Chapter 6
Havali
He had offended her.
She didn't say anything, but he could sense it.
The conversation moved along smoothly as he explained how they were going to go to a beautiful, public place to have some fun, do a little sightseeing, and let the females be observed so people could satisfy their curiosity about the humans, and they could show themselves to be intelligent and capable of the burden of joining the greater universe.
His Scarlet did not appreciate manipulation. He already knew that about her but seeing the new stiffness in her shoulders as she listened to him describe some of his, admittedly minor, manipulations for her benefit, just reminded him of how badly anything between them would end.
But he couldn’t stop. Either his manipulations or his desire to pursue her.
“The three of us will be escorting the three of you,” Havali said to the humans.
“I’ve already got a location picked out in the neighboring urban district.
It’s a monument to all the Coalition species and, symbolically, it will link the humans with that area and the meaning there.
I need you all to look impressed, but not awed.
Familiar with the technology, respectful to any aliens, and comfortable with your surroundings.
You have to look like you’re ready to be here.
If you’re afraid or flabbergasted, it might cast you in a bad light.
They could argue that humans aren’t ready if you’re overly surprised by anything after living on Turv as long as you have. ”
Everything he did was planned. Every action, every decision, every minor choice that could potentially create bigger problems was carefully considered.
He had even briefly pondered if he could convince the humans to let him pick their clothes.
Clothing choices could say a lot about a person and how they were feeling, even glimpses into their personality.
For example, knowing that the human female Holly liked to cover her body in long, baggy clothing told him that she not only liked comfortable things, but she liked to hide.
Peony enjoyed showing her body, though less so now that pregnancy had made her belly round. Something he did not understand, but it was a definite change. Alanna wore bright colors and shimmering jewelry, speaking to her vibrant nature and excitable attitude.
And his Scarlet, his beautiful, beautiful Scarlet, she preferred form over function.
She dressed up when the situation called for it, but otherwise, like now, she dressed for comfort and ease of movement.
Havali wasn’t sure if that spoke more to her no-nonsense nature, or her general dislike for fripperies overall.
That kind of thing required knowing her better to find out.
And unfortunately, he knew very little. Scarlet hadn’t discussed such things around any of his many sources. He knew most of the gossip surrounding the humans, but Scarlet kept her past, what made her who she was, quiet.
Unfortunately, he didn't think any of them, especially not his Scarlet, would let him pick their clothing for something like this.
“Ah, the news is starting,” Peony said, her hand flapping wildly towards the large holodisplay.
They all turned as Atem ordered the sound restored. The news program, right on schedule, was broadcasting the image of the humans coming down the ramp of their shuttle yesterday. They were particularly focused on Peony.
Peony’s belly, and the way she cradled it. The way Atem hovered over her protectively. The screen split and, while Peony and her hybrid pregnancy remained the focus of one, the other alternated between Scarlet and Alanna.
The female hosting the program spoke in a clear, slightly musical voice-
“...arrival of the new species with the domini delegation yesterday afternoon. The species, called ‘humans’ according to the domini representative, were illegally captured from their home planet and rescued by the First Domini.”
“That’s not what happened,” Atem frowned. “They rescued me. Havali, did you not tell them the complete story?”
“I did, but I cannot control what they choose to say,” Havali assured him. “And I was told that there would be a more complete report on them done at a later date. This is just the introduction.”
The reporter continued while they spoke-
“...to present the case for humans to be prematurely welcomed into the Coalition. First Domini shall put himself forward as their sponsor, while the humans shall speak on behalf of their own species.
“But what everyone really wants to know is if news of the First Domini’s mate is true.
He mated one of the humans nearly as soon as she arrived on his planet.
The female with the brown mane - who has taken the formal name Adassani as is her right as the First Domini’s mate - is also quite obviously gravid.
It is reported, from the First Domini himself, that the offspring she carries is, in fact, his biologically.
A hybrid child produced completely naturally.
No medical intervention has yet been required either in the conception or the successful gestation of the offspring.
There are even reports that a second human, who did not come with the delegation, is also gestating.
