The VaDorok: The Mate Index Book 1

by SJ Sanders

  She was grateful, though, that many more were frowning and throwing looks of disgust Ita’s way. A’Jular curled his lip at the situation and shook his head from where he was seated next to Nadar on a thick fur pad near the altar as guest of honor. Nadar, for her part, looked fit to spit nails. If looks could kill and Sara’s didn’t do the job, Nadar would have easily finished Ita off.

  Solemnly they filed into the large den of the chief. There Vidok stripped away his knee length loin cloth from his body and settled himself on the thick padded seat that passed for a couch among their people. He reluctantly sat with a look of resignation.

  Sara stood against the wall beside Borax, trembling lower lip caught between her teeth, desperately trying not to cry. She didn’t want to give that bitch the pleasure of seeing her cry. A warm hand squeezed her shoulder in attempt to provide some comfort. Sara was grateful to the chief and cast a watery smile his way, but like a train-wreck, she couldn’t look away from the scene unfolding in front of her.

  Ita strutted up shamelessly to stand at the knees of Vidok, unfastening the clips at her shoulder and waist to allow the fabric to fall and pool at her feet. Sara noted that, like Vidok’s cock, her nipples and sex were black.

  It must be a VaDorok thing.

  Ita smiled in invitation as she thrust her young, high, perfectly rounded breasts his way. Sara knew she didn’t suffer any lack in the bosom area, and Vidok took great pleasure playing with her breasts, but at the age of thirty-two, Sara’s suffered some effects of gravity compared to the twenty year old strutting herself in front of her mate. Sara’s stomach heaved as Ita flicked her tail against him, twining it around his hips seductively.

  Tail play...something else I can’t give him.

  I think I am going to be sick.

  Sara’s jaw dropped though when she saw her hand slide down his pelvis, her fingers sliding into his folds. Wait a damn minute! That can’t be fair! Sara knew that there was a sensitive spot inside the folds that, when touched, would automatically cause her mate to extrude. Gods knew Sara played with him more than once doing just that.

  She turned to Borax to protest, but from the look on the chief’s face apparently this was common knowledge that was legally utilized. Her heart sunk and she wrapped a protective arm around her belly.

  If he reacts to her, what is going to happen to us?

  ***

  Vidok’s heart clenched with guilt as he watched his poor mate grow pale, her arms wrapped protectively around herself. He hated seeing such heartbreak on the face of one he loved above all. Vidok berated himself for not telling her and preparing her for the possibility of this happening. He hadn’t wanted her to worry unnecessarily. Stress was not good for her or their youngling. But that was no excuse. Maybe if he had taken the time to explain what could happen he could have comforted her before she was forced to witness what Ita was trying to provoke.

  This can’t be any less stressful, he censured himself.

  Ita’s bare body inspired nothing but disgust in him. She may have been a beautiful female physically, and he may have eventually been tempted if she had become of age when he was an unmated male, but her actions and treatment of his mate was ugly in the extreme.

  When Vidok felt her fingers begin to slid into the folds of his slit he didn’t even try to hold back the threatening growl that rumbled from his chest. He was happy to see that at least gave her a moment pause. Her eyes widened and jerked up to meet his, disbelief coloring her face that he would threaten her. Vidok narrowed his eyes and bared his fangs at her, making it clear as he could that even though he could not, by law, refuse her, he very much objected to what she was doing.

  Ita looked briefly at his mate before turning her glittering gaze back on him. She carefully blanked her face, replacing her shock with smug smile. Ruthlessly she pressed her fingers within the slit. Vidok’s stomach turned. He felt violated and in reflex he recoiled, but not before her fingers stroked against the sensitive place causing his cock to extrude.

  Vidok closed his eyes against her gasp of delight. He knew that, even flaccid, his cock was of impressive size and girth. At the moment he wanted nothing more than to shove her away from him. His claws extracted and dug into the cushion, restraining himself from doing just that.

