He felt almost a block from her, like she no longer wanted him to feel her, but she couldn’t take it away now. It felt like she felt nothing now. He missed the love that had been flowing from her and wanted it back.
“Oris, please don’t take this the wrong way. I’ll feel it if I hurt you. I love all three of you, just in different ways. What I love about you is different from what I love about Sono and Neptis. I mated with Sono because it was supposed to happen. You can’t get upset about it because we’ve already mated and I’m pretty sure everyone knows this even though I won’t talk about that night. I know you all want me to choose you. I’ve tried to tell Sono a little and I will tell you this. None of you will be hurt by my choice, but none of you will like it at first. I’ve told Sono and I’m telling you. Enjoy the time you have with me and stop getting bothered with the time I spend with the others. You’re going to have to learn to share.”
“Kings don’t share!” he said. He knew she was feeling his anger because he watched her face flush and she was getting warm. “I was trained from birth to rule my tribe with a queen by my side. I don’t like the Theran woman my father has chosen and I want it to be you. If I have to leave the Theran and rule with you, I will do that because I love you. But I don’t want to share you. If I rule by your side, I don’t want Sono and Neptis constantly at the palace dividing your attention. Especially knowing you love them and that you have lain with Sono and possibly Neptis. The only reason I haven’t killed him is because we are already dealing with one war!”
He was surprised when the flower started glowing on her chest again. He looked down and the handprint on his chest was glowing. Whatever she was doing, he felt warm and it almost felt like their night of mating together. He felt himself relax and she smiled at him.
She stood on the tips of her toes and gently kissed him. She had never kissed him first and he hadn’t thought she would where people could see. She fondly touched his face. “That’s what I love about you. You love so fiercely and you’re so proud of being Theran. You thought I was a myth, but surely you understood once I was here, there would be changes. The Theran will be more than Theran now. Kings will be different now. Everything will change now and you will learn to share,” she said, smiling at him.
“Will you at least tell me your choice? If I’m to learn to share you, is it me?”
“I can feel the hope in you right now. I will tell you what I told Sono. I’m not discussing my choice until it’s time. All I will tell you is that none of you will be hurt, but you will have to learn to get along with each other when it comes to me.”
He could feel love coming from her and he didn’t want to lose this feeling when he was near her. He always wanted to know that she loved him, even if she was being cryptic about her choice. When he asked if the connection would leave him, she said she didn’t know. He was upset when she told him she first tried it earlier today with Sono, but calmed when she told him she wanted him to have the same connection with her. He didn’t want to ask if she would also gift Neptis this because he didn’t want to lose what he was feeling now. He asked if she would join the other Theran for dinner, even though he knew she didn’t eat like them. He had been learning to cook for her in secret.
She laughed and told him she should wash before she went anywhere. All of the Theran would be able to smell she had mated earlier today and she didn’t want them all angry with her. As much as he didn’t want to, he refused to let her go to the sea without finding Neptis to go with her. Knowing the humans may be out there with boats, he wanted Neptis there to protect her. If she said he needed to learn to let her be around the other princes and not be angry, he needed to show her that he could do it.
Neptis
Neptis was surprised when he was going out to eat with the other Tarks to find Oris and Soryn outside his door ready to knock. He didn’t let either of them see that he was upset that there seemed to be a closeness between them now that there wasn’t before. He hadn’t seen them together since that night Oris took her away and was now sure he had done something he wasn’t supposed to with her. Her mother must have kept the two of them apart. She said she knew her choice and he was sure it was Oris now. He heard she had ran this morning and didn’t want to upset her again, so he didn’t let his emotions bubble up to the surface so that she could see. He was sure they were both here to let him down easy that she had chosen Oris.
He was surprised when Oris told him she needed to go into the sea and he wanted him to go with her to protect her. He said it like it was the last thing he wanted to say and Soryn shot him a gentle look like she was almost proud of him. He stepped out of his chambers and agreed to take her. He could feel Oris’ eyes on them as they walked down the hall. Oris didn’t come after him and strike him when her warm hand slipped into his and she held it. He was used to the bitter wind that blew on them when the doors opened, but her arm slipped around his waist and she moved closer to him to keep him warm when they got outside.
“I’m used to the cold, you know,” he said. “I grew up near the sea, like you.” He was trying not to let her see that he was hurt about Oris and didn’t mean to push her away.
“Do you want me to let you go?” she asked, surprised. “Even though I’m used to the cold doesn’t mean I like it. I’d rather be warm. If you don’t want me touching you, I won’t.” She seemed hurt now and pulled away from him. He didn’t have the same sense of smell that she did and was surprised when she told him that he smelled upset with her about something and asked what it was.
