A SPARTAN'S WAR

Martin held Anja with one arm and Aricia with the other as For'mya walked down the ramp of the STRIKER DT IIA wearing her flight suit and laughing softly with Endith and Tina. There was a reason the three of them were considered the finest flight crew within the Union. Their skills intermingled almost magically and they knew what the other was thinking almost instantly. Four weeks For'mya had been back flying with them and the happiness that gave to her could be seen in her face and eyes. And it made Endith and Tina exceptionally happy as well. Endith was the more naturally gifted pilot, For'mya the more experienced and tactically sound and Tina was a master engineer and excellent pilot herself. They meshed together like fingers and gloves.

Martin watched her share a friendly kiss with both before moving towards where he stood with Anja and Aricia. She stepped right up to him, Aricia's and Anja's arms circling her waist and pulling her close to all of them as For'mya and Martin shared a kiss of passion, devotion and love.

"Nothing useful I take it?" He asked finally.

Anja shook her head. "Not at all. We were able to gather a hundred tons of fruits and vegetables that were growing wild." She answered. "Iama was thrilled when we discovered the fruit patch. Once I cleared it medically she had all of us eating something that tasted similar to an apple. You'll like them."

"She is proving to be invaluable Beloved." Aricia spoke looking at him. "Her skill at cooking is amazing… and she has a talent for making even the rations taste good. She is quick witted and far more intelligent than we suspected the Kavalians allowed their females to become."

"No doubts about her?" Martin asked knowing that because she was a Kavalian there were many among the crew who still did not trust her.

Aricia looked at Anja and For'mya and then shook her head. "There are always doubts Martin, you know this better than us. But none of us have detected anything remotely like a lie coming from her. She speaks openly of her past without hesitation, though she does harbor an incredible amount of hate and anger at her family for giving her to the biogenic process. She does worry that no man will want her now because of what she was forced to do and that is why she has thrown herself into her cooking skills. No… I firmly believe she is relishing the second chance on life she has now."

"The Kavalians were training their biogenically altered females to do just what she is doing." Martin said. "To infiltrate and confuse. That is where the smarts come from. Resumar says they schooled them mercilessly in many areas to give them more options as spies."

Aricia nodded. "Yes. But she was being used as a common whore for the troops at that facility Beloved. You saw and heard the same thing we did."

"Lift the surveillance on her Marty." Anja said to him softly. "She's proven she is not our enemy, and if we stop trusting our instincts where does that leave us? We are not like them and that is what makes us different."

"Kinsoaurgai?" Martin asked.

For'mya nodded. "I concur." She said.

Martin nodded. "Consider it done." He spoke.

For'mya looked around, her dark brown eyes searching. "Where are Eirene and Fedor?" She asked.

Martin motioned over to the other side of the massive landing bay and For'mya cut her eyes. She could see them standing beside the large dragons Kdan and Dnom, their Bonded Ones. All of them were listening to whatever Arzoal and Helen were imparting to them within Mindvoice. Kdan and Dnom were her grandsons and Arzoal was taking a personal interest in their teachings and what they learned. She had spent most of her days instructing the hatchlings that filled the port landing bay, many of them almost the same size as Kdan and Dnom now. Arzoal believed their rapid growth had something to do with the amino acids that the drones were providing to them in their eggs. She and Helen worked tirelessly with the hatchlings, devoting most of their time to them.

For'mya smiled. "Good." She said.

"Good?" Martin asked with a smile.

For'mya turned back to look at him. "They are beginning to fit in." She said. "They no longer greet us every morning and they are doing things on their own. They are making friends and that makes me very happy."

Aricia smiled and leaned over to nuzzle her elven ear. "I told you Kinsoaurgai." She said.

For'mya leaned into the nuzzle with a smile of her own and nodded. "I know." She said. She looked at Martin. "Can they come with us to Twelve Alpha Martin? It's three days away and the experience could be goo for them. They need to get off the ship."

