"Treyvon..."
"Hmm," he asked still nuzzling her palm.
"I'm ready."
"For what, my Jennifer?"
"To wear your Ashe bead."
Treyvon went absolutely still for a moment, then his eyes flew to hers, and in them he saw her absolute love and commitment, to him. Sitting up, he pulled her with him, the covers falling away.
"You are sure?" he asked even as his hand went to his braid.
"Yes. I want everyone to know that while your True Mate bead may have chosen me, I chose you. Chose to be your Ashe and wear your bead."
She expected her words to have an effect on him, but not the one she got which was... nothing.
"Treyvon?" She moved slightly away from him, bending her leg at the hip and knee so it was between them. "I thought it was something you wanted. For me to wear your Ashe bead."
"It is," he reassured her quietly, but still he didn't remove his Ashe bead and present it to her.
"Then what's wrong? Why are you gripping your braid like that?"
When Treyvon slowly opened his hand, she gasped at what was revealed. The braid that she expected to be holding only the black Elemental bead and his silver Ashe bead with its blue swirls, held another bead. This one was blue like Treyvon's True Mate bead, but it had white swirling through it instead of silver.
Looking at her own braid, her eyes widened when she discovered it too held a second bead, this one white with blue swirling through it. She wore a Dasho bead.
"How?" Treyvon asked huskily.
"I... I must have really met Raiden and the Goddess," she whispered thinking back to what she'd thought was a dream and how Raiden had touched her braid before sending her back to Treyvon.
"What? You met the Goddess?" he questioned. "When?"
"When I was unconscious after Spada attacked me."
"And she blessed you with the beads..." Treyvon couldn't believe the gift his Jennifer had been given. With the exception of Mackenzie, no other non-Tornian had ever been blessed with the beads.
"No," she corrected. "Raiden did."
"Jennifer, only the Goddess can gift the beads she created. And who's Raiden?" he demanded, not liking the other male's name on her lips.
"Raiden is the Goddess's True Mate and they created the beads together by using a portion of their love for one another. That's how the God Raiden could gift me with them."
"Jennifer, there is no God called Raiden."
"Yes, there is, but he wasn't always a God. He was once mortal. A very important, very powerful Emperor who ruled over all the universes. When he and the Goddess fell in love, he chose to be with her."
"To become a God." The way Treyvon said it had Jen frowning. It was as if he was judging Raiden.
"It's not something that matters that much to him. It's what he had to do to be with his True Mate."
"He abandoned his people because of a female?!!" Treyvon didn't try to hide his anger.
"Not a female," she denied, her frown deepening. "His True Mate, and he didn't 'abandon' his people. He left them in the care of his brother. Why does hearing that upset you so?"
"Do you remember what I told you in the gairdín?"
"About how at one time everything visible in the night sky was ruled by a single male, and it was supported by what was grown here on Pontus?"
"Yes."
"But doesn't what I just said support that story? That it wasn't a story but truth?”
"He was never named, Jennifer. All we know is that a powerful male failed to protect his people and that his actions caused them to be destroyed. Just like Aadi's actions are destroying us now."
"But they are two entirely different things," she instantly defended Raiden. "Aadi chose profit over protection. He knowingly abandoned those girls. Doing nothing to help them. Raiden chose his True Mate over his people, but he didn't abandon them. He left them in the care of his brother. By the time he discovered what Daco was doing it was too late."
"Daco?"
"Yes. Daco was angry that the Goddess had chosen Raiden, and that she'd made him a God. So Daco took that anger out on Raiden's people, destroying everything he had built and erasing Raiden's name from his people's memory. Well except for those that became the Kaliszians."
"Because of the texts..."
"No, because you are his descendants."
"What? All Kaliszians descend from this Raiden?"
"From his brother Jadi, distantly at least. All except for your bloodline."
"Mine..."
"Yes. You and Aadi are direct descendants of Jadi... and therefore related to Raiden Nacy the Great, Emperor of all the Known Universes, the Bringer of Peace," she recited the title she was surprised she remembered. "And God."