When he told her he worried she only asked him out here to let him down gently away from everyone else, she stopped walking. He looked down at her, trying to read her expression. She didn’t look angry or upset. She looked unsure of herself again. He was surprised when she moved closer to him to pull him down to her to kiss him. Shivers went down his spine as her lips caressed his. He hadn’t kissed her yet because it wasn’t something that was done before one was wed with the Tarks. He was sure Oris and Sono already had. He forgot all about his tribe and pulled her to him and kissed her harder. He knew what he would do if he kept kissing her and let her go. When he looked back down at her, she was smiling at him. She asked him why he never tried to kiss her and he explained to her like he explained to Esylle. He didn’t mean to fuss at her when he told her he wished she had come earlier, before her Senso, so she could have been wed before she had mated and brought up her night with Oris again.
She slipped back under his arm and wrapped herself around him again. He was confused when she told him she would gift him something after they swam. He didn’t know if she was going to gift him so he could be near her when she was hot and didn’t want to ask.
“I didn’t ask you out here to let you down,” she told him. She told him what she had told to both Sono and Oris about needing to learn to share her and that it was Oris who suggested he swim with her. He was relieved when she told him she hadn’t told any of them while he wasn’t around that she had chosen them. She completely changed the subject and told him they couldn’t go deep this time because there may be a boat full of humans in the water. She warned him to tell the other Tarks the boat would be in the water soon and to not let themselves be seen.
“I don’t understand,” he said, stopping her before she went towards the water. “Let’s make a fire and talk before we swim.” She agreed and gathered wood with him. He was used to her lighting the fire by just looking at it and it didn’t surprise him anymore. The Tempris had hidden themselves for so long, he had to get used to both her red hair and things becoming aflame around her. “Why don’t you let us bring the boat down like we did before? It would thin their numbers and make it easier for us to fight them.”
She looked at him sadly. He knew she wasn’t talking about her plans and might not tell him. “Did you not hear my story? The Spirus created the humans just like she created you. They became angry and fearful of change and the tribes became proud and also fearful of change. You both have no re
ason to fear each other. I’m here to correct mistakes. None of you are meant to die.”
He didn’t think she was understanding again. “Surely Belisarus told you stories about the humans. You were in that room they used to take us to. I don’t think you understand what these humans are like.”
“Why do you all assume I don’t understand when I say something you don’t like?” she asked, her eyes flashing. “I’ve seen the first wars and know what they are capable of. The tribes are capable of the same thing, Essos just taught you differently and you live by his teachings. Please don’t ask me for more information.”
He hadn’t done this before and he knew this would upset his father, but he put his arm around her and pulled her to his chest. The Tarks did not normally show affection unless you were wed and never in public. He didn’t say anything to her when she took his hand on the way out tonight and he knew no one would object to her keeping him warm because it wasn’t really showing affection. No one would see them out here and if she hadn’t chosen yet, he needed to stop keeping his distance from her because it was how he was raised after seeing her with Oris and Sono. She may think he didn’t love her if he didn’t show affection because she didn’t understand.
“Sometimes it’s easier to think you don’t understand something than accept the truth in your words.”
“I want to gift you something. I don’t know how long it will last, but I gave it to both Sono and Oris earlier today and you should have the same.”
He couldn’t imagine how she could know her choice, but was giving them equal gifts still. He couldn’t imagine what she could give that might not last like the other gifts she had been giving. Those were all permanent. He gasped as she placed her hand over his heart and explained what she was doing. When she took her hand away, he could feel her and the love she felt for him. He couldn’t help it and was unsure of himself when he grabbed her and kissed her deeply. He went to tug at her robe with his father’s stern face in the back of his head and was surprised to also feel unsureness coming from her as well. He knew she had already done this with Volaris and was sure she had with Oris as well. He could feel that she loved him. He could also feel that she wanted him to take her robes off, but there was also something there, some doubt that she also didn’t want him to take them off.
She could feel him too and pulled away from him. “If it’s your tribe’s tradition not to do this until you are wed, why are you trying to take my robes off? I don’t know why the chair says you are supposed to take them off, but if it’s not something you’re supposed to do, you shouldn’t. Your father always looks at me like he feels bad for me that I have to do these things. I think he would be angry with me if you do this.”
“You say you’re here to bring change. Maybe that’s one of them.”
She laughed and he smiled with her because he could feel her amusement at whatever he said that she found funny. He loved hearing her laugh because not only did her laugh sound like music, she had stopped doing it once they arrived at Inanos. “If the Tarks don’t show affection in public, I’m not here to change that. I don’t understand all the endless rules that everyone keeps telling me go along with mating. If you’ve been raised not to mate until you are wed, I’m not going to force you.”
“What if I want to?” he whispered in her ear. It must have tickled her because he shivered when she did.
“I can feel how much you love me and how much you think you want to do this. What if we do and you regret it afterward?”
He found now that he had gotten over his uncomfortableness and couldn’t stop touching her. “Did you regret it after you mated with Volaris when you didn’t know what mating was?” he asked. He was surprised when he tried kissing her neck how much it felt good since he could feel what she was feeling.