Martin nodded his head. "I don't see why not." He answered her. "Akemi says the indigenous humanoid life signs are on the far side of the planet from where we will get the meat. According to Wayonn, who seems to have found a niche working the sensors on the bridge if you ask Akemi, his extensive planetary scans have determined they are a pre-light drive society." He looked at Anja and Aricia. "Comparable to Earth during the 20th century before they began to explore Mars and the other planets. Not exactly primitive… but not very advanced either."

"Humans?" Anja asked.

Martin shook his head. "More reptilian in outward appearance but very close. They are confined to the southern continent it appears. We are going to the northern continent. That's where the big beasts are. I saw a picture of one of these things we're going after and it looks damn close to a Wooly Mammoth from ancient Earth."

"What are we taking?" For'mya asked.

"Danny and I will put the finishing touches on the security team tonight, but Iama says she will need at least a hundred men and women to help her slice and dice the meat that Torma and the others bring to her. Another hundred to load the KADENs. We'll have thirty-six hours to gather as much as we can carry. If we get enough, Iama says she can make it last for two maybe three months at least."

"As long as it is medically sound." Anja said immediately.

Martin nodded. "Yep."

"We should insure our footprint on the planet is well covered Beloved." Aricia said. "This will be the first planet we have landed on that has humanoid indigenous life."

"Hey! Who handles the tactics around here?" He asked defensively.

Aricia grinned. "I'm just saying…"

Martin leaned over quickly and softly bit her ear lobe causing her to giggle in delight. For'mya looked around once more. "Where are Bella and Cirith?" She asked. "And Melda Min?"

"Bella and Cirith should be on their way back with Miseo." Martin answered. "They have spent the entire day on DAYRIDER instructing the Monitors and those who have come forward to volunteer to be trained." DAYRIDER was the name of the ship Muton and his people had built. Half of the thirty-three Worker Drones that had been discovered with the dragon eggs were now working on her all of the time. She was a solid ship and the drones had begun tweaking her systems to make her even more efficient. "Wayonn caught Dysea as she was coming down. He wanted to show her something in regards to a schooling program for the twins."

"Schooling?" For'mya asked. "In what?"

"Andro passed more to them than we first thought." Martin said. "It was his way of trying to insure they and you survived in case we did not reach you it seems. Wayonn would like to develop a training regime aside from what they are already doing. He seems to think that Andro may have affected them similar to what happen with Zarah."

"Etheric power?" Anja asked.

"In a manner of speaking. He wants to test them." Martin said. "He's going to discus it with all of us at dinner. He wanted to run the organization part of it by Dysea first to make sure they were not overloaded."

"What do you think Martin?" For'mya asked him.

Martin shrugged his shoulders. "I say we hear what he has in mind. They have pretty full schedules right now and trying to squeeze something else in may be more harmful than good." He answered.

For'mya, Aricia and Anja nodded. Anja pulled them both away from Martin. "Come on." She said. "Let's go change out of these field uniforms and get ready for dinner."

Martin watched with dark brown eyes as they began walking across the bay, his eyes lingering on their asses as they walked, Eirene's words coming back into his mind. Even with her flight suit and their body armor, Aricia, Anja and For'mya looked delicious.

[Pervert!] Anja called over her shoulder at him. [Stop looking at our asses!]

[Hey! If you got it… flaunt it!] Martin barked back. [And you ladies certainly have it! Yum… yum!]

[That is the best you can come up with?] For'mya asked without turning as they continued to walk. [Yum. Yum?]

[I'll show you my best tonight!] Martin snapped playfully.

[Promises… promises!] Aricia called as they all laughed softly and kept walking.

Martin caught the movement out of the corner of his eye and turned as Tony waved to him casually from the back of the DT. He didn't hesitate and made his way to the bottom of the ramp and he saw Tony standing near the COM panel at the top of the ramp and Cody sitting on midway up the ramp, his P190A4 resting across his knees.

"Master Chief?" Martin asked as he came up.

Tony motioned to the COM panel. "It's Yuriko Skipper." He said.