  He opened his eyes and met the gaze of Borax. He gave a small shake of his head. He knew the temptation to object, but by rights they couldn’t do anything to try to prevent the mating challenge. Sweat ran through his fur as he forced himself to stay still as Ita pressed herself against him.

  There was no surge of desire, just nausea boiling in his stomach. As the female fondled him, Vidok looked apologetically at his mate. Tears had filled Sara’s eyes and she shook her head in denial. His female didn’t look well. He would have given anything to be able to go to her and give her his comfort.

  Suddenly, she put her hand to her mouth and streaked past Borax to the bathroom. Vidok could hear her heaving, throwing up her last meal. He fumed at the loss of nutrients his mate and young needed. The muscles in his legs quivered with the need to go to her.

  Ita mistook the tension in his body as sign of mating need and began to purr, pressing herself harder against Vidok, obscuring his sight of his mate in the process, so that he could feel the vibrations of it, a thing that was erotic to their kind. Something Vidok used just that morning on Sara, knowing how it made his mate cream for him. With Ita, he hated the uninvited familiarity.

  His hatred soared to higher levels as she straddled his legs, his cock firmly in her grip, soft despite the way she squeezed and stroked it. Despite his anger, Vidok wanted to laugh at the frustrated look on her face when she noticed that his cock refused to react to her ministrations.

  Ita let out a frustrated growl when, as she slackened her grip to adjust her hold to better grind her cunt against him, his cock began to slip back inside his folds rather than swell. She snarled as she ruthlessly tried to shove the limp member into her channel.

  Vidok gritted his teeth against the pain as he felt the prick of her claws on his most sensitive place. Craning his head with great effort around Ita, he meet the wide-eyed gaze of his mate as he heard her return to the room. In agony,Vidok felt his soul reach out and desperately secure itself more tightly to his mate as Ita continued her assault..

  Sara broke the silence.“Don’t you think he has proved it enough to you?” she yelled. Her face had flushed red as she took note of his pain.

  Vidok was not sure if that question was directed to Borax or to Ita, probably both. Borax nodded.

  “Enough Ita,” he growled out. “All requirements of the mating challenge have been met.”

  Vidok winced as Ita shrieked in fury. She shoved herself away from him, her claws raking bloody trails down his chest in her fury. Her brutality was unnecessary but not altogether unexpected. Vidok was certain she would be leaving the den feeling greatly humiliated. Though the scratches hurt, his relief was far greater than any pain she could inflict, and far less than any embarrassment she would now feel. With another unpleasant screech, she threw on her clothing and stomped from the den.

  Sara drew up beside him, wincing as she shook her head.

  “Damn that is quite the yowl. Do you think she is mad?” She leaned back with a cocky grin, bringing a smile to his face for the first time since the unpleasantness began.

  Her smile fell, and an uncertainty and sadness filled her eyes. Borax, discreetly cleared his throat and, with a small encouraging smile, slipped out of the den, following another male who had stood near the door as Ita’s witness. Clearly leaving Vidok to face the aftermath alone. For once, Vidok felt at a loss. He didn’t know how to make things right between him and Sara.

  Vidok stood slowly, his eyes never leaving his small mate. He picked his leathers back up off the floor and tied them on before hesitantly approaching her.

  “Sara,” he began, hand raised out to her.

  Her small hand shot up and struck at him viciously. Vidok’s lowered his a
rm. His ears flattened in misery,and his tail curling inward against his thigh as he allowed his mate to exercise her just anger. Sara struck him repeatedly against his chest, tears falling from her dark eyelashes, running down her ruddy cheeks. Sorrow filled him, seeing the grief he caused. Her strikes did not hurt his body, but each one caused pain to his heart knowing he was at fault.

  As the strikes began to slow, Vidok captured her hands between his and drew his mate against his body. Exhausted, Sara finally allowed him to hold her. Her head rested against his heart and they stood together for many minutes in silence.

  “Why?” she choked.

