Falcorans' Faith by Laura Jo Phillips Read Free Book Online Page B

Not our bodies, or even our hearts.”
    “Does that mean that Faith and the Falcorans will eventually come around and accept each other?” Hope asked.
    “Not necessarily,” Clark said sadly.  “Their souls are meant to be together, but they still have minds, and with that comes free will.  They may choose to ignore the yearning of their souls.  It has happened before, though not since before the Dark Time.”
    “What will happen to them if they do?” Hope asked.
    “Faith is human,” Clark said.  “It’s possible she will one day find another to share her life with, though she will never know the kind of love she is meant to know with the Falcorans.”
    “And what of them?  What will happen to them?”
    “They will live out their lives as they are now,” Clark said.  “They will never change, or grow into the men they are meant to be.  They will never know happiness, or love.”
    “They will never feel the joy of holding their sleeping child in their arms,” Rob said softly before leaning down to kiss Harlan’s forehead.  “They will never experience the ecstasy of creating children with the woman they love, nor the strange mixture of anticipation and terror of the impending birth.”
    “In short, Niha ,” Jackson said, wrapping one arm around her shoulders and pulling her close against him, “they will never understand what it is to have their cup runneth over.”
     
    ***
     
    Trey Dracon suddenly appeared on the Bearens’ front step and pressed the doorbell.  He waited impatiently for the Bearens’ housekeeper to answer the door, reminding himself repeatedly that the ability to speed travel meant that even without rushing, they would reach Badia in a fraction of the time it had once taken if they needed to.  Nevertheless, he was still relieved enough to let out a small sigh when the door opened.
    “Greetings, Prince Trey,” the housekeeper said, her eyebrows raised in surprise.
    “Good afternoon, Sondra,” Trey said politely.  “I would speak with Jackson, Clark, and Rob, if they are available.”
    “Certainly, Highness,” Sondra said, stepping back and pulling the door all the way open.  “Please come in.”
    Trey entered the house and closed the door behind him before following Sondra’s tall, narrow frame through the living room to the family room.  He was relieved to see all of the Bearens were there.  That would save time. 
    “Greetings, Highness,” Jackson said as he slipped a sleeping Weld into Hope’s arms. 
    Trey smiled faintly at the sight of the three big Bearens with the small Owlfen babies.  So much had changed for their people in such a short time.  Which was why the matter he’d come to discuss with them was so important, and so unnerving. 
    “I apologize for interrupting you,” Trey said, offering Hope a friendly smile.  “It is a matter of some importance.”
    Jackson glanced sharply at him, and Trey nodded.  Yes, this was a serious visit.  Clark and Rob went up the stairs with Hope to put the boys down, while Jackson led Trey into their private office and closed the door.  “May I offer you something to drink while we wait for Clark and Rob?” Jackson asked.
    “No, thank you, Jackson,” Trey replied.  A moment later the other Bearens joined them, much to Trey’s relief.  After brief greetings, he began.
    “I am here to speak with you in your capacity as Planetary Security Chiefs,” he began.  All three of the Bearens stood up a bit straighter, giving him their strictest attention. 
    “Our decision to send Faith Meyers out on a scouting trip has already paid off,” Trey said as he reached for his hand terminal and pulled up the encrypted transmission he’d received less than ten minutes earlier.  He handed the terminal to Jackson.  “It appears that the Xanti have the ability to punch through what Faith describes as thin areas in space, creating a doorway which they can then close behind them,” he explained while Jackson read