• 1-"Black Fire"
• 2-part two
• 3-part three
• 4-part four
• 5-part five
• 6-part six
• 7-part seven

Chapter Thirty-Seven

~*~

((…Two Months Later…))

“Renee, are you sure you’re comfortable with Ra-jel and I
leaving? Leaving you?”

Renee looked over at Liam and smiled. Hand resting
comfortably on her gently rounded stomach. She was a little more than four
months along, and finally starting to look it.

“Yes, Liam. I am. It is past time for you to leave and carry
on with your ‘destiny’. There is nothing left for you to do here.”

Liam and Ra-jel had been a huge part of the restoration of
the ancient palace, and the rehabilitation of the hundreds of Atavus
Guardians, that, up till then, had been
locked deep in stasis on board their Mothership.

But, more importantly, they had been a part ottintting Renee
settled. Which had been easier said than done.

Just as the Atavus had had difficulties on Earth, Renee would
have had difficulties on the Atavus homeworld… But a few special ‘treatments’
from Ra-jel – and Liam, oddly enough – over the course of the last eight weeks
had taken care of that. She would now be as comfortable on this planet as the
natives… but, just like them, she would never be able to survive for a long
period of time away from its surface.

She was still struggling to accept that. Strangely enough,
Howlyn was assisting her with that.

His attentiveness – and his erotic hungers – had only
strengthened with every passing week of her pregnancy. His protectiveness was
at an all time high ever since the release of his brethren, and Renee never
went anywhere without being armed to the teeth. But so far nothing had happened
that she hadn’t been able to deal with and still remain in one piece.

Most of the Atavus, having never even been exposed to 21^st
century humans, didn’t quite know what to make of her… but the remembered
knowledge of Nahima having been destroyed by an unknown female now finally
acknowledged as having been Renee, and the death of Juda and a few dozen other
Atavus during the war for dominance over Earth – also primarily at Renee’s hand
– had been more than enough to keep the majority of them away…

The minority who were far too foolish to leave well enough
alone had been met with Renee’s painful tolerance to their forced attempts to
unnecessarily feed, and swift death at Howlyn’s hands for their disloyalty to
their queen. Needless to say, they all learned very quickly after the first few
heads had rolled… Literally.

Yeah, life around here had become downright pleasant after
that.

Still, Liam had made sure to leave with Renee enough of that
new specially modified weaponry designed to destroy carbon-based life forms
(i.e. the Atavus) for an entire army.

Hey, Taelon core energy or no Taelon core energy, she wasn’t
complaining.

Liam paused in front of the ID Portal and turned to look at
heealleally look at her.

She smiled gently. Knowing that it was a look similar, if
not identical, to the one she was giving him. A look that was shared between
friends and allies who had been through hell and had made it back to the other
side. A look that was shared between two people that had become such an
integral part of the every-day existence of the other...

 “Gee, what clued you in on that little revelation?” Renee
all but hissed, shooting a glare in Kiyana’s direction, but the slightly older
female ignored it. Used to her unusual Queen’s temperamental mood-swings by
now.

Renee allowed Kiyana’s assistance in helping her up onto the
massive bed – just one of the many human touches that had been made to these
quarters for her personal comfort – and she leaned back into the pillows.
Trying to take in a few mildly relaxing breaths as she situated herself.

Kiyana immediately began to assist her mistress out of the
human earth garb that she insisted on wearing. Peeling off the soaked clothing
gently but quickly. Drying off the excess fluid that was still clinging to
Renee’s lower torso as the next contraction began to stir from within her
laboring body. Her water having broken just moments prior while she had still
been standing up.

Kiyana had been one of the very few that Howlyn had been
willing to allow to care for Renee as her pregnancy had progressed at such a
fast rate.

Kiyana was the Atavus’ version of a mid… sh… she had even
assisted in bringing Yulyn into the world. But she had also become a mentor –
and oddly enough, a friend – to Renee over the last couple of months when
Howlyn could not be with her.

And she was also Renee’s bodyguard while she was at this
most vulnerable state of her pregnancy.

“Your pains are close together.” Kiyana noted. Palm resting
clinically on the naked skin of Renee’s extended abdomen as another contraction
crawled through her lower body with agonizing intent.

Renee tossed her hair out of her eyes as she propped herself
up on her forearms. Sending another venomous look in her
mid-wife/friend/bodyguard’s direction.

“No! You think?” She all but spat.

“I admit to being surprised at how quickly your body is
changing in preparation for the delivery.” Kiyana continued almost
conversationally as she finished her examination. Ignoring Renee’s sarcastic
remark. “The birth of this one with be fast, but it will be hard.”

Okay, that was enough. Renee felt something inside her snap.
“Kiyana! That is NOT my idea of a helpful insight. So unless you’ve got
something that has not already revealed itself as being quite obvious, then I
suggest you shut the hell up!”

“My Queen, you must calm yourself – ”

Renee just about reared off the bed. Eyes flashing
momentarily with starry black obsidian like the hybrid’s had done back on Earth
– and now hers due to the part Atavan child inside her body now preparing to
come out – and cut the Atavus off in mid-sentence.

“Don’t you dare tell me to calm down! If you want me to be
calm, then I suggest you make a little trip back to Earth and pick up something
there called an epidural and get it back here ASAP… But seeing as how that
doesn’t look like a possibility, then I shall be as irrational as I wa– ” Renee’s torrent of
biting words was cut off as a harsh, cutting pain slammed into her. Making her
body arch off the mattress as she desperately tried to bite back the scream
clawing at her throat for escape. Giving
into it, she yelped at the unfamiliar and frightening agony rippling through
her torso. Her back slamming back into the mattress beneath her, as she writhed
against it. Praying for it to stop. Knowing that it was only just beginning.

