by Jaid Black
Kyra had more or less persuaded Zor to her way of thinking, debating with him that since family gatherings would be but a couple of times a year, there was no harm in including Cam. She wanted, after all, for Kara not to be afraid of the warrior, a warrior that gossip held would no doubt rise to the rank of high lord within the year.
Speaking of high lords, two more attendees showed up at the Q’an Tal/Q’ana Tal soiree. Kyra smiled brightly as the two men now referred to as Lord Death and Lord Glok made their way to the table.
Already, and they had gained control of their sectors scarcely two weeks past, the two unique high lords were turning out to be quite popular leaders amongst those they protected. Death had displayed a military-like precision while taking control first of his own sector and then aiding with Glok’s, which had only further flamed Zor’s curiosity regarding the giant’s history.
Anyway, the high lords’ sectors were now firmly under control. In their sectors, Kyra was pleased to note, moonshine matpow had been declared legal. She planned to visit both of them very soon.
Death had also announced his intention to hunt for his Sacred Mate, much to Kyra and Geris’s delight. He’d never given the concept much thought, he had said, but now that he needed heirs, he decided it was past time.
The women had merely nodded, holding back smiles, trying to imagine the look of unadulterated panic that would cross his nee’ka’s face when Lord Death beat on his tattooed chest and came barreling toward her like a charging predator.
If his bride survived the fright, Kyra thought bemusedly, she would no doubt grow to love the eight-foot giant. For all of Death’s grumbling and fierce looks, he was actually quite sweet and masculinely handsome of face and thickly muscled form.
The private dinner party was held near early moon-rising at a rounded crystal table out on the royal balcony. The moon of Sypar hung overhead, casting a magnificent silver-blue light. Crystal gel-lamps had been lit to add further illumination to the get-together.
Death and Glok passed out expensive mookas to the warriors and slipped a couple of them to Kyra and Geris while their husbands weren’t looking. Rem, who had witnessed it, merely shook his head and smiled.
Rem was preparing to return to Sypar before heading out on a bridal hunt with Death a sennight hence. Like Death, claiming his true Sacred Mate was something he didn’t wish to put off, though his reasons were different from his new-found friend’s.
Rem had never thought to have this opportunity; he had never thought he would be given the chance to realize the joy of having a true bride or the contentment of holding his own panis in his arms. Now that said events were looming just over the horizon, Rem was eager to find his Sacred Mate and claim her as Q’ana Tal.
Kyra could almost feel sorry for whatever woman her brother-in-law was to claim. Rem would be too overcome with possessiveness to let the as of yet unknown nee’ka from his sights once he found her. Now that would be an interesting marriage to watch blossom, she thought wryly. But the bride would come around, she was certain. Rem, after all, would allow for nothing less.
Kil was planning to leave the Palace of the Dunes the following morning as well. He needed to return to Morak and meet with the high lords that controlled his various sectors to establish that all was well and to insure himself that no new signs of insurrectionist activity had been found. But his leave-taking was more than a desire for governing and everyone knew it.
Kil needed time, he needed to walk alone again. He needed to gather himself together and figure out what direction he wanted to take in life now that his obsession with Ty had come to an abrupt end. Kyra suspected that even when she did hatch a son, her stubborn brother-in-law would not deign to begin a bridal hunt. That one would have to happen across his Sacred Mate accidentally to find her.
But once the fates brought her to him…lord help the woman! Kyra understood that in many ways Kil was like a dog with a bone. Once he sunk his teeth into something, it was his and his alone. She couldn’t imagine a warrior the likes of Kil being able to sit back and stew while he watched younger warriors paw all over his Sacred Mate at a consummation feast. He would feel the need to brand her for all times, possessing her body and soul, killing any who dared to touch his bone, or uh, nee’ka.
