Ric took her hand, leading her away from the edge of the building, towards a large entrance other Demos quads vanished into.
“Where are we going, now?”
“We wish to get the adoption process underway promptly,” Ric stated. “The sooner it is done, the sooner we can formally court you and claim you.”
Chapter Eleven
Kat forced a smile and tried not to gape at her new ‘adopted family’, P’Tala. She would be known as Katrina P’Tala. It didn’t sound too weird.
“Katrina, this is Tev, Yuv, Riv, Oul, and their sheraz Sarrbeem, your new fathers and mother.”
“Um, lovely to meet you and thank you for doing this for us,” Kat said politely.
This was Kat’s first proper look at a Demos woman. She was almost as tall as the men, heavy set with a flat chest. It wasn’t a wonder her men were so taken with her breasts, now that she thought about it. Her black hair was tinged with shades of grey, the same as the older men who flanked her. Apart from the body shape, her features were more delicate and feminine. Her eyes were a lighter gold, almost light yellow in color, as she gazed coolly down on Kat.
“It is our pleasure, little human.” Tev spoke first.
Kat remembered it was usually always the oldest who was the spokesperson.
“She speaks very softly,” Sarrbeem stated boldly with a frown, critically glancing over her, making Kat feel self-conscious, almost like a bug on display. “And very pale. I did not expect her to be so pale; she looks frail. Are you sure she is suitable to be a sheraz?” She addressed Gol and Hul.
“Very suitable. We would have not asked this of you if she was not,” Gol defended, looking more than annoyed.
“Oh, very well, as long as she does not get in my way,” the woman said, rather rudely. She then swiveled on her heel and walked away. The door opened and slid shut behind her.
None of her ‘husbands’ were bothered by her behavior.
This time Kat did gape. “Are you sure this is alright? I don’t want to be the cause of any trouble.”
Her soon to be ‘adopted’ fathers all stared at her in astonishment, but quickly recovered.
“We are honored to have a daughter,” Yul said with a smile. “It is rare to find a female so … polite.”
“Rare?” Kat blinked in confusion. “I’m sorry, but I am finding your world and customs confusing. On my planet, it is common courtesy to be nice to one another, no matter the gender.”
“You have been lacking in educating your human, Gol,” Tev said, before again addressing her. “Demos females may speak, act and do as they please, and it is our duty to see their every demand is met.”
“Even if they offend everyone else around them?”
“We learn never to be offended by what our females say or do,” Oul spoke up.
She turned around and eyed her men. “You four. Why didn’t you tell me this when I asked about your culture?”
The four brothers looked sheepish, glancing at each other.
“We treasure you for your human traits, Kat. We thought if you knew…” Gol began.
“—You would want to be like them,” Ric finished.
Kat shook her head. “I am what I am, and I can't be anything else. I'm hurt you didn’t trust me enough to tell me the truth.” She hooked her hands on her hip. “You really thought I would turn into a first class bitch?”
“What is a bitch?” The question came from the brothers behind her.
“Someone who acts nasty and doesn't care for the feelings of others.”
Div dropped to his knees, snatching her around the middle, pulling her tightly into his arms. He pressed his face into her chest.
“Forgive us, beauty, we have no desire to lose you.”
She glanced up to see identical expressions of regret and worry. It touched her heart they cared so much and, at the same time, were so clueless. It wasn’t a wonder why they wanted her so much, if they were faced with having a Demos bitch as their sheraz.
Surely, not all the Demos women could be that bad. Could they?
“There is nothing to forgive, Div, don’t worry. I don’t want to let you go either. I care very much for all of you. I think you should start to have a little faith in me.”
“It is not a mistake we will make again,” Ric crowded in from her side, gently turning her head with his fingers, bending to brush his lips across hers. He was soft and gentle, unlike the heated kisses she was used to with her men. She felt Gol at her other side, stroking her, making her skin heat. Surrounded by her men, she felt secure, protected, but most importantly, she felt she was where she belonged.
Someone cleared his throat and her men backed up reluctantly, leaving her bereft of their warmth and comfort. She turned again to face the others—her ‘fathers’.