Ovation (Galaxy Circus #9)

Chapter 8

CHAPTER EIGHT

Lila

T hat afternoon, Xavier, Zeydan, and I teleport to the ship. On arrival, we make our way to the main dining room. It’s a fancier version of the one on the circus pod and more like a five-star restaurant than a cafeteria. The crew and performers were ordered to gather there for a meeting with the grandpas.

I find Maxsim and Echo talking to their former streak with Minx, Natalia’s sister, firmly ensconced in the middle of them. The three male cats look at her with adoring eyes. There is also a much smaller juvenile female whom I recognize from when we were on Iceen. This is the even younger sister, but I can’t remember her name. I brace myself for a little aggression from the two new female cats—after all, it’s kind of my fault their mother is dead and her sister is imprisoned and awaiting trial—but she just lets out a little yowl and throws her arms around me, giving me a hug.

“Lila, thank you so much. I can’t tell you how much it means to me that you stopped my mother and sister. They were horrible, horrible people. All those omega males, and I couldn’t help them.”

I pat her awkwardly on the back but quickly step away. There’s an unhappy rumble coming from Echo’s chest because we’re touching. I feel him shuffle closer and press his front to my back. Minx also puts a little more space between us, gesturing to her younger sister. “Thank you for allowing Soshi to come with us. I didn’t want to leave her behind now that mother is gone.”

I frown at the streak. “It’s no problem, but is it really appropriate for a child so young to be living with you? I can’t imagine the environment of a new streak is really the place for a child, especially when an omega goes into heat.” All that fucking is most definitely not appropriate for a child of ten, but I’m being careful how I speak around her young ears.

“Soshi has a companion, and they both have their own den in our quarters. Maxsim was kind enough to ensure it was soundproofed when they made the adjustments.”

I turn to my mate with a raised eyebrow, because when we used those quarters for our own fun time just recently, it didn’t have two separate dens except for the cave we used. They better not have taken our quiet place.

“When Trace informed me that they were bringing Soshi aboard with them now that the ship has been deemed family friendly, I made arrangements for their quarters to be renovated again after they finished ours,” he explains. “She will also attend school aboard. Mazlan was rather neglective of her learnings, saying she was only good for breeding, so there was no point in her having any. I’m almost certain she and Brannock’s daughter, Chloe, will be on the same level, even though Chloe is slightly younger. While shopping for supplies, we included things for their age group as well as the younger children.”

“And where is her companion?” I ask, looking around for another lightning cat. Minx wrinkles up her nose.

“Olga stayed in the den. She wasn’t interested in socializing with other species.”

A growl rumbles out of my chest. “Well, that kind of attitude won’t be tolerated anymore. It doesn’t set a good example for her charge.” I wave at the small girl who is glaring at me. “If both of them are going to be here, then they have to be tolerant and accepting.”

“Please, Lila, forgive Soshi. She has years of my mother’s programming to overcome,” Minx implores, and I sigh.

“Why are you so kind? How did you manage to avoid becoming your mother’s pawn?”

She shrugs. “I am not sure, but I never liked how she spoke to or treated anyone. Natalia was a beast to me, so I guess I made a promise to myself to be better and never to do to others what was being done to me.”

“Well, that’s commendable,” I tell her as Echo’s arms wrap around my waist and he plasters his chest to my back. His little baby bump is becoming more pronounced, and I feel it now. It makes me all warm and tingly inside. “Send her companion home. Find a lightning cat who is more tolerant, or maybe you should be looking to another species for her companion.”

Soshi gasps and shakes her head, stepping up to Minx. “I want to go home too.” She crosses her arms stubbornly, and Minx shakes her head.

“You can’t. Nobody was willing to look after you because you’re a beast. I had to promise Olga way more money than is normal to get her to agree to come. Your reputation for being Mom’s little terror precedes you.”

I’m getting impatient now. I don’t have time for this shit. “You four will have to look after her for now and keep your carnal activities to a minimum until we can find her a replacement companion. If you go into heat before we can, bring her to our quarters, and she can stay with us.” I turn my attention to the small cat. “You better have an attitude adjustment, otherwise life will become very unpleasant for you.”

The girl is still glaring at me, but I see tears well in her eyes, and I feel a little guilty.

“Look, I know life probably hasn’t been all roses for you, but if you give the circus a chance, you might enjoy being a part of it. Heck, you can even join the act if you want. We would pay you a wage, and that means you would have some money to spend when we stop on planets, or you could save it for your future. Think about it.”