“A true, natural, hybrid pregnancy. Unseen in this or any other part of the known universe. What this means for the humans and their petition remains to be seen. There has been no formal scientific study published on the gravid females yet, though reports from the delegation do indicate that both females are being extensively studied. Both by First Healer Donivi for the domini people, and by the red maned human female, who was given the honorable name Vora Vakara by the domini.”
The second screen focused again on Scarlet.
It was the moment that she had been walking alongside Havali towards the compound.
She had a calm smile on her face and had been speaking to him about something.
A gentle breeze was moving her glorious, blood red mane and pressing her dress tight against her body, showcasing it for the entire ring to see.
Absolutely beautiful. The sight of her filled Havali’s mouth with saliva and made his groin ache as his cock and knot throbbed.
His knot had been hard since he first saw her. No matter how many times he took himself in hand and tried to simulate the squeeze of a cunt around the bulb, he never came fully. He needed to be inside his female. He needed her legs wrapped around him.
He needed his fangs in her throat.
Havali’s jaw clenched as the devious thought, at once, sent a jolt of desire and shame through him. He wanted her with everything he had, and it had taken all of his willpower not to come charging after her the very first moment he saw her. Because of thoughts like that.
Only the most perverted, deviant of domini would ever fantasize about sinking their fangs into the throat of their own mate.
Feeling her heated blood coating his tongue.
Tasting the scent that was always in his nose as he held her down and pounded her with his knot until he filled her little womb so full, his seed dripped from her for days and-
Havali clenched his teeth as he tried to force the thoughts from his mind.
The reporter had already moved on in her segment, informing the watching population about how the humans would present their case during the Coalition meeting and that, of course, the entire event would be streamed live throughout the subnet for anyone interested in watching.
“How long are we going to be out tomorrow?” Peony asked, looking from Atem to Havali, worry in her voice and a hand on her rounded belly.
Havali quickly gave her a reassuring smile.
“You can, of course, return to your nest at any time, Vi Adassani. Scarlet and Alanna will serve perfectly well to stay out longer. There are already discussions about domini gestation symptoms going through the subnet forums. People are going to be watching you for those signs. If you show them, all the better for our cause.”
He could see Scarlet giving him an odd look out of the corner of his eyes. It took great strength of will to keep his third eye from tracking her constantly, especially when he knew she was looking at him. Like she knew what he was doing.
Peony, however, as he knew she would, looked relieved.
Even just the threat of not being able to return to her nest whenever she liked was enough to make her anxious, which was why he had specifically stated that wasn’t going to happen.
Keeping her calm was important, especially since it appeared her nesting instincts were so strange to her.
More manipulation, but at least this was for a good cause.
Peony was not his female, but he had a vested interest in seeing her pregnancy through to completion. If she delivered a healthy pup by the end, it bode well for potential future offspring between himself and Scarlet.
Just the idea of her carrying his pup as he held her from behind, rubbing her belly, cradling her in his arms, as he sucked the blood from her-
Krik!
Would his deviancy know no end? Must it infest every single fantasy he had of her? If he couldn’t stop imagining pulling her by the hair as he held her down, baring her neck to his fangs while she squirmed beneath him in a combination of pain and pleasure…
He couldn’t stop.
It would never stop.
He was not a worthy male like Atem or Romival. And he couldn’t hide those desires from his mate, not like he had with his previous pleasure mate. For that female, he could just sate his lusts, perhaps imagine his foul fetishes later, but for Scarlet…
No, he wanted to taste Scarlet’s bright blood. So much more violent a red than his own. He had to taste it. He had to take her. Claim her. Dominate her.
And his independent, strong-willed Scarlet would never allow such a thing. If she had the strength and skill of a domini, Havali honestly didn't know, between the two of them, who would be the domin and who would be the adassi.
Oh, but the fight to determine who protected the den and who built the nest would be so sweet.
A thrilling battle of blood and domination that he would end by sinking his fangs into her neck before feeding her fresh meat until her belly was taut and sated so she could make more blood for him to drink.
Deviant, foul, filthy male.
But he couldn’t stop.
The others were having an innocent conversation about where they were going and what they would do when they got there.
Alanna was the one who brought up the topic of what they should wear and Havali eagerly interjected to give them instructions.
Anything to keep his mind off of Scarlet and the way she licked her fingers clean of the fruit she had for her breakfast.
He was not very successful.