"What'd she say?"
Illam smiled smugly. “Nothing.” She couldn't say much with my tongue in her mouth.
"Nothing?” Denyon raked a hand through his hair.
"And she won't say anything, either.” Leaning back against the cupboards, Illam chewed calmly.
"How do you know?"
"I could smell her arousal. She was responsive—"
"She's an Argon, Illam! She's sensual and sexual and—"
"And she openly stated that she only shares her body with someone she desires.” Illam grinned. “She climaxed last night."
"Oh, Jocat.” Denyon dropped his forehead onto the table.
"Don't be such a worrier."
"I can see you're happy,” Denyon's voice was muffled. “You're back to being annoyingly cheerful again."
"I consider I have everything to be cheerful about."
Lifting his head a little, Denyon pinned him with a ferocious glare. “I'm warning you, Illam, whatever happens, you are the one facing Tera's father and her leader."
Illam sobered. Pulling out a chair, he sat across from his friend and captain, and looked him squarely in the eyes.
"Denyon, I have no fear of facing the Argons. When the time comes, I will face both Sarcan and Kiile. One of our own has wed one of theirs. A Felys and Argon have already mated and wed. Do you truly think this is going to be a problem?"
"I don't know.” Denyon sighed. “I suppose not."
"Then why the hysterics?"
"I just thought you two hated each other."
"Turns out we were both wrong."
Denyon sighed again, and straightened up. “All right. It's your business. If you and Tera are happy, who am I to stand in your way? Who am I to stand in the way of our Felys’ instinct?"
"Yeah, about Tera being happy..."
Denyon looked at him suspiciously.
"I have to convince her of the rightness of our mating."
Denyon's forehead met the table again with a dull thunk. Illam continued to cheerfully eat his lunch.
* * * *
In the middle of transferring more data into the data collector, Tera was interrupted by Rilla entering the hut.
"Would you like to witness the birth of a Felys litter?” Rilla queried.
"Really?” Excited, Tera swung around to look at the Felys healer. “The mother won't mind?"
"Leesha has already given her permission. She says if you're here to help with our runts, then you are welcome to witness the birth of her litter, and the possible appearance of a runt."
"Then I will gladly come. Where is she?"
"In her own home, where all Felys birth their kits."
"Do I need to bring anything with me?"
"No. I'll be there to help if anything goes wrong, and Marx will be nearby just in case. You can assist if needed, otherwise all you have to do is watch."
Curious, Tera followed Rilla to a wooden house built in a tree top, and climbed the stone steps that led up to the closed-in verandah that went around the house. Tera was more than grateful that the trees here were huge.
Lying in her bed in the bedroom, Leesha smiled at Tera and Rilla as they entered.
"I thank you for allowing me to be here,” Tera said softly.
"It's we who thank you for placing your time into our problems,” Leesha returned. “You might as well get comfortable.” She waved her hand to the chair in the corner. “This could take awhile."
"Your first litter?"
"Second."
"See this?” Rilla gestured to Tera to cross to her side. “This large box contains a thick mattress and blankets."
"All the kits go in together?” Tera guessed.
"Definitely. From the moment they're born, cleaned and fed, they stay in here. They cuddle up together for warmth, and get companionship from each other. The only time they come out is when their mother or father gets them out."
It was similar to the kitchen lycat back home on Argon.
The birthing was even more similar.
About twenty minutes after her water broke, Leesha started giving birth. During her labor, she'd only grunted. Now she gave a low, guttural cry, and pushed.
From between her legs, Tera saw a sac appear. It ballooned out, then burst, and a little Felys kit slid out. She watched as Rilla scooped it up deftly and briskly wiped it's nose and face with a cloth. Once it let out a tiny squawl, she gave it a brisk rub before lying it next to Leesha, who turned on her side and stroked it, beaming. It was still joined to her by the cord.
It was a little black, white and cream Felys kit, and once it kicked its legs, Tera saw it was a little female.