Dak and Geris were staying in Sand City until Geris hatched next week. Since both husbands realized that Kyra would demand to be there for her best friend’s hatching, both Dak and Zor thought it pointless for them to leave for Ti Q’won until Geris was safely delivered of the pani sac.
Zor and Dak chuckled as they watched Kara and Jana bedevil Cam, shrieking in laughter as the Commander chased them around the balcony pretending to be a gulch beast. Dak’s youngest hatchling, his son Dar, was sitting on Dak’s lap, displaying a winsome, gummy grin as he watched his sister and cousin dart past Cam.
Zor waited for Kyra to kiss Klea’s mop of dark hair before he passed his sleeping hatchling off to Leha and bade her to put the wee one abed. Thinking to snuggle up with another of his panis, he grunted when he noticed that all were busy.
Kara was still playing the gulch beast game with Cam and Jana, and Zora and Zara were cuddled up in the laps of their favored uncles. Zora was showing “Unca Wem” her new arm bracelet, whilst Zara was placing kisses on “Unca Kee-wil’s” nose. Why Zara threw the extra “w” sound into Kil’s name, none could say, but ‘twas apparent that “Unca Kee-wil” was too bedeviled with the imp to care.
Zor shook his head in amusement and turned his attention to his nee’ka. Kyra and Geris were busy jabbering a mile a minute with Death and Glok. Death was demonstrating how ‘twas possible to make the skull on his forehead wink when he wrinkled his forehead just so. Glok was “discreetly” slipping Kyra some of his homemade moonshine, certain as he was that none were watching. Zor could only chuckle at that.
Kyra, Zor was happy to say, was much more content now that Ty was dead and she was free to head for the shopping stalls whenever the mood struck. Four times in the past two weeks his nee’ka had bade Gio and Mik to escort her, Geris, and their brood of hatchlings to the marketplace.
The women and panis had come back with a hoard of treasures each time, forcing the Q’an Tal brothers to watch as the girls tried on their new kazis and modeled them individually, one by one, for their papas and uncles. ‘Twas an amusingly torturous process, long and drawn out as it was. Yet somehow the girls managed to make the forced sittings fun, their excitement bubbling over to bedevil everyone.
Zor caught Kyra’s eye when she glanced up at him. She bit her lip and smiled seductively, recognizing that look within his glowing blue eyes that clearly announced he wished to couple. But of course, coupling was forbidden for the next fortnight, so he would have to settle for gorging this moon-rising. Not that gorging wasn’t bliss. ‘Twas just that Zor much preferred spurting his life-force within Kyra’s welcoming body as opposed to within the confines of his leathers.
Aye, he could take Kefas to bath did he desire it, but even that no longer held appeal. Zor thought it interesting that the longer he was mated, the less he was able to stomach the thought of anyone but Kyra touching him, even when that someone was composed of naught but enchanted sand.
And so it had been since Kara’s hatching that Zor would only take a Kefa to the bathing chamber when Kyra was with him. Even then it was solely for the delight of watching his beloved nee’ka peak, as it had become his desire to not participate. Dak had confessed to the same, making Zor feel better, for he’d never heard tell of this bizarre need to abstain from other warriors before.
Zor smiled at Kyra, then crooked his finger, telekinetically summoning her to his lap. She gave out a muffled shriek, but grinned good-naturedly, then settled herself into his embrace
Much better.
If he could not cuddle with one of his panis, then Zor would at least know the joy of snuggling with mani. “You’ve hatched yet another beautiful daughter to bedevil me with,” he murmured in a private tone. He placed a sweet k
iss at Kyra’s temple. “Thank-you, nee’ka.”
“You’re welcome.” Kyra took a long, thorough look around the balcony, relishing the sight of everyone she loved smiling and having such a good time, before her gaze strayed back to Zor and stayed there. “You’re very welcome.”
“I love you, my hearts.”
She smiled. “And I love you. Now and forever, there is only you.”
Next in the Trek Mi Q’an Series:
Ellora’s Cave
www.ellorascave.com