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“I do not wish for him to be told. He did not know, and it is up to Navesha when she wishes for such connections to be made. She has been angry for many revolutions, believing he was the cause of her mother’s absence just by existing. That her mother had grieved for him and left her because of it. I had thought that processing would help her forget her pain, but it seems that the trauma she experienced in her youth preserved her memories—the precious and the ugly. Although she has mellowed since he returned, I do not know her heart on the matter. As you know, our species is programmed not to be intentionally expressive or emotional. I tried to be a mother for her, but I have failed her as much as I have failed Dreth.”

Terri winced slightly at that. Even though she had similar thoughts just moments earlier about Dreth, as a mother it was hard hearing that come from his mother’s mouth. Instead, she focused on the most incredible thing: Navesha—control freak of the biting remarks—was actual family. Veral’s sister!

“Wow…I really can’t imagine how lonely and painful it has been for her,” she murmured. “I really hope she decides to tell him. I think Veral might like knowing that he has her. And having him might help her heal too.”

Featha cocked her head inquisitively.

“Do you?” she asked before brushing her lips against the bony plating of Harahna’s forehead and handing her over.

Terri stared back at the female, appalled as she cuddled her daughter against her. Tiny claws pricked as Harahna attempted to get through her tunic. She was hungry again. It appeared that she would be enjoying her snack momentarily as her daughter nursed her own.

“Of course. She’s his family. That makes her my family and Harahna’s family. I want her to be in our lives.”

“Would you say that includes all of his line, or just his immediate birth-kin? You did not seem so interested until now.”

Terri grimaced. As much as she had endured just flitting around the compound aimlessly, she really didn’t know any of his mother-kin. She had been too caught up in her own boredom and her own morose thoughts about her mate’s absence to have made much effort in that direction. At times, she might have even resented the way that they eyed her in passing. She didn’t even know Featha and immediately judged her on outward perceptions—half of which the female destroyed within five minutes.

She definitely hadn’t liked Kaylar at all.

Terri held in a groan. She had been alone so long that she had forgotten something about what it was like to have family. She was going to have to do better.

“Yes,” she said at last. “I know I haven’t done a great job of it, but I want him to have his connections with his family and for our daughter to enjoy them as well.”

A small smile tugged at the corners of Featha’s mouth.

“Perhaps there might be something to the human species that I did not see,” she said casually as she glanced around the room, her eyes falling on the packs of Terri and Veral’s belongings. “You are prepared to leave, then?”

“We are. First thing in the morning. Hopefully Harahna sleeps well,” she laughed weakly.

It wasn’t much of a joke. She was going to need as much sleep as she could get before they faced trekking over the Galithilan. The transport to the eastern minor household would be a short one. That would be the easy part, but she hoped that Harahna cooperated and allowed Terri to get all the sleep she needed.

Featha chuffed in understanding and walked over to the baby’s bed. Her hands reaching into the bedding.

“My sons did not sleep well unless the bedding was drawn perfectly tight,” she commented as she worked, drawing the bottom blanket snug against the sleeping mat. “Argurma offspring may develop quicker than other species, but they can be difficult…Wait, there is something moving just over…”

Featha jerked back as something that resembled a spider but with far too many legs and a long abdomen like a scorpion, with three whipping tails four times the length of its body, jumped up from the bedding. Its tails flailed as long, thin legs reached for her. The Argurma let out a startled roar, her arm coming up protectively.

Terri ran forward, distantly aware of the long cords of her daughter’s symbiont wrapping around her as she initiated her own. A long double-edged blade extended beyond her hand, and she nearly stopped in surprise at the new weapon, but she pushed back the shock as she swung the blade forward.

The sound of the blade cutting through the alien arachnid hit with a wet crunch not unlike the sound that the vansik made when eaten. The wet sound, however, was mostly from the head falling away and followed by a soft thud as it landed on the floor, the body crumpling right beside it.

A wheeze escaped Terri as she looked down at the remains and Featha drew in a shaky breath. From the corner of her eye, she watched as the blaster was lifted. Her body froze, and it exploded with heat.

The plasma bolt slid right by Terri’s head, blowing apart another of the creatures that had, unknown to Terri, materialized from the bedding. Featha then pointed the weapon down and proceeded to blow the ever-loving hell out of the bed until it was nothing but wreckage. The whine of displeasure that came from Harahna in objection to all the noise was the only other sound in the room outside of blaster fire.

That and her guards suddenly piling into her room with weapons drawn.

Terri remained rooted to the spot, not even looking their way, as she stood there beside the bed, numb with shock.

Those things could have killed both her and the baby the moment she put the baby to bed.

From the corner of her eye, she watched as Featha leaned down to pick the things up by their tails—or what little remained of the second, anyway—and threw them at the feet of the guards. Both females stared at the remains, their expressions stony. Never before had Terri hated the outward impassiveness of Argurmas more.

“Hathals—in the offspring’s bed! Where did these come from?” Featha demanded, her mandibles and voice vibrating with anger. “These creatures come from the Amhim’voreth and the Ahmhim’shal’va. Someone brought them here and put them in this room. I want to know who!”

Navesha frowned down at the arachnids, her boot toeing one.

“The eggs would be easy to hide, no bigger than a claw or capsule, and they hatch fast. It could have been anyone. We can review the security footage and see who has been near the room. I will…”


Tags: S.J. Sanders Argurma Salvager Science Fiction