My heart says yes. I want those few extra days with my boys, and I want them desperately. Yet this is a huge deal for them and their careers. I couldn’t stand in the way of that. I care about them too much.
I have to put on my big girl panties and be strong, cool Shalia for Dusa’s clan. I’ll have to let my two sweeties go. After all, I’ll still have Weln to keep me company. I have my Kalquorian dad. I have crazy chatterbox Candy, who is becoming a strong shoulder to cry on after only a few days.
Tomorrow is the official clanning ceremony that makes Weln the Imdiko for Clan Dusa. I’ll be all smiles and well wishes. Weln is excited about it even if he is sad over the temporary separation they’ll suffer when Dusa and Esak leave for Atlanta.
This afternoon I pulled him to the side and told him he didn’t have to stay behind on my behalf. “Go be with your clan,” I insisted.
Weln got mad at me. “Don’t be ridiculous, Shalia. It’s as important to me as it is to Dusa and Esak that I stay by your side until you’re safely off to Kalquor. Don’t say another word about me leaving you. I won’t hear it.”
“Excuse me for caring about your happiness,” I retorted.
“I appreciate it, but I’m glad to be where I’m needed most.” He went back to being a sweetheart. “You’re wonderful to be concerned. I’m excited that Matara Eve will be able to attend!”
Mom sat in a hover chair yesterday and today and did very well. She’s able to sit up on her own. There will be an orderly with her at the ceremony tomorrow, ready to return her to Medical at the first sign of fatigue. I don’t know how much she’ll understand about what’s happening, but it means a lot to the whole clan that she’s going to be there. It drives home how good a bunch they are and how desperately I’ll miss them.
Yep, I would love some anti-depressants right now.
October 29
Yesterday’s clanning ceremony was nice. Let me see if I can remember all the details, because it was kind of a blur. Earther attacks be damned. The booze at the celebration party afterward flowed quite heavily, thank you.
First of all, it took place in a pretty park area with a small pond, here at the Academy. The Canadian geese have begun their southward migration, so there were a few paddling in the most picturesque fashion across the pond. Poor geese! It made me sad to know they’ll be dead in a couple of years, what with the radiation that’s going to get into the air and water and soil.
Enough of the depressing thoughts. The grass was green, and the pond twinkled under the sun, thanks to the ripples provided by the doomed birds. There was a Kalquorian priest wearing three layers of robes: cobalt blue on the bottom, then a silvery-gray robe. Topping them was a flowing white robe so blameless it appeared like the essence of purity. A braided brown sash tied it at the priest’s waist. He was barefoot, which I thought had to be uncomfortable given it was chilly. He acted unaware of the nip in the air though. There was never such a serene expression as what this Imdiko wore on his slightly lined face.
His hair was an incredibly glorious cascade of midnight black, reaching down to his ankles. The hair just in front of his ears was braided. There were a few strands of silver here and there that gave him an almost shimmery appearance. He didn’t look quite real to my eyes. After the ceremony, Dusa introduced me to him. His name was Eromi.
Weln was gorgeous. He always is, but yesterday he was more so. He wore knee-high brown boots with black fur trim. His black trousers were well fitted. He wore a tan tunic shirt with metallic embellishments around the neck and cuffs of his long sleeves. His hair was braided down his back, pulled from his beaming face. I realized I’d never seen Weln in anything but his green orderly outfit of loose trousers and a tunic. Or naked. Wow, did he clean up nice.
During the ceremony, he stood between Dusa and Esak. Esak wore his black armored formsuit uniform, with black dress boots polished to a high sheen. Even with his head shaved and scarred, he was a fine sight. He stood tall and proud, his expression that of a man who was pleased with life. His eyes never left Weln for the entirety of the ceremony.
Dusa wore his formsuit and dress boots too. He also wore a cropped jacket of midnight blue with black braiding at its tall collar. He looked at his two clanmates for the most part, but his eyes found mine a few times. He smiled, but there was some gravity in his expression. I suppose it was because he is the clan Dramok, and taking on a new member is considered a great responsibility to the leader. He seemed joyful but serious.
