Page 45 of Breaking Ties

Vress blinked. “You still have an issue with that?”

“Their brains overheat. They need someone who can take some of the pressure. I would like to try with this one.”

Whisper didn’t say anything.

Vress looked at Aubrey and said, “It will have to wait until Aten. If these ladies have hidden genetics or skills, Ra’s machines will bring them out without trauma. I don’t think the oracle will part with these ladies before that.”

Aubrey smiled. “Overlord Vress is very wise. Now, Overseer, you wished to see if your future is visible? What are you seeking?”

“A companion. Your people are a compatible shape, so if they are a match, I will transport them all.”

Aubrey smiled. “And what? Try them all on for size?”

“I believe they can be trained to be soothers. The frequency your companion works on is correct.”

Aubrey looked at Whisper and said, “What’s that face?”

“A soother is something we put inside a child’s mouth to ease teething or for comfort. It gives them something to chew on. It is also called a dummy, and I have never been accused of being a dummy.”

Nerigot paused. “While the idea of putting you in my mouth is intriguing, I will abide by Ra’s assessment.”

Whisper flinched. Aubrey understood far too much in that flinch. She asked softly, “How much scarring did they remove?”

“About twenty percent of my surface area. I couldn’t move properly, and while we waited for the ship to fill, they put me in during the spaces in the healing.” Whisper smiled. “What did you see when you saw my future?”

“You are standing and holding an orb filled with energy between your hands, wearing a long tunic and trousers in a dark room with bright eyes surrounding you. One hand changes the colour of the energy, and your face is reflected in the energy.”

“Was I trying to take the heat off anyone else?”

Aubrey chuckled. “No.”

Nerigot’s jaw was open slightly. “That isn’t possible.”

“If you say so, Overlord Nerigot. You are the expert.” She got to her feet and walked around the table. “Now, allow me to touch your forehead, and I will see what your future holds.”

He nodded, and she reached out to touch his forehead with her middle finger.

Nerigot’s body lay with pale limbs underneath him. Watching Whisper in the chamber where she was playing with energy, he was feeling pride and arousal. A maelstrom of arousal.

Aubrey jerked her hand back. “Oh, that’s new.”

Vress asked, “Something wrong?”

“I just got emotions from the image. That hasn’t happened before. It caught me by surprise.” She shook her fingers, trying to get the image out of them.

Nerigot asked, “What did you see?”

“You get a companion. The details are a little fuzzy.”

“Would they clear up if you read them again?”

“Perhaps after we are on Aten, I will try again. I am still getting used to this.” She really wanted to talk to Whisper about this first.

Vress pulled her onto his lap. “What did you see?”

“Honestly? Nerigot on a smaller female with pale limbs. Five fingers and toes on each hand. I couldn’t see her, though.” She rubbed her forehead. “There was a lot of lust in that image, and that hasn’t happened before. So I couldn’t see her face. Identification wasn’t possible.”

Nerigot nodded. “Fair enough, but it is one of your kind.”