"It would explain so much..." he murmured.
"What do you mean? Explain what?"
"Why so many in my bloodline fail to protect when they should. Why the Goddess has punished us so severely. It's because of him."
"You think the Goddess is punishing you because of her True Mate? Treyvon that makes no sense. I saw the love between them. Saw how completely devoted to one another they were. To hurt Raiden's people is to hurt Raiden. She would no more do that to her True Mate than you would to me. Then you would refuse to protect an innocent."
"But I have..." he confessed quietly, guilt dimming the eyes that met hers.
"What?" Jen frowned at him in confusion. "I don't believe it! You would never do that, Treyvon."
"But I did. With the abused female who crashed on Pontus with Emperor Vasteri."
"The Emperor abused her?" She didn't try to hide her shock.
"No! The Ganglians did that, but when she didn't want to leave with the Emperor, she asked me for protection. I refused her."
Jen just stared at Treyvon for several moments trying to understand what he was saying. The Treyvon she knew would never have done that... not without a good reason. "Why?"
"Because I am no different than Aadi."
"Stop that!" She slapped a hand against his chest. "We both know you never would just stand by while a female was being abused! Your honor would never allow it."
"It seems I am not as honorable as you believe I am."
"I'll never believe that and do you know why?" She didn't give him time to reply as she lifted her braid, his True Mate bead firmly held between her thumb and forefinger. "Because of this! I know you are honorable, Treyvon. Know how committed you are to your people..." She cut herself off when she suddenly realized there was only one thing that could have caused him to compromise his honor... his people. "What did that son of Daco Emperor threaten you with?"
"It matters not," he told her looking away.
"Of course it matters!" She put gentle fingers on his jaw, bringing his gaze back to hers. "Tell me, Treyvon. Please."
Treyvon looked into his True Mate's concerned gaze and knew he could deny her nothing, especially truth. "He threatened to stop all Tornian food transports to the Kaliszian Empire."
"He what?!! But your people would have starved."
"Yes."
"He put you in an impossible situation."
"It was still my choice and I chose not to help her."
"Because millions, billions would have starved if you had."
"That does not matter. I made the decision."
"That the needs of the many, outweigh the needs of the one. Did you fear this Emperor was going to harm her?"
"No. It was obvious that Vasteri cared a great deal about her. Her reason for not wanting to leave was because he had lied to her about who he really was."
"He didn't tell her he was the Emperor?"
"No, and it upset her greatly."
"Of course it would. No one likes being lied to." She gave him a considering look. Treyvon was a protector at heart. She knew he wouldn't be able to just let this female leave with absolutely no way to protect herself. "What did you do?"
"I told you..."
"You wouldn't have just let her le
ave without any protection."
Treyvon suddenly realized his Jennifer knew him very well indeed. "I gave her one of my blades," he told her quietly. "It wasn't much, but as you said, I couldn't send her off completely defenseless."
"You thought she'd need it? Against this Emperor?"
"Against Wray? No. Once he returned to Tornian, he not only made her his Empress but declared her to be Tornian. Something that is rarely done. But until that happened... females are not plentiful in the Tornian Empire..." He didn't have to finish for her to understand that the female was at risk.
"I hope she never had to use that blade, but I'm sure she was grateful to have it. I know I would have felt better in that mine if I would have had something. If I had, I might have been able to save Todd."
"That might have been... possible," he told her grudgingly. "But if you had killed one of theirs, the Zaludians would have killed all of yours."
"The needs of the many..." she murmured.
"Yes." He gave her an uneasy look. "I need to tell you another truth, Jennifer. One that will upset you and make you think me unworthy."
"Nothing you could say could ever make that happen, Treyvon. You have to know that. You can tell me anything." She didn't understand the doubt she saw in his eyes.