But in that moment, she felt something she had been
completely unprepared for begin to feather across the edge of her
sub-consciousness, that frightened her even more with its subtle awareness than
her current predicament… Something intently feral. The most basic animal
instinct making itself so blatantly known.

She wanted to rend and tear at the bedclothes beneath her,
writhe and howl. Scream at the heavens. But more importantly, she had the
insane urge to lash out with everything she had in Kiyana’s direction. Wanted
to feel her prey’s blood pouring out beneath her fingers as they turned into
claws imbedded in flesh. Wanted the satisfaction of her dead body resting on
the floor, and the contentment of knowing that she destroyed any possible
threat to the baby she was giving birth to. A baby that was completely reliant
on her mother for such a brutal and simple, honest protectiveness.

Renee knew then, without a doubt, that there had never been
a time where she had been more dangerous than she was right now… Or a time
where Kiyana had never been in such danger…

When the worst of the contraction had lifted, she turned
shell-shocked eyes to Kiyana’s calmly appraising – if completely ignorant –
one.

“Get… Howlyn.” she finally managed to force out between her
lips. Voice cracking.

“Atavus males are usually not present when their mates give
birth. It is our way.”

Renee’s hand lashed out and wrapped hard around Kiyana’s
forearm. Constricting purposely. Using her recently gained strength to her
advantage as she stared the Atavus down. Allowing the female to see the crouching
darkness within Renee’s eyes that whispered insidiously of death to anyone that
it even remotely considered a possible enemy.

“I don’t care. I don’t care what you people will think of
it. I want him here, and I am giving you a direct order to go and find him NOW,
or I swear on the head of this baby that I will get up and find him myself! And
I will not be held accountable for my actions towards anyone who
stands in my way!”

Renee’s hoarse tone had risen higher and higher with every
heated word till she was practically shouting, and Kiyana was smart enough to
finally realize that something wasn’t quite right, and that her strange Queen
was deadly serious. She also had a feeling that her King would not be pleased
if he found out that his mate had called out for him in distress and he had not
even been given the option to decide for himself which course of action he
would pursue.

Just the simple fact of their union spoke volumes of how
just uncharacteristic their unusual bond was.

But more than that, it was that glimmer of shadows that were
dwelling deep within Renee’s eyes that spoke volumes of who she really needed
at her side.

Nodding once in resignation, Kiyana got up to do as ordered,
but Renee stopped her again. Her body

already tightening up to fight off another wave of pain.

“Weapon. Before you leave, bring me one of my weapons.”

Kiyana held Renee’s gaze for a moment, unblinking, before
nodding again. Retrieving both the energy knife and one of the modified phase
pistols that lay nearby and placing them at Renee’s side, before finally
turning back towards the exit.

But she had no more made it back to the door, then to have
Howlyn’s formidable shadow casting over the threshold as he swept by her
swiftly. Air currents swirling and dancing around him. He ignored her entirely
as his black eyes immediately sought out his mate lying in the middle of their
shared bed.

Kiyana moved to the side and bowed her head. Smiling
discreetly to herself at the blatant sense of aggressive protectiveness emanating
from him as he paused for the briefest moment, taking in the scene before him.
Shadows dancing across the sensual but feral alien beauty of his serious
expression, as even darker shadows contoured to the length of his body.

She blinked, and that was all the time it took for those
shadows to cross the distance of the chamber, and for their master to come to
Renee’s side.

Renee relaxed visibly as Howlyn caressed the side of her
face. A rumbling echoing deep in his throat in what she interpreted accurately
as reassurance.

“I felt it when your labor began.” He murmured. “I sensed
your pain and your instinctual fears and came as quickly as I was able.”

Renee reached her hand up to cup his and pressed it more
firmly to the side of her cheek. She started to say something, but her voice
suddenly grew numb as another wave began to rise over her. She could only
tighten her grip on his hand, as she stared up at him helplessly and wide-eyed.
Nails digging sharply into his skin as she rode it out.

Howlyn’s other hand quickly removed the two weapons at her
side to keep her from accidentally hurting herself as her body contorted
slightly. Tossing the pistol aside, he thought twice about the energy knife,
and finally compromised to slide it deep under the pillows eneeenee’s back.
Knowing that its presence would be a comfort to her. Knowing that most human
women’s powerful instinct to protect their young, especially during delivery
when the mother was at her most vulnerable peak, was almost just as strong as
that of an Atavus female…

But with Renee, she was about to get that instinct twice
fold. She would be irrational and dangerous even while appearing to be this
weakened, for it was that exact weakness that would give her the strength to
rip someone apart if she thought they were a threat to her young.

No one would be safe around her with (hopefully) the
exception of himself.

Resting that hand gently on her stomach, he continued to
hold her hand with his other till she finally began to release her vise of a
grip on it.

“Leave us, Kiyana. I will tend to my mate and our daughter
on my own.”

Howlyn did not have to turn around to sense the absolute
shock radiating from the female at his firmly spoken words. But he was not
about to waste his time trying to explain his connection to Renee, and the
sudden knowledge that if Kiyana remained, that he could not guarantee her
safety from a certain soon-to-be – but already dangerously hormonal – mother of
an Atavus child.

And he knew it would kill a piece of Renee to have that
instinct finally ease off later on and realize that she had harmed someone she
had come to finally view tentatively as a friend.

“B-but, your Majesty...”

Howlyn hissed loudly through his teeth when he heard
Kiyana’s tentative protest, and he whipped his head around. Shrieking as he did
so. Words vibrating with tension and anger at her slightest hint of defiance.

