Chapter 22
Havali
Atem and Tuvo were angry and disgusted with him. As they should be. He hadn’t needed to get into detail about what he had done. They understood with what little information he gave, and he felt the heat of their hatred even now.
He deserved it.
He deserved worse.
This was exactly what he promised himself he wouldn’t do. When he finally gave into that aching desire that had been pulsing in his head since he first saw Scarlet, he told himself that he would be satisfied with having her as a normal male. Not a deviant.
And at the first test of that control, he broke. Immediately. He reveled in it. He enjoyed her blood and even after he ran away, it continued to make his body ache almost painfully. He had destroyed his bedding with his claws resisting the urge to return to her.
Atem was going to shred him from throat to navel. He would submit himself without a fight. He heard Scarlet’s protests, but hers was a peaceful species. She would, naturally, not appreciate the violence of what must be done.
He hoped that Atem would send her away for it. But he couldn’t request that she not witness his punishment for his crimes against her. She was owed that.
Atem took them to the sparring field outside.
It was surrounded by the four walls of the compound and was where Atem trained every morning.
Tuvo would usually join him. Havali, however, would use one of the other, smaller sparring fields.
For this, however, he owed his blood to fall at her guardian’s feet in his own space.
“Will you idiots stop and listen to me!?” Scarlet shouted as she rushed onto the white platform, its basic setting, chasing after them.
Tuvo put out a hand, bringing her up short.
Havali couldn’t stop himself from growling at the sight of another male touching his mate. The sound only made Atem’s eyes narrow on him.
“You hurt my sister?” He asked, a deep growl in his voice.
“I did.” Havali didn’t try to hide.
“You bled her? You fed on her?” He spit the word like the disgusting act it was.
“Don’t you dare answer that!” Scarlet hissed.
Havali’s head lowered in shame. “I did.”
“Tuvo, let go of me right now!” She yelled, her face burning red as she tried, and failed, to get past First Warrior.
“Er, guys,” Alanna tried to speak, standing beside Peony just off the ring.
“I will kill you for this,” Atem growled, raising his claws to three human gasps.
“Atem, stop it,” Peony said, clutching her nesting blanket around her shoulders anxiously.
“Seriously, this is not okay,” Alanna agreed, her gaze darting quickly between them, inadvertently making the ‘no’ head shaking motion.
Scarlet was just making outraged sounds that couldn’t quite form words.
“Atem,” Tuvo’s booming voice interrupted their protests. “I think the females should return indoors.”
Atem didn’t turn his glare from Havali. “Scarlet has the right to see him killed.”
“Stop it!” She shouted, a strange hint of desperation in her voice.
“She does,” Tuvo agreed calmly. “But remember how vi Adassani reacted to the ratchi’s death? The humans are sensitive to violence. It might be best for them not to witness it directly.”
Atem continued to growl, but he inclined his head in agreement. “You are right. Peony, my sisters, leave this place. I assure you, justice will be done.”
“The fuck it will!” Scarlet shrieked, finally rushing past Tuvo.
She put herself firmly between them.
Glaring at Atem.
Havali frowned, confused, at her back. What was she doing?
“Scarlet, leave this to me,” Atem said, his voice gentling when speaking to her. “This is my privilege as your guardian.”
“I will disown you!” She shouted, fists clenched, her entire body taut with rage.
Her declaration stilled all three males. Atem looked shocked, then hurt.
“You… refuse me as your brother?” He asked, all trace of his growl gone.
“Scarlet…” Peony called for her weakly, but she ignored her.
“I am not a child!” Scarlet snapped, lowering a finger to him. “I did not ask you to do this. I do not want this!”
“Healer, please-” Havali tried to start.
She whipped around to face him next, gaze burning. “And you!”
He flinched. He deserved her ire, but it still hurt to bear. He was only confused when she spoke though.
“You have no right putting our business out there like this!”
“Scarlet, I have committed a grave offense against you.”
“Yes, you have. This entire debacle. Right here!” She pointed to the sparring floor as though she were angry that he had attempted to accept his punishment without a fight.
“Scarlet,” Atem started slowly. “What Havali has done is serious. It is a crime.”
She growled.