"I pray that is truth because while if I could have, I would have spared you all the suffering you experienced at the hands of the Ganglians and Zaludians. I have to thank the Goddess for bringing you into my life. Even if it meant you had to lose your Dasho for it to happen."
Jen felt her eyes fill at his words because she understood the feelings behind them, knew what it cost him to say them. If she could go back and change things she would... and she wouldn't... because it would mean she wouldn't have Treyvon.
"I understand what you are saying, Treyvon, and I don't think you unworthy because of it." Reaching up, she gave him a small smile as she caressed his cheek. "Todd will always be part of my life. He was my husband and my first love, but you... you will be my last. You are my Dasho and my True Mate. I love you."
"Goddess, Jennifer," his voice broke as he pulled her close, his head dropping on to her shoulder for a moment before he pulled back. Reaching up, he removed the Ashe bead in his hair. Slowly he presented it to her.
"Jennifer Neibaur, will you accept my bead and be my Ashe? I vow that if you do, I will always provide and care for you. I will protect you with my life and I will love you with all my heart and soul. And when the Goddess calls me to enter the Promised Land, I will fight to remain at your side."
"Oh, Treyvon." Tears filled her eyes again but this time they were tears of happiness. Reaching out, she gently touched the hand holding the bead "It would be my honor to accept and wear your bead. Will you help me put it on?"
Treyvon found he could only nod stiffly and with their fingers interlaced, placed his Ashe bead just below his True Mate bead. He was surprised to discover his True Mate bead already resting halfway up her braid, signifying how strong their bond already was. Both beads began to shimmer and glow, the swirls of color moving as if they were overjoyed to be together again.
"Treyvon Rayner..." She reached up to her braid and removed the Dasho bead she'd been gifted. "Will you do me the honor of accepting my bead and becoming my Dasho? I vow that if you do, I will always love and care for you. I will love you with all my heart, all my body, and all my soul. I will protect you and your beautiful heart. I also vow that I will do my best to provide you with the most amazing meals you have ever eaten." She gave him a teasing smile before continuing more seriously. "And when the Goddess calls me to enter the Promised Land, I will fight to remain at your side."
"Jennifer... my Jennifer," he murmured, then framing her face with his hands gave her the most reverent of kisses. "To wear your Dasho bead... I never thought I would wear anyone's Dasho bead, but for it to be yours... You are the most beautiful female I have ever known, and I am not referring to how you look." Being Treyvon, he could not give her an untruth. "At least not just your looks, because you are beautiful, but I am referring to your beautiful heart which exceeds your exterior beauty like the sun outshines the stars. Do you not know that the honor is all mine?"
He touched the bead in her hand and could feel her love streaming through it. "Will you place it on me?"
Jen could feel his need and desire to wear her bead in his touch. So interlacing their fingers, she placed her bead in the space between his Elemental bead and her True Mate bead and watched it shimmer and glow as it attached itself to his braid.
Looking up at him, she smiled and whispered, "My Dasho."
"My Ashe."
• • • • • •
Jen hummed as she puttered around the kitchen nearly two weeks later. She hadn't believed it would be possible for her to ever be this happy again. The ground storm was still raging but she didn't care, in truth she actually welcomed it. It meant there wasn't much for Treyvon and his warriors to do, so many of them had started to mill around in the kitchen and eating area. Several had even taken an interest in learning how to make biscuits and learn some of the most basic recipes, like making stews and scratch gravy.
She had meant to go back to the storage area where Spada had attacked her. Alone. She needed to face what had happened to her there, just like she had back at the mine. There was also the fact she still needed to do a precise inventory of everything in it so she could come up with meal plans.
She should have known her Dasho and True Mate would never allow it. He'd stood in front of the storage area door, his arms crossed over his chest with a heavy frown on his face that told her how unhappy he was with her right then.
She'd thought their bond had been strong when they only wore each other’s True Mate beads. But with the exchange of their 'commitment' beads, as Jen liked to think of the Ashe and Dasho beads, the bond had intensified to the point where she swore there were times they could read each other’s minds.
