Hara's Legacy by Bianca D'Arc Page A

Justin’s mind was reeling and only the tentative touch of his brother’s telepathy cheered him. Mick was as good as his word and had come down the mountain to the village at his silent request. Justin couldn’t go out to talk to his brother and risk Mara waking, but he could and did use their telepathic gift to fill Mick in on everything that had so far transpired.
    Mick promised to stay in town in case his brother needed some backup, and agreed to follow Justin home from a distance, watching his back trail. With plans made, Justin allowed himself to close his eyes for a short respite. He had a woman to fuck when he woke, for the first time in too many damned long years, and he needed his strength if he was going to do it right.
    -46-
     

Chapter Four
    It was two days before Mara was ready to leave Justin’s room. They’d fucked on every surface in room, the dresser, the shower, the bed, the chair, and even his Harley. She’d been hot and insatiable, and Justin was downright dirty dog tired after the marathon session. He had a grimly satisfied smile on his face as he packed up his belongings, Mara watching him as if she was trying to figure him out.
    Reaching into his saddlebag, he found the pendant Caleb had given him and remembered what his older brother had said before he’d left. He stood, fingering the gold chain that had been in their family for many generations, trusting in Caleb’s precognition that he was doing the right thing.
    “Mara,” he took her hand in his. “I think I understand your people a little better now.” He watched carefully, hoping she would show some kind of emotion, but all he got was the cold analytical stare he’d come to expect from her. “This pendant has been in my family for many generations and I want you to have it now. For the child. Just in case. I want you to give it to him or her so they’ll have a piece of their father’s heritage and know that I cared.” He took her hand and folded the chain within, shocked when the pendant glowed at her touch.
    “What is this?” She seemed almost as shocked as he was.
    “I told you. It’s a family heirloom. I want you to keep it safe for our child.”
    “By the First Shard!” she exclaimed, holding the pendant to the meager light. “I think this is a piece of the Home Crystal from my people’s ancient homeworld.” She turned wide eyes to him. “How did you come by it?” She sank onto the bed, holding tightly to the precious pendant.
    -47-
    “It’s from my ancestors. It’s been passed down from one generation of O’Haras to the next.”
    “O Hara? What did you say?” Her shock seemed only to increase.
    “O’Hara. It’s my family name.”
    “I thought you said your name was Justin?”
    He nodded, not quite understanding. “It is. Justin is my first name. O’Hara is my last name. It is the name my family shares. Caleb O’Hara is my oldest brother. Mick O’Hara is my youngest brother. And Jane O’Hara is my sister-in-law, which means she’s married to my brother.” He wanted her to know all their names so she could keep them off her list of test subjects. He wanted her to keep her bargain and keep his family safe. “Why does this surprise you so much?”
    “I did not know you have more than one name. My people do not.”
    “Then how do you keep everybody straight?”
    “I was designated Mara 547,326 at birth. On this planet, I am known as Mara 12, since I am the twelfth in order of rank presently living here. The numbers keep us separate. They keep the line of Mara straight, as you put it.”
    “God! You number your children?”
    “It is efficient.”
     
     
    “And cold,” Justin said shortly, unable to keep the horror from his voice, but she didn’t seem to comprehend it. “So your family name is Mara then?”
    “I suppose you could say that. There are many Maras. Are there many O Haras?” Justin nodded sadly. “In the old days there were many. Ireland is the origin of my family name, which is