Bean's Heart (Hearts of ICARUS Book 7) Read online

  Bean’s Heart

  The Hearts of ICARUS Book Seven

  by

  Laura Jo Phillips

  Copyright © 2016 by Kathleen Honsinger

  Cover art/design Copyright © 2016 by Kathleen Honsinger

  All rights reserved.

  Look for previews and coming release announcements at:

  Facebook:

  facebook.com/laurajophillipsauthor

  Other Books by Laura Jo Phillips

  The Dracons’ Woman

  Book One of the Soul-Linked Saga

  The Lobos’ HeartSong

  Book Two of the Soul-Linked Saga

  The Katres’ Summer

  Book Three of the Soul-Linked Saga

  The Bearens’ Hope

  Book Four of the Soul-Linked Saga

  The Gryphon’s Dream

  Book Five of the Soul-Linked Saga

  The Vulpiran’s Honor

  Book Six of the Soul-Linked Saga

  The Falcorans’ Faith

  Book Seven of the Soul-Linked Saga

  The Tigrens’ Glory

  Book Eight of the Soul-Linked Saga

  Quest for the Moon Orb

  The Orbs of Rathira, Book One

  Quest for the Sun Orb

  The Orbs of Rathira, Book Two

  Quest for the Heart Orb

  The Orbs of Rathira, Book Three

  Secrets Kept

  Mixed Blood, Book One

  (Available under the name Kathleen Honsinger)

  Secrets Told

  Mixed Blood, Book Two

  Nica’s Legacy

  Hearts of ICARUS, Book One

  Tani’s Destiny

  Hearts of ICARUS, Book Two

  Rayne’s Return

  Hearts of ICARUS, Book Three

  Salene’s Secrets

  Hearts of ICARUS, Book Four

  Vari’s Choices

  Hearts of ICARUS, Book Five

  Ria’s Visions

  Hearts of ICARUS, Book Six

  Jenna’s Cowboys

  Books by Harvey Phillips and Paul Honsinger

  To Honor You Call Us

  Man of War, Book One

  For Honor We Stand

  Man of War, Book Two

  Brothers In Valor

  Man of War, Book Three

  CONTENTS

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Prologue

  Eighteen years earlier…

  “Why are you crying little one?” a man asked, kneeling down on the thick blue grass beside a little girl with large green eyes flecked with gold.

  BreeAnna looked from the man in front of her to the one standing beside him. They looked exactly alike except for their eyes, and they were on Dracon Ranch, so she knew she could trust them. “Bobby pushded me down and tooked my candy,” she said, unable to keep her lower lip from trembling.

  “A boy did this?” the man asked, his dark red eyes flashing with disapproval as he examined the scratches on her knees.

  She hiccupped. “Yeth.”

  “I think we must find young Bobby and teach him some manners. You’ll have to point him out though. Can you do that?”

  She nodded, wiped her tears on her sleeve, then hiccupped again. “Yeth.”

  “Come on, I’ll carry you up high so you can see over everyone’s heads.”

  “Okay,” she said, raising her arms so he could pick her up.

  “What’s your name, little one?” asked the brother with bright blue eyes.

  “Bwee-ann,” she said with a hiccup right in the middle that made her blush with embarrassment.

  “Bean. That’s a great name.” She started to correct him but the third brother joined them and spoke first.

  “Who’s the little cutie?” BreeAnna turned to look at the brother who had bright lemon yellow eyes, and smiled. She’d never seen anyone with eyes the colors these men had and she liked them very much.

  “This is Bean,” said the man with the dark red eyes. “A boy named Bobby knocked her down and took her candy.”

  “Did he hurt you, Bean?” asked the man with yellow eyes.

  “Jutht a little,” she said softly.

  “I’m glad you’re not hurt badly, Bean, but even a little is more than is acceptable. Are you going to help us find Bobby?”

  “Yeth,” she said, then pointed toward the area where all the food was set out on long tables under an awning. “He went over there.”

  “Good girl. Let’s go.”

  Chapter 1

  Bean Lobo watched through the viewport as the small passenger shuttle eased into its docking space at the Jasani skyport. “Two weeks. I can do this.”

  “Of course you can. Easy. I just don’t know why you’re bothering.”

  “Yes, you do.”

  “Yes, I do,” Iffon agreed. Then, speaking in a sing-songy voice, he said, “Spring break gives you a chance to start getting used to life on Jasan again before you have to suck it up for the summer break that’s just around the corner.” He sighed. “I know. I get it. But maybe we don’t have to stay for the whole two weeks. Two days seems more reasonable to me. Two hours would be even better.”

  “You’re not helping, Iffon and watch the claws, please.”

  “I wasn’t aware I was supposed to be helping, they aren’t claws, they’re talons, and I can’t help it. Going home always makes you tense and that always makes me tense and I don’t like being tense. It makes me…tense.”

