Love Without Boundaries by M. K. Eidem, Michelle Howard Page B

there.
    In truth, she was gazing at the tiny offspring she held in her arms. Isis’ manno had told her how it had been in their bloodline since before the great infection and that it was believed to bless the male it was given to with female offspring. His own manno had been gifted with a female after Geb’s presentation and while Isis had never met the female, her manno had spoken fondly of her.
    Isis had prayed nightly to this intricate carving. At first, she had prayed that the Goddess would allow her to give Oryon female offspring, something deep in her heart she still wished for. Later, as the offspring the Goddess had blessed her with grew, her prays had changed. She had begun to pray for the Goddess to provide them with females instead of herself.
    Bowing her head, Isis thanked the Goddess for all the blessings she had bestowed on her males and asked for her to assistance in helping Ull to find his way. Turning, her sleeved brushed several papers, scattering them across the floor.
    Shaking her head, Isis dropped to her knees, gathering up the papers, as she was about to rise she saw one that had slipped all the way under the desk. Crawling all the way under the desk, she finally reached the stray paper and began to back out. Thinking she was clear, Isis started to rise and hit the back of her head on the edge of the desk.
    “Ouch!” she exclaimed reaching up to rub the small bump that was forming. When she did, her hand bumped a small vial out of its hiding spot under the desk. It rolled across the floor, stopping only when it ran into the newly placed rug.
    Slowly Isis reached up and blindly dropping the papers back on the desk, her eyes never leaving the vial.
    What was it?
    Why was Oryon hiding it?
    Still on her hands and knees, Isis cautiously crawled towards the vial as if it were as deadly as a wild termagant. Reaching out she carefully picked it up between two fingers and heard a slight rattle from whatever was inside.
    Hesitantly, she twisted off the top of the vial and poured whatever was inside into her waiting palm. Tablets… small blue tablets… lifting one, she touched it to her tongue then jerked back in shock.
    Cohosh Gorm! An herb that when used in extremely small amounts could help stomach problems, in a tablet like this… Isis’ mind flew. She knew this for some reason… why… her mother… her mother had told her that concentrated cohosh gorm… Isis’ eyes widened in shock, prevented conceiving!
    Why did Oryon have this?!!
    Rising to her feet, Isis went to find out.

 
    ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

 
    “Get back on your Comm, Jago!” Oryon ordered over his shoulder, his eyes never leaving the darkening smoke. He had heard no alarm sounding and that let him know the fire had not yet been discovered. “Contact Shen about the fire. Tell him we are en route and that I want the entire House secured. Especially Isis.” Oryon wasn’t sure what he was sensing, but something was very wrong here and he needed to make sure his Isis was safe.
    “Yes my Lord, ” Jago grunted, pulling out his comm. He had always known that his Lord was a fit male but he was at least twenty years older than Jago, and Jago was having trouble keeping up with him. As Shen answered Jago’s call, an explosion ripped through House Rigel, shattering windows.

 
    ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞ ∞

 
    Kaspar smiled as he jogged up the rise, he had made it. He was free. No more would he have to serve a Lord that allowed a female to rule his House. Now he would be able to obtain a female. Cresting the rise he skidded to a halt for coming towards him at a dead run was Oryon himself, followed closely by Jago.
    Realizing they had not yet seen him, Kaspar spun around and ran back into House Rigel.
    “I told you to get …” The rest of Lajos words were lost as an explosion sounded throughout Rigel, large enough that pots and pans rattled and plates fell from shelves.
    Every male in the kitchen froze, their eyes flying to Lajos.
    “Secure