Alien Interludes (24 page)

She might be in her fifties, but Tara was in no way going to bow to the ravages of time. She planned to fight them tooth and nail as long as there were exercises to keep her trim and cosmetics to enhance what nature had given her.

“Doesn’t my mother look pretty, Father Yuder?” Jessica prompted. Tara heard the deviltry under her daughter’s saccharine tone.

“She seems appropriate for tonight’s occasion,” he responded blandly.

Tara couldn’t help but arch an eyebrow at him. He bowed his head in an outward show of respect, but she caught the wink he gave her before his steel-colored hair slipped forward to mask his face.

They were saved from more of Jessica’s naughty hijinks by Emperor Bevau’s rumbling voice carrying over the crowd. “My empress, Earth Mom, wil you join me for a moment, please?” The women turned to face Jessica’s Nobek mate, a man of such perfect features that he seemed unreal. He waved them over to the group he stood with, which consisted of two Joshadans and a Kalquorian clan Tara didn’t recognize. The Joshadans were a matched pair of lavender and the unknown clan wore grimmer expressions than she was used to seeing. Their Nobek’s hair was cut midway down his ears, uncharacteristicaly short for a Kalquorian.

Bevau’s easygoing smile settled Tara’s concerns about the too-serious clan in his company. “My friends here have questions about what sort of gifts they should present to a Matara they are to meet for the first time.”

“Erybet’s clan must have come up in the lottery for the right to court a Matara,” Jessica muttered in an aside as she and Tara moved across the room to join Bevau, the Joshadans, and Erybet’s severe group. “I think them learning to smile would do more to impress Earther girls than presents.”

“Are they always so grave looking?”

“Imdiko Conyod is a sweetheart when he’s not around his clan. I guess the war was particularly hard on Erybet and Sletran. Bevau says they’ve changed greatly since their return. They’ve been given a year’s administrative leave to recover.”

Tara wasn’t terribly interested in helping Kalquorians gain mates, not when more important things were on her mind. “We have to talk later in private,” she whispered to Jessica.

“Indeed we do,” the empress agreed, a smirk floating over her face for an instant before it was chased away by a more diplomatic and pleasant expression with which to greet her guests.

Between worrying over what Jessica thought of her affair with Yuder and feeling her lover’s eyes on her, Tara had a difficult time attending the conversation. She advised as best she could the hopeful Kalquorians and the Joshadan artisans they planned to employ, sharing gift ideas that might impress a fertile Earther girl enough to consider joining their clan.

* * * *

Yuder folowed Zarl’s hover chair into their quarters, Tidro right behind him. His Dramok tired easily these days. Too easily. It made Yuder ache to realize his decades with the man drew ever closer to the end. But as the Book of Life said, one entered al partnerships with the knowledge they must end some day. Too bad practical realizations didn’t convince the heart.

Zarl’s fatigue and growing discomfort had forced the Imperial Fathers to make their goodbyes early from the gathering, before dinner had even been served. Yuder was disappointed he hadn’t been able to enjoy Tara’s company a little longer. Though they couldn’t offer each other more than the occasional glance in such a setting, it was joyous just to be in her presence.

The clan went to Zarl’s sleeping room, where Tidro and Yuder assisted him into his bed. He ached too much these days for them to share sleeping arrangements as was the custom. The Dramok did his utmost to mask the pain he was in, but the little grimaces that escaped his control told the others it was a bad night for him.

“I’l get your medication and something for you to eat,” Tidro said, and bustled out before Zarl could protest.

“You two fuss too much,” Zarl grouched.

“You fuss not enough,” Yuder gently reprimanded him. “You’re fooling no one. We know you’re in pain. You have to stop pushing yourself so hard. No one wil be insulted if you don’t feel up to attending formal functions anymore.”

Zarl glared at him, his eyes sharp on Yuder’s face. Broken as his body may be, the mind caged in its tormenting environs hadn’t lost any of its quickness. “Tidro is more than enough of a babysitter. There was no reason for you to leave the party. Now you’l have to spend the night thinking of Matara Tara rather than being with her.” Yuder went very stil, though he was too much a Nobek to reveal his racing thoughts on his face. “You know?”

“Of course we know,” Tidro snorted as he came back into the room bearing a tray of food and medicines. “You and she may as wel wear signs proclaiming your affections. Give us a little credit for inteligence, Yuder.”

