The Unveiling (11 page)

"My dad was an ... a-al … no." He shook his head. "No way."

"How else do you explain everything you just told me?" Tavel asked.

Charlie grew quiet. "Okay, say I believe you. Wouldn’t that make you one too?"

"Now you're asking the right questions."

"What do I do? I can't live like this. My God, if anyone found out about this, they'd dissect me."

Tavel nodded, playing the concerned Uncle. "I know. That's why I've been working on a cure if you will to suppress the Shar tendencies. You'll be able to live a normal life and no one will be the wiser. It's what your father would've wanted."

A look of complete and utter relief crossed Charlie's face. "When can we get started? I want to take care of this before people start to notice something's off."

This was too easy.

"Now if you like. I've mixed together some things from our place of birth and put them in a pill form. I promised Brian I'd take care of you before he passed, so I've been anticipating this." He stood. Charlie followed suit, and they headed out of the restaurant to his truck waiting outside.  Once they were inside the cab, Charlie spoke.

"I have so many questions. I don't understand how no one could tell me this until now." 

"Don’t be angry at your mother. She didn’t know. I hoped to spare you the truth, honestly. We've never seen a human hybrid. I figured you'd be better of not knowing unless it became necessary. When you were small, all of your tests came back normal, so I thought you'd been spared." 

"Sparred? Is it so horrible to be an … alien?"

"Not for me, but it's all I've ever known. We Shar are a passionate people, and it'd be a lot to learn to control the intense emotions we experience on a daily basis. You've seen in small glimpses what the struggle is like, haven't you?" He saw Charlie nod out of his peripheral vision. "It'll only continue to get worse."

"Jesus."

You got him right where you want him. He'll swallow down the pills without thinking twice and finally I'll have the genetic link I need to reverse this affliction.
It was a struggle to do the speed limit and remain calm with victory so close at hand. Soon the rapid aging would be permanently reversed. The gray hairs would return to their normal hue, the wrinkles would smooth out, and if he was lucky he'd reach the goal he'd originally sought to accomplish, a super being with an extended life.  By the time they reached his house the strain of playing the role of concerned uncle hit. He needed to be in his lab, measuring, documenting and cross-referencing. He parked in the driveway, and they exited the truck.

"What's in this pill?" Charlie asked as Tavel unlocked the door.

"Herbs and plant from a planet similar to the one we originate from."
Laced with some potent chemical compounds you don't need to worry about.
He pushed the door open. "Go on in and have a seat at the kitchen table. I'll bring the pills to you."

Charlie entered the house in front of him, and he locked the door behind them and headed into his bedroom. His hand shook as he grabbed the plain Aspirin bottle he'd hidden the homemade pills in. The tiny, white circles rattled in the plastic container.
Last chance, old man.
He put his game face back on and headed into the kitchen. Charlie looked up, eyes glued to the bottle he held in his hand.

"How do you know so much about this stuff, Uncle Ted?"

"Back on Tagget I was what you'd call a geneticist. We constantly strived to keep our people in the best shape possible. Our life spans are longer, our constitution is heartier, but over time everything wears down. That's where I stepped in."

"Wow, that makes you a bit of a hero, Unc." 
For a time.

"Just a Shar with an affinity for science."

"Man, if I was in your position I would not be downplaying it."

Tavel laughed. "I didn't always. But I grew older, and the things that mattered changed." He'd grown up in a lower class family, where education was the only way to escape the cards they'd been dealt. His parents pushed the three of them in school. Merk rebelled, while Chanste followed in his footsteps, but with less success. But for him learning came easily and was something he enjoyed. He'd been ready to take on the world as he rocketed his way to the top of the Science field. Others were too safe and set in their old ways to make breakthroughs. He was a breath of fresh air in a stuffy society that needed a new wind. He'd been riding high when his Mother had fallen ill. Similar to what humans called Alzheimer's, the illness took away her memories, a bit more each day, as if someone were erasing her life and leaving behind an empty shell. It was here that the obsession with cell regeneration had begun. In the end he hadn't been able to save her. But he couldn't stop, especially not when he'd begun to see early signs of it in himself.