The afterbirth slid out and Rilla cut the cord. Immediately the Felys kit wriggled up to Leesha's breast, nuzzled, and started sucking.
Fifteen minutes later, Leesha gave a grunt.
Rilla retrieved the kit from her breast and handed her to Tera. “Just pop her into the box and cover her with a blanket. She'll be fine for a while."
Fascinated, Tera gave the kit a quick once over on the way to the big box. The kit was about a third of the size of an Argon baby, and she was covered in a fine, fur coat that was now drying to give her a fuzzy appearance. Her little ears were starting to stick up, and she was mewling. Her eyes remained shut.
Maybe because, like a lycat, they wouldn't open for about ten days? Tera made a mental note to ask Rilla.
Leesha birthed three more kits, each one emerging partially in its own little sack before it broke and they slid out into the world. The last one was even tinier. A little red cream male with brown highlights, he almost fitted into Tera's palm. Suddenly frightened of how tiny it was, she cradled it to her chest and looked up at Rilla.
"Runt,” Rilla said softly. “Snuggle him in with the others."
Leesha smiled sadly at Tera. “He will possibly survive, Argon."
"Possibly?"
"I will ensure he gets plenty to drink, and is not pushed aside by his bigger litter mates. I will love him, and give him everything. The rest is up to him and nature."
Survival of the fittest, only this little kit had as much help as his mother could give him.
Rilla helped Leesha clean up while Tera watched over the fuzzy kits. Once Leesha was settled, Rilla opened the door and called out for Marx. He appeared within seconds, accompanied by a Felys male who had blue and grey hair with lilac points.
"Tyber, Leesha's mate,” Marx explained.
Tyber smiled briefly at Tera, then embraced Leesha and murmured soft words to her. After a couple of minutes, he crossed to the box and peered in. A delighted grin crossed his face as he dangled his fingers inside and stroked one of his kits down its back. It arched immediately with a small cry.
The others mewled and started moving, wriggling and trying to lift their little heads.
Leesha laughed. “Bring two to me, Tyber."
The first one he picked up was the little runt, who mewled. Tyber handled it gently, holding him up to his face and nuzzling him along the corner of his mouth. The little male Felys bunted his nose along his father's mouth, and Tyber laughed.
"He will be a rascal,” he announced. “My little male!"
The obvious love Tyber had for his son put to rest any doubts that Tera had over the way runts might be integrated in the family unit.
Within minutes Leesha was nursing two Felys kits, one at each breast, and Tyber helped support them, especially the little runt who was slurping away greedily. It made a close-knit family group, and Tera smiled.
"It's time we went,” Rilla told her. “I'll come and check their progress tomorrow. You are welcome to come."
"I'd like that."
They left the home and headed back to the healers’ hut. Tera realized that the whole process had taken about four hours only.
"What chance has the runt got?” she queried as they entered the hut.
"As much as the next runt,” Rill replied. “But he has a good start."
Tera caught the fle
eting sadness in the healer's eyes. “But you don't expect him to live?"
"He will probably last for a while, but once he's about eight or nine, he may start to fail."
"Why that particular age?"
"Because the growth spurts start around then. Once the body hair has disappeared, apart from the genital region, then the body starts to develop. It takes a lot out of anyone, but a runt ... well, they're not always strong enough to cope with it all.” Rilla looked at her. “It's why we have hopes that the Argons may hold the answer."
Tera felt a tightening in her throat. “I can't promise miracles."
"I know."
"But I can promise that I'll do whatever I can to find an answer."
"I know,” Rilla repeated, and she smiled.
The silence this time was companionable, and Tera turned the music on low, allowing it to lull her into a soothing solace as she continued to enter data into the data collector.
She had to admit it to herself. Seeing the birth of the kits, and the little runt in particular, had only endeared these feline-like people to her. They did care for their runts, even if it wasn't in the way she saw as being normal. But they loved them and cared for them.