Zarl chuckled as the Nobek fumed. “If we can’t figure out what you’re up to after one hundred fifty years of clanship, then this has been a failed union.”

“She doesn’t want a ful clan,” Yuder said bluntly.

“And you don’t want to share. Be honest, my friend.” Zarl grimaced as he swalowed the dry powder of the inflammatory inhibitor. Hypo injections would have spared him the foulness of oral medications, but he had a phobia about such things.

Yuder scowled, hating to have been caught like a Nobek in his first year of training. “Fine. I want her al to myself. Forgive me for being selfish, but she cannot bear children. There is no reason for her to give herself to more than one man.”

“Calm yourself, Yuder.” Tidro busied himself cutting Zarl’s food as the Dramok choked down a bottle of foul-tasting liquid pain inhibitor. “We have no interest in bedding your woman.” Yuder relaxed a little to hear this. “I am stil committed to you both. My love for Tara doesn’t change that.”

“Of course. We are clan. Your loyalty was never in question.” Zarl noticed what Tidro was doing and huffed angrily, “Do you intend to chew it for me too?”

“I am only trying to make things easier on you.”

“Stop treating me like a child.”

“Stop acting like one. And don’t forget your blood thinner. Flencik says your circulation is suffering.”

“I’m suffering because my Imdiko won’t be happy until he convinces me I am utterly helpless. Realy, you should hire yourself out to one of the new nurseries and let me alone for awhile.” Yuder watched them argue, the heat in their voices not disguising the affection built over decades. The affection that extended to him. His heart sweled in appreciation that they accepted his relationship with Tara.

“You truly don’t mind my being with her?” he said, interrupting the verbal jousting.

They looked at him. “I’m glad for you,” Zarl said.

“She makes you happy. The happiest I’ve seen you in a long time,” Tidro added.

Yuder alowed himself a smile. “She has made life good for me. Thank you for understanding.”

Zarl held out a trembling hand, and Yuder took it. “I wil try not to be insulted that you thought we wouldn’t.” Yuder laughed out loud at that, leaning forward and pressing a kiss to his clanmate’s creased forehead. “Forgive me, my Dramok. A man in love does not think so much with his head than with the hopes and fears of his heart.”

* * * *

Jessica accompanied Tara to the elder woman’s quarters. The instant the door closed behind them, Jessica said, “Before you freak out, know I’m okay with you and Father Yuder being … what you’re being.”

Tara perched on a cloud-soft lounger and patted the seat next to herself. “Then why can’t you say it? We’re lovers.” Jessica flopped down in a decidedly un-empresslike way. She kicked her slippers off and dug her toes into the softly furred hide that covered the floor. “Because you’re my mom, and the idea of you doing
that
grosses me out.”

Tara snorted. “One day, Noele wil probably feel the same about you.”

Her youngest daughter grinned. “I never thought about that. Seriously Mom, it’s okay.”

Tara sighed. “I was afraid you’d think I was being unfaithful to your father’s memory. I don’t love him one bit less, Jessica.”

“I know.” Jessica took her hand and snuggled close like she was five years old again. Tara leaned her face into her daughter’s hair, inhaling her sweet, clean scent. “You’re talking to a woman who loves three men at once, you know. A woman’s heart has a lot of room, I’ve found.”

“So it does,” Tara agreed. “Yuder is so good to me, Jessica. I’m glad you’re al right with it. Now I’l have to hope Lindsey wil be as understanding.”

“Oh, she was a little upset at first—”

“You told her?”

Jessica roled her eyes theatricaly. “Of course. You know I can’t keep anything from her, even with the one day communication lag between her ship and Kalquor. Anyway, she was shocked, if you must know the truth. Once I told her how wonderful Father Yuder is and how happy you’ve been the last few weeks, she was good with it. Relieved, actualy. She hates you being alone.”

“I’m not realy alone. I have you and the babies,” Tara pointed out.

Jessica grinned. “Family is good. Family and a man who loves you are better.” She laughed out loud. “Though Father Yuder would never have been my pick for you!” Tara chuckled wryly. “Even warriors need a beacon of peace. He’s a wonderful man.”

“Trust me, I know. And I’m happy for you, Mom. I think Dad would be too.”

