothes.”

“No need for thanks,” Lariah replied.  “All I did was make a vox call.”

As the two women discussed more mundane matters, Saige continued to roll the issue of herself and the Lobos around in her mind, trying to come to a decision.

Val led the way from the patio into the house, across the living room and into the office, Faron, Dav and Ban following behind him.  Faron was pleased to see Riata just preparing to leave the office as they entered. 

“Riata, we would thank you again for your healing last night,” he said. 

Riata smiled at him.  “You are most welcome Faron Lobo,” she said.  Her eyes grew speculative for a moment, and she smiled again.  “Before you ask, let me set your concerns at rest.  Yes, Saige has a genetic anomaly as Lariah had.  It is not exactly the same, but my guess is that since she is your Arima, she will likely go through the transformation much as Lariah did.”

“We do not know anything about Lariah’s transformation,” Faron admitted.  “Other than the obvious fact that it was successful.”

Riata glanced uncertainly at Garen.  He smiled.  “I greatly appreciate your concern for the privacy of your patients, Riata,” he said.  “However this is a matter that concerns all Jasani, particularly those who find their Arima.”

Riata nodded with some relief and turned back to Faron. 

“If you would like some privacy for this we will leave you,” Garen offered before Riata began.

“No, we would prefer that you stay, if you do not mind,” Faron replied.  “You have been through this and may be able to offer advice that Riata cannot.”

“We do not mind,” Garen said.  “Please be seated as this may take some time.”

Riata retook the chair she had just vacated and everyone else found a seat as well, pulling the chairs into a semi-circle so that all could be a part of the conversation.

When everyone was settled Riata began.  “I have discussed this matter with the Jasani Elders who are most learned in these matters, and we all agree that during the mating ritual Lariah’s genetic code was rewritten, and her physical body altered to match.”

This was not a complete surprise to Faron.  He had assumed as much when the announcement was made that she and his Princes were soul-linked.  The first time he saw Lariah transform into her dracon had convinced him further.

“The first injection of serum enhanced her body’s regeneration ability.  Which of course is why she survived the stab wound she suffered.  However, the serum did not stop there.  It went on to completely rewrite her genetic code.  When it was finished, Lariah had the genetic code of a Jasani female, but she still had the body of a human female.”

Faron immediately understood the implications of that and his face paled as he glanced at Garen.  Garen nodded.  “It was terrifying,” he said.  “Her vital signs began to fail almost immediately.  Her breathing slowed, her heart slowed, her blood pressure dropped.  We feared we were losing her, and we would have lost her, if not for Riata.”

Faron turned back to Riata, his heart in his throat at the thought of how close they had all come to losing Lariah.  When he thought of the same thing happening to Saige, he wanted to howl.

“At that point, the second serum injection was given,” Riata said, her voice gentle as she sensed the Lobos’ near panic.  “Her vital signs returned to normal immediately afterward.  The second injection began the transformation of her physical body to match her new genetic code.”

“That was the most difficult part of the entire thing,” Trey said.  All eyes turned to him.  “Her body underwent a massive change, and it was not without pain.”

Riata nodded in agreement, shivering as she remembered the pain Lariah’s body had endured.  “If not for the Dracon’s ability to hold Lariah in a deep sleep, I am not certain how I would have managed to get her through that experience,” she admitted.

“But we
were
able to keep her deeply unconscious,” Garen said.  “I admit that the experience was a nightmare from all of the nine hells for us, but Lariah remembers nothing of it.”  His eyes met Faron’s.  “If you decide to attempt the mating ritual with Saige, please call on us so that we may perform the same service for your Arima.”

Faron let out a relieved sigh.  “We will, Highness, and thank you for the offer.  We could not otherwise go through the mating ritual with our Arima knowing that she would suffer such pain.”

Garen nodded in understanding.  Faron turned back to Riata.

“Is that it then?” he asked hopefully.  “She sleeps while her body changes, and then she is a Jasani?”

“No, not quite,” Riata replied.  “Once the physical changes were complete, Lariah was fully a Jasani female, and a dracon.  However, when she awoke, she was already deep into the Jasani mating fever.”

