Chapter Nine
Skiden:
It’s impossible to avoid family dinners.
Such a rambunctious clan… Tiiblets under the table having their own stream of conversation. Giggling and interspersing their opinions into our discussion now and again.
Bel glowing because she thinks my fool brother has already gotten her with child. River and Tiran cooing at each other.
It finally gets interesting when Bel asks Bronan where all the other applicants are.
I settle back, ready for the drama to unfold. Bronan has brought it upon himself by not telling her that he intends to keep her as his mate, instead of a breeder. I even tried to help the fool out when Isabel stormed out of his home once, confused over the feelings she felt with his first clumsy attempt at kissing her.
I tried to make my sweet sister understand the connection between her and Bronan was real and deep. That she wouldn’t feel the same way about any old kiss. Because poor Bel had never been kissed by anyone else. Not by her dead mate, who shoved her face in a pillow and took her from behind, never caring about her pleasure—or pain.
So, I had kissed her. It had the desired effect. She was so shocked by the lack of connection between us, she tried to force it… and clumsily cut her lip on my teeth. A more awkward kiss couldn’t happen between two people. I tried not to laugh, but had gotten her ice from the kitchen and left her pondering why her kiss with Bronan got her so fired up.
Silly human. My brother is perfect for her, if she could just see it. Yet, after cuddling with Bronan for two days straight, she still asks where they stand with other candidates who want to run in our Javelink’t trials, a condition Bronan has set for breeder candidates.
“It may not be a good time to host a trial yet,” Maman soothes everyone. “After all, the cold is coming. But I am sure that over the next warmer season, names will crop up.”
“Oh, okay,” Isabel says.
I bite back my laughter. Bronan scowls that she asked for others, and she looks relieved that she does not have to have another male in her bed. But the fool doesn’t see her relief.
I fling a vegetable at him, hitting him in the chest. When he turns his glowering brow on me, I motion with my eyes back to Bel, trying to get him to see that she doesn’t really want anyone but him.
Why is it not obvious to those two how much they want each other?
“Besides,” Bronan says, backing up Maman’s lie, “you are already glowing with my child.”
“Do you think so, Bronan?” She sounds hopeful, looking up at him with her cheeks pink.
“I do, sweet. You are beautiful.”
Idiots stare at each other like no one else is present. But then the awkwardness goes on too long; under the table, the Tiiblets start to giggle and I actually feel sorry for the clueless brinyiak.
I clear my throat loudly. It has the desired effect, tearing Bronan from staring obsessively at Isabel like a crazed stalker.
“Tell me about your trip,” he says. At last. We can have a discussion about something other than fake trials and candidates for breeding his mate’s fertile loins.
And said mate suddenly leans forward, as if appalled with herself that she hasn’t remembered to ask about her friend.
“Lucy seems well,” I nod at Isabel to ease her mind. Poor thing should not feel guilty that the thought of Lucy never crossed her mind while she is so enthralled with my brother. She’s too sweet. “Some might have suspected she had visitors, but no one suspects that she isn’t you, Bel. Her job at the church is still safe. Or at least, it was when I left.”
“Oh, good,” Isabel says. “I was worried about her. I wonder if Mikhail would check on her from time to time? It’s not like I can go sneaking back there. If someone notices me, there would be two of us and we were so careful to wear the same clothing and only go out separately…”
“I will follow up on it,” I say, laying out the groundwork for another trip there. Hopefully Mejak and Kalrian have smoothed things over between Lucy and me. No one knows they’re there.
Tiran and Bronan both turn their ugly heads to get a good look at me. I smirk and Maman knowingly winks.
“That would be wonderful. I worry about her, all alone there. Perhaps Isabel can give you her key so you can slip in while she’s at work? Maybe drop some gifts for Lucy around the place so she knows they’re from us? And check her food. Her cupboards were so bare. I hardly had time to make sure she went and purchased the jiggle-o I wanted.”
Isabel laughs. “I think that might be a dead giveaway. All the towns where the Earth mates come from are running low on that staple now.”
