Page 34 of Lacey's Warriors

Dressed in a flowing black gown and an amazing necklace made of glittering green and amethyst shifting stones, her mom looked every inch the Kadothian Matriarch. She even had the dark, liquid black bondmarks on her cleavage that announced to the world who she was. But despite the exotic clothes, elaborate upswept hairstyle, and wrinkle free face, she was still Lacey’s mom.

“Oh, my sweet girl,” her mom whispered, the tears on her cheeks glistening in the odd golden sunlight. “Oh, my sweet, sweet girl. We have missed you so much.”

Speech was beyond her as Lacey laid her head on her mom’s shoulder. All the terror and pain she’d felt over these last few weeks came out all at once.

“Lady Lacey,” Wythe’s sharp voice came from right next to her. “You must shield yourself.”

Startled, she looked up through her tears at his face, filled with sorrow, tears shimmering in his own eyes. “What?”

“Your emotions, they are seeping into those around you. We didn’t mind it when it was your love, but please reign in your grief.”

Giving her eyes a brisk wipe with the back of her hand, Lacey glanced around and found they were mostly alone, and the Kadothian Warriors that remained all had tears streaming down their faces.

Jillian shifted in her arms and said, “Mommy, please don’t be sad.”

Realizing she was somehow projecting her emotions, she worked hard on building a mental shield around herself like Chel and Gwarnon had taught her during their training.

Right away, Wythe let out a sound of relief, echoed by two male grunts behind her.

Turning, she watched with wide eyes as two handsome men, one with a beard who was very lumberjack sexy, and one with red and black hair that had a somewhat feral quality to him, lean down and kiss her mother. Both men were dressed in the loose black pants, high leather boots, and fitted black shirts with low collars that her crystal implant said were the normal casual wear among Kadothian Lords. Around their necks they wore thick gold chains, each bearing a large gem that matched her mom’s jewelry.

They made a lovely picture together, her mother beaming as she looked up at the men who had to be her bondmates. The men looked back at her mother with equal adoration, and Lacey’s chest swelled with emotion as Jillian cuddled close. Her mom was happy, really happy, and so in love with her bondmates she practically glowed with it.

Lacey was happy for her. If anyone deserved two men that would love her for all eternity, it was Tara. Her mom had worked hard and sacrificed to make sure Lacey and then Jillian had the best life possible. It was nice, if a bit odd, to see that her mother had finally found someone.

Or, in this case, someones.

The sense of loss she’d been trying to ignore grew stronger as she wished with all her heart Gwarnon and Chel could be there right then. Not wanting her sadness to somehow leak to Jillian, she tried to strengthen the shield in her mind. The last thing she wanted was to hurt her daughter with her emotions. Anxiety hit her hard, and she wished Chel was there with his soothing calm, and Gwarnon with his rock-solid presence. With them at her side, she felt not only loved but protected.

Yes, she was a kick ass woman who could take care of herself, but knowing the men at her side will keep her safe was a nice one. A novel feeling, actually, considering her usual shit ass taste in men. For a moment, her mind flickered to Jillian’s father, and wondered if someday he’d come looking for the daughter he’d long ago abandoned. A small, evil part of her wished he would somehow know that Jillian was happy, loved, and cherished on an amazing new world where her potential was limitless.

“Tara,” the sexy lumberjack rumbled. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine, I’m just a little overwhelmed. I’ve been so worried…” Standing between the men, holding their hands, Lacey’s mom turned to her and said, “Honey, I’d like you to meet my husbands, Karwin and Phin. We met on Earth shortly after you were deployed.”

Karwin, the more savage looking of the two men with red and black hair, gave her a warm smile that changed him from intimidating to friendly. “It is our greatest honor to meet you, daughter of our heart.”

Startled, she blinked for a moment before she gave a soft laugh, shifting Jillian from one arm to the other as the little girl continued to snuggle close. “Wow, that’s right. I guess you guys are my stepdads.”

Phin’s chest visibly swelled as he smiled. “We are, and we are incredibly honored and swear to always protect you and treat you as our own.”

Jillian wiggled out of her arms, then crouched down and picked up the hopping ball of blue and white fur that was making an odd chirp, kind of like a squeaky toy. “Mommy! Meet Daniel!”

She gave the cute bunny/squirrel looking creature a hug big enough that Lacey was afraid she might hurt the creature, but it didn’t seem to mind.

“He is very cute, but remember to be gentle,” Lacey said as she smiled down at her daughter before looking back to her mom standing with her bondmates. “We need to talk.”

The smile left Tara’s face, her red lips firming into that familiar line that meant she was tired of someone’s shit. “We do. Why don’t we show you to your rooms? You can get washed up and have something to eat, then we’ll talk—” Tara glanced around. A crowd still watched them from a distance at the landing port. “Without so many ears listening. I must say, daughter of mine, you are quite the celebrity. Come on.”

Holding Jillian’s hand in her own, Lacey nodded and followed her mother across the landing pad and into the gigantic forest.

Once Jillian had been led away by Wythe to go have dinner with some friends she’d made at the manor, Tara took Lacey off into a side room while her husbands stayed outside.

The silence of the large, lush indoor garden was broken by light lavender water spilling over silver rocks from a nearby fountain of a beautiful woman surrounded by foaming waves of purple water.

Looking at the fountain closer, Lacey did a double take then said, “Is that you?”

“What?” her mom asked, then followed Lacey’s line of sight past all the exotic flowers and plants to the statue of the woman. “Oh yes. The local craftsman wanted to honor my taking over of the Territory.”

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