"She may refuse it, out of hand," Nefrigar sighed. "But the need is there, I will not deny it. I would advise all who know her to tread carefully in the next few days."

"We need a report from her," Lendill grumped. "I'll go chase her down."

"Do not chase. Approach. Cautiously," Nefrigar warned.

"Fine." Lendill stood and lifted his jacket. Winter had come to Tulgalan. Again.

"No, I want this cut," I was about to become impatient with the butcher. Again. Was I invisible? Did he think I wouldn't recognize the best cuts of meat? Was he looking to sell inferior stock to one who likely didn't know the difference?

"Sell her that one or Desh's will stop doing business with you," Fes was at my back, a hand on my shoulder, steadying me. "This is my niece, by the way, so when she returns to your shop, I expect the best to be laid out for her at the beginning."

"Thanks, Fes," I whispered, putting an arm around his waist and hugging him briefly. "What are you doing here?"

"We need a little extra for dinner tonight—we have a party coming in from off-planet. You wouldn't like to come and help me with that, would you?"

"Maybe." I felt numb, weak, and more than a little stressed, still. Memories crowded my mind often—of hundreds of innocents—all controlled by Nedrizif and Dantel Schuul, hurling fragile, emaciated and nearly naked bodies at my Thifilatha.

I'd watched them burn—countless numbers of them. They'd had no choice and neither had I. If I'd turned off that part of me for more than a tick, then the weapons the others fired at me might have harmed me or my unborn child. I'd made a horrible choice; one I'd have to learn to live with. Still, their screams invaded my sleep at times and I woke, hyperventilating every time.

"Fes, how many are expected?" I asked.

"Just four, I think, but it's a special group. Come with me, now. I'll cook that for you," he nodded at the package the butcher packed up and handed to me, "and then we'll plot out our meals for the evening."

Fes did cook for {didandeme. Sliced the cut of beef thin, barely sautéed it and then covered it with a wonderful sauce, serving it up with pasta and a green salad. "Fes, this is so good," I sighed, pushing a nearly empty plate away. He knew I was pregnant with Teeg's child—I'd told him right away when I'd called to tell him I was in Targis, Tulgalan's capital city.

The house in Targis was empty—Erland and the others had made sure Ilvan and Radolf didn't make off with any of the furniture or collectibles. Fes had shown up there as soon as I'd contacted him, a covered plate of food in hand. He'd sat with me, too, while I told him about the baby and some of the other things. I didn't want to talk about the mass rape or most of the other stuff, but he did know I'd been held in a cage until we'd gotten to the sale site. He'd shaken his head and held me while I cried on his shoulder.

"Let's do some shellfish," I said. "With a bit of sauce, risotto and vegetables," I suggested. "And we can do steak—what you did for my lunch would be perfect," I smiled at Fes. I was happiest when I was cooking or planning meals.

"How about a pork dish, too?" Fes had a gleam in his eye.

"Yes. Definitely. Let's do a pork roast, and stuff it." We set to work right away, because the pork roast had to cook for several clicks. It was done perfectly and right on time for the guests to arrive.

"We'll be going in together, with the food," Fes said. "They want it served family style." Fes and I walked in behind the servers, carrying trays of food to set on the table. I should have known—Lissa, Gavin, Lendill and Norian had come.

"Nefrigar told us," Lendill pulled me down beside him. "We need a report, breah-mul. I know this may be hard, but we need it anyway. And if you want, Norian and I can send someone to talk with you."

"Q'and Ribalo? No thank you," I snapped. He was currently on tap for ASD agents and I didn't like it. Or him.

"Reah, we need the report. Ildevar is asking for it," Norian said.

"Then I'll do it, but only because Ildevar wants it," I said.

"Come home with me," Lendill begged softly when the meal was nearly over. Fes and I had sat down and eaten with Lendill and the others. Fes silently raised his glass to me halfway through—the food was excellent.

"I'm not ready for that," I said. "I'll get the report filed. When are you planning to do something with your prisoners?"

"In two days. Ildevar and four members of the Grand Alliance Council want to be there. As does Teeg. We want this finalized," Norian made the reply.

"Leave Zendeval and Perdil," I said. "I want to talk to them first."

"Then we'll do that. For you," Lendill agreed. "Come at two bells. That will give you some time before Ildevar comes in at three."

"Do you want me to come with you?" Fes was worried.

"No, Uncle. It's bad enough that I have to see them again," I said. "These people are terrible."

"You will not repeat anything about any of them," Gavin laid compulsion. Fes wouldn't have said anything anyway, but he nodded his understanding.

