Chapter Twenty-Nine
Kael
I awoke as my knot slipped from Serenya’s depths, the surge of our scent stirring desire, but it wasn’t as immediate as it had been since her heat began. Not as demanding.
The crystal overhead glowed with the dawn light of Vorrashan, casting soft pink over the walls. My muscles were sore and I was a bit tired, but that was what came from rutting an omega for days. My tavehn would feel twice as bad.
I took a moment to absorb the fact that I had a korravai. A tavehn. I had claimed Serenya, the bond a bright cord in my chest tying us together.
Her scent filled the room, thick and sweet, wrapping around me like a second blanket.
I didn’t move, listening to the even rhythm of her breathing where she laid curled against my side.
My tail was wrapped around her arm, my legs tangled with hers, and there was a contentment filling me that I’d never felt before.
Her flesh was cooler, no longer radiating the fevered heat of her cycle, and her kethra, now crimson to match mine, were calm.
Her heat was finished.
I exhaled slowly, my hand moving through her hair to cradle the back of her head. The bond was bright and secure, telling me she was still sleeping, exhausted but safe.
I closed my eyes for another heartbeat, treasuring the moment, but the buzz from my communicator pulled me back to reality.
My eyes snapped open, irritation bleeding through the softer emotions I’d woken with. I shifted carefully, trying to slip free of Serenya’s limbs without waking her, then rose from the nest. The council knew of Serenya’s heat, so if someone was trying to reach me, it had to be important.
Blood crusted the scratches on my arms and chest, souvenirs from the challengers I'd faced in the Bonding Hall. More aches awoke as I moved, but it was all worth it to feel the connection with my omega thrumming with her trust.
The communicator buzzed again, the special pattern making me focus.
Council, priority.
I found my communicator and scanned the message quickly, hissing through my teeth. The Council had called for an emergency meeting as soon as I could make it to the Council Hall.
I glanced over my shoulder. Serenya stirred slightly, murmuring something incoherent, then burrowed deeper into the blankets. I didn’t want to wake her, but leaving without her wasn’t an option.
I crossed to the nest and crouched beside her, brushing damp hair from her face.
“Time to wake, veyrari.”
Her eyes opened slowly, still heavy with sleep. Confusion passed over her face, followed by a flicker of alarm that echoed in our link.
“Did I do something wrong?”
I shook my head and leaned forward to press my lips to hers, keeping it quick so it didn’t deepen into something more. The first message had come a drazh ago, and the council would only wait so long before convening without me.
“No. The Council demands my presence, and the bond won’t let us be parted now. I thought you’d like to bathe before meeting them.”
Sitting up, she clutched the Shavari’zorr to her.
“Oh, okay.”
There were dark circles beneath her eyes, but the blue had returned. There was still worry leaking through our connection, and I wished she’d say why, but I’d let her tell me in her own time.
She grabbed clean clothing as I donned my korrvek, then I led her down to the River Caverns. The main pool was mostly empty, steam rising in fragrant spirals from the mineral-rich waters, but I still led her to the private pool where we’d bathed before.
I stripped, watching Serenya unwrap herself from the Shavari’zorr. It smelled strongly of her slick, the pheromones of her heat laced through the fabric, and I couldn’t help the way it stirred my vorran.
Her cheeks flushed when she looked at me, her answering desire in the bond, but she turned her gaze away. Closing the space between us, I took her chin in my fingers and urged her to meet my eyes.
“I am yours, tavehn. Your first heat has ended and we have bonded. Desire is natural.”
I let my lips drop to hers again, still obsessed with kissing. I wasn’t sure I’d ever get enough of her lips under mine.
Unless they were wrapped around my vorran instead.
She smacked my chest lightly, cheeks flushing as she felt the direction of my thoughts.
“Kael!”
Chuckling, I tugged her toward the water.
“I can’t help that I want you.”
She grumbled under her breath. I’d noticed her little winces as we walked, the prickles of pain in our link, and while I didn’t want her to hurt, male pride swelled.
I kept her close as we bathed, carefully cleaning the remnants of her heat and the blood from both our bodies. It was a moment of intimacy, and it helped her settle. Just because we had bonded didn’t mean she accepted everything yet, but we were closer than I’d thought we be.
She marveled at her new luth’rein, the red complementing her skin and the warm tones in her dark hair. She had been too distracted during her heat to notice the change, but her pleasure filtered through to me.