“I didn’t know what I was feeling and he offered to make it stop. I didn’t regret it when it was over because I liked the way it felt and I didn’t have to feel the way I was feeling anymore. Every time I bring up mating, I find out I’m not supposed to and there are all these rules that I need explained to me. I didn’t know the reason you never tried to kiss me before was because you were raised that way.”
“Ever since you kissed me, it’s all I can think about. I didn’t know it could feel like that. I don’t understand why we don’t do it in public if it feels that way.”
She laughed again and he couldn’t help smile with her, even though deep down, he felt like she might be laughing at him. “If you talk like that around others besides me, people will start telling you that you don’t understand things like they do me.”
He kissed her neck again because he could feel it made her feel good. “Your mother fussed at me for staring at you while we swim together because you are bare underwater. I can’t help it. You’re beautiful like that. You’re beautiful when you’re dry as well.”
“Are you sure this is what you want? I don’t want you to do something you will regret.”
“I won’t regret it. No one else has to know,” he said, groaning as she slid into his lap. He could feel what she felt when he kissed her neck, but the sensation was much stronger when she started kissing his. He started tugging at her robes.
“We’ll need to go into the sea when we are done. All the Theran and now my mother will be able to smell what we’ve done if we don’t,” she told him, pulling at the waistband of his robes.
Leodos
Leodos and Esylle had been searching for Lisana for hours. It was well past dinner and she had not come back to eat with them. They went to Sono’s chambers first. He told them she had been with him earlier in the day, but she had left with Oris. Esylle demanded to know what they had done while she was in his chambers because she was smelling something she didn’t recognize. Her sense of smell was new to her and there were things she still didn’t recognize yet. Sono refused to tell her anything other than he calmed her and she was no longer angry. He did confess to them that she had found a way to connect them and he could feel what she felt when they were close, but neither of them knew how long the bond would last. Leodos got angry and asked because he didn’t think Sono could tell her no again if he was feeling what she was feeling now. Sono refused to discuss what Esylle was smelling, nor what they had done in his chambers other than talk.
Esylle and Leodos left frustrated with Sono and thinking he had done something he shouldn’t, but they were more worried about how upset she was earlier today, even though he told them she was no longer angry. They found Oris next. Oris also told them that she also connected them and she needed to go into the sea and he made her go with Neptis. He hadn’t seen her since.
It was too dark to go search the sand outside for her, so they paced by the stone doors waiting for her to return. It was nearly midnight before the doors swung open and she came back inside holding Neptis’ hand. There was a closeness there that wasn’t before and he wondered if she had also gifted Neptis the same connection. Leodos was confused why she would give all three of them the ability to feel her if she knew her choice. Neptis was beaming and being more affectionate with her than he was before. Normally he was reserved in public, like the rest of the Tarks. Leodos thought he didn’t need to worry with the two of them alone, but he saw the looks the two of them were exchanging now. Esylle told him how she swam underwater. He thought Esylle knew better by now, but she descended on Lisana as soon as she walked through the door. He watched Lisana’s smile fall as soon as Esylle started in on her.
“You got your first night of rest since you told us about your dreams. It’s nearly midnight! You shouldn’t be out this late. Not when we saw humans out earlier. What did you do with these three boys today? I smelled something in Sono’s room and I see how the two of you are looking at each other now!”
Neptis looked uncomfortable, but unlike before, when he never touched her, he put his arm around her and pulled her to him. He looked just as upset as Lisana looked. “I can feel how much you upset her now when you say these things to her
,” he said. “You told me on the beach you didn’t want to push her away. She’s trying to feel how she felt last night so you don’t, saying these things to her now.”
Leodos and Esylle both looked at him, confused. Leodos had tried to tell Esylle several times to let things happen on her time. Lisana had never said anything to them how it made her feel, they would just watch her get upset. He knew she was coming to accept Esylle as her mother and was trying to get to know her, but Neptis seemed to know exactly how she felt when Esylle tried to fuss at her.
“How would you know this?” Esylle demanded.
Neptis went to speak and then stopped. Leodos looked on as the Myalis flower glowed on Lisana’s chest and a small handprint started to glow on Neptis’ bare chest. Whatever Sono and Oris had said about her somehow connecting them had apparently been done to Neptis as well. Whatever she had done, he could tell what she was feeling now. His cheeks flushed while the flower bloomed and he appeared to be feeling the exact same thing Esylle and Lisana did when they made it. Leodos didn’t know if she intended to gift her family this same thing so they could finally know what she needed.
“He can feel what I feel and I the same. He doesn’t like when you talk to me this way either because he can feel what it does to me. I don’t know how long this connection will last, but he can feel it right now,” she said as the flower faded from her chest.
“I worried when I saw how upset you were this morning. I didn’t follow when Sono left to go after you because he was the one who caused the upset. You can’t see why I would be upset that you’re out in the sea in the form you choose in the middle of the night after the humans we saw? After what I heard they want to do to you?”
“I’m trying to see things from your point of view, but I keep trying to tell you I’m going to have to do things you might not like and you keep getting involved and getting upset with me.”
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