Salene's Secrets (55 page)

“I didn’t know you had in the first place.”

“We did,” Talus said with a sigh.  “We didn’t realize it, of course, but we did.  Otherwise we wouldn’t have let three years go by before telling you the truth.”

“I don’t understand how that means you took me for granted.”

“We wasted precious time with you,” Kar said.  “We never wondered how we’d feel if our time together ended before we let you see us as we really are.  We won’t repeat that mistake.  From now on, we’ll remember that any moment could be our last moment together, and live it to its fullest.”

“I didn’t tell you guys the truth, either,” Salene said.  “If I had, a lot of things would have happened differently.” 

“But would you want that?” Talus asked.  “I know I wouldn’t.  Not if it meant we’d miss finding our children.  I wouldn’t give up the family we have now, including Tonka and Jinjie, for any reason.”

“No, neither would I,” Salene agreed.

“I’m glad to hear that, love,” Jon said.  “Now, before we get dressed and go to lunch, we need to give you the first part of your spanking.”

“First part?” she asked, trying to pretend that she hadn’t just gotten wet.

“I’m afraid so,” Talus said, sitting down on the edge of the bed beside her.  “You got a lot more than just a scratch, and that deserves a lot more than just one spanking.”  He patted his thighs and Jon picked her up and laid her across his lap.  It happened so quickly that she didn’t have a chance to protest before she felt his hand come down on her ass with a stinging smack.  She gasped in surprise more than pain, but Talus didn’t stop or pause.  He continued to spank her, alternating cheeks, counting each one until he reached ten.   

When he stopped she relaxed in relief, glad that was over even though she was so wet it embarrassed her a little.  “My turn,” Jon said.  She stiffened instantly, but he’d already begun.  By the time Kar finished his ten her bottom felt like it was on fire and she was so wet she dripped.

“Now that’s a pretty ass,” Talus said, running his palms over her burning cheeks.  “Red, hot, and perfect for fucking.  Unfortunately, that’ll have to wait.”  He stood up with her in his arms, then turned around and set her back on the bed before sitting down beside her once more.  “Now, here’s the way this is going to go.  Even though you’re dripping wet from your spanking, we won’t be touching that pussy until you beg us to spank you the way we just did, first.”

“What?” she asked in surprise.

“This is part of your punishment,” Kar said.  “We spanked you before telling you this so you’ll know ahead of time what it is you’ll be begging for.  If you choose not to beg for a spanking then that’s your choice, and we won’t spank you.  We won’t fuck you either, or do anything else to make you come, and if you make yourself come, your punishment will double.”

“And how long will this punishment last?” she asked, shocked by how aroused she was.

“You were in the healing tank for two weeks,” Talus said.  “The longest two weeks of our lives, including the time the Controllers had us.  So we figure two weeks sounds about right.”

“Two whole weeks?” she gasped. 

“Yep, that’s right,” Talus said, giving her that smile that always made her wonder what was behind it.  She had a better idea of the answer to that question now.  “We need to get dressed now so we can meet our children for lunch.”

“But…,” she trailed off, and shook her head as she climbed off the bed, already knowing what she was going to end up doing.  The thought of actually asking -- no,
begging
-- to be spanked made her cringe, but it also excited her.  She didn’t really understand that, but she was done with worrying about such things.  She was who and what she was, and she was done hiding.  She turned around and looked at her men who were all standing by the bed watching her. 

She smiled brilliantly at them, then went into the bathroom and closed the door.

“Looks like we just lost control of that one,” Jon said with a sigh, though a smile turned up the corners of his mouth.

“She’s gonna be a handful, that’s for sure,” Talus agreed, grinning outright.  “This is gonna be so much fun.”

Epilogue

Garen, Trey, Val and Lariah Dracon speed traveled into a special area of the front porch of their home on Dracon Ranch that was marked off for safe landings.  The first thing they noticed was the high, happy laughter of a child, punctuated by the soft, husky laughter of one of their daughters.  They turned away from the door in surprise and looked around for the source of the gaiety, then smiled in confused surprise to see Salene leading two tiny ponies, each holding an even tinier rider from around the corner of the house.  Their grins froze when they saw a silver wolf so big it dwarfed the ponies, following at a sedate pace, then turned to puzzlement when they noticed that Jinjie rode the wolf’s back.  Right behind the wolf came the Gryphons, their faces alight with smiles.

“Welcome home,” Salene called when she saw them.  “You’re a bit early.  We weren’t ready for you yet.”

“Shall we leave and come back?” Garen asked archly.  When the children’s smiles fell away and their eyes took on a wary, almost frightened look, he realized he’d made a mistake.  He immediately let his true happiness show and hurried toward Salene, picked her up and swung her around.  “Hello Daughter,” he said, kissing her on the cheek, one brow rising in surprise when he saw the stone she wore on her forehead.  “I see you have some surprises for us.”

“I do,
Ata
,” she said.  Then she turned to hug Lariah, Trey and Val who’d followed Garen off the porch before turning to the children.  “I would like you to meet your grandchildren,” she said, her eyes dancing with such happiness that it nearly brought tears their eyes.  “This young lady is Mali, and the little cowboy is Tab.”

