Kat didn’t know what to say. The idea of letting the dark twin go where his brother had gone still seemed wrong to her—dangerous. “Deep,” she said, trying to keep her voice steady. “I need…need for you to take your fingers out of me now. Please.”
“That ‘please’ again, tacked on to the end. So very polite.” He didn’t sound happy about it but he did withdraw his fingers…very slowly. “Well, until next time.”
“There isn’t going to be a next time,” Kat reminded him, frowning.
“Oh?” Deliberately he raised his fingers to his mouth and, keeping his eyes fixed on hers, sucked her juices off with apparent relish. “We’ll see what Mother L’rin has to say about that.”
Kat wanted to answer but a sudden weariness took her and she could only shake her head. Later, when I get more energy I’m really going to let him have it.
I look forward to it, little Kat. Deep grinned at her mockingly. You have no idea how much.
Chapter Seven
“Kat’s all right—for now at least.” Baird was leaning against the doorway, his arms crossed over his massive chest and a serious look on his face.
“Oh, thank God!” Olivia turned from her husband to her sister. “Sophie, she’s all right.”
“I heard. I’m right here, you know.” Half laughing, half crying, Sophie hugged her sister tightly.
“Deep and Lock got her to Twin Moons just in time,” Baird continued. “Their healer…” He snapped his fingers. “What was her name?”
“Mother L’rin,” Liv supplied for him.
“Right. She did some kind of healing ceremony and now Kat’s resting. Lock called and told me a minute ago.”
“I’m so glad.” Sophie felt like a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. She’d been feeling horribly guilty ever since they’d allowed Deep and Lock to take Kat away to Twin Moons with them. But she and Liv had both trusted Sylvan’s decision that it was the only way to save their friend. Kat still wasn’t going to be happy to wake up on a strange planet with her two least favorite people in the universe, but at least now they knew she was going to live.
“When can we talk to her?” Olivia asked eagerly.
Baird frowned. “Not for a couple of days according to Lock. She needs to rest. But that isn’t the only thing I came to tell you.” He cleared his throat. “Do you remember telling me about the sister of your mother, Lilenta? The one who died in childbirth?”
“Yes, of course. Aunt Abby.” Liv frowned. “What about her?”
“Well, I just came from the viewroom and you have a call—you and Sophia both, actually. It’s a woman claiming to be her—your kin. Do you want to speak to her?”
“What?” Olivia demanded.
“But that’s impossible,” Sophie protested.
Baird shrugged. “Could be a hoax, I guess. But I don’t know why someone would want to pretend such a thing. And…” He hesitated. “Well, she looks an awful lot like you two in the face. Looks like blood kin to me.”
To me too, Sylvan suddenly murmured inside Sophie’s head. His mental voice was serious. I’m in the viewroom now talking to her, Talana, he continued, using his pet name for Sophie. I think you and your sister should come see her.
On our way, Sophie sent back. “Come on,” she said, hopping up and pulling Liv to her feet. “Let’s see what she has to say.”
“All right.” Olivia still looked shocked but she followed Sophie out of the suite to the viewing room which was used mainly for long distance conversations. Hesitantly, they looked around the corner at the huge viewscreen mounted on the wall.
Oh my God, Sylan was right! Sophie was shocked. The woman had black hair and light brown eyes but the face on the viewscreen could have been a slightly older version of hers and Liv’s. Or their mother’s.
Olivia was obviously thinking along the same lines. “She looks just like Mom. Oh, Sophie.” She nearly crushed Sophie’s fingers with her grip.
Sylvan, who had been standing in front of the viewscreen talking, motioned for them to come all the way into the room. “It’s all right, Talana, I believe she is who she says she is. Sophia, Olivia, meet your Aunt Abigail.”
“Aunt Abby?” Sophie could hardly believe her eyes.
“Yes, that’s me.” The woman nodded and for the first time, Sophie noticed that her lovely eyes, which were a brown so light they were almost amber, looked red from crying. “You must be Sophia and Olivia. I…I’m sorry we had to meet for the first time under these circumstances,” the woman continued.