Page 173 of Galaxy Circus Act One

“Find Lila,” I order it. It takes a moment to scan the ship.

“Lila Jenson is on the Aquilia level,” the monosyllable robot voice replies. I smile. I was almost certain it was going to tell me that.

“Find Caspian.”

“Caspian is on the Aquilia level.”

Good, he found her. I’ll leave them, but as I make my way to my clinic, I send a message for them to find me once they have finished their swim.

Back in my clinic, I collapse into a seat and sigh. It’s been a busy couple of hours, and I really could do with some food. Just as I’m about to get up and program my replicator, the incoming call alert sounds. Looking at the big screen in front of me, I grimace at the name it’s displaying.

Deianira Delrose, my mother.

Fuck, what does that woman want now?

I press the button to accept the call, and her face appears on the screen. We take a moment to study each other. My mother has a mane of luxurious, shiny, copper metal-colored locks with matching eyes. She has sharp cheekbones and lush lips, and she is curvy in all the right places. It’s all part of being the CEO of Pleasure Bot industries. I know she didn’t look like that whenshe was younger, but she has manipulated her nanobots so she has an appealing package despite being rotten to the core.

“Son,” she finally says, looking down her nose at me.

“Mother,” I reply, sounding equally as unenthusiastic. “To what do I owe this pleasure?”

She scowls at my obvious sarcasm. “I have been trying to reach Josa, but he is not answering his communications.”

I scoff, unable to contain my laughter, and her scowl deepens.

“What is it, Link? Stop being obtuse.”

“Well, there is a good reason why you can’t reach him. He’s dead.”

Her scowl turns to a look of fury. “What? How? Who is responsible? I will bring my wrath down on them.”

I lean back in my chair and cross my arms with a smirk, knowing this will drive my mother crazy. “Josa made an unwise political alliance which almost resulted in the Adams brothers’ granddaughter’s death.”

“That’s hardly worthy of a death sentence,” she scoffs insensitively, and I tamp down my own wave of anger. I don’t need her paying attention to how much I care about Lila.

“To you, maybe, but the Adamses value their family members, not to mention she is the Crown Prince of Westalin’s intimate. He was none too happy with the situation and meted out his own punishment, as is his right.”

Now this gets a worthy reaction. My mother pales and shrinks back from the screen slightly, but I still catch it. The woman is off balance, and I love seeing it. As big as her political ambitions are, she won’t risk catching the eye or the wrath of the warlocks. My mother is not stupid enough to take on one of the superpowers of the galaxy.

“Well, that is unfortunate.” She recovers quickly, sighing like she’s been inconvenienced. “I guess I will have to select you a new fiancé.”

I sit up in my chair and shake my head. “I assure you that will not be necessary. I am in a relationship, and I am very happy.”

Her eyebrows jump in surprise, the only outward sign of emotion on her face. “Oh? Who?” she asks, and I hover a finger over the button.

“No one of any interest to you, Mother. I’m sorry to cut this short, but I have a patient coming in soon. Give my love to Father if you see him.” I cut off the call before she can start badgering me for answers, but just before the screen dissolves, her surprise gives way to fury once more, and I shudder at the look in her eye. My mother is scheming, and that is not good, but it’s a problem for another time.

I have other things to worry about now, namely finding the DNA profile of the missing Celestian heir so I can compare it to Mark’s when he comes down. That will keep me distracted until Cas and Lila surface again.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Caspian

It’s all I can do to stop myself from shredding my clothes and shifting midway to the right level. My kraken would destroy the elevator if he exploded in here, and then I’d be in big trouble, so I hold him in as I make my way to the Aquilian pool.

The minute the doors open on that level, he pushes his way through, and I manage to get us out of the elevator and strip off my clothes before my body makes a full shift.

Mate, he bellows inside my head before letting out an ear-splitting roar that makes the calm water of the pool ripple. He throws us into the pool, allowing me to navigate and not forcing me to the back like he usually does when he takes control. The water is bright as we make our way farther into the depths of the pool. The reef, which is normally teeming with fish, is strangely deserted, but I guess that’s no surprise with him being the apex predator in the pool.