Of Another Dimension

by Jeanette Lynn

  He nodded his head, letting her know that 'oh yes, she had'.

  "We must be going then," Teivel announced, pulling out my chair.

  "You can't leave me with him!" Teila shouted, pounding on Gostach's meaty shoulder.

  "Careful, mate, I am not averse to making your sweet little bottom even more red than it already is."

  Teila flushed blue and I couldn't help the snorted giggle that escaped me.

  "I don't know what you're laughing about," Teila sneered. "At least he," she hooked a thumb at Gostach, "actually wants to be mated to me. My male didn't leave me before the deed could be finished! I bet he couldn't finish it and who could blame him."

  "You eaves dropping bitch!" I hollered and lunged at her.

  Teivel picked me up and secured me to his chest while I flailed around, raging, kicking and screaming as I tried to claw Teila's eyes out.

  I called her every name I could think of and some I didn't even know that I knew existed as I cursed her all over creation.

  Teila raged back at me, throwing anything spiteful and everything else she could come up with in my face.

  Gostach tossed Teila over his shoulder and his hand made a deafening 'crack' that echoed in the tiny space as it landed over Teila's tiny, prissy little ass.

  "Silence, mate," Gostach commanded in his deep scary voice.

  Teila cried out, but otherwise shut up.

  "My apologies for my mate's behavior," Gostach said remorsefully.

  His face hardened when Teila started up again and his hand came down on her rump even harder.

  "Enough!" he roared and I jumped in Teivel's arms.

  I felt silly dangling from his strong grip as all the fight in me left me, legs swinging uselessly a foot or so off the ground.

  "If you'll excuse us," Teivel said quietly and set me on my feet.

  "Of course, my friend, and don't you worry. I plan on having a little chat with my female about the repercussions from when we ease drop on our friend’s private moments."

  Teivel nodded his head, but said nothing.

  "Until we meet again, sweet Lil," Gostach said with a nod to me and a wave at Teivel.

  I waved and let Teivel lead me outside, his large warm hand on the small of my back.

  I could still make out Gostach's voice as we headed to where Gostach had graciously put up our talanax for the night.

  Teivel had planned on leaving them tied up under the eave so he didn't inconvenience his friend.

  It wasn't ideal, given the weather, but when Gostach had heard what Teivel had planned he'd insisted they rest in his large barn out of the cold with the rest of the animals.

  "Wipe that look off your face, mate, we don't sneer at guests!" Gostach barked out from somewhere in the house.

  I smiled a little as I used the post by the barn to hoist myself up onto my mount.

  "What are you smiling about?" Teivel asked as he hopped up onto his own talanax.

  He gave me a look when he realized I wasn't going to ride side saddle, my dress rucked up around my waist, my stocking pants showing as I gave my talanax the command to go.

  I'm not too concerned with whether or not he likes the way I choose to ride right now.

  "Oh, nothing." I smiled secretively, knowing it would bug the shit out of him.

  Teivel's smile fell and his lips tightened.

  That is exactly how we rode for the next few hours as we made our way home.

  ****

  It was late in the day when we finally made it back and I wanted to kiss the mushy wet ground when we stopped and got ready to dismount.

  I am going to be so sore later, I thought as my muscles protested.

  I grunted when I slid off and my feet thumped on the ground, grimacing as I tried to give myself a minute to adjust to standing up right after so many hours riding on the back of a talanax.

  Of course, Teivel didn't have that problem and left me standing there while he took his talanax to put it up for the night.

  We had both been seething at each other for almost the whole ride home.

  Whenever he's upset he just shuts down and shuts the offender out.

  How the heck can you build on that and why am I even contemplating trying?

  And, naturally, his avoidance and flat out snubbing is pissing me off.

  No, Lil, you're supposed to be shunning him, remember?

  There was a noise off into the distance and I looked up to see Sieren riding back on Licorice, my talanax.

  I looked around expecting to see Kieve and even though I was happy to see Sieren, I was really disappointed my mate wasn't with him.