Martin moved up the ramp to stand in front of the screen where he saw the face of his adopted pureblood vampire daughter Yuriko. Unknown to everyone but Andro, Danny and the members of his personal team and Captain Akemi, Yuriko and OMEN THREE were tailing them by a full day, remaining under Shroud and covering their rear. It had been a last minute decision by Martin and one he trusted fully with Yuriko. The crew of her ship adored her, not only because of her name, but because she was truly a commander who cared for her people. Of all his children, adopted or blood, Yuriko was the one he trusted the most behind Andro. She was the most experienced and like his son, she had a darker streak to her that she could call on if it was necessary to escape a situation they were in. If he was doing something on the ARC ROYAL when she called then Yuriko would contact Tony or Danny directly.

"Yuriko?" He spoke warmly, smiling as he looked at her image.

"Tony said you were busy so I was going to fill him in but then he saw you were free." She spoke.

"What do you have?" Martin asked.

"We are clear." She told him. "No sign of pursuit… but then again we are only scanning the current sector we are in father. I think we are following too close. If Pusintin is following us then he will be very cautious and not close within range of the ARC ROYAL's sensors. He will assume we have eyes and ears out in the way of fighters and such. He would not know we do not have this luxury. He would remain as far back as possible depending on how he is tracking mother."

Martin shook his head. "He's following us, bet on it, but their gear is not as advanced as ours you're right." He told her. "I don't want you dropping back more than five light years though Yuriko. No more. You and OMEN THREE are too important to us and we have no idea what we could encounter out here. Akemi would normally have RAPTOR's out doing what you are doing… so right now you are our eyes and eyes outside this sector. "

Yuriko nodded. "Very well. Five LY limit. I will order the adjusted course. We are cross decking our sensor scans to the ARC ROYAL every hour via secure link. I'd like to start sprinting up to your group and letting my people spend some time on the ARC ROYAL father. Civilian clothes so no one catches on easily, and only in twos and threes."

Martin nodded his head. "They can hang with The Master Chief and Team Twelve in their area. Less chance that they will be noticed. No one goes down there."

Cody chuckled and turned his head to look back up the ramp. "We seem to be these big bad warriors that no one wants to get close to." He said from his spot on the ramp. "Can't figure out why though?"

Yuriko smiled from her ship. "Perhaps because you tend to kill everything before asking questions Cody." She said.

Cody turned his head and looked at her image. "Yeah… that could be it." He said.

"Could be that you are just plain fugly!" Tony spat. "Ever think of that?"

"That hurts Master Chief." Cody grinned at him.

"Yeah… my ass!" Tony grunted. "Insulting you is like trying to insult a rock." He turned back to the monitor. "We can set your people up Yuriko." Tony spoke. "We got room for five more in our barracks and we have our own mess and recreation area. We'll watch out for them." Tony looked at Martin. "That means Iama will see them Skipper. She skips down to the small mess lounge on that deck at different times to check stocks and stuff."

Martin nodded. "I'm going to talk to her but I don't believe she is a threat of any kind. Aricia and the others concur."

Tony nodded. "Danny, Jules and I were talking about that as well. She seems genuine enough."

"I'm lifting the surveillance on her." Martin said. "She's becoming valuable to everyone and it's time we began to trust her."

"Father… why the secrecy with us?" Yuriko asked.

Martin met her gaze. "Laustinos could have influenced more people than we know." He stated. "Andro told me as much when we spoke last week. If by some chance one of them did manage to infiltrate Dreamland and get involved in the Arizona Project and they are on this ship I don't want to reveal all our cards."

"That's a big if father?" Yuriko said. "You know Uncle Ben is ruthless with his security at Dreamland."

Martin nodded. "I know… but even Ben would say better safe than sorry. Until we finish the checks on the crew this is how I want to play it."

"We're about half done." Tony told Yuriko. "But it's a slow process without any of Armetus's people and not alerting anyone."

Yuriko nodded. "I understand." She said.

"You haven't detected anything that could be used as a trail I suppose?" Martin asked her somewhat hopefully. He could feel his brother following them, but that didn't mean he wanted to engage in combat against a Kavalian fleet.

Yuriko shook her head. "We are using every spectrum we can think of father. So far nothing. Whatever they are using to track mother… it's either more advanced than anything we have or it's too simple and we just haven't thought about it. I'm leaning towards the latter. The Kavalians don't strike me as very open to new ideas or sophistication. Hell… they have five hundred year old ships in their front ranks."