Now she had to try and find an answer to ensure they kept their little Felys kits alive, and they didn't lose the little runts to some unknown cause.
A chill crept over her. What if Lysie gave birth to a runt? It was feasible, wasn't it? What if it didn't survive? It would devastate them both. But then, Marten was strong, and it was the crossing of two species. Sometimes that bred out a problem.
Sighing, she returned her attention to the data already collected.
* * * *
The Cave
It was finally finished.
She watched as it was reverently handed from one maker to another, so that each who had assisted in making it, would have the chance to hold it before it was started on the path to saving their species.
It glowed with a light all its own.
When she took it from her companion, she felt the warmth of it in her palms. It was as though it was alive, with a life of its own.
Life of its own. How ironic. This symbol, this object of the saving of her kind, was supposed to save them from slavery, from forced sexual degradation and madness.
She looked up at her companions, masters in their own professions. She looked at them, and saw a mixture of expressions. Trepidation, fear, sadness, eagerness, doubt, and determination.
"It is done,” she said.
* * * *
Lying in bed, Tera thought about the little runt kit. He'd intruded on her thoughts several times during the remainder of the day. He was so cute, covered in the soft fuzzy fur. He reminded her of a lykitten turned into a baby. Maybe in a way he was after all, the Felys were feline-type. They were truly a remarkable people. She only hoped she and her father could bring them the answers and help they needed to keep their species alive. If they couldn't help, then over time, the Felys would die out or be bred out.
A beautiful, almost magical species would fade into history.
Damn. With a sigh, Tera turned on her side and her gaze fell on the glass door which led out onto the verandah. It was shut.
"Tonight I'll be hunting you again."
Illam. She'd forgotten his promise. Threat. Whatever. She'd forgotten in the happenings of the day, and her own troubled thoughts of the runts and Felys. But she sure remembered now. And it was an almost welcome distraction from her worried thoughts.
Almost.
Coming up on her elbow, she regarded the door. She'd been in bed for an hour. The door had been shut against the cool night air before she'd even come inside.
Was Illam on the verandah? Waiting? A shiver of anticipation went through her. Was he hunting her? Was he watching from somewhere? Was he even now reaching for the door to open it?
The minutes ticked past as she stared at the door.
What if he did? What if he did open the door and walk in, as bold as any hunting lycat? Would she yell for Wylin? Since when do I need someone else to fix my problems? And Illam was such a yummy problem. So, if he did come in ... should she slap his handsome face? Throw herself at him? Rip his clothes off?
You are sick, Tera. That fur-ball already has an over inflated ego, and you lusting after him is only going to make it worse.
But it had been so long since she'd last been so close to a man. To have one touch her, taste her, kiss her ... dominate her strong character without seeking to break her. Illam had done all that the other night.
Lying back down, she tucked one hand under the pillow and sighed. To be truthful, he'd made her feel things she hadn't felt in a long, long time. He'd filled a space that had remained empty for years. Since...
Tera closed her eyes. She didn't want to think about it. The pain had died over the years, but the emptiness remained. No man had ever been able to get so close to her. There was no man she'd ever found desirable enough to share intimate moments with since...
Since that time of horror.
Drawing a deep breath, she rolled onto her other side and stared at the wooden door leading into the depths of the house. Hanna had tried many times to matchmake her, sought to find the one man who could bring her ashes to life once more. Sought to bring her enjoyment in being intimate with a man again. Hanna had failed over and over in her endeavor.
The men had tried to woo her, but she found them lacking. They didn't have the strength, the passion, the drive, the sensitivity she valued. They all lacked something.
Maybe that was why Illam titillated her so much. He was dominating, he had a strength of his own, and his passion was ... well, the sparks flickering in her loins at the thought of what he'd done, and what he'd promised to do, was testament to how she felt about that.
He was also arrogant, naïve in some things, cock-sure, too handsome to be legal, and too opinionated. Not to mention that feral side that had appeared last night.
