A Grim Baby Read online

  “Porca nut?”

  “Yes, it’s in the salad that Wynne, I mean, Lady Wynne, likes to request for mid-day meal.”

  Tagma’s cheeks began to darken. Lisa couldn’t imagine what had brought that about. Then the answer came to her. Oh, it seemed Tagma and Wynne had become close. How had she missed that?

  “I actually have had that salad,” Lisa told him. “It reminded me of a strawberry walnut salad from Earth. Was that the porca nut?”

  He nodded eagerly. “Yes.”

  It could be a viable option. “While not the same as a macadamia nut, it can be used in its place. Make the cookie recipe you normally do, then add porca nuts and the same amount of white chocolate as you do with the milk chocolate. They’ll be delicious.”

  “I’ll make sure they are done by last meal,” he told her.

  “I can’t wait to try them. Is there anything else here you need help with?” Lisa’s gaze traveled over the items on the shelves but saw nothing they hadn’t already discussed.

  “No, my Queen.”

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  “How many?” Grim demanded as soon as Alger entered his Command Room.

  “One in four of the highest quality crystals. Two in six for the lesser ones.”

  Grim cursed under his breath. “Those for the blasters?”

  “All within acceptable ranges. Whoever switched out the crystals knew that warriors regularly checked their strength.”

  “But where is the switch happening? All crystals pass through Vesta, where they are verified before being disbursed. I need to inform Wray.” Grim gave Alger a sharp look. “Do we have enough crystals to defend House Luanda and Luda?”

  “Yes, although our reserves have been decreased by more than a third.”

  “I’ll contact Lord Callen to have another supply sent after I contact Wray.”

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  “What?!” Lord Callen was as outraged as Grim expected.

  “A large number of the crystals you verified and disbursed throughout the empire are inferior for their power ratings.”

  “That’s impossible!”

  “It is truth. One in four of the highest quality crystals and two in six of the lesser ones are deficient. Only those for our blasters haven’t been compromised.”

  Grim knew Callen. He’d trained him, and he’d been Grim’s choice to represent House Luanda in the Joining Ceremony that had changed their empire forever. So when Callen’s face turned nearly purple with rage, Grim knew it was truth.

  “I will begin investigating immediately.”

  “I expected nothing else. You will send me another shipment of high-grade crystals to replace the inferior ones we’ve discovered. We lost over a third of our reserves.”

  “I will send them as soon as I’ve personally verified them.”

  “Thank you, Lord Callen.”

  “Why hasn’t the emperor contacted me?” Callen asked.

  “Because he hasn’t returned my comm yet. I’m sure he will once he has. I didn’t want you to be caught unaware.”

  “I’ll wait to hear from him.”

  “And Callen,” Callen paused in disconnecting the comm. “Double-check your own stores. We found several planetary defense crystals compromised.”

  Callen released a string of curses as he ended the comm.

  ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

  Lisa moved through their home, ensuring everything was as it should be. House Luanda was no longer the dark, scary place it was been when she and the girls had first arrived. It was now full of light and laughter, especially as Carly and Miki came running toward her, Ion and Nairn following close behind.

  Their squeals of joy got louder as they slid across the highly polished floors, leaving streaks of garden dirt on the once pristine surface in their wake.

  “Girls,” Lisa said in the sternest voice she could manage, which was challenging to do when faced with the absolute joy on her daughters’ faces. “What have I told you about doing that?”

  The girls’ laughter immediately stopped, and they looked behind them, then at their mother with big sad eyes. “We’re sorry, Mommy.”

  “It is not a problem, my Queen.” Cherny, the warrior in charge of keeping this room clean, told her as he hurried into the sunroom. “I’ll clean it up right away.”

  “It is a problem, Cherny,” Lisa corrected him. “You work very hard to make sure this room is spotless so everyone can enjoy Dagan’s beautiful suncatchers. Then the girls come in and ruin it.”

  “We ruined Dagan’s suncatchers?” Miki’s little voice trembled as she looked to the suncatchers hanging in the large windows that filled the room. Lisa knew her daughter loved Dagan and his suncatchers.

