"I'll allow Wylend to question him tomorrow, after Reah heals the core," Norian said. "So far, we haven't been able to get anything from him or the others, and we're still missing Derdris, the youngest son."

"Have you told Reah that you're doing this tomorrow?" Lendill wasn't sure how he felt about all of it. Reah still thought she had three days in which to prepare.

"No—I don't want to upset her any more than she is already. She's not talking to anyone, Lendill. But I'm sure you realize that as well as anyone."

"Yes, Director. I have met with that silence coupled with the wounded look in her eyes. How do you respond to that, Norian? How?"

"I'll let her go after she does this, Lendill. I promise," Norian wasn't able to look his oldest friend in the eye.

"It may be moot—I think the only people she might want to be with are Aurelius and Wylend."

"Then ask Wylend to plead your case for you," Norian sighed. "Why don't you let her go home with him? Let her be pampered by the servants in Wylend's court while she recovers from this."

"I was going to ask for time off so I could pamper her. My father still wants me to bring her if I can. I just have to convince her that I want only the best for her. That every time I've sent her into harm's way over the past few years it has squeezed my heart to do it."

"Lendill, she was the best thing to send out when we did send her. You and I both know that."

"I know that if she wasn't pregnant, that you'd be working on her to renew."

"Yes. I would," Norian acknowledged. "I was going to offer you something else as an incentive so you could be with her."

"And what would you offer me?" Lendill crossed arms over his chest.

"Head of Security for the Eastern Sector. That includes Wyyld and Le-Ath Veronis."

"You'd offer me that job? That's more than a hundred planets."

"And pays better than what you earn now, in addition to giving you complete control over everyday security and law enforcement. The RAA in that sector would be yours to command. Ildevar says he could move you into that slot easily."

"Well, Reah isn't going to come back to the ASD. That's a given," Lendill said. "And as much as I might enjoy getting my hands on a quarter of the Regular Alliance Army, I like what I'm doing."

"Think about it for a few days. The offer will be open anyway."

"I will."

"Are you ready?" Galaxsan looked up at Jes, who'd dropped a single bag in the floor of the kitchen at San Gerxon palace. "I'm surprised you're not packed for a siege."

"Teeg didn't say how long I'd be staying and I can always ask for more to be brought in."

"True," Galaxsan rose from his seat at the island. "Teeg says he doesn't want Reah to know you're there until after she heals the core—something about a surprise or some such."

"I'm a surprise for her? Good." Jes grinned. Galaxsan folded the physician away.

"Stay here—I'll have your dinner brought in," Teeg settled Jes into a guest bungalow within a quarter click's walk of the plantation's main building. "I don't want her to know you're here until she needs your help tomorrow."

"Not a problem, boss." Jes smiled.

"Do you have everything you need?" Teeg asked.

"Sure do." Jes patted his bag.

"Good. I'll bring your meals out and come for you tomorrow."

"Thanks."

Teeg nodded at his employee and left the guest bungalow behind.

"Reah, eat a good breakfast, beloved," Lendill was trying to settle me on the barstool instead of taking it for himself—I'd prepared ham and eggs for his meal.

"But I made that for you," I argued. Why was he doing this? After days of non-communication, now he wanted to talk?

"Reah, just eat, for the stars' sake," Teeg walked in snapping at me. Any energy I might have had was sapped away immediately. How did he do this to me? How? I never had any energy to fight with him nowadays. Even Tory didn't drain me this badly.

"Gavril, please." Lendill's voice held a warning.

"Are you going to let her eat and then tell her so she'll heave it up again?" Teeg wasn't mincing words. I watched both of them bristle at each other.

"Tell me what?" I asked, puzzled.

"Since we hauled in the Hazlans yesterday, Norian wants you to heal the core today. He wants off this planet, Reah. As soon as he can get off it."

Teeg was right about one thing—they wanted me to heal the core and just the thought of it was making me queasy. Were all of them at odds with one another? Everything had felt off to me from the moment we'd landed here. Was it that the core had been tapped and now Tulgalan felt its life draining away? I hadn't noticed it that much on the other worlds and they'd been leaking energy for a longer period.

"Then I'll ask this now," I said. "I'll promise to heal the core after the baby comes if you'll let me wait."

