My heart aches at this story. It’s an awful one, and it explains a little as to why he’s so worried he’s going to lose me. “Poor Raahosh.”
Aehako nods thoughtfully. “He went looking for Vaashan some years later when he was old enough to hunt on his own. He never found him, but he said he did find some old leathers eaten by animals, and the old cave destroyed. Whatever was left of Vaashan is long gone.”
Oh, Raahosh. I think of his mother and the baby, dead. His father’s misery. How had that affected such a small child? No wonder he is so desperate to keep me, even if it means pissing off his tribe. It’s the only way he can think to react after his parents’ example.
It’s such a sad story. I lost my mother when I was very young, but I had my father and I always, always felt loved until the day he died. To have such family strife and then lose both like that made my heart break for my alien. This was why he was so possessive, so resolute in his desire to keep me hidden away. Suddenly I want to comfort him and let him know that he’s got me. That I’m his and he’s mine. Cootie or not, I’m having feelings for the big guy and he’s made life here on this strange planet interesting.
The conversation with Aehako dies and the alien returns to stirring the fire. I sit by it with my legs crossed, lost in thought, until Raahosh returns. He’s got a kill in hand and judging from the arrow sticking out of the quill-beast, he used the bow I made for him. He must have watched me use it and figured it out from there. Wow. The wide smile I give him in greeting is genuine, and I get up to greet him with kisses.
He’s a little dazzled by my enthusiastic greeting, but puts his arm around me and nuzzles me close. And when he cuts open the kill, he makes sure I get the tastiest bits and feeds them to me, and won’t give the others – or himself – a bite until I’m good and full.
And really, it’s not the worst thing to be the center of someone’s universe. I’m kinda digging it.
And I plan on showing him my appreciation.
RAAHOSH
Liz’s good mood makes me wary. It’s a pleasure to see, of course, but I can’t help but wonder if my devious mate is up to something. She usually greets me with caustic words and grumpiness, but now that Aehako and Haeden are here? She is all smiles and reaches for me when I walk toward her.
I am not pleased to see the two men. They are good men, but the truth is that I would keep Liz to myself for at least a few more turns of the moons, so when we returned to my people, it would be clear that we are a family and we must be together.
Now, I am not sure what they will think. I have broken the laws of our tribe, and Liz’s belly is still flat with no sign of our child. My only consolation is that she smiles at me and her hands reach for me when I am near. It is clear that we are mates, and I can see the envy in both Aehako and Haeden’s eyes.
They did not resonate. For them, life goes on cold and mateless, but with the added agony of seeing so many others find their joy. For the first time, I am the envied one. It is an unusual feeling.
The evening is a quiet one. Aehako talks easily, but he’s always been a cheerful one. His conversations about hunting, and life back at the caves hold Liz’s interest, but her hand is locked in mine. Haeden is silent, but he watches every time Liz touches me or brushes her arm against mine.
As the hour grows late, Liz yawns and puts her cheek on my arm. “Can we go to bed now, baby?”
She is calling me the love word of her people. My heart swells and my khui begins a soft resonance in my chest. “Of course.” I stand up and pull her to her feet.
Haeden stands as well. “She should stay here, near the fire with us.”
Before I can snarl a protest, Liz snorts. “Uh, we’re resonating, remember?” She taps her chest and I can hear her khui singing a song to mine. “I thought the goal was that you wanted him to impregnate me so you can have more blue babies running around, right?”
Haeden’s jaw clenches. “We are protecting you.”
“From his jizz?” A little smile curves Liz’s pink mouth. “Bit late for that. Now, I’m gonna go sleep with my mate.” She takes my hand and leads me a short distance away from the fire, near some bushes. With a yawn, she shrugs her cloak off and then gestures at the pack on my back. “Blankets, please.”
Wordless, I obey. I make a bed full of furs for her, since I know my human can only take so much cold. Even now, she shivers amidst her yawns. When the bed is as perfect as I can get it, I take the cloak from her hands and bundle it around her shoulders. “You must stay warm.”
“Oh, I’m going to stay warm,” she says with a soft smile. “We’re going to snuggle.”