Rising Zero Read online

  She shuddered. “Do you do many domestics?”

  “No. A lot of vehicles on fire, though.”

  She leaned against his shoulder, and he moved them through the sky and back to the base in silence.

  Arriving at the base, a buffet of food was ready for them, and their bed had been turned over.

  Farway opened his helmet and started to eat. “We have to replace the caloric load. You will notice that on a busy day you don’t need a necessary. Your body is burning everything.”

  She was halfway through a plate herself. “Okay, so that explains that. Nice job with the father.”

  “He is facing bond servitude for his entire family. His wife’s family has no funds to bail her out, and the children will be placed into the system.”

  She paused and put her head down. “And we can’t do anything for them, or we would be spending our entire lives paying for everyone.”

  He smiled. “We could, but yes. When we are gone, the empire would be broke, and the next generation would have to start all over. They will be able to remain together while they are training, and the mother will only have to do two years of work to get her children back. They have school in between.”

  She nodded. “I get it. I get it.”

  She went back for more food. “Who set this up?”

  “Tell. He monitors our energy expenditure. We can also get a slurry of sugar and vitamins delivered to us, but this is better.”

  She chuckled at the thought of something referred to as a slurry. “Got it. Eat when I can.”

  He grinned. “You are adapting well.”

  “It is day one.”

  “No, I mean... everything.”

  It took her a moment to realize that he was referring to their personal interactions.

  “Oh. That part of things. Well, with the new... um... energy that I have, the draw to you is pretty hard to suppress. So, I don’t try.” She nibbled at a vegetable. “What about you? How are you adapting to having someone with you around the clock? Is it wearing on your nerves yet?”

  He smiled slowly. “I thought I would be agitated by now, but no. It is relatively easy to work you into my schedule. Even my parents are surprisingly encouraging. My mother is entranced by you.”

  She nibbled on some flatbread. “That is just because I can catch blasts in my palm.”

  “And you put yourself between me and danger. That won her over completely. So, do you know how strong you are?”

  Dylia shrugged. “I am pretty strong. I could probably lift one of the imperial shuttles if I had to. I don’t want to, but I could.”

  “So, when I hold you down...”

  “I could get back up if I wanted to. Does that bother you?”

  He grinned. “And you wear the sexy outfits in public...”

  She put her hand on his arm. “Because I have worn worse, and I don’t really care what folks think of me. I have food in my belly and clothes—albeit weird ones—on my back. I have a place to stay, and now, I have enough energy to build my own damned place if I need to. I have the skills to make a living on my own and the determination to do it. I can even get sex if I want it. I am in a rather good place in my life right now.”

  “What about your family?”

  “My brother is an ass, and my father is lost in his research. Neither have ever made an effort toward me after my mother passed. They can rot.”

  He nodded warily. “So, if I cross you. I am dead to you.”

  She smiled. “Yes. I am glad you understand.”

  She finished her meal and cleaned up before curling up on the couch near the screen and watching the news. She watched the close-up images of herself in the wrapped dress, and she nodded. She did like that dress.

  Farway sat next to her. “You do have a very regal air. Would you like to make that part of your duties permanent?”

  She glanced at him. “What?”

  His eyes were amused, but there was a little bit of nervousness. “Would you consider making your position as my companion permanent?”

  In her ear, she heard Tell whisper, “He’s proposing.”

  She looked at him, climbed into his lap, facing him, and she asked baldly. “Are you asking for a formal contract relationship?”

  “Yes.” He looked relieved.

  “Like a sex contract? How long would that last?”

  “No. No. Not like that. Would you agree to become Empress Dylia, the First?”

  She narrowed her eyes and got closer to him. He put his hands on her hips. “So, you want me to become empress?”

  He exhaled and nodded. “Yes. I actually do.”

  She pursed her lips and then lowered her mouth to his. “What’s in it for me?”

  He grinned. “Let me tell you how I can make it worth your while. Tell, you might want to mute this.”

  Farway whispered in her ear a number of promises, and none of them involved either of them being clothed, but there was a future there and plans for a life together.

  Two hours later, she was wiping off soot and wringing out her hair to get the water out. Attending fires wasn’t something she was fond of. It had hurt a little when the house dropped on her.

  She stomped over to where Farway was talking with the fire crew. The people she had pulled out of the blaze were already on their way to a med facility.

  She tapped him on the shoulder. “Farway. My answer is yes.”

  He looked at her, understanding dawned, and he took off with her in his arms. Five more hours until they were off duty, and then Waterborn could take over.

  They had an engagement to consummate.

  Chapter Twelve

  The huge doors closed, and Darmon flew them to his quarters as quickly as he could. When the doors closed, he pinned her up against the door and held her there.

  He had been teasing her all morning, and she was ready to explode. He slid his fingers into her, and she arched her back. He removed the lacing of her bodice with a savage pull of his teeth and freed her breasts. There was a moment of fumbling, and then, he was pressing into her, rubbing her clit as he rocked her against the door.

  She gasped and groaned as she looped her arms around his neck. He bit the inside of her breast, and she shrieked, her voice echoing on the stone.