  As much as Bean wanted to laugh, she quashed the urge. If she’d been at home in her little cottage on Sheara 3 with no one but Iffon, she might have allowed it. But now that she was almost on Jasan, it couldn’t be risked.

  “Have you any idea how many muscles are involved in smiling?”

  “All things considered, I think the answer to that question should be obvious. Why do you ask?”

  “Because I’ve spent the entire trip from Sheara 3 practicing and my cheeks hurt.”

  “In that case, stop doing it.”

  “You know I can’t do that, Iffon.”

  “I know no such thing. Especially now.”

  “Why especially now?”

  “Because you’re an adult, Bean. You’ve been a teacher on Sheara 3 for nearly a full year now if you count the summer session last year, which I am. You’ve made a life for yourself. It’s a boring life, I’m unable to resist pointing out, but at least you don’t walk around smiling like the village idiot from dawn to dusk when you’re there, which is a vast improvement. Who knows, perhaps one day you’ll even allow yourself to engage in some honest emotion. It’s one of my fondest hopes.”

  “Honest emotion of the sort you’re referring to is dangerous, Iffon. You know that.”

  “Once upon a time, yes, but it’s been years now, Bean. You could at least try. After all this time, I’m sure things have changed.”

  “Maybe, but it’s not a risk I’m willing to take.”

  “Miss?”

  Bean turned to smi
le up at the steward standing beside her seat. “Yes?”

  “It’s time to disembark. May I help you with your bags?”

  “No, thank you,” she replied, her smile widening and brightening far too much. The steward frowned as he backed away a couple of steps and stopped.

  Bean sighed to herself as she stood up, reached for her handbag and carry on, then stepped into the aisle. “That man’s looking at me like I’m a lunatic,” she said as she joined the line of passengers. “How can I spend practically my entire life doing something and then forget how in less than a year?”

  “Because it’s unnatural, Bean. Things that are unnatural are always difficult to maintain because they must always be forced.”

  “That doesn’t make them wrong, Iffon.”

  “It doesn’t make them right, either.”

  “What’s not right is that hovering steward. He’s getting on my last nerve. Since when is smiling a suspicious activity?”

  “I could scare him for you. It’d be fun. I’ll fly over there and land on his shoulder. Oh wait…I’ll land on his head and break his hair. Have you noticed how stiff it is? I bet it wouldn’t move in a brisk wind. Or a tornado. Or a hurricane.”

  Bean could feel the steward staring at her and for just a moment she was tempted to let Iffon do as he suggested. “No thanks, Iffon. He’d scream and run around and generally create a scene. Then he’d probably blame me.”

  “Why would he blame you? He’s all the way over there, you’re here, and I’m invisible. I know that because I just looked at myself and I didn’t see a thing.”

  “Thanks for the offer, Iffon, but I’ll pass. The last thing I want is to start this little holiday off with drama.”

  “I know, but I keep hoping you’ll change.”

  Choosing not to respond to that, Bean inched forward with the rest of the line. “One of my Dads will probably be waiting. You should meld.”

  “I will in a minute. You still have to collect your luggage.”

  “Up to you, but if he speed travels me to the ranch before you meld you’ll have to sneak onto a shuttle down to the spaceport and then fly home on your own. If that happens, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

  “I won’t,” he said. “It’s a tempting idea, though.”

  “What’s tempting? Saying I didn’t warn you?”

  “No, flying to the ranch.”

  “Why is that tempting? You whined for months the last time you had to do that.”

  “I did not whine,” Iffon said with a distinct sniff. “I merely expressed my displeasure with the event because it was both strenuous and arduous.”

  Bean rolled her eyes. “So why is it tempting now?”

  “Because if I have to fly that far I’ll have to manifest, and if I have to manifest for that long it could take me a week or more to recuperate. I could sleep through this entire visit almost. That’s tempting.”

  “Or you could just go deep for two weeks and save yourself the trouble of flying,” she said, then shrugged. “Your choice.”

  Bean saw that the line was getting shorter so she began mentally reminding herself of how she was supposed to act now that she was almost home. Never get angry. Never get sad. Never get frustrated. Never argue. Never contradict. Never complain. Go along with everything. Always be happy. Always smile. She repeated the litany in her head several times until she stepped off the ship and into the skyport.

  “Hello, Bean. It’s so good to have you home.”

  Bean looked up, smiling as she approached her father for a hug. “Hello, Popi,” she said, closing her eyes as she savored the warmth and safety of his arms around her for just a moment. “It’s good to be home,” she lied, smiling as she stepped back before she really wanted to. Never get sad. Always be happy.

  “Is that all the luggage you brought?”

  “No, I have a suitcase to pick up.”

  Ban nodded, put his arm around her shoulders and started walking toward the luggage retrieval station. “How was your trip?”

  She scrambled for a response, wondering how she’d forgotten to prepare for the usual questions ahead of time. “Quiet and uneventful,” she said finally.

  He laughed. “After seven months of third graders I imagine that’s the highest praise you can offer. I can’t imagine how you manage so many children day after day and still remain your usual upbeat, smiling self.”