Renee was not the only reason why he knew that Kiyana needed
to leave. She was not the only parent in this room who was fast becoming too
dangerous to be around. Not only would Renee be feeding off of his own
instincts to protect her and their child at all costs, but he would
accentuating hers as well. A dangerous mixture, given their well-matched but
highly passionate temperaments, for any other that may be present.

This was a monumental event that the two of them needed to
share together… in private.

Kiyana left without further hesitation.

“Thank you.” Renee whispered hoarsely. Knowing exactly why
he had done what he had done.

Any other time, and she knew she would have been frightened
by the overwhelming instincts rising up in her. Instincts she knew were being
heavily affected by the fact that she was carrying a part Atavus child, also
sired by her all-too-obviously Atavus mate. But now she no longer fought what
she knew to be an oddity, for there were far too many of them in this new life
that her path had taken.

Now… she refused to be afraid.

~*~*~*~

Chapter Thirty-Nine

~*~

She had always known that her labor was going to be difficult,
especially since she was going through it without any assistance from the wide
array of drugs that the women back on Earth now took far too much for granted,
but nothing could have prepared Renee for the sheer agony that she had
experienced over the last few hours. Howlyn’s presence had truly been the only
thing that had kept her sane throughout the entire situation, but even then,
her grip on reality was tenuous at best as her entire world became that of this
constant dark ocean of pain. Carrying her further and further into the depths
of a never-ending storm as each mind-numbing wave fell one after another over
her sweat soaked body in a constant assault. She hadn’t expected it to be like
this. Hadn’t expected it to be quite this intense. This mind-numbing. She was
lost to almost all reason, and her body felt like it was being devoured by
fever. Leaving her mind chaotic and confused.

She twisted and writhed. Screamed and pushed. Everything
else around her fell away till she was unaware of nothing but the pain, as her
muscles contracted and twisted on one another. Lungs constantly burning for air
as she drowned in it. Body convulsing as wave after wave hit her with such
unbelievable force. For her, there was no other existence.

Pressure continued to build. Intensifying her instinct to
bear down.

And at was only then that the pain finally began to morph
into something else.

Howlyn whispered constant words of encouragement. His entire
mood shifting as if, he too, sensed the

difference flowing over her. But Renee couldn’t focus on him
any longer. The only thing that she was capable of comprehending at that moment
was how much it felt as if she had been thrown through the very gates of Hell…
but now suddenly, there was an end in sight to strive for. An exit in which she
could escape through… if only she could reach it.

So she pushed. She pushed till she felt like she was being
torn apart. She pushed till the pressure peaked and an agonizing scream ripped
itself free from her throat. She pushed and pushed till she didn’t think she
could push any harder or any longer and her battered body began to weaken in
defeat, until a demanding tone rang in her ears as Howlyn gave her an
uncompromising order. His words uncomprehending, but the elemental fear that was
threaded deep throughout them was not. It triggered an answering instinctual
response in Renee of elemental proportions. She couldn’t relax. She couldn’t
give up. Sad nad no choice in the matter. Her baby had to be born.

Retreating deep down within herself, she managed to touch
upon a completely different level of stamina and strength that she wouldn’t
have thought her exhausted, trembling body capable of, as she bared down yet
again with renewed vigor. Her hands clenching into tight fists till her nails
broke the skin and blood pooled unnoticed within her palms. Another cry falling
from her lips as she flung her head back. Corded muscles standing out against
the flushed taut curve of her damp throat as she strained. Her entire body
shaking violently with the effort.

And then there was suddenly a hint of blessed release at
hand… She felt her daughter begin to slide from her contracting womb and rip
out of her body with burning intent, into her father’s awaiting arms. The
connection that had tethered them together as one for the last six months
severed in a brief flash of the unmistakable glowing silver shine from a single
cleave.

The relief was immediate. The sudden lack of pain enough to
nearly make Renee black out as her head fell back onto the mattress as if the
tendons and bones supporting her neck had snapped or a puppeteers’ strings cut.
Her blond hair darkened by the sweat it was soaked in, pooled underneath her
cheek and clung to her flushed forehead as her entire body went limp, and her
mind entered a light-headed euphoric state. The muscles of her abdomen
quivering and agonizingly sore… but it was nothing in comparison to that pain.

Nothing was without reason, she had learned over the course
of the last year and a half, when it came to the Atavus, and this proved it
beyond a reasonable doubt. She knew now why Howlyn had wanted to make sure she
was protected when she had given birth. She knew now why her instincts to have
no one else around her had been so strong. So dangerous…

For she had never been as helpless as she was in those few
moments. So completely vulnerable, open to any attack that might come her way.

p; 

A baby’s cries.

Feeling a sudden, surprising burst of energy, her breath
caught in her throat as she shifted her weight. Successfully managing to
maneuver herself up onto her forearms to look down the length of her naked body
to where Howlyn knelt triumphantly. His large hands cradling the screaming,
bloody, flailing bundle that was their daughter.

“Give her to me.” Renee demanded. Voice so hoarse and
cracked that she didn’t even recognize it as being her own. She tried to reach
for her daughter, but her other arm wouldn’t support all of her weight by
itself, and she fell back soundlessly. Frustration at herself evident.

She waited impatiently, eyes burning with emotion, as Howlyn
carefully repositioned the squalling infant in his arms, before transferring
her to rest on Renee’s stomach.

Renee’s heart swelled and her tears suddenly overflowed as
her daughter’s familiar weight settled back upon her mother’s abdomen… except
this time it was from the outside instead of the inside.

As her hands came to rest tenderly on her baby, still
covered in blood and birthing fluid and her skin turning a few rather
disconcerting shades as her circulation began to pump in earnest as she
continued to prove just how powerful her lungs were, she felt Howlyn tenderly
caress the side of her cheek. Fingers brushing away one of herrs. rs. Causing
her to lift her head up from gazing at her daughter in absolute complete
adoration and bring that same gaze to meet that of her mate.

