41. Epilogue 2

AIZOR

Chapter 41

Today, all the clans would gather on the gods' island to celebrate new life and savor spending time together. Everyone in my clan would attend. A gathering hadn't been held in so long, even Jessia didn't remember when.

Before we left, I played with Franklin—now renamed Frankie—on our bed. She'd delivered four kits, and they were adorable. They were just beginning to crawl, and I swore they knew when I held them, because they purred just like Frankie did when she lay beside us on our furs at night.

"Are you almost ready to leave?" Vanessa asked, entering our home. She stroked my shoulder.

"Yes." I snuggled one of the kits against my neck.

"That one's Helena's."

Once they'd matured and Frankie had weaned them, they would go to their new homes within our village—other than one promised to Helena.

"How can you tell them apart?" I asked.

Vanessa shrugged. "They have distinctive differences."

I couldn't see it, but this was just one more wonderful thing about my mate. She treated everyone as if they were unique and special—including me.

Rising, I kissed her, and we left, traveling on Voolon to the shore of the lake with the rest of our clan.

My people would all travel in caipareels to the island, each and every one of them. No one wanted to miss this glorious event.

Leaving the caipareel on the opposite side, I carried Vanessa up onto the shore, returning to the water to allow the tiny creatures to clean the caipareel sluice off my legs and feet.

She shook her head when I returned to her. "This still freaks me out, but it's kind of amazing."

I didn't know what freaking out was, but as long as she gave me a pretty smile, I didn't care if the sky was purple, and the trees had turned green. Her love was all that mattered.

As we walked toward the central god structure, we nearly ran into Nevarn on the path, arriving with his clansmales, all fifteen of them. There wasn't a single female among them, but it wasn't as if my clan had many either.

"What are you doing here?" I asked him, still fuming that he'd taken my mate, let alone spied on us. I appreciated that he'd begged his god to heal her, but he should've brought her to my village, not his own. And he never should've questioned the gods giving Vanessa to me.

"My former traedor told me that my clan could attend the gathering." His gaze traveled to Vanessa, and he subtly turned, lifting his thigh as if he needed to protect his groin. "It's been three years. I'm no longer banished."

I grunted. "Then you're rejoining your former clan?"

"We have our own clan, our own lands." He stiffened his spine. "I'm traedor, and we will remain where we are. And . . ." He grumbled; his gaze fixed on my mate. "I apologize for spying on your clan. We promise to remain within our own lands from now on unless you invite us to visit."

I wanted to snarl at him, to shout that he had no right to spy at all, but I also liked the idea of a secure border on his side.

And from the way Krute was nodding slowly and looking at me with an apology in his eyes, I knew letting this go would work out best for both of our clans.

"You're welcome at my fire," I said.

"Thank you," Nevarn said quite solemnly. "I'll bring . . . Helena. She would like to speak with your kitchen god. She mentioned something about cookies."

"Your god is also welcome."

Vanessa just grinned and leaned into my side.

I could respect a male who chose to lead rather than follow. If his former traedor, Firion, had forgiven Nevarn, how could I do anything less? As if thinking of them made them appear, members of the Dastalon, or sky warrior clan, appeared overhead, soaring their mighty crystal beasts in a circle like birds of prey before guiding them down to land a short distance from us.

"Whoa," Vanessa said, cringing into my side.

I placed an arm around her back, holding her close "Their beasts won't cause you harm, my mate. Nor will this clan. They're friends. Come, I'll introduce you."

She shot me a wide-eyed look I'd become used to. She wasn't familiar with our world yet, but she was slowly learning about not only the Indigan Clan but the other Zuldruxians I was friendly with.

We left Nevarn and strolled over to where the Dastalon Clan had landed their beasts. They unharnessed them and left them to graze, striding confidently toward us.

Firion was as tall and broad as me, and about my age. He wore dark blades in sheaths at his sides, and when the wind swept across the island, it whipped his hair around his pretty face. Would my mate find him attractive? I shouldn't feel jealous, but . . . every female I'd known swooned when they saw Firion, even Jessia.