I’d say about forty Kalquorians attended, most of them about the ages of Dusa’s clan. Nang had been invited, but he sent his regrets. Dad showed up with his clan, so I finally met his Dramok and Nobek. Mature Kalquorians, they both had a dusting of gray in their shoulder-length hair. Dramok Bitev is in charge of acquisitions for the site, and Nobek Rak’s current duties include heading up the guards who keep an eye on the incarcerated Earthers.
“This is the Earther daughter of my clanmate,” Bitev said with a smile. His lean features were too coarse to be handsome, but he radiated kindness. I liked him on sight. “I am glad to meet you at last, Shalia.”
“You’ve been talking about me, huh?” I gave Dad a fake frown.
“Only in the best possible way,” Rak reassured me. His looks were aristocratic with a long nose and sharp chin. He made me think of a friendly shark, if such a thing is possible. Even the most civilized Nobeks look predatory and hungry. I’m getting to where I can identify the breed just by their faces.
“You’ve had a great many adventures,” Bitev noted. “Nayun claims you’ll make him entirely gray-headed before he’s two hundred years old.”
“Trust me, I’d rather not,” I said in my blandest tone possible. That cracked them up.
“Shalia has a gift when it comes to attracting trouble,” Dad sighed. “As much as I’ll miss you, my daughter, I can’t wait for you to go to Kalquor where you’ll have less opportunities to do so.”
I couldn’t help but laugh. “Don’t jinx me, okay? The instant we believe I’m safe, that’s when the worst kind of calamity will show up.”
Mom was there too. Her right eyelid was at half-mast, but she seemed fascinated by the goings-on. She wore a lopsided smile the whole time she was there, which was through the entire ceremony and the beginning of the Kalquorian equivalent of a wedding reception. I’d put her in a pretty yellow dress, and an Imdiko orderlies had fixed her hair in a complicated braided updo. I’d watched the big, muscled orderly named Gim arrange her hair with the deftest fingers you can imagine, feeling jealous that the best I could do was brush my growing mane and tuck it behind my ears. As soon as he was finished with hers, he offered to style mine.
“Really? You don’t mind?” I said, feeling little-girl excited at the prospect. I wanted to have my hair done, a much-missed indulgence.
“Not at all, Matara,” he answered. He smiled at my delighted squeal and set to work.
Mom and I had matching hairstyles. I wore a green dress cut to flatter my figure, a cute frock Dusa had managed to find for me a few weeks ago. I’d been saving it for the day I was leaving Earth, as such a momentous occasion deserved something special. I’m glad I wore it for a happier day instead.
Candy attended the ceremony too as my friend and secret helper. Along with myself, she, Nayun, and a couple of the medical staff I’d gotten to know wore discreet vid recorders on our collars. They were no bigger than my little toenail. I planned to edit together all the recordings of the ceremony and after-party, then give the finished vid to the boys as a gift.
Candy was as wide-eyed as a kid in a toy store. She managed to be quiet for a change, not wanting to miss a thing. I was envious she’d styled her own hair, which was caught up off her face to cascade down the back of her neck in blond ringlets. Gim’s styling outdid hers so I wasn’t too jealous. Her blue dress matched her eyes. Plenty of the Kalquorians in attendance were watching her. That woman is not going to have any problems attracting a clan.
I wish I could do cute and
bouncy. Still, Dusa’s clan never gave her a second look, so I didn’t feel too overshadowed.
The ceremony was in Kalquorian, but Dad’s clan translated it for me. It started with the priest talking about the history of the clans, which started with a long-ago emperor, his two closest friends, and the woman they loved. He went on about how they put aside jealousy over the few women left for the survival of the empire. There was some other stuff about the joys of being a part of a clan, how the men could look forward to years of reliable companionship, the strength of the bonds, so on and so forth. Then he went over the responsibilities of the clan members to each other. I didn’t miss how Dusa listened to this part closely, nodding from time to time. I though how lucky Esak and Weln were to have somebody like him, a man who didn’t take being their Dramok lightly.
