Chapter 22
Romival
Dominani opened the door, and he wasn’t surprised. Either by his presence in the females’ chamber nor by the suspicious look he sent his way.
It wasn’t so much tradition as it was instinct.
Atem had taken the human females as his sisters and that familial connection came with a very real, instinctive response.
Romival hadn’t proven himself in combat against him and so hadn’t won Holly as his mate and therefore Atem would, naturally, not like him.
It was something that would just bother him, like a stone in his shoe that he couldn’t get out, until Romival did claim her.
Despite the fact that Atem liked him fine before, that didn't matter now.
Instinct always trumped intellect.
“I am here for vi Holly,” he said calmly.
“She is not yours. Not yet,” Atem said, his eyes narrowing threateningly. There was a very real chance that he might just punch him here and now.
But he didn't and, after scrutinizing him for another moment, he finally stood back and beckoned Holly forward. Staring Romival down all the while.
It was the closest he had ever come to finding his neck under his Dominani’s fangs. He was just as instinctively aware of the other male’s role as guardian as Atem was.
And it was taking everything in him not to challenge him here and now.
His body knew Holly was his. His mind had finally caught up.
He was only waiting now for Holly to get comfortable with the idea and, until she did, he couldn’t challenge Atem for her.
Once he did, he would then have to challenge Holly.
Then drag her back to his den. Lock her inside.
Gorge her on a feast of his own making, preferably from a kill he hunted himself.
Then, he could watch her make a nest of his den, throw her down on that nest, and fuck her hard and seed her deep for days on end. This time in just a few tendays, he could be watching their pup growing in her womb.
He wanted that so badly he had to clench his teeth – so hard he drew blood – to resist the urge to act on it immediately.
He had to wait. If he didn't want his little vakara to fight him, to resist his attempt, he had to wait. This outing was important to her, and her happiness was all he desired.
Well, at least, it tied for the position in his heart with the aforementioned claiming, fucking, and breeding, but that still put it pretty high up there.
“Hey, Romi,” she smiled, walking towards him from behind her protective brother. Atem was eyeing him like he saw Romival’s thoughts, and he was about to punish him for them.
But Romival barely even noticed. He was enraptured by his Holly, all done up in pink. A dress to match the flare in her cheeks.
Beautiful and perfect.
And his.
“Vi brave Holly,” he greeted, holding out his hand for her to take. “I do love this color on you.”
She laughed. “I’m just glad we didn't wear the same thing.”
His gaze darted down – just momentarily – to his plain uniform from the academy.
He would have worn pink for her, but he had duties to fulfill this morning and even now that he was going back to enjoy the festivities, he was going to wear his uniform.
It was expected of all the staff at the academy, and it was a rule he didn't consider himself exempt from.
But the plain, dull green of the long pants and sleeveless tunic looked quite nice when placed next to her pale pink. He didn't know the rules of this date of hers, but clearly it meant that they were supposed to dress up. He hoped his uniform was good enough.
The way her eyes admired his bared arms made him think she didn't mind.
“Be safe,” Atem said, somehow managing to sound both like a farewell to her and a warning to him, as Romival pulled his Holly by the hand into the hall.
Without thinking, his tail reached over the curl around her ankle.
She jumped, startled, but when she looked down and saw what it was, she offered him a smile and said nothing.
Long tails were considered attractive, but Romival had never really cared. It seemed like a stupid, superficial thing to base beauty on. But for once, he was grateful for his long tail because it gave him another way to hold onto his female.
He took her outside to where his hover was waiting and helped her up. The flight to the academy was short and accompanied by the gentle patter of the seasonal rain. It was closer to a mist today, probably the gentlest day they would have for the entirety of the rainy season.
But that wasn’t surprising, considering this was the Day of Seven Victories. It was deliberately placed here on the day that the moon would be most visible. There would be clouds, there were always clouds during the rainy season, but the moons were still full overhead.
He hung his hover on a tree and stood, reaching out a hand for Holly. There was no platform below them for her to walk on. He was asking her to, once again, trust him to carry her.
She bit her lip, nervous, but, ever brave, she put her hand in his and let him pull her onto his back, locking her limbs around him, so he could climb down with her.
The trip was short, but wonderful. It felt exactly right to have his future adassi clinging to him so faithfully.
It was even better to see her face light up when they hit the central platform.
The academy was spread out over multiple trees, all the pathways filled with students and teachers.
A platform was strung up and hung between the centermost trees that was used as a central hub of the academy.
Students often gathered there for social events.
Similar to the market of the city, it was hung suspended off the forest floor.
It wasn’t as large, but it did have multiple tiers to it, uneven and spread out in a beautiful conglomeration of asymmetry.
During every other time of year, it was open to what little sunshine came through the purple canopy, but for the rainy season, the engineering students practiced their craft by making complex canvas shields overhead that did not connect but still prevented anything from dripping down below.
They never used the same color twice and, combined with the colored lights hung under each canvas, the result was a kaleidoscope of colors spreading out over the entire space.
Students, wearing very little to let their skin change as they pleased, walked under the different lights and changed to match their new surroundings in a beautiful array of alternating colors.
Because it was the holiday, everything was decorated. And because the students were competitive, the various areas of study had all done different things to add to the decorations.
The technology students had programmed combots to flit overhead like brightly colored insects, playing music and occasionally releasing bursts of colored sprays over unsuspecting students.
The point was to duck out of the way. Losers were stained a permanent color until they could wash it off and had to bear the teasing of their peers.
The biology students had decorated the railings, the poles, the ladders, the ramps, everything they could, with flowering vines that spread glittering pollen everywhere.
People were having fun touching the pollen and marking each other, turning it into a game of escape in some instances and an erotic proof of touch in others.
The arts students had set up several stations. Some featured poets, others had singers, others still had painters that were painting directly on people’s bodies. Competing for who could make the best designs while the students and staff who got them were showing them to everyone.
There was more. So much more.
And Romival got to enjoy Holly’s delight as she turned this way and that, trying and failing to take it all in at once.
The lights sparkled in her eyes while they flared and shined against her skin.
A combot came and fluttered around her, playing a sweet song for her, teasing her with a potential blast of spray, then continued on to find another student to tease or test. Her smile was bright and wide, her laughter at the playfully programmed combot like that of a ringing bell.
“Romi, this is amazing!” She declared, beaming back at him.
And he suddenly understood exactly why her species had public outings.
It wasn’t for the romance of courting. Not exactly.
It was for making your partner happy. About having fun with them.
Treating them like they already were your mate, doing the things that established mates did, just for the opportunity to see them smile and share that joy.
“Show me everything!” She demanded, reaching back and grabbing his hand.
Romival was stunned, but in the best way, as he willingly followed her into the throng of students, staff, and visitors. A great many of them pointed and whispered in wonder at the human female. There were only five of them on the planet, and they were famous.
He thought Holly might be uncomfortable under the attention, but she seemed used to it and immune as she looked around, eager to see everything.
All the while, still holding his hand. The other domini were pointing at that as well. Wondering if that meant that Holly was his mate.
He squeezed, his surprise fading in place of the rush of possessive joy that filled him at the questions he could read on their lips. He may not have gone through with the ceremony yet, but it was certainly a done thing already.
He held his Holly’s hand proudly as he finally recovered the wits she was always admiring so he could show her around. He didn’t know what she wanted to do or see first. She seemed to like everything, so he just let her interest lead him.