Chapter 44
I never like leaving my family for missions, but it is a necessary evil to keep them safe. Viriden has accompanied me on a recent visit to speak with his central command. It is a gorgeous shining place of light and warmth. I understand now why Tessi calls his kind, her kind, angels.
They have power and medicine and fast ships. We have strong soldiers, the ability to heal much quicker than they do, local telepathy when coms are down, and claws to compete with our enemy.
Isonians have given us a life we only dreamed of and the ability to shred the Nebs, Denarso, and Myndrous. They say we are doing them a favor. I believe it is the other way around.
We have been gone for a few days. In my absence, Zorin has had command of Moonshine. As we dock and I unload, Viriden stops me.
“How is Tessi doing? Is she transitioning alright?”
“She is very happy, sir. Carrying my brother’s twins now.”
He breathes a deep sigh of relief. “So you are expanding the Aegeris line. Good.”
“I thought you did not approve of their bond.”
“I just didn’t want the empire to…” Viriden trails off, glances around, and rests his hands on his hips.
“My wife was taken back when we were just young officers. Nebulous thought, since she was gifted with the ability to manipulate perceptions, that she could help them. I did not know at the time that she was pregnant. I only found out when I found her body. I will…spare you the details.”
Viriden’s light flickers.
I rest a hand on his shoulder. “Do not linger in this pain. You do not honor her by mourning her. You honor her by fighting for what mattered to her.”
Viriden nods. “Easier said than done.”
“I know.” I pat his shoulder and turn to walk away, my Isonian commander’s cape that Carnas painted a howling wolf on, rustling behind my shoulders. “You should stay. Have dinner with us.”
I stop at the ramp’s end and look up at him. “It would make Tessi happy.”
“Maybe another time. I need…”
“Space.” I nod. “Just remember to be present, sir. That is how we feel almost whole again. There are more who need us. And thank you for being the good in this universe. You have saved my kind. For that, I am forever in your debt.”
Viriden raps a fist to his chest. I rap a clawed fist to mine and step off of the ramp.
I watch his ship leave mine and know he will find a way to heal. Perhaps I should see if Tessi can bake him some more of her cookies.
Since she has been on board Moonshine, she has enjoyed cooking classes, many stacks of books, and drinking something herbal she calls tea. I do not know why she likes the taste of it, but it is something Rorsar enjoys, too. And Ayna, the Isonian nurse he’s now courting.
When I stop by our quarters, I do not see Tessi or Rhysan. The room is instead filled with pink and blue decorations and our entire M-pack plus a few, minus my brother.
Radar comes up to me and licks my hand.
“Hi, buddy.”
Carnas grins from where he has his arm around Esrynne. They’re tying off balloons, while Spike stays on the other side of the room, setting up a table with plates and napkins.
“What…is this?” I ask.
“A baby shower,” Spike replies. “My mother loved doing them.”
Esrynne smiles up at me. She’s barely back on her feet but I’ve never seen her so happy before. And by the way Carnas monitors her every move, I’m certain she’s well cared for. “It’s for the twins. Pink for a girl. Blue for the boy. Everyone is coming later tonight.”
Carnas growls with dark desire as he leans around Esrynne and kisses her. “Including you, my love.”
Esrynne blushes. “The party will include food, cake, and games. We will give Tessi things for the pups and for her journey into motherhood. It’s a human tradition, but I already like it.”
“Ah. Okay.” I’m glad to know Tessi has so much support from our M-pack, even while I am away.
Marne arches a brow as he passes them. “Talk to Zorin. He’s got something planned for you in the central atrium.”
“Understood.”
I leave and call him on my earcom.
“Azrim, how did negotiations go?” Zorin asks.
“Well, brother. We are slotted for deep space training in a few weeks.” I nod at the Shifters that pass me. Each salutes me with a rap of claws to their chest. I return their gesture. “What is the status of Moonshine?”
“All systems are green. We ran emergency procedure training while you were gone.”
“Good.”
“And Tessi is in the arboretum. I will have Sky come retrieve Rhysan. You have not yet bonded with her, Azrim. If she is to be ours…”
“You are very pushy about this,” I remark.
“Would you feel better if I was there?”
I squirm inside my armor because deep down I crave her as badly as I did Jezza, but Zorin did not take my mate, ever. “Give me a few minutes.”
“Understood.”
I walk to the arboretum and scan my wristband over the door. It opens for me just as Sky and Emarza are headed out with their pups and mine.
“She’s all yours,” Sky says.
“Wait, please.”
Sky stops. I take my son from her and hold him close, grateful he’s alive and happy. Rhysan licks my face. I brace his head to mine. I love you, my son.
He yips at me, and I’m delighted to see he’s trying to talk after so many months of silence.
Sky waits patiently until I hand him back to her. “The doc says he’s growing like he’s supposed to now. So you don’t have to worry.”
“Thank you, Sky. Send my best to Corzin and your daughter.”
“I will.”
I give Emarza a nod.
She dips her head as she holds Jorix and Sky’s daughter.
The doors close between us and blink that the atrium is sealed.
I wander through the trees and bushes, looking for Tessi and find her beyond the fountain, sitting on a long cushioned bench, a hand protectively curled around her growing belly as she reads one of her paper books.
She is beautiful in her blue dress, wearing an Isonian maternity halo.
Its gold glints under the bright lights between small braids that weave around it to hold it in place.
For a moment, I just lean against a tree and stare at her.
Tessi gets up and walks to the fountain where she stands and closes her eyes. She hums a tune I do not know, but it is lovely and draws me closer.
