“I’m already a big sister,” she says, pointing to the baby, “but I’m a good big sister, so I will look after the others as well,” she promises and seems no worse for wear despite her ordeal.
Behind us, Tirrian and Saxon explain to all the others what is about to happen before shuffling them all through the complex to the transport.
Lila and her parents talk quietly, but she looks up and sees us watching. We’re the only ones remaining, and we are just waiting for the three of them.
“Mom and Dad, I’d like you to meet two of my mates. This is Brannock, Chloe’s dad, and you might remember Xavier from when we were smaller.”
Alina gasps. “Xavier Colest?”
Xavier gives her a small wave. “Hey, Alina, it’s nice to see you alive. My parents are going to be so pissed with themselves that they didn’t search for you and trusted the police report.”
“That’s another dollar,” Chloe sings, and I smother a grin.
“Two of your mates?” Marcus says slowly. “How many do you have?” He’s frowning, and I chuckle, knowing his fatherly instinct is rearing its ugly head.
“Oh, ah, um… I mean, it’s not that many, right? The other mimic I met had twenty,” Lila stammers, and both of her parents gasp.
“You’re a mimic?” Marcus asks, sounding awed.
“Yup, and I have whisperer powers,” Lila tells them, and they stare at her with pride and amazement in their eyes.
Alina beams. “Our little girl is so freaking powerful!”
“Why doesn’t she have to put a dollar in the swear jar?” I hear Xavier ask Chloe, who shakes her head stubbornly.
“Freaking isn’t a swear word,” she tells him.
“I noticed you didn’t answer my question,” Marcus prompts Lila, and she sighs.
“Twelve,” she mumbles quietly.
Marcus frowns. “I’m sorry. I don’t think I heard you correctly.” He chuckles, looking at his wife. “I thought you said you had twelve mates, that would be ridiculous.”
Alina isn’t laughing, just looking at her husband with pity in her eyes.
“Nope, you heard right. Lila has twelve mates. Come on, there are a few more out in the main area. I’ll introduce you, and we kind of want to blow this popsicle stand. The family lizard is going to torch it for us.” Xavier waves his hand in the direction we need to go.
“Liliana,” Marcus growls as Lila starts to move.
“I go by Lila now, Dad,” she growls back, and Alina sighs. Xavier and I snicker like children, and our wife glares at us.
“Can we maybe do this later? I don’t know about you, but twenty years in this hellhole is long enough. I don’t want to wait until you have a man tantrum to get out,” Alina scolds her husband.
I turn my head and hide my laughter in Chloe’s neck. She giggles. I like Lila’s mom. She’s feisty, just like Lila is. I can see where she gets it from.
“You’re going to be in so much trouble,” I mutter to Xavier as we leave the cell block behind. Chloe is tucked into my side, and I have no plans of letting her go anytime soon. She plays with myspikes and giggles, waving at the others behind us. “Lila’s going to kick your ass.”
“As long as it isn’t Marcus. I remember what his Skarrian powers are, or one of them at least. He has the ability to throw lightning. I bet that shit hurts.” He winces.
“Don’t forget she can do the same thing in her cat form.”
“Fuu… dge,” he finishes, sneaking a side glance at Chloe.
When we arrive back to the first cell block, it’s in chaos. Some of the children are reuniting with parents, and there are tears of joy. Musette and Mehira, along with Tirrian and Saxon, are trying to get them to leave.
In the medical facility, a woman is wailing. Zeydan’s god form is gone, and he is wiping sweat from his sister’s brow.
“Lila, I need you now,” Link yells at her. “Celestian form. I have to do a cesarian. She can’t give birth to this baby naturally. The spikes are preventing it.”
