Chapter 21

Zara

I quickly wash up and put on some clean clothes, my body aching in all the good ways after the most perfect night of my life. The village is teeming with activity as the sounds filter through the hide of my tent. Kyler and I slept half the morning away, as did a quarter of the village, I suspect. I know everyone has tended to sleep in the mornings after celebrations, usually nursing a headache from the wicked strong brew and heading to the healer’s tent for some relief. It’s why my mate is absent, although I’m about to go meet him.

Even though Kyler left not that long ago, I already miss him. God, I’m turning into a needy bitch. Except that I find I don’t care. For the first time in my life, I’m not only in love, but that person loves me back. I plan on soaking up my man’s affection every day for the rest of my life. I have a lot of missed love to make up for.

After running the brush through my hair, I leave my tent and head out to meet my mate. I’ll miss this place a little when I’m gone. It’s been my home for five months. It’s where my best friends—sisters—and I lived together, even if it wasn’t for very long. It’s where I finally, for the first time in my life, started believing I was more than I’d been led to believe about myself. I feel like I’ve grown so much in not just this tent, but in this village. Surrounding by people who’ve shown me what family is truly about.

Tribespeople—both Tavikhi and human—nod or wave in greeting, and I smile and wave back. There’s no sign of any Bohnari yet, but they probably all slept in their ship. I recall either Remi or London saying they stay a couple nights before heading back to Bohna. I’m glad Eloise will get another day with Johnna. It’s crazy they landed on neighboring planets and both found a mate on that planet. Too bad they don’t know what happened to their other two friends. Hopefully they made out as well as Eloise and Johnna did.

The healer’s tent comes into view and my pace quickens. I step inside and my gaze zeroes in on Kyler who stands next to one of the raised platforms talking to Rojtar, who’s sitting up and alert. A quick scan confirms he’s the only wounded warrior that remains. The rest have all been cleared to leave for their own dwellings.

I’m so glad to see he’s doing better. On our second night on this planet all those months ago when the Krijese—who at the time had been Tavikhi enemies—attacked the human settlement, Rojtar helped us escape. He’s one of the youngest warriors—early-to-mid-twenties, I think—and one of the sweetest. I know how much he wants a mate, too, so I hope he finds one, one of these days.

As though sensing my eyes on him, Kyler turns and spots me. I give him a small wave. His mating marks darken and a flash of light shines from his pupils. An answering heat warms the inside of my chest, and I know it’s the other half of his soul light. I’m still getting used to not only the sensation, but the fact that the phenomenon occurs in the first place. I mean, before it happened to me, I never would have believed that an alien race could literally share a part of their soul with another person.

“You should be able to return to your own tent tomorrow,” Kyler tells Rojtar. “But you will need to wait a few more turns before it is safe to spar again. Even light training. You do not want to re-injure yourself.”

I press my lips together to fight the smile that threatens at the disgruntled look Rojtar sends my mate. I’m sure it can’t be easy for him to be laid up in bed recovering, but from what I understand, he nearly died. Kyler raises one of his brow bones until finally the young warrior nods. He claps Rojtar on the shoulder and joins me on the far side of the tent.

His tail wraps around my waist and he tugs me into his arms. We meet for a kiss, and I run my hands over his shoulders. He’s hard against my belly and if we didn’t have an audience I might take advantage of it, but sadly, I’ll have to wait until we get back to his tent.

“Greetings, keeshla ,” Kyler says when we separate. “How are you feeling?”

The innocent question makes my cheeks heat because I’m not sure if he means in general or if he’s asking if my pussy’s recovered from the hammering he gave it all night long.

“I missed you.” As much as it’s torture for both of us, I can’t help but rub myself against him.

His pupils dilate and he groans. “You are a cruel female.”

“I’ll make it up to you later. How’s that?” I keep my voice lowered even though Rojtar is all the way on the other side of the vast space.

Kyler growls, and damn if it doesn’t make me wet. “How will you make it up to me?”

My tongue flicks out and wets my lips. “Maybe I’ll introduce you to a little thing called a blowjob. I’ve been wanting to know how good you taste.”

His nostrils flare as though scenting my arousal. I squirm a little and squeeze my thighs together to try and ease the ache that’s taken over. Damn it. I should have known better than to tease, because now all I’m going to be thinking about all day is sucking my man’s cock.

“I will hold you to that bargain when we return to my tent this night, keeshla .”