Martin nodded. "Me too."

"I have my people beginning to shift to older communication and scanning means to try and sweep areas, but the unique possibilities are nearly limitless father, and I don't want to limit our sensor arrays." Yuriko told him. "If we happen to stumble across it, it would be a miracle. We'll keep at it though."

Martin nodded again. "I know. Try your best… but maintain your normal sweeps and sprints ahead of us."

Yuriko nodded. "Tony… I'll let you or Uncle Danny know when we make another sprint and drop our people off."

Tony nodded. "Will do." He said.

"I love you father." Yuriko said.

"And I you." Martin told her. "Tell Filrian I send my regards."

Yuriko nodded and the transmission ended. Tony looked at Martin. "You want to keep these transmissions on the DT Skipper?"

Martin nodded. "For the moment." He answered. "We keep Yuriko and the others out of the main net of the ARC ROYAL for as long as possible. If we do have a traitor on board… I don't want to give my foul brother any advantages."

"You really think he is coming after us Skipper?" Cody asked.

Martin nodded his head slowly. "He's following us… yeah." He answered softly. "I can feel his slimly ass."

"Skipper… next time we meet him… gut the motherfucker will ya." Tony said. "Save us all a lot of aggravation in the future."

Martin nodded. "I intend to Master Chief. I intend to."

It had been decided shortly after they had begun this journey that Muton and Miseo would remain on the ARC ROYAL to better facilitate joint operations between the two ships and their crew. In the ensuing five plus weeks they had grown accustom to the corridors of the ship and the Union crew. They also took note that many on the crew looked at them in an elevated manner for their actions in rescuing their elven Queen and her children. They were greeted with friendly smiles and waves almost everywhere they went on the ship now, even though they were Kavalians. Whatever caused the crew to act differently with Iama apparently did not carry over to Miseo and Muton. The entire crew was polite and open with them and even inquisitive in some respects, wanting to discover about them all they could. Training under Isabella and Cirith Leonidas was no easy feat by any stretch of the imagination. They were taskmasters to the extreme, but Miseo and his fellow Monitors and those who had volunteered to be trained relished in the sometimes harsh training. Sixty-five of the younger Kavalians had joined the thirteen monitors with a desire to learn all they could from the Union vampire Queen they knew to be nearly as deadly as the King. Cirith Leonidas was also exceptionally skilled as they were discovering, and in five weeks they had begun to shape a fighting unit that could rival a Union company.

It had been odd for Miseo and the others to take orders from vampires at first. Though none of them had ever fought against the High Coven, they had heard stories passed on by others about vampires, none of which were turning out to be true. All of them found Isabella and Cirith both to be patient and extremely intelligent. They worked one on one with someone if it was needed and it did not matter to them that they were Kavalian. This only reinforced the idea of many of them in regards to King Leonidas. If you were not his enemy, then he would go to great lengths to insure you could reach the potential that nature intended for you. The Worker Drones were the primary example. They skittered all over the DAYRIDER now tweaking this system or repairing that system and the ship ran better now than it ever did. He had sent them over to the DAYRIDER before anything else, holding out the hand of friendship without even a breath of hesitation.

Muton enjoyed the discussions he had with Wayonn while they were on the ARC ROYAL; while Miseo's primary reason for remaining was far different. He had not intended for it to happen but he could not help himself or the direction his heart was obviously taking him in. He had felt something the moment she touched his tail on Nefoa, what seemed like a lifetime ago already, and up until a week ago he had done everything within his power to try and suppress these new feelings and sensations she brought out within him. Each time he had seen her she had grown more and become more beautiful in his eyes. Each time he had seen her he wanted her even more. She was fully grown now he knew and if one looked at her they would see she was now a twenty-four year old half elf, half Lycavorian Princess who could turn heads no matter she went. However it had happened, since he did not delve much into the intricacies of Mindvoice, her mind had matured right along with her body. Miseo tried to think and see the small girl who he had seen first on Nefoa. The same one who was fascinated with his tail. That was becoming far too hard over the past weeks and it became downright impossible as of last week.

