Chapter 21
“The humans rested all day and all night and are still asleep this morning.” Junyv told me, fluttering her wings anxiously. “I left food on their table.”
I flicked a wing. It was to be expected, their human bodies couldn’t take a lot, and they’d been through a great deal.
Junyv tapped her wings together, but I stopped her before she could leave.
“Have Lyyr create a special outfit for Jacqueline for the festival. It should be made of Ghindhar silk and have amber and garnet jewels to complement her eyes. He should have her measurements from her initial visit.” It was last minute, but he was fast and would already have most of his orders done, with only a few stragglers left.
Junyv kept her gaze down, but her wings fluttered and twitched with curiosity.
“That’s all.” She tapped her wings and left.
As much as I knew I shouldn’t have taken advantage of Jacqueline in her sensitive state, I kept thinking about her body melded to mine, her lips parting for me.
She had tasted amazing, and I wondered what her cunt would taste like.
Kyvar interrupted the alluring fantasy of spreading her legs and seeing how beautiful her human cunt would be, fully open to me.
He strode through the open door. “I received a report. The largest herd of hykh has grown to eleven hundred and is terrorizing herds of non-predatory animals.”
“Time for a hunt then, is it?” It seemed like we had just gone, but then again so much had happened lately that time had passed quickly.
“The gyksh have started preparing for migration early.” I tapped a stylus on my desk and a projection of my territory came up.
I moved it around until I found the spot and zoomed in.
It wasn’t in real time, but Kyvar at least could see the location I was referring to.
“We need to send a party out to gather their layings as well.”
“Why not send the humans along?” Kyvar settled into a chair, stretching and relaxing his wings back.
“A human is hardly built to take down a small tree climber, let along an aggressive hykh.”
“Not to help, to see. It’s a large part of our culture. It’s how we feed ourselves without using those horrible artificial meats and foods from the galactic exchange.”
“Jacqueline cannot go on the hunt. She doesn’t like death.”
“I wouldn’t have known that by how they ran out into the wilderness by themselves. Like an offering to the old gods.”
I ignored him. “I will assign Gylesh to take our meat preparers and sellers to hunt and I will take Jacqueline—and the other humans if they wish—to gather.”
He quirked an eyebrow. “You never go to gather. It’s boring.”
I flicked a hand. “All the better for me to be with that group of vorpyrren to show my thanks and support for their work as their Vorazyr.”
“Oh, that’s all. I had thought that you were growing soft toward the human female.”
I gave him a look that could wither his fangs. “Meanwhile, you are to keep track of the predators to our vorilh and keep up on the reports from the warriors we have out looking for the missing female.”
He tapped his wings in acknowledgement, still smirking. Maybe I needed to give him more work.
“Are you allowing the humans to attend the last celebration?” he asked.
I was suspicious that he’d heard my order to Junyv, but it didn’t matter. “Yes, they are being allowed more freedoms.”
“Hmm.” His gaze flicked to the floor-to-ceiling windows of my office. “I can guard Tatiana that night. She can accompany me.”
It was my turn to smirk. “You fool no one, Kyvar.”
His eyes flashed, and there was retribution in his gaze. “I believe our species are compatible. Have you really not tried to rut the tall one? She would look good bent over a—”
A snarl tore from my chest and he leaned back. I studied him, satisfied now that he wasn’t envisioning Jacqueline in a way no one but me should. “You have mated the other one?”
Surprise flashed across his face and was gone just as quickly. “No.”
“Then how do you know we are compatible? They are small, their sheath might not stretch enough for us.” I didn’t like that thought.
“When aroused, her cunt relaxes and becomes slick and wet. Our species wouldn’t react to each other like that if we weren’t compatible.”
“You’ve aroused the small one?” I had no reason to be jealous that he’d gotten the other human female excited and ready for him while Jacqueline still looked at me with wariness. No reason.
He shifted, uncomfortable, tapping his left wing on the floor in a quick staccato, a nervous habit he’d never been able to break. “We should plan to have the parties leave soon if we want to hunt and gather before the storms of erythrahal come.”
I allowed him to change the subject, pleased that I now had something to rib him about later.
“Traders from Luuciyn’s province have recently been by and we have enough provision in our city to last through the storms, but I still want to go before they come.
Stretching their wings before the storms hit and having the extra delicacies will keep everyone calm while unable to go anywhere.
We’ll leave four days after the festival.
” That would give my vorpyrren time to sleep off the drink and intense mating that always accompanied the festivals.
This was the time of year where the most vorpyr found mates and when females were filled with babes.
It was a time of pleasure and fun and coming together, as many had distant family that would travel here for it.
He inclined his head and got to his feet. "I’ll let our vorpyrren know to get ready to leave after the festivities.”
I’d barely got through another two hours of work I needed to catch up on when one of my advisors appeared in the doorway. Never one to hide his feelings, Ihyl scowled as he approached my desk and clapped his wings together. I sat back and waited.
“With all respect, Vorazyr, why is captain Jzulyk still in enforced solitude?”
“He is no longer a captain, Ihyl.” I reminded him cooly.
“Some of us are wondering why he’s being punished for expressing what all of us agree with.”
“And who are these vorpyr that think this?”
He shifted and glanced away before looking back at me with determination. “There are some of us who agree that the humans are wasting resources. They’ve proven they aren’t of use to us.”
“They’ve proven they know nothing of military use, but they are providing other information that has been insightful.” I laughed without humor. “Besides, what resources are three small humans taking?”
Frustration crossed his face. “Should I remind you of our first interactions with the humans only a few galactic years ago?”
“There are billions of humans, they are not all wholly evil.”