Faron shook his head.  “I do not understand,” he said.  “The two injections were given, but at the same time, an injection is needed to perform the soul-link triad and quiet the mating fever before it kills the female.”  He turned to Garen again, an expression of panic on his face. 

“We gave her a third injection,” Garen said.

Faron, Dav and Ban gaped openly.  “A third injection?” Faron asked faintly.  “How is that possible?”

“Our mating fangs did not shed after the second use,” Garen replied. 

Faron considered that in silence for a few moments before shaking his head again.  “I do not know how you had the courage to take such a risk.”

Garen chuckled softly.  “We did not,” he admitted ruefully.  “It was Riata who figured it out and insisted that we give the third injection.  Still, we may not have gone through with it had Lariah not been in such distress, and had Riata not warned us that to refrain would most likely result in her death.”

“Yes, I can see how that might have given you incentive,” Faron agreed wryly.

“Because Lariah’s entire genetic code and her body were altered completely in her transformation to a Jasani female, it was much like being reborn,” Riata said.  “Though she looks exactly the same, she no longer has the same body that she had before.”

“You believe that if Saige goes through the same transformation that the damage caused by her disease will be reversed?” Faron asked, hardly daring to hope.

“No,” Riata said.  “Not reversed.  Erased as though it had never been.  Or perhaps replaced would be a better term.  Her entire body will be made anew.  Whatever the term used, she will no longer have the damage, or the limitations caused by the damage.”

“What about the damage caused by the seizures?” Faron asked.  “And the seizures themselves?”

“The disease caused the seizures originally,” Riata said.  “However, each time one occurs, it not only causes more damage, but it also increases the likelihood of another seizure.  At this point, I can, and will, heal the disease.  But I cannot heal the seizures because the damage caused by them is scarring, and I cannot heal scarring. 

“It is the scarring that is now responsible for many of her seizures as the medications she takes reduce the disease’s ability to cause them.  If she goes through the transformation, that scarring will be erased, as all other scarring is erased.  Once the scarring is gone, her seizures will also be gone.”

“Not being able to bear children is a fact that we gladly accept in order to have Saige,” Faron said.  “The seizures are a different matter.  They could take her from us at any time, and that is something we cannot accept if it can be changed.  For that reason alone, we must try to convince Saige to stay with us, and undergo the transformation.”

Riata’s eyes became worried.  “Yes, I agree with you that the seizures must be stopped.  The amount of scarring she has from them is quite extensive.  I cannot guess how many more of them she would be able to tolerate, but I am certain it is few.”

“Is it necessary to heal the disease?” Faron asked.  “If the transformation will cause such a drastic change in her body, won’t it erase the disease as well?”

“Perhaps,” Riata replied.  “But I am not certain, and I would prefer not to take such a chance.  I think it would be better to heal the disease first, before the transformation.”

“Very well,” Faron replied.  “We will, of course, follow your advice.”  Faron paused for a moment.  “I do not wish to place pressure on you Riata, especially after all you have done for us,” he began, but Riata held up one hand, palm out. 

“It is mine to Heal, Faron Lobo,” she said gently.  “I promise you that it is my intent to heal Saige as soon as I am able.  I am sorry that I will need one, perhaps two days of rest before I am able to summon the energy necessary to do so.”

Faron felt a loosening of the tension in his neck and shoulders that he had not really noticed before it relaxed.  “Whenever you are ready, we will be most grateful.”  Faron knew that there was no more to be said.  But he also knew that, should Riata ever have need, he and his brothers would offer all they had on her behalf.

Riata rose from her chair.  “I believe that is all you have need of me for,” she said.  “I will let you get on with your business.”  She bowed to Garen, Trey and Val, nodded to the Lobos and left the room, taking with her the small cloud of peace and serenity that always surrounded her.

“She is an amazing being,” Faron said softly. 

“She is that,” Garen agreed. 

Chapter
25

Darleen Flowers was still in a snit when she awoke the next morning. She was no closer to thinking of a suitable revenge against the Lobos and Saige than she had been the day before.  The truth was, she had no power here on Jasan.  Her beauty and sexuality were dull and useless weapons in a world where males were capable of responding to only one female.