  “It’s not so bad,” she said, automatically quelling the annoyance that tried to rise in her. “I like children, Popi. I like teaching children, too.”

  Ban’s forehead creased. “I know you do, Bean. I didn’t mean to criticize.”

  “Nicely done.”

  “Hush, Iffon.” Bean leaned her head against her father’s shoulder in apology. “I know that, Popi. I’m sorry. The trip between here and Sheara 3 is short, but jumping makes me nervous sometimes. How’s everything at home?”

  Ban looked at her oddly before smiling.

  “What was that for?”

  “First you say its restful, then you say it makes you nervous. You contradicted yourself. Isn’t that against one of your rules?”

  Bean considered answering that, then decided it was better not to. They joined the line for luggage retrieval which, Bean noted, wasn’t too long. It took her a couple of moments to realize her father hadn’t answered her question. She looked up at him, careful not to frown. “Popi? What’s the matter?”

  Ban looked down at her, his expression worried.

  “I don’t like the look of that look,” Iffon said.

  “Me neither.” Bean waited, but Popi said nothing for so long it started to scare her.

  “I’m sorry, Bean,” he said when he noticed her growing concern. “I don’t mean to upset or frighten you. Everyone is fine. It’s nothing like that.”

  “What is it then?”

  “It’s a long story,” Ban said, stepping forward as the line moved. “We’ll be home in just a few minutes, then we can all sit down and discuss it.”

  Never get frustrated, never argue, go along with everything, Bean reminded herself. “Okay Popi. Can you tell me what it’s about?”

  “Ria.”

  Bean barely caught herself in time to hold back a sigh. She knew what her parents thought about Ria and she didn’t like it or understand it. Ria was impulsive and got into trouble a lot, but she wasn’t a bad person. Bean had never understood why her parents were so hard on her middle sister.

  She went along with it partly because that was her role within the family. But mostly because never getting upset was what kept her family safe, and arguing was against the rules.

  Never argue. Never contradict. Never complain. Go along with everything.

  Vari was the smart sister who had to be isolated, which made their parents sad. Ria was the impulsive sister who always got into trouble, which stressed their parents out. Bean was the bright, happy sister who never ever did or said anything to cause even the slightest bit of worry, which calmed and soothed their parents.

  “We should have gone on vacation instead,” Iffon muttered.

  “Is she all right?” Bean asked carefully.

  “She’s fine,” Ban replied, stepping up to the counter. Bean pressed her thumb to the bio-scanner and a moment later her suitcase was pushed out of the slot underneath.

  “Is this it?” Ban asked, reaching for the handle.

  “Yes, just the one,” Bean replied, nodding. A brief burning sensation covered the back of her right shoulder. “Thanks for the warning, Iffon.”

  “Sorry. I thought he was going to speed travel without saying anything.”

  “I thought you were tempted to fly home anyway.”

  “I was, but I just remembered that the last time I had to do that, a gryphon tried to eat me.”

  “Oh please,” Bean said, nearly laughing out loud. “A gryphon did not try to eat you.”

  “If you told me that, I’d believe you,” Iffon said with obvious affront.

  “Yeah. Sure you would
. I’m convinced.”

  “Ready?” Ban asked, holding her suitcase in one hand while placing his other hand on her shoulder.

  “Yep,” she replied. “All ready.”

  Ban stepped sideways and between one heartbeat and the next, they were standing on the front porch of the house she’d grown up in. Ban took his hand from her shoulder and reached for the door knob.

  “Here we go,” Iffon said.

  “Yeah, here we go, all right,” Bean replied. Then she took a deep breath and followed her Popi inside.

  ***

  Weeble stood in the center of what had once been the Throne Chamber of the Tre’Cleba Tentacle and looked around at the twelve stasis tubes that now lined the curved walls. The Ruling Cache had not agreed with his superior ideas. They’d refused to listen to reason. They’d even gone so far as to threaten his position within the Tentacle. Now, he was the Ruling Cache and they floated within the fluid of the stasis tubes in place of the defective Master creatures they’d been so determined to use in place of the Xanti.

  He chuckled at the irony.

  A soft chime sounded and he looked at the vid screen mounted on a stand in the center of the room beside him. Using the mechanical hand he’d designed and built for himself after losing his arm to the treacherous Jasani, he tapped a button below the screen to open the door.

  “It’s about time, Glib,” he said irritably the moment his assistant stepped into the chamber.

  “I apologize, High One,” Glib replied as he set a small box on the floor and bent to open it. “The latest mutation took longer to complete than anticipated.”

  “Does it work?”

  “On the hybrids with our DNA, yes.”

  Weeble stepped forward on his ten metal legs and reached out with his real hand to accept the syringe Glib held out to him. Then he turned to look at the occupants of the stasis tanks. “Which one should we try now?” he murmured softly to himself. “Ah, well, it hardly matters, does it?”