Chapter Eighteen

 

 

The sunlight warms my feet under the covers. I stretch and open my eyes to find a breakfast tray has been left on the bedside table. The scent of Tallian bacon and the berries I’ve decided are my most favorite food on this planet rouse me to full wakefulness. My stomach grumbles. I sit up and reach for the tray, wondering why I’m so famished this morning.

A few weeks have passed since Tavarr claimed me. Though Prince Kenan and Zandek used to visit once every few days to ensure my mate wasn’t harming me, they haven’t stopped by in a long while, finally trusting that Tavarr’s intentions are true. Both the prince and Zandek were stunned to learn I experienced the mating bond with Tavarr, and Zandek suggested that perhaps it was because Tavarr is my second Kleaxian mate. Whatever the reason, I am grateful for the bond.

I glance at the sun peeking over the marketplace. Tavarr has likely already left for training exercises with Prince Kenan.

Though there aren’t any immediate threats to Tallia, the Kleaxians still strive to remain strong and battle ready, lest another race decides to invade or attack. Tavarr recently informed me that his people are not native to Tallia, but had to settle here many years ago, after a great war left their home planet of Kleaxia in ruins. My mate’s assured me the aliens that attacked Kleaxia are long gone, and I rest easy knowing that between their brute strength and advanced technology, the Kleaxian Warriors will keep this planet and its inhabitants safe.

Tavarr and I have fallen into a comfortable routine. He works until midday, and after he returns to join me for a late lunch, he takes me on walks through the forest or on a boat ride. The walks are my favorite. The beauty of the exotic forest and interesting animals that call it home fill me with wonder. Every time we venture into the trees, I spot a new plant or creature I’ve never seen before.

My mate enjoys telling me about the plant and animal life on Tallia, and he promises the forests near his family’s home are even more breathtaking. In a few days, we are scheduled to visit his family for the first time since our mating.

I try to ignore the nerves fluttering in my tummy. All my life I’ve wanted to belong to a family that accepted me for who I was, rather than one that constantly criticized me for not being enough. Not smart enough. Not pretty enough. Not successful enough.

At least I’ll be able to understand his family members. A language barrier would surely make getting to know them more difficult, and I’m grateful that not long after Tavarr claimed me, a doctor from the prime city visited and implanted a language device in my head. I can now comprehend and speak the Kleaxian tongue, though my mate normally converses in English with me.

But what if being able to communicate with his family isn’t enough? What if they don’t like me because I’m human, part of the species that abused their people for over fifty years on Tallia?

Though Tavarr insists his parents are horrified by their late son’s actions, if they don’t approve of me or like me, will they change their minds and instead blame me for Vonn’s death?

Pushing these thoughts away, I finish breakfast and get dressed. Helena is supposed to visit later this morning, and I hope Joanna accompanies her. We’ve been working on picture books for Laylah’s baby. She’s due to give birth in several months, but I want the books to be perfect.

The first is an English alphabet book, with a hand drawn animal from Earth representing each letter, and the second is a number book. The teacher in me is thinking about all the half-human, half-Kleaxian, babies that will be born in the coming years. Though Kleaxians don’t have formal schools—their parents teach them at home, usually in the family trade—I want to help the humans I know preserve some of their culture for their children.

To my delight, Joanna arrives with Helena, and we work at a table Tavarr recently set up for us in the downstairs sitting room. He gave me an odd look when I requested materials for the picture books, claiming Kleaxian children learn to read at an early age but don’t require illustrations in their literature, but he still provided me with all the essentials I needed from the market. Thick paper, paints and brushes, and bindings to hold the books together. He also purchased a clear, floral scented spray that preserves each page perfectly and protects it from smudges.

“You’re looking rather flushed this morning, Katrina,” Helena says. “Are you feeling all right?”

I glance up from the painting of the fox I’m working on for the letter F. “I’m feeling great,” I reply, genuinely confused.

“She’s practically glowing,” Joanna says with a twinkle in her eye. “Tell me, honey, are your courses late?”

My stomach, of course, chooses that moment to rumble. I give them both an annoyed look, but I can’t help but wonder if they’re onto something. I’ve been ravenous lately, eating more than usual and starving by the time the next meal arrives. “Back in Capital Acres, I was on birth control, one of those shots that works for six months at a time and makes your period light or even absent entirely.” I clear my throat, trying to count the months. Once I finishing counting, my tummy flips. I would have been due for another shot around this time.

Oh my God. Maybe it’s true. Maybe I’m pregnant. With Tavarr’s child. My heart skips a beat.

“If you want to know if you’re expecting, just ask Tavarr. Supposedly the aura that surrounds a mated female turns a darker shade of blue when a female is with child,” Joanna says. “Laylah mentioned something to me about it. Actually, I think any Kleaxian male would be able to tell by looking at you, but I suggest you ask for Tavarr’s opinion first.” She winks at me and then goes back to sketching the outline of a rabbit for the letter book.