  “I am so sorry ulukska,” Vidok blinked back his own tears and met her eyes. Letting her see the full depth of his sorrow. “Never again will I keep something from you. Your pain...I can never see you again in so much pain. I swear by the gods I did not want this.”

  Sara’s fingers stroked gently over the deep scratches that had finally stopped bleeding. “You are the one who got hurt Vidok.”

  He shook his head vehemently. “These are scratches, my love. Ita trying to punish me, nothing more.” He laid his hand over her heart. “This is far more precious to protect ulukska.”

  Sara’s eyes teared up. She wiped them away quickly, looking up at him seriously. “Never again, Vidok. We will have truth between us. Together we are stronger and can face anything together.”

  “Do you forgive me ululska?” he asked quietly. “Do I still have your heart.”

  A small smile tugged on her lips, “Yes honey, you still have me, heart and all. Ita and her craziness hasn’t broken us. I won’t let it.”

  Vidok breathed out in relief. Gently, he lifted Sara off her feet and held her against his chest, heart to heart. He nuzzled his face against hers, giving them a moment to take comfort in each other’s scent and let their hearts heal. He lowered her again to her feet as Borax stuck his thread through the door.

  “Everything is good?” Borax queried.

  Vidok nodded his head.

  Borax sighed out his relief, and smiled at Sara. “I am very happy to hear that. I am sorry to rip you away while you are trying comfort each other, but you need to be present for one last thing.”

  Vidok approached and gripped Borax’s arm gratefully. Borax glowered briefly at the claw marks on his chest. Then with a small smile Borax slapped his arm with his other hand before grimly exiting the den. Gathering Sara close to him, Vidok followed out behind the chief, his arm wrapped firmly around his mate. As much as Vidok would have preferred to continue for some time longer in privacy with his female, right now they needed to be present for the judgment before the tribe.

  Everyone, clearly shocked from the infuriated display Ita was giving them, became silent as they joined Borax at the altar. He slowly met the eye of every tribe member. Ita’s kin looked somewhat embarrassed, though Merlor had a particularly painted expression. Vidok flicked his tail angrily. He was quite sure he had a part in all this, hoping that he would be able to get his hands on Sara. Vidok met his eyes and narrowed them at him threateningly. Merlor’s lips pulled back in a silent snarl in response. Vidok would have to keep an eye on him.

  Borax’s voice was loud in the complete silence of the gathering as he faced a bristling Ita, her tail snapping with her anger and embarrassment. Vidok knew there was no love loss between the chief and that family. He recalled that her elder sister was one who had mating-challenged against Nadar for Borax. Ita also pursuing a mating challenge, and her failure following that of her sister, was now going to be a greater source of shame for their family.

  “Ita, in accordance to our laws and traditions, you requested and were granted the mating challenge. It was witnessed by myself and Sara, the mate of Vidok, as well as a witness of your own choosing, your brother.”

  Vidok had barely even noticed the presence of her brother in the room. The male had stayed as close to the door as possible the entire time. It had been clear he loathed to be there, so Vidok had not concerned himself with him at the time. He felt some small amount of sympathy for him. No one wants to see their sibling that way, even in fulfilling a duty.

  “You have failed to trigger mating response or mating heat,” Borax continued, Ita flinching slightly as several in attendance tittered with laughter. “Your claim is denied. Furthermore, since you behaved in an immature manner during the challenge, intentionally causing pain and drawing blood, you and your family are banned from gathering for two moon cycles starting now.”

  Ita gasped, her eyes widening and fur ruffling in dismay. Her face quickly morphed into one of fury as she turned on Sara. Vidok thrust Sara behind him and growled loudly, telling her in no uncertain terms that he would defend his mate from her. Ita stumbled to a stop, snarling but no longer attempting to approach. With a final snap of her tail, Ita turned and left the gathering, her family trailing after her. Merlor was the last among them, giving Vidok a long hard look before he too followed.

  Borax laughed jovially, “Now that the drama is finished, let’s get down to enjoying our gathering.”