  Sieren sped up when he saw me and pulled up right next to me.

  He hopped down and picked me up, hugging me tightly to his massive chest.

  "I'm sorry, chomcharra. Forgive me," he murmured against my skin, placing small kisses along my temple and hair line.

  "I missed you, ya big lug," I whispered as I hugged him back.

  Sieren made a happy noise in the back of his throat and I chuckled at it.

  It was true, I'd missed him.

  You never really realize how fond you've grown of someone sometimes until you've been given a chance to miss them.

  "Where's Kieve?" I asked, wondering where my 'hunk ‘O’ love' was.

  "He is almost done. We finished sooner than planned and he should be leaving early tomorrow." He pulled back and grinned at me, studying me, taking me in, acting like he hasn't seen me in a year.

  "Where did you get such a pretty dress, chomcharra, and why are you out riding around right now? Has Teivel driven you so mad you've decided to brave the weather and leave us?"

  "No," I laughed, missing his teasing. "We had to take Teila to a transmitter and got stuck in the storm. We stayed at the unicorn man, uh, I mean, Gostach's place."

  "Ahhh," Sieren murmured in understanding, "And why didn't you just stay here, chomcharra, the weather is bad? Did you really want to see our world that badly?"

  I gave him a dirty look and poked him in the belly.

  "I didn't want to go at all. I wasn't really given a choice. Teila went all psycho on everyone and Teivel didn't want to be left alone with her. He made me go," I complained, sighing heavily, giving him my best sad eyes.

  "You poor thing," Sieren soothed sympathetically with an innocent expression, giving me a patronizing pat on the butt.

  "Oh, shut up!" I snapped, dropping the act, smacking at his chest.

  He chuckled happily.

  ****

  I'd just changed into my usual dress of Kieve's shirt and my own blue jeans, making my way to the kitchen to help with dinner when Teivel came in.

  He stopped me in the hall, crowding me with his much bigger body and pinned me to the wall off of the kitchen.

  "You are being quiet and you've been ignoring me?" he informed me, making it sound like more of a statement than a question.

  I pursed my lips and said nothing.

  "You are mad," he observed, leaning down to inhale deeply, his fingers running over the end of my braid, playing with the hair at the end.

  Brilliant, Sherlock! What else?

  And aren't you one to talk, Mr. Pissy pants!

  I pulled my braid out of his reach and gave him a dirty look.

  "Oh, and you have just been molly manners the whole day, haven't you?" I growled in exasperation.

  "Why?" he asked, leaning in more with his whole body.

  "Why what?" I asked testily, flattening myself against the wall.

  I made sure we didn't have any direct contact.

  "Why are you mad? I don't like it," he stated bluntly, yellow eyes trying to bore holes into mine, his look intent.

  "You don't like when I'm mad? Oh, that is rich!" I laughed bitterly.

  He scowled at me, lips tightening at my tone.

  "You are upset. It bothers me. I. Don't. Like. It," he gritted out.

  "I don't like when you're an ass. It bothers me, so I guess we're even," I retorted sarcas
tically, rolling my eyes at him.

  I pushed at his chest, grunting to get him out of my way.

  "Move," I hissed at him.

  "No," he grumbled adamantly.

  "I promised to help Sieren with dinner," I reasoned.

  "It can wait. He can wait."

  "Is that a hint of jealously I'm detecting, Teivie, my sweet?" I taunted him, "You're not envious of your brother are you? ...or should I say brothers?"

  "NO," he clipped, a weird expression on his face.

  He backed up a little and I saw my chance.

  I ducked under his arm and rushed into the kitchen, hurrying over to the sink.

  Teivel came storming in after me, fire spitting from those demonic yellow eyes.

  "You will talk to me, female!" Teivel demanded, hand raised to point at me, eyes narrowed into little yellow slits.

  "I don't have to do anything!" I disagreed, walking over to the counter after I'd washed my hands.

  Teivel growled and stalked towards me.

  "You will or I will beat your little ass!"