"Reah, do you {;Reut he want to spend the night with mother and me?" Fes asked after our guests left.

"No. Tell Farla thank you, but I need some time alone," I patted Fes' arm. "Do you want me to skip you home so you don't have to drive or take the bus?"

"That would be nice," Fes smiled. He didn't get skipped much, but he seemed to enjoy going from one place to another almost instantly. I skipped him home, gave him a peck on the cheek and waited for him to go inside the massive Desh complex before skipping to my own rather large and mostly empty home nearby.

"Reah, at least let me put my hands on our child." Teeg was waiting in the kitchen, somewhat impatiently. I didn't understand why he didn't join the others at dinner, but soon learned why that was. "We've been clobbered with frantic calls and angry messages," he said, rubbing his forehead. I knew he had a headache and sent a message to Nefrigar. My Larentii showed up immediately and removed Teeg's headache. At least he felt better afterward.

"Now, about the baby," Teeg said as soon as Nefrigar left us alone. Someone had told him—likely it was Lendill.

"Teeg, I didn't know I was pregnant until after I was bitten. Teeki and Neeki told me, when it was too late. Do you think I'd have let anyone put his hands on me if I'd known? Do you?" I had a headache, now. There was no way to tell what Zendeval's bite might have done to the baby, if Teeki and Neeki hadn't shielded it. Somehow, I had the idea that the baby might have been lost due to the ensuing illness. I intentionally didn't mention the fever and sickness I'd endured to Teeg.

"Reah, that's not why I'm here, and I would never blame you for that," Teeg grumbled. "So many things have happened while you were gone. Ry fought off a coup to keep his throne and Lendill was named Kaldill's heir. After removing Naldill's power, of course, since he was offended by Kaldill's choice. I hear Naldill and Reldill are missing from Gaelar N'Seith, now. That can't be good for Lendill. And that doesn't even touch what happened in both Alliances while we worked to restore power after the blackout."

"My troubles are insignificant to you?"

"Reah, we didn't know where you were."

"Did you send mindspeech?"

"No. We shouldn't have to."

"Get out, Teeg," I said as pleasantly as I could. "We'll talk about the baby some other time. I'm assured by Nefrigar that he's fine. Go home. Deal with all those things that are more important. Go on." I made shooing motions with my hands. Teeg, unsure what to do at that moment, folded away. I stared at the space he'd occupied for several minutes before I broke down and wept, dropping to the floor.

Was I expecting sympathy? I should have known better. All my mates likely knew where I was and none were there for me. Were they likely to be soiled by me after I'd been bitten by a monster? I had no idea what ran through their minds. I only knew that Nefrigar was the only one who'd offered support of any kind. He'd come if I asked, but I shouldn't have to ask. I shouldn’t.

Chapter 14

Two days later, I skipped to Le-Ath Veronis. Lissa was waiting for me inside her private study, Gavin and Flavio with her. I nodded and said hello to both of them. We walked down steep steps to the dungeons later, ~nmissing f arriving at the part set aside for high-profile prisoners. Only certain members of the Palace Guard visited that section; it was off-limits to everyone else. I'm sure a large amount of compulsion surrounded it as well.

Drake, Drew and a handful of others were there, waiting for us. Lissa's twin Falchani mates were guarding Dantel and Darletta Schuul. I felt sorry for the twins immediately. Darletta's mouth was in a pout as she stared at Drake and Drew, hoping, I'm sure, to lure both handsome Falchani into granting her favors or other things. Neither were swayed by anything she had to offer. Dantel Schuul was shouting, occasionally gripping the bars inside Lissa's prison and threatening all of us with legal action when we walked in.

Gescht Prekisule was sullen, sitting on the small bed inside his cell and glaring in Dantel Schuul's direction often. Matiss Meldrim held his head in his hands and moaned. Faldin's bewildered expression let everyone know that he had no idea what had hit him. Several empty cells lay between Faldin's and the last two, which held Zendeval Rjjn and Perdil the Dwarf. They were the ones I'd come to question, as soon as I felt up to it. Not only were Drake and Drew in Queen Lissa's dungeon, but Tony, Rigo, Aryn and several other vampires were also present.

Dantel Schuul, who had no idea what sort of danger he was in, elected to shout louder at everyone as if that would solve his current dilemma. I was waiting for Lendill and Norian to arrive so they could witness anything I said or was said to me. Other visitors would arrive after that. At least that's what Lendill told me. I'd asked Lendill to bring Teeg with him, too. He and I were about to have a short chat.