Ovation (Galaxy Circus #9)

Chapter 35

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

Lila

W e gave up all pretense of trying to run a circus the following day. A lot of the acts were up in space with us, so I gave the crew and performers a four-day vacation on Earth and warned them not to get into any mischief. Xavier passed out glamour charms like they were Halloween candy, but I think we managed to make everyone happy. Minx squealed with excitement and said they were going shopping. Trace, Sim, and Fuse didn’t look so enthused about the possibility, but I told them Singapore has amazing food, and they weren’t so reluctant after that.

Back on the main ship, I called a meeting for the extended family and held it in the main cafeteria. It was the only place that could fit us and that included the children, because I wanted to introduce my parents to my babies. Breakfast was a chaotic, loud mess with tears, laughter, joy, and sadness all at the same time, but finally, it was time to settle down and finalize plans.

“Just like we suspected, the meeting will be on Grichi 517E, which is worrying because that’s the home to that metal compound we found on the bullets and knives the guards had,” Brannock says now that Kinga, Andre, and the three human women have taken all the children away. Matthew remained behind in case he could offer any Smith insight. “We’ve been instructed to bring the orb there and turn it over, and the Madovian will get paid.”

“I advised the queen of the destination and time, and she is coordinating with the rest of our allies to rendezvous there and cut off any escape by surrounding the whole planet,” Saxon adds.

“At least we don’t have to worry about civilian casualties since the planet is deserted,” Zeydan points out. “Anyone at the meeting will have ties with the Syndicate, and we can kill or detain them at will.”

“I would prefer we detain and find a deep, impenetrable cell to stick them in to live out the rest of their lives,” I tell them, not really looking forward to killing the members of the Syndicate no matter if galactic subjugation is their agenda.

“What about creating something on Husadavia? Even if they escaped their cells, they couldn’t get off the planet, and the vegetation and animals would take care of the escapees,” Ghosie suggests. He emerged from his bedroom with a spring in his step and smile on his face this morning. Both Maxsim and Echo looked like they’d been ridden hard and hung out wet. I know exactly how they feel. Ghosie’s fur is some potent shit, and it would be easy enough to sex yourself to death with it.

We look at Zeydan who shrugs. “I don’t see why not. I have no need for it.”

“I kind of like the idea of using it as a getaway where no one can disturb us,” I tell him, pouting at the thought that I won’t be able to have fun by the hot springs with my mates anymore.

“I’m with Lila,” Tirrian agrees. He’s the one I fucked by the hot springs.

“What about Grichi itself? If the metal has a property that inhibits powers, then creating cells from the mines would be ideal. Anyone we put in there would not be able to use their powers to escape,” Xavier suggests, and his idea gets a lot of interest.

“That’s if it survives when we distribute the orb’s powers. With the meeting being held there, we won’t have to worry about the fallout,” Zeydan murmurs, which really doesn’t make me feel better.

“Someone would have to be warden, and we would have to make sure they have their basic necessities, like food and water,” Link remarks, showing his compassion.

“Someone incorruptible,” Aarin grumbles. “That’s going to be nearly impossible to find.”

“Actually, I’ve been thinking about that.” Silac steeples his fingers together and swings his chair back and forth. “Tirrian told me about the sex robot warriors you came across.”

Link winces at this. “I’m almost certain my mother is involved. She has to be responsible for the robots being on Earth.”

Oh snap. I gasp. Could Link’s mother be the person Matthew described yesterday? The woman who took some of Smith’s breeding stock? But why? She has an entire catalog of sex robots at her disposal, so why would she need living ones?

“But couldn’t we use them to guard the prison? They wouldn’t be able to corrupt them because unless they reprogram them, the robots wouldn’t respond to bribes.” Silac looks to Link who nods.

“In theory, yes, but if my mother is involved, then she would be able to reprogram them.”

Silac sags in defeat.