“I used to mock this human trademark,” he murmured softly.
Brushing away yet more of her tears. “But now I feel almost envious of such an
ability to express one’s emotions so…movingly.”

Renee lips parted slightly as her gaze softened. She lifted
one hand off of her daughter and swept up one of the tears that still clung to her
lashes. Howlyn intercepted it when she would have allowed it to fall back to
her side just like she had known he would and brought those caught fingers up
to his lips. Capturing the tasf thf that tear on his tongue before gently
licking along the crease of her palm. Soothing the shallow wounds that she had
torn into her skin during her delivery. His black eyes staring unblinkingly
into her stormy blue ones. Night had already fallen on this planet, and flames
flickered from their torches against the wall. Casting shadows over the couple
and their baby.

“You have no idea how much having you at my side as my mate
has completed me, Renee.”

“Oh, I think I do.” Renee teased lightly. Heart aching
slightly at thw emw emotion she saw reflected in those eyes staring down at
her. Squeezing his hand gently before finally pulling away to cradle her
daughter once more. “Because being with you has completed me in the same way.”

The next few minutes consisted of getting mother and baby
situated, as Howlyn assisted Renee in bracing her exhausted body up on the
pillow behind her. He then helped Renee steady their daughter as phantom
versions of the contractions she had had earlier delivered the afterbirth.

Once Renee was comfortable again, he left her side briefly
for the first time in going on five hours to give a message to one of the
guards – who had stationed himself outside the Royal couple’s room as
additional protection as per a previous order given by Howlyn – to retrieve
Kiyana.

Renee took the time to study her daughter in the flickering
fire-light. Memorizing every little detail from the black fuzz on top of her
head to her silvery-blue eyes to her rather subtle brow ridges and the darkened
tint on the tips of her slightly sharper than usual finger-nails.

Her daughter looked back at her mother soly. Hy. Having
finally grown silent from the horrible indignation of being born against her
will, except for the occasional hiccup or whimper.

Simply put, she was the most beautiful creature that Renee
had ever seen in her life. She had no idea how it was that she was capable of
loving this child as much as she did, what with having only just met her. And
seeing her lying so trustingly there in her arms was all it took for Renee to
know that everything that she had been through since this little one’s
creation, and even before then… all the pain and confusion, struggles and
triumphs at such high costs… it had all been worth it.

And if given the chance to do so, she would change
absolutely nothing if it meant not having her here, now, in her arms. Nothing
at all.

Kiyana arrived shortly, and then proceeded to quickly
discard the afterbirth and the soiled bedclothes beneath Renee’s body as Howlyn
picked his weakened mate up effortlessly in his arms while she continued to
hang on to their daughter.

Once the fresh bedclothes were in place, Howlyn again
dismissed Kiyana. Taking upon himself the gentle task required to clean not
only their daughter’s body of the birthing fluid now beginning to dry on her
tender skin, but Renee as well.

Renee never would have expected Howlyn to have done
everything that he had done since her labor had begun. But she was glad that it
had been him with her rather than someone else. Just having Kiyana in the room
as briefly as she had been had been an unsettling discomfort. Thus the reason
why Renee had held onto her daughter as snugly as Howlyn had held onto her till
Kiyana had left.

She didn’t want anyone else around at the moment other than
Howlyn while she bonded with her new baby. Didn’t want anyone else interfering
until she grew comfortable with her new role as the one and only maternal
protector to this little bundle of life. Which definitely eliminated anyone
else from touching herself or her daughter… Even if it was only under the function
of cleaning them both up.

A few minutes later, Renee was propped back up on her
pillows, holding her now clean baby snugly to her naked breast with a sense of
awe as she latched on for the first time and began to suckle.

Howlyn sat beside her. Watching carefully as Renee nursed
their daughter. He reached out a single finger and ran it over the downy little
cheek. Smiling when the precocious little infant reached out and wrapped her
tiny little fist around it. Hanging on tightly as she continued to draw
nourishment from Renee’s body.

Renee leaned back and closed her eyes. Letting out a
contented sigh as the pleasant sounds of the baby’s feeding filled the muted
air around them. Wincing only occasionally from the raw tenderness to be
expected from a new mother breast-feeding for the first time.

Howlyn picked up Renee’s free hand once more and brought it
to his lips. Making Renee lift her head back up to look at him. Smiling at the
gesture.

But this time when his tongue touched her skin, she jumped sharply.
Eyes widening as she tried to yank away from the sudden searing pain that ran
across the length of her palm. Protest stirring when he wouldn’t let her go.

She looked up at him in confusion. Too uncertain to become
enraged at such treatment.

“Trust me, beloved.” He whispered. Holding her burning hand
captive. Meeting her slightly tormented gaze with that of his steady and
sensual one. Waiting patiently for her to relax.

At his request, that sudden tension melted slowly from her
body as she watched him carefully. Warily. Wondering what he was up to now.

Bringing that still aching palm to his chest, he releaseds cls cleaves and sliced away a part of his exo-suit. Exposing the flawless skin
beneath that stretched across the center of his alien life force.

He pressed her palm to that spot. Bringing them skin to
skin.

Renee watched in dawning wonder as the area began to glow
with a faint silver light… light that then began to trthrothrough her palm and
then down the veins of the back of her hand that was pressed so intimately to
his skin.

She felt it enter her then. That healing energy. Felt it
flow throughout her body at lightening speed. Running through her veins like
quicksilver. She gasped wordlessly. Back arching slightly as she felt it chase
through her abdomen and between her thighs. Its presence disturbing yet not.
Painful… yet not.

When it stopped, Howlyn reluctantly released her hand from
his overly warm skin. Sensing that his healing energy had done its job. Easing
away all of her aches and pains, and healing the minor damages caused to her
body by the rather intense delivery.

