Chapter 47
Lori peered at her mates as they reclined comfortably, filling the small house. It should have been overwhelming given how small the house was, but it instead felt cozy and comforting having them all so close after being separated from them for so long. And the entire nara had been more than happy to welcome them, too, which had made Lori break out in tears of gratitude and then nearly caused an incident when her mates became alarmed and went all protector on her until she’d been able to explain that they were happy tears. Thankfully, the Vehal didn’t hold a grudge and happily worked together to fill her home with all the excess cushions needed to make a comfortable nest.
“What is your plan now?” Therxian asked from where he was reclined at a respectful distance as their guest, while Sara and Yuneril took another cushion a bit further away as they listened in on everything curiously.
Slengral’s arms had remained wrapped firmly around her ever since they had settled onto their cushion and his warm wings folded carefully on either side of her, but now they tightened slightly in response to his brother’s question.
“We will not be going anywhere near the shinara,” he rasped. “I will not allow my mother anywhere near Lori again. Not the colony either for a similar reason—it is too easy for my mother to find us there and I will not chance it.”
Lori nodded in agreement. “That was the direction of my thoughts as well. I don’t want to risk our baby again,” she said softly as she rested a hand over her belly, “or any of my mates. Nor do I want the colony to suffer any risk of danger from the shinara. Even with the hunters joining Raza colony, the shinara outnumbers them by quite a lot.”
“I still can’t believe you have Seshanamitesh who have willing joined a colony.” Sara shook her head in awe as she leaned against her mate. “I think the higher-ups in Colony Alpha would suffer heart attacks.”
“Ah, well, I guess that is where Raza would be a bit different,” Lori replied with a laugh. “Control was literally handed to the grunts, as it were. Eddie and Vi wouldn’t think about excluding anyone in the colony.”
“You would not, either,” Kehtal pointed out, turning to Sara with a proud smile. Our Lori was a queen at Raza.”
“Wrong word,” Lori admonished as she gave her mate an affectionate look. “More accurately, I was in a unique position to help run Raza which none of the other mated women wanted.”
“Ah,” Sara murmured. “Yes, we have noticed that most of the women who are brought here as mates are happier just living a quiet life with their mates. They aren’t exactly very vocal in community affairs which makes it frustrating at times to make sure their needs are being met.”
“You speak as if their mates will not see to that,” Yuneril scoffed but he hugged his mate to him lovingly. “You know firsthand how well a Seshanamitesh will care for his little human.”
Sara’s face flushed a bright red and Lori coughed to cover the laugh that escaped her. Oh yes, Sara knew just as well she knew and every other woman around knew exactly how well their mates cared for them.
“If you do not wish to return to the Aglatha or to your Raza, then there is only one good option,” Therxian observed as he reclined with a satisfied smile. “You will stay here of course. It will infuriate the matriarchs to imagine another of their hunters and sons of the royal mother line dwelling among the Vehals.”
“The Vehals are certainly not as I was told,” Slengral cautiously replied.
Therxian frowned but his gavo snapped unhappily. “The Vehal were once like that. The old stories of the split between those of the shinara and those that became the Vehals are true, the difference is that the shinara imagined that Vehals remained that way over countless generations. Not only are they larger than those who went beneath the ground, but they are more powerful for numerous reasons. Eventually, their people had to evolve just as those of the shinara and the Uralial were forced to evolve to meet their own situations and needs. The naras of the Vehal are not perfect but they are more welcoming and have a better chance for growth and change, mostly because they are also constrained into smaller communities that make such things easier. When humans arrived, the Zirnara was the first to welcome them, and yet now there are humans in many naras all over the mountains. The shinara would like for everyone to remember the Vehals as they were because it suits their purpose.”
“And it can suit ours as well,” Daskh interjected, as he met the eyes of everyone gathered there. “My father was of the Vehal, and I can tell you that even thinking badly of the Vehal they seek ways to get rid of them in situations where they outnumber them, such as within the shinara, but they are also too afraid to wage an outright conflict with a Vehal nara. They will not even come near the mountains, guaranteeing safety from the shinara for anyone who remains here. I believe it will serve in our favor if we stay as we were invited,” Daskh added as he addressed Slengral, his head tipping toward his nest brother.
Therxian inclined his head. “In that case, live here among us and do not worry about the Aglatha. I will handle the shinara in time.”
