Ovation (Galaxy Circus #9)

Chapter 36

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

Lila

T he trip to Grichi 517E would normally take us three days, but with the improvements the Vilaxians made, it should only take thirty hours in my grandpas’ personal shuttle. Because of space restrictions, we had to limit who went with us. Of my guys, it’s Brannock, Zeydan, Maxsim, Saxon, Xavier, Silac, and Tirrian. The others wanted to come too, but I said no. If anything were to happen to us, our children needed someone, so I put my foot down when Nikos and Caspian tried to join the excursion. It’s bad enough that Maxsim wouldn’t take no for an answer, which could possibly leave Echo as a sole parent to raise our cubs, but the others promised to look after him. I made them promise not to fall apart and to stay together as a family and find someone else to love if anything happened to me. They scoffed and said the right things, but I don’t think any of them meant it.

All three gods are joining us. Sanshia is healed, but she hasn’t spoken to anyone since she woke up. Her brothers explained what is happening, and she agreed to come, but apart from that, she hasn’t said a word—not even to ask about Ember, who is firmly ensconced in our nursery with the other babies, and Chloe, who is a major hit with her younger siblings. They think she is amazing, and she can get them to do anything. I doubt it will last, but we’ll make the most of it for now.

Brannock asked Ghosie to raise her and Ember if anything were to happen to him, and Ghosie cried and promised to love them with all his heart.

Link was torn. He wanted to come, but in the end, he stayed back with the others. He has no interest in confronting his mother if she is one of the Syndicate leaders, but he spoke to his father who warned him that she had been outed from Pleasure Bot Industries and was on a warpath. Both gave their blessings to deal with her as we see fit and told us not to spare her on their behalf.

My parents insisted on coming, and I as much as I wanted to deny the request, we allowed it, leaving Bastien behind with Bubby. I couldn’t help laughing at the deer in headlights look on his face when he arrived to wish us off with Bastien strapped to his chest in a harness. Kinga promised to give him as much help as he needs, as have the three human women who have been a pleasant surprise. The humans are fitting in nicely, and I think it’s going to work out for the best.

We haven’t told my grandparents that my parents are alive yet, since they have enough to worry about. They will have a nice surprise when they get there.

Rounding out the group are Titus and Thorn, who both have combat experience, and Musette and Mehira. They are going to coordinate their family’s troops for us, much like Maxsim is doing for the lightning cats. Thankfully, Grichi 517E is a desolate planet that’s cold and inhospitable, so the cats should fit in just fine.

The tight squeeze in the shuttle isn’t great, but it’s only thirty hours, so we can deal with it. We’re going to rendezvous with the fleet of allies just out of sensor range. The others will beam aboard the Vilaxian battleship, and Tirrian, Silac, and I will continue on our own.

We say our tearful goodbyes, and I’m about to board the ship when Link stops me.

“Lila, are you forgetting something?” he asks, and I look around, patting my pockets. I don’t have anything in them because I’m going to be in my Madovian form anyway.

“No, I think I’m good.” I tip my head to the side in confusion. “What am I missing?” I ask when he actually laughs out loud.

“Why are you going, Lila?” he asks me.

“To return the gods’ powers from the orb… Oh, the orb. Fuck!” I shout, panic gripping me. “Where the fuck is the orb? I’ve been so busy, I didn’t think to ask my grandparents.”

“You don’t know where the orb is?” My dad comes back down the gangplank, and I shake my head.

“No. The grandpas were going to tell me, but so much has happened we haven’t gotten around to it.”

He smiles and takes me by the hand as my mother catches up to us. “Get the shuttle running, General. We will only be ten minutes,” he tells Saxon, and the two of them hurry me to the elevators.

“Where are we going?” I ask them when Mom pushes the button to the top deck, which has my family suite and the bridge.

“You took over your grandpas’ rooms with all their stuff, right?” my father asks me as the doors open and we walk out.

“I mean, kind of, but it’s all been refurbished since then,” I reply as they lead the way to our front door.

“But you have all of their circus things? Their costumes and everything?” he asks as I let us in the front door.

“Well, sort of. I have my own set that they made for me. I’m not sure what happened to Eric’s and William’s. I think they probably took them home or maybe kept them in their smaller suite downstairs.” I’m so confused, but I answer his question.

“But you have the cane? The one that will change into a whip for the cats, with the pretty glowing gem on top?” Mom asks urgently.

“Yeah, it’s in my closet, I’ve been having trouble managing the whip. Heck, I didn’t even know it was one until Eric showed me how to use it. It’s pretty clever,” I tell them, feeling a little embarrassed that I still can’t get a handle on the whip. I keep tearing holes in my pants, and my ass has a permanent scorch mark.