  "You even think of touching my ass and I'll hand you yours on a platter!" I shouted.

  Sieren stepped in.

  "You will not threaten my female," Sieren told his brother calmly in that scary quiet tone of his.

  "She is my female," Teivel snarled, surprising Sieren.

  Sieren glanced back and forth between me and Teivel.

  "Chomcharra?" Sieren asked doubtfully.

  I spluttered and gaped for a minute, eyes darting back and forth between brothers.

  God, how to answer that...

  I don't even know if we're mated.

  "I uh... I don't know," I blurted helplessly in a quiet voice, biting at my lip, chewing on it worriedly with my top teeth.

  "You don't know?" Sieren asked, a bemused expression on his face as he quirked a brow at Teivel.

  "I'm guessing you did something wrong if she doesn't know if you're mated or not, brother." Sieren grinned.

  Teivel growled and bared his teeth.

  "She is mine," he stated baldly.

  "On what planet?!" I burst out.

  Teivel looked at me sharply and his face flushed blue.

  "What exactly did you two do? What am I missing here?" Sieren studied our reactions closely.

  I flushed bright pink and crossed my arms over my chest.

  "We are not mated. He didn't finish it, so it doesn't count," I said desperately.

  "Didn't finish what? What doesn't count?" Sieren asked curiously.

  "He couldn't uh... you know... so it isn't finished. I didn't bite him back either."

  "I could have!" Teivel jumped in, embarrassed at the implication.

  His face turns any bluer and he looks like he might just pass out.

  Embarrassed flush or not, that color just screams oxygen deprivation to me.

  "Okay, fine," I said tightly, "He could have, but didn't want to. He got up and stormed from the room, leaving me in the middle of it. He didn't want to finish. He didn't want me."

  Sieren, for once, didn't know what to say.

  "Happy now?" I snapped at Teivel.

  I looked at the yellow eyed devil, who was seething at me, matching him glare for glare.

  I stepped around Sieren and marched right up to him.

  "You are a complete and utter ass! I wouldn't mate with you if you were the last male in existence!"

  "That can be arranged," Teivel ground out.

  "Don't you dare lay a hand on him!" I bellowed, stepping in front of Sieren.

  Sieren smiled, amused by my defense of him.

  "Or Kieve either! I'll never forgive you if you do!"

  "Oh, yes, you're 'precious Kieve'. Wouldn't want to deprive you of two dicks, now would we?" he shot back.

  "What is your fucking problem?!" I practically screamed.

  "You!" he bellowed, storming up to me.

  "Me? Me! What the hell have I ever done to you?" I asked in disbelief.

  "If you hadn't come here, I wouldn't be arguing my claim with a little, weak human who can barely fend for herself! Maybe then I wouldn't feel the need to make sure you don't get yourself killed! You are a maddening female that doesn't know her head from her ass! You drive me crazy!"

  Is that all I am to him?

  ...how he really sees me?

  All I've ever been?

  A responsibility? A chore?

  A pea brained being lacking all common sense?

  I felt my blood boiling at his accusations.

  Who the hell does he think he is?

  "A weak little human who can barely fend for herself?" I seethed, "You think I'm just some insipid, helpless creature that you feel compelled to look after?" My voice was dangerously soft as I asked.

  He didn't say anything, but I thought I saw apprehension and remorse cross his features briefly before he careful blanked his expression.

  "Don't you worry about me," I said quietly, "I have Sieren and Kieve. They like me just the way I am. I don't need you."

  "No," he said bitterly, "You don't need me, miquatka, but you have no problem fucking me like a brartna if I offer it, don't you?"

  The slap I cracked across his jaw had the kitchen suddenly tumbling into a deafening silence.

  I only looked at Teivel's face long enough to register his stunned expression.

  "How's that for weak, asshole?" I stormed out of the house, letting the back door slam shut behind me.

  Chapter 20

  "I thought you'd be out here," Sieren said quietly as the barn door shut behind him.