“With as many kish as my queen wants, I shall be very busy,” Wrombley says from under the table, where the Tiiblets hold their own conversation. “I cannot keep teaching you two the art of dating. I have to study human kish and how to raise them properly.”
“But wait! We want to know how to care for human kish too,” Morky argues.
“I think I have some time. The love of my life prefers to focus on herself and that is how I like it,” Villi says.
He pops his head up from underneath the table to kiss River and she drops one on his wrinkly forehead, then takes a napkin and tenderly wipes his lips. The rest of us grimace as he smacks his greasy lips.
The Tiiblets have also been convinced that Isabel may be with child. That makes Bronan and Isabel go right into their lovey-dovey act, clasping hands and winking at each other. Isabel leans in to whisper something into Bronan’s ear canal, something that makes her blush.
I ignore them, continuing to eat my meal, but eventually they catch my attention as Isabel grows excited and animated, touching Bronan unnecessarily.
And then I catch his words.
“Oh, sweet, just keep planning as if you are,” he rumbles, making her blush brighter. “Because if it didn’t take last night, it will take tonight. Or tomorrow. In the meantime, we must gather kish clothes and toys. A cradle. Decorate the nursery. I think that closet in the hallway can be easily converted to a nursery by adding a door on both ends. As that kish gets older, we can pop him into the bedroom right beyond it and there is room for the next.”
Great Goddess Metanya, the fool is promising her more of his cock, right here at the dinner table.
And Bronan manages to pull out another feat—
“I love planning this out with you,” Isabel confesses. “We’re always on the same page.”
I give a derisive snort. Same page? She’s planning out having a ton of kish while that fool still hasn’t told her they’re already mated. While he pretends that she is with child now because he knows that’s what she wants to hear.
“Our daughters will probably love to learn to dance,” he says, giving her more to ponder. “Perhaps their early lessons can be taught by the Tiiblets—”
“We are excellent dancers!” Villi pops up from under the table. “Villi more so than the others,” he whispers, and gestures with his eyeballs to Morky, who’s popped out from behind him.
“Yes,” Morky agrees, widening his eyes and shooting the gesture back to Villi. “Some of us much better than others.”
Wrombley scoots out last. “They are our bablets! I will decide if the two of you are good enough to teach our kish to dance.”
He pokes his head back under the table. “Anyone else who wishes to audition as a dance instructor, we’re heading outside for the tryouts.”
A line of Tiiblets crawl out from under the table like a horde of ants, following the bossy Wrombley outside. There’s a reason why my brother and that Tiiblet get along so well.
“Huh. I guess we aren’t planning too far ahead if he’s already auditioning dancers,” Isabel says.
Bronan puffs his chest out. “Wrombley’s the best.”
“He’s kind of like his master,” Tiran snorts. “Bossy and a know-it-all.”
My laughter bursts out of me. That is exactly what I was thinking, though I would have pointed out the word pompous.
“If Tiiblets match their people, then it makes sense why Villi is a whiner,” Bronan says, trying to get Tiran back.
“Bronan!” Isabel covers my brother’s mouth, then giggles when he licks the inside of her palm. I’m forced to turn away, disgusted. Those two are gross.
“Villi isn’t a whiner,” Tiran whines as much as his Tiiblet, Villi, does. It’s true, but I nod sympathetically anyway. “It’s just that River spoils him.”
“What? I do not! He’s sensitive,” River says. “He needs special attention.”
“My point about his master,” Bronan says to Isabelae. “Tiran is rather special too.”
“Not sure why your mother didn’t stop having babies after you two. Poor Skiden,” Isabel says, blowing a kiss at me across the table. I pretend to catch it and place it into my front pocket.
Bronan turns his attention to me, scowling. Oh, oh. His irritation with trying to fend off suitors has a new focus.
“Scowling will give you wrinkles,” River sings.
Isabel smooths out his heavy brow with her fingertips. “There,” she says. “All fixed, handsome.”
Just like that, his mood transforms. A smile breaks out across his face and he nibbles lovingly on her fingers. I heave a huge sigh of relief.
