The Melier: Home World (Women of Dor Nye Book 2) (25 page)

Beela’Su had
passion
for art of all kinds, and she wanted to create, talk about it, and explore various planets to learn about their inhabitants.

It was refreshing.

Lucia was positive about one thing: she had to convince the royal family to
not
give Beela’Su back to her father.

The two continued to talk, and Lucia began to see much of herself in the Trepnil princess.  She was only a few years younger than herself, but she had her own dreams and interests that differed from her family’s expectations, as much as Lucia’s had with her own kin. 

Lucia had craved adventure; Beela’Su craved culture. The two weren’t that different; parallel lines running the same direction.

The one thing that continued to nag at her though, was how little Beela’Su actually looked like a Trepnil. Sure there were some of the more obvious features, like the scales and the teeth, but there were a striking amount of differences too. In fact, if she met Beela’Su at another place and time, she would never have suspected she was a Trep.

“I thank you for chatting with me Princess,” Lucia said in a diplomatic manner she had begun to practice. “I hope that we can come to some arrangement that benefits everyone.” She picked up the two glasses from the table and stood to start toward the door. Stopping she turned to look back at the young royal, and gave her a quick smile. “If you require anything, please just send for me and I’ll see what I can do.”

Beela’Su nodded appreciatively and smiled. “I thank you too, for the conversation. I think that under different circumstances we may have been good friends.”

“I’m sure I would have liked that.” Lucia tapped on the door, and Soren opened it, closing it quickly behind her.

All eyes were on her as she exited the confines of the cell. “What?” She asked incredulously. “It’s not like you weren’t able to hear everything we were saying. Why are you looking at me like that?”

Val’Zun huffed under his breath, gently taking the glasses from her and placing them on the nearby counter. “In all that chatter, what do you think you accomplished? We still have to figure out what to do with her.”

Soren nodded as he exchanged glances with his brothers. “And we have to do it quickly. Any window we have is going to be small.”

Lucia grinned as she looked at her mates and companions, feeling quite proud of herself. “That’s where I come in.” She beamed.

Gi’Moy, who had been silent thus far, spoke up. “You have an idea then, I take it?”

“Better,” she grinned toothily, mocking her mates despite her lack of giant teeth, “I have a plan.”

Chapter 19

Dor Nye’s Capital…

“Lass!” Angus boomed as he entered the room, blue eyes shining merrily when his gaze fell upon Lucia.

Immediately, she squealed with unbridled delight and ran straight into his large, bear hugging arms. The familiar scent of her father and the constriction of her lungs brought back many, many fond memories.

“Dad,” she sighed as he swung her around, like he always did after she’d been gone for a long while. “I’m not a kid anymore,” she giggled, secretly still loving the gesture. His only response was to laugh, like it was a joke.

After a few more moments, Angus set her down on her feet once more and Lucia jumped right into what was going on.

Not everything, however. She didn’t think now was the time to talk about her personal close encounters with death, or the fact there was still her would-be assassin on the loose.

She was back on Dor Nye and in the capital for another reason.

Instead, she spoke about the war with the Trepnils, the attack on the palace, and their idea on a possible solution that could end a bloody war between two planets and save many, many lives.

“Dad,” Lu tugged on his large hand and gestured toward Soren and Val’Zun who parted to reveal the center of her plan. “This is Princess Beela’Su, the emperor’s daughter, and my new friend.”

Angus’ eyes widened ever so slightly, taking in the princess and flicking his gaze back to Lucia. She could see the confusion there, and quickly went on to explain.

****

Later that evening, Lucia, Lenny, and the brothers were making their way to a cozy little restaurant of the capital. When her family found out she was planet side, even if just for a little bit, they forbid her to leave the atmosphere without first sharing third meal.

Not that Lu minded in the least. She’d been dying to see her family again. Four Dor Nye months was the longest she had ever been away from them.

“Smile!” she said to Zun, beaming up at him in hopes he would follow suit. She knew he still wasn’t completely comfortable around so many humans, though he was doing much better than his initial visit those months ago.

He and Ren grunted.

Good to see nothing has changed.

