Read Online Harness by Viola Grace - Free Book Online Page B

Consul?”
    “What are you interested in?”
    “I wish to become a master shifter and have a family all my own.” He blinked at her with earnest eyes that had a hint of his mother’s dark green gaze.
    “El-sur here is an excellent trainer. What your father cannot teach you, El-sur can.”
    He grinned and nodded, “Thank you, Madam Consul.”
    Now for the hard part. “Deborah and Yeren-las, come forward.”
    They both came forward and went down on one knee. Yeren-las kept his arm around his wife. The Terran was shaking.
    “For years, I have wondered where I got my human form. It is good to see that genetic memory or, perhaps, actual infant memory counts for something.” She turned into her human form for a moment, listening to the gasp from her brothers and watching tears come to her mother’s eyes as she saw her own features.
    She reverted quickly to her Sukra shape. Shifting was another thing that made her dizzy. “My Sukra shape takes after my father’s side, and for most of my life, I have believed that he was a predator of the worst sort. It was a heavy burden to think I came into the world via violence.”
    Deborah had tears tracking down her cheeks. “I didn’t know what he was, what had happened. I reported it and didn’t find out for two days what my boyfriend actually was. Once I accepted it, it was too late. I was pregnant and the file was in place. No one was going to find the man with skin like pearl and hair like blood.”
    Fred asked him, “Was it easy to give up your child?”
    Yeren-las swallowed, and it was Deborah’s turn to support him. “It was the hardest thing I have ever done. I watched over you for years, but I had to leave when the Alliance began to close your star system. Deborah and I took our sons and left you behind. There is nothing I have ever regretted as much as I have obeying the voices that told me what to do.”
    “I will let you know that it was necessary. I needed to come here with the knowledge of three hundred shapes and the mind control of a child. There was only one way to have that happen, so that is what was done. I am coming to grips with it, and I will have you know your family is welcome here. Your home has been prepared.”
    El-sur helped her to her feet and held her when she swayed.
    “Enjoy your new home and ask my immigration secretary if you need anything.”
    Deborah blinked. “You are pregnant.”
    “Yup.”
    Deborah laughed. “I was sick as a dog with you. It took me until the seventh month before my stomach settled. The only thing that worked was having Yeren-las—Anthony back then—rub my feet. I don’t know why it worked, but it did.”
    El-sur grinned, “I have rubbed every other part of her to no effect. She is highly ticklish though.”
    Yeren-las helped his wife to her feet. “Just persist. The sensitivity fades.”
    Fred reached out and hugged her mother and then her father. His mind touched hers for a moment, and she smiled. “Just as good, huh? I will send the report to the Nyal Imperium. They can put a bid in for the second wave of Terrans.”
    Deborah blinked and the boys figured out what was going on. Alfredo came forward again, “You are our sister?”
    Tomaro didn’t hesitate, he hugged her, and Alfredo was right behind.
    “Don’t squeeze too tight boys, contents under pressure, don’t you know.”
    They began chattering at her, and she tried to answer their questions, but after a few moments, the Elders stepped forward. “She needs to rest. She has not been well today.”
    El-sur spoke quickly with Yeren-las, and a few minutes later, Fred was in her office and El-sure was rubbing her feet.
    “This is probably why I can’t keep shoes on you. Your body is calmed by the pressure.”
    She sighed happily. “Shut up and keep rubbing.”
     
    * * * *
     
    Five months, forty family dinners with her parents and brothers, five gatherings with both sides of the family, and one hundred and eighty-three Sukra on Arxuxsa later, the