Balm (7 page)

Quinn slumped back in the embrace of the fluffy robe and looked up at Iskanu with tired eyes. “Please, take your turn, I need another nap after that.”

He laughed and slid free of her. “I came with you the first time.”

She snorted and gladly let him spoon around her as he held her for her nap. The air smelled of sex, her body gleamed pink and his was shining with sweat. All in all, it was a good result for something that she didn’t need to move for.

“Sleep, love. I will guard you until you wake.”

She smiled and enjoyed the feeling of being wrapped in his arms. It was total security for her. He would be with her as long as he could be, and if he ever died in duty, she would follow him. There was no doubt in her mind that she did not want to live if he was gone.

She had done it once and never again.

Chapter Eleven

Finding time to get away from Iskanu for this private project was harder than she thought. Finally, Quinn had to resort to asking Kali to send him on a standard observation.

“Is this the moment you were referring to?” Kali was watching the mirror with her.

In the mirror, a harried young woman was looking from side to side with a small boy at her side. Another woman stepped forward, her hair covered by a hood and her hands folded tightly to her waist.

A bag of coin was exchanged and the child was sold and taken, just like that.

Quinn nodded. “So, it was me. How do I get him into the Alliance?”

“Watch more, and it will make sense.”

The woman took the child in her arms and they disappeared. The image spun and they ended up standing near the iconic Citadel structure.

The woman spoke to the organizers, handed them the documents and another pouch of coin, she knelt next to the boy, pressed a kiss to his cheek and disappeared.

Quinn whistled. “Can I do this?”

“You have to. It is an immutable point in time now. You brought him to the Citadel education centre, and he joined the Enforcers. You did what you had to do to bring your mate to you.”

“It still feels really weird.”

“I know. Do you want to do it?”

Quinn nodded. “I will. Let me go order the clothing.”

Making the arrangements to purchase a Selna boy was difficult, but after Quinn had the connection to Iskira, the woman was relieved at the option for her brother.

Iskira and Quinn met first at a public café.

“Are you sure my brother will be safe?” Iskira looked into Quinn’s hood, but she was in full Hooded One garb.

“I am sure that he will make it to adulthood and have his choice for the rest of his life. He will not be forced to mate over and over again.” Quinn inclined her head.

Iskira blinked, “You know about that? It is a closely guarded secret.”

“I heard it from another escaped Selna male. He warned me that it was the destiny for many young men, and Iskanu is of an age to slip away before anyone locks him away as a stud.”

“Come with me now. Do you have the money?”

“I do. Do you have the paperwork?”

“I do.” Iskira led her back through the shops and to a tiny, pokey house on the edge of the city. It must take everything she had to keep body and soul together.

Quinn waited at the spot that she had seen in the mirror. It was out of the way of prying eyes but allowed her to brace for Iskira having a change of heart.

Iskanu was small, two-thirds the height of his sister. “Are you the woman taking me?”

“I am taking you to a Citadel training centre where your psychic talent can be put to practical use.”

Iskira stopped in place. “You know about that?”

“I do. I also know you have been using him to thieve. That is fine. I do not care. I simply want to get him out of here before he becomes trapped. Will you help me?”

Iskira nodded and handed Quinn a roll of paper.

Quinn flicked it open and read it. It was indeed title to Iskanu.

Quinn removed the payment pouch and handed it over.

Iskira had tears running down her onyx face as she looked at the gems held within. “It is more than I asked for.”

“He is more than you think. Iskanu, bid farewell to your sister. You may be able to correspond, but I am not sure.”

He did as he was told, hugging the sister who had raised him.

Quinn tilted her head. He had never mentioned his parents, only the sister that had raised him until the strange woman came to call.

She extended her hand to Iskanu, and he took it. With care and propriety, she wrapped her arm around him and jumped to the Citadel school.

Iskanu looked up at her. “What are you, madam?”

“A friend.”

They started walking up the path, and he popped out another guess, “You don’t seem like a friend. Are you my mate?”

She froze in place. “Why would you ask that?”

“Because there is something in your expression that says that you love me, but you don’t love me yet. It is very confusing.”

She groaned. “Come along, Iskanu. The teachers here will be helpful in figuring out how to best use that lovely analytical skill of yours.”

She knocked on the door, spoke with the admissions organizer and showed her proof of ownership as well as the money needed to raise him to adulthood without incurring Citadel debt.

Iskanu stood for the whole thing, silent and listening to every word spoken.

When she was ready to leave, Quinn knelt and straightened his little shirt, smiling sadly as she realized that she had to let him go.

“You are my mate, aren’t you?” He frowned.

“Not for many, many years, Iskanu. I will meet you decades from now, and I will not know you. My eyes will be different, and I will be surprised by everything that I see. You will help me adjust and eventually love will grow.”

He nodded. “I knew it. You feel like my mate. Should I go with the admissions officer now?”

Her lips quirked to one side. “You run along. We will see each other soon enough.”

His small feet pattered off, and when he was gone, she straightened and transported Home in full view of the organizers who were watching the stranger in their midst.

Quinn was sniffling when she arrived Home, and the moment that he saw her, Iskanu paused and then rushed forward to embrace her.

“It was a good thing that you did. I never would have met you any other way.”

She looked up at him with watery eyes. “Isn’t it cheating to introduce yourself to your mate when that mate is still a child?”

“Not when you did anything untoward. You gave me comfort when I was taken from my home, and you confirmed that I could listen to my body and my mind at the same time.”

She leaned against him, listening to his heartbeat. “It is still weird to think you knew me the moment you saw me.”

“It was weird to me that you didn’t recognize me, but then, you said you wouldn’t, so it made a certain sense.”

She chuckled and yawned. “I think I need some more actual sleep. Care to join me?”

Iskanu grinned and lifted her in his arms. “I have had the fantasy of stripping you out of this particular outfit for four decades. I think we may need to explore some possibilities before you sleep.”

Quinn laughed and let her mate lead her into pleasure. Sleep could wait, there was always tomorrow.

About the Author

Viola Grace was born in Manitoba, Canada where she still resides today. She really likes it there. She has no pets and can barely keep sea monkeys alive for a reasonable amount of time. In keeping with busy hands are happy hands, her hobbies have included cross-stitch, needlepoint, quilting, costuming, cake decorating, baking, cooking, metal work, beading, sculpting, painting, doll making, henna tattoos, chain mail, and a few others that have been forgotten. It is quite often that these hobbies make their way into her tales.

Viola’s fetishes include boots and corsetry, and her greatest weakness is her uncontrollable blush. Her writing actively pursues the Happily Ever After that so rarely occurs in nature. It is an admirable thing and something that we should all strive for. To find one that we truly like, as well as love.