Heartskein (Fallowtide Sequence 3)

For as long as he could remember, Vasiht'h planned on starting a family, a plan that surviving the war only made more urgent. The temple on Anseahla has summoned him at last to pick up his new kits, an errand he decides will be an excellent opportunity to have some alone-time with his partner, Jahir. But his partner is now an imperial prince-consort, and Vasiht'h himself has more responsibilities than he anticipated, and it isn't long before their private getaway turns into a huge production. And that's before the children join the party!

But becoming a father is only one of the changes that Vasiht'h must accept as he moves into this newest phase of his life. For the longest time he's thought of himself as living in an Eldritch shadow. If he wants to thrive--if he wants to lead his contingent of Glaseah to a fuller life themselves--he has to accept that sometimes a supporting role is just an excuse to stay out of the limelight....

Heartskein is a cozy science fiction novel and returns to the dreamhealers in their new roles as powers in the new Eldritch Empire: Jahir is now a married man and a prince, and Vasiht'h an administrator, a lord, and a father! But no matter what changes, some things stay the same: like a bond of love stronger than wars and unconquered by time. Come unwind, and meet the babies!

Genre (setting): space opera (Pelted)
Tags: parenthood; space elves; multicultural; friendship; aliens; family; relationships
Rating: PG for references to adult situations

Excerpt from Chapter 1

Vasiht’h was dreaming—obviously, because he no longer had a patient alert set up on his tablet. The beeping he was hearing could not be coming from an actual device. He continued believing it until a hand lit on his shoulder, right before a braid fell on his back with a thump as heavy as a slap. “…siht’h, Vasiht’h, your tablet’s going off.”

“What?”

Sediryl, just visible through his cracked eyes. She was staring down into his face. “Your tablet is making a lot of noise.”

“My ta… why?” Vasiht’h shoved himself upright and groped for it until it slid into his pile of pillows, where it got lost. He dug for it while it continued making alarming noises; beside him, Sediryl tossed pillows aside until they uncovered the tablet.

The alert was going off for a message. Vasiht’h couldn’t remember setting any message to this particular priority until he spread it. Then he fell back onto the mound, which spilled away from under his haunches. Mired amid his bedding, he said, “It’s from the siv’t.”

The mindline had been tense throughout the alarm’s sounding; now it was positively singing. Jahir sat up in bed. “Is it—”

“My children are ready for pick-up!” Vasiht’h paused. “Oh Goddess, that sounds ridiculous. Like they’re some kind of take-out meal I ordered. I can’t… I knew it was coming but I kept thinking it would be tomorrow and now—”

“Now it’s today! Excellent!” Sediryl grabbed for his hand and pulled him out of the pillows. “You must go immediately, of course. And Jahir with you, as he promised.” She pushed her bangs out of her eyes. “I’ll take care of the formalities with Liolesa and arrange for your ride.”

“Formalities?” Vasiht’h asked, feeling the vague weight in the mindline as chagrin.

Sediryl laughed, merry, and hugged him, smelling strongly of sun-ripened grain and wildflowers and sleep. “Oh, arii. He’s the prince-consort! He can’t just jaunt off-world without telling anyone. But I’ll handle it, and you all can be off soonest. You’ll talk with your sister about handing off your responsibilities while you’re gone?”

Vasiht’h had never been a morning person. A mid-morning person, maybe, but given a choice he would have lingered in bed until his brain started working properly. Preferably after the first of a couple of breakfasts. Sediryl effortlessly scheduling his change of plans for him several minutes after an alarm had shocked him out of sleep was a little more than he could keep up with. “I… all right… of course, when…”

“When you wake up completely, naturally.” Her orange eyes sparkled. “I’ll leave you to that. I was going to get up in ten minutes anyway.” She straightened and went to the bed to wrap her arms around Jahir and cuddle into him; the mindline reported that as joy and familiarity, the satiny finish of smooth skin. And then she was hurrying out, grabbing her fire-colored robe on the way and summoning Maia.

Vasiht’h clutched his head. “She is a force of nature.”

Jahir dropped back onto the bed and laughed, quiet but heartfelt.

“I can’t believe this,” Vasiht’h muttered. “The day after my sister tells me I need a vacation, and we decide you need one too…”

“They provide,” Jahir said, the mindline shading it white as dove wings.

“And we go as She directs,” Vasiht’h agreed. He padded to the bedside and flopped against it, arms spread over the top of the mattress and chin resting between them. “But I admit I wasn’t planning such an abrupt departure.”

“We can go when you decide, ariihir. Don’t let Sediryl’s enthusiasm force you into anything.”

“No, no, she’s right. Stalling isn’t good either. I’ve…” He exhaled hard. “I’ve been waiting long enough for these kits. Sometimes it feels like I almost waited too long.”

Jahir’s hand slipped over his wrist, squeezed, gentle.

“So yes. I’m all right with going the moment we can.” He smiled over his arm at his partner, who had managed to shift himself under the covers again and had a blanket up to his jaw. He looked adorable that way, all peeping amber eyes and mischievous smile. “It’ll be nice, now that I think about it. For the two of us to be doing something together, the way we used to.”

“It would at that. I am looking forward to it, I find.”

As easily as that, Vasiht’h was too. He grinned. “Just like old times.”

“Then…” His partner rolled onto his side, shaking his braid off his neck. “You to your tasks and I to mine, and then we shall be away.” He paused. “It would be good. To be abroad again.”

“I agree,” Vasiht’h said firmly. “This is exactly what we need.”