14. KVella

fourteen

K'Vella

O ne of the biggest differences between Varons and Rytharians, besides all the physical stuff, is the clothing. The females who greeted us last night dressed much more conservative than the clothing Holoth's sister is wearing when she brings me something to wear to the great hall.

"I wanted to apologize for this morning," Helna says as she sets the furs and leathers down on the dresser in Holoth's room.

Her eyes keep straying over to the nest that I made sure was perfect the last time Holoth and I woke in it. I ignore the questions bubbling up in Helna's features because she hasn't voiced them. Maybe it's petty of me, but she was trying to convince Holoth to take out his blocker earlier, so maybe I'm allowed some pettiness.

"I appreciate your apology," I tell her, looking at myself in the mirror and fixing some of my braids.

Helna stands in the bathroom entryway, her short but filled stature leaning against the frame as she crosses her arms over her chest. The fur skirt she's wearing barely covers all of her, and the top is a loose section of leather tied in two places to keep it covering her large chest. Yes, I am very different from these females, and I'm not excited to see what clothing she's brought for me.

"If it makes you feel any better, I told my friends that my brother's taken," Helena says, chewing on her lip and giving me a curious look.

I'm sure she has plenty of questions, but unless she asks, I'm not answering. I also don't know how much Holoth has told her about our relationship or whatever it is. I don't want to counter anything he's told her, so it's better not to mention anything unless she does.

"I am grateful," I mumble.

One of my hands stays on my abdomen, rubbing it as though I can comfort the babe inside of me already. I know it is much too small for that, but it makes me feel good. I only stop the movement when Helna narrows her eyes on me and presses her lips together.

"I don't know how much you know about Rytharians," Helna says, moving her eyes from my abdomen back up to my face. "Scent matching is important for us. I didn't realize how my brother felt about you. I wouldn't ever do anything to hurt his relationship with you. I promise."

I clear my throat and force myself not to frown at her. It's a feat in and of itself because she most definitely was trying to do exactly that this morning when she told Holoth that I couldn't possibly be meant for him.

"I care for your brother more than I should since I also know he's not scent matched to me. Everything you're thinking, I already think about constantly." My hand strokes my abdomen without me thinking about it, and Helna catches the movement again.

"Well, you won't have any issues from any of my friends," Helna says, one of her brows arching at my abdomen in a question. "If you have any issues with any females, you let me know."

"And what will you do?" I ask, trying to keep the laugh out of my voice. "I thought you'd be happy if your brother found a female here who he wishes to be with."

Helna narrows her eyes at me, but her cheeks stain a bright pink, just like her brother's when he's embarrassed. She opens her mouth to say something, huffs slightly, and places her hands on her hips.

"Let's get you dressed," she says, turning away from me and heading back into the room. "I'll show you what I'll do to any female who disrespects you when we're in the great hall."

I swallow down a thick lump of emotion and try to figure out what has changed to make Helna feel as though we are close now. Just this morning, she would've gladly sent me back to space so I wouldn't be near her brother anymore.

"Why?" The question is small, much too small, considering I'm so much bigger than the female holding out furs for me to wear.

"Why?" she scoffs and then shakes her head. "My brother didn't tell me you were carrying his babe. That would've stopped me from saying many of the things I did. He's chosen you as the mother of his young? You're family now, my sister now."

I take the clothing from her with shaky hands and wide eyes. Helna notices the panic in my features and puts the pieces together quickly.

"Does Holoth not know?" she asks, her head tilting. Something else dawns on her, and she continues. "You haven't told him, and he can't smell it on you. Why haven't you told him?"

"I planned on it before we came here," I say, slipping into the bathroom so I can change without getting naked in front of Helna. I doubt the clothing will cover much, but I can still have some privacy when I'm fully naked. "When we came to your planet, I didn't want to tell him in case he ended up scent matching someone. I don't want him to feel trapped with me."

Helna laughs again, and this time, it's a deep, throaty laugh that has my chest flushing in embarrassment. "Rytharian men beg females to trap them. Give him babes and tell him he's not allowed to leave you. Yes, he'd love that."

"Yes, well, that's because he doesn't know what he's missing out on," I say as I tie the fur meant to act as my skirt around my waist.

