Chapter 15

Drovo

I woke up to the sound of birds chirping outside the ship. It was still dark inside our room, with only the light from the corridor illuminating us. There were no windows in this cold contraption. Kayla said it was made of metal and that metal is made from rocks, but I can hear rocks hum. I cannot hear this metal. It is silent.

I pushed those thoughts aside as I gazed down on my luna moth. It had felt right to hold her in my arms as we slept, and it had felt even better to make her come before we were interrupted. I wanted to make her come again. I wanted to see her face turn to bliss as her orgasm overtook her.

It had been bliss for me when she had her hand on my cock, stroking slowly so the moment could last. It felt like she was reading my mind, like we were as in tune with each other as I was with the trees.

I pushed a braid off her face and she groggily opened her eyes.

“Good morning, my beautiful luna moth.”

She closed her eyes but wore a wide smile on her face. “Good morning.”

“Can I sleep a little bit longer?” She wined as she pulled the fur back up to her chin.

I pulled the blanket back down. “I’m afraid not.”

“Why not?” She frowned up at me.

“Because I’m a selfish male, and I fear our time alone together is limited.”

Kayla glanced at the door and sighed. “Yeah, you’re probably right.”

“Let’s eat breakfast in bed and enjoy each other’s company before the day begins.”

I didn’t want our time in this room to end. It felt like we were in a bubble of eternal joy. Everything was perfect. She had me and I had her. Why leave? But I knew it wouldn’t be long before Scaron would darken our door with a frown and a command to get going.

I had no desire to visit my old dekes. They had cast me out with anger in their eyes. The pain I felt at seeing my brother all grown up would grow tenfold when I saw my other brother today, and how much he’d grown as well.

The humans don’t think we caused the Stiffness and a part of me wanted to believe that was true. It would be a great weight lifted off my shoulders to know I was not the cause of my mother and sister’s deaths. But on the other hand, if we had not caused the stiffness, that would mean we had been cast out for nothing. I would have missed out on seeing my brothers grow from sietlings to hunters for no reason at all. I wasn’t sure which truth was harder to bear.

Kayla crawled on to my lap and dug out two fruit bars from my pouch and handed me one.

“Are you nervous about today?” She asked before taking a bite.

I nodded my head. “I’m afraid going back to the old dekes will be like reopening an old wound.”

Kayla’s hand squeezed mine in reassurance. “I’ll be there with you this time. I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

Her words brought a smile to my face. Kayla wasn’t the smallest of the humans but she was much smaller than any sirret. The thought of her defending me against my old dekes warmed my heart.

I’d taken about two bites of my fruit bar when Brexl and Taylor stood at our door.

“Scaron is waiting for us,” he said with a scowl on his face.

“That guy’s a real piece of work,” Taylor huffed, with her arms crossed over her chest.

“Did he wake you guys up?” Kayla asked.

“Yeah, he stood in our doorway like a creep, just watching us. It wasn’t until Brexl got out of bed to confront him that I even knew he was there.”

“I do not like how he looks at the females,” Brexl admitted.

“He eyes them as if they were a prize to be won and not females who are already mated.”

I had noticed that too, and I prayed to the goddess he would have the sense to keep away from Kayla and Taylor for our journey to the valley.

“We’ll just have to put on a more convincing show today.” Kayla hopped off the bed and held her hand out for me with a smile.

I stood and took her hand in mine before pulling her into my chest. “I will not be putting on a show.” I pressed my lips to hers in a gentle, yet thorough kiss. “There’s nothing fake about my affection for you.”

“Well, well, I see you two have worked things out.” Taylor smirked as she assessed us. “You two look good together. I-”

“I will not be forced to wait any longer,” Scaron interrupted Taylor, causing Brexl to growl.

The impatient sirret took a step back, momentarily forgetting he was in charge here. Brexl had that effect on people. He could strike fear into the heart of anyone who dared to cross him, which is why no one in our dekes ever did. Not that we needed to. Brexl was a gentle soul who just so happened to be able to shift into a monster.

Scaron straightened his spine and lifted his chin. “It’s time to go, and if either of you shift into your abominations or threaten me, or try anything at all, I will tell the Savrix that you’ve been mistreating these females. I will lie. I will do everything in my power to make sure you never see your mates again.

Scaron looked at Kayla with hunger in his eyes, like a beast about to devour a meal. He looked at my luna moth, my Kayla as a prize, not a person and I had to take a deep breath to prevent my claws from extending from my fingertips.

I slowly stood in front of her and nodded. “We are ready to go.”

His attention jerked back to me and the hunger in his eyes vanished. His face turned to a hard mask of anger before he stormed out of the ship.

“That guy gives me the creeps,” Taylor shivered.

In an uncharacteristically bold move for Brexl, he took Taylor’s hand in hers and said, “stay close to me and no harm will come to you.”

The female relaxed and nodded her head.

“I will offer his hand as a sacrifice to the goddess myself if he even tries to touch you.”

This won a small smile from Taylor. “I don’t doubt it.”

Taylor was a strange female. Not only was she not afraid of Brexl like the others, but she seemed amused by his threats of violence on her behalf, as if he were giving her a compliment and not threatening bodily harm against another.

I grabbed our bag and took Kayla’s hand in mine. Brexl and Taylor led the way and Kayla and I followed them outside. We were met with mixed reactions. Favalor smiled at our joined hands, but quickly hid his joy with a frown so Scaron would not see. Zander waited for his leader to look away before giving us a polite nod of acknowledgement. The others looked at us with disgust, including Scaron.

I quickly harnessed Jelly as Kayla and Taylor sat down in the chariot. I led the bafilo on the trail behind the others and Brexl walked next to the chariot, keeping a watchful eye on the forest.