She actually growled.
Havali, Atem, and Tuvo all stared, stunned, because they hadn’t actually heard one of the females make that sound before. It clearly came from her throat, not her chest, but the intention was the same and her anger was clear.
“Look, I am trying so hard to be understanding,” she said, biting out each word like it was an effort just to speak rationally. “I don’t mind following your culture in every other aspect. I really don’t. I don’t even mind if you two want to fight it out for me in the whole mate claiming thing-”
“You don’t?” Havali asked, dreadful hope rising in his chest.
She glared, shutting down his question. “But I absolutely and completely draw the line at Havali just announcing what we do during our private moments.”
Havali shook his head, trying to clear it. “Scarlet… Do you not understand what happened?”
“We kissed,” she hissed, face burning red. He couldn’t tell if it was from anger or embarrassment. It was probably both. “I happened to enjoy it before you decided to turn tail and run.”
He had to shake his head again. Definitely not understanding. Was she not aware of just how serious what he had done was?
“He bled you,” Atem stated, glaring at him. “He fed from you.”
“Aw, no fair,” Peony suddenly said, pouting. Pouting.
What in the name of the glorious ancestors was going on?! Only Alanna looked like she had any clue what was happening – and she was busy trying to hold back laughter, not help the situation.
“Atem never bites me,” Adassani continued morosely.
Atem looked horrified at the mere suggestion. “Of course, I do not!”
“Why not?” Peony blew out a frustrated breath. “Havali bites Scarlet!”
“He did not bite me,” Scarlet snarled through clenched teeth, crossing her arms angrily in front of her chest. “He cut me with his fang. It wasn’t even that bad. It’s already healed. And can we stop talking about my love life?!”
Peony gestured to Scarlet, looking at Atem. “See?! You never go full vampire on me!”
“I don’t even know what that is!” Dominani yelled in frustration.
“Okay! Time out!” Alanna called out, doing a strange gesture with her hands – she balanced the flat of her palm against the point of her other fingers, making a ‘T’ shape.
“We’re having a clash of cultures moment.
We need to pause and explain what’s going on before you all make this worse than it already is. ”
“There is no misunderstanding.” Atem flexed his claws, eyes shining on Havali dangerously. “He bled my sister. He fed from her. He must pay for it.”
“Yeah, that’s not going to happen,” Scarlet said, stepping firmly between Atem and Havali. Like she was protecting him.
He was only more confused.
“Alanna,” Tuvo addressed her – the only two calm beings in the area. “Explain yourself.”
She nodded. “Peony, Scarlet, you have to understand, biting family and loved ones and feeding off of them, to the domini, is a huge taboo. Like rape, murder, treason level illegal. You do not do it. You especially do not do it if not in an emergency.”
“I know that,” Scarlet grumbled.
“I didn’t know that,” Peony frowned. “Though, that does explain some stuff.”
“It’s not enough to know it, you have to internalize it,” Alanna pressed. “Havali feels guilty because he thinks he’s done something unforgivable, and Atem is angry because he thinks the same. This is a no-crossing line. Do not stop. Do not collect two hundred dollars.”
Havali really had no idea what she was saying at this point, but Scarlet and Peony seemed to understand as they shared a look, both of their tension starting to ease.
“Atem thinks he’s defending me,” Scarlet summarized neatly, giving the male in question a softening, though still stern, look.
“And he won’t bite me because it’s mega, ultra wrong,” Peony frowned. “Dang. Well, there goes some fun roleplay fantasies right out.”
Atem stared at her, shocked. “You want me to bite you?!”
Alanna, infinitely patient, continued speaking.
“Havali, Atem, Tuvo; you three should know that, on Earth, there’s fictional monsters that we’ve created.
They’re called vampires. They look almost identical to humans, usually, except that they have fangs, and they drink blood.
The blood drinking is their primary characteristic.
In our heads, though it’s not a direct comparison, the blood drinking links the domini to vampires. ”
“So, we are monsters to you?” Havali asked, struggling to understand. Why was Scarlet’s face turning even redder?
“Yes and no,” Alanna hedged. “Vampires started out as monsters and bad guys. Things to be feared. But there’s been a shift in the mythology of them in recent years. They’re more… sexy now.”