She also liked the bite mark she’d left on my neck, although it stirred feelings of guilt along with the possessive satisfaction. It had to be a Human thing, because the sight of my mark on her only made me want to mount her again.
I tried to keep my tension and the urgency to hurry from bleeding through to her, but she must have felt it, because she finished and strode from the pool without waiting, drying herself before I could do it.
I wanted to drag her back into the water and lick the droplets from her flesh, but I had responsibilities to attend before I could enjoy my tavehn.
I redressed in my korrvek, smiling when traces of our scent rose from it. I wanted her covered in my scent again, but it would be distracting to the others, so I lifted the Shavari’zorr from the stone and rolled it into a ball.
“I will have the Karzhari see to it and deliver it meyr’kal.”
Serenya opened her mouth to protest before deflating and nodding. Even if her senses weren’t as strong as mine, the streaks of dried fluids on the fabric were visible.
I took her hand and led her up from the River Caverns, taking the most direct route to the Council Hall.
The Market was just starting to stir when we passed, and her longing filled my chest. Even though there was fear laced through it, she clearly wanted to return, and I swore I’d take her again.
It was a good place for her to see how my people lived, as well let them see her, and I wouldn’t let a handful of traitors ruin it for her.
I had sent a message to the others as I dressed, so by the time we reached the Council Hall, the others were already there. The room fell silent at our appearance, the focus on Serenya before moving to me.
Each alpha tipped his head, offering submission, although Rath’s was clearly grudging. He’d been the most vocal about disliking the need to bond Humans even though he’d agreed with the reasons behind it.
We moved to our seats in silence, the round vekorith table similar to the one in my home, although far larger. The council had eight seats, but there was room for eight more in the circle, for mates.
Instead of letting Serenya take a seat next to me, I sat in my chair and pulled her into my lap.
She did a good job keeping her features smooth even through her spike of surprise and embarrassment.
She needed to see we were different from her kind, and having her close helped me stay calmer than I would have without the contact between us.
“What is the reason for this?”
I spoke in Common out of respect for her, so she didn’t feel as if she were being talked over or about. As my Torashkar, Rhydek leaned forward to explain.
“The veshakar has caused an issue, but there is a more pressing matter to discuss first.”
My gaze cut to Serenya, but she didn’t appear to realize he spoke of her father.
“Continue.”
“The other Human was attacked.”
Serenya’s gasp pulled everyone’s attention to her, but I motioned for Rhydek to give details.
“It happened in the River Caverns. They were bathing along the edge of the river when, Jorath claims, someone called him into the alpha chamber. He left the Human alone, and while he was gone, three alphas cornered her. She is still shaken, but her injuries have been treated. Teylan heard her cries and put himself between her and the trezakkars, and when Jorath returned, they ran.”
“Vorresh take it.”
My tail lashed once as I muttered the curse. One attack was a fluke, an opportunity taken, but two meant conspiracy.
I looked across the table to Teylan. The Keeper of Rites was a member of the council, his steady gaze holding mine.
“Can you name them?”
I didn’t expect him to, and he confirmed it.
“I cannot. They wore no insignia, thavren hiding their faces.”
“Shara’venn.”
My focus cut to Dorash, but the others echoed the sentiment. The Morrak did not run from a fight, especially not one they brought on themselves.
I sighed and clenched my jaw. I was going to have to assign someone to hunt down the ones behind the attacks so they could face punishment. It couldn’t go unanswered or it would invite more.
“What is the other issue?”
When Rhydek hesitated, glancing at Serenya, I tensed. My Torashkar was scared of nothing and not one to mince words, but I sensed he didn’t want to speak in front of my tavehn.
When I narrowed my eyes he growled but finally came out with it.
“Hale witnessed the Zha’Khorr Valryn. Someone gave him kharev, and he spoke unflatteringly of the ceremony and your korravai.”
My breath froze before ripping from me in a snarl. Serenya let out a squeak when I stood in a rush, clutching my arm as I placed her on her feet.
“Hale? M—My father saw the…”
Her panic and humiliation flooded into me, her kethra flaring bright enough to hide the flash of mine before I got it under control.
“Who permitted Hale to enter the Bonding Hall?”
Silence met my question and my claws dug into my palms. Sweeping my gaze across the chamber, I snarled again.
“I will only ask once more. Who allowed him to witness my korravai’s ritual, against our expressed command?”
Teylan and Rhydek exchanged glances, and when the rest remained silent, Teylan spoke.