Lu felt a little freer, being in familiar surroundings, and seeing other humans. The queen had chosen to stay behind, though Val’Koy readily joined them, his curiosity getting the better of his distaste.

“Your architecture is strange,” Val’Koy commented, taking in his surroundings. “Are you not blinded by the suns glare from these awful looking buildings?”

Lu’s brows knit together as she considered the tall, smooth, pale gold structures that made up the heart of the capital. They
did
look a little too shiny in the suns dying rays, but maybe she was used to it. “I guess I never thought about it much.”

He shook his head, still inspecting the buildings from the transports clear shield. “Humans,” he muttered lowly, but loud enough for her to hear him just fine.

“Meliers,” she countered, shaking her head as three scoffs answered her. Soren chuckled, rubbing the backs of his knuckles along her jaw appreciatively.

The restaurant came into view as the transport slowed along the white stone road. Soren exited first, assisting her to the pavement while she held the babe in her arms. Lenny was obsessed with her own tail lately, and was currently trying to taste it. Slobber coated the tip, and her tiny fingers, making her glisten in the lights of the restaurant.

“Lenny, that’s not food,” she giggled and used a cloth to wipe up the drool. The babe looked at her like she just ruined her world and a tiny squeal emitted from her small, powerful lungs to signal her displeasure about the whole thing.

Instantly, Soren, Ren, and Zun were surrounding her to try and make Lenny happy again. Purring at her, tickling her chunky cheeks, shaking a shiny rattle that she adored.

Lu shook her head
again
. “If you all react like that every time she’s upset, you’re going to turn her into a rotten youngling.”

They ignored her.

Why do I even bother?

“LULU!”

Zan’s familiar voice rang out around them, and her heart did a tiny flip of anticipation.

“Zan?” Her free hand pushed against Ren’s frame, urging him out of the way as she looked around for her nephew.

“Zan!” she gushed as she spotted him and knelt down on one knee to accept his hug. He was flying toward her but once he noticed Lenny, he slowed and was careful not to jostle the youngling too much as he wrapped his small arms around her neck, and squeezed.

“You’re home! You’re home!” he said, muffled by her crazy curls. “Are you back for good? Are you, Lulu?”

Her throat suddenly felt swollen and she was thankful the little guy was still clinging to her neck, unable to see her bittersweet expression. It took her a moment to find her voice, but she finally did. “I’m here tonight. Let’s not worry about the rest,” she forced a small laugh. “Did you lose any more teeth?”

“I did!” he exclaimed, letting her go and opening his mouth to point at the empty spots where teeth were missing and new ones were growing in.

“Wow,” she breathed. “Did you ever find out how the YutYut creatures get here to Dor Nye to collect your teeth?”

“Well,” he said disappointed. “Mama said they use a regular ship like the rest of us.”

Lucia inwardly rolled her eyes at her sister’s lack of imagination. “I think she was confused,” she began and instantly Zan was interested, hope lighting his curious eyes. “They don’t use a ship like us, because they have
magic
.”

“What kind of magic?”

Lucia wiggled her fingers mysteriously, setting the scene for her tale. “YutYut magic,” she whispered, pulling forth a story even some adults believed in. “Somewhere in the YutYut galaxy, there lives a powerful sorcerer said to possess a magic so volatile it could obliterate the universe and everything in it, including you and I--”

“What does
obi’trate
mean?” Zan interrupted, and Lu wanted to slap a hand to her face for forgetting to use smaller words, and giggle at the way he pronounced it.

“Are you telling him scary stories again?” Frellie came into view, a scowl on her face. “Last time you did that, he was attached to my hip for a week--”

“I wasn’t,” she grinned and stood, not even upset her story had been cut short as she accepted a hug from her sister.

“Make way, age before beauty,” Grams butted in and wrapped her arms around Lucia before Frellie even untangled herself. “Oh, sweetling,” her grandmother sighed happily. “I missed you.”

Lucia was enveloped in embrace after embrace as the rest of her family filtered in from the restaurants lobby.

“You brought home a new one,” Grams lifted her brows and looked Val’Koy from head to toe, who seemed mildly entertained by the old woman.

