Chapter Thirty
Serenya
He had ignored my request, Kael’s order, not to watch.
Most of my heat was a blur, more sensations and emotions than anything, but I knew I’d been naked on a platform in the center of the Bonding Hall. That Kael had fought off other alphas before claiming me in front of the gathered Morrak.
And my father had seen it.
Bile churned in my stomach, burning the back of my throat. Tears pricked the corners of my eyes as I fought not to break down in front of the Morraki council, but when Kael took me into the hall and asked if I was ashamed of him, it brought the spinning thoughts to a halt.
Kael was powerful. Determined. Controlled.
And beneath it, he was caring. Probably more than anyone realized.
There was nothing to be ashamed of.
But when he asked if my body was shameful, it had been harder to answer.
I’d never cared that I wasn’t slim. I enjoyed having curves, even if it made it hard to find flattering clothes.
But I knew how I was viewed by others. By my father. I knew what Humans would think of the ceremony, and how they’d shamed sexuality for thousands of years.
Kael felt the dishonesty in my answer, just as I felt his conviction as he kissed me.
He desired me, exactly as I was, and didn’t see anything shameful or wrong with what had been witnessed.
It was a beautiful, sacred ceremony to his people, where the community celebrated fertility, the chance of new life, and the connection an alpha and omega shared.
I didn’t miss the lingering fury and hint of fear beneath the other emotions. I couldn’t fault his anger at my father, I was angry too, but his fear scared me.
What kind of repercussions would this have?
I had to catch my breath once he released me from the kiss, my body buzzing even with the turmoil in my heart. I wished I could give in and chase the physical desire so I didn’t have to face reality, but that wouldn’t help anyone.
“Kael? What’s going to happen now? Would it be better to just let it go?”
He growled, the rumble vibrating into my chest where we pressed together, but I knew his anger wasn’t directed at me.
“No slight can be ignored. If I let him get away with disregarding your request for him not to watch, others will use it as a reason to ignore you as well, and my authority will come into question as your alpha. He has to face consequences.”
Swallowing, I nodded my acceptance.
“And drah-v, kai, k-ear-in? What does that mean?”
Kael had said my father had to be removed from Morrakan, but I didn’t know the phrase he’d called him.
“Dravkai’kiren means exiled. He will not be offered veysha. He will not be heard. Any Morraki who encounters him will act as if he doesn’t exist.”
I swallowed again. I’d begun to see how much the Morrak relied on community, so to them, that punishment was harsh.
But my father deserved it.
Kael leaned down and pressed his forehead to mine, sighing.
“I wish I could let you remain meyr’kal while I did this, but the bond would cause us both pain.”
“No.”
Kael pulled back to look down at me, and I held his gaze, straightening my shoulders. Kael may have given the order for my father to stay away, but I was the one who’d said I didn’t want him there and was hurt by him ignoring us.
“I need to be there.”
My father would be furious over what he would deem a slight and unjust punishment. It would hurt his reputation to be banned from Morrakan, and he was the type to say hurtful things when he didn’t get his way. I knew I would be his target, but this had to end. I couldn’t be his doormat any longer.
Kael cupped my cheek again, brushing his lips over mine.
The pride and support pouring into me were enough to dry up the tears, but I was still anxious as Kael led me through the tunnels.
I hadn’t known where my father was staying other than on the High Ledge, and I was surprised when we were walking longer than I’d expected to.
When Kael finally slowed, he wasn’t the only one in the corridor outside what I had to assume was the door to where my father was staying.
The sight of three other Morraki warriors had me gulping, but I doubted my father would do anything foolish enough to warrant needing extra muscle to deal with him.
I clung to the hope that the confrontation didn’t escalate beyond words.
The older Morraki at the head of the three already waiting said something to Kael I couldn’t understand and Kael gave a short response before turning to me.
“Are you sure?”
My heart was fluttering behind my sternum, but I couldn’t hide from this. The little girl in me needed closure, even if the woman knew it was going to hurt.
“Yes.”
Kael swiped a finger over the datapad on the wall and it beeped, flashing red before the door popped open with a hiss. Kael tipped his head for the others to enter first, then he followed, with me bringing up the rear.
My father’s quarters looked closer to the inside of a house on Earth than Kael’s had.
