Grai's Game (First Wave) (24 page)

“I understand, my friend. More than you know. Now let’s get this started. We do not have much time to set everything in motion before we are discovered.” Ivint said, clapping his hand on his friend’s back.

*****

Grai lay back, holding Tricia gently in his arms while Tristan slept on another bed brought into the room for him. Gibly was cuddled up by his side.

Even w
ith his head and leg still aching, he couldn’t remember ever being happier than he was right now.

“What are you thinking baby?” Tricia asked softly.

Grai just grinned. His mate always knew when his thoughts were heavy. “About how lucky I am.” He said giving her a gentle squeeze and a kiss to her head.

“You are lucky. You could have died. You almost did.” Tricia said, her voice catching as she remembered the vid.

“That wasn’t what I meant. But you are right. If it wasn’t for our amazing little miracle, we would both be dead.” Grai admitted looking over at his sleeping child. The tiny boy’s frail looking body belying the power the child controlled.

“I understand why baby. I do. But you have nothing to prove. You’re an amazing leader without trying to be a super hero.” Tricia said, knowing it was a useless argument.

Her mate was too strong-willed, and she honestly didn’t think he could act any differently. He’d spent his whole life protecting others. Even at the cost of his own well-being. There was no way he would stop now. However, she’d be happy if he slowed down a bit.

“Things will settle down more once we move to Dillon. With the others coming, and hopefully the Valendrans as well, I can take a less active role.” Grai said, trying to soothe his distressed mate.

Tricia just laughed.

“What?” Grai asked with a grin.

“You are so full of it! You may not go on every mission, but you’re still going to put yourself out there and risk your life. I knew that when fell in love with you. I accept that as part of who you are. But don’t lie to me to try to make me feel better.” Tricia said giving Grai her sternest stare.

Grai chuckled. His mate’s attempt at being tough never failed to make him think she looked adorable
and not the least bit intimidating. “I will not lie to you. I cannot ask others to do what I will not do myself. And my role will depend on those who come as well. I cannot expect the Tezarian’s, and especially not the Valendrans, to accept my command.”

“I will have to share the responsibility with those who can better lead their own people. That alone will alleviate some of
the things that take up time. Time I will be able to spend with you and Tristan. That is all I meant, my love.”

“Now that sounds more like
it. We will take every spare second you can give us.” Tricia said cuddling closer to Grai.

“Things will be much better soon, my love.
Calmer and more normal for all of us. Maybe… once we’re settled in at the town… we can think about trying to have another child.” Grai said softly.

He knew that she wanted more children. He did as well. However, both
had been afraid to bring another child into the world that would have to go through the pain that Tristan had gone through.

Tricia sighed and tried not to get her hopes up. “Amun did say that the synthetic enzyme would work on any other children we might choose to have.
And it would be perfect to have another one so close to Dare. They could grow up more like siblings with Tristan.”

“It would be good timing. So you think it’s a good idea?” Grai asked hopefully.

“Why don’t we try to see what happens?” Tricia said, running her hand gently down Grai’s stomach. She smiled broadly when she heard a soft rumbling growl.

Chapter Twenty One

TWO MONTHS LATER

“Would you guys freaking hurry? And men complain that we take too long!” Dare said with a huff as she rubbed her swollen belly.

“I don’t understand it. We did make up, hair, nails and even got Tristan ready, and they are still not done. We’re going to be late!” Tricia yelled, knowing that Balduen and Grai could hear her from the basement. They were only supposed to get dressed and check out the finished training room that Grai had installed in the basement.

Their combined forces had begun to arrive in the town six weeks ago. Setting up the security perimeter and installing the technology needed to provide them with protection. Grai and Tricia
moved in a month ago; Dare and Balduen moved in next door at the same time.

The women turned as they heard the men stomping up the basement stairs.
Good-natured whistles and catcalls erupted from the women when they saw their mates decked out in suits. The tailor-made cloth fitting perfectly around the chiseled muscles of the two men. Both of whom blushed profusely at the attention.

“I do not understand why we have to wear this.” Balduen complained, tugging at the too tight collar around his neck.

“Come here, let me help you.” Dare said, trying to get off Tricia’s couch. Grai was closer and instinctively grabbed Dare’s hand to help pull her to her feet.

“Thanks. If I get much bigger, I’m going to pop! And Amun says I have almost two more months to go. Ugh!” Dare said with a groan while she moved to a grinning Balduen.

Balduen grinned and placed both hands on Dare’s blossoming stomach. “I think you and our child are beautiful.”

“Of course you do. You aren’t carrying the big guy.” Dare replied, tightening Baldy’s tie until he was uncomfortable before fixing it.

“We need to go or we’ll be late.” Grai said looking at the time on his comm.