His jaw went slack. “Vorazyr. They should be wiped out. The humans are a plague on the galaxy. You remember what happened when our species first tried to get along. They will only get worse as their capabilities increase with the help of the Intergalactic Committee. They are the same as the ‘Gak.”
I stood so quickly my chair almost toppled and rounded the desk to face him. He tilted his head up to keep my gaze. “Are you finished calling for the annihilation of an entire species and condemning my decisions?” I lowered my voice to a growl. “Do not make me remind you who the Vorazyr is.”
He dropped his gaze. “I never intended to question you, Vorazyr.”
“Then don’t. I have ensured the safety of our vorpyrren. The humans aren’t a threat, and I am using them for the knowledge that they possess.”
He stepped back. “Yes, Vorazyr.” He still didn’t look pleased.
“It’s a victory, having the humans here. They are a statement to our vorpyrren. We have full control of the small, weak species.”
“Yes, Vorazyr, you are right.” That seemed to appease him, and he clapped his wings before leaving.
Thinking of the humans, I left the office after sending a message responding to Zyroth, who wanted more information about my encounter with the humans and the ones I had captive.
The other Vorazyr wasn’t born into and trained for the role, he'd clawed his way into it and he took security to another level. Not that anyone would invade his territory first. He had the most inhospitable land, and he liked that his vorpyrren were tough and he didn’t get a lot of visitors.
The humans were awake when I slid the bar aside and checked on them.
They looked tired and worse for wear, some parts of their skin cracking, with tones ranging from red to violet on the younger, darker female.
It was likely the sun and being out in the elements that caused the odd discoloration and painful looking dryness.
When they saw me, they rose from the table where they’d been speaking in soft tones. My gaze immediately sought Jacqueline.
“Arrazyl?” She stood from the table.
“Did you eat?”
She made a face I couldn’t decipher. “Not yet.”
I stepped forward. “Are you feeling unwell?” Her bandages were off, and she seemed healed except for some reddened skin.
“I just haven’t wanted to eat yet.”
“Perhaps a walk will help.” I didn’t know why I was saying it. I had come to tell them about the upcoming trip, but I found myself wanting to linger and check on how Jacqueline truly was.
“Oh. That would be nice.” she said it hesitantly, watching me carefully.
“If you have any other needs,” I told the other two, “Junyv will be back soon to check on you.”
Jaron was looking at me with suspicion, something he did often.
I had a younger brother and sister and understood feeling protective, but it irked me that he didn’t trust me with Jacqueline.
Maybe I had overstepped before, when she’d been too vulnerable, but I doubted she had told him we’d kissed, so that couldn’t be the reason for his glare.
She squeezed his arm with a reassuring smile and joined me outside. The day was beautiful, already hot from the brilliant sun.
Jacqueline shielded her eyes with her hand and looked around. “I wish I had a good pair of sunglasses.” she said, almost to herself.
I walked with her down the stairs, careful to stay on the outside as she didn’t like heights. We were making our way toward the level that had the best interconnecting walkways where we could maneuver easily, and coincidentally, where the best breakfast was to be found.
“What are sunglasses?”
She blinked at my question and glanced at me, surprise stealing over her face.
Was it because I did not usually ask her about herself or her life?
I realized I didn’t know as much as I would like.
Certainly she’d given me information about humans in general, though I knew she’d tried not to reveal anything too deep.
It had angered me at first, but now… I understood her desire not to betray her people.
“There are different shapes and styles, but they fit over your eyes and they’re polarized and dark so the sun is filtered and isn’t so hard on the eyes.”
“I believe our metal workers wear something like that,” but they didn’t sound as bulky. “Should I get you a pair for your sensitive eyes?”
She gave me a small smile. “No, I don’t think they’re exactly the same. But it was nice of you to offer.”
I didn’t like how distant she seemed.
She was quiet during the walk to the small restaurant a fantastic chef, Lyhyle, ran on the far end of the city. It had a few seats inside and a small balcony with beautiful views, and was one of my favorite places to sit quietly and think.
We were the only ones on the balcony, and I paid Lyhyle to keep it that way before settling at a small raised table. Jacqueline’s eyes flicked from the horizon to me and back.
“What’s bothering you?” I shifted, wanting to fix whatever had her so uncomfortable.
“Nothing, it’s just been a long few days.” She tried to offer me another smile.
I looked out over the vast canyon toward a group of vorilh flying about. “I’m sorry for taking advantage of you.”
“What do you mean?” Her brows furrowed delicately.
“I shouldn’t have kissed you when you were so vulnerable.”
“Is that why you’ve acted aloof since then?” She stared at me, then laughed. It was beautiful, if not bordering on hysterical. “I thought you were angry with me.”
I leaned forward, placing a hand over her small one and rubbing my thumb over her soft skin.
“Not at all. Rather, I was angry with myself for going too far with you when you were in such a state.” My grip tightened on her hand and I held her gaze.
“None of you will ever have any action taken against you if you reject an advance. Never think telling me no or pushing me away if you find my advances to be too much will get you or the others in trouble. That I promise you.”
Her face softened at my words and she leaned forward, reaching up with the hand I wasn’t holding to trail the backs of her fingers over my cheek. I closed my eyes, reveling in her tender touch.
“Thank you.” I snapped my eyes open at the break in her voice.
Standing abruptly, I went to her, kneeling beside her chair so we were face to face. “Don’t cry.” I murmured, brushing her tears away. A strange ache in my chest made it difficult not to take her into my arms and tell her it would all be ok, that I was here.
“Does that mean there will be more advances?” she asked through her tears with a tilt of her lips to show me she was teasing.
She might have been teasing, but I was serious about her. And I didn’t know what to do about it. A different species, an enemy to all vorpyrren. How had such affection for her taken root?