The Spider Queen (The Space Merchants Book 5) Read online

  “You won’t be constrained by Militia protocol. The Empress is faster than the warships. We’ll get ready and leave for Talpa. We’ll find your mother, father, and everyone else. There has to be an explanation. Maybe, solar storms are interfering with communications. We might get halfway there and get a call from your dad griping at you to settle down.” I had my arm around Phillip and patted his shoulder. “Come on. I’ll get Zared to get everyone to meet with us to make our plans.”

  I stood up and held my hand down to Phillip. He looked up at me.

  “It’s going to be okay, big brother. We will find her. I swear it.”

  Phillip took my hand. He was heavy, so I lost my balance and bonked our heads together while helping him up. Then, I brushed at the loose bark on the back of his shirt. Specks of it wouldn’t come off. I looked closer.

  “Shit,” I said as I lifted the back of his shirt. “You scraped your back on the tree. Come on. You can tell me how to fix your booboos.”

  “You should be an expert by now just from observation.” Phillip’s heart wasn’t in the quip.

  I laced our fingers together and walked with him to his infirmary. Zared had everyone waiting there by the time we arrived.

  “Would this journey be safe for Teagan and the children?” Nico asked Quaid.

  I paid close attention. If there were any doubts, I would be missing my husbands for months.

  “There are always dangers with any space travel. Being bitten by the Talpa, while unlikely, would be dangerous along with any of the reptilian lifeforms on their planet. However, we have treatments for everything. I would prefer for Teagan and the children to remain on the ship as a precaution,” Quaid said.

  Nico looked at me as though he expected an argument.

  “This is all about Phillip and finding his mom and dad. The children and I will stay at home if that’s what you think is best.” I put the last band aid on Phillip’s spine, cleaned up all of the empty wrappers, and put the medical supplies away just like he always did.

  “It is okay with me if she and the children come with us. However, her father may be of a different opinion,” Nico said.

  “At the first sign of any real danger, the Empress will speed them back here with an escort,” Quaid insisted.

  “Agreed,” Nico said.

  I remained silent on the issue.

  “What does Yukihyo think?” Quaid asked Zared.

  “He and I agree. Our female goes where we go.”

  Nico looked at Fitz. “I promised her the freedom of the wind.”

  Nico nodded at Fitz and called Papa. Emperor Tavere Probus pointed at Nico. “You will wait until Kane arrives. His ship is being fitted with Yukihyo’s new energy source as we speak. Also, you will wait for the Militia ships to arrive. I want them modified as well.” Papa looked at an agitated Phillip. “Listen here, boy. Waiting a few days will be worth it. The energy collectors will shorten the journey by a month and a half. Now, consider flying in formation with a fleet of warships. Would it be wise to head off in the Empress alone? What if there is some unforeseen danger and not just some communications glitch? Be prepared. Use the time to stock additional medical supplies, rations, fuel reserves, and parts for repairs.”

  Phillip nodded to Papa.

  “Teagan, my darling, call me this evening, alright?”

  “Yes, Papa.”

  He ended our call. I patted Phillip’s hand and returned to the main house. The men began making preparations. I told Pierce and Lorca about our plans and took over caring for Niklos and Neema so that the two nurses could begin packing everything that they and the children would need for three or four months.

  Chapter Three

  When the Constantine and the Augustus arrived, all of our ships were already equipped with Photonic Film. With the approval of the Galaxic Government, our teams began to work on the Militia ships. As our preparations neared completion, my guards alerted me that I had visitors. Expecting Silvie or Annette, I was shocked when Ira, my domestic assistant, led Vice Admiral Dario Galerius, Captain Merick Carus, Inquisitor Drex Licinius, and General Luca Braga into my sitting room.

  Slowly, I stood and moved Niklos from my lap to my hip. Neema let out a happy yell and ran to Dario, who picked her up. Each of the men wore full dress uniform and had serious, professional attitudes to match.

  “Gentlemen, please, come in and have a seat. I wasn’t expecting you.” The men sat and seemed to fill my living room. Max served tea and tiny sandwiches and cakes for which I was grateful. The visit had thrown me off. “To what do I owe the honor?”