Realizing what he had done, and feeling the strength that
was now returning to her, she swallowed hard.

“Thank you.” she said simply. Staring up at him with absolute
trust… and love.

Howlyn replied by pressing his lips to hers. He knew all too
well how she despised feeling weak.

“I don’t recall our previous healing sessions being that…
intense.” She remarked. Brow arching wryly. Remembering that time back on the
Taelon Mothership when he had healed her for the first time with just the touch
of his cleaves. He had healed her again later after the completion of the
Ritual.

His lips curved gently, mysteriously, at her words. “You
have never been this… damaged before. Those two other times were when your
wounds were superficial. This went a little deeper however, and required a
more… extreme measure.”

Renee cocked her head slightly at him. Finding this nreverevelation interesting. “Could you have been capable of such an ability back
then?”

He hissed subtly. “Probably not. The effects of your planet
had weakened most of our gifts.”

“Hmm.” she turned back to look at her daughter, and
cautiously shifted her weight. Testing herself a little.

Other than feeling rather exceptionally tired, she felt
surprising good for a woman who had just endured the extreme rigors of an alien
delivery.

“So what do you wish to name her?” Howlyn asked gently as he
watched his daughter finally pull away. Sated on her mother’s milk.

Renee picked her up carefully. A little uncertain about
where to put what at first as she settled her against her shoulder and gently
rubbed her back.

“To be honest, I have no idea. I always thought you would
wish to name her some Atavus name.”

Howlyn shook his head. “It is tradition that the mother name
her firstborn.”

“You wouldn’t object to her having an Earth name?” Renee
resettled her baby back into her arms. Watching while a smile curving her lips
as the little one yawned and closed her eyes drowsily.

Howlyn was silent for a moment. “She is part
human. Perhaps it is fitting that she carry with her something of her heritage
there.” he paused briefly as he thought something over. “I would however
request that you think carefully before making your decision, and choose a name
for her as unique as she is. Nothing common like most of your Earth
names.”

Renee ignored the sarcastic twist to the end of his sentence
and ran through a mental list of possibilities. Gently rocking their daughter
to sleep.

“Desari.” she finally whispered. Looking down at her
daughter. “Her name shall be Desari.”

“It is… beautiful.” Howlyn commented. “What meaning does
this name have in your life?”

Renee smiled at him. “It was my grandmother’s name.”

Howlyn nodded slowly. Reaching out again to gently stroke
the infa arm arm. “Very well. Our daughter has her name.”

Howlyn met Renee’s gaze again, and something passed between
them. He transferred his hand from their daughter’s small form to cup the side
of Renee’s neck. Gently stroking the tender skin below her jaw with his thumb
in a familiar gesture as she closed her eyes.

Unable to resist the temptation, he brought his lips down to
hers. Savoring her unique flavor as he kissed her gently but thoroughly as she
continued to hold their sleeping daughter – Desari – securely in her arms.

Soon he would show his new born offspring to his subjects.
Soon he would hold her up for all of his Tribe to see, with Renee firmly at his
side. Soon he would announce their daughter as the royal heiress that she was…
Soon he would give her the rights to his world. His Kingdom.

But for now, he was perfectly content to allow things to
remain as they were as he held his mate and their daughter in his arms… wrapped
up in a pnal nal world of their own precious creation.

~*~

Chapter Forty

~*~

((18 Months Later))

Renee paced back and forth restlessly in the Atavus City’s
massive Docking Bay, now operating at full capacity after having been in the
process of restoration for almost a year. She was awaiting impatiently for the
arrival of a very important Taelon ID shuttle that should have already arrived
by now.

After almost two years with no word, Liam had finally
contacted her just hours prior via the Global she kept on permanent standby,
glued to her hip. Alerting her of his impending arrival. Which had been a very
smart thing on his part to do, considering that the planet’s rather impressive
weapon’s system was another aspect of the City that was now fully operational
as well. Howlyn had wasted no time in assuring the safety of his species by
that regard.

p;

“But what?” Liam prodded gently. Concern in his eyes as he
saw the uncertainty flickering deep in hers.

“She’s changing.” Renee admitted. “Her physical appearance
is changing. Although her Atavus genes are still very much dominate, her
features have altered. Are altering. When she was borne, she
looked just as I would have imagined. She had the brow ridges and talons just
as her father does, but now we’ve noticed those receding. Disappearing with
each passing months until she looks more and more human than Atavus. As I said,
this alterations are completely cosmetic. Her Atavus abilities, dormant though
they may be, are still very strong. It is just confusing to us why and how this
change seems to be happening with her.”

“Well… there really isn’t any guidelines to follow here, you
know that. No solid idea of what she should and should not look
like. She is the first Atavus child to be borne to a human mother… If you
recall, Ariel, Lily and Vorjak’s daughter, looked completely human at birth.
And from what I understand, has maintained that appearance. Look at me… I do
not exactly look part Kimera, now do I?”

Renee shook her head. Smiling a little, but it didn’t reach
her worried eyes.

“Renee, don’t worry about it.” Liam soothed. “Think about
it. In any case where a half alien child
has existed, whether is was Kimera, Jaridian, or even Taelon, it gas still
looked very much human. And as all of these species, including ours, are
intricately connected, I think it is only to be expected that Desari would be
the same.”

Renee nodded slowly. Lips curving again in gratitude.
“Thanks, Liam. I needed that. So what news do you bring from Earth?”

“Street and Augur were successful in locating all of the
Atavus hives, just as you always knew they would be. They are still in stasis,
awaiting transport up on the Mothership.”

Renee closed her eyes in relief. Pleased to know that Earth
was rid of any potential complications from the presence of those hives.