“Not necessarily. Those guards were pretty simple, and we were told they weren’t programmable, unlike the sex bots. They were a budget version because they were guards and could be destroyed,” Matthew chimes in, and Silac’s hope returns.

“I like the idea. I wouldn’t want to have to appoint a sentient being to guard them. That would be hell,” Xavier agrees.

“Okay, so we have a plan on what to do with them. Now we need to figure out how to capture them with the least casualties,” Rick says. He, my mom, and my dad have barely been able to keep their hands off each other this whole time. I kind of feel like gagging. You don’t see me being all demonstrative with PDA with my mates in front of them.

You know your mom and dad bonded him last night, Xavier says in my head, and again, I feel sick.

How do you know? I ask him, and he smirks at me.

I can feel it, and you could too if you tried.

Pass, I reply flatly, not wanting to feel any of the emotions emitting from my parents right now.

You’ll have to start calling Rick Papa , he teases, and I flip him off mentally.

“We already have a plan, and we are still going ahead with it. Lila is going to pose as the Madovian, and with Tirrian and Silac as her escorts, she is going to take the orb to the meeting. We need all six gods in the same room at the same time to redistribute the powers and destroy it,” Brannock tells Rick, and that gets my dad’s attention.

“The orb? You’re destroying it? How? It can’t be done.”

I guess they were too busy bonding last night for Rick to catch Mom and Dad up on everything.

We spend the next half hour updating my parents on everything they missed. Nothing like saying congrats, your mother is a god, so you’re half god, to shock a man into silence.

“Wow,” my mother says once it’s all out, and my father seems to be having a small stroke, sputtering nonsensically next to her. “You have had quite a few months, haven’t you?” She’s gazing at me with awe, and I want to squirm under her scrutiny, but I manage to stay still.

“You have no idea. After we deal with the Syndicate, we will sit down for a long talk, I promise,” I tell her. I’m sad that we can’t take the time to do that yet, but I don’t want this hanging over our heads any longer.

My dad jumps to his feet and yells, “I forbid you! We just got you back, and you are not putting yourself in danger. Why are you doing it and not one of your mates?” He looks around at my mates, glaring at them in fury. “Why are you letting her do this?”

Xavier whistles and steps back, holding his hands up. “Nope, dude, you’re all on your own with this one,” he says as a rumble escapes my chest and smoke starts to drift out of my nose.

“Xavier’s right, we don’t let Lila do anything,” Link says, crossing his arms and giving my dad his own glare.

“She’s right there. Why don’t you ask her yourself?” Brannock says, smirking because he knows what’s about to happen.

Everyone else in the room watches with undisguised glee. Echo is purring, trying to soothe a growling Maxsim, his tail flicking back and forth with his annoyance.

“Is it bad that I wish we had some popcorn to go with the show?” Susie whispers to Magenta, who giggles.

“And drinks. This is going to be good.”

“Nobody tells me what I can and can’t do,” I tell my father, trying to stay calm, but it really is a stretch. I know he is worried, I would be too if it were one of my kids, but he doesn’t get to walk back into my life and throw his weight around like he gets a vote.

“Hey, kiddo, I’m sure you think it will be easy, but you don’t know the kind of beings you will be up against. They may have all manner of life-forms in their little group, and how are you going to get out without getting hurt or worse, losing the orb to them and becoming a captive yourself?”

I stand up and start to strip off my clothes. I’m in a Galaxy Circus shirt and a pair of sweats this morning, wanting to be comfortable while we planned.

My dad starts to splutter. “Lila, what have I told you about keeping your clothes on?”

“Relax, Dad, everyone here has already seen what I have to offer. It’s nothing new.” His mouth drops open, and he splutters a little more.

“Lila…” My mom sighs with disappointment, but everyone else laughs.

“I certainly haven’t, nor do I want to,” Aarin grumbles, and Mark shushes him while Susie mouths, “Sorry,” to me. That threesome is going to be funny to watch. Aarin seems a little tightly wound, which is definitely not the definition of my girl Susie. Mark might fall somewhere in the middle, though, so maybe they’ll be okay.