  Drex said, “I discovered your plans. We are going with you.”

  I leaned back and wrapped my arms around Niklos, who rested his head on my chest and sucked his thumb. “How did you find out my plans, Drex?”

  Unapologetically, he met my eyes. “I pay close attention to everything you do.”

  I narrowed my eyes at him. “Are you still spying on me?”

  “Yes.”

  “Where is the camera? You got away with it because Kaoti is on Parvac with Violet. Just wait until I tell him.”

  “It isn’t a camera. I’ve hacked into your call settings and receive a copy of each of your communications.”

  I felt my face catch fire. “Oh, really? Which one was your favorite?” I asked angrily.

  “The pink one,” Drex replied.

  “How do you plan to keep up with our ships?” I asked.

  “Your factory on Parvac produces your film just as quickly when properly staffed,” Dario answered.

  “Oh, I see. Does Yukihyo know about this?”

  Dario nodded. “He does. The Emperor and Admiral Valen encouraged our participation. Three of our ships are in possible need of assistance. Would sending Vice Admiral Valen and Captain Ricimer out there alone be a feasible rescue operation?” he asked.

  “Probably not. Dario, what do you think happened?”

  “There’s only one way to find out.”

  I invited the men to stay for dinner. Luca seemed like a different man when he was in uniform. He was all seriousness and strategic planning as he discussed with Nico his five thousand men that he had brought with him from Parvac. Kane, Drex, Merick, and Dario each agreed to transport a thousand soldiers. A thousand soldiers would be left on Ephors to provide additional security against any possible incursions by alien invaders.

  That night as I slept in my rightful place between Nico and Yukihyo, I said, “I’m surprised they offered to help. My automatic assumption when I saw them was that they planned to force me to remain on Ephors.”

  “No one would ever dare attempt to force you to do anything. I have made sure of it,” Nico said.

  “With your spies?” I asked playfully.

  “Yes,” Nico answered seriously. “Telepaths can find out all sorts of private information with so little effort.” I sat up and turned to him. “Zared didn’t tell you?” Nico asked. “No, I can see he did not. Don’t let it trouble you, Teagan. The Houses will cause you no further trouble. Now, get some rest. We will leave once we receive word that the ships are complete.”

  Minutes later, Nico was snoring, and Yukihyo’s breathing became deep and calm. All of my husbands were on the same planet but too tired to seduce me. I laid awake for several minutes wondering what Zared had done to provide Nico with information that was damaging enough to ensure compliance from the most critical Houses in the Empire.

  “Teagan, Teagan, the ships are ready. Here. Put on your robe,” Yukihyo said.

  I sat up and slid my arms through the sleeves. “What time is it?” I yawned.

  Yukihyo was dressed. He slipped his arm under my knees and picked me up. Thunderdrop was on his shoulder. “3 A.M.” Yukihyo answered as he carried me down to the transport.

  Crickets were loud around the property. Niklos and Neema were sound asleep in their seats. Resting my head on Yukihyo’s shoulder, I wanted to stay awake for the ride. Occasional light illuminated the transport showing me Phillip
’s haggard face. He hadn’t slept. Ephors was quiet and still. Other than those of us in our procession, only a few deer on the side of the road were awake. A large buck with huge antlers froze as we drove past.

  “I’d like to get him,” Yukihyo said.

  Nico’s response was lost on me as I dozed off. I awoke again when we arrived at the land port. Workers drove rollers out of the way and cleared tools and machines from the docking areas. Very few soldiers were visible. They had already boarded the massive warships. I could see a few men, like little ants beside huge mounds, yelling instructions back and forth to each other as they worked but couldn’t hear what they said. The transport shifted slightly as we drove up the ramp and into the Empress. Pierce and Lorca carried Neema and Niklos in their transport seats into the lift. Nico lifted me up into his arms before Yukihyo could. I yawned so hard against Nico’s shoulder that my eyes watered. He put me down in our bedroom. I used the bathroom and then climbed under the covers and returned to sleep.