"No!" Norian almost shouted as he walked into the kitchen. "You'll do this now because I tell you to do it now."

"Director, I'm sorry to say that I lost my respect for you long ago. I don't feel like eating." I pushed the plate of food toward Lendill and walked out of the kitchen.

"Boss, is it your primary goal to fuck up the rest of my life?" Lendill never snapped at Norian, but he did so now.

"Lendill, I didn't mean that the way it came out," Norian half-apologized.

"We'll baby her after she finishes this," Gavril pulled the plate of food over and cut into the ham.

"I don't want it—I'll just get sick." I held a hand against my stomach—there wasn't much keeping me from heaving right then. Somebody had folded us to the site of the core tapping while Tory was attempting to hand one of the fruit and protein jumbles to me.

"Let's just get this over with—you can feed her later," Norian had arrived and was cracking the proverbial whip. I had less than a full moon-turn left with him and his ASD. I couldn't get away from either one fast enough.

"Turn, Reah. We'll make sure you're cared for afterward." Teeg was handing out a bit of autocracy of his own. Maybe this had turned into a contest of genital length between Norian, Teeg and the others. How could I know? Sighing, I began to remove my clothing, stopping for a moment to rub my slightly swelling belly before sitting on the grass and turning to full Thifilatha.

Gavril watched Reah as she stroked her belly, perhaps reassuring her child. He felt a sudden qualm and thought to stop her from repairing the core. He didn’t, watching instead as Reah settled on the grass and turned to her alter ego; a full fifteen feet of golden Thifilatha.

Nidris knew his family had been arrested. He ignored the pang of guilt over his brother Derdris—Derdris might face the penalties for Nidris' crimes. Instead, Nidris settled himself on the ground twenty-six clicks from where he'd originally tapped the core of Tulgalan, preparing to tap the planet for the last time in preparation for his next task—that of taking the little High Demon for himself. His fingers itched in anticipation of his future, where anything he desired might be had with the use of unlimited power—all obtained by tapping cores and then forcing his captive to repair them afterward. He might have gloated more than he had if the tiny bit of guilt over his family weren't nagging at him. Resolving to put it out of his mind, he turned to his current task.

This was my first repair during daylight; Norian had ordered me to pull the energy from Tulgalan's sun. It was the only star I could see during the day. I'd hugged myself, shivering as he'd snapped out the order. Director Keef was used to being obeyed without question. He would likely be as glad to see the back of me as I would the last of him. And my child, when she became an adult, would not be brought anywhere near ASD Director Norian Keef. Turning my head upward to the noon sun riding high overhead, I prepared to pull energy from it.

Nidris lowered his head, closing his eyes and preparing to tap into the core. Zellar had taught them to reach through the planet itself, carefully moving their power along until it met with that at the planet's very center. Then all it took was a small jolt of his warlock strength to breach the core and pull energy away, adding it to his strength and talent until he felt as if he could control the universe with what he'd stolen. Then he would disengage, but the tapped core could not be resealed. Not by him. He had no idea how the High Demon female could accomplish what even the strongest warlock could not. He resolved not to think on it; her talent could be exploited without delving into the why of it. Carefully, Nidris felt his way through the crust and mantle, seeking the outer and then the inner core of Tulgalan.

Jes fretted. He should have heard from Nidris by now. He'd contacted the warlock as soon as everyone left the plantation, taking Reah with them. Teeg had promised to return for him when Reah needed help. They'd been gone for nearly a click and Jes knew it would take less than two for Reah to make her repairs and fall unconscious. His medkit ready, Jes waited.

The moment Reah was moved to a bedroom somewhere—after bringing her back to humanoid form, of course—Nidris and Yebri would fold in with Ardalin, snatch Reah and Teeg and then disappear again, taking Jes with them. The prearranged site was prepared and waiting—Jes had everything he needed to tend to Reah there. He would treat her while plying her with soft words and promises. Her child he would accept as his, and they would spend their days together, after Reah healed one more core for Nidris.

Jes considered contacting Nidris again but thought better of it. The warlock wasn't someone to offend lightly. Jes experienced a slight tug of guilt for making a deal with an enemy—Nidris hadn't drained Jes' home planet but Zellar, who'd taught Nidris, certainly had. No matter—Jes could claim Reah from this bargain and he had to be satisfied with that.