  “Not the suncatchers themselves, Miki,” Lisa soothed, “but the room where people come to enjoy them.”

  “Oh.”

  “Which is why you and Carly will help Warrior Cherny clean up the mess you’ve made.”

  “But, my Queen…” Cherny trailed off when Lisa held up a hand, silencing him as her focus remained on her girls.

  “Maybe then you’ll think twice before surfing in the sunroom again.”

  “Yes, Mommy,” they said quietly.

  Lisa turned her attention to Cherny. “Make sure they actually work, Cherny. They need to remember that although they are princesses, they are no better or different than anyone else.”

  “Yes, Majesty.” Cherny bowed his head to her.

  Looking back at the girls, she smiled at them. “Now, I’m on my way to see Grim. If you two do as Cherny says and finish quickly, maybe we can all have mid-day meal together.”

  “Really?” The girls clasped their hands together and danced in place at the treat. Then hurried over to Cherny. “Where are the buckets and mops? We need to hurry so we can see Manno.”

  Lisa chuckled as she left the room. She could tell Cherny had never had such enthusiastic helpers before.

  Chapter Five

  Lisa was still smiling as she approached the guards at Grim’s Command Room doors. “Is he available?”

  “He is currently alone, Majesty,” one of them informed her.

  “Wonderful, the princesses will be along shortly if you could watch for them.”

  “Of course, Majesty.” They pulled open the doors, for her and she entered Grim’s Command Room.

  The sound of the doors opening and closing had Grim looking up from what he was reading. Seeing Lisa, he rose and quickly moved toward her, a worried expression on his face. “Lisa, what are you doing here? What’s wrong? Are you all right? Is it the baby?”

  Lisa couldn’t help but smile at how flustered the empire’s most feared-warrior was and all because of a baby.

  “I’m fine, Grim. So is your daughter,” she told him, gently rubbing her belly. “I wanted to stop by and see you. The girls will be along shortly, and I was hoping we could have mid-day meal together. If you have the time.”

  “I’ll make the time.” He pulled her as close as her stomach would allow and placed a gentle kiss on her lips. Before Lisa could deepen it, there was a knock on the doors.

  With a frustrated growl, Grim lifted his head to command, “Enter!”

  As the doors opened, Lisa turned. Prince Tora moved toward them with brisk steps. She’d assumed he’d already left for Tornian. Stepping out of Grim’s arms, she bowed her head slightly to the future emperor. “Prince Tora, it’s wonderful to meet you in person finally.”

  “You as well, Majesty.” Stopping directly in front of her, Tora gave her a stiff bow.

  “Tora.” Grim stepped forward and embraced his brother’s first male. “It’s been too long.”

  “It has, my King.” Tora returned his uncle’s embrace, losing some of the formality he’d greeted Lisa with.

  Lisa smiled at the warmth displayed between the two. It was in their tone and the way Grim clasped Tora’s forearms. Grim rarely revealed this much emotion to anyone other than her and the girls. It was good to know there had been
others who cared for him as much as she did before they’d come into his life.

  They separated after a few more hearty slaps on the other’s back. “I was concerned you would leave before speaking to me.”

  The corner of Tora’s mouth inched up. “I would never disrespect the King of Luda in such a way. Especially since I have something I need to discuss with you.”

  Grim’s demeanor completely changed, going from loving uncle to king. “I see.”

  Some of Tora’s pleasure dimmed. “It concerns the treaty with Earth.”

  Shaking his head, Grim told him, “You need to discuss that with the emperor.”

  “It concerns the females,” Tora continued.

  Rubbing the small of her back, she moved to one of the chairs in front of Grim’s desk. If they were going to discuss the women coming from Earth, she would be involved, but not on her feet. Before she could maneuver onto a chair, Grim was there to assist her.

  Once seated, she released a deep breath of relief. “Thank you, my love.”

  “Are you sure you shouldn’t be resting?” he murmured in her ear.