“How many Atavus are there?”

“Thousands. But they aren’t the only ones on board. The small
handful of Atavus that were loose on the surface were rounded up, and those
that weren’t killed, were kept locked up till we could return. We’ve brought
them back as well.”

“They give you any trouble?”

“Like I said, it was a very interesting flight.”

Renee chuckled at that. “I’ll bet.”

“The hybrid antidote has been working at full force, and
doing its job, but there was an unexpected complication.” Liam went on to
explain. “Apparently, a very small percentage of the hybrids were unable to be
treated and cured. Something to do with an oddity in the genetics. They were
completely immune to the attempts of the doctors.”

Renee frowned. “How many are we talking about?”

“Around fifty. They are secured up on the Mothership as
well.”

Rene looked at him in shock. “You brought them here?”

“I didn’t have a choice, Renee.” Liam defended himself. “It
was either bring them here, or sit back and watch thll bll be executed back on
Earth.”

Renee groaned. Rubbing her forehead. “We don’t even know if
they will be capable of adapting, or, whether or not Howlyn will
even allow them to stay.”

Lwas was silent for a few minutes. A tense and unreadable
expression present on his face as he watched her. And even though it didn’t
show in his eyes, Renee sensed his disapproval of her words.

“I couldn’t leave them there, Renee. I just couldn’t.”

Renee heard how torn his emotions were in the suddenly
hushed tone of his voice, and immediately relented. “I know, Liam. I know. It’s
okay. You did the right thing. If Earth could not deal with them, then this is
the last place in the universe that can. Whether they live or whether they die
is a question that will be answered within a short period of time. Either way,
you’ve done your best by them.” She smiled then. Reaching out to touch his
hand. “And you’ve done more than I ever could have hoped or asked for. I thank
you for that.”

Liam wrapped his fingers around hers and squeezed back with
that familiar sense of companionship that they had always shared.”

“I have missed you.” He admitted bluntly. Honestly. “So has
Street.”

Renee perked up. “How is Street?”

“She’s fine. She’s married. She was just about finished with
this project of tracking down the remaining Atavus when she discovered that she
was pregnant. She’s due in about six more months.”

Renee shook her head in surprised wonder and disbelief.
“Street, a mother. Somehow, I never thought I’d live to hear those words.”

Liam chuckled. “She will be a wonderful mother, even if she
is currently a basketcase. Especially considering how that child must carry
extraordinary gifts, considering its parents.”

“Yes,” Renee admitted warmly. “I have to say that I believe
you are right. She will make a wonderful mother. Any child, gifted or
otherwise, would be lucky to have her in their life.” She looked over at Liam.
A sly, knowing expression coming over her face, as she prodded him verbally.
“And what about you? Meet any new woman while you’ve been out gallivanting all
around the universe?”

Liam’s neck turned a little red. “Err… no. Nothing like
that.”

Renee sensed a ‘but’ in there somewhere, and looked at him
expectantly. Liam sighed in exasperated surrender to save himself the time of
trying to keep his personal life private, and explained himself grudgingly.

“I received a transmission from Lilli. Once I’ve transported
all of the… live cargo onboard the Mothership to your City, and have had enough
time to become acquainted with my ‘niece’, I’ll be meeting up with her.”

Renee grew serious. “How is she doing?”

“She’s… well. So is Ariel. But apparently there is only one
or two Jaridians left with her. They had been pressing her to make contact with
me for a period of time before she finally relented. Wanting to make sure that
her and the last remnant of their species was safe and sound, before they could
allow themselves to finally die in peace. I’ve agreed to have them remain with
us on the Mothership so they can still be close to Lilli and Ariel for the
remainder of their lives.”

“I can’t believe that’s it.” Renee murmured, almost reflectively.
“I can’t believe that this is truly the end of their entire race.”

“All Kingdoms must live their time, and then die.” Liam
quoted the famous phrase. “The entire knowledge of that civilization and
culture now lies with Ariel. It is a heavy burden to carry… As I am well
acquainted with that particular knowledge.” He added. Lips curving ironically
at the understatement.

“You know,” Renee pointed out. “Not many people can say that
they saw the extinction of not one, but three alien species in their lifetime.
A lifetime not even half spent, I might add.”

“And the renewal of a fourth.” Liam reminded her. “And yes…
Not many can claim to have seen what we have seen, endured what we have
endured, and lived as we have lived.”

“No.” Renee agreed. Staring off into the distance for a
moment. A slightly wistful tilt to her lips. “And you know,” she remarked,
looking back to him. An odd light glittering in her now rather expressive
blue-grey eyes. “I wouldn’t have had it any other way. To me, it was worth it. It
was all worth it.s ams amazing that I can now say that without
feeling the slightest twinge of regret.”

Liam tilted his head to side curiously. “Why would you
regret?”

Renee sighed as she began to lead Liam away from the Docking
Bay and into the Palace. Heading for her and Howlyn’s personal Chambers were
Desari was being kept. Undoubtedly awaiting her mother’s return impatiently.

“Because there were so many of us that didn’t make
it, Liam.” She replied sadly as she led the way through the oddly structured
yet familiar passageways with the ease of someone who had traveled their
lengths many a time. “So many valuable, courageous people who lost their lives
along the way. It seems unfair for me to honestly acknowledge that those so
incredibly deadly last few years… are what taught me what being
genuinely alive was all about.”

~*~

Chapter Forty-One

~*~

Her heartbeat pulsed under her heated skin in rhythm with
the pounding of her feet, as her strong legs ate up the ground beneath her.
Arms pumping and blond hair flying free as her breath came in hard but
controlled pants.

o:p> 

She ducked and weaved as she followed a near non-existent
trail through the heart of the alien jungle. Heart in her throat. Leaping over
natural obstacles, both large and small, that she came across with a fluid
grace. Uncaring of their attempts to slow her down. Restrain her. Nothing could
keep her from her escape. Her run. Her need for freedom. Her desire to reach
the very heavens.