“Grandchildren,” Lariah said, clapping her hands together as she hurried toward the children.  She reached up to Mali who hesitated just for a moment before offering her arms to Lariah, who pulled her off the pony and hugged her tightly.  “How lucky we are to have such a beautiful granddaughter,” she said, then kissed Mali on the forehead before turning to Tab.  “And such a handsome grandson, too!” she added, watching as Trey held his arms out to the little boy who nearly leapt off the saddle toward him. 

“This is the best welcome home ever,” Val said, after watching the way the Gryphons and Salene looked at each other.  Clearly whatever problems they’d had were over.

Salene turned toward Garen, tears in her eyes, and hugged him tightly.  “Thank you,” she whispered, trusting that he would know it was for accepting the children without questions or hesitation.  His arms squeezed around her, letting her know that he did.

“It’s official, I hope,” he said when Salene stepped back.  “If not, we can make it so.”

“It’s official,
Ata
, but thank you,” Salene said.  Then she turned and gestured to Tonka, who’d been hanging back with the Gryphons.  He walked forward, his head high, trying not to look wary.

“Tonka, these are my parents,” Salene said.  “Garen, Trey, Val and Lariah Dracon.  Everyone, this is Tonka of the Brun.”

Garen was surprised when Salene began to introduce the wolf as though he were a person.  There could only be one reason for that, he decided.  “It is our pleasure to meet you, Tonka of the Brun,” he said with a formal nod.

“Thank you, Highness,”
Tonka replied, dipping his head in a wolfish bow, startling all of them when they heard his voice in their minds though they did a good job of hiding their reactions.
“It is my honor and privilege to meet the parents of Princess Salene, the most courageous and generous being I’ve ever had the pleasure to know.”

After Garen, Val, and Trey spoke with Tonka they greeted Jinjie, then the Gryphons.  When they were finished, Lariah suggested they all go inside.

“That’s a good idea,” Salene said.  “Suly’s been working all morning on a special welcome home lunch.”

“Mom, we need to take care of the ponies first,” Mali said, glancing at the animals worriedly.

“You two go in and get washed up for lunch,” Talus said.  “We’ll take the ponies to the barn for you this one time.”

“Thank you,
Ata
,” Mali said, her soft gray eyes nearly glowing with happiness.

“I’m looking forward to hearing how all of this came about, Salene,” Garen said as he watched Trey with the little boy.  “They seem older than their size accounts for.”

“They are,” Salene said.  “Mali is eight, and Tab is four.  But even though their bodies are underdeveloped, their minds are not.  They’re both so smart and so quick it surprises me all the time.”

“They’ve endured much trauma in their young lives.”

Salene blinked back tears.  “Yes, they have.”  Garen nodded, understanding that now was not the time for that discussion.  There was one thing he wanted to know, however.  “Tab doesn’t speak?”

Salene shook her head.  “No, and we don’t know why yet.  Doc and Aunt Darlene won’t be home for another week.”

“There are other physicians,” Garen said. 

“I know, but we want Doc or the Tigrens, and they were with you,” Salene said.  “Can you tell why,
Ata
?”

“Perhaps,” Garen said.  “The Tigrens would be best for this.”

“All right,” Salene agreed.  “But there’s no rush.  Mali can hear him in her mind, so we always know if he needs or wants something.”

“I thought I sensed a psychic talent in her.”  Garen watched as everyone headed for the house, then leaned down a bit.  “With whom are you power bonded, Daughter?”

“Wolef the golden dragon,” Salene replied, not the least bit surprised that her father had figured it out so quickly.  “It was power bond with me, or become Spirit Guide to Rayne.”

Garen nodded his immediate understanding of the choice she’d made, though he intended to get the details later.  He also wanted to know why the children held Salene’s life force, but that too would wait.  His most immediate concern was Salene’s happiness.  He glanced at the Gryphons who were walking the ponies away from them, while Tonka and Jinjie stood patiently a few yards away, waiting for Salene.  “All is well?”

Salene looked up at him, her eyes serious.  “It was Controllers,
Ata
,” she said.  His eyes widened in shock, then darkened with anger.  “A new kind of Controller, and it’s still in them.  They don’t have to be reminded to shift twice a day any more, but insist on someone watching them anyway, just to be safe.  If they don’t shift, the Controller begins to rebuild itself.”

“Is the Council aware?”

“Yes, everyone is,” Salene said.  “Unfortunately no one knows what to do about it.  Aunt Saige was with you, but even Aunt Summer couldn’t get a good grasp on the new nano-bots.  One good thing is that the Controllers seem to be getting slower and weaker each time they shift.”

“Do not worry, Daughter,” Garen said.  “We will free your Rami from this evil thing.”

“I know,
Ata
,” Salene said, smiling.  “We’re a family now, all eight of us, including Tonka and Jinjie.  We’re meant to be together, so there is no other option.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Laura Jo lives in the Arizona desert with her loving husband, their two children, one very large dog and two interesting cats.  Laura Jo loves to hear from her readers.  Visit her website at www.laurajophillips.com to see when the next installment in the Hearts of ICARUS series is coming, and sign her guestbook.   Or, email her directly at [email protected]

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