“And not only can I use the powers of each form, but I can also use them in whatever form I’m in thanks to Gigi’s blood,” I tell him as my mother whispers something in his ear.
“She’s more powerful than you know, Marcus.” Rick gives my dad’s shoulder a squeeze. “She, along with help from her mates, is more than capable of doing what needs to be done, and we’ll all be on standby to bust in if needed.” Bubby has a stubborn set to his chin, and I know I’m going to have to pick my timing carefully if I want to stop them from coming.
“Fine, you can wait with the grandparents,” I concede for now as I redress.
“Everyone waits until Lila gives the signal. The warlocks are going to go in first and freeze the whole meeting, while the rest of us will take out anyone guarding the perimeter. Then, we will escort everyone out of the meeting except for Vivax and get clear of the planet. Liliana, Lila, and the rest of the gods will do their thing, with Lila taking Vivax’s power,” Brannock continues, outlining the plan for everyone.
“What about the bit she still holds?” Hurricane asks. “We all retained some of our power.”
“Vivax’s and Liliana’s powers are only Skarrian in nature. It’s why she has been so desperate to get the orb back. When Liliana managed to free all four of us elemental gods, she sacrificed her and Vivax’s powers completely to the spell. They retain nothing of their former god powers except for the ability to reincarnate,and that’s why it took so long,” Zeydan tells him. “Vivax really is no more dangerous than any other Skarrian, and being amongst the fleitine should render that null as well. She will be impotent.”
“And if we manage to do that, we can all go home and live our lives in peace with the threat of the Syndicate and galactic domination from them hanging over our heads,” Caspian says blithely.
“And if we don’t win?” Titus asks, sitting closer to Malik than is possibly acceptable forjust friends.
“Let’s not think about it, because I’m sure it would be nothing good.” My deity mate shudders at the thought of Vivax ruling over us, unstoppable with everyone’s powers at her fingertips.
“If it comes to that, I may have a backup plan, but it would mean abandoning this realm,” Xavier says slowly.
I think about where we cemented our intimate bond, wondering if it would indeed shelter us and how many of us they could save—probably the whole warlock race, but I don’t see them taking any others. That would mean leaving our families behind, and I’m not prepared to do that.
“It’s not an option, so I plan on kicking this chick’s ass and then heading back to Earth and being the best damn ringmaster that circus has ever seen. Are you with me?” I ask my surrounding friends and family, and without even hesitating, they all cheer. It warms my heart and soothes some of the tension.
“Okay, we need to make a move. Who’s coming with, and who is staying behind?” Brannock asks, and that starts a whole other argument.
I sigh. It’s going to be a long ass day.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
Lila
The trip to Grichi 517E would normally take us three days, but with the improvements the Vilaxians made, it should only take thirty hours in my grandpas’ personal shuttle. Because of space restrictions, we had to limit who went with us. Of my guys, it’s Brannock, Zeydan, Maxsim, Saxon, Xavier, Silac, and Tirrian. The others wanted to come too, but I said no. If anything were to happen to us, our children needed someone, so I put my foot down when Nikos and Caspian tried to join the excursion. It’s bad enough that Maxsim wouldn’t take no for an answer, which could possibly leave Echo as a sole parent to raise our cubs, but the others promised to look after him. I made them promise not to fall apart and to stay together as a family and find someone else to love if anything happened to me. They scoffed and said the right things, but I don’t think any of them meant it.
All three gods are joining us. Sanshia is healed, but she hasn’t spoken to anyone since she woke up. Her brothers explained what is happening, and she agreed to come, but apart from that, she hasn’t said a word—not even to ask about Ember, whois firmly ensconced in our nursery with the other babies, and Chloe, who is a major hit with her younger siblings. They think she is amazing, and she can get them to do anything. I doubt it will last, but we’ll make the most of it for now.
Brannock asked Ghosie to raise her and Ember if anything were to happen to him, and Ghosie cried and promised to love them with all his heart.
Link was torn. He wanted to come, but in the end, he stayed back with the others. He has no interest in confronting his mother if she is one of the Syndicate leaders, but he spoke to his father who warned him that she had been outed from Pleasure Bot Industries and was on a warpath. Both gave their blessings to deal with her as we see fit and told us not to spare her on their behalf.
My parents insisted on coming, and I as much as I wanted to deny the request, we allowed it, leaving Bastien behind with Bubby. I couldn’t help laughing at the deer in headlights look on his face when he arrived to wish us off with Bastien strapped to his chest in a harness. Kinga promised to give him as much help as he needs, as have the three human women who have been a pleasant surprise. The humans are fitting in nicely, and I think it’s going to work out for the best.
We haven’t told my grandparents that my parents are alive yet, since they have enough to worry about. They will have a nice surprise when they get there.
Rounding out the group are Titus and Thorn, who both have combat experience, and Musette and Mehira. They are going to coordinate their family’s troops for us, much like Maxsim is doing for the lightning cats. Thankfully, Grichi 517E is a desolate planet that’s cold and inhospitable, so the cats should fit in just fine.
The tight squeeze in the shuttle isn’t great, but it’s only thirty hours, so we can deal with it. We’re going to rendezvous withthe fleet of allies just out of sensor range. The others will beam aboard the Vilaxian battleship, and Tirrian, Silac, and I will continue on our own.
We say our tearful goodbyes, and I’m about to board the ship when Link stops me.
“Lila, are you forgetting something?” he asks, and I look around, patting my pockets. I don’t have anything in them because I’m going to be in my Madovian form anyway.
“No, I think I’m good.” I tip my head to the side in confusion. “What am I missing?” I ask when he actually laughs out loud.
“Why are you going, Lila?” he asks me.
“To return the gods’ powers from the orb… Oh, the orb. Fuck!” I shout, panic gripping me. “Where the fuck is the orb? I’ve been so busy, I didn’t think to ask my grandparents.”
“You don’t know where the orb is?” My dad comes back down the gangplank, and I shake my head.