She could feel him, out there in the depths of the
impenetrable darkness that surrounded her. He hunted her, stalked her.
Shadowing her every move, her every twist, her every jump. Even in that
absolute darkness, their shadows merged in a macabre dance that hinted of
unbelievable life and unforgivable death. Even from those shadows, he touched
the most intimate places of her sweat-dampened body with his scent. His
presence. His power. His call.

But if she halted now, the hunt would come to its
conclusion, and she would once again fall to becoming his prey.

She grasped a branch hanging over an oddly formed ditch and
swung herself over and through the air till her feet smacked soundly on the
other side. Never once losing momentum, and actually welcoming the stinging
sensation that raced across her palms where the skin had rasped painfully
against the bark. Reminding her of the life that was still hers. Nothing could
steal it from her so long ae kee kept moving.

She reached a small clearing and knew she had to cross to
the other side before her hunter did. She could see his out-line out of the
corner of her eye. Slinking with incredible speed through the trees off to her
left as he continued to remain within the jungle. Flanking her. Shunning the
small clearing and the intense moonlight that beat down upon her tangled mane
of hair that glinted like black gold under the unusual silver spill above.

She tossed her head up to look at the star filled sky racing
above her even as the muscles in her legs dug in even further than before.
Putting on a burst of speed brought on by the knowledge of that darkness
waiting to take her within its embrace, take her out of the simple feral joy of
her uninhibited run.

A passionate cry resonated from the back of her throat with
incredible force in defiance at the twin moons above her head as she finally
made it back into the relative safety of the jungle. It wrapped itself around
her like a humid, fragrant shroud. Caressing her very soul rather than
smothering her body with oppressiveness. Wrapping her up and into its heart like
a long-lost child to its mother’s breast. Welcoming her home. Whispering of a
false sense of security so long as she never left this place. This night… So
long as she never stopped running within its playground.

And she didn’t intend to. Hunter or not, her heart was in it
now, and she would never quit willingly. He would have to catch her first, and
she intended to make him work for it.

Her pursuer knew that. Knew that, and altered his course.
Preparing for the sweet and inevitable conclusion about to come at hand.

Sensing the urgency in the air, knowing that the attack
would come at any time, her body flew through the jungle with an incredible
speed. Her unseen footfalls unerringly finding solid purchase on the uneven
path of her choosing. Blood sped through her frame. Running through her veins.
Pooling with arousal low in her body from the excitement . Reminding her of how
alive she truly was.

It was a hunt like no other. A chase of a lifetime… And for
the Renee Palmer of old, it would have been a capture straight out of a
nightmare… But for the renewed and reborn woman that now wore her skin, it was
from the sweetest of dreams.

When he caught her, it was with enough force to slam the
breath out of her body. He appeared out of nowhere. Dropping literally down
from the branches and vines above her head and swinging into her right before
she ran hard into his solid frame.

He hissed in triumph as his arms wrapped around her waist
and shoulders like two hard bands of unbreakable steel. Pulling her with him as
he took the momentum of her run in a spin, down to the musky moss-covered earth
beneath them. Landing hard on his back initially to shield her from his weight,
and then he swiftly, almost violently, rolled them both till she was the on the
ground and he was leaning over her. Strong thighs sliding between hers and
pressing her lower body down forcefully as he efficiently pinned her wrists on
either side of her face. Leaving her open and vulnerable beneath his aggressive
presence.

His Atavan cry echoed again in the depths of the jungle
surrounding them, shielding them, again at the pleasure of having finally
caught his stubborn prey… And the sounds of her care-free laughter rose to meet
it in a personal symphony of intimate sounds rolling against another in a
tantalizing crescendo.

Howlyn’s lips came crashing down hungrily as he shamelessly
claimed those of his lover. His mate. The mother to the heirs of his Kingdom.
She kissed him back just as passionately. Teeth nipping impatiently at his
bottom lip before she plunged deep. Tongue embracing his heatedly as she
pressed the length of her body against his. Wrapping her arms tightly around
his neck when he finally let go of her wrists in order to stroke the lines of
her trembling body. Deftly peeling off the sweat soaked scraps of clothing
clinging to her flesh. Her skin like satin over the hardness of her own
personal strength.

His mouth broke away from hers to finally trail down her
throat. Licking away the salt of her skin in drugging strokes.

Suddenly deciding to shift position, he hauled her up with
him till he was in a kneeling position but still upright, and she obligingly
wrapped her legs snugly around his waist. Her derriere resting high up in his
lap as she sat there. Slender fingers sinking deep into his black hair, she
held him close, as he burningly laved the curve of her throat and the valley
between her breasts. His subtle – and sometimes not so subtle – vocalizations
vibrating erotically against her skin.

Tossing her head back to look at the sky of the Atavus
homeworld above her, she was once again reminded of the extreme similarities of
what shs exs experiencing now, and the dream she had experienced so long ago
back on the Taelon Mothership, in what had finally been the last in a long line
of them.

Apparently they were no longer necessary now that she had
the real thing in her bed every night.

She never would have believed it, but everything had finally
come full circle. Everything had worked out. It had been months since Liam’s
last visit and the successful drop off of the rest of the Atavus Guardians.
Most of the human hybrids had adapted well to their new home planet, and at
Renee’s prompting, and been accepted into the Atavus culture… And they all
seemed to have finally accepted her as their queen. Probably because the death
count had started to get a little ridiculously high, and every able-bodied
female realized that it was more important to procreate for their dwindling
species, rather than chasing after a King that would never accept another to
his bed.

