Read Online Creating Harmony by Viola Grace - Free Book Online Page B

her own. They were already bonded, just as Rion was with Watch.
    She was going to have to set up two beds in her quarters for the little ones when they could be separated from Smudge, but for now, visiting filled her urge for contact.
    Construction had begun on the education centre, a testing area for Citadel personnel before they went out into active duty. Tether had taken charge of it, and he was watching it with interest. With the surface of Lowel being slowly reshaped by the Citadel, they could build anything they needed.
    It was the best time to become part of something, right at the beginning when you could shape the result.
     
    Two months later, Iara was sitting across from her brother and discussing Kozue employment policy. “I just don’t understand why the Hanikada don’t take on any protection details. It doesn’t make sense to only be thought of as a bully.”
    While her parents were holding to the illusion that she was dead, her brothers had no such restriction. She was having lunch with Looric, and he couldn’t stop staring at Harmony.
    “It is hard to take you seriously with that puff ball on your shoulder.” He smiled, his deep blue eyes amused.
    “I know, but that is where she likes to be. She used to sit on my head, but I turn my head a lot so she would tumble loose. This is safer.”
    Harmony lifted her head and chirped.
    Iara got the images from Looric’s mind. Harmony was a mind picker. She would rifle through someone’s thoughts and feed them in pictorial form to Iara. It had taken some getting used to, but now, it made sense.
    “So, will I ever see my niece and nephew?”
    His eyes widened. “Did Ioko tell you?”
    “No. You told me. Now answer please.”
    He rubbed the back of his neck. “It is tricky. They believe you are on a world with relatives.”
    “Well, couldn’t I have simply gotten a new job? A transfer? We don’t have to tell them the truth.”
    “You would lie?”
    “I have spent my life knowing that my family didn’t want me. To see you, Ioko and Tenyak, it has let me know that I was wanted, you just didn’t know what to do with me.”
    He chuckled. “That was the truth. I don’t know what my mate would make of you.”
    “I am the Master of a Citadel. There is nothing else she needs to know.”
    Harmony chirped in confirmation. She wasn’t supposed to be away from Smudge yet, but she kept escaping to come to Iara. When her father came looking for her, Iara would simply hand her over.
    “Speaking of Tenyak, where is he?”
    “He and Rion are sparring.”
    Looric smiled, “Well, we are still your brothers and he did not ask for permission to court you.”
    “I know.” She didn’t mention her pregnancy. That was the reason that her brother and her lover were currently trying to destroy each other.
    Harmony hummed and rubbed against her cheek. She was growing by leaps and bounds, but she was still only six inches tall. She wasn’t big enough for a healing, so if Iara needed any help, she stayed far away.
    “Iara, are you happy?”
    The question came out of the blue. She took his hand and smiled, “I am. I have contact with the family that matters, and even if you never come back, we had today.”
    Looric sighed with relief. “Good. You will be seeing more of us and I will work on my wife’s attitudes to the talented.”
    Smudge’s hunting scream rent the air.
    Iara laughed while Harmony let out a deep sigh for something so small. She bundled her companion into her hands and held her over her head on flat palms. Smudge flew through the room and snagged his escaped offspring.
    Looric stared with his eyes opened wide. “Does that happen a lot?”
    “Enough. She is sneaking out to be with me, and Smudge lets her have a few hours until it is feeding and naptime. He trusts me not to stress her out.”
    “So, that little fluffy thing is going to turn into that?”
    Iara looked over his shoulder and saw Rion and Tenyak making their way into the dining