  “I’m fine,” she reassured him. “And if it involves the women coming from Earth, then it involves me. Your daughter isn’t ready to make her appearance just yet. I’ll let you know when she is.” Lisa looked to Tora. “So, what are your concerns about the Earth women, Prince Tora?”

  He hadn’t given her permission to drop his title, so she wouldn’t.

  Tora glanced from Grim to her, then back again. “I’m not sure you should…”

  “Stop right there. If you’re going to say I shouldn’t be involved in this discussion, you’re wrong. I’m the one who had the connection on Earth that put you in contact with the president of the United States.”

  “The Queen of Luda will be involved in this, Prince Tora,” Grim told him as he took the seat behind his desk and gestured to the chair across from Lisa. Once Tora was seated, Grim continued. “Now, what are your concerns?”

  “That the transition facility is on Luda.”

  “Luda is the nearest Tornian planet to Earth,” Grim reminded him.

  “It is, but it gives the appearance that Luda’s warriors are receiving an advantage with the Earth females.”

  “That’s ridiculous. The women will be matched before they even arrive,” Lisa told him.

  “That may be, but there is always a chance they could meet another before their intended arrives.”

  “This is a concern of the warriors?” Grim asked, frowning.

  “Yes. Especially those who must travel from the outer planets like Vesta to collect their female.”

  “Collect,” Lisa growled, ignoring the female comment for now. “They aren’t a piece of merchandise, Prince Tora. They are living, breathing, feeling women.”

  “Who are allowed, because of the contract you created, to change their mind at any time, for any reason. Just as a Tornian female can,” he calmly stated.

  Lisa couldn’t argue with that because it was true. She and Trisha refused to force the women to be locked into a contract before actually meeting the warrior they’d chosen. Just because someone sounded good on paper didn’t mean it would carry over in person.

  It was something she and Trisha had struggled with. They finally decided that both parties should be allowed to post their backgrounds, what they were looking for in a mate and the skills they had to provide for or care for the other party. In addition, a standard questionnaire would be completed.

  Trisha had been able to work out the algorithm that would match those who were most compatible. Provided everyone was honest with their answers.

  Once matched, both parties could read what the other had written to see if they wanted to proceed. A non-binding contract was signed if both did, and the woman prepared to leave Earth.

  Now, they just had to see if it worked.

  “Would you prefer them to remain in a loveless Joining where both parties are miserable? Like most Tornian ones are?” Lisa asked. “This gives both the warrior and the woman the option to back out before Joining.”

  Tora’s lips pressed tight. “A warrior would never back out.”

  “Even if after meeting the woman, he discovers he can’t stand her?” Lisa questioned.

  “Never,” Tora reaffirmed in a firm voice.

  Lisa knew Tora was right, and that saddened her. Still, she had to try. “As I’ve told Grim, and I know Kim has told Wray, there are women on Earth who are just like your Tornian females. They care more about status and what a warrior can give them than the warrior himself. I don’t want that for your warriors, Prince Tora. I don’t want them hurt.”

  “Females hurt males all the time,” Tora told her bluntly.

  And therein was the problem. Tornian males were conditioned to accept poor behavior from a female, but Lisa wasn’t budging on this. They deserved more than that, and if it was within her power to give it to them, they would get it. “Well, they shouldn’t. I want this to work for everyone, Prince Tora, and not just the Earth women. Your warriors deserve to be loved.”

  Tora blew out a breath and leaned back in his chair. “Be that as it may, the center shouldn’t be on Luda.”

  Lisa could tell Tora wasn’t being stubborn. He didn’t understand her role, so she attempted to explain further. “It allows me to speak with each woman. To ease them into Tornian society and make sure they are here for the right reasons.”

  A muscle in his jaw ticked. “With all due respect, Majesty, that is not your decision to make. It is the male’s, who she’s agreed to Join with.”

  “Tora is right, my Lisa,” Grim said, quietly. “I know it’s your wish for every Tornian warrior to find the same happiness we have, but you can’t. They must find their own way in this.”

  She knew Grim was right, but that didn’t mean she had to like it. “Fine. But they need to come to Luda first. Our warriors are accustomed to being around and protecting Earth women.”