Everything will be fine once he tells her the truth and stops stressing himself out with the secrets.
All at once, Tiiblets come flying in from every direction, sliding across the floor and jumping under the table as fast as they can.
I’m about to ask what the matter is when the front doors burst open, and my patron enters.
Tiran snarls with his presence. My patron has been banished from the caves because of his attitude over Tiran and River—our first human match.
“Ornan!” Maman gasps at the sight of him.
“Well, there she is. The little breeder I haven’t had the pleasure to meet,” Patron says.
“Isabelae,” Bronan says, carefully, trying to distract her. Calm her from whatever drama he will say. “Meet my patron. My father.”
“Oh! It’s… it’s a-a nice to meet you,” Bel stutters.
He smiles, and I recognize that smile. Cold, calculating. He has been biding his time, living in the hunters’ area and instead of the work filling his soul, he has grown more bitter and restless than he was when he lived like a king in the main cave.
“Isabelae,” he says, and I see her blanch because only Bronan calls her that.
“Isabel to you,” Bronan reminds him. To his credit, he is still keeping calm. “Why are you here?”
Isabel gasps that Bronan is rude to our patron, unaware that using Brone’s pet name for her is Patron’s way of taking power over them both.
“As you wish.” Patron inclines his head. “I merely wanted to meet the one who shall give me grandkish.”
“Oh, I’m not sure if I’m pregnant yet,” she says.
“I’m sure it won’t be long,” Patron says, his voice as calm and smooth as my own. “At least one of my sons will impregnate you quickly.” He deliberately turns his gaze to me.
The food in my belly turns to brick. He slyly seems to be implying something, causing some drama between brothers. Except this time, it isn’t aimed at Tiran and Bronan.
This time it’s me. And while I was always the buffer between my brothers, I’m not sure Tiran would even think to jump in to save me. Why would he? This is the first time our patron has ever tried to turn Bronan and me against each other.
But what is it that he will use? Isabel and I look at each other and she looks… panicked. My blood turns to ice in my veins.
Surely, she hadn’t told anyone about that awkward kiss?
“I am the only one qualified,” Bronan says.
“Really? I thought your younger brother was qualified also. Both of them,” he spits out, for once willing to acknowledge Tiran.
“Tiran is happily mated to River, who is Isabelae’s daughter. You know this. You know he will never impregnate his mate’s maman.”
“True,” my patron responds easily enough and smiles as if this is the answer he wanted. “But that leaves your true brother.”
“Skiden will never—”
And then Patron lets his bomb drop.
“The breeder could be gestating already with his kish! I saw them going at it at the edge of the trees a few moons past.” His eyes are sly as he focuses on me.
My ears ring with his betrayal.
River gasps; Tiran snarls.
“We didn’t—” I start.
“That was just a kiss!” Isabel says, conflicting with my words.
The room grows quiet.
Bronan’s face is ravaged. He loves her; he trusted me and our patron played on that. He’s never before pitted me and Bronan against each other. It was always Tiran and Bronan, or me and Tiran. I’m sure this is payback because I confronted him when Tiran first brought River to the village and my patron tried to intimidate her.
“You bastard,” I snarl. “I should have put you down the first time you caused trouble!” I’ve never felt such satisfaction in my life as I do when my fist sinks into his face, making the Tiiblets cry out and the females scream at the sudden violence.
Immediately, I’m ashamed of myself, only because I shocked the group and gave the male exactly what he wanted. He doesn’t bother to hit back. He lies regally on the floor, like the victim instead of the brinyiak who caused all this drama.
And he gives me a smirk.
I will pound him into submission, hit him until he admits that he lies to cause conflict between me and Bronan. I move forward but Tiran grabs me, holding me back from beating him to a pulp. Bronan stares at everything as if he’s in shock.
Patron stands slowly, his face swelling, and he holds his hand out to Bronan. “My son—forgive me. I don’t know what the problem is. Isabel is a breeder, correct?”