  He sucked, and her body pulsed, caressing his cock over and over. He groaned and thrust in a series of short motions, grunting as his body emptied into her.

  Dylia threaded her fingers through his hair, avoiding the crown. “So, that’s a good start.”

  He released her breast and licked the wound until it began closing. “You taste so sweet.”

  She laughed. “You would know.”

  He grinned. “So, how does it feel being empress?”

  Dylia wrinkled her nose. “Sticky.”

  He laughed and slowly withdrew from her before lowering her legs to a standing position. “We will have to fix that.”

  They walked together to the bed area, and Darmon left for a moment while she stood next to his desk. When he returned with a container of water and a warm cloth, she smiled and asked him, “Do you feel something?”

  There was a low chuckle, and two figures walk out of the shadows near the balcony. Dylia knew the faces the moment that the light clarified them.

  Darmon was staring, but he stepped to her side. “Dronix and Billa?”

  The drakes smile at them. Billa stepped forward, her hands extended. “My little ones. You are a miracle.”

  Dylia was caught by one hand and Darmon the other. The amount of power in the woman was astonishing.

  Billa was smiling. “You have been doing so well without proper training.”

  Dylia was looking into her eyes. “Thank you.”

  Darmon blinked, “Uh, thank you?”

  Dronix stepped forward. “Billa wishes to tell you a few things, but she feels silly about it. Frankly, neither of us knew what kekxite was. There wasn’t enough of it to cause an issue, but our children have caused a bit of a problem.”


  Dylia looked at Billa and cocked her head. “What is it?”

  Billa took a piece out of the pouch at her waist. “Kekxite is what drakes need to defend and develop them. It’s the eggshell of a being born twenty feet long.”

  Dylia took the piece of solid kekxite, and she felt a surge of power in her. She held it tight, and Darmon tried to get it out of her grip, but his fingers slammed around it. Everything went grey and fuzzy.

  Dylia was sitting in Darmon’s lap, and Billa and Dronix were crouched near them.

  “Strygga was so careless. He just sewed his seeds and let them rest in populations. It is frustrating.” Dronix grumbled. “I am glad that you are finding a way to stabilize them.”

  Dylia tried to focus. “What do you mean? The college?”

  Billa smiled. “Yes. We are happy that you are helping them to get through the rising. We would like to support the school and efforts to find more with the syndrome.”

  Dylia sat up. “Support?”

  Dronix nodded, his crimson hair sliding over his shoulder. “We can send valuable minerals and gemstones to pay for their training and upkeep.”

  Billa smiled. “We also wish to offer your dowry on behalf of Strygga. He knows about you and would like to be able to offer his assistance.”

  Dylia rubbed her forehead. “Strygga. He wants to help?”

  “This is his most successful seeding. Your existence and power prove that it is possible for a drake to produce children who might find their way back to being drake again.”

  Dylia looked at Darmon. He was frowning as well.

  He asked, “What do you mean; we are becoming drakes again?”

  Billa smiled. “That is what the defenders are. They are all proto drakes. You are the only one of our line, but the others are Strygga’s. Other drakes may try this in the future.”

  Darmon asked, “Are there many drakes?”

  “Nine that we know of. We are two of them, and we have three drake children, so there are four unrelated to us right now.” Dronix took Billa’s hand.

  Dylia frowned. “So, if no one has done this before, how can we be turning into drakes?”

  Dronix chuckled. “That would be the biting, blood, and fluid exchange that has begun. Your physiology is changing, as is Darmon’s. You are a mating pair, and by finding each other, you are completing your transformation. Don’t worry. Gaining a second form will take a century. You already have control of the rising energies.”

  Dylia blinked. “Right, but we don’t have to change shape, right?”

  Billa smiled. “Certainly not. Definitely not while you are carrying.”

  Darmon’s arms tightened. “Carrying?”

  Dronix nodded. “You should be able to taste it. She will be sweeter.”

  Dylia blushed. She had wanted to tell him on her own terms, but that was now out the window.

  Billa grinned. “We are very happy about the next generation. We lost a daughter and gained a legacy.”

  Dylia had a question. “Do you know who in my family had Strygga Syndrome? Was it my mother or father?”

  Dronix frowned. “Your mother, of course. Your father corresponded with the research facilities regarding the syndrome. That is how he met your mother.”

  Dylia exhaled. “That explains quite a bit. Thank you.”

  Darmon hugged her. “The question of her parents meeting has been haunting for her.”

  Billa nodded. “I see. He is an excellent researcher but not a good communicator.”

  She nodded. “I would have to agree.”

  Billa looked at them and then chuckled. “We will remain in the palace if you want to speak with us this evening. Apologies for intruding on your nuptial celebrations.”

  Dronix frowned. “We can just tell them now.”

  “It is their first day as mates, Dronix. They want to have a lot of sex.” Billa stood up and grabbed her mate—the ancient drake—by the hand. She hauled him out through the doors that Dylia and Darmon had just been using.

  Dylia looked at Darmon, and she shrugged. “I wanted to tell you at dawn.”