“Yes,” Helena agrees, “I think you should ask your mate right away. When will he return?”

“He’ll be back this afternoon.”

“Well, we’ll be sure to leave soon just in case he comes home early.” Joanna grins up at me from her drawing. “Perhaps we should be making duplicates of these picture books.”

“Well,” I say, trying to change the subject, “I think it would be a wonderful idea to produce as many books like these as we can. Tavarr says once we get the first copy of one perfected, there is a booth in the market that will create perfect replicas of each book. He says I can order as many as I’d like. Can you imagine? All the part-human kids on Dennian Mountain can have books like these to help them learn their letters and numbers, as well as learn about their mother’s homeworld. I’ve thought about trying my hand at writing some short children’s stories too. But I want to finish these first, of course.”

Helena claps her hands together. “What a great idea!” She smiles. “You are very talented. You must have been an amazing teacher back in Texas.”

“Thanks,” I say, trying to be modest, though inside I’m beaming with joy. It’s nice to have a purpose, a real way to help others. “I was actually thinking that maybe I could turn the extra sitting room into a little public library, for the human women and their children.”

“That’s a wonderful idea!” Joanna proclaims.

“I insist on helping, that is, if your mate gives permission for such a project.” Helena grins. “Some of the booths in the market are selling books that have been scavenged from the ruins of Capital Acres. We can try to acquire as many paperback books as possible, including any e-readers that have been found too. I’m sure we could develop quite the collection of books in all genres and for all ages.”

“Tavarr brought me a few romance novels from the market a few days ago,” I say. “I’ll ask him to keep a lookout for other books as well, and a few e-readers too. If we download all the e-reader libraries onto one main database, perhaps we can rig something for the women to easily check a book out.”

“Zandek is a whiz with technology. I’m sure he will help,” says Helena.

A few minutes pass, and we sit and work quietly on our pages, but inside I’m bursting with excitement. I want to make a difference in the lives of the human women in this village, and in the lives of their children. Perhaps in addition to the library, we could hold a weekly story time for the youngest half-human children. Well, once they’re born, that is. I know there are half-human children that had been rescued from the labs outside Capital Acres, but Tavarr once mentioned that they were all sent to live in Kleax-Lul.

By the time my guests depart, I’m a bundle of nerves. Though I enjoyed having Helena and Joanna over to work on the books, two thoughts have me increasingly preoccupied.

One—could I be pregnant? And two—will Tavarr say yes to my idea for creating a library?

Of course, I won’t discover the answer to either of those questions until my mate arrives home.

I clean up the sitting room and venture around the house, making sure everything is perfect. The aroma of the seafood dish Zell is preparing for lunch wafts through the rooms as I return to the entryway in anticipation of Tavarr’s arrival.

The door glides open and my huge red mate hurries toward me, lifts me in his arms, and kisses me hard. He thrusts his tongue deep in my mouth, and even after he sets me back on my feet, he moves to cup my face and keeps kissing me. When he finally releases me, I’m panting for air and squeezing my thighs together, the familiar stirrings of desire causing my pussy to throb with longing.

“You look most beautiful today, Katrina.”

I open my mouth to speak, but then I’m not sure what to say first. Before all my scheming to create a library in one of the spare rooms in our house, Joanna and Laylah had strongly hinted that I might be pregnant, insisting I was glowing.

Tavarr’s handsome face becomes clouded with concern. “Is something wrong, my sweet human?”

“I…”

“No lies, remember. If something is wrong, you must tell me.”

Feeling suddenly flushed, I nod and take a deep breath. “Nothing is wrong, but I was wondering if, um, if my aura looks different to you?”

Understanding dawns in his eyes. “No, my love. The color of your aura is still the same light blue. You aren’t with child, but it is my hope that we will start a family soon.”

My heart sinks. I hadn’t realized how much I wanted to be pregnant until I learned I wasn’t. I force a smile and contemplate my increasing hunger. Then I recall a doctor in the women’s clinic telling me that when the birth control shot starts to lose its effectiveness, that I might experience mood swings, an increase in appetite, hot flashes, or a number of other side effects I can’t remember now. Well, I think, at least the shots—which had been a requirement for sexually active women residing in Capital Acres—are finally wearing off.

A dark thought strikes me. Vonn. At least the shots lasted long enough to prevent me from carrying his child. I peer at my mate and thank the stars for being given a chance at love.

Tavarr and I will start a family one day, and in my heart, I know it will be everything I’ve always wanted. He’s already a loving mate, and I now he’ll be an excellent father.

“Come, let’s enjoy the midday meal on the patio, and you can tell me about your morning.”