I lead the way into my bedroom, open the door to my walk-in closet, and grab the cane. There is a button on the side, which will transform it to a whip. I hold it out, showing my parents.

“Cronus created that for your grandpas, infusing magic into it so it would switch between both things. He overheard Eric grumbling about ruined costume lines when he had to carry both things and came up with that solution.” My mom smiles fondly at the memory as my dad takes it from my hand. The beautiful gem at the end pulses like it has life in it. I always marveled at the way it did that, but I never thought anything of it. Dad gives it a twist, and there’s a click, and it falls into his open hand. He holds it out to me.

“Behold the orb of power.”

I stare at it, blinking in surprise. “You have got to be shitting me. They hid it in plain sight?” I screech so loudly they both wince. “And they didn’t fucking warn me?”

“What can I say? My fathers are interesting men.” My dad shrugs like it’s no big deal. I snatch it out of his hand and storm out of my bedroom and back through our home, muttering under my breath the whole way. Thank goodness the kids are down in the pool, going for a swim. Chloe was dying to see the big pool. Xavier promised he would find a way for her to swim with her brothers and sisters when he returned, and I bet he will be able to as well.

“When I see those damn men, they are going to get my foot up their asses so hard, and I swear if Eric even thinks about snickering at me, I’ll make his damn face flat like that damn dog Muttley,” I mutter under my breath, but obviously not quietly enough.

“Oh dear, I think maybe we should warn my fathers,” I hear my dad say.

“Oh no, dear, I’m pretty sure they are going to get exactly what they deserve.” My mom doesn’t sound worried in the least.

“It is so nice not being the only female in the family now,” I call back to her. “I missed you, Mom. I’m glad you’re here,” I tell her, and there’s silence before I hear a sob. I stop and turn around, and she’s wrapped in Dad’s arms, crying.

“Oh shit, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset her,” I apologize, but Dad just shakes his head and smiles.

“She’s not upset, baby. She’s just super happy we’re back together and equally sad that we missed so many years. Luckily for us, we have many, many more to enjoy to make up for it.”

I give them a quick group hug before I continue on my way. “Especially after Gigi teaches you to shove some of your essence into Mom and Bubby, and they become immortal like you.”

Again, there is silence, but this time, I don’t stop. Note to self—I have to pick more appropriate times to announce such major things like immortality.

We get to the elevator, and as we move to the shuttle bay, I take a moment to shove the orb into my interdimensional safe space. Mom and Dad gape at me in surprise. “Having a warlock husband is handy,” I tell them.

“I’ll say. Do you think he could teach me that?” my dad asks. “It would be a great place to store some weapons and a snack.”

“Yes, that’s exactly what I said,” I say, and he holds up his hand for a high five. “An emergency snack is always a necessity.”

My mom just rolls her eyes at us.

The hangar is empty, and the engines on the shuttle are glowing blue. The three of us run up the gangplank. “Hit the hyperdrive, Chewie,” I shout as the door closes behind us.

“Huh?” Everyone looks at me strangely.

“Did she hit her head wherever you went?” Saxon asks, looking at my dad.

“Nice Star Wars reference.” He holds up his hand for another high five, and I indulge him while beaming at him.

“Oh no, they are bonding. We could be in trouble,” Xavier whispers to Brannock, who just bats him away because he’s practically sitting in his lap.

“Did you get the orb?” Zeydan asks, looking me up and down.

“Yup, sure did. We can leave now.” The three of us find seats, and Saxon starts to maneuver the shuttle out of the hangar. This one is bigger than the one I flew into Fluxx and is designed more like a luxurious lounge than a plane. There are also a couple of cabins for sleeping and a large galley for meals. Thirty hours is a long time, but we shouldn’t go hungry, and we can take shifts napping.

Dad has taken the copilot seat, and I am next to my mom. “Are we sure that’s a good idea?” I ask her, nodding in Dad’s direction. He is doing something to the controls and chatting to Saxon.

Mom’s eyebrows jump. “Marcus is an excellent pilot. Why would you be worried?”

“Bubby told me exactly how good of a pilot he is. Apparently he crashed this shuttle before in the middle of space where there was nothing or no one, and I’d like to arrive in one piece.”

“The bit of space junk came out of nowhere. Damn that man, he has never let me live it down,” my dad growls over his shoulder, and Mom’s peals of laughter echo around the shuttle. It is music to my ears, and I find myself grinning with unrestrained joy. I’m on a mission with my parents who I never thought I was going to see again. Life is freaking good. Now, we just need to survive the next forty-eight hours, and we can start enjoying the rest of our long lives.

