Sylas

SYLAS

T he air on a ground transport has never been sweeter than in our quarters, waking up with my eregri curled next to me in the nest I made for her.

The last two nova-days have passed in a haze of mating, feeding my mate, and mating some more. Occasionally the Cirmos has insisted my Alex speak with her, but otherwise we have not left the nest.

I tuck my arm behind my head, a warm feeling glowing in my abdomen. It radiates outwards into my limbs and wings. What is it?

"Hey." Alex's sleepy voice is soft in my ear. "Whatcha thinking about?"

"I have a funny feeling."

"After last night…and in the early hours? You're insatiable. No wonder you're feeling funny." She laughs gently, and my heart spins in my chest, making me feel all fluttery and light.

"I have that sort of feeling every time I look at you, little feather, but this one is different." I roll on my side to face her.

Alex looks delicious, her face still shrouded with sleep, little spots of red on her cheeks and a nose I want to kiss forever. Her silky hair tumbles around her in waves, and I need to consume her, make her part of me.

"What does it feel like?" she asks, propping herself up on her elbow, her bright eyes fixed on me.

"Like I'm warm from the inside out," I reply. "I mean, I feel warm when I'm in the games and there's a lot of blood and guts being thrown around because they're usually quite hot. And I feel warm when I've been sparring with my fellow Gryn, or if I drink a lot of ale, but it's not the same as this feeling. I like this feeling. I don't want it to stop. I prefer it when the blood and guts stop."

Alex kisses me on my cheek, her shoulders shaking.

"I think most people prefer not to be covered in blood and guts," she says, her voice slightly higher pitched than usual.

"You haven't met Klynn or Blayn. They both consider that the fun part," I reply in all seriousness.

Alex's shoulders shake again before she clears her throat.

"I think what you're feeling, , is contentment."

"Contentment?" I roll the word around my mouth.

It could be the right feeling.

"If content is never wanting to leave you and my nest, then I am content."

I give her a toothy smile and the feeling gets even better when she returns it, her lips quirking up and then leaning in for another kiss, and I oblige because she can have whatever she wants.

Alex hums with pleasure and pushes herself farther into my side. Her tiny fingers swirl over my abdomen. Underneath the blanket, my cocks stir.

"Did you get all of these as a gladiator?" she asks, running a tip over one of my larger scars.

"That one I got in a battle against a Bognarok. They rarely attend the games, let alone fight in the dome. This one put up a reasonable fight," I say, putting my fingers over hers.

"And this one?" Alex asks, touching the silvered pucker which runs all the way down my side.

"This one nearly killed me, and I heal fast," I reply. "Zigurex. They're virtually indestructible unless you have a tritanium weapon. I didn't."

"They put you in the dome with a creature you couldn't actually kill?"

"I didn't want to kill the zigurex. Neither did it want to kill me, but they have a lot of teeth and barbs. The procurator determined I should live and here I am."

Alex smooths her hand out over my abdomen.

"Do you remember how you got all of these?" she asks.

I can't see her face. It's obscured by her hair.

"I remember each and every one. It's how I learned to become a gladiator and teach the others too," I say, running my claws through her hair, enjoying the feel of the silky strands between my fingers. "Not all were from the dome. I gained some on the farm and in the uprising."

Alex lifts her head, her face wet and her eyes red.

" Eregri ?" I swipe my thumb over her cheek. "What is this?"

"I'm sorry, . I'm so sorry."

"What for?"

"For what happened to you."

"You didn't do this to me." I clear the other side of her face, but more water leaks out of her eyes, dripping onto my skin.

I bring my thumb to my lips. It's salty but not unpleasant.

"But you didn't do it to yourself," she says, voice choked.

"And you didn't become a slave to a disgusting Habosu because you wanted it, little feather." I cup her head in my hands, kissing away the wetness.

"It doesn't make it right," Alex says. "Even if these were not the lives we chose."

"No, it does not. But now we get to live the lives we do choose. Together," I confirm.

Alex scrubs the back of her hand over her face.

"What are these?" I capture another drop from her eye and taste it again.

"Tears. Humans cry tears when they are unhappy."

I rumble a hum, not quite understanding. But then three nova-days, most of which were spent plundering her sweet body, are hardly enough time for me to get to know an entirely new species.

Albeit one I will never allow out of my sight.

"Chohan in half a nova-hour," the Cirmos' voice crackles over the internal comm, causing my wings to flare.

"I need to get dressed," Alex says, kissing me on the cheek.

"I'd prefer it if you stayed like this." I run my fingers over her peaked nipples before lowering my head to suck gently on one.

"What? In the jungle? I'd get eaten to death!" Alex exclaims.

"Only by me," I growl and she laughs.

I love it when she laughs. It's a sound which turns my life into something special, something perfect. It lifts me in a way nothing ever has before. I could soar to the sky on her laughter. There never was a more joyous sound in all the galaxy. It makes me want to kiss her everywhere.

And later, I will.