35. EPILOGUE

EPILOGUE

When we finally walked into Svengrod, I realized that I had underestimated the Vandruk. Svengrod wasn't just a tiny town rivaling those of the medieval ages on Earth. Svengrod was everything a large city represented, sans high rises, of course. And it was well organized. First, we walked through the farming district, where acres and acres of farmland lay sprawled out, dotted with an occasional farmhouse. Then, more and more houses started cropping up. There were stores of any imaginable good as well as trades and craftsmen; they came to the city where people lived, and finally, the palace. Just as large as one would think. Intimidating and beautiful at once .

It housed the multitude of Dzur-Khan's army, as well as the servants necessary to keep them fed, clothed, and happy. Smaller trades catering to an army's needs were also present.

Inside were many empty rooms, ready to welcome any guests who made it our way. There were so many rooms that it took me days to see them all.

That was nothing though to the reception we received, as far out as the fields. The road was lined with Vandruk men and a few Vandruk women, who rivaled the men in their beauty.

From there, the crowd only swelled and soon became so large that I was getting a bit nervous. Now and then, Dzur-Khan stopped to introduce me or greet someone he thought was important. Whenever he proclaimed me his khadahrshi, people cheered. It was hard not to let it get to my head or feel like a superstar.

On top of the palace steps stood a Vandruk girl, not older than ten or twelve. Her dress was colorful and pretty. Her long black hair had been elaborately braided and wound around her head. Jewels adorned her neck, arms, feet, and hands. With her straight back and set shoulders, she looked like a little queen.

"Welcome home, Khadahr Dzur-Khan," even her voice sounded older. "As your mate and khadahrshi I am glad to see you return successfully."

Dzur-Khan coughed and stopped in his tracks. Amused, I looked at the girl, who had to be Majiil. A very imposing lady standing next to her smacked her over the head. "Majiil, what did we talk about? "

"What?" The girl turned on the lady, who I suspected was Brinhor, whom Dzur-Khan had put in charge of the kid. "He brought me from the Temple; the priest said himself he dreamed that we were to be mated."

"Majiil—" I interrupted whatever Dzur-Khan had been about to say.

"It is an honor to meet you, little khadahrshi," I said, holding out my hand to the child. "I'm afraid, though, that Dzur-Khan has already mated me."

Majiil looked me over from head to toe. "You are not a Vandruk."

"Nek, I'm a human." I filled her in. "Dzur-Khan mated me to forge an alliance between the humans and the Vandruk. As a little khadahrshi, you understand how important such an alliance is, right?"

Solemn eyes stared at me. My hand was still hovering between us. "Now I understand how hard it might be to let go of your claim on my mate, but I'm beseeching you to do so in the best interest, not only of Svengrod, but all of Vandruk."

Her eyes pivoted to Dzur-Khan, who nodded gravely.

My proposition seemed to satisfy her pride, though. A pride that hadn't allowed her to just give up the mate she had been promised to. I understood pride and fell in love with Majiil that very moment she took, not my hand, but grabbed me by the elbow to correct me in how Vandruk's shook hands.

"I'm very sad that our union didn't work out, Khadahr Dzur-Khan," Majiil informed Dzur-Khan .

"Me too, little khadahrshi." Dzur-Kahn picked up on my nickname for her. "But let me assure you that I will keep you happy here and find a khadahr for you when the time is right."

"So be it," Majiil intoned.

"In the meantime, as a stranger, I would be honored if you would help me learn my new responsibilities," I asked Majiil.

"In return for what?" she demanded haughtily.

"Hmm, how about, in return, I show you how to bring males like Dhor-Van to their knees?"

"Amber," Dzur-Khan admonished.

Dhor-Van hadn't listened to a word I said. He was too occupied bringing Lexi's attention back to himself from where it had strayed to Bran-Vul. The three of them had come to some sort of threesome agreement that made me smile, but the two men were still vying for her undivided attention.

"I would like to learn that very much," Majiil declared, and so our friendship began.

