Embracing her mates, Emala smiled, hoping that wherever her mother was at that she could see her now. Emala’s story and Jaryna’s story were forever linked, but she knew that her mother would celebrate the happiness she had been denied.
Epilogue
Emala leaned back comfortably in her rocking chair. It had taken some time and considerable effort, but Vordri finally put one together for her. The males still preferred to sit on the floor but after her first pregnancy, she’d put her foot down about needing something a little more supportive to sit in, not to mention that she’d privately worried about hurting herself getting up and down. Though her mates loved to hold her and be that support when her belly was round with their young, sometimes she just wanted to be in a chair where she could work on her own projects.
The rocking chair was perfect, constructed just in time to welcome their second rog into the world. It had since served her well in caring for two baby rogs, as it would now for her fourth born. She smiled from her chair as Mishar approached with the squirming little bundle wrapped in a pelt. Since rogs were born with little fur, they were kept wrapped in furs to keep them warm; this was especially necessary in their family, since Emala didn’t have a pelt that her young could snuggle into. All the same, it made sense that females evolved to go into heat during the Withering Days so that their babies were born at the end of spring. Although as a human she wasn’t confined to that rule, it seemed that most of her pregnancies had followed the standard pattern. She had begun to control her fertility with herbs not only so she didn’t birth rogs once or twice a year, but so that she could space them out over time. Naturally, her males left the decision to her, even if they were content to be overrun by little ones.
Mishar nuzzled the rog before he laid the soft bundle in her arms. The white rabbit skin—what her mates still called hoppers—was wrapped snugly around the tiny body already spouting downy red fur. She opened the swaddling and stroked a finger down his four little arms. His tiny muzzle wrinkled in protest as he squirmed. As if right on cue, he opened his amber eyes and squalled.
Exactly what she wanted. It was time for him to eat.
Setting him at her breast, her fingers played in the soft fur on his scalp. He was red all over. She’d been bewildered by the ginger rog after birthing two silvery males and a gray female, but her mates were thrilled by the rare coloration. Even Vordri, who always claimed to ignore unsolicited signs and omens, had smiled and said that was a lucky color for their kind. Any Ragoru who would see him would know that he was blessed. She supposed that was okay if it helped him in his life.
Someday the day would come when he would leave the den to go find his own triad and mate and start his own family, but she liked to think that just maybe he would take a bit of good luck with him so that he wouldn’t struggle or know sorrow.
Smiling down at the little one, she kissed the top of his head gently. “Grow strong, Kyx. You are sure to do great things, I think.”
Epilogue 2
Gund grinned down at the large den from where he was crouched on the roof of the Order of Huntsmen. It was perhaps considered quite profane and a perfect irony that his triad hid there as they scouted a way to enter the Master’s home. His smoke-gray ears tipped forward with impatience as he watched the human in question stroll leisurely toward the door, his blue Huntsman’s cape swirling around him with every step. He knew he was looking at a male who possessed a great many revolutions of experience. Many enjoyed battling younger males in the fury and strength of youth. Gund preferred the aged males with quick wits and strong bodies to have survived as long as they had. The Master was going to be a delightful challenge. Though he looked forward to the fight itself, he would enjoy bringing down a monster who killed indiscriminately and sent murderers after fragile human mates.
He still was in awe of that even after the seven revolutions it took to prepare themselves for this momentous occasion. He would destroy the male, earn his victory, and then he would pluck a female from among them who would belong to his triad.
“Do we attack now or wait?” Orth asked at his side, his silver fur shifting with an errant breeze.
Gund turned an ear toward his triad brother. Orth was the most patient of their triad. He would have thought the male too gentle for their life, but Orth was also a ruthless fighter. Many Ragoru who’d challenged them had thought the male would be an easy conquest, but Orth never lost a fight yet.
Until they had a territory to call their own, hardship was just the way of their world.
“We wait,” Gund growled. “We do not wish to alert the guard.”
Orth nodded in agreement, and they watched the male enter the large building.
“Now we wait and watch for his sleeping chamber light. When we are certain he is alone we will converge there and break into the room, seizing our quarry and the glory for ourselves.”
“Very well. That sounds like an admirable plan,” said Tah, the other silver in their triad of a slightly lighter hue. “But what is that?”
He gestured with one claw to a shadowy figure descending from the roof.
Great seed-sack of the protector Father! Another was going to beat him to the Master. That was his target!
To be continued in The Huntress (spring 2020)
Author’s Note
Thank you so much for joining me again for White: Emala’s Story. I wanted to write this ever since I first introduced the characters in Red: A Dystopian Alien Romance. I just loved Emala’s triad so much, especially Mishar who was such a strong part of his family regardless of his limitations. He is perhaps my favorite of the triad and I always have a hard time picking favorites in my books.
Originally, I had intended White to be the only accompaniment to Red, but at the interest of fans, White will be the first of the Ragoru Beginnings series. In the end there will be two spin off series from Red. One which takes place before the events of that novel (Ragoru Beginnings) and those that take place after Red (Ragoru Romance).
I sincerely hope you have enjoyed this latest installment!
S.J. Sanders
Other Works by S.J. Sanders
The Mate Index
First Contact
The VaDorok
Hearts of Indesh (Valentine Novella)
The Edoka’s Destiny
The Vori’s Mate
Eliza’s Miracle (Novella)
A Kiss on Kaidava
The Vori’s Secret
A Mate for Oigr (Halloween Novella)
Heart of the Agraak
A Gift for Medif
Monsterly Yours
The Orc Wife
The Troll Bride
Sci-Fi Fairytales
Red: A Dystopian World Alien Romance
Ragoru Romance
White: Emala’s Story (coming Christmas)
Dark Spirits
Havoc of Souls
Shadowed Dreams Erotica
The Lantern
Serpent of the Abyss
About the Author
S.J. Sanders is a writer of Science Fiction and Fantasy Romance. With a love of all things alien and monster she is fascinated with concepts of far off worlds, as well as the lore and legends of various cultures. When not writing, she loves reading, sculpting, painting and travel (especially to exotic destinations). Although born and raised in Alaska, she currently as a resident of Florida with her family and pet lizard.
Readers can follow her on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/authorsjsanders
Or join her Facebook group S.J. Sanders Unusual Playhouse
https://www.facebook.com/groups/361374411254067/
Website: https://sjsandersromance.wordpress.com/
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White: Emala's Story (Ragoru Beginnings Book 1) Page 16