"This is Firion, the traedor of the Dastalon Clan," I said gruffly, waving to the other male when we stopped on the path, facing each other. "Firion, this is my mate, Vanessa, who you will not smile at."

Firion smiled. "Why not?"

Vanessa's breath caught, and she held out her hand to the other male.

He stared at it before stooping down and sniffing it. "Lovely."

"My lovely," I growled.

"Of course." He flashed his tusks.

Vanessa limped into my side, stroking her hand across my abdomen exposed by my formal, adorned vest. I'd asked the gods to dress me to impress the other traedors, and they'd delivered glorious clothing unlike any I'd worn before. Vanessa also looked amazing, wearing a tunic with intricate embroidery that hung to her knees and was belted with a sash as blue as our crystal homes.

"It's nice to meet you, Firion." Vanessa grinned up at me. "My mate is amazing, don't you think?"

And maybe I didn't feel jealous after all. I took her hand, squeezing it, and she squeezed right back.

"Fook eff," I told Firion, turning and guiding my mate toward the central building.

Firion snorted and walked behind us with his males, entering the building but walking to the right rather than following us farther.

"He's cute," Vanessa said. "Not as cute as you, but cute." Her mood sobered when she saw the pods holding her fellow Earthlings—the term she'd shared with me. "They're all still lying there. I want them freed. They should be able to pick their own mate, not be given to a male they've never met," Vanessa said. "Helena and I were just saying we thought this was wrong." She stared past me, her eyes lighting up.

I turned to find "Helena" striding across the room, her limbs thudding against the floor with each step. The first time I'd seen her, I'd dropped to my knees. She'd laughed, then she told me to stand and look her in the eye, stating she wasn't like the others.

She was a god come to life, and I'd praised her, worshipping her in the manner I'd found worked best with those of her kind.

She went on to explain that she was the same yet different from the others, that she didn't need me groveling before her, that she preferred I treated her as a friend.

I couldn't imagine how that was possible—though I tried.

Vanessa rushed over to Helena, tipping her head back to gaze at her friend. "Fix this."

"How should I fix . . . this?" Helena asked.

"Tell the other gods to free the women."

Helena frowned and appeared to stare inward. Finally, she shook her head. "They have refused. I can't do anything about this, though I agree. It doesn't seem fair."

Vanessa growled and stamped her foot, and I was glad her snarls were not directed at me. "I'm going to fix this, I swear."

Helena placed a restraining arm on my mate's shoulder. "Trust them in this. They mean no harm to your friends."

After sucking in breaths and shoving them out, Vanessa huffed. "For now."

"Yes, for now. I'm asking you to remain patient and trust that they know what's best."

Her lips thinned before she forced a smile. "I'll accept it for now."

"Excellent." Helena peered around the room. "I believe it's time to party, is it not?"

A term she must've learned from my mate.

"Yes, it is," Vanessa said, though sadly. "Let's join the others." She held out her hand, and we returned to where everyone had started to gather.

As we mingled, my mate meeting one Zuldruxian after another, her smile grew stronger.

That was when I caught movement near the opening to the vast chamber.

The enormous warrior I'd battled in the woods stood in the opening with my crystal sword sheathed at his side. He gazed wistfully at us before his chest lifted and released. Turning, he strode back outside.

Why didn't he stride inside like every other traedor and join us? Because I knew he had to be a leader. There was no way that male would ever follow another.

"What are you looking at?" Vanessa asked, squeezing my hand. Her gaze followed mine, but the male no longer haunted the doorway.

"It's nothing," I said.

Or was he?

With a shrug, I lifted my mate and kissed her. Things would sort out with the other male one day; I knew this.

I kissed my mate again.

Vanessa wrapped her arms around my shoulders and gave me the prettiest smile. "What was that for?"

"It was to show you I love you."

She kissed my nose before pressing her forehead into mine. "And that, my wonderful mate, was to show you thatIloveyou."

I shrugged off all thoughts of the other male and carried Vanessa over to join the crowd. It was time to celebrate. I'd found my true mate.

And soon, other males would find their true mates as well. My people would flourish.

And the gods would once again thrive.