It was a wonderful thing when they were making love. When she knew exactly how close he was to losing control and what she could do to cause him to. Because Treyvon often thought his full passion might harm her as she still hadn't gained as much weight as he would like. She knew better and they both enjoyed when she pushed him.
But at times like that, she wished it wasn't quite as strong. He hadn't been the sweet, gentle Warrior she rested with every night. He had been the Supreme Commander who wasn't happy with what she had been doing. It had taken some time and some arguing that shocked the warriors who’d witnessed it. But finally they'd settled it and she couldn't complain about the results. Not when Treyvon had locked the self-opening door and they'd had 'make-up' Joining against the wall.
She couldn't help but smile as she put a pot away, remembering just how much she'd enjoyed it. Afterwards, Treyvon had stayed and helped her go through the containers, lifting the lids she was unable to and asking questions about much of what they found.
Now she was going to make something she was confident no Kaliszian had ever experienced. She'd mixed up a recipe earlier using primarily ingredients she'd found in the containers. One that had her screeching so loud that Treyvon jerked her away from the contain and pulled a blade.
Opening the oven, her eyes closed as the most tantalizing aroma filled the room and made her mouth water.
"Hey, Jen, I thought... Oh... My... God...” Mac froze as she entered the kitchen, her gaze going to the pan Jen was pulling out of the oven. "That's not what I think it is. Is it? No! It can't be. Please tell me it is."
Jen found herself laughing at all of Mac's short choppy questions as she set the hot sheet pan on the counter. "That depends. What do you think it is?"
"You know what I think it is," Mac told her rushing across the room to lean over the brown mass in the hot pan. "Oh God. Don't tease me, Jen"
"Well, as all the supplies I used came from Earth, I'd say it's exactly what you think it is. Although I haven't frosted them yet."
"Oh my God! Chocolate brownies!" Ma
c started dancing around the room.
"Uh-huh," Jen laughed.
"Screw the frosting!" Mac came back to grip the edge of the table and inhaling the warm scent again. "Cut those bad boys! Do you know how badly I've been craving chocolate lately?"
"Really?" Jen frowned at her friend. "You've been craving it?"
'Haven't you?" she asked. "I mean I wasn't a huge chocoholic back on Earth, but it was there, you know. Now that I haven't been able to have any..."
"But you're craving it, Mac?"
"Yeah, so?" Mac questioned distractedly as she picked out a crispy chunk from the corner, her favorite part of a pan, then had to bounce the hot mass from one hand to the other to cool it before popping it in her mouth.
Jen watched as Mac's eyes closed as she gave a hum of unadulterated pleasure.
"I take it it's good," Jen teased.
"Oh God, yes." Mac's eyes popped open moving back to the pan. "More. Now."
When Mac reached in to get more, Jen slapped her hand.
"Stop that. You're going to burn yourself."
"Do you think I care? God, Jen, that is so good."
"And it will be even better with frosting. Now sit." She gestured to a chair.
Reluctantly, Mac did. But her eyes longingly followed the pan Jen moved out of reach.
"Have you talked to Nikhil yet? Let Luol scan you?" she questioned quietly.
"No," Mac murmured, her gaze finally leaving the pan to look at her hands.
"Why not?" When Mac continued to just look at her hands, she pressed. "Mac?"
"I'm just not ready to face it yet," Mac whispered. "Once I do, there's no going back. No more it being just me and Nikhil. No more me being... well, just me. I'll forever be a mother and have another being that is part Nikhil, part me to worry about. I just..."
Jen reached out and squeezed her friend’s hand. "Alright, I feel like I should say I understand but I can't. Not really, but maybe you should talk to Maysa. She'd understand."
"I'd understand what?" Maysa asked, walking into the room. "And what is that... interesting... smell?"
"Jen made brownies," Mac quickly told her, as she gave Jen a pleading look.
"Brownies... sounds interesting."