W e’re all a little irritable and crabby when we rendezvous with the fleet. We played one too many card games where I’m almost certain Xavier was cheating. As we approach the fleet, a lump develops in my throat of the sight of it. These ships are unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. They put the Galaxy Circus ship to shame. These are flying cities and wouldn’t look out of place in an Earth sci-fi movie. In fact, the Vilaxian battleship looks very similar to something you might find a stormtrooper on. I wonder if one of their tech advisors was an alien.

I thought everyone was going to have to beam aboard, but Saxon just flies the shuttle right into the belly of the giant spaceship. There’s a greeting party once the doors open and the gangplank releases.

“Lila!” Cronus shouts. “It’s so good of you to join the party.” He holds up a glass of something. Hmm, a little early for him to be drinking, but I guess he may need to calm his nerves.

I hear a chuckle, and Xavier steps up next to me. “Pray he didn’t hear you think that, or he will never let you forget you doubted his nerves.”

Sabine and Aleister wave and engulf their girls in hugs. I hear them telling their parents all about Vanity finding her blood rose.

Astrea and Jalin are also there, and they greet Maxsim by hugging him and rubbing noses. It’s freaking adorable.

“Boys! There you are. When Tallon said you joined the circus, I thought she was joking!” Tysar greets all three of his sons jovially. “But I guess the joke’s on me. Come over here and hug me. I missed you, and we have wonderful news. Your mother is nesting.”

I snicker as all three of them wince. Brannock and the gods stand off to the side, keeping a barrier between Sanshia and everyone else.

“Lila, don’t you have a hug for your old grandpas?” Eric appears in my sight, and he’s smirking that maddening smile at me. He’s flanked by William and John, and all three of them look like years have been taken off their lives. I don’t even want to think about what might have caused that. Nope, no way.

I run down the ramp and tackle them, hugging them like it’s been years instead of barely over a week since I saw them, but I got so used to having them in my life, I missed them fiercely.

“Be careful with her, she still has a task,” my grandma scolds as she approaches us and also gives me a hug.

“I have so much to tell you,” I blurt out, but before I can tell them everything, she catches sight of her family.

“You found them!” she exclaims, tears welling in her eyes at the sight of the elemental gods.

“We did, but be gentle with Sanshia, Gigi. She isn’t in a good place.” My grandma pales and takes a step toward them, but before she can get farther, my parents appear in the door of the shuttle.

“Holy fuck, I have had too much to drink. I’m seeing ghosts.” Cronus stares into his mug. “What did you put in this, Xylene?”

“Oh, so I see you’re still blaming your beautiful wife for all your mistakes. Typical.” My dad grins at his best friend who turns white and then falls backward in a dead faint.

“Ha!” Xavier laughs and points at his dad. “Please tell me someone is catching this on film. I want a copy. He’s going to be mortified. The great and mighty warlock king in a dead faint.” He doubles over laughing, and Xylene hisses at him.

“Marcus? Alina?” All of my grandparents are staring at my mom and dad like they can’t believe they are here.

“Smith had them. Well, don’t just stand there, go hug your son and daughter,” I tell them, and there’s a split second where I think I’m going to have four more unconscious people, but then there’s a mad rush up the ramp. All four of my grandparents and Xylene tackle my parents, shouting and crying and laughing as I crouch down next to Cronus and slap him on the cheek. “Come on, Dad, you’re missing out. I have another one now, so the competition is on for which one is best.”

That has him moving quickly. He bolts up and puffs out his chest. “Please, I have magic. What does he have? Pretty lights.” All of a sudden, a bolt of lightning streaks across the room and strikes Cronus on the ass. He screams and clutches his butt cheeks, glaring at my dad.

“Damn you, asshole. I missed you. It’s so good to see you.” He stomps up the ramp and joins in, tears streaming down his face. Later, he’ll claim it was because he was happy, but Xavier will claim it was from the hit to the ass.

Silac and Brannock step up next to me, and each grab a hand. “This is nice, isn’t it?” Silac murmurs, watching the drama with a small smile.

“Are you okay?” I ask him. He and Brannock are the only ones without family here, and I know Brannock’s made peace with it for a long time, but Silac’s father’s betrayal is fresh. All of this happy family stuff could be rubbing salt into an open wound.

“Yeah, I’m good. My mother and siblings are safe, and I have a new family that loves me unconditionally. I’m probably the happiest snake in the galaxy.” He presses a kiss to my cheek.

“Well, hold onto that feeling, because it’s going to get worse before it gets better, and being a Madovian’s captive isn’t going to be a walk in the park,” Brannock warns him. “Even if you are that Madovian’s husband.”