Brinhor was introduced to me, and I liked her from the first moment. She was an older, no-nonsense lady with a heart of gold.

Caring for Majiil over the next few months reminded me of another promise I made to Dzur-Khan when I agreed to become his khadahrshi, something I had been thinking about a lot lately.

He had never said anything to me, but I knew he wanted children. Continuing his line was the number one reason Dzur-Khan had started walking this path that had led him to me. And even though I had never considered myself a very maternal person, Majiil seemed to think otherwise, raising my hope, that maybe I wouldn't be such a bad mom.

Unbeknownst to Dzur-Khan, I visited one of the new human females who had joined us, one of them was a midwife, something we were hopefully going to be in need of soon. As luck would have it, she was able to remove my IUD and after that the waiting game began. It took three months and when I was sure, I told Majiil first that we would soon have another little khadahrshi or khadahr among us, and she solemnly promised to teach and love the baby as much as she loved Dzur-Khan and me.

In time, she confessed to me that she had always thought Dzur-Khan was too old for her and was glad I had taken him off her hands . The little imp made me smile, and I relished every moment of teaching her the ways of not being a lady, which was Brinhor's responsibility. Teaching Majiil the ways of a modern woman was fun, and I loved watching her grow from thinking of herself only as a breeding vessel to a girl who was soon second-guessing Brinhor and Dzur-Khan—much to their dislike.

Then, it was time to tell Dzur-Khan of his impending fatherhood.

I took the opportunity the night before we left for the big khadahr meeting Dzar-Ghan had asked Dzur-Khan to call. I was curious, anyway, how he and his bride were getting along. I met her briefly before we parted ways, amused that Jenna hadn't come as a volunteer bride but as the cave expert Dzar-Ghan had requested. I would have loved staying longer and watching the big man eat his own words about mating the first human gallies coming through the red fog . But Dzur-Khan had been restless about getting back home to Svengrod, knowing we would have to leave again soon.

I waited until we were alone in our bedroom, where he tackled me to the bed. "Hey, you'll have to be more careful with me from now on."

"And why is that?" he demanded, nuzzling my throat. "After you send the little she-devil after me, asking about why Bzun-Lhan is a bad male, you deserve a little torture."

I giggled, not feeling guilty in the least. I knew Dzur-Khan enjoyed his time with Majiil.

"Because right now, I'm housing a little Khadahr or khadahrshi in my body."

He froze on top of me, and I giggled when I watched him puzzle my words out. "You're having my youngling?"

"Technically, our youngling, sa." I nodded.

He framed my face with his hands. "Do you know that I love you more with every day?"

I smiled. "Sa, so you keep telling me. But tell me again. I never get tired of hearing it," I replied, snuggling into his chest.

"I think I love you even more now than this morning." Dzur-Khan kissed me.

"Give me a few more minutes, and you will love me even more," I teased.

"You are everything I ever hoped to find in a mate and so much more," he kept saying, creating a warm fuzzy feeling in my chest and stomach .

"I love you too, my big strong Khadahr," I told him for the thousandth time and added, "Thank you."

"For what?"

"For giving me all this," I said, spreading my arms to encompass him, Svengrod, and Vandruk, putting my hand on my still-flat belly. "And Majiil. For making me realize what is really important in life."

"It was indeed a hardship teaching you." This time, it was him teasing me, something he had learned from me.

We snuggled back down on the bed, my head on his chest, his arm wrapped around me. My all-time favorite position, right next to spooning with him.

"My Amira," he whispered into my ear, spreading goosebumps down my neck.

"We won't get any sleep if you don't stop," I predicted.

"Hmm." He stretched, pulling me closer. "Maybe we don't need any sleep."

"Maybe not," I agreed, letting my hand move down between his legs, cupping his cock.

"Let's find out," he suggested.

"Let's."

**** The End of Vandruk Book 2. The story continues with Dzar-Ghan in Book 3. To order, click HER E

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