The Stowaway (14 page)

Rachel sighed and snuggled back against Devlynn. “I’d have fallen for you both in a heartbeat, mowc or no mowc, and you know it.”

“Is this a private party or can anyone join in?” Arek asked, stepping up to wrap his arms around them both with a casual ease that filled her heart to bursting.

Rachel closed her eyes and just enjoyed the moment.

Then Arthur’s wheel squeaked to a stop.

“Gods, does that thing have to be in here?” Arek asked.

Rachel laughed—all her worries lifting as she released the sound. It felt good and suddenly she knew she could face anything. She was ready.

“Okay. Let’s do this crazy thing.”

She stepped over to the communications console and keyed in the command to connect with the Sorrtell family farms communications array.

After several minutes, Mother Sorrtell’s slightly static-plagued image flickered to life on the screen.

“Hello?” Her voice was a little tinny and there was a faint echo, but it was an undeniably familiar sound that spoke directly to Rachel’s heart. She couldn’t believe how much she’d missed the sound of her mother’s voice, especially after having spent so many years butting heads with her.

“Hello, Mother.”

“Rachel! Oh, Rachel! I was so worried. Are you all right? Where are you? What—”

“I’m fine, Mother. Better than fine. I—”

“Rachel, who is that I see with you?” Mother’s voice was suddenly stern and serious, every inch the matriarch as she pointedly looked behind Rachel.

Rachel glanced over her shoulder at Devlynn and Arek—both standing at her back, silently offering their support.

“This is Devlynn and Arek. My…” Rachel wasn’t sure how best to describe what she had found with the two men. It was…very new and not completely explored yet.

Devlynn smiled and squeezed her shoulder in reassurance.

“We’re her mates, Matriarch Sorrtell,” Arek said, placing his arm around her.

Rachel couldn’t hold in a gasp of shock, but at the same time the term felt just right. Arek and Devlynn were her mates, in every sense of the word. Of course, she would have to have a few words with her lover about his timing later, but right now—in front of her mother and with so much love shining in Arek and Devlynn’s eyes—it could wait.

Turning back to face her mother, Rachel squared her shoulders, determined to make the stubborn woman understand. Just once. “I’m staying with them. I love them.”

Mother shook her head, and Rachel’s heart ached. She knew she should have expected it, but seeing her mother’s disapproval still hurt.

Then her mother surprised her with a chuckle. “You always were one to find your own way.”

“You… I…” Rachel stared, completely lost for words. Mother’s face was clearly amused, not even a hint of censure or displeasure. “You’re not angry?”

“Of course not.” Mother sounded shocked by the very idea. “I only ever wanted you to be happy.”

For a moment, Rachel could only stare at her mother—a woman she wasn’t sure she actually knew right now. Maybe she hadn’t understood her mother any more than her mother seemed to understand her. It was quite a stunning revelation, but perhaps this was an opportunity to try again. To make a new start between them.

“What about the Yarmen family. Weren’t they mad?”

Mother waved it off as if it was of no consequence. “Nothing that I couldn’t handle. I was just worried about you. I need to know you’re safe and happy, honey. The rest—” Mother shrugged.

“I am happy, Mother. I really am. I love them. And they love me.”

“Then you have my blessing on this union, sweetheart.”

“I do?”

“Of course. Isn’t that why you contacted me?”

Rachel nodded. No need to start a fight and tell her mother that with or without her blessing, she wasn’t going anywhere without Arek and Devlynn.

“Just so long as you promise to visit me from time to time in my old age. Let me see my grandchildren once in a while so I may spoil them rotten before sending them on home to you. It only seems fair after everything you put me through, child.”

Rachel blinked. “Grandchildren! I…We… I mean, I hadn’t—”

Mother’s sweet, tinkling laughter filled the cockpit. “Well, we shall see.”

Looking back over her shoulder she could see Arek’s eyes glowing with interest, and Devlynn looked just as intently at her.

Funnily enough, she didn’t want to run away at the very thought. She couldn’t deny that the idea of a little Arek or a tiny Devlynn running around getting into mischief…appealed. In a very distant, sometime-after-I’ve-see-the-stars-and-several-thousand-clicks-of-space kind of way, of course. But still—

It was a little shocking, actually. Rachel wasn’t sure what to think, never mind say, in reply.

Again she heard her mother’s musical laughter. Well, she supposed it was only fair to let the woman enjoy a moment of amusement at her expense. In the end, Rachel was far too happy with the way things had turned out to care. After all, she was off on a grand adventure and she was going to share it with two of the most amazing men she’d ever met. Whatever storms came along, they’d ride them out together. Actually, all things considered, she felt like laughing herself.

So she did—a small, contented chuckle as she snuggled back against her men. She sighed contentedly as they held her close—their tender embrace filled with enough love and comfort to last a lifetime.

After all, life was too short not to hold on to amazing when you found it.