Helna told me she made these for me, but I'm not quite sure how she decided to make them the size she did. The clothing doesn't seem to be made for a female of her size, and I assume that's why it looks to be made up of even less material than Helna's.

The front is a flap of fur that covers my intimate areas, and the back is the same. They're tied together and around me with a leather strap. The top is not much better. A furred halter top that ties around my neck and another tie between my arms so it covers my breasts. Not that there's much to cover.

"I know I didn't help with your fears this morning," Helna says right outside the bathroom door. "My brother cares for you, though. I think he's being honest with you when he says he doesn't care about a scent match. He plans on leaving Rythar as soon as your friend is through her heat, so there's nothing for you to fear from his commitment to you."

I step out of the bathroom and feel my chest turn violet almost instantly. The halter top covers some of it, but it's clear to everyone that I'm flushed because so much of me is visible. Helna beams at me, her eyes turning bright with joy when she sees me.

"You look beautiful," she says, "A true Rytharian female. And with all those bites." She wiggles her brows at me. "My brother wasn't joking when he told me he wanted you dressed up like a claimed female. I thought he was being dramatic, but look at you."

She spins me around toward the full-length mirror inlaid in Holoth's wardrobe. She pushes the clothes aside, and I can see myself in the clothing—all of myself. I do look beautiful.

It's not clothing I would ever pick out for myself. Varon clothing is more conservative than this. All of my other dresses cover most of the bites on my neck, shoulders, down my chest, arms, and between my thighs. Now that I can see them all, I feel warmth in my chest, and the burning in my wrists comes back like a shock.

Normally, Holoth is here when it happens to lessen the pain, but this time, it bites into me until I'm wincing before it eases. Helna doesn't catch the look of pain that crosses my features because she turns toward the bedroom door.

"Let's get going," she says with a wave. "Holoth's probably itching under his skin to be back with you. I won't tell him about the baby, but he might find out with how many of us start piecing together what the scent is."

"What does it smell like?" I ask as I follow her out of the room. I've been curious about my scent, whether it's pleasant, and whether Holoth would like it if he ever smelled me.

"It smells like you, and then there's a hint of my brother. I thought it was just because you're always wearing his furs or you've been rutting like crazy. It wasn't until you were in there rubbing your belly that I realized it was a babe." Helna gives me a bright smile. "Others might think it's just vigorous rutting, which is good for your claim on him. Some females will think twice before trying to get between a male and a female he marks so much." She shoots me a wink that has me flushing even more. "Some will see it as a challenge, though. Just follow Holoth's lead. He won't let anyone get close enough to him to hurt you."

"Oh gods," I groan under my breath. I don't want to go through with this any more than Holoth probably does. The only reason I agreed to it is because I know he's going to be all but attacked by eager females if he goes alone.

The walk to the entertainment room is quick. When we enter, everyone else is also there. Most of them are in their normal clothing. Sloane wears furs like me, much to Alik's disapproval with how hard he's glaring at her.

Holoth's in his normal leather pants with a fur tossed over his shoulders. He turns to face us as we step inside, and his eyes turn hot and heavy as he rakes in my appearance.

"I did good, right?" Helna asks as she walks over to her brother and pushes his arm. "Everything's made from furs from your room, so she should smell like you for a while. You might mark her at some point later in the night just to make sure everyone knows."

Holoth nods at what his sister's saying, but he keeps his eyes on me. Sloane's the first one of the group to say something, and it has me flushing even more violet.

"You look hot, K'Vella."

"I should've found some furs for myself." Essa scowls and shoots a glare at Helna. "You will help me find some if we're to be here for more days. I want to be hot like Sloane and K'Vella."

"I thought we've already been over that your kind isn't compatible with Rytharians," Alik says to Essa.

She shoos his question away and says something else, but I'm too caught up in Holoth's eyes as he walks over to me and places his hands on my hips, his thumbs sliding under the thin leather strip that ties my skirts around me.

"You're bare underneath your furs?" he asks, lowering his head to my ear to nip at it. I nod softly and bite back a whimper of pleasure. "Good, I'm going to make sure everyone knows you're mine, K'Vella. Everyone. Do you trust me?" I nod again. I can feel his smile against my ear before he steps away. "Alright, let's go get this over with so I can spend the rest of our time here on the ship."

