“Is that a coincidence? It suddenly occurred to me when I actually took a moment to think about it that the Galaxy Circus has an unusual amount of high profile and powerful people as its performers.”
William’s eyes shutter, and his eyebrows furrow in a stubborn frown. “If you end up sealing a Skarrian mating bond with Lila, you can ask those questions. Until that happens, I am going to ask you to please keep that observation to yourself. For Lila’s safety and all of ours.”
Ah, so there is something. I knew I wasn’t imagining things, but I respect this man too much to push him, not to mention I want to keep Lila safe.
“Okay,” I agree, and he breathes a sigh of relief.
“Thank you,” he says as we look down at the sedated Saxon. “How long can he last like this?”
“I think he’ll be okay for a few more days. Maybe once Lila has spent some time with her girlfriend, she may feel better about the situation, though she has confirmed she will bond with him.”
“Caspian sought us out for permission for Lila’s friend to visit. Of course we said yes, it cannot be easy adjusting to all of this. It feels like she’s been with us forever, but in reality, our granddaughter has only been with us for a few weeks.” A thoughtful expression passes over his face.
“And what of her plans to tell her everything and have Xavier remove her memories?” I ask, adjusting the flow of blood feeding Saxon in his coma.
“We will do whatever we need to in order to make our granddaughter feel at home, so if she needs this, we will give it to her as long as Xavier is on board with it.”
“I don’t think you will have any problems with him.”
“No, I believe you are right. I was coming to find you because they are due back at the pod shortly. I thought maybe we could have a meal together and talk about her plans for her friends.”
A rush of pleasure washes over me at being invited to have a meal with Lila and her family. I guess that means they aren’t opposed to our relationship. I didn’t think they would be, but there was always a chance. I must not have hid my reaction very well, because William chuckles and slaps me on the back.
“Ah, Link, we’re thrilled Lila has attracted so many kind and powerful mates and potential mates. We are happy to welcome you all and know that our Lila will be well looked after and protected in the future.” There’s something slightly off about his tone, but he doesn’t pause for me to question it. “Come on, Caspian is waiting with Eric and John. Unfortunately Saxon can’t join us this time, but hopefully next time we have a family meal, he will be back to normal.” He leads me out of my clinic, and I activate the locks on the door. That way we don’t have to worry about Radella and Estrella getting any stupid ideas.
When we get back to the Adams brothers’ quarters, I find Xavier and Lila have arrived, and although there is nothing out of the ordinary about Lila’s appearance, I can tell she has been well fucked by Xavier. Maybe it’s the lingering smell of his scent on her skin that I catch when she gives me a kiss hello.
“Hi,” she says quietly to me as the others make conversation. “I know it hasn’t been long, but I missed you.”
A smile spreads across my face as I give her a hug. “I know how you feel. Did you have a good time with Xavier? Did he look after you?” I ask, my voice low so her grandpas don’t hear it, but they seem to be too distracted by Cas and Xavier to notice.
“Oh my God, he sure did,” she gushes, her eyes twinkling. Seeing her so relaxed after her emotional breakdown earlier in the day has put me at ease.
“Did you get a hold of Susie?” Caspian asks, interrupting our private little chat with an unrepentant grin on his face.
I drag her over to the sofa and position her so she’s sitting next to Caspian and then sit down on her other side. We each take hold of one of her hands, and Eric beams at the three of us. Xavier takes a seat on the other side of Caspian and drapes his arm over the back of the couch, playing with Lila’s hair.
“Oh, I am so happy. Look at our growing family,” he exclaims, and John grunts at him.
“Don’t get ahead of yourself. Link isn’t bonded to Lila yet. Thankfully they are doing it the sensible way and getting to know each other first. None of this fated mate crap,” he grumbles, and Lila’s mouth drops open at his outburst. If looks could kill, John would be incinerated.
“Now, John, don’t be like that. Ignore him, he’s missing our wife terribly at the moment. While seeing you all starting something new is wondrous, it also highlights what we are missing,” William explains, and Lila gasps, pulling her hands out of ours and jumping up to hug her grandpas.
“Of course you must be, and here I am being insensitive by flaunting my three mates in your face.”
“Three?” Eric quickly latches onto her statement, and all three of them turn to look at Xavier. “Do you have something to tell us?”
Xavier doesn’t wilt under the glares of the three men, and instead calmly explains about searching Lila’s mind and finding his hidden memory that his parents removed and implanted. You could have knocked the brothers over with a feather when they heard about their son and his wife appealing to Xavier’s parents for help. That reaction couldn’t be faked, so they definitely knew nothing about it, and my heart hurts for them.
“And Lila’s powers and her memories will be returned to her when we get to Westalin?” John sounds hopeful, and when Xavier confirms it, I see tears well in his eyes. “Well, thank fuck for that. I’ve been so worried about her always being in danger.”
“Care to explain a little more about that?” I press, hoping that he may be more forthcoming than William.
“No,” William responds, snapping his gaze to me before John can, and I can tell by his tone there will be no arguing. “As much as I want to say screw Earth and let’s go straight to Westalin, we can’t. We have that deportee being delivered later in the week, and we can’t leave without him.
“And Susie is coming now. I need to see her if I’m not going to be able to see her for months,” Lila chimes in almost desperately. The relaxation I saw on her face moments earlier has dimmed, and she’s nibbling on her lip, waiting for her grandpas to comment.
“Of course you can see your friend. You can tell her whatever you need to, and as long as Xavier agrees to the plan, he can either take away her memories of the conversation or make it so she can’t talk about it to anyone but you,” Eric reassures her with a soft smile. “But as a compromise, how about you give her the option of which choice she would like? That way you won’t feel guilty about taking away her choice.”