Then Weln spoke. I guess he was making vows kind of how we would in Earther marriages, except these weren’t Church proscribed one-size-fits-all promises. His promises came from the heart, in which he swore he would care for his clanmates, hold their comfort and happiness above all others, and treasure Esak’s protection and Dusa’s leadership.
Then Esak did the same, though my strong and silent Nobek sweetheart didn’t talk for long. He vowed to keep Weln safe, to protect him from all dangers, those kinds of promises. Last came Dusa, who promised Weln his welfare would be foremost on his mind, his voice would be heard in clan matters, and a bunch more things a leader would say. It was sweet and heartfelt, and not at all what I’d ever imagine a bunch of muscle-bound Kalquorians would say to each other.
Then the priest asked the rest of us to acknowledge the new Imdiko of Clan Dusa, which the guests did with a yelled, “Vofrek!” I thought that must be ‘yes’ in Kalquorian, but Dad said it actually translates as ‘always’. Since clanning is a permanent arrangement, it was a logical response.
Then we had a party. Nang had released a decent amount of the alcohol supplies for the nuptials in honor of Clan Dusa. It seems this is the first clanning ceremony to take place on Earth, so it deserved a big to-do. We even had some beer and wine, courtesy of the Academy’s abandoned on-site bar.
There was drinking and food and, heaven help us all, lemanthev music. Candy was a hit, especially after she howled along with Weln for a song. I was hysterical as she yelled, in perfect rhythm with the pounders, “I don’t have a clue what I’m doing/I can’t speak Kalquorian/So plug your ears and scream with me/Pretend I’m good, everyone!”
Dad’s clan laughed so hard at her howling debut that tears rolled down their faces. Even Nobek Rak clutched his ribs, doubling over. The priest was forced to lean against a nearby tree to stay on his feet. It was hilarious. We cheered Candy’s efforts wildly. After that, she remained surrounded by admirers for the rest of the party. Apparently, a girl who howls is prime Matara material, at least among Dusa’s age group.
We ate. We drank toast after toast to Dusa’s clan. I’ve never been to such a party. After maybe an hour, I caught Dusa grinning at me.
“What?” I asked, blinking. My lips had gone a little numb.
“You’re swaying, Shalia. I’d say you’re enjoying the celebration.” His arm went around my waist, steadying me.
“I am. The question ish, are you enjoying it?” I grimaced as I realized I had begun to slur my words.
“Very much.” He leaned close. “We were contemplating leaving early to properly celebrate our new clanmate. Would you like to be a part of that?”
Esak and Weln stood close by. They were watching me and grinning too. I guess tipsy Shalia is entertaining.
I considered the three. “Let me think. Hmmm. Will you be taking advantage of my less-than-sober condition?” At least that’s what I tried to say. It came out, “Will you be takin avanchech of my lesh-an-sober connishun?”
“Absolutely,” Esak chuckled.
“Promise?”
“You can count on us, my pretty one,” Dusa said.
“Okay. I’d better not be disappointed since you’re making me leave a really amazing party.”
“We guarantee your happiness.”
We slipped off to Casa Clan Dusa. I had to concentrate to not stumble around their quarters.
“You guys need to put in for a bigger bed,” I noted. Three Kalquorians on a double? No freakin’ way.
“We’ll use the floor. There’s plenty of that,” Weln said. There was a sadness in his eyes, and after a few moments, I thought I understood. Dusa and Esak wouldn’t be staying long enough for them to bother acquiring a larger bed.
Weln and I weren’t given much of a chance to mope with the realization. Dusa turned to his Imdiko. “Tutlito tolp,” he said, which sounded gibberish to me. “As my new clanmate, I give you choice of position.”
Weln’s eyes grew large at that. All grief had been magically erased. “Oh,” he breathed. “Front, my Dramok. Do you think she can—?”