Her tears don’t fall, and I think I pique her interest with the job offer. I mean, she’s still a kid, so it won’t be a big part, but making her feel important and special might go a long way in making her feel wanted.

“Maxsim, do you think your mother could suggest a suitable companion?” I ask him, and he nods.

“I’m sure one of my or Echo’s siblings would enjoy a change of scenery. We will contact them this evening and have them meet us on Vilax. If none of them want to join us, then maybe a Vilaxian companion would be appropriate too. They can withstand the temperatures of Iceen and would enjoy living in a den.”

“I thought they all sort of existed as clans for feeding purposes. Would we even be able to find an individual?”

Fuse nods. “That’s a good idea. Some Vilaxians don’t join clans and use feeding dens instead, and there are always clan dissolutions and Vilaxians who haven’t joined a new one yet, but if you could ask the matriarch first, that might be best.”

“Very well. Please let us know if there are any issues. We will inform you when school starts for Soshi.”

“And we were just telling them about the children’s facilities that were installed before you arrived, so they know they can take her there too,” Echo whispers in my ear as he snuggles into my back.

“Great, so we will see you later?” The three of us leave them be and continue to the large, head table. I didn’t mention their act because they aren’t aware that the grandpas are retiring yet. I will set up a meeting with them later once they know I’m now the boss and their ringmaster.

I stop at a rowdy table of shifters and smile at Caspian’s brother, Malik, and two very familiar looking dragons. Both of Tirrian’s brothers, Titus and Thorn, are sitting at the table and seem to have made fast friends. Actually, who knows, maybe they knew each other prior to now. They certainly seem to be acquainted with one another.

“Well, hello, I didn’t know the two of you were joining us.” I look between them, and Thorn screws up his nose.

“We weren’t going to, but Tallon is being courted by two dragons, and my mother went into heat, and her and dad are not being particularly discreet about it.”

Titus shudders. “I can never not hear the noises coming from their rooms. I am scarred for life. Neither of us were waiting around for Tallon to start up too.”

I cough, hiding the burst of laughter that barreled out of my chest. I probably shouldn’t be too gleeful, since this could very well be me with my grandparents instead. “I completely understand, but you’re going to have to make yourselves useful, no free rides. Do either of you have any experience with children? I am looking for a second nanny.”

They both turn pale, and Malik chortles next to them. “Our nieces and nephews are certainly a handful.” Malik got to meet them when Caspian and Nikos took them swimming with their family on Fluxx.

“Actually, we were thinking maybe we could help out with the Vilaxian act. Both of us are acrobatic, and we heard that none of your Vilaxians have returned yet, and Saxon will be on his own. You’re also missing the Aquilians, which means you’ll be down two big acts.”

“Where did you hear that?” I demand, crossing my arms, feeling defensive.

“Look around. I overheard it being gossiped about half a dozen times from any number of crew members.” Titus waves his hand at the surrounding crew and performers. “Is it not true?”

“No, it’s true, but we don’t know for sure about the Vilaxians. The Aquilians definitely won’t be returning to the show, but I have hired three more acts, and I think Ghosie and Magenta may have hired a couple more today.”

“Did I just hear my name?” I spin around to find my magenta-haired friend beaming at me. “We saw some amazing acts, but we decided we had enough for now. But they are definitely on the list if we ned to add more,” she tells me, and the rowdy group of shifters quiets down.

When I turn to look at them, all three of them, as well as the rest of the shifters at the table, are all staring at my friend like she’s a juicy piece of steak.

She raises an eyebrow, looking curiously at the three new males. “New meat?”

“Mags, meet my brothers-in-law—Malik, kraken shifter, and Titus and Thorn, pain in the ass dragons.” Thorn gives her a wave, but smoke drifts out of Titus’s nose, and I hear him rumble quietly. That’s interesting.

Malik rushes to his feet and holds out a hand, taking Magenta’s and pressing a kiss to the back of it. “The pleasure is all mine.” His eyes sparkle with interest, and I want to squeal with excitement, but I control myself.

I expect Magenta to bat her eyelashes and flirt with him, but she kind of just murmurs, “Hello,” and gives the two dragons a quick nod before looping her arm in mine and dragging me toward the head table again.

“Who are you and what have you done with my friend?” I hiss as soon as we are out of earshot. Well, maybe not out of hearing range, since they are shifters after all, but we can pretend. Something is wrong with my friend, and I want to know what right now.