Miseo stepped quickly through the door to his quarters and caught her in midair before the door was even fully closed, her body moving with all the speed and grace of her elven nature. He held her in midair then as she laughed softly, turning quickly to the side as his gear dropped to the deck and he pinned her to the bulkhead and covered her wonderful tasting lips with his own. His two meter long tail twitched madly as it snarled around her waist and her long legs curled around his back, her combat boots locking at the base of his spine. Her arms went under his, her hands spreading across his broad back as their kiss smoldered in its intensity and his powerful arms drew her tighter to him.

Eirene groaned in blissful delight as his arms crushed her lithe form to his wonderfully powerful body and she ground her hips against his, making sure her firm breasts were crushed against his chest. She could feel his cock, even through the layers of clothes between them and this only made her hotter. The nipples of her breasts strained against the thin fabric of the shirt she wore as she allowed a small portion of her Coming of Age fever to engulf her as she kissed the man she desperately desired with ardor. Miseo's large hands gripped her firm ass cheeks and he pulled her tighter against his body caught up in the moment, causing her to coo out her enchantment within their kiss. Her Coming of Age fever was upon Eirene, but unlike her other half sisters and even pureblood females, Andro's touch within Mindvoice had gifted her with the power to suppress it entirely. She didn't know how, but it was how she had hid it from her mothers, making sure it did not come out in her scent which she knew her MedwanGai would detect instantly no matter how slight it was. His nose was keener than any living wolf Andro had passed to her and Fedor and nothing escaped his notice even though it may have seemed that way. Fedor helped her as much as he was able, adding his own abilities to help her mask her fever, but there was no way he could help her when she allowed it to come out as she did now.

Eirene had known shortly after coming to the ARC ROYAL that Miseo was the one she had wanted. She may have been fifteen at the time during her growth cycle, but she was sure. The awareness that Andro had granted to her and Fedor had allowed them to do much more than others thought. Now that she was fully grown, with all the needs and abilities of a female wolf, she knew with no doubt in her mind. His juniper like scent drove her mad whenever she caught a whiff of it, setting her body on fire unlike anything she had ever felt in her short life so far. It was so similar to what she had witnessed with her mother on Enurrua when she was reunited with her MedwanGai. Her mother's scent of sweet orchids had spiked unbelievably and her desire and want for him poured forth in buckets from her very pores. Just as it did with Eirene for Miseo. None of the pureblood or turned wolves on the ARC ROYAL had even caught her nose in interest, and there were many who were even more attractive than Miseo. None of that mattered to her. She wanted him and no other. She knew he had been fighting it for so long and last week she had grown tired of waiting. She had thrown herself on him one evening in his quarters just like this and during their passion filled kisses they had professed what they both felt for one another.

Miseo finally pulled his head back to stare into her changed wolf eyes and he saw the tips of her dual wolf fangs protruding from beneath her lip. Smaller than the fangs of her brother but fangs that were unique to the Leonidas bloodline he knew. Miseo had spent the last weeks using the computers on the ARC ROYAL to discover as much as he could about the family of the woman who had so captured his heart and soul in such little time. Trying to find some way that he could fit in. His body vibrated with need for Eirene and he blinked several times as his heart pounded away in his chest. He leaned forward finally to nuzzle the outer ridge of her half elven ear, drawing a gasp of delight from her as he fought his own raging emotions and hormones.

"I have… I have missed you so Miseo!" Eirene rasped out the words as her hands came up to his beautifully handsome face and his tail tightened around her waist.

"I have only been gone a day Eirene." He said with a smile.

Eirene grinned and rubbed her lips across his cheek. "A day is too long!" She exclaimed. "It will always be too long until you claim me!"

Miseo met her eyes as he was finally able to gather enough control of his emotions to keep from ravaging her right here. "Your fever burns hotter Little One?" He asked.

"Yes damn it! And it burns only for you!" Eirene pleaded.