  When I woke up, I tied the robe I had slept in around myself and ventured into the kitchen for coffee. The children were still asleep. It was odd not having Kaoti stoically guarding me or Violet teasing him. They had remained on Parvac with his family.

  “Did you get any sleep?” I asked of all of the men, who were quietly tapping away at their vid-screens.

  “We have a month and a half to sleep,” Nico said.

  “Are we stopping to check our communications relays?”

  “Yes, and at each point, we will attempt making contact with our ships,” Nico answered.

  I didn’t want to force anyone to move, so I sat on the carpet at Yukihyo’s feet. Our cargo hold was filled with emergency rations, medical supplies, fuel, warship parts, and rolls of Ponidi Photonic Film. I sipped at my coffee and observed Phillip.

  “How long before we reach the first relay?”

  “A week,” Nico answered.

  I had another sip of coffee.

  “Look,” Fitz said as he handed me his vid-screen.

  Headlines read, “Princess Teagan leads fleet of Parvac and Militia ships on desperate rescue mission.”

  “Whose idea was that?” I asked wondering if Director Larkin Sapor had been behind it.

  “Theirs. It’s what you are doing,” Fitz answered.

  As the days went by, the children and I settled into a routine. I missed our walks outside with the bunnies. Our ships were traveling at such faster speeds that the usual comfort I drew from gazing out at the stars, now gave me a headache. I had Captain Ricimer close the viewport in my bedroom. By the third night onboard, we had all had time to settle down. I decided that on the Imperial Deck, we would have family breakfasts, lunches, and dinners each day. Chef and I worked out the schedule. Pierce and Lorca helped me to devise ship routines for the children. I didn’t know what to do for Phillip. He was trapped in a morbid limbo between fear and grief. After getting the babies down for their naps, Thunderdrop and I approached him.

  “Hey. Why don’t you try to get some sleep?”

  “I’m not sleepy,” Phillip responded.

  “You look exhausted.”

  “Yeah, well, I don’t want to lay there and look at the ceiling.”

  “Dr. Savelli could give you something.” Dr. Savelli was the chief medical officer on the Empress.

  “Yes, but the underlying problem would still exist.”

  “Wouldn’t being rested help you to be better able to deal with it?”

  Phillip cocked an eyebrow at me. “Are you asking from personal experience?”

  I scowled at him. I tended to have terrifying nightmares when I was feeling emotionally traumatized. Phillip scrubbed at his face with his hands.

  “Well, let’s get you tired,” I suggested. Phillip’s eyes shot over to Zared and Yukihyo. I laughed at him. “That’s not what I meant. Go change into your exercise clothes.” Turning from him, I went into my room to change. Eventually, Phillip changed and met me in the sitting room. “Come on,” I said as I took his hand and led him into the lift.

  I had left Thunderdrop on his tree sculpture where he could stare at Sue, his pet octopus. I dragged Phillip down to Deck Three and grabbed his wrist to stop him as he began to make his way over to the treadmills.

  “That’s not enough for your mind today. Come over here,” I said as I marched him over to my preferred sparring mat. I opened a drawer and tossed him some gloves.

  Phillip looked around at the almost vacant gym. “With whom do you suggest I spar, Princess Cupcake?”

  “Me,” I said as I put on my gloves.

  Phillip rolled his eyes up to the ceiling. “You’ve got to be joking. I’d never risk hurting you.”

  “I’ve been practicing.”

  “You?” Phillip asked with heavy incredulity.

  “Yes, since what happened on Chione. Let’s make it interesting.”

  Phillip snorted at my suggestion. “Oh, how?”

  “If I surprise you and actually give you a workout, you agree to a massage from a trainer, a hot shower, and a cup of Mrs. Tereas’ calming tea.”

  “If you don’t surprise me, you have to let me worry non-stop until we get to Talpa.”

  “Agreed,” I said as I calmed and centered myself.