Three triads of eyes just blinked at her. Confused.
“Monsters?” Atem asked, baffled.
“Sexy?” Havali asked, trying to connect the two concepts and not succeeding.
“Don’t judge,” Peony grumbled, tightening her blanket like it was armor.
“It’s a human thing,” Alanna chuckled. “We like taking anything and making it sexual.”
“We noticed,” Atem and Tuvo said at the same time. Havali had to bite back a laugh, grateful only that he hadn’t added his voice to them as well.
Alanna continued like they hadn’t spoken. “When vampires were made sexy, the blood drinking crossed over as well. It’s considered a sexual thing. Scarlet probably didn’t care if Havali took a couple sips. Peony probably hopes that Atem would. See?”
“I cannot believe I’m having this conversation,” Scarlet groaned, burying her face in her hands.
Havali’s heart was racing as he stared at her.
Was it true? Had she enjoyed his fangs as much as he enjoyed her blood?
“Peony?” Atem took a step towards her. “You… Does Alanna speak truly?”
Peony shifted a bit before giving a strange, half shrug. “I mean, I’m not going to ask you to do something you’re uncomfortable with.”
“But you’re whelping. To drink from you ordinarily would be wrong, but if you carry my pup…” His voice trailed off as he looked so conflicted. The urge to give his adassi anything she desired conflicting with the need to keep her safe.
“Scarlet?” Peony looked to her hopefully.
Scarlet blew out a long breath, hands dropping to her sides, head dropping back.
“I don’t think it’s safe while she’s pregnant.
No stress for pregnancy. Trying new and dangerous things in the bedroom can be stressful.
And I just don’t think it’s worth risking this already risky pregnancy for it.
But if you want to experiment after delivery, that’s fine. ”
Atem and Tuvo were staring at her, shocked that a medical professional had just agreed that drinking the blood of an adassi was okay actually.
Havali was trying not to show his excitement.
To temper his expectations.
But the hope strangled him.
“Furthermore,” Scarlet continued, glaring between the two males on either side. “It does not matter how deviant society considers the act. What happens between two consenting adults that they both enjoy is no one’s business but theirs.”
Atem gave her an odd look. “Is this a human thing?”
“It seems like a commonsense thing!”
“Scarlet,” Alanna interjected calmly. “Don’t forget: different culture. Humans are a lot more sexual than aliens. They don’t really have a big kinkster culture like humans do.”
Scarlet groaned, pulling on her hair in frustration. “Damn it. Why am I the one that has to put up with this conversation?”
Peony snickered. “Because you got the kinky domini.”
“Shut up!” Scarlet hissed, embarrassed. She blew out a breath before facing Atem again. “Look, I appreciate you. I value everything you do, and I do love you as a brother. I’m sorry I said I would disown you. I didn’t mean it.”
Some of the tension eased from Dominani’s shoulders as he smiled tentatively at her. “I love you as well, my sister. I only wanted to protect you.”
“I know. And I’m grateful. If I need you, truly need you, I will come to you. I will ask for your guardianship if necessary. But I don’t need it now. Okay? Please, just forget everything that Havali said.”
Atem’s gaze lifted from her face and fell onto Havali’s. Immediately, all the indulgent love was gone, and he was snarling again. Havali quickly lowered his eyes in submission.
“Hey!” Scarlet snapped, annoyed.
“Forgive me,” Dominani said, his growl cutting off. “I will… try. But he knows what he did was wrong, and he did it anyway.”
“It’s only wrong if I said no.” Scarlet’s voice was calm, sweet. Understanding.
Until she turned to him.
“And you,” she started, once again angry. “If you have a problem with something that happened in our relationship, you come to me. Not my guardian. Understand?”
Truly, he did not. He shook his head no and she sighed, stepping towards him.
He expected a blow of some kind. He would have deserved it.
But she took his hand instead.
His eyes widened as she grabbed and pulled.
“Come on. We’re going to have a nice, long talk about why this was wrong.”
She still willingly held his hand. She wasn’t unaware of the meaning of this. She knew how much that meant to the domini. She did it anyway.
She still trusted him.