Rennek
“I… I’m…” I try to begin, but can’t seem to find the words. I want to apologize to Madreed, but something inside me tells me that isn’t right… something inside me tells me that Kate is right. But I don’t know how to say this to Madreed. My mother’s story has stripped away all the shame I carried, there is nothing I need to protect her from. Indeed, why did she not think to tell me this sooner?
“We will give the two of you some space,” Tennir says and the others leave the room.
“She is your mate then?” Madreed asks, “I saw her press a kiss to your hand before she left. But I suppose I would have been able to tell by her passion alone.”
“She is my mate, she too has awakened something within me,” I tell my mother, placing my hand over my heart as she had done earlier.
“That is good. I like her Rennek, she reminds me of myself. She speaks truth and she speaks from her core no matter what the reactions of others will be. Which is perhaps something I should have practiced not only on the council, but with you as well.”
I grunt in agreement, I still cannot bring myself to fully express my feelings with Madreed. Her omission has caused me much pain over the yets.
“People do not speak of The Invasion. It was a painful and frightening time for all who lived through it. It was doubly painful to me because that is when I lost my Urrek. It is still difficult for me to discuss. I spent many yets searching for any trace of him, hoping against hope that he was still alive and being held prisoner by the Invaders… perhaps waiting for me to rescue him.” She blinks and tears spill from her eyes.
“I held my pain above yours, my son, and it blinded me to what your experience must have been. There are not words enough to apologize for this. I sent you to Javan because ultimately, I thought you should be with other Vendari. I wanted to raise you on my own in our home, but the prejudice left over from The Invasion was great. I tried to keep you with me as long as I could, but eventually I could see and hear the comments and the fear from other families and I knew it was time. But please know that I did not send you away because I did not want or love you with all my core. You are my son, Rennek. No matter what.” She takes my hands in hers and for the first time since I was a mere fledgling, I hang my head and weep.
“I forgive you mother,” I tell her and she weeps alongside me.
***
The doctors tell me I must remain in this room so they may monitor my healing, so I send Tennir to bring my mate to me.
“Hi,” she says sheepishly as she enters my room. My heart still soars at the sight of her, but my mate appears nervous and standoffish in a way I have not seen from her in much time.
“I see you have used the showers,” I notice her shining red mane and her sweet scent.
“Yeah, I was getting pretty ripe without soap there for a few weeks. Nothing like a hot shower,” she says meekly, avoiding eye contact.
“I can recall,” I tell her with lust in my voice. Her eyes meet mine and she blushes, her soft smile finally reaches her eyes. This seems to jog her out of whatever keeps her from my side.
“I overstepped,” she says, her smile fades and her tone is solemn. I sit on the edge of the bed and reach for my mate. I am pleased when she does not hesitate to fall into my arms.
“Are you supposed to be up?” She asks, looking ready to sic the doctor on me.
“I am feeling much better now, my sweet Kate. I wish to speak with you about what happened earlier.”
“Yeah, I figured,” she tells me wringing her hands and averting her eyes again. “I want to apologize Rennek, but I can’t. Even if you aren’t hurt--I’m hurt for you. It wasn’t right what she did. She should have told you the truth a long time ago,” Kate says firmly.
“I agree,” I tell her.
“You agree?” she asks surprised.
“I do. I was taken by surprise--first by everything my mother shared, then by your way of speaking to her…” I cannot help but laugh at the memory. Likely, no one has ever spoken to my mother in such a way. “But you were right. Her actions have caused me much unnecessary pain. I am honored you fought so fiercely on my behalf. I would do no less for you.”
“I was right?” she asks, still shocked.
“Yes,” I say, running my claws through her mane, distracted by its beauty. “You are as fiery as your mane, my sweet Kate.” She puts her arms around my neck--holding me at bay so that she may look up at me. It feels so good to have her in my arms again, to be well enough to hold her.
I gaze into her eyes, “We came here in search of the Vendari’s beacon, but you have been a beacon for me since the moment I saw you… you have brought me ever closer to who I am and who I am supposed to be. None of this would have been possible without you, my precious mate.”
“You mean, I’m still your mate? Even after I basically cussed out your mom?”
“When will you learn? What we have is forever, my heart.” Kate finally gives in fully to my embrace, pushing herself up on delicate human toes to wrap her arms tightly around my neck and to press her soft lips to my mouth.