“The guard said the Earth representative insisted on his right to observe, given the political significance and—"
My snarl silenced him.
“Her trehvyr, her body, is not political. It was sacred. He only needed to be informed it had succeeded.”
“Karzhak veshakar dravakh’hesh. Kiren’kai Hale vokkar Zha’Khorr Valryn’shara. Morrahn vokesh.”
My focus whipped to Torashden Rathven, my kethra brightening as I drew back my lips at his words. He was one of the traditionalists who believed bonding any omega made an alpha weak and had claimed that bonding Humans would destroy our bloodlines.
As if they weren’t already.
Serenya hadn’t understood what he’d said, or she would have been even more upset since he’d called our bonding fake, but I wouldn’t let him disrespect either of us.
“Careful, Rath. You call my Zha’Khorr Valryn, shara? Her scent summoned more than five drenn. If it was only a vokkar, then let us make one. Issue a dravhek or remain silent if you won’t be useful.”
My irritation had me slipping into Morraki when Common words failed to convey the proper depth. My chest heaved as I waited for his response, but Rath scoffed, flicking his fingers.
I didn’t have the time to deal with him. Serenya’s emotions were spiraling through our connection, making it hard to control my own with the need to protect her riding me. I had to calm my tavehn and then hunt down Hale.
“This meeting is over. Rhydek, get someone to hunt down the traitors while I deal with Hale.”
Rhydek lifted a hand, making me pause.
“It’s more serious than hunting trezakkars. The Human wants to go home.”
“Her name is Rowena.”
Serenya’s voice cut through the room.
Rhydek turned to her, pupils narrowed. He wasn’t used to being corrected, and I expected him to reply with his typical temper, but he tipped his head in a tiny nod of acknowledgment.
“Rowena wants to return to Earth. She has rejected Jorath, refusing his meyr’kal. She remains with the Qy’shaeuhl.”
Some of the tension in my chest loosened. As Torashkar, Rhydek outranked all but me, and the way he treated Serenya affected how others treated her. I didn’t want to challenge my friend, but I would have for her.
I growled under my breath and swiped a hand down my face. If Rowena returned to Earth, that would leave Serenya as the only bonded Human, and with what Hale had done and what I planned to do in return, her value to the Humans would be gone.
The alliance was at risk.
And then there was Jorath.
Young and new to his position, he already had to walk an edge. He would be seen as untrustworthy for leaving Rowena alone, and her rejection on top of that would label him as weak. The weak could not hold rank, so unless he earned his honor back, he could no longer be Zeydvenai.
Heaving a sigh, I laid out the punishments.
“The Human General Hale is Dravkai’kiren. He is to be removed from Morrakan, and it is Rowena’s choice if she wants to return to Earth on the voyage. Jorath must face Veyr’vokkar to remain Zeydvenai, but he will no longer be on the Zeydrassk. Anything more can wait.”
Rhydek nodded and stood, along with Teylan, and Malrik, since Dravkai’kiren fell under his title as Planetary Defense Overseer. He would usually be the one to find the sentenced and be sure the punishment was carried out, but I would be doing that for Hale.
Taking Serenya’s hand, I led her from the room. Her shame was an acrid stench and a lump in my throat, and I faced her as soon as we were out of sight. Backing her against the wall, I gripped her chin in my fingers, forcing her head up.
“Are you ashamed of me?”
There was a flicker of doubt in our bond, but her eyes went wide and she was quick to shake her head. I felt her honesty as she denied the accusation.
“No.”
“Is your body shameful?”
That time she hesitated, her shock turning to confusion. Brows creasing, she licked her lips before answering slower.
“No?”
It was softer. Unsure. Her pulse increased, her scent changed, and I knew she didn’t believe what she said.
“No!”
I slammed my hand into the wall beside her, making her jump, but I needed her to believe.
“You are not on Earth. We are not Human.”
I softened my voice, moving to cup her cheek.
“You are not Human any longer, veyrari. You are Morraki. You are omega. Your body is not shameful. Your instincts are not shameful.”
Her breath stuttered as she sucked in a lungful, and then I was pressing my lips to hers. Tongue running along the seam, I demanded entrance, claiming her mouth the way I had her body.
She was mine and I was hers, and I needed her to believe in her new life. To believe in us.
Otherwise, the bond would never settle, my people would never see that claiming Humans hadn’t been the wrong choice.
And she would forever be at risk.