"No suits," Edward whispered, undressing me in a secluded spot near the pool. Fruit and tropical trees were everywhere around the pool and a small portion of it was very private, with a waterfall making soothing sounds as it emptied nearby. How had I missed Edward being naked before? He was a beautiful man and he didn't hide his desire. "We won't unless you want it," he sighed against my mouth.

"Just take it slow, all right?" I asked, leaning my head into the hollow between his neck and shoulder.

"I would take forever if I could love you at the end of it," he murmured against my mouth. "I love you. Since the moment you walked into my life, I knew. Someone told me long ago that the woman I would love would come to me in the most unusual of circumstances, and that I would recognize her immediately. That's how it was, Reah. I looked at you and I knew. Like lightning striking or something. Now, let's talk about these breasts. And how perfect they are." He lowered his head and showed me what he thought of them. The rest followed naturally and I wanted him as much as he wanted me at the end of it. I think I was tugging on his hair and begging him to move faster at the last. He smiled, kissed me and obliged nicely.

"Now, all of you know that Reah is more than capable of taking care of herself," Belen announced as the party was winding down. "But it is time for us to step forward and announce how much we care for her. The day will come very soon when she will need protection. I want to ask all who are willing to show up. I wish to show any enemies, present and future, just what it is they will deal with should they come against her. Ever. You will know the time. Until then," Belen nodded to all and disappeared.

"This goes against everything that is in us," Reldill complained. Naldill didn't care. The loss of his power, which was something he sorely missed, would not be taken without revenge of some sort. "Surely you can do as those fool warlocks, and gain power from it," Naldill hissed. "Do it! Tap the core. See what happens."

"Cynthin, did you think your little grab for power would go unanswered?" Her Council stood as she walked into the meeting. Her second-in-command had called the meeting, with a majority backing him up. She'd been forced to appear. "You have embarrassed Xordthe and made us into the laughingstock you thought to make of that girl and Teeg San Gerxon. Did you think to put yourself in his place, or at least higher than you are now? We here all agree that you couldn't form a quorum in the Council, let alone keep the Campiaan Alliance together. You know that if we have a unanimous vote of all three hundred members of this Council, you may be removed from office. Here is the vote, Cynthin." He handed the comp-vid to the president of Xordthe. "These numbers have been forwarded to all media outlets. They will report this on the late news. I imagine you might be bombarded with the usual requests for interviews. Get your tissues ready or get out of the city, Cynthin. Your pretty face will not get you far with the people now." Cynthin stared at the unanimous vote to remove her from the presidency. A general election would be held within the next moon-turn, to elect a president to complete her current term. Cynthin flung the comp-vid at her former second-in-command and stalked from the Council chamber.

"The only reason you are still enjoying your position is that you are my only son and I have no other choice, Andelis," his father the King, shot Andelis of Roorthi a severe look. "While your part is not great in this, it has opened the royal house to ridicule. We are being hounded by the media and our own subjects because we followed Cynthin of Xordthe blindly. Or you did, since I leave the dealings with the Campiaan Alliance to you. From today, that will no longer be true. I am sending my trusted First Advisor to those gatherings instead. For a period of five turns, you will smile and nod and take hands at factory openings and the like. You will rebuild this image you have tarnished. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Father." Andelis bowed low to the King.

"Good. Leave me. I am quite angry."

"Yes, Father." Andelis walked backward a respectful distance before turning on his heel and scurrying away.

"I feel like the biggest fool." Tevan of Shillverr rubbed his forehead, attempting to relieve the headache. Three scientists sat in his private office. All of them had come, presenting him with the evidence that the core had indeed been tapped more than twenty years earlier, then also presented the most damning evidence of all; recorded satellite images, showing the golden creature seating herself on the grass in a remote location before beginning to glow. The recordings from the satellite were quite clear, once they'd known what to look for. The numbers after that date showed the core energy levels nearly normal and rising. The ASD Director had not fabricated any part of his story.

"We did not know to look for this; we thought nature had reset itself somehow. We now know that help was provided, unasked for and unappreciated. I think we should rectify that now."

"But how?" Tevan asked, turning troubled eyes to his scientists.