"Hey!" Helna shoots him an unhappy look. "You might find out you both enjoy being here and want to spend time with everyone. We've all missed you."

"We'll see," Holoth says

He wraps an arm around my waist, sliding his hand underneath the band of leather and stroking me too close to where I'm already warm for him. My body tenses, thinking the others might see. None of them are paying us any attention, though. They're getting ready to leave the ship. They all file out ahead of us, and Holoth lets his fingers wander even further under my furs.

"Holoth," I gasp.

He purrs loudly and keeps his hand planted where it is. I limply push at his hand. It's more so a reflex to make it look like I don't want to be fingered out in the open instead of actually caring if I am. I've never had such touches that anyone could see, but I don't hate the idea of it.

"My species is open in our affections." Holoth nips at my earlobe again, sending more warmth down my body. "When we get to the great hall, you're going to sit on my lap, and you're going to let me play underneath these furs all I want. Aren't you, K'Vella?"

I whimper as his fingers slide lower, petting down my slit in soft teasing strokes.

"I need to show them all I'm a claimed male, and I'm going to do that by showing them how much I need you." He presses two fingers inside me, teasing my entrance with shallow thrusts until I open for him. "You won't be the only female finding pleasure with her male in there. It's common, it's expected, and more than anything, it will show them all just how madly I'm in love with you."

"Yes," I cry out as he pushes his fingers inside of me completely. I whimper as he withdraws his hand and then lifts the fingers to his mouth. He coats his lips in my wetness and then rubs the rest against his neck. I give him a confused look, but he's back to wrapping his arm around my waist and teasing me with soft touches.

"If you need my knot inside you, don't be afraid to ask," he purrs as he leads me off the ship and down toward his clan.

I can hardly pay any attention to what's happening around us as Holoth tugs me down to his lap and wraps his arms around me, securing me against him.

He wasn't lying when he said public affections are common here. I've already seen more breasts than I ever thought I would in person. There are even females being pleasured on the tables by males who are all too eager to devour them.

Holoth's fingers slide underneath my furs and drag along my intimate places as he looks around the room.

Jovi and Alik are sitting in a pair of chairs off toward the other side of the room. Alik is glaring at a moving mass of females dancing with one another while Jovi smiles in the same direction.

Essa's dancing amongst them, her tall stature and horns jutting out above the rest of the crowd of females. She has a hand wrapped around someone that I quickly realize is Sloane. They're laughing and smiling, and a part of me wants to join them.

Holoth spreads my lower lips, and I gasp at the sudden pleasure.

"Only unmated females dance in the great hall to entice a male," Holoth growls against my ear, telling me there's no way I'll be allowed in the throngs of women enjoying themselves. At my soft pout, he runs his finger down me again and has a ripple of pleasure blooming inside me. "You can dance for me anytime, K'Vella. Dressed like this, I'd have the hardest time containing myself. You might put me in a rut months early."

I lean my head back against his shoulder, unable to stop my mouth from opening with a soft moan as he continues to tease me. Some of the others look at us, but they don't cast judgment or even seem to care any more than they do about the other acts of pleasure being performed all around.

"No words, K'Vella?" Holoth chuckles against my ear, knowing very well what he's doing to me right now.

I'm about to tell him as much when his purr rumbles and his body tenses. I look around, trying to see what's caused the change in his composure, and am shocked to see a few females looking over at us, their faces marred with animosity.

"They're upset there's not a new male to seduce," Holoth says to me, keeping up the teasing strokes against my center.

He plunges two fingers inside of me for a moment before pulling them out and wiping the juices on his neck again. The action causes the females to flush in embarrassment, and three of the four turn their attention away to look for different males. One of them narrows her eyes on Holoth, making me wonder what she could think could come from her still wanting him.

"Is this your mate?" a male asks from across the table.

The question startles me so much I jerk in Holoth's hold, but he keeps me pressed against him, rolling his hips into me so I feel his hardened cock against my backside.

"K'Vella, this is Nalith. You heard us talking on the comms the first night here."

