Divided Read online

  “What do you mean?” Becca asked. “You…you’re dying?”

  “More like fading.” Vashtar sighed and his rotund form began to look transparent. “It is time. Remember I told you that I am the last one left in the Mindscape? It’s very lonely without the others of my kind—without my two mates, Selba and Tims.” He looked wistful. “I should like to rejoin them soon.”

  “I hope you can,” Becca said softly. “And thank you, Vashtar. Without you, we never would have gotten together.”

  “Or found the cure for the unmated males,” Far added.

  “My brother and Rebecca are right but I am curious about one thing,” Truth said. “Why did you tell us all that ridiculous nonsense about dipping the amulet in water and then spraying it on the possessed ones? Sylvan tried it and it didn’t work at all.”

  “Why because, my dear Truth…” Vashtar’s third eye winked conspiratorially. “If I had told you how you actually had to activate it—that you had to bond together completely in order to make it work—would you have still gone seeking it?”

  “I…” Truth frowned and seemed to consider. “At the time you first visited us, no,” he admitted. “I am ashamed to admit it but back then I had no wish to be bound as we are now.”

  “You have grown much, my son.” Vashtar smiled at him fondly. “All three of you have. Which is why I can leave you now, content in the knowledge that the ways of the OneMind will live on.”

  “Wait,” Becca said as he started to fade. “I have to know—did the Goddess send you to us?”

  “Ah, as to that, only the eye can say for certain.” Vashtar’s third eye winked at them solemnly and Becca knew she wouldn’t get a clearer answer no matter how many times she asked.

  “Go in peace, Vashtar,” Far said, smiling at the little man. “And thank you again for all you did for us—whether it was by the Goddess’ will or not.”

  “But…are you really going to let yourself die?” Becca whispered, feeling sad.

  Vashtar nodded. “It is time. And though my light is extinguished in this vast universe, I go knowing that I have been able to spark a new light before I die. That is true happiness.”

  With a last wink of his third eye, he faded from view. The mist around them cleared, and they found themselves back in the park before the Unmated Males area.

  Commander Sylvan was looking down at them, a worried expression on his face.

  “What happened to the three of you?” he demanded as they scrambled to their feet. “For about three minutes you were just frozen there—not moving or speaking and barely even breathing. I was beginning to be really worried.”

  “We entered into one of Far’s visions together,” Truth answered for them.

  “Don’t worry,” Becca added quickly, seeing the dismayed look on Sylvan’s face. “It was a good one. It was Vashtar again—he just wanted to say goodbye.”

  “And is the threat resolved?” Sylvan asked.

  “Yes.” Truth nodded firmly. “The demons are all imprisoned in the black shadow stone. Vashtar said to be certain it is set adrift in space to act as an eternal prison for them.”

  “I’ll have it done at once.” Sylvan smiled and then offered an arm to Far. “Glad to have you back.”

  “Glad to be back.” Far clasped with him and smiled.

  “I’d like to have you down to the Med center to do some tests,” Sylvan said. “But you look perfectly healthy to me.”

  “We’ll bring him down anyway,” Becca said. “But, um, maybe later.”

  She was touching both her men, standing between them, and she was suddenly aware of the warm, familiar tingle of desire running through her body. She was further aware that she was only wearing a thin sheet—and she wanted to be wearing a lot less in a short time.

  “Truth? Far?” she sent through their bond.

  “Yes, Rebecca?”

  “What do you wish, mi’now?”

  “You know what I wish, boys. I wish to be back at Truth’s suite with both of you, naked.”

  A low appreciative growl from Truth and a hot look from Far were more than enough to let Becca knew her men approved of her suggestion.

  “All right.” Sylvan was looking at the three of them, a knowing little smile playing around the corners of his mouth. “I see where this is going. The three of you go and renew your bond. I’ll see you in a day…or a week…or whenever you can let go of each other long enough to drop by the Med center.”

  “Thanks, Commander Sylvan.” Becca spared him a smile and then hooked her arms through her men’s again and gave them a tug. “Come on, boys—take me home.”

  Chapter Forty-seven

  “So Far is back to normal? I mean, completely back to normal?” Kat raised an eyebrow at Becca.

  “Uh-huh. And then some. At least he seemed to be last night. And the night before that… And the day before that…” Becca blushed. It had been several days since Far had come back to them and she was taking a short break in the sex-marathon that had become her existence lately to visit with friends.

  “Uh-huh.” Kat grinned at her. “Now that’s what I like to hear. You’re going to be having some pretty hot bonding sex for a while, doll. Believe me, after Deep came back from the great beyond, he and Lock and I couldn’t get enough of each other for like three months.”

  "Kor and I were the same way. It's amazing how fast they heal." Maggie, who was also visiting, shook her bouncy blonde curls and gave Becca a friendly smile. "I mean, Commander Sylvan just barely released him from the Med Center and he was all over me!" She blushed. "Not that I mind."

  “Me either. I hardly wanted to leave my guys to come over here,” Becca admitted. “But the two of them shooed me away. Apparently they’re making a special supper and they want it to be a surprise.”

  “Kindred do love to cook for their women,” Liv remarked.

  “They’re pretty damn good at it too,” Kat agreed and bit down on the chocolate donut hole she was holding in one hand. “Speaking of which—Ugh. This sure wasn't made by hand." She made a face. “It's awful! Where’s Lauren when you need her?”

  “Um, maybe recovering from giving birth?” Sophie suggested, rolling her eyes. “Honestly, Kat woman—you’re even worse than Livvy was about your pregnancy cravings!”

  “You take that back!” Kat stabbed a finger at her. “Nobody was as bad as Liv! May I remind you that she made us make her seaweed sandwiches? With peanut butter?”

  "Seaweed with peanut butter? Really?" Maggie looked disgusted.

  "Not to mention waffles with ketchup and all kinds of other things it makes me gag just to remember!" Kat exclaimed.

  “Okay, okay…” Sophie held up a hand, laughing. “You win. And I’m sorry you don’t like the donuts I brought. I guess Dunkin Donuts just can’t compare with Lauren’s gourmet recipes.”

  “That’s all right.” Kat gave a long suffering sigh. “I’ll just have to make do. But next time go to Krispy Kreme. At least their stuff doesn’t taste like frosted cardboard."

  "I love Krispy Kreme," Becca gushed. "It's my mom's favorite too. We used to get a big box of the plain glazed every Sunday after mass and..." She trailed off, biting her lip.

  "What is it, doll?" Kat asked gently. "Thinking about how your folks are going to react when you introduce your guys to them?"

  Becca sighed. "The thought did cross my mind once or twice. I've been so happy the last couple of days it's easy to forget what's waiting for me down on Earth the moment I bring Far and Truth to meet my family."

  "You're going to just go for it like that?" Liv gave a long, low whistle. You're brave, I'll give you that."

  Becca lifted her chin.

  "Well, they have to find out sometime. And this way at least my mom can finally give up the idea that I'll ever go back to the convent."

  "That's a good point," Kat said dryly. "I don't know too many nuns who have twin husbands hanging around. But you should just come right out and tell them, don't beat around the bush. And while