"Under the Campiaan Alliance, we are allowed to operate without fear of the criminal element. Before, we were tortured by those who ruled here if we did not cooperate with them in their scheming to overcome this one or that. We are a free people, now. You have not harmed us. In fact, we appreciate the funding you helped to pass. This will enable Shillverr to create new technology that will place us among the best of both Alliances. This area in the photograph is still empty. We suggest a memorial to the one who saved Shillverr and her citizens."

"How long will this take?" Tevan played the recorded vid from more than twenty-five turns earlier.

"If we use bronze and employ laser sculptors, not long," the scientist smiled.

"Good. Get on this right away. We will invite the media and offer our thanks."

"Sir, I hate to interrupt, but Cynthin of Xordthe is calling," Tevan's assistant walked into Tevan's office.

"I will no longer accept her calls," Tevan stood and nodded to the three scientists. "We have other, more pressing matters that require our attention."

Chapter 12

Crorver's entire family came to the signing, dressed for celebration, it seemed. I felt sorry for Crorver, who'd given his life to his groves. He'd allowed Erbrin to draw him into petty rivalries with Edward, however, who saw no need for such trivialities. In his opinion, there was more than enough room for competition. He'd grown gishi fruit before his rivals. He'd also been foresighted enough to buy the land that made up EastStar Groves. He had no time and certainly no desire to involve himself in petty rivalries.

Erbrin and two employees had shown up as well. The local magistrate was there to witness the signings, as had everyone's solicitors.

Edward had a small interest in both groves, but the majority was owned by the others, who'd put up nearly all the funding. I had no idea how they'd gotten their hands on fifty carats of Tiralian crystal—that was worth a fortune by itself. "We will have all our belongings out by this afternoon," Crorver and Erbrin acknowledged to the magistrate, who had them sign agreements to that effect, along with the promise to not damage any of the property or fines would be levied. I think Dragon and Crane were going with them to make sure nothing was amiss. I wouldn't want to cross either of those strong Falchani.

"If I donate a portion of my gishi fruit allotment, will I get ice cream out of it?" Glendes leaned down to whisper.

"Of course," I laughed. "As much as you want."

"We will invite you to Grey House very soon, to a family dinner. As our guest," he added.

"That sounds nice," I replied.

"Some updating needed," Adam inspected the Crorver estate with a practiced and critical eye. The house needed enlarging as well, especially the kitchen and baths. I think Adam was planning a larger pool area, too, when all was said and done. With the power the Saa Thalarr held, it would probably be done within an eight-day.

"Reah, you and Edward need to tell us what the groves require," Merrill stood at my elbow, a drink in his hand. "This one is yours, mine will contain alcohol when it comes," he grinned and handed the glass of fruit juice to me.

"Let's go look now," I said. "And we'll have to interview employees. I have a feeling we'll be forced to send a few packing."

We did. Almost half from both groves. Adam and Merrill, both former vampires, laid compulsion on the exiting employees, telling them there would be no retaliation of any kind. They nodded, gathered their things and loaded onto buses bound for Adrixx.

"We'll be hiring more employees, and both groves will be combined," Merrill said as we examined sprinkler systems, talked with supervisors about harvests, pruning, fertilizing and insect control. Edward offered very good advice, in addition to the services of one or more of his supervisors, just to make sure the transitions went smoothly. Lissa went with us, as did Shadow Grey, who pulled her against him as they walked through the spaces between trees.

"You'll make your money back in three years," Edward predicted. "We've gotten rid of the fruit thieves and the incompetent workers. The next harvest will come in four moon-turns. There is much to do within that time. We'll need at least six more supervisors. We'll either hire or train."

"In four months, Reah will be out to here," Drake and Drew appeared. Drew, the scoundrel, made that observation, holding arms far out from his stomach. I swatted at him. He answered by lifting me for a careful hug. "That's our great-nephew, you know," he laughed and rubbed my belly. "We'll be happy to teach him bladework."

"Hah. In less than a year, your own will be driving you crazy," I snapped before thinking. And then blinked at Drake and Drew in embarrassment. "Uh, Lissa," I said, "where's Karzac right now?"

"I don't know. Do you need him?" she smiled at me.

"I don't. Except to check on something for me."