  "And how do you figure that?" I asked just as quietly, stroking Chub's back softly, smiling as the little beastie let out another happy chuff.

  "The younglings." He gestured at the litter of pups Chub had gotten off a female chomcharra.

  "May I sit?" he asked politely, waiting.

  "You don't need my permission." I shrugged.

  "I do," he insisted and grimaced, "It didn't work out so well last time I didn't."

  I gave him a small smile as he joked about the mud pit incident.

  "I think it would be kind of uncomfortable to sit naked in the barn, but hey, knock yourself out." I snorted, gesturing at the floor.

  He smiled at me warmly and sat down, scooting towards me to set me in his lap.

  "Ignore him, chomcharra. He is confused. Teivel doesn't know how to deal with his feelings well."

  "No shit?" I asked innocently, feigning shock.

  He laughed and kissed my temple, chuckling at my foul mood.

  "Do you forgive me?" he whispered near my ear, referring to the mud stunt he'd pulled.

  "I dunno," I said quietly, letting out a put upon sigh, examining my finger nails.

  He chuckled, his chest rumbling against my ear as he pulled me close.

  "Then I don't know if you can have this." With a flourish, he held something out to me.

  It was a present.

  "What is it?" I asked curiously, sitting up, taking the wrapped bundle.

  "Open it and see," he said excitedly.

  I opened it up and found a large purple compla.

  "Oh, wow, this one is bigger than the other one. Does it do the same thing?"

  "You already have one?" Sieren sounded so disappointed.

  "I do, but I love them both," I assured him. "I love purple." I ran my hands over it. "Do you just touch it like the other one?" I asked eagerly, ready to play with my new present.

  Awesome!

  "You do this," he advised and showed me how to get it to work.

  I put it on the ground and placed my hand on it, just like he'd shown me.

  The compla lit up and a hole opened up in the top.

  I watched it and waited, completely engrossed.

  It started up and I grinned as Kieve's voice came out, singing our song.

  "Oh, this one has voices!" I cried happily, unable to contain myself, "It repeats it perfectly."

  Sieren grinned widely, pleased with hims
elf.

  He cocked his head and listened as the song played on.

  "Is that Kieve?" he asked, stunned, truly surprised.

  "Mmm hmm," I said absently, humming along.

  "I didn't know he sings," Sieren said thoughtfully.

  "Do you really not have any couples dances?" I double checked, just to be sure.

  "What is a couple's dance? Do you use swords? What does the female do? Do you throw swords at each other? How does that work?" he asked interestedly, looking at me like he really didn't think so, but was going to ask anyways, just to be sure.

  "No," I smiled, laughing, "you dance to the music. All different kinds of dances for all different kinds of music."

  Rain started pattering down on the barn roof suddenly and Sieren glanced up.

  "We'd better go inside. It's only going to get worse out here the longer we delay."

  I scrunched my face up at the idea of dealing with Teivel again.

  "You go ahead. I think I'll take my chances with the chomcharra puppies and the rain," I muttered sardonically.

  "Teivel is in his room pouting," Sieren informed me, "I don't think he'll be coming out anytime soon."

  "Pout? Teivel?" I snorted at the idea.

  Right.

  "He’s upset, knows he's wrong and doesn't want to admit it. He's pouting," Sieren said seriously.

  I chortled at the idea.

  "If you say so," I replied agreeably, using a thinly veiled, placating tone.

  "I do," he chuckled, laughing at me.

  He got up and held his hand out to me.

  "Come, chomcharra."

  I tucked my compla under my arm and let him pull me up.

  He kept his hand in mine and I smiled as I looked at our joined hands.

  Mine is much smaller than his big powerful one, but he holds it like it’s the most precious thing in the world to him. ...like I am.

  He gave my hand a gentle tug and we raced to the steps of the back porch.

  I stopped when we he would have gone inside.

  "Wait." I stopped him and let go of his hand.

  I walked to the eave that wrapped around the house and set my compla down where it wouldn't get wet.

  Touching the top of it, I put on a song and smiled when it started to play.