“Seriously? You’re worried about that now? We’ve been telling you guys that for over an hour!” Tricia groaned, heading to the front door and the waiting SUV. The other three following quickly, Grai scooping up Tristan before locking the door.

It didn’t take long for Balduen to swing the vehicle into the parking lot of the mill turned office building.

“I thought this was an official meet and greet with the Valendrans and Sibiox?” Tricia asked looking around the parking lot at the seven other vehicles.

Balduen looked around curiously as he helped Dare out of the SUV and shot a concerned look to Grai when he noticed that Tricia was right. There should be a lot more people here. Especially since they were a few minutes late.

Grai immediately began scanning the Shengari’ before
pulling Tristan out of his booster seat. Finding no signs of danger or anything amiss he shook his head slightly at Balduen, who had done the same and also shook his head.

“It’s Ivint’s party. Maybe he wants it a little more private?” Balduen suggested with a shrug while Grai grabbed Tristan.

Grai noticed that the warrior still scanned the area, keeping the women close while he led them into the building while he carried Tristan.

Niklosi and Decano met them at the entrance. Niklosi immediately went to Balduen and gave him a hug.

“What the hell is going on?” Balduen demanded. He loved Niklosi like a brother, but this was uncharacteristic even of him.

“Nothing man. Let’s go. Ivint’s waiting.” Niklosi said, pushing Balduen through the door that Decano held open for them.

Grai silently asked Decano what was going on, but he seemed to be ignoring him. Which made him just as curious as Balduen about what was going on.

Although he knew they were in no danger, the guards posted around the community chatting on the Shengari’ told him all was well, he still scanned the building looking for something amiss.

They followed Niklosi to the large reception area where they could see Ivint, Reven and Banatar speaking quietly to two people out of view.

“Hey! Wait up bro!” Traze yelled from behind them.

They all stopped and waited while Traze and Koda caught up to them.

“What are you doing here?” Grai asked his brothers.

“Ivint said we needed to be here. We thought you knew we were coming.” Koda said looking at Grai questioningly.

Grai and Balduen exchanged confused looks and shook their heads. Taking a deep
breath, Grai strode forward, determined to find out what was going on and why all the strangeness.

Ivint and the others turned to
them, and he was finally able to see the two people that they were speaking with, and he stopped in mid-stride, everyone else walking around him.

Koda stopped with him and just stared, while Balduen strode forward.

“Mother! Cassianna! What are you doing here?” Balduen exclaimed rushing forward to envelope the two women in his arms.

It took a moment for Balduen to realize that both women were hugging him closely but staring behind him. Thinking they were staring at
Dare, he moved to introduce them when he noticed Dare and Tricia were standing by Ivint. They were staring at Grai and his brothers who were staring open mouthed back. What the hell?

“Does someone want to tell me what the fuck is going on?” Balduen asked, getting angry.

“Watch your mouth around your mother. Come forward boys, you need to hear this too.” Ivint said motioning for the T’Alq brothers to come closer.

When they finally joined the group, Balduen’s mother went to Grai. Taking his hand in her own, she tried to speak but broke down into tears. Balduen and Grai both reaching to comfort the sobbing woman who ended up in Grai’s arms.
 

Ivint cleared his throat while Balduen’s mother tried to quiet her tears. “Long ago a woman disappeared into the mountains of the
Rangroya on Valendra. Her body never found, and she was mourned as lost to the terrain or animals.”

“When we ran
Tristan’s scans and then your scans, we investigated further and found that a ship that had declared an engine emergency had been allowed on the planet for repairs. It was the only way to explain how she was taken off the planet without our knowledge.”

“Our teams eventually tracked down the captain of the
vessel, and he admitted that he had been well paid by Kalai to orchestrate the kidnapping of a Valendran woman.”

“
Her name was Granala Skardard. The sister of Balduen’s mother.” Ivint said watching the dawning comprehension on the faces of the four men.

“What?” Traze asked, staring at Balduen and the two women who looked so much like the pictures of his own mother.

Koda was speechless while Grai just stared at Balduen in open mouthed shock, the woman in his arms clutching him tightly and sobbing.

“Oh my God! They’re cousins?” Dare asked looking to her father and Ivint for confirmation. Both men nodded their heads slowly.

Balduen’s mind was a mess; he wasn’t quite sure how to process it all. He said the only thing he could think of at the moment. “Guess that explains why I couldn’t kill you. Even though I wanted to.”

Dare smacked his arm and he turned to her, “What?”

Grai just stared at him while he held the still crying woman, who was his mother’s sister. He searched his memory and finally remembered his mother saying her name.

“Vilaria.” He choked out. The woman in his arms nodded her head vigorously and cried even harder.

Balduen’s sister stepped forward and nodded her head. “Yes, that is our mother. Your aunt. Mother you must calm yourself. There are still Koda and Traze to meet.”

