22. KVella

twenty-two

K'Vella

T he first layer of the nest is made up of the foam mattress that used to be in Holoth's room on the ship. It took quite a bit of finagling to get Phial and Essa into Holoth's room while I kept him busy in the kitchen, but we made it work.

I messaged Essa this morning while Holoth was in the shower, begging her to help me get everything situated so I could surprise Holoth. She didn't need my begging. She was in as soon as she heard that she and Phial could keep Holoth occupied when, more than anything, he'd want to chase after me.

They're great friends. They worked fast to move the entire nest into Holoth's house. I have to rebuild it, but they got everything here.

The nesting platform is a large circular raised stone platform in the master bedroom. The edges are slightly raised, so I can fill it with plenty of soft things, and they won't go spilling out. Not that Holoth won't make a mess of the nest every chance he gets. Even just the thought of it has my chest flushing dark violet.

I pile on the furs and blankets, making up the second layer. I want this nest to be perfect, and the longer I work on it, the more I know Holoth will love it.

I'll need to fix the holes in the wall, but that's a problem for another day. Right now, the only thing we need is a nest—a nest in our home, in our clan, where I want to raise our children.

I don't know how long I've been working when the door to the house opens with a soft thud against the wall. I don't need the superior sense of smell that Holoth has to know it's him walking down the hall. I don't need to turn around to know when he's coming into the room.

I listen for his sharp inhale. When I hear it, I melt a little inside, knowing he's smelling me. My mate is scenting me.

"What are you doing, K'Vella?" he asks.

His body is tense like he's forcing himself not to come to me, wrap me in his arms, and tug me down to the nest with him.

"I want a home," I tell him. I let my arms hang free by my sides, not covering my abdomen and his babe from him, not covering my chest or the dark flush that's peaking out from my halter. "I want a home with you in a place that accepts me."

Holoth's lips twitch up at the corners, his chest heaving silently. I know he's trying not to get his hopes up, not yet. I know because I was the same way when it came to being with him. But I want him, and now that I've started to want and realize I deserve to want, I haven't stopped.

"I want to run in the fields with you. I want to spend your ruts in this nest. I want to fill this house with as many babies as you can give me." I reach out for his hand, and he gives it to me without hesitation. "I want to be with you, Holoth. No matter what, and in all ways."

"They need a co-pilot," Holoth says through shaky breaths.

"Jovi says he knows enough to get them through until they can find someone else," I say, stepping closer to Holoth.

"The clan leader—"

"Already told you that you could stay," I remind him of what he told me after he went and spoke to the female he protected years ago.

Holoth's whole body trembles as he lets out a long exhale. He looks at me, his eyes intense and blue. "K'Vella, do you want to live here, on Rythar, with me?"

"I want to be a good Rytharian mate," I whisper, reaching up behind me and tugging the top strap of my halter. Holoth lets out a groan of pleasure as the fur falls, revealing my breasts for him. "Do you want me to be your good Rytharian mate?"

Holoth practically pants as I ask, and I use the pause to scramble backward into the nest and remove the rest of my clothing.

Holoth growls, reaching for me before I get in because he knows he's a good male. He'll pace, growl, and seethe from outside the nest until I invite him in.

"Invite me into our nest, K'Vella." Holoth's voice sounds deadly, the command sending a visible shiver over me. Holoth's eyes go wide and then narrow on me. "Do you know when I'm using command?"

"Mhm," I murmur, letting my fingers roam over my body. I roll around in the nest, enjoying how Holoth looks down at me with lust searing his gaze.

"Bratty, mate." Holoth clicks his tongue. "You ignore my commands on purpose, then?"

"Only sometimes," I tease. "Now, tell me we can stay. Tell me I can have a family with you on this planet in this place that feels more like home than mine ever did. Tell me, and I'll be your good mate. I'll be so good for you."

Holoth growls low in his throat, the dark sound causing me to warm without his fingers rubbing against me. "Oh, we're staying. You're going to be filled with my young more often than not, and I'm filling that sweet pussy every night."

He takes a deep breath through his nose, and his eyes become even more erratic when he releases it. "Now, invite me into our nest."

"Holoth," I crawl to the edge of the nest, loving how his eyes fall down to my chest before they dart back up to my face. "Get in this nest with me." I reach out for his hand, but he's already got me turned around, holding my head into the furs as he lifts my hips high.

"I'm going to reward you so much," he groans as he slides inside of me. "Reward my perfect Varon mate—love of my life, mother of my children, fated most beloved. I'm never going to stop rewarding you."

I smile into the furs, my whole body warming as he talks. My mate doesn't make false promises. No, he keeps every single one.