Chapter 31

An instant later, the five girls surrounded Relda. Anthem touched Relda's navy blue cheek and gave a shy smile. Anthem had two top teeth missing.

"You have blue skin," she noted. "What kind are you?"

"I'm Jucardian," Relda said. "The last one. I'm special. Like all of you."

She glanced around at each clone. Anthem lifted her arms to Relda, and Relda hoisted her onto her lap. Daly chewed her fingernails, and smiled behind her hand.

"Do you have a caregiver?" Anthem questioned.

"I'm all grown up," Relda told her.

Daly tapped Relda's knee, and Relda picked her up too. Relda laughed. Her lap was crowded, and a strand of blonde hair brushed her face.

"She's going to adopt you," Eyan announced, and Darrion clung to his leg.

"She is?" The girls sang out in unison.

"I am?" Relda echoed. "But Raylay is their uncle, and I'm going to have some implanted."

Darrion let go of Eyan's leg.

"We've been waiting for a mom," she admitted. "Eyan always said you'd come."

Relda's throat stung. She nudged Anthem and Daly, and they slid off her lap and joined their wide-eyed sisters.

"I can't," Relda continued. "I'm going to be carrying a lot of clones."

Annika's lip quivered. Relda shot Raylay a silent plea.

"He's twenty-two," Eyan said. "Perfectly capable, but he's the son of a Jucardian."

"You mean," Annika said, "you don't want us?"

Relda stood up and stroked Annika's hair.

"I'll take them," she said to Eyan.

The girls bounced and clapped their hands. Anniston and Daly clung to her.

"Go get packed," Relda said.

And she watched as her daughters scampered into the hallway outside.