  Instantly the mood lightened, people began to roll out their trade, and the clearing was filled with the laughter of playing younglings and the happy chatter of adults. Several males hung meat over the fire, turning it every so often for the evening feast.

  The human females took little time in finding each other, many of them setting out wares for trade from skills they learned from their own planet. All of them rounded with offspring as their protective mates crouched nearby, making their own trades and sharing news among each other. Torok was lured occasionally into conversation, but otherwise practically hovered over his mate who, given how tiny of stature she was, looked far rounder than many.

  Vidok tilted his head to the side in consideration of his own mate. Stature aside, most of the females look about the same size, and yet Sara appeared slightly rounder than them. He shrugged. It was known that females carry their young differently. He had seen vast differences even among the VaDorok females.

  The wares of the human females quickly attracted interest from the VaDorok. The blankets made by Torok’s bubbly mate, who introduced herself cheerfully as Macy, were quite popular. Exceedingly soft, softer even than the weaves usually done by the southern tribe, it took very little time for each coveted blanket to disappear. Not only had Vidok’s mate secured two baby blankets by trading a lovely carved fantastical animal she called a unicorn, the little creature making Macy squeal happily under Torok’s indulgent watch, but they were also quickly depleted by Nadar and most of the other females.

  Even the Edoka, A’Jular, managed to get several of them by trading a bag of something called coffee from Earth. Apparently this coffee was a much loved luxury among the humans because the uproar it caused was comical. Females shouted gleefully, trading for portions of the strong smelling granules.

  Vidok didn’t get as much time with his mate as he had hoped. Although trading small bags of sacred herbs and powders took much of his attention, Sara was kept far busier trading her small carvings. Many took away the small likenesses she made of the gods, reverently touching the delicate details of their features.

  Her carvings of the beasts of her home planet, and the few she made from Vidok’s descriptions, even went quickly to new homes. Such fine work was rare to find in their community. Even Borax was pleased to trade a jeweled cuff for the alpak and hunter figures for his son.

  Even though the VaDorok did not recognize many of the animals she made, they were delighted, asking many questions about the carved animals they traded for. Especially the children. Sara laughingly made many promises to learn more about the wildlife of their planet to make more toys for the younglings when they returned for the next gathering. She did so well that her bag was empty early into the afternoon.

  However, the most visible form of the VaDorok’s acceptance of Sara were the parents who eagerly brought their small children to meet Sara, since they never received a blessing of a mother-priestess on their n
aming day, setting them on his mate’s lap.

  At first Sara looked slightly alarmed when the first of them, a big-eyed youngling, all of three sun cycles in age, was set in her arms. They stared at each other for several moments before Sara grinned and stroked her fingers through the delicate fur in a manner that produced squeals of laughter in the tiny female. With hug, a kiss and a whispered blessing, Sara dutifully handed the baby back to the grinning parents; and afterwards enthusiastically opened her arms for every youngling brought to her.

  Even older younglings flocked to his mate. As excellent of a priestess as she was proving to be, Vidok knew she would be a wonderful mother too. His heart warmed at the thought of his mate surrounded by their own young. Cuddling their own younglings to her chest.

  Many couples also came by to give good wishes for the offspring growing in Sara’s belly. They shared their hope that Sara and Vidok would be blessed with a big family. A large priest-family in their tribe would a boon they looked forward to, one the tribe had not had for a few generations.

  Yet, as the mid day sun moved overhead, Sara groaned, stretching out her back as she settled next to him, folding her bag and setting it aside. Vidok stroked her lower back, knowing that it eased the muscles there. Despite being very early in her pregnancy, the rapid growth of their youngling caused new aches and pains as her body tried to keep up. She complained often about her back hurting.

  “That is the last of it then,” she said with a tired smile.

  Vidok nuzzled his worn out mate lovingly. “I am about done myself,” he said into her hair. “Soon we will feast and when the moons rise after nightfall we will have the naming ceremony for Ula and Brodi’s youngling.”

  She rubbed her face against his chest, nuzzling her small nose against him. “Sounds good,” she muttered into his fur.