Miseo pressed his forehead to her silky throat and allowed his own lips to brush against the skin just above the valley of her breasts. "I do… Eirene I do not want to deny you choice." He stated. "I do not want to keep others from…"

"I have been on this ship for almost six weeks Miseo! The fever has become so strong. I have gone to every area on this ship… looked at every man! Just as you wanted me too!" Eirene gasped pulling his head up so she could look at his face. "You are who I want Miseo! You! No one else! Why… why do you resist? I know you want me as much as I crave you. I can smell it coming from you Miseo!"

"I can barely control myself Eirene." He told her. "But I have read about your people. You are suppressing your fever… I don't know how… but you are. It is not fair to others if they can not prove to you…"

Eirene snarled and nipped his jaw with her fangs, the slight pin prick of pain causing Miseo to grin. "This is not a competition!" She growled at him. "I am suppressing my fever because I want you damn it! I have always wanted you! I don't want to be bothered by others who wish to claim me because of who my MedwanGai and mothers are! I have seen how some of them look at me."

"Listen to her Miseo." Fedor's voice broke in and Miseo turned his head to see him walk out of the small bathroom area of his quarters. "You aren't going to change her mind. She's a stubborn upaee." He spoke as he settled to the couch.

"Shut up Fedor you midaeus!" Eirene snapped at her brother.

Miseo pulled his eyes back to Eirene and her dark brown orbs smoldered at him as she tilted her head to the side in a 'I told you so' manner. Miseo knew that Eirene and Fedor were tied together in a very unique way for a brother and sister. That they shared everything with each other, holding nothing back from one another, didn't bother him in the least. Miseo liked Fedor immensely. They were closer in age than any of Miseo's own brothers and they shared many of the same values and interests.

"Your… your MedwanGai would not approve Eirene. I am Kavalian no matter that I have Pralor blood within me." He said finally looking at her. "He would not approve after what…"

"Why don't you let me worry about what I would approve of?" Martin's voice carried to them and all of their heads snapped around as the door to Miseo's quarters slid fully open and Martin stepped into the room, For'mya beside him with Anja.

"Sibfla!" Fedor gasped as he shot to his feet. "Father! Mothers!"

Miseo's eyes were wide as he quickly retracted his tail from around Eirene's waist and lowered her to the deck. His father had raised him to be true to his individual nature and not to act differently for someone's approval. In that instant Miseo decided he would not hide his feelings for Eirene Leonidas any longer. Eirene's dark brown eyes were wide as well and they flashed with anger at him when he withdrew his tail, but they instantly changed to adoring love when she felt him grip her hand tightly, refusing to let go.

"King… King Leonidas!" He rasped as the door closed behind them.

"Would any of you care to explain what is going on here?" For'mya asked sternly.

"Mother…" Fedor began. "We…"

For'mya held up her hand. "I'm not looking for an answer from you young man." She spoke turning her eyes on Eirene. "I want one from your sister."

Eirene gripped Miseo's hand tightly with one hand, her other grasping his arm as she pressed her body close to his side. "Mother I…"

"Eirene… you didn't really think you could suppress your fever from your father did you?" For'mya asked.

Eirene's eyes cut to look at Martin as he crossed his hands behind his back. "You… you know MedwanGai?" She asked in a stunned voice.

"I've known for a week." He told her. "I don't know how you have learned to suppress it as you have Eirene, a talent that many of our females would like to learn I'm sure, but it leaked out ever so slightly in your training. I told your mothers immediately."

"What else has your brother Androcles taught you?" For'mya asked looking at Fedor now too. "He certainly did not tell us about this. Or many things for that matter. He showed you how to do this didn't he? He has passed to both of you far more than he told us. As he has done with all of his siblings."

Martin nodded his head. "Something I will address with him when we speak again I can assure you."

For'mya stepped up to Eirene but made no effort to pull her away from Miseo. She let her eyes drift from Miseo's face and she looked at Eirene. She brought her hand up and touched her daughter's cheek, feeling her warm skin and easily smelling her heightened arousal in her sweet musky amber and orchid scent. Eirene closed her eyes in delight at the touch of her mother and she leaned into her touch. "You should have told me Eirene. You should have told us. Your mothers and I do have a little bit of experience in this you know. You did not have to do this on your own."