Isabel is horrified and Bronan has no choice in the matter but to continue his charade.
“Of course. Be gone with you.” He nods at two males acting as guards, standing near the door. “Escort him from here.” They come to my patron’s side to lead him from the dining room.
I have to set him at ease. I can’t have him thinking that Isabel might be interested in me.
“Bron—” Sharp pain explodes behind my eye as his fist connects with my face, all his hurt spewing out at me, and my limbs fly out from under me, the world spinning as I meet the floor.
“Bronan!” Isabel screams.
And what can I say? I kissed his mate. But I would never, ever, strike my brother and I know as soon as he comes to his senses, he’ll be inconsolable that he hit me for the first time ever. So, I lay back on the floor, in the same spot my patron did, my fists in my own lap. And I resent that not only did I sound like my patron when I had a fight with Lucy, but now I lay here, on the floor just like him.
Tiran jumps up to block Bronan from coming at me, and more males posture—a chemical reaction from all the violence.
More screaming fills the room. No one can believe that Bronan struck his own little brother. I can barely believe it myself, and I’m the recipient. Hell, he never even hit Tiran, even when Patron stirred up more conflicts between them than anyone should have been able to.
I’m stuck here on the floor in my worthless patron’s position.
I hear a chuckle from out in the hallway. Patron hasn’t yet left. He stuck around to make sure he got his way.
I jump up and storm from the room, determined to catch the brinyiak. Tiran blocks Bronan to keep him from chasing after me.
Finally. My idiot middle brother finally sees that he should be the buffer between the two of us, just like I always buffered those two.
I leave them all behind as I grow in size, my body posturing as grand as the rest, the pain still throbbing through my face. My tentacles grow, long and writhing with adrenaline, along the floor, as I burst into the hallway to see my father scurrying away.
He races toward the upper levels and I chase, determined not to let him get away.
Up we climb, until he gets to the areas where the rock walls have eroded over time, and he pitches himself over a gap in the wall to sail into the water below.
I follow, and the colder temperature of the water soothes me as I plunge through, bubbles exploding all around me as I cut through the murky depths. I know where he’s heading—the waterfalls, where it will be easy to escape if he can sail over. Even if two males jump at the same time, they can surface in completely different places.
When he breaks through to the other side of the channel, I catch up to him and grab an appendage, holding him from escaping through the tunnel that leads out to the Adroki beach. We struggle together and one by one, I grab, knot, and then tie his appendages together so he can’t swim, until we’re forced both back up to the surface.
“Boy. How dare you—” he tries to splutter, but I recognize it for what it is. An attempt to take the offensive instead of defending himself against what he did wrong. He twists, trying to untie himself, but his strength is no match for someone less than half his age.
“What the fuck is wrong with you? What kind of patron turns his own sons against each other?”
“Against each other? You did kiss his mate, did you not? Wouldn’t that make you at fault?”
I gnash my teeth. “So, you’re aware that Bel’s not a breeder.”
He freezes, but the damage is done. “I don’t care what she is. The point is, you kissed her.”
I’m not giving him the satisfaction of reducing me to a kish who needs to explain himself. “Let’s get one thing straight. Twice now, you’ve pushed my limits. There won’t be a third time. One more thought from you about causing trouble with me, my brothers, their mates, or my maman—and I’ll send you packing into the next world. There will be no second thoughts, nor will there be any guilt on me. Is that clear?” And to show him I mean business, I use a powerful punch to make sure his face matches mine. If my eye is swollen shut, so shall his be.
Like father, like son.
The strength behind my fist sends him flailing backward into the cold water, but he can’t escape, not with his appendages tied. I haul him back up.
“Well, my mistake,” he splutters. “Apparently, I should have made you the leader of the clan instead of your spineless brother.”
Spineless? Because he allowed this worthless male to live this long?
“You don’t have that much power.” With one hand, I release him, and send him sailing over to the falls. I really don’t care if he lives or dies. Without waiting to see if he untangles his limbs on the way down, I turn and swim back through the tunnels that lead to the Adroki beach—and the Earth portal.