“Holy shit, that’s genius. Yeah, we’ve got like fifty of those. Huge freaking rooms that straight up feel like you’ve stepped into a national forest. We could for sure have holo prey run through the woods and set the kids loose on them.”
Ohem pressed a button that shone red and had the letter H on it. The lift doors closed and we rose with a soft smooth hum.
“I wish you’d known what we were on Earth. It would have changed my life, seriously. I was the de facto babysitter.” She pointed to her chest with a grimace. “I’m the fastest.”
I curled an arm around Rathal’s waist and leaned into him. “I thought she hung out with you a lot at your house? What did you do when she came over to your mom’s place?”
Jack eyed us with a bewildered expression on her face before blinking with a shrug. “We told the clan not to bring the kids over if I knew Patty was staying with us for dinner.”
Rathal’s body was warm and I snuggled in harder. The Rijitera kept their damn ship too cold. “How’d you all keep the kids secret if they were in their natural form until their teens?”
Jack grinned. “Half the time we didn’t. There are a lot of bribed people around any Rijiteran run town. Or dead ones, depending on the circumstances. Honestly we usually just bought up large territories and kept any non-mated or unaware humans away. It's pretty easy actually.”
I shook my head. No wonder Rathal had opted out of staying on Earth. He’d have gone stir crazy eventually.
The lift doors dinged open and for some reason it made me smile. The ship had a lot of Earth normal things on it. We moved out into a wide carpeted hallway filled on either side with expensive looking landscape painting.
“This is our family floor. All the rooms down that right hallway up ahead are empty so just pick whichever one you want after the meeting. The kitchen is two halls down on the left. There isn’t a cook or anything for us so you’re on your own for mealsunless my mom wants to whip something up or one of you decides to cook for everyone. There’s a gym, small garden, and like a lounge area with a big TV and gaming systems just past the kitchen. I already sent over the map of the whole ship so if you want to explore later be my guest, but just know that this beast travels fast and we won’t be on board long before we get to Korsal. Mom’s going to give us the night to wash and rest but first thing tomorrow we are out of here,” Jack explained as she led us down the hallway and into a conference room that was the first door on the right just past the lift.
Hella stood as we entered. She was in her human form now and the resemblance to Jack was uncanny. She really just said copy/paste but make it miniature. She had to have at least a foot and a half of height on her daughter and probably that in width too. Brown eyes regarded us with a mother’s warmth and the switch up had me doing a double take.
“How do youdothat?” I asked suddenly, breaking up the greetings everyone was giving her.
Hella’s smile widened. “I don’t know what you mean.”
I pointed at her as I fell into one of the chairs, grateful to be seated. Exhaustion was creeping in around the edges. “Yeah right, lady. You know what I’m talking about. The thing with the aura or whatever. What is that?”
Hella waited until the rest of the group had taken their seats before she took her own at the head of the long office table. “Oh, alright. You caught me. I just tuck away my beast when it suits me. I don’t need to be scary all the time, especially not with family.” She smiled at me, her perfectly straight white teeth somehow a threat and a warm hug all in one.
Wow. That was serious talent. Could I learn how to do that?
“It’s nice to finally have you all in one place, face to face. Patty? Quit fidgeting already and come here.”
Patty squeaked a quick little girly sound before shooting up from Rema’s lap and speed walking over to Hella. I just about evaporated in shock when she crawled into Hella’s lap like a toddler, still holding a sleeping Hannah, and Hella embraced her like she was one, kissing her cheek three times in quick succession.
“I’ve missed you, daughter. Truly my life is duller without you barging into my house at random hours to bug me for food. How has this Rema been treating you?”
Rema sank into his seat at the sound of his name, looking all the world like he was trying to disappear into the leather and I didn’t blame him one bit.
“Oh he’s amazing. Love him to death. We’re officially married now, you know? So you be nice. He’s shy.”
Hella petted the sleeping Hannah, taking her gently from Patty’s arm and cradling her in one huge arm with a soft smile before patting Patty’s hip with her free hand. “I will treat him as if he was the son I birthed, you have my word. Now, get to your seat. I’ll make this as quick as possible so you all can go to your rooms and rest.”
She waited until Patty situated herself back in Rema’s lap before turning to the rest of us. Aga caught her eye, the big croc fidgeting in his seat like a naughty school boy caught passing notes under her gaze. “Aga Ush. I have heard many great things about you from Ohem and Jack. It is a pleasure to finally meet you.”
Aga’s scales flushed a darker green and he shifted taller in his seat. “The honor is mine, Matriarch.”
Hella waved the title away. “Hella, will be fine. If you must give me a title, mom will do as well.”
Aga looked like he’d rather swallow glass than call this powerhouse of a female ‘Mom’ but he nodded his head anyways. “Yes, Hella. Thank you.”
Finally, she turned her attention to the room as a whole. “Now, to business. I will have a larger meeting with the other clan leaders and with your Som’ae, but for now it will just be our family. The Unity is shaken. Rathal’s live streams were broadcasted through their firewalls to officials and civilians alike and the general populace has shifted into a shivering mass of terror that their long dead boogeyman has come to call.”
She flicked her warm gaze to Rathal, inclining her head. “Excellent work, as usual, Rathal.”
I felt my husband's body swell with pride underneath me and grinned at Hella.
She winked at me before continuing. “Once we get to Korsal, Anu and I will plan the full assault. We are not going to allow a long drawn out war. This will be a one and final assault on their heart. Once Stellios falls, the Unity will be close behind. We cut the head off the snake and then we burn the stump as one would do to a hydra. This will be quick and bloody. We will need to hunt and kill all of the Unity heads of state. All of their House leaders will have to die.” She glanced at Ohem. “I am sorry, my son. Truly. No child should have to witness their parents' corruption."