Holoth uses his free hand to gesture toward the male sitting across from us. His blond hair is loose and falls against his shoulder, and his beard is neatly trimmed. It makes me wonder if it's what Holoth would look like if he grew one out.

I look at the other male, saying nothing for a long moment. I'm unsure what to say or if I can even say anything since Holoth won't stop teasing my entrance with his fingertips.

"Nalith, this is my mate, K'Vella," Holoth says, plunging his fingers into my tightness, causing me to bite down on my lip to stop the moan from leaving my lips. My chest flushes dark violet, and it has Holoth beaming down at me. He's proud of this, proud of how I respond to him, even in front of all these people. "She's not used to our ways, but she's taking to them very well."

"Safe to say I lost the bet." Nalith frowns and looks around the room. He taps his fingers against the table like he's waiting for someone but then turns back to Holoth. "I said you'd return when you couldn't find someone to rut. I don't think any of us thought you'd go out there and find yourself a Varon."

Nalith gives me a smile that tells me he doesn't think there's anything wrong with me being from a different species. His eyes fall down to my exposed abdomen, and they crinkle. I shake my head softly, trying to tell him not to mention the babe.

Either he notices, or he's just vague because he says, "Congratulations," before tapping the table twice and standing. "I thought being near you would cause at least one female to come rub against me. I guess your sister really scared them all off you, didn't she?"

Holoth laughs hard. "I doubt it. Who told you she did that?"

Nalith looks down at Holoth with a frown and then over at me, who's trying hard and failing at not whimpering and thrusting my hips into Holoth's touches. Again, this is all apparently normal for them because he doesn't spare me a second look.

"I heard your sister threatened to fight any female who approached you. Something about protecting her sister."

Holoth's fingers pause their movements inside me, and his purr stutters. It starts up again, barely missing a beat, and he gives Nalith a quick nod. "Thanks for telling me. I guess she kept that to herself this morning after threatening to remove my blocker."

Nalith opens his mouth to say something, but he's taken a few steps away, far enough for the females to think it's safe to approach. One of them grabs the waist of his leather pants and tugs him toward her with one hand as her other releases the ties to her top to let it fall, revealing her breasts. It takes Nalith's attention away as he scoops her into his arms and takes her into one of the darkened corners of the room.

I look up to see if Holoth is admiring the female who bared herself for his friend, but my breath catches when I see him staring down at me. His full focus on me, my flush, and the way my breathing hitches when his hooded eyes look at me, lust and desire in them.

"It's killing me not to throw you on this table and devour you," Holoth growls as he fists my hair with his free hand. He tilts my neck, baring it for his teeth that scrape along an unmarred area. "You want me to do that, K'Vella? Spread you out on this table like a feast just for me? Want me to lick and suckle on you until you're screaming my name?" I shake my head, no, but I can feel how I squeeze his fingers tighter. "Too much for now, but I'll make a Rytharian out of you yet." He nuzzles back into the crook of my neck and speeds up the thrusting of his fingers.

"Holoth." His name is a whispered plea as my pleasure begins to peak.

"Call me mate when you break apart, K'Vella," he growls into my neck, the thrill of the command tingling down my spine.

His fingers work me in perfect motions, over and over again, touching exactly where I need, and then there's nothing but us and pleasure, and it's perfect.

"Fuck, Holoth, mate, please, fuck." The words tumble out of my mouth as my pleasure floods me and washes over me.

My whole body seems to flush when I come down. Holoth is still petting me gently, and his teeth bite a fresh mark into my neck. I lie against him as I try to catch my breath.

It takes me a few seconds to realize more than just a few people noticed our little display. Holoth's teeth are still deep in my neck as I take in the different expressions around the room. Some are happy, others are confused, and a few are even angry.

A loud whistle sounds from somewhere in the crowd of unmated females, and then a few more go out. There's clapping, and more than one person yells their congratulations to us. The whole thing seems so bizarre, and it isn't until Holoth removes his teeth from my neck that I realize why it's so important.

"I'd like to see any of them say you're not my mate now." Holoth grins at me with blood-stained lips.

I match his smile, falling against his chest and letting his purr wash over my worries. One hand goes to my abdomen, where I stroke our babe. This hasn't been nearly as bad as I thought it would be.