The walls were painted instead of natural stone, and it was laid out in a flat floorplan instead of tiered.
There were a few crystals in the ceiling, but it was mostly lit by what looked like lanterns hanging on chains.
My father was seated on the Morraki version of a couch when we entered, a look of irritation on his face as he stood. When Kael and I stepped through the door he tried to smooth his expression into something more diplomatic, but his mouth was still set in a frown.
“Kael, what’s the meaning of this?”
Kael did a far better job of controlling the anger I could feel roiling inside him than I ever could. My kethra pulsed, flashing red like one of the stop lights from history.
“General Hale of the United Earth Council, you failed to follow the command not to watch Serenya Draevahn’s Zha’Khorr Valryn.
You have been named Dravkai’kiren. Out of kindness to your luthra and respect for your council, I will return you to Earth before the rules of Dravkai’kiren begin, at which point you will be offered no veysha, and no zorhen.
You will not be seen, nor heard. You will not be. ”
My father’s jaw clenched, his face reddening.
“You cannot do this. I—”
Whatever else he’d been going to say was cut off when Kael took a step forward. Even though he still stood straight with no outward sign of hostility, every instinct in my body screamed this was a dangerous male, and even my father must have noticed it.
“I am Torvakai. I am Morraki. I can.”
The words were so quiet I had to strain to hear him from three steps behind, and it somehow made them feel more threatening.
My father’s blue eyes swung to mine. Eyes I’d looked into and longed to see some flicker of care, or the tiniest hint of pride, or even the merest smudge of acceptance, for so long that I’d fooled myself into thinking I could somehow earn it if I was obedient, and respectful, and perfect enough.
“Serenya, I only wanted to be sure you were safe, and that he went through with what he promised. These aren’t our people, these aren’t our ways, and I couldn’t—”
“Stop.”
I sucked in a deep breath, imagining a wind blowing all my concerns away. Kael’s support throbbed through our link, steadying me and giving me the courage to say what I’d known for years.
“These are my people now. You didn’t give me a choice in what led me to this point, but it’s my turn to decide what happens in my life.
Kael is my korravai, and the Morrak are my people.
You disrespected my wishes, ignored Kael’s command, and spied for your own reasons.
You are a disgrace to the UEC,” I paused to suck in another breath, my lips trembling as tears filled my eyes, but I wouldn’t cry in front of him.
“You’re a disgrace as a father,” I continued, “and for me, the Dravkai’kiren starts now.”
Spinning on my heel, I kept my head high as I walked between the other Morraki and out into the tunnel. I kept going until I was out of sight of the door, no destination in mind, only the desire to get away before I broke.
Pain grew in my chest, a steady throb behind my breastbone. Pressing my back to the wall when I couldn’t keep going, my entire body trembled, and I crumpled as emotion overtook me, tears I didn’t want pouring down my cheeks.
Covering my face with my hands and trying to stifle the sobs, I didn’t see Kael arrive.
I was crying alone in the hall, and then his scent hit me, warm arms circling my shoulders as he pulled me against him.
Even his tail wrapped around the back of my legs, so I was fully encased in him, his purr blocking out all other sounds, and the pain behind my ribs eased.
I didn’t know how long he held me and let me cry, but eventually the tears ended, the emotions purged. I was a balloon three days after the party, barely floating above the ground, wrinkled and half deflated.
I tried to keep my face down when I straightened, but Kael cupped my cheek and tipped my head back.
My nose had to be bright red, my eyes were swollen, and my face was wet from the tears, but he looked at me the same way he had in the River Caverns when I’d emerged from the water, exposing myself the first time.
“It is done. He is aboard the Zeydrassk, awaiting his return to Earth. I will send a communication telling the Earth council he is no longer welcome on Morrakan, nor in any meeting I attend.”
It would destroy my father’s career to be removed from the council. It was all he’d ever cared about, but I couldn’t find it in me to feel sorry for him.
“I understand.”
My voice was hollow. I felt empty after letting go of a desire I’d clung to for so long.
Until a new fear rose to fill the space.
If my father was no longer on the UEC, and the Morrak wanted mates connected to the council to assure both sides upheld the alliance, then I no longer had any value.