  His kiss left her in no doubt as to his enthusiasm for the news. She was laughing as they fought their way out of their clothing, and they giggled their way into the center of the bed. His slow kisses across her belly confirmed that he was happy about the news.

  “You will have to give up being a defender.”

  She yanked on his hair. “When I can’t fit into my suit anymore, I will take a leave of absence. When the child is weaned, I will resume my activities.”

  He smirked. “It is a good thing that it’s a tight suit. I think I will go a little mad with you pregnant and facing the psychos.”

  “And I will worry knowing that you are out there on your own and wait up until you come home.”

  He frowned. “You shouldn’t worry.”

  She stroked his cheek. “You shouldn’t worry. I am a lot sturdier than you are.”

  Darmon gave her a sheepish grin. “I am being a little overprotective.”

  “You are. It’s fine. I love you anyway.”

  He surged up and kissed her, and he whispered of his love for her while they tangled the sheets into a wreck. The drakes could wait. They were good at it.

  Dylia smiled and watched the first planned rising. Sahla took the kekxite from Billa, and the flare of energy could be seen for a kilometer. The drake was the best choice for the rising. She could take the blast of stars. The hatching scorch was nothing.

  Sahla stood there with her eyes wide, and when the secondary burst hit her, she staggered as her body fought to absorb the energy and settle it in the cells.

  Darmon whispered, “Are you upset that you didn’t do this?”

  “No. This is one spot I wouldn’t want to put the baby. It’s close to making its own entrance; I don’t need to speed things along.” She leaned on him.

  Dronix leaned over and pressed his hand on her belly. He chuckled. “Strong little girl. She will be able to break steel with her fingertips when she grows up.”

  Dylia patted her abdomen. “I don’t care. I just want to see her so that I can pull my harp into my lap again. Getting around this bulk has been rough.”

  Dronix smiled. “Understandable, but you are resilient. You will be back to fighting form in no time.”

  She chuckled. “Thank you for that.”

  Darmon nodded. “Thank you for coming.”

  Dronix shrugged. “The ancients won’t let us be at our own offspring’s hatching, so being here for the risings is the next best thing.”

  She nodded. “And you are welcome to remain until this one makes her appearance.”

  “Excellent. So many new ones in the same week. We are truly lucky.” Dronix looked to Billa, and she was smiling and helping Sahla to stand straight while blue flames covered her body.

  Dylia got up and waddled toward the ladies. Darmon was at her back, but he had learned just to be there and not to try and steer her. She didn’t like it.

  Dylia reached out to the flaming Sahla. She took the young woman’s hands, and the fire went out. Sahla exhaled and smiled. “Thank you. What did you do?”

  Dylia glanced at Billa. “I just told your hatchling to calm down. I am overloaded with mothering hormones, so it listened.”

  Billa smiled. “It is the Strygga strain that listened to you.”

  Sahla looked at her hands. “I don’t care why it listened; I am just glad it did.”

  “Come on. You need something to eat. Next, it will be Marjo and then Abeline.”

  “Then the boys, then more girls, then more boys.” Sahla laughed. “What will you do with us all?”

  “Well, you all have training, so it will be. What do you want to do to serve the empire?” Darmon smiled.

  Sahla paused and then grinned. “I think I can definitely step in when needed. I just have to learn what the fire does.”

  “That is why we built that extra center at the college. You need space to learn what you can d
o.” Dylia slowly pivoted and headed back to the tent with the orphans and the snacks that had been prepared.

  Darmon helped her up the slope, and she looked at her belly with dismay.

  “I am a giant cow.”

  “No, love. You are a pregnant young drake. Your body will be under your control again soon.” He murmured it in her ear.

  Sahla arrived at the tent to resounding cheers, making history as the first controlled rising.

  Dylia leaned into her husband’s shoulder, and she watched as the kids were able to face a future without agony or death. They could control their rising and knew what to do if they experienced kekxite in uncontrolled conditions.

  She leaned heavily into Darmon as her abdomen cramped. He whispered, “Is it time?”

  “It is getting there. Let Sahla have her party. She deserves it.”

  He stood behind her and wrapped his hands around her belly, keeping track of the contractions.

  She made it for an hour before Sahla came up to her and smiled. “We are going to start dancing. Do you want to come?”

  Dylia shuddered and clenched her hands on Darmon’s. “No, sweetie. You all go ahead.”

  “Mistress Dylia, are you in labour?” Sahla’s eyes were wide.

  “Yes.”

  “Why don’t you go to a med center?”

  Dylia breathed slowly. “Because I am having the baby in the palace, and I don’t want to ruin your party.”

  Sahla smiled. “You got me this far. Now you go! You don’t want to try and get sand out of your vaginal canal.”

  “You did wonderfully well, Sahla.” Dylia got the last word out before Darmon lifted her, and he took off.

  It was a near thing, but the two drakes flying next to them, clearing the path of air traffic was both amusing and helpful. Everything else was a blur of pain and then endless joy.

  Dylia sat in her bed with her daughter. The baby was closing her fingers on a kekxite medallion. It was best to start exposure early.

  Darmon smiled. “Was it everything you hoped?”

  She looked at the baby boy that he was holding. “And quite a bit more.”