Koda and Traze looked horrified at the thought of having the sobbing woman in their arms next.

“I am Cassianna, Balduen’s sister. Your cousin. I am very glad to meet you and welcome you to the family.” The pretty young girl said, giving a shocked and speechless Koda and Traze a hug.

Balduen looked to Ivint, unable to believe this was real. It just wasn’t possible. When Ivint just nodded his head, Balduen looked to
Niklosi, who also shook his head. This wasn’t real; he thought.

“This isn’t real is it? It can’t be. Is this a joke?”
Grai asked Balduen through their private path.

“I don’t know. It can’t be though. My mother wouldn’t do something like this as a joke. She isn’t cruel.”
Balduen replied, trying to sort through it in his mind.

“You look just like my mom did.” Traze said to the crying woman, who immediately left Grai’s arms and threw herself into Traze’s. Traze held the woman gently and looked helplessly at Koda, not knowing what to do with the woman.

Koda just stared, afraid to speak lest the woman throw herself into his arms next. The hug from Cassianna had been confusing enough for him, and he still wasn’t sure how to process this.

Grai just stared at the wet spot on his shirt where the woman’s tears had soaked through. While Balduen just stared at Grai like he’d grown several heads in the last few minutes.

Ivint finally had enough of the most awkward family reunion he’d ever seen. He’d expected shock and surprise, but this was more like a painful hit that he hadn’t anticipated.

“Let’s sit down. I’m sure you have questions.” Ivint said motioning to the couches and chairs in the seating area.

Everyone moved woodenly, following his suggestion. Except Traze, who had no idea how to disconnect the woman from him without causing her more distress.

Reven moved to Vilaria and gently pried her away from the young man and led her over to the couch where Balduen and Grai sat side by side. Both men scooted over as Reven sat the woman between them. Grai looked startled when she grabbed one of his hands and one of Balduen’s in each of her own.

Ivint pulled a chair closer to the silent group and explained the situation to them again, hoping to help them understand and get over the shock. He knew how they felt. He’d been just as surprised to find out that their security on the home world had been compromised, that one of their own had been taken.

He and Reven
already instituted stricter protocols to ensure that nothing like it ever happened again. However, he couldn’t say that he was sorry about the outcome. Grai and his brothers being half Valendran would make things much easier for him.

“Well it certainly explains why you guys get along so well.” Tricia said with a smile.

“
My sister… did she… was she…” Vilaria said, unable to ask what she wanted to know.

Grai looked to his brothers, both of whom looked terrified of telling the woman the truth. He looked to
Balduen, who just stared at him blankly.

“She was a wonderful mother. We loved her dearly and miss her greatly. She was a fighter. She started the resistance that enabled us to save so many lives.
She was and is a hero to many of our people.” Grai said honestly. He hoped the words would comfort the woman, and they seemed to since the woman looked to him with a watery smile.

“She always was the stronger of the two of us. Always protecting me. She was only older by fifty years, but she took care of me like a second mother. Here, I’ve brought vids. So you can see what she was like when she was younger.” Vilaria said, her voice shaking from emotion.

Grai took the small vid comm from the woman’s trembling hand. “Thank you. It would mean a lot to us to see this. We also have some vid’s that you might wish to see.” Grai offered, going through some of the ones in his head that the woman might enjoy viewing. He and his brothers had each one memorized.

“That would be wonderful! Thank you… so much.” The tears slipped silently down Vilaria’s face as she squeezed Grai’s hand.

Everyone looked up as a tall, slender, regal looking man strode into the seating area. The dark-green robes that he wore swirled around his sandal covered feet. Grai stood to his feet.

“Ratoka?” Grai asked, unable to believe that
the spiritual leader of the Zendarian people was here.

“I do not mean to interrupt. I
have missed you my friend, and I am glad to see you are well and have found those who had been lost to you.” Ratoka said, bowing slightly to the man who had saved his life and become a good friend.

“I am glad to see you as well, my friend. What brings you here?” Grai said ignoring the man’s bow and pulling him in for a quick hug.

“Dreadhawk of Tezaria, the High Councilor of Valendra and even a strange little creature who calls himself Gibly contacted me. I must say I was a little surprised at the sudden interest in you, my friend. But as it were, it is for good cause. As usual, you have left an impression.” Ratoka said with a chuckle while Grai looked confused. He had no idea why anyone would contact him.

“We took the unprecedented step of bringing your aunt and cousin here so that your family would be as complete as possible for the Death Rite. Ratoka immediately agreed to come and assist to make sure that it would go properly.” Ivint said. Grai sat down, stunned while Koda and Traze trembled slightly with emotion.

They would be able to keep their promise to their mother. And with the power of a spiritual leader like Ratoka helping them, it was more likely to work. It took a moment for Grai to get a handle on his emotions before he could speak.