Episode Thirty-Six How to Soothe Her

A zael

I'd been glancing at our doorway every minute, as had Dhar. I assumed we'd notice the moment it opened, and never expected Thallose's giant wing to flap at us.

Something's wrong. I'm not surprised.

For his bulk, the orc's an excellent climber, but I arrive first because I leap there in three bounds.

The winged starflyer is back on his stump, looking blank, but I don't give a shit about him. My mate is crying in the bed of pelts I made for her. No, not crying. Weeping.

I rush to her side and lie down behind her, then nestle her into my embrace. Seconds later, Dhar is in front of her, his arms so long they've encompassed both of us as we try to console her.

Now her weeping is accompanied by sobs so harsh her whole body is convulsing. I'm glad my back is to Thallose. If I looked at him right now, I'd kill him. Even though I'm not looking at him, I want to kill him.

Dhar pets Nadira's head so sweetly, his fingers combing through the braid he must have made for her as he unbinds her hair so he can pet her more softly. Even as he does this, his hands so gentle, he looks at Thallose, spears him with a gaze so full of fire that if I didn't know better I would think it could immolate our hut, and growls, "What the fuck did you do to her?"

"I mated her."

There will be time later to get the full story. There will also be time for full retribution. Right now, though, we both turn our attention to our mate.

When I glance at Dhar, he dips his eyes to her shoulder, indicating I should look there.

"What the fuck?" I whisper.

Instead of a proper mate mark, it's a blood blister maybe three inches long on the top of her shoulder where there's barely any meat. A dark purple bruise is already forming. Dhar is already licking her there, trying to soothe her tender skin.

Turning my head to look over my shoulder, I ask, "Did you even lick her? Try to soothe it?"

He shakes his head. "I didn't know."

"I want to kill him," I mouth to Dhar.

"Later," he says in a crooning voice, not wanting to upset our mate. "'Dira, beautiful mate," he says as I lick her wound. It's hot under my tongue, warmer than the surrounding skin. It must hurt badly, which only makes me want to kill the starflyer even more.

"What do you need, mate?" I croon. "We could sing to you. I could get Reese to concoct a sleeping potion. Want me to get you the pain-relieving whyler leaves? We could rock you to sleep. What, my love? What would make you feel better?"

My question is met with huge gusts of weeping, interspersed with the deep, gasping breaths I've only seen in young children when they're in emotional misery.

Dhar and I switch tasks as I comb my claws through her hair and he licks her wound.

"It will be all right," he says, "your mates are here."

Shit. That word sets her off worse. He gives me a sincere "I'm sorry" look and shakes his head. He knew the mistake he made the moment the words were out of his mouth.

Finally, Nadira calms as I stroke her back and Dhar gives her face sweet kisses. I try to find jealousy inside my heart, but he's turned out to be a good mate, caring and considerate.

Back at the rendezvous I would have bet all my possessions that this orc would never be a worthy mate to my beloved Nadira. Now, watching the way he cares for her, tries everything within his power to ease her pain, my misery eases somewhat. At least two of us will love this female as deeply as she deserves.

How can I resent a male who loves my female as much as I do?

"Fuck me," she says, her voice but a whisper.

It's clear what she wants. To get the taint of his sperm out of her channel.

"Who?" I ask, hating that I asked it. It will certainly devastate me if she chooses him, and by the look on his face, the feeling is mutual. Not to mention how impossible it will be for Nadira to have to make such a choice.

"Both," she says as she hiccups her way to calm breathing.

"We can do that," I whisper in her ear. "We certainly can love you like that."

"At the same time?" Dhar mouths to me over her head, then shrugs.

None of us has been in a mated pack situation. We don't know how this is done.

Nadira grips Dhar's cock, lifts her leg over his hip, places his member at her entrance, and inches toward him. I try not to die inside that she chose him over me.

"Take my back," she says.

I lift my shoulders at Dhar, wondering if he knows what she wants. She wishes for me to cuddle her from behind while the orc pounds into her? This pack mating is going to kill me for sure.

"My back hole," she whispers.

"So sweet," I whisper into her ear. "So generous, my mate. But these things take time. One has to work up to it."

"Just go slow. It's not my first time."

Right. I like to forget how terribly she was used Up Above. "I can go slow, love," I reassure her. It will be an honor to be the first to do this, with love, for my beautiful Nadira.