Chapter 15
Aercek
The following days are some of the happiest moments I’ve had in my entire life.
Keelie is everything I didn’t know I was missing in life.
Thankfully, Eyjolf, Ketil, and Ofeig have continued hunting to fill the ship’s cryofreezer without us.
They’ve been working longer than necessary to compensate for the lack of effort from Ahstahl and me.
All of them know that Keelie is our mate, and courting her is our priority.
I’m extremely thankful for their understanding, since all three of them are unmated and long for what Ahstahl and I’ve found with Keelie—no matter the challenges having a human mate presents.
Ahstahl and I have completely devoted our time to getting to know our mate and wooing her.
We’ve hiked.
We’ve cooked.
We’ve eaten.
We’ve talked.
We eventually persuaded her to go flying with us, and her shrieks of excitement make my tail curl in delight at the memory.
But… what we haven’t done is discuss the rest of the mating process, nor have Ahstahl and I attempted to touch Keelie in any overt sexual manner.
Which brings us to now.
Keelie is happily flitting about the campsite, chattering away as she readies the evening meal, and Ahstahl helps her prep the meat I hunted earlier. It makes my chest swell with pride that I’m able to provide for my family, but my thoughts are unsettled.
Ofeig commed me earlier and informed me that the ship’s cryofreezer is full, and the only thing preventing us from leaving is Keelie.
I know the others are ready to go home. It’s…
unwise to loiter on this particular planet longer than absolutely necessary.
Humans are not accepting or forgiving of what is different.
The only reason my people come here is because of the massive tracts of land full of natural resources my planet desperately needs.
As the oldest warrior-hunter and the male in charge of our mission, I cannot knowingly risk my companions’ lives to loiter any longer than necessary… but I can’t force my mate to leave with us either.
Indecision is something I’m unfamiliar with.
Typing out a reply, I send it to Ofeig and let him know that I will have a decision for him by the next morning.
His response is immediate affirmation and that they will wait for me, no matter how long it takes.
Ofeig is often a loud-mouthed, arrogant, boastful male, but he is loyal to a fault. I’m thankful for that.
Refocusing on my triad, I laugh when I see that Ahstahl is using the tip of his tail to push items slightly askew or away from Keelie while she’s making her human food to eat alongside the meat.
She’s playfully pretending she doesn’t see what he’s doing, and they’re having a great time picking at one another with witty banter as well.
I’m loath to ruin their fun, so I keep my concerns to myself for the time being.
It's not long before the scent of sizzling meat fills the air, and we’re all seated, enjoying our evening meal.
A comfortable silence falls as we eat until satiated.
Getting to my feet, I take Keelie’s plate with a tender smile and rumble at Ahstahl.
At his quizzical look, I flick an ear towards the cooking area.
“Keep your seat, anima. Ahstahl and I will clean up. Enjoy the warmth of the fire, the nights are getting cooler with the impending arrival of your continent’s winter. ”
“I keep telling y’all that you don’t have to clean up after me. I am capable of helping.”
Chuffing at her in amusement, I roll my eyes. “Yes, we’ve heard you each and every time, but it is our duty and pleasure to take care of you.”
Keelie’s eyes widen, and she shivers when I drop my voice to a basal rumble.
The scent of her arousal slowly blooms around her, and I smirk before turning and walking away with Ahstahl following close behind.
He reaches for the water container we filled earlier and pours some into the washtub, slipping into Vrkani to ask. “What’s going on, Aercek?”
Replying in kind, I tell him. “Our time is up. Ofeig commed me before we ate to let us know the cryofreezer is full to the brim. They can’t possibly fit anything else, and there is no longer a reason to loiter on this planet.
You and I both know that Keelie is the exception to the rule—any other human would have tried to kill us for being what they consider abominations.
” Pausing, I reflect on that. “Keelie has weapons, but she’s never reached for them.
Not once. Even when she was slightly afraid of us.
The anima tenetur can only help so much.
We both know that it cannot control or alter another’s core being or free will. ”
The scent of his distress hits me almost immediately, and then he looks at me imploringly, keeping his voice low. “What are we going to do, Aercek?”
“The only thing we can do, frater. We offer her everything we are and a choice. Leaving with us will literally mean she’s giving up her whole life for two beings she’s only known for a short time.”
Ahstahl’s soft whine hurts my hearts. My poor frater has fallen deeply in love with our Keelie, and the thought of leaving here without her pains him deeply. He is not alone in his feelings for our beautiful mate.
I, too, desperately love her, but I’ve lived far longer and survived losses Ahstahl hasn’t. At least this time, I’ll have to Ahstahl to lean on if Keelie refuses us.