And her daughter Desari, was becoming only more and more
beautiful with every passing day. And even though she now looked completely
human, Renee had already seen the presence of cleaves. She knew that,
regardless of what the skin of her child looked like, within that small frame
she very much indeed carried the genetic traits of her father… as well as the
unquestionable strength of her mother.

And tonight, Renee would conceive a little brother or sister
for her.

Having finally consented to allowing Howlyn and her to mate
while she was ovulating in the traditional ways of his kind when there was to
be the creation of a new life, is what had brought them here to this point, in
such a primal and erotic fashion. It was what Atavus couples did before
immediate conception to prove that they still wanted the other for a mate. The
run of the female challenged the male to come after her if he still wanted her
for the mother of his young. If he simply did not bother with pursuing her,
then she knew that she was no longer wanted, and she would leave. If he did
indeed pursue her, but was unable to catch her, then it was then her choice on
whether or not to keep him as a lover.

And sometimes, to add a rather more interesting flair, there
would be more than one male pursuing one female. If there was another who
desired her, or if she was torn between who she must take as a mate and who she
should turn away, then she would run and the two males would compete with each
other to reach her side before the other did. Those particular Hunts were rare,
but not unheard of. Sometimes they ended simply with one male capturing the
female before the other, and thus proving that he made a much more suitable
mate and father to her offspring… but then other times it went as far as a
death match if the lesser male refused to release his claim.

And even stranger still, were those instances where the
female joined forces with the one of her choosing, regardless of
the outcome of the Hunt, and they would then turn on an unrelenting potential
spouse.

There were no other males in the jungle tonight, though. No
other shadow had stalked after Renee in her run. None of the other males would
even dare to presume that their King’s claim had weakened. Howlyn had made sure
of that. As had she.

She had run as fast and as hard as she was able. She had run
as if she had really wanted to be free from Howlyn’s embrace. She had wanted, needed,
to know that he was still strong enough to keep her at his side as his mate,
for she would never agree to bring another child into the picture if there was
any weakness of doubt in their union.

Howlyn had proven to her that there wasn’t. Her body still
trembled gloriously from the feral intensity he had displayed throughout his
Hunt for her. He had allowed her the pleasure of her run. But never at any time
had he allowed her to believe that he was not there at her side, shadowing her
every move.

And when he had caught her, proving once and for all that he
would never let her escape him as long as she drew breath, it had symbolized
Howlyn’s unwavering hunger for his queen… And with her complete surrender here
and now, she would symbolize her unending desire for him, with the acceptance
of his body into the depths of her own as she gave him the ultimate gift.
Another child from her womb.

Nuzzling her face lovingly into the curve of his shoulder as
a purr of arousal thrummed in his chest, she pressed her palms against his
biceps as his hands encircled her slender hips. Lifting her up ever so slowly
so that her naked body rasped over the front of his in sweet friction. Black
eyes full of desire meeting her slightly glazed one as he then began to bring
her back down. Sliding deep into her burning core until their bodies were once
again flush up against one another. Caught up so deep within one another that
she didn’t think that they would ever be able to come apart again.

Closing her eyes helplessly as his hips slowly began to roll
forward, pushing his heated length further into her body and stroking against
areas that only he could touch, she allowed him to set the initial pace, before
beginning to tentatively meet him thrust for thrust as they began to steadily
strengthen in force.

Body tightening in unbelievable intensity, she urged him on.
Nails clenching in his nape as his cleaves slid out and glittered against her
waist. Holding her tight to him as pushed farther up into her damp channel. The
muscles in his back straining and releasing reflexively. Rippling under his
skin.

His teeth scrapped over his brand of possession upon the
curve of the side of neck, and Renee instinctively mirrored the movement as she
did likewise. Trembling mouth pressing to the faint mark still present on the
otherwise flawless skin of his throat… And she waited. Breath catching in her
tt. Wt. Waited for him to make the first connection as his body pushed harder
and harder into hers until he was lifting them both up off the ground a little
ways with each one. Driving himself deeper.

Tantalized by the feel of her small teeth feathering against
his skin, he gave into the age-old experience of claiming what was his, and bit
down. Hearing her cry out at the sensation right before she did the same thing
with her mark on him. A loud, primal growl reverberated in his throat and all
pretense of intended gentleness slid away as he felt her body begin to tighten
reflexively around his and his own impending release as he joined her in the
explosive climax of their erotic hunt.

Renee cried out again, this time from the incredible silver-edged
pleasure beginning to dance along her body like the finest touch of heated
embers. They caught fire, and she clung even tighter to him as she felt herself
begin to come undone. Flung out over that darkened edge and into what felt like
the vetarstars above. Crying out his
name in willing ecstasy as her release found her. Feeling his own body as deep
as possible inside of her as he did likewise. She knew in her heart as the
pleasure began to wash over her in an unending wave that would trigger one
orgasm after another as he continued to strive further and further into the
secrets depths of her body, that there would be indeed a child nestled so
secretively within her womb before the night was over.

She was swallowed up by and lost to the incredible pulsing
dance of the erotic heat and passion that had become the complete embodiment of
her entire world since momemoment she had first met an alien gaze the color of
black obsidian with her own, back on that Submarine in what seemed like a
lifetime agod had had seen reflected there a hunger that had only just begun to
burn darker than any other… A hunger that only she could awaken. A fire that
only she could fuel. And a desire that only she could quench…

She shattered, knowing that it was finally safe to fall. Knowing
that he would always catch her. That he would always be there…

…to bring her back to him.

~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~

“I cannot let you burn me up… Nor can I resist you. No
mere human can stand in a fire, and not be consumed.”

Excerpt from the movie “Possession”

~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~%~