"Stop suppressing it Eirene." Martin told her. "We know… so you no longer need to hide it."

"MedwanGai… I… I do not wish to become the object of interest for every male wolf on the ARC ROYAL!" Eirene spoke passionately. "They will smell me and I will be shooing them away like flies from food. And it disrespects my Miseo having to do this."

"They would not get near you." Miseo growled softly.

Martin moved up beside For'mya and Anja with a sly grin at Miseo's response and he looked at her. "It is part of who you are Eirene. You can't hide it." He said softly. "What have I told you in our classes?"

Eirene met his eyes. "Be… be who you are and not what others want you to be." She said softly.

"So be who you are daughter." Martin said. "It is nothing to be ashamed of Eirene… our people, Lycavorian and turned wolf alike, this is something we all deal with. Well… the ladies anyway."

Anja moved behind Eirene and pressed close to her as For'mya inched closer as well. For'mya felt her mother's auras wash over her and surround her and she smiled. "Do not be afraid Eirene." Anja spoke softly into her ear. "Be yourself."

For'mya nodded as she continued to look at her and Eirene finally lowered all of the Mindvoice shields she had been using to hide her scent. The intensity of her scent spiked five fold when she lowered her shields and For'mya, Anja, Martin and Fedor all detected it immediately. It did not affect them because they were her family, but surprisingly enough it did affect Miseo. He inhaled deeply, his eyes wide and he looked at her with astonishment and a new pride.

"Eirene… my love… you have… you have been suppressing this?" He gasped as his body began to vibrate being so close to her. Kavalians did not have as keen a sense of smell as Lycavorians, but it was strong enough to detect heady scents and right now Eirene's pungent fever induced scent was maddening to him. For'mya and Anja could detect the intensity of her aroused female scent and who exactly it burned for. And they could also detect the response it was receiving from Miseo, and if they could detect it they knew Martin could as well. For'mya felt him come up behind her and stand between her and Anja.

"This could be a problem." Martin said softly.

"See!" Eirene protested vehemently. "I told you! I will attract every unmated wolf on this ship now MedwanGai! I didn't want that! I only want Miseo!"

"Milord… King Leonidas… this is my fault!" Miseo began to speak doing his best to try and shield Eirene anyway he could.

"Damn right it is!" Martin snapped looking at him. "I've smelled your scent on her for nearly a week! That's not the problem I was talking about though…"

"MedwanGai please!" Eirene spoke frantically reaching out to take his hand with hers thinking he was going to deny her what she wanted so much. "I am… I want this father! I know what I feel and…"

"You should have claimed her days ago!" Martin finished with a snort looking at Miseo.

Miseo's eyes mirrored Eirene's as they went wide and looked at him. "I thought… I did not…"

Martin shook his head quickly. "Never think that because you are Kavalian I lump you in with a single group Miseo. You, your father, the others, they have Pralor blood within them. You are not fully Kavalian and therefore you do not share the same values. And even if you were pure Kavalian, your actions have more than shown all of us that you are different. That is and has been very clear to me from the moment you and your father began helping For'mya. Pian, Jalersi, all of them. They think and feel like you and that is why they are on our side. I could care less if you were Kavalian, Kochab or Algolian. If you loved our daughter the way your scent says you do then that is all that matters."

For'mya took Eirene's hand in hers. "You are a woman Eirene. No matter how quickly that came to be… no matter how much I hate that it happened the way it did, you are fully grown and I can not deny that. Your desire for Miseo pours from you in waves and his for you." For'mya said. "We have never denied what the hearts of our children want and that does not change with you and Fedor."

"The ways of your people…" Miseo stammered looking at For'mya. "I have… I have nothing to offer to you Milady. Nothing to give you for…"

"Do you love her?" Martin asked simply.

Miseo's blue eyes darted to him once more and then they turned on Eirene. "I… more than I have ever loved anyone in my life." He said seeing Eirene's eyes become moist and her face beaming in its beauty. "I have never felt these things that I feel for her within me. I…"

"Then love her Miseo." Anja spoke moving around to stand beside Martin and wrapping her arms around his waist as his arm curled around her back and he drew her close to him. "Love her. Honor her. Protect her."