“If properly prepared. The wine has made her very relaxed, which will help.” Dusa’s face had gone a little dangerous as he looked at me, which made me excited enough to puddle my panties. “I enjoy how the dress I gave you looks, but I’d rather see you without it,” he told me.
I lost no time fumbling with the dress seams. “I can do that.”
“Please, let us help.”
“What nice guys,” I teased as they unsealed the closures, letting the dress fall to the floor. Bra and panties were peeled off to leave me naked.
Three big, strong men lifted me up and laid me on the too-small bed. “I thought you said we were going to do it on the floor?” I asked.
“We’ll get there,” Dusa said. He stroked my pussy. “Wet already. Good girl.”
“Always ready to please,” I sighed, falling under the spell of caressing hands and mouths. They weren’t wasting a second when it came to touching me all over. Dusa pumped into my sex with two fingers, his thumb brushing my clit. I groaned and arched beneath the assault.
It was tremendous to have Esak back to full strength. His mouth found mine and I moaned as he kissed me. He tasted of the whiskey-like kloq, spicy arousal, and pure male. I wrapped my arms around his neck, trading tongue strokes as if I’d devour him.
Weln’s mouth was busy too, sucking hungrily on one of my breasts while his hand treated the other to an erotic mauling. Waves of pleasure flowed from every point of contact, making me slick for Dusa’s pleasuring. My hips jerked as he added a third finger to my depths. I matched his rhythm until I was fucking his fingers rather than vice versa.
Dusa’s fingertips collided with my interior hot spot, making me cry out in Esak’s mouth. My feet thudded against the bed’s surface as I kicked in reaction. A gentle nip from Weln’s teeth brought a brief spark of pain that almost immediately turned to pleasure. I writhed beneath the three men, helpless and happy to be that way.
“We’re ready to move to the floor,” Dusa said a few minutes later. His fingers slipped out of me. The other two withdrew too, leaving me gasping and reaching for them.
“Primary only to start,” Dusa told Weln. He grabbed my ankles and tugged me to the end of the bed. I blinked. When had he taken his clothes off? For that matter, when had they all gotten naked? Sheesh, I’d been out of my mind with enjoyment. No way I was that drunk.
Weln picked me up. “Put your legs around my waist,” he invited.
I did so, feeling his twin prods branding my underparts. I wriggled, more than ready to have him inside. He chuckled at my enthusiasm and kneeled on the carpeting. With one arm holding me, he reached beneath me and positioned himself to enter.
I groaned as he filled me. His cock traveled deep within, hitting that magic spot to make me warble like a bird from the sweetness. It was so incredible that at first, I didn’t notice his rear cock hadn’t gone into my butt. It slipped between my ass cheeks, leaving a slick trail.
Weln moved carefully, not only in and out, but grinding in slow circles as well. The sensation was amazing, and I forgot to mention the lack of rear entry. He kissed me with sensual
slowness, tasting every bit of my mouth. I sucked on his tongue, twining mine around it. Damn, it felt wonderful to be loved in the manner that Imdiko loved me. He made me think of a connoisseur enjoying a gourmet dinner with fine wine. None of them has ever taken me in such a delicious way.
“Try it. Carefully.” Dusa’s voice was right in my ear.
I was about to ask him what it was I was supposed to try when Weln withdrew almost to the end, leaving only the tip of his cock inside me. I didn’t appreciate the loss one bit, and I whimpered a protest. Weln smiled sweetly at me, his hand working beneath me once more. Then pressure was renewed and I sighed, happy to welcome him back inside.
The thickness forging into me was more than before. It stretched me harshly as Weln pulled me down and angled his hips up. I gasped.
“Stay easy, Shalia,” he whispered. “Take a little at a time so you can adjust. Just relax.”
Relax? It was on the tip of my tongue to ask him when he last took two dicks at once, but I had forgotten how to talk. All I could do was stare into his face with wide eyes as he crept up inside me.
Shalia's Diary Omnibus Page 28