Hatcher held her great-grandmother’s hand as the two men hugged.Avor’s eyes were wet with tears.The hug went through a few cycles.
Ax looked at Vemel.“Do you know what is going on?”
“Ekvano was in command of a distant outpost.He was assumed to be dead after the attack that changed everything.”He chuckled.“They are cousins on their mother’s side.”
Ax nodded.“Okay.That makes sense.”
Regis smiled.“They told him that Ekvano was dead.That the entire outpost was gone.”
Ekvano grinned and moved back.“It is good to see you again.What are you called now?”
“Avor Rush.This is my wife, Regis.Our daughter is upstairs.She’s eleven.”
Ekvano said, “I had one son, and he had one son, and he had two sons and two daughters.”
Hatcher and Ax waved and said in unison, “Hello.”
Avor grinned.“Hello, little cousins.”
Regis blinked.“Seriously?They are family?”
“They are family.It also explains how they are lesser djinn.”
Ekvano winced.“I was wondering about that.I also would not call them lesser.They are strong women, descended from strong women.They are not lesser in any way.”
Ax said, “I like earth-born djinn.”
Hatcher nodded.“Me, too.I don’t feel lesser.I can prove I am not lesser.”
Ekvano looked toward Vemel.“No, precious.You don’t need to prove it.”
Hatcher crossed her arms.“Okay, Poppop.”
He walked over to her and smoothed her hair, rubbing a hand between her shoulders.She relaxed.
Great-granny Jane was smiling.“Hatcher is the more hot-headed of the two.She needs contact to calm down.And we really need her calm.”
Vemel asked softly, “She fights?”
Ax nodded.“And she wins.A lot.Sometimes it’s a little gross.Her most effective method of dealing with attackers is porting their hearts into their hands, still beating.”
Ekvano looked to Ax.“Can you?”
Ax sighed, turned, and hugged her sister.Hatcher muttered, “Sorry about that.”
Ax saw Wizard sitting on a counter with a cupcake and wide eyes.“I thought me and Dex were messed up.”
Hatcher chuckled.“See, not lesser.”
Ax laughed.
Ekvano took Jane’s hand and kissed it.“We made one alpha, he made one alpha, and that one went nuts, and now we have four great-grandchildren and four more great great-grandchildren.These two are the only girls in the mix.Do you have any sturdy warriors around?Ones who can take a hit?”
Ax laughed.Hatcher giggled then paused.“Poppop!Stop pimping us out!”
He looked at her.“You have terrorized every alpha who has gotten near you.The Omega Centre has pronounced you unmatchable.”
Hatcher had a slow grin forming.