For'mya looked at Miseo. "Respect her above all else." For'mya said. "And love her so much it takes her breath away. Just be sure it is what you both want. If you do this… if you do this… you will be together for eternity."

"Lycavorians and elves become mates and husbands and wives for all time." Anja said. "Especially when the decision is made during a Coming of Age fever or a first Phase. Be sure. Both of you."

Eirene watched as For'mya stepped back and did much the same as her mother Anja, pressing close to Martin, and her arms going around his waist. Her eyes were wide in disbelief. "That's… that's it?" She gasped.

Martin chuckled and looked at her with love and warmth. "What? Did you expect us to be a bunch of raving lunatics?" He asked her. "I can still do that if it makes you feel better. Run up and down the decks screaming my head off and ranting like an idiot with foam coming from my mouth."

"Like that is any different than how you normally act?" Anja quipped up into his face with an adoring smile.

For'mya laughed and smiled at her daughter. "We vowed to each other long ago to never try and interfere in the lives of our children." She spoke. "Why should that change for you or Fedor? All we ask is that you share it with us Eirene. No matter what it is? You and Fedor are… you are special in many ways."

Anja turned her head and looked at Fedor who had crossed his arms over his broad chest with a smile. "Don't let that go to your head young man!" She quipped. "It's not a free pass to get away with murder!"

Fedor's smug look disappeared quickly and Anja smiled at his expression.

"Ok… enough of this mushy stuff!" Martin barked. "I'm hungry and that's where I was going before this little detour." He looked at Eirene and Miseo. "You two will join us for dinner no matter how much you want to stay here. You don't have anything to worry about Eirene. You are saturating Miseo with your scent daughter… given that and his own scent on you… no one will bother you."

Eirene couldn't help but blush and she giggled softly looking at her mothers. "I can't help it." She said as For'mya and Anja reached for her and drew her away from Miseo.

"When you are done eating… then you can return here." For'mya spoke. She looked back to Miseo. "I expect that her fever will no longer be a problem for her come morning." She said sternly.

Miseo shook his head quickly not really understanding what she meant. He just said the first thing that came to his mind. "No… no!" He stammered.

"Good!" Anja echoed. "We didn't want to have to get ugly."

Martin chuckled as For'mya and Anja began to lead Eirene out of Miseo's quarters.

"We will see you in the Mess Lounge." For'mya called over her shoulder as they led Eirene out.

Martin looked at Miseo his face calm. "You need to let Muton and your mother know what is happening." He said. "I clued your father in a few days ago."

Miseo's eyes grew wider. "He knows!" He gasped. Miseo shook his head slowly. "Then everyone knows."

"Miseo…" Martin said softly and Miseo lifted his eyes to look at him. "You, your father, the others, you are not part of the Kavalians that we left behind or that are probably chasing us. You are different and never doubt that I trust all of you with my life." Martin moved closer to him. "One thing though… if you ever hurt her… even a little bit… pray someone finds you before her mother's and I."

Miseo didn't back down or look away and that told Martin all he needed to know. "I would die before ever hurting her. I would kill myself before that happened."

Martin nodded and reached up to pound his shoulder. "Good. Now let's go get some food. As intense as her fever is… you're going to need it. Have you ever…"

Miseo shook his head slowly embarrassed. "No. No… no woman has ever affected me like Eirene. And with all my training as a Monitor, I never had the time. This is what… this is what For'mya meant?"

Martin nodded with a smile. "Yep!" Miseo looked somewhat concerned and Martin grabbed his arm. "I will give you a tip or two that always works with her elven mothers. Once you claim her tonight, the fever will recede and she will be your mate." Martin said with a grin. "The rest is up for you to figure out. And for fuck's sake… don't tell Eirene! She'll just turn around and tell her mothers and then I'll be in deep shit!"

Miseo looked at him and then Fedor who stood behind him. He looked back to Martin and then began laughing as they headed out of his quarters.