He'd told people he was working on making a better soldier for the Shar, which was partially true. The rest he kept to himself, until the mishap in the lab had changed all of his plans.

"So I just take this?"  Charlie's voice brought him back to the present.

"Yes, twice a day, once in the morning, then again at night, and we'll monitor your response."

"Sounds good." Charlie took the bottle from him, shook out a pill, opened his mouth and tossed it back. He swallowed, and Tavel mentally cheered.
Now the waiting begins!

Chapter Fourteen

Rivka walked out to the massive lawn in the back yard where a giant white tent had been set up.  They were in the sub season between winter and spring. It was cold, but there was no more snow. She pulled the pea coat closer and headed into the tent. Warmth from the heaters spread throughout the space to hold over three hundred washed over her.  The ceremony would take place here, and then they'd move inside to the ballroom that had been completely transformed. Divided into two separate quadrants by white curtains hung on trellises, it would be set up for the cocktail hour, dinner and the reception.  Here in the tent, rows of chairs had been covered with a white, gauzy material and a black bow that fell down to the floor in a waterfall of lightweight material that looked stunning against the white flooring that'd been brought in to cover the lawn. A white runner ran down the middle of the tent, awaiting rose petals.

Large, glass cylinders had been set up with round, electric blue stones that emitted a bright glow served as a testament to the connection between Zasha and Phelan. These soul crystals were a traditional part of the bonding ceremony and measured power and emotions. She'd attuned the stones to them last night at the rehearsal, and the sight of the stones pulsing had taken her breath away. The two were formidable.
I wonder what the stones would look like for Bastien and me.
She pushed the thought away. Now was not the time to examine the hot mess that was her quasi-relationship. The sex between them was amazing, but that was where they stalled out. It was clear he wanted more. She saw it in many things: the longing in his eyes, personal questions he asked, and the way he allowed her to lead. That trait she knew for a fact wasn’t in his character.  She'd been clinging to this ceremony like a lifeline, using it for a shield between them, and now that it was finally happening she'd begun to worry.
Just focus on the job.

Floating on the top of the water in the cylinders was one perfectly formed, blush pink tea rose. As she walked the space, she ignored the chaos around her. Florists ran in and out with buckets of flowers. A team of eight worked on the massive arches being covered with cream-colored flowers, studded with diamonds and a touch of glitter to make it sparkle. One was placed in the center of the aisle way and the other in the front where Phelan and Zasha would be wed and bonded. Satisfied that the tent was under control she walked over to her coordinator, Drusi, who'd recently emerged from her time away.

"This is looking spot on. Make sure there are no gaps on the archway flower work, and the petals don't cover the walkway to the very last minute before the guests arrive. I want to make sure they look fresh."

"You got it, Riv."

"I'm going to head inside now and see how they're fairing."

"I'm only a walkie away if you need me," Drusi said.

"This is why I love working with you." She smiled and walked away to exit the tent. When she stepped inside the ballroom she stopped just inside the door she gasped. Pheromones threatened to bring her to her knees. She turned her head and saw Bastien over the far wall, talking with Kade and Marsden. 
What are they doing here?
She headed toward them, trying her best to keep her
fuck me
eyes to herself.

"Hey boys, what's going on?"

"We were sent down here by Phelan to calm his bride's nerves."

She smiled.

"Hormone attack?"

"Oh yeah, big time," Kade said. His eyes grew wide, and she laughed.

"Why didn't she just call me?"

"Because she said she'd bugged you enough," Bastien said.

"But that's my job."

"Exactly what I said!" Mars said, throwing up his hands.

"You guys, go on and get out of here. Tell her things look great and we're ahead of schedule. All she has to worry about is beautifying herself and relaxing." She pointed toward the exit on the opposite side of the wall.