  Tora threw his hands up in exasperation. “Which is the very advantage I’m referring to! It allows a warrior from House Luanda to persuade another’s mate to Join with him instead!”

  “Our warriors would never do that!” Lisa told him, so outraged at the suggestion that she pushed herself out of her chair. “They are fit and worthy males!”

  Tora was on his feet before she could rise and moved to assist her only to find himself under attack.

  “Don’t touch her!” The growling roar would have done any Tornian warrior proud, and Tora’s hand moved to the hilt of his sword ready to fend off an attack. He wasn’t prepared for it to come from below in the form of a vicious kick to his shin.

  “Carly!” Grim rounded his desk, pulling his daughter out of harm’s way. He trusted Tora but wouldn’t take any chances when it came to his family’s safety. “Where did you come from?”

  “The garden,” Carly told him, her gaze remaining fixed on the other warrior. “When I saw him attacking Mommy, I came to protect her.”

  Finally getting over the shock of her daughter’s unexpected attack, Lisa managed to rise from her chair. She’d told Grim how protective Carly had always been. She called Carly her little warrior. Was this what the Raptor had seen and why he’d given her daughter one of his feathers?

  “No, Carly, he wasn’t,” Grim corrected gently. “He was trying to help Mommy.”

  “But she was yelling.” Carly’s confused gaze went from her manno to her mother.

  “I was, baby, but it was because I was upset about something Prince Tora said. Not because he was attacking me.” She looked around the room. “Where’s Miki?”

  “Here, Mommy.” Miki’s quiet little voice came from the open garden doors, Ion and Nairn close behind her, each gripping the hilts of their swords. “Carly said I had to stay here.”

  Lisa could hear the fear in her youngest daughter’s voice and opened her arms. “Come here, baby.”

  Miki rushed to her mother, and while Lisa could no longer lift her, she did p
ull her in as close as she could. “It’s okay, baby. Everything is fine. Carly just over-reacted.”

  Lisa’s gaze went to Carly, who was still next to Grim. “You will apologize to Prince Tora, young lady.”

  “But…”

  “We don’t attack people, Carly Marie, especially not family. Now apologize.”

  “Family?” Carly gave her a confused look.

  “Yes, Prince Tora is Wray’s first male. Your manno is his uncle.”

  “So we’re related?” Miki asked, her expression as confused as her sister’s.

  “Yes,” Lisa told her.

  “Then why haven’t we met him before now?” Carly demanded, apparently not ready to accept what her mother had told her yet. “We’ve met everyone else in Manno’s family. Uncle Wray, Aunt Kim, Destiny, and even Uncle Treyvon and Aunt Jen, who live way far away. Why not him?” She jutted her thumb back toward Tora who was rubbing his shin.

  “That’s because Tora has been on Vesta helping Lord Callen establish his House,” Grim told her.

  “You mean Rebecca’s Callen?” Miki asked, shocking Lisa, and Grim too, by the look on his face. When had Miki become aware of Rebecca’s feelings for the new lord?

  “Rebecca hasn’t chosen a warrior yet, Miki,” Lisa told her quietly, concerned Tora would think some back dealing was going on. “But, yes, that is who we’re talking about.”

  “Rebecca should choose him,” Miki continued. “Callen is sooo nice, and he’s blue.”

  Lisa and Grim exchanged a look, now understanding Miki’s interest. She still hadn’t gotten over her fascination with everything blue.

  “Lord Callen is a fit and worthy warrior, Miki,” Grim told her, “but we’re discussing Tora.” His gaze returned to Carly. “And waiting for your sister to apologize.”

  Carly’s little shoulders drooped, and she lost her defiance at her manno’s stern expression. “I… I’m sorry, Prince Tora,” she murmured, looking at the floor before lifting her chin to look at him. “I shouldn’t have kicked you.”

  Lisa’s gaze went from Tora to her oldest as they continued to stare at one another. She wasn’t sure what silent communication passed between them, but it made her study them a moment longer.