Tara hugged her daughter close. “Then everything is perfect for me.”

* * * *

“No more hiding,” Yuder said during his visit the next day. They lay on her bed, the bed he planned to share with her each and every night from now on. He had puled their clothes off as he and Tara discussed their being found out.

“We are free to enjoy each other,” she sighed. She uttered a little girlish giggle that made him ache agreeably. “Although it was kind of fun to sneak around. It gave a little extra thril to our encounters.”

“Am I not exciting enough for you?” Yuder teased. He kissed her, enjoying how soft her lips were, how velvety her tongue felt. How warm her naked body was against his.

“You know better,” she chided him as soon as the kiss ended. “But if feel like you have something to prove…?” He was just about to show her when his com, hidden in the pocket of his discarded robe, beeped insistently. He cast a glance at the red garment puddled on the thickly carpeted floor and growled in irritation. Unimpressed, the device beeped again.

“Don’t move a muscle,” he ordered Tara. He had no choice but to answer. Even retired emperors had important duties, duties that included alowing themselves to be interrupted in case of emergency.

Grabbing his com, Yuder barked acknowledgement. When the captain of his personal squad of Royal Guards told him what the matter was, he frowned.

“Get dressed, my love,” he said after he signed off. “We’re about to have company.”

Tara didn’t wait for an explanation, flinging her loose gown on immediately. He felt a flash of approval for her quick acceptance of his commands.

Only after she belted the gown did she ask, “Who’s coming? What’s going on?”

“Clajak’s on his way, and from what I understand, he’s in a temper.” A temper he’d inherited from Yuder himself, though Clajak didn’t tend to rein his rages in quite as wel.

“What’s got him upset?” Tara pattered beside him down the hal. “Not another abduction, I hope.”

“I think he has objections to us.” Yuder didn’t share with Tara what his captain had quoted Clajak as saying. Clajak and Tara had gotten along quite wel up to this point, and hearing her son-in-law’s statement, “Where is Yuder? Is he with that woman?” would no doubt be upsetting.

Stupid, stupid, stupid of me to forget to speak to Clajak on this matter.
But Yuder’s relief that his clan had not objected to this newfound relationship had blinded him to the fact that his son might not take the news so wel.

As they reached the greeting room, the visitor announce buzzed. Darting a nervous glance at Yuder, Tara said, “Come in.” The door slid open, and Clajak stood framed in the opening. His purple eyes shot sparks as he looked past Tara to stare at Yuder. “So it’s true. You are with her.”

“Please have a seat, my emperor,” Tara greeted him formaly. She made no effort at the usual closeness she shared with Yuder’s only child. A smart move judging from the hurt and fury that warred for possession on Clajak’s handsome face.

Though it was Kalquorian custom for al men in a clan to assume ful and equal parenting responsibilities for the children born to their shared Matara, there was no doubt Yuder was Clajak’s biological father. The mutation that had given Yuder steel-gray hair from birth had colored the Emperor’s shoulder-length hair to match. The long, straight nose was also identical. Otherwise, Clajak was a male version of Irdis, with high cheekbones and a sensuous mouth. Not as beautiful as his clanmate Bevau, but stunning in his own right nevertheless.

His stare never wavered from Yuder’s as Clajak entered the room. Tara might as wel have not been there for al the notice he gave her, and it ignited her lover’s temper. His woman would not be dismissed, not even by Kalquor’s ruler.

“You wil greet the Imperial Mother with the respect she deserves,” Yuder snarled.

Clajak’s fangs were out. “As she has rendered respect to me by seducing my mother’s mate?”

“Your mother … my Matara … has been dead for many years. Tara has not stolen me from Irdis’ bed. Nor has she taken her place in my heart.”

“Then this is lust only? My empress made it sound like more.” Clajak’s fists were clenched.

Tara kept quiet, simply watching the two men carefuly. Yuder knew her beliefs would keep her from displaying anger, would keep her from defending herself against Clajak’s fury. No matter. He was more than ready to shield her whether it be verbaly or physicaly, though Clajak would never attack a woman.

“I love Tara with al my being. She has not taken your mother’s place, however. My heart has only grown larger to hold them both.”

“You lie!” Clajak screamed. In an instant he was chest to chest with Yuder, tension singing in his body. Yuder’s fangs descended and he hissed a warning.