“Seriously, why are you taking your clothes off?” My dad crosses his arms and stomps his foot before blocking Bubby’s view, which I’m kind of thankful for, to be honest. Wow, I’m pretty sure I saw Jack behave exactly like that the other day when something didn’t go his way.

“Because, Dad, I don’t really want to go through new clothes every time I shift forms,” I reply and let the first form wash over me. I choose the Celestian one, which he has already seen. Xavier lifts a hand to conjure me an outfit to cover my body, but I shake my head.

“Don’t bother, it won’t last,” I tell him before shifting into my Aaz’axian form, then my carevasta, then to my kraken and naga. I shift through all of them except for my dragon and mer forms because they won’t work in this environment. I finish with my Madovian form. Silac and Tirrian jump up as I hiss aggressively at my dad, who has gone pale and dropped into the seat behind him.

“Oh my god.” My tail slides back and forth as he stares at the crosscut hole in my stomach. “My poor baby,” he stammers, and I try to lunge for him, but Xavier freezes me.

“Shift back, Lila,” Tirrian demands, and I shake off the aggressive presence and shift back, putting my clothes back on. I’m a little shaky from the show, but I think it’s adrenaline. I really gorged on my mates last night, so my well of power seems kind of endless at the moment, and I think my dad got the idea.

“And not only can I use the powers of each form, but I can also use them in whatever form I’m in thanks to Gigi’s blood,” I tell him as my mother whispers something in his ear.

“She’s more powerful than you know, Marcus.” Rick gives my dad’s shoulder a squeeze. “She, along with help from her mates, is more than capable of doing what needs to be done, and we’ll all be on standby to bust in if needed.” Bubby has a stubborn set to his chin, and I know I’m going to have to pick my timing carefully if I want to stop them from coming.

“Fine, you can wait with the grandparents,” I concede for now as I redress.

“Everyone waits until Lila gives the signal. The warlocks are going to go in first and freeze the whole meeting, while the rest of us will take out anyone guarding the perimeter. Then, we will escort everyone out of the meeting except for Vivax and get clear of the planet. Liliana, Lila, and the rest of the gods will do their thing, with Lila taking Vivax’s power,” Brannock continues, outlining the plan for everyone.

“What about the bit she still holds?” Hurricane asks. “We all retained some of our power.”

“Vivax’s and Liliana’s powers are only Skarrian in nature. It’s why she has been so desperate to get the orb back. When Liliana managed to free all four of us elemental gods, she sacrificed her and Vivax’s powers completely to the spell. They retain nothing of their former god powers except for the ability to reincarnate, and that’s why it took so long,” Zeydan tells him. “Vivax really is no more dangerous than any other Skarrian, and being amongst the fleitine should render that null as well. She will be impotent.”

“And if we manage to do that, we can all go home and live our lives in peace with the threat of the Syndicate and galactic domination from them hanging over our heads,” Caspian says blithely.

“And if we don’t win?” Titus asks, sitting closer to Malik than is possibly acceptable for just friends .

“Let’s not think about it, because I’m sure it would be nothing good.” My deity mate shudders at the thought of Vivax ruling over us, unstoppable with everyone’s powers at her fingertips.

“If it comes to that, I may have a backup plan, but it would mean abandoning this realm,” Xavier says slowly.

I think about where we cemented our intimate bond, wondering if it would indeed shelter us and how many of us they could save—probably the whole warlock race, but I don’t see them taking any others. That would mean leaving our families behind, and I’m not prepared to do that.

“It’s not an option, so I plan on kicking this chick’s ass and then heading back to Earth and being the best damn ringmaster that circus has ever seen. Are you with me?” I ask my surrounding friends and family, and without even hesitating, they all cheer. It warms my heart and soothes some of the tension.

“Okay, we need to make a move. Who’s coming with, and who is staying behind?” Brannock asks, and that starts a whole other argument.

I sigh. It’s going to be a long ass day.