“This is Val’Koy, our eldest brother,” Soren supplied.

“And the most childish,” Zun added, to which he and Ren shared a shit eating grin.

“Imbeciles,” Val’Koy sighed, before bending forward and extending one of his right hands toward Grams, who happily shook it with unladylike enthusiasm, causing Nova to roll her eyes.

“I am Prince Val’Koy of Melierun,” he said formally. “An honor to make your acquaintance.”

Grams snorted. “You don’t have to charm me, young man.”

His pale green eyes narrowed just slightly as his lips twitched with veiled amusement.

“Let’s not keep the staff waiting,” Nova interjected, herding everyone into the restaurant in as
proper
a fashion she could muster.

The evening carried on and as a sweet dish was being served, Lucia thought it was time to break the
news
to her family. Her amber gaze roved around the table, noticing that everyone was in high spirits.

Maybe I’ll wait…

Until when?

I don’t know…

You can’t just show up one day, ‘Hi mom and dad, I’m pregnant, and no, it’s not Soren’s’.

Ugh… I’ll just ease into it.

Lu nearly groaned aloud, partly at the idea of going through
another
pregnancy, because a small part of her felt it would be unfair to deny Zun
that
...

Her eyes cut to the side, observing Zun as he followed the conversation of the table, only adding input when he was addressed. While Soren was joining right in, he and Ren were still stoic, even around her family. Maybe even more so with Val’Koy there.

Lucia blew a stray curl off of her forehead, only for the thing to flop back down while she continued to delay. Not that anyone was rushing her to confess anything. Zun never even asked her if she planned to tell her family. He didn’t say anything at all.

Maybe he doesn’t want me to tell them.

Nonsense. Do you even
know
Val’Zun?

Her lips twitched.

“Lucia?” Grams said.

“Val’Zun is my partner,” she blurted, and then blinked, startled.

Nova’s fork screeched across her plate, and the conversation at the table died while everyone stared at her.

“I… I…” she stuttered, going brain dead for what felt like a considerable amount of time.

Remember how you were supposed to ease into it?

…

Fail.

Her eyes roved the faces around her, noticing the amused glint in Val’Koy’s eyes as he watched her with thinly veiled delight while she squirmed.

Seconds ticked by…

Soren cleared his throat.

Lu looked over at him, and he gave her a nod, as if asking if she was alright.

“I have two partners--”, she blurted,
again
, cringing and unable to understand why her brain was malfunctioning.

It was Zun who cleared his throat next, but that was all.

“Oh dear,” Nova said, her trademark statement that was almost universal in her vocabulary.

“Are you pregnant again?” Frellie asked bluntly.

“No!” Lucia, Soren, and Val’Zun said simultaneously.

“Thank the stars,” she sighed. “I need a little warning before you start secreting that fish smell.”

Lu choked.

Val’Koy barked a laugh.

“Frellie!” Nova chastised in her
‘don’t be rude’
tone.

“You were all thinking it!” she countered, and no one tried to say otherwise.

Traitors.

Lucia’s face heated and she gave Soren and Zun a look as if to apologize for her family.

“I’ve said before, and I’ll say it again,” Angus shook his head, expression weary, but accepting. “You never do things the ‘normal’ way.”

And so the conversation picked back up. Her family pummeled her with questions about her time on Melierun. They wanted to know how it looked, and what the royal family was like, which created the perfect opening for the brothers to laugh at her
once more
while they told the story of how they
tricked
her into eating roosca worms. Even if that’s not how
they
remembered it.

Her family had a good guffaw at her expense.

They asked who MoMo was when Gi’Ren and Val’Zun told the story of how she
stole
the queen’s pet Nobu. Lu discovered she really disliked being called a pet thief. She had
tried
to give MoMo back, but the creature would have none of it.

If Lucia wasn’t so ridiculously happy that all of the brothers were finally loosening up, she might actually be peeved about their jokes and jabs.

But she wasn’t. Not one little bit.

She was happy, and as she sat there grinning, watching her family go round and round, Lu knew she wouldn’t want it any other way.

Right there, in that moment, she was exactly where she was supposed to be.