  Letting go of all of my old hurts and fears, I became my true self, drawing from the stability with which my hybrid Ponidi brothers provided me. The bond I had created between us went both ways with them bonding me to them just as tightly. I provided their empathic Enyo sides with emotional stability just as I did for Yukihyo. Through our bond, they took telepathic focus and clarity to stabilize their Eriopis side. However, they hadn’t been alone in their desperation for emotional and mental stability. For me, an added benefit, perhaps due to my mixed Parvac and Laconian heritage along with the tampering Dr. Crispus, their creator, had done to me as a newborn, was that I could pull on the hybrids’ experiences to protect myself.

  Since Phillip shifted from side to side with awkward uncertainty, I took the offensive. Darting in close, I punched him in the stomach and then in the jaw when he bent forward with a grunt.

  “Hey! What the heck, Cupcake?”

  I darted away. I kept my feet moving as Yukihyo had taught me and moved around Phillip. He turned and watched me warily. While his spine was still twisted from turning, I dropped to the mat, braced myself with my hands, and swung my legs out and around, hitting Phillip in the back of his legs above his ankles. I grinned at him from eye level as his butt hit the mat. His blue eyes were full of shock. Before I could wrap my legs around his throat, he jumped up and decided to take me seriously.

  After taking a few more punches to his abdomen, Phillip started moving and blocking me more effectively. He wouldn’t throw a punch at me, but he did start deflecting my punches. Eventually, I could feel when his mind released his worries, and he became fully invested in our sparring match. Phillip lunged for me. I pivoted and spun dropping beneath his elbow. Unfortunately, I tripped and fell. Phillip pinned me. His sweat dripped on me.

  “Yuck, Phillip. Get a towel.”

  He gave a soft laugh, helped me up, and got each of us a towel.

  “Okay, did I win our bet?”

  Phillip gave me a sad half-grin. “You win. You surprised me. So, this is what you’ve been doing to get in shape.”

  “Yeah, what did you think we were doing?”

  Phillip winked at me.

  I said, “I wish. They are all avoiding me so as not to bring dishonor upon themselves. After we rescue everyone, Quaid needs to journey back with us on the Empress.”

  Phillip stared at me. His eyes began to swell before he forced his tears away. “You’re certain of it. Aren’t you?”

  “Very. Now, maybe you should have a quick shower before you get that massage.”

  Phillip and I had gathered a small crowd of spectators, one of whom was a trainer. He gave Phillip a nod and motioned him over to the small locker room. I took our gloves and put them away.

 
; Yukihyo was leaning against the wall. I looked up into his white eyes. “Thank you for that. You shocked him out of it. I especially enjoyed it when you swept his legs out from under him.”

  Grinning up at him, I said, “Thanks!”

  We started walking toward the lift. Once inside, I pressed my sweaty body against him and gave him a passionate kiss.

  “Teagan, you have perspired on my shirt.”

  “Oh, that’s too bad. I’ll have to clean you up,” I said with mock contrition. Grabbing Yukihyo’s hand, I pulled him along with me to our room and then into the bathroom. He stilled my hands as I began to undress him. “What?”

  Yukihyo frowned. “Quaid is on the Hadrian.”

  “True. However, the terms of your gentlemanly contract were to refrain from partaking of my charms until we were all on the same planet. We were all on Ephors. Therefore, the terms of your contract have been fulfilled.”

  “That is not the spirit of the agreement,” Yukihyo said in his deep monotone with a frown on his face.

  I pulled off my shirt and let it fall. My exercise bra, pants, and undies followed. I turned on the water, stepped into the shower with its luxurious jets of massaging water, and slowly began to soap my breasts while smiling at my husband.

  “You have won yet another battle of wills today, lady wife,” he said as his clothes joined mine on the floor, and he got in the shower with me.

  I spent the remainder of the day feeling smug and satisfied. Yukihyo was happy and relaxed. Since Phillip had finally gone to sleep, we were all making an effort to keep the children quiet. Zared was agitated and on edge. Fitz was frustrated. Nico was proud of me for arguing and winning my point. He grinned, played with the children, and waited, knowing his patience would gain for him his objective. Being logical and rational, Quaid accepted my decision. He knew making me wait another month and a half for affection would be a monumental mistake.