Hanna would have said that sounded like a male version of Tera. Tera grinned.
But it didn't solve her problem.
Here was a man who wanted her, and had no qualms about telling her that he was going to hunt her and have her, and there was no doubt it would be on his terms.
So what was she going to do about it?
"You're my mate."
All right, there was a problem. In what term, exactly, did he mean ‘mate'? Tera had an uneasy feeling she knew what he meant but found it a little hard to accept that his feelings could change so quickly. One minute, he couldn't stand her, the next ... the next he was saying that she was his mate.
The change was too quick.
"Fascinating.” Tera nodded. “And how does the male and female know they will be mates? How does the female choose? Is the beginning of the heat phase the decision time to choose the one she wants to bind with?"
"They may be attracted to each other before, but her scent alerts the male that she is meant for him.” Illam slid his ankle off his opposite knee and stretched his legs out before him. “Her scent alerts everyone that she is coming into her heat phase, but it alerts her nature-bonded mate, too."
"Nature bonded?"
"There is no other way to describe it except falling in love."
"Immediately?” Tera's brow arched quizzically.
"We're not like other species, Tera.” Illam's gaze swept over her. “You must remember that. “Accept it."
Tera sat bolt upright in the bed, one hand to her mouth. Oh crap! Her gaze slid sideways to the closed glass door. "They may be attracted to each other before, but her scent alerts the male that she is meant for him."
Oh, that didn't bode well. Illam was always sniffing at her, he'd always been going on about her scent ... of which she hadn't worn any.
Panic fluttered inside her. Oh shit! No, no, no! This can't possibly be happening to me! To him!
He'd grabbed her several times, and started nipping and kissing her, and she had fallen straight into his arms
like a sex-starved female on heat. Which she was—sex starved, that is, not on heat. Right?
"Suns!” Swinging her legs over the side of the bed, Tera got to her feet and started pacing.
This was not good. This was, in fact, very bad.
Why? Because it was Illam. A Felys. Another race.
No, that was unfair. She'd had relations with another race before, and had totally enjoyed it. Until ... she shied from the memory.
Now what was she going to do? Why couldn't she simply take her enjoyment that a handsome male offered her, a male who met so many of the things that she admired in a man when being intimate?
Because it's Illam. Because I'm scared. Stopping, she rubbed her hands and stared at the glass door. Why am I scared? Because he might expect something more of me? Because ... I don't know! Attempting to calm herself, she drew a deep breath. All right, steady up, Tera. First things first. Oh crap!
"I don't like him,” she muttered to herself. But, by God, I lust after him. Tart.
Mental head slap. Perching on the edge of the bed, she rubbed her temples and eyed the door again. Be honest with yourself. It's not true that I don't like him. I couldn't dislike him if he causes me to feel desire. It's just ... I don't know. Tera rolled her eyes. Yes I do. He makes me feel desire, he makes me mad. He makes me want to pull his tail. He's arrogant, he's smug ... he's caring. And he had been, back when they'd first landed on the planet. When Denyon and Wylin had been challenging each other, he'd seen the look on her face and had immediately interfered before anything could go wrong. He'd protected her from the teasing and curiosity of her friends back on Argon.
And now the Felys had the hots for her.
And Tera had the hots for him, she had to admit that, but where would it lead? Did she want it to lead anywhere? Did she?
Running her hand over her face, she gave a soft groan. She was so mixed up, her feelings confused, her emotions in turmoil ... her treacherous hormones in over-drive.
And on the other side of the glass doors, Illam was waiting for her. Tipping her head back, she looked up at the dark ceiling and sighed. She could practically feel him there. His presence was tangible in the air.
Threat, promise, dominance, determination. Feral.
Slowly she stood and crossed to the glass door. Reaching out, she placed her hand on the curtain, feeling the chill of the glass through the gauzy material. A ripple went through her, but it wasn't the chill.
Love's Beguiling Healer Page 20