“And we will keep an eye on the shinara,” Jathella interrupted as she straightened from her place. She glanced at her sisters and smiled grimly. “My sisters and I can sneak in and out without being noticed and gather information regarding the queen matriarch and the activity within the shinara.”
Lori looked back at Slengral. “I wouldn’t mind staying, too. I like it here and Sara is not only a medic, but I trust her to help me when it is time for our nestling to come.”
Her mate inclined his head, his gavo ruffling but he glanced over a Kehtal. “And you? Do you wish to stay as well?”
Kehtal’s gavo snapped happily as he smiled and gestured to the other room where Hashal played with Veer and Sheeri. “Yes, I think so. I am the smallest male here, but no one looks at me as if I am less, nor has anyone tried to threaten me or push me with their larger size. If this place makes our mate happy and keeps her safe, I am very content to remain.”
“Then it is decided,” Therxian rumbled happily as he lifted from his cushion, his eyes fell upon the comms on Kehtal’s and Slengral’s wrists however before he offered them an apologetic smile. “There are rules, however. The comms will have to be deactivated.”
Lori nodded and swallowed. “I just need to make one call.”
Therxian sighed heavily as his gaze swung to her. “Lori...”
“I know you’ve already made an exception for me once,” Lori quickly interrupted, “but I just need to use it once more... to say goodbye to someone I care about.”
Slengral’s brother sobered as he stared at her for a long moment before he released an even heavier sigh and nodded. “The same time constraints apply,” he grumbled. “Even if Raza has Seshanamitesh dwelling with them, no colony can know our location.”
With those parting words, he left. He wasn’t forbidding it, but it was clear that this was the last time he would allow it. And Lori was grateful regardless.
Sara gave Lori a sympathetic glance as she rose and helped her mate gather their nestlings. “We will leave you to it then.”
Lori nodded and watched her friend leave before gently taking the comms from her mates’ arms and setting them in front of her. Kehtal’s, she disabled and set aside, but Slengral’s comm she pulled to her, her emotions rising to her throat as she looked down at it. Laying her fingers over the link channels, she found Vi’s comm and initiated the uplink.
She hoped that Vi would forgive her, but this was the best choice for all of their futures.
The hologram blinked as the connection was made, her friend’s bleary face popped up as Vi rubbed her eyes sleepily.
“Damn Lori, you really need to remember that some humans are still on a normal sleep cycle. But it’s good to see you. You had me really worried when I couldn’t uplink with you. Have you got things resolved in the shinara? Are you coming home soon... or do I need to come and get you?”
Lori drew in a deep breath and laughed shakily. “I’m fine, Vi, though I would recommend not mentioning me or us to the shinara if you want to still peacefully utilize the mine. Just pretend like you haven’t heard from us at all and presume that we are dead. You will remain safe that way.”
“What, why? It can’t be that bad, Lori. What happened?” Vi protested as she moved rapidly, presumably stumbling out of her bed. “Let me get Eddie and we can think of something to...”
“No, Vi,” Lori interrupted. “Trust me. We are safe and we are happier, but we want everyone in the colony and all of the innocent lives in the shinara to also be safe. Which means we are not coming home. We’ve found a new home and are staying.”
“Lori, please,” Vi whispered, tears falling from her eyes. “I swear I will come get you. I can protect you from the shinara. Please.”
“I’m sorry. Please live a good life. And make up with that male. You deserve every bit of happiness,” Lori replied as her fingers trailed to the deactivation button. “I love you, Vi. I want you to be happy and to know that I will be too. And be safe. Don’t provoke the shinara. But do not follow me. Do not try to follow me.”
“Lori, I won’t promise that. I refuse,” Vi bit out. “I don’t care if I have to hog-tie Ehsash and force him to help me find my way to you. I will!”
Lori laughed despite herself and shook her head in amusement as she could clearly see Vi doing exactly that. “Bye, Vi. Be good. I will miss you.”
Her finger tapped against the deactivation button and the hologram blinked out, the comm’s light dying completely. She would still be able to receive things from time to time caught going over the air, but no one would be able to track her, and she wouldn’t be able to call out anymore. It was for the best.
Pushing the comms aside, she turned to her mates with a smile as Hashal wiggled up into her arms, his warm cheek pressing against her neck.
“I love you all.”
It was time for them to look forward to a lifetime of love and peace. And nothing sounded more like heaven to her than that. She would rather have them and the vast night of the Zir Mountains than anything else. She and her serpentine mates would have their free and endless night there among the Vehal, and she couldn’t wait to get started on that future.