"You don't have to tell me twice," Mars muttered, leaning in to give her a brief hug. "Thank you, Rivka. I'm off to relax in my room for a bit."

"I'm following suit," Kade said, giving a nod before he turned on his heels to walk away with Mars.
Could they be more obvious?

"Not subtle, are they?" Rivka asked.

"Never." Bastien rolled his eyes.  She snickered, and his eyes lit up, the brown becoming amber.

"I love it when you laugh."

"Thank you." She looked down, unable to handle the intensity of his stare. Every day he made remaining distant a little harder. Her chest grew heavy, and something tightened low in her belly. Her heartbeat doubled, and her nostrils flared as his scent filled the air, making her mouth water and her panties damp.

"You keep this up, and I'll be dragging you out of here caveman style."

"It's not like I can help it." The thought of being carried over his shoulder, whisked off, and passionately taken only made her purr.

His lids lowered, and his eyes darted from side to side.

"You reek of The Wanting. If we don’t settle this it'll be damn distracting." His fist clenched at his side. "All those Shar men wondering if you're their mate." His voice dropped an octave, and his eyes darkened with anger.

"Hey, it's okay."

"No. We've played this thing your way for long enough. After tonight we need to come out into the open … before someone gets hurt. We need to step out for a moment.”

"I can't just leave. I'm in the middle of—"

"Now."  His clipped tone ended her protest. Rivka nodded her head and followed him from the room.
Where are we going? What's he going to do when we get there?
A heartbeat echoed as blood filled her ears and the tension set her on edge, all of her senses honed and working overtime as they prepared, for what she didn't know. He led her down a maze of hallways and up a flight of stairs. They stopped in front of a large wooden door. He pushed it open and pulled her inside.

"This is my room."  He was soft-spoken, but the tone told her he was barely keeping his cool. There was a reason people went into hiding after The Wanting began. It was like menopause and puberty rolled in a ball, times a million. Possessiveness was a given, and Bastien was a very dangerous man. They stepped inside. Bastien lifted her into his arms and pinned her against the wall. His upper body pressed her into the door, and she took a shaky breath.

"We seem to find ourselves in this position a lot."

"I need to be inside, where you're hot, tight, and nothing else matters. Because despite what your mind tells you and your words say, your body knows it's mine. The same way mine knows I am yours. This half life we've been living has me on the edge." His breath caressed her face and blew wisps of her hair around. His words were laced with so much longing and pain a tiny crack in the armor around her heart appeared. He rubbed his length against her.

"See what you do to me. Just the thought of you. I can't sleep. I can't eat. I struggle every day not to rip my men's heads off in training." His hands shook as he cupped her face. "I don't need instant love, that would be a lie, but I need a chance to prove myself and be responsible for more than your orgasm." He leaned in and caressed her lips with his. "Can you give me that?"

"Yes," she whispered. A brilliant smile lit his face, and the air around them seemed lighter. A part of her protested the give.
I'm giving in too easily, too soon!
What good does waiting do anyone?  You haven't declared your eternal love.
Her mixed emotions continued to battle one another. The back and forth began to make her head ache.

"Don't think. I know we don't have that much time, but the least I can do is take the edge off." His large hand slid inside her pants and into her underwear. "You're always so wet for me." He caressed her swollen clit, and she shivered. "Do you like that?"

"Yes."  She whimpered, closing her eyes. Her head hit the door behind her with a loud thud as she gave herself over to his dexterous fingers.

He made circular motions, pausing to slip into her channel for a few teasing strokes before he returned to her sensitive nub in tandem. She dug her fingernails into his biceps.

"That's it, come apart for me." His voice was a velvet caress, and her body shook in response. The tension in her body reached a breaking point.

"Oh! I'm close."

He pumped harder. "That's it, baby, come all over my fingers." A few more thrusts and she clamped down on him, opening her mouth to release a silent scream as she coated his fingers with her sticky warmth.  She opened her eyes to see his smoldering gaze fixed on her.

"W-what about you?"