Hoo-whee, boy howdy. I actually can’t wait. Kyler’s made me feel so good, I want him to know the same pleasure he’s given me. “It’s a date, then.”

I kiss him again. Only we’re interrupted by the door flap swinging open and Zander and London walk inside. They come to a halt.

“Oh, sorry,” London says. “We didn’t mean to intrude.”

“It is not an intrusion.” Kyler takes a small step away but doesn’t release the hold he has on me with his tail. He fists his chest. “Shefir. Shefira. How may I assist you?”

My friend and her mate exchange glances. She nods and Zander walks toward Rojtar, probably to check in on me. London’s gaze shifts to me and a huge grin splits her lips. “I guess you’re the lucky one who gets the news first…I’m pregnant.”

“What?” I nearly screech and rush over to her, yanking myself out of Kyler’s hold. “Are you fucking with me?”

She laughs. “No. We’ve been keeping it to ourselves, you know, just in case, but I’m starting to show and we figured it’s safe now.”

I glance down at her belly, which isn’t noticeably different, and back up to her with a questioning look. “Can I?”

London nods and I slowly place my hands on her. Sure enough she has a bump. I stroke her and lean down to put my mouth close to her stomach.

“Hey little peanut, I’m your Auntie Zara.” Tears well in my eyes and I get emotional, especially when, for a second, I think about Amelia and how she never got to have this. “I can’t wait to meet you when you get here. You be nice to your mama in there though, all right. Don’t kick too hard and watch out for her bladder.”

I straighten and for one of the first times, I initiate a hug. I’m not sure if they’ll ever come easily to me, but I’m going to keep practicing. Especially now that I’m going to be an aunt. “I’m so happy for you and Zander and I don’t think I’ve ever said it, but…you’re my sister and I love you.”

London squeezes me hard. “I love you, too.”

The embrace doesn’t last long—I’m not there, yet—and we both wipe away our tears. I step back and lean against Kyler who lays his hands on my stomach and holds me close. I cover them with mine and wonder if he’s thinking maybe one day I’ll be the one having the baby.

“We just wanted to let Kyler know and see if there was any herb or medicine I should be taking,” London says. “Thankfully, I haven’t had any morning sickness since the first month, but this is the first Tavikhi-human to be born and we don’t have any idea what to expect.”

“Blessings on the impending birth of your kit,” Kyler says above me. “There is the juice of the pellori plant that is beneficial for Tavikhi kits. I will get some for you and bring it to your tent later if that is acceptable?”

“You have our thanks.” Zander returns and dips his head. I wonder if he’s broken the news to Rojtar. “Come keeshla . We will make our announcement to the rest of our people during the evening meal and celebrate the approach of our first offspring before we bid farewell to our Bohnari brothers. The tribe will want to share in our happiness.”

London waves goodbye to us and then she and Zander walk out of the healer’s tent. I turn in Kyler’s arms and stare up at him.

“I can’t believe they’re having a baby.”

“With every new mating, the chances of a kit being born increases,” he tells me. “It is a joyous thing for our people. For so long we have thought that we were going to see the end of the Tavikhi. But with this news, there is hope.”

“What about you? Do you want children?” They’re not really anything I’ve given thought to. Especially not with Clifton and Priscilla as their grandparents. God, that would have been a nightmare.

“I will admit I have always longed for kits, but I also know that Deeka decides who is blessed with them or not.” Kyler grips my hips. “If we do not have any, it will not change how I feel about you. You are still my keeshla . The female who owns the other half of my soul light and I would not change that for anything. If we are lucky enough to have kits, then I will love them as fiercely as I love you.”

Damn it. I sniff back tears because I’ve shed enough today. “I love you, too. I should have said it before last night, but I was scared. Not anymore though. I don’t ever want you to wonder about or doubt my feelings for you. You are everything I never knew I wanted. Thank you for being patient. More important, thank you for loving me.”

“You are an easy female to love.” Kyler kisses me. “Let me say farewell to Rojtar and then we will join the tribe and celebrate our shefir and shefira’s news with them.”

I nod and wait while he speaks to the other warrior. He’s not long and then he’s back, locking his fingers with mine and guiding me outside. My gaze scans the village. Yes, we’ve seen loss, and there’s still the potential threat of another Njeri attack, but that’s a worry for another day. Tonight, I’m going to join my sisters and toast my friends and family.

When the party’s over, I’m going to go back to the tent I plan on sharing with Kyler—my husband and mate—for the rest of my life, and I’ll remind him how much I love him. Then, I’m going to rock his world.