I ease up behind her and draw in her scent, letting it soothe the emptiness and remind me that I no longer have to live in pain or in fear for my son’s life.
And it is all because of her.
She gasps, twists, and looks up at me. “Azrim.”
I run my hands up her bare shoulders and kiss her neck. “How are the twins?”
She laughs bashfully. “Good. Zorin cooks for me every night now, doesn’t let me do any chores, and… forget training. That’s a hard no with him.”
“You are doing something far more important.”
She beams up at me. “Not you, too.”
“What?”
“It’s getting a little frustrating, not being able to do anything. Every Shifter is always watching. They’ll drop what they’re doing to help me pick things up or whatever.”
“As they should,” I tell her.
She turns around and braces my face with her hands as she leans in for a kiss.
“Oh, no, I’m not playing that game.” I guide her hands away from me, pick her up by her hips and carry her back to the bench, being careful of her growing belly between us. Sitting, I lean back and guide her over my hips.
“Oh, changed your mind about taking me?” she teases, keeping her hands closed as she places her arms on the backrest and nips at my bottom lip.
Zorin has been on my case about why I haven’t bonded with his mate. “I was waiting. I just wanted to be sure you had his pups. I already have the one I want.”
Tessi grins, showing me her growing canines. “Guess I better spend most of my life like this then.”
Urges overwhelm me as my Shifter claws his way to the surface.
I pull the shoulders of her dress down and release her bra.
I savor long licks of her warm, smooth flesh and love the way she whimpers from every tense motion of my hands over her hips.
Suckling her breasts with large swirls of my tongue, I lightly rake my teeth over her tight buds until her scent changes, and I know she is ready.
Her growing breasts and belly only make her more beautiful as she arches and closes her eyes.
As I hike her dress up, she frantically undoes my belt then pulls my rigid shaft free of my pants.
“Please, hurry.”
I tug her panties aside. With one hand, I guide my tip to her searing opening. With the other, I draw her hips down over mine. She takes me into her heat. Tessi is slicked in a gloriously smooth way and surrounds me with such heat that it comforts even the coldest parts of me.
Tessi moans.
From behind her, Zorin walks up, gently braces her head, kisses her neck, and steadies her as I bury myself in her. He is caring when I am rough. But together, we love her the way she deserves.
How did I get lucky enough to have two gorgeous females to love?
I run the back of a claw down Tessi’s breast and over her nipple. She tenses around me, and I know we’re headed in the right direction.
“That’s it.” I retract my claws and reach between us, slide a finger over Tessi’s nub, and massage it gently.
She cries out in pleasure, leans back into Zorin, who takes over massaging her breasts and nibbling her neck.
Her core gips me hard. I run a finger over her neck and feel her pulse quicken.
“Come on, Tessi,” I say as I rock my hips against hers, deepening our bond. She shudders. Heat floods my balls. They begin to tighten. I control my breathing and hold onto the edge.
Zorin kisses her with passion. “Let him fill you, Tessi. Take him. Ride him.”
Tessi pulls herself back to me, takes control, and starts sheathing herself over me.
I am always in control. I am in charge. Until she slides that big beautiful pussy over my cock.
Her flesh prickles. Sweat beads on her chest. And I am a mess beneath her, struggling to control my release while Zorin steps back, sits on the fountain’s edge, and watches us with pride.
Tessi clenches hard, and my control disintegrates. Regret slams into me as I pump my seed into her.
“Don’t do that,” Tessi breathlessly whispers. She braces my face and kisses me. When she rests her forehead to mine, and I pump into her again, I feel the love Zorin says he feels.
Tessi’s eyes roll back as she climaxes and tightens around me.
Even as I knot inside of her, she bucks and tries to pull me deeper.
I don’t know how, but my lust surges again, and I find myself wrapping my arms around her, pulling her close, and desperately bonding my mouth to hers.
I thrust faster and harder, like I always wanted to with Jezza but never could.
Tessi can take it, even leaning back on my thighs and trying to bind us tighter.
“More…please.” Tessi gasps.
I lick my thumb and massage her clit, feel her body shudder and her pussy tighten around me.
She quivers and then tenses hard. Tessi lets out a gasp and a moan that make my heart race.
I grunt in pleasure as her climax draws another out of me.
The way she melts into me as our bodies calm, makes me draw her into my arms and kiss her temple.
We sit, stuck together for a long moment. I rub her back and soak in the feeling of her skin and her kiss on my neck.
“I love you, Azrim.”
It aches to hear it. “How could you?”
She laughs softly. “How could I not? You saved my life, Zorin’s life. And you’re not as grouchy as he said you’d be.”
“You are mistaken.”
She giggles and leans back. “You cannot hide your truth from me, Azrim.”
Damn it.
I ease myself out of her and help her up. Tessi puts her straps back over her shoulders while I buckle my pants.
Zorin walks to me, helps me up with a hand, and pulls us both close. As we share an embrace, I feel his guilt over Jezza ease, and I realize part of why he wanted Tessi to be ours was because he was also sworn to protect my mate and carried as much guilt as I did.
“Now it’s official,” he says. “Neither one of us will let anything happen to you ever again.” Zorin kisses Tessi’s cheek.
When she looks over at me, I lean in and nip at her neck.
Tessi smiles and hugs us. “Love you both, and our Aegeris pack, to the ends of time.”
Zorin is still with me. We have Rhysan back, two more Aegeris on the way, a beautiful, strong but gentle female that loves us both, and a new future among the stars.
Jezza always believed love could heal anything.
And while I’ll never forget her, for the first time since losing her, I feel complete.
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