It has been too long since I have tasted Kate’s sweetness. I live for the unique and intoxicating flavor that only my mate possesses. An anger burns in the back of my mind. If it were not for my injury, Kate and I could have spent the last handful of rotations doing nothing beyond making love and reveling in each other’s embraces. I growl at the frustration that I have not yet known my mate. All the while, her kisses become increasingly playful--until I am utterly lost in the licks of her soft pink tongue and gentle bites from her rounded teeth. The sensations are bliss and soon nothing matters beyond this moment.
“I know we just spent weeks alone together in the forest, but I’ve missed you so much.” Tears threaten to spill from her eyes. “Promise me you’ll never let a giant spider bite you ever again,” she asks, moving her kisses to my neck and jaw.
I bury my nose in her neck and inhale. “I would agree to anything you could ask of me, but particularly this.”
I pull her up onto the bed with me and lay back so she may straddle my waist. She sits up to inspect me. “Are you sure you’re okay? I’m not hurting you, am I?”
“I feel better with every touch,” I tell her, running my hands up and down her bare arms. The smile she gives me tells me she shares the sentiment. Soon her hands are exploring my chest and abdomen, skimming over every muscle and pausing to lightly tease my nipples.
“There are so many things different about you compared to humans,” she says.
“Oh?” I smile. I see the game she plays, I will let her list all the ways I am better than human males… exploring all the differences in the process.
“Um hmm. The grey skin for one. Obviously.” She runs her nails up to my shoulders. “Your stronger and larger than any human man I’ve ever met,” she adds and her hands run over my shoulders pausing to appreciate my biceps. Vainly, I flex for her.
“So that I may protect my mate,” I tell her.
“Oh, is that why?” She asks in a teasing tone.
“Of course.”
“Then there are these… ridges?” her fingertips play at the ripples leading down to my cock causing the drumming within me to come to life, but her fingers dance away again.
“Your ears…” she leans down to tease them with her tongue, “have the cutest little points at the tips.”
“Do they?” I ask.
“They do,” she assures me. Scooting up closer to my face she reaches for my horns. Her breasts press close to my face and it is all I can do to keep my mouth from seeking out their softness. She drags her fingers across their roughness of my horns, from the base to the tips.
“This is another thing men don’t have on Earth,” she tells me.
“That must be very embarrassing for them,” I muse, causing a twinkling laugh to escape my mate.
“I’m sure it must be,” she agrees. She finds my hands and traces them with her small fingers. “No claws on humans either,” she says before focusing on my mouth. She drops another kiss to my lips and I feel her tongue gently graze my fangs, wordlessly highlighting another difference.
“There are the wings, but that’s something you don’t even have in common with the Vendari either.”
“This is true,” I say, shifting her hips a bit so she rests squarely on my cock.
“I’ve been wondering something, Rennek. There was a moment there when you were battling the spider where it almost… well, it almost looked like you flew. This may be a dumb question, I mean… with the wings and all, but… can you fly?”
“They are functional wings,” I admit to her, laughing.
“Why don’t you ever use them? It almost seems there’s been a lot of opportunities for you to fly, but I’ve never seen you do it.”
“Hmm, I suppose it is another thing about growing up and being different from everyone else. For much of my youth I wanted… No, I longed to be like Tennir and then on Javan I longed to be like my friends. All of the galaxy told me I was different, that I was an outcast. Because of this I tried very hard to fit, to show I was an equal member of a group--not below anyone, not above anyone. Besides, what is the point of flying if you must leave all others behind?”
“Whoa, Seriously? You didn’t fly because you wanted to fit in? That might be the most tragic thing I’ve ever heard. Flying is a super power. If I could fly I would literally do it all the time,” she says with passion creeping into her voice.
“Let me say it differently then, I did not fly because I had no one to fly with me, but now I have you Kate. Now and forever. I will take you, when I am all healed. We can fly to the shore, if you like,” I tell her, finding myself surprisingly excited to share this with my mate. I am pleased by the eagerness written on her face.
“I would love that,” she whispers to me, leaning in for another kiss. Sliding my hands up her thighs I grip onto her thick hips, grinding against her core. She lets out a little gasp of surprise before I deepen our kiss.
“I am tired of waiting,” I tell her.
“Here?” She jolts upright, eyes wide. “Shouldn’t we at least sneak out to our room? I thought you wanted it to be… I don’t know, ceremonious or something?” She eyes me as if attempting to find deception in my eyes.
“Anywhere with you is special my mate. You were correct, it does not matter where we are. I am ready to begin our forever now.” A smile spreads across her lips and her mouth finds mine, she is as hungry for this moment as I am.