Episode Fifty-Eight Homecoming

T hallose

We'll be seeing the monk village within minutes. The last time I saw Azael and Dhar they threatened to kill me if anything happened to Nadira. I honestly don't know if they'll be happy or disappointed that she and I have mended things.

She must feel my apprehension because she leans her lips to my ear and asks, "Worried?"

I nod.

"They just want us all to be happy."

I don't want to argue, but that is not what they want. They want her to be happy. I'm not part of their equation.

"They'll be thrilled we love each other now." She kisses my neck.

That remains to be seen. I wouldn't bet on it.

The village is different from how it was only a few weeks ago when I first visited. It's sprawling in one direction, with hundreds of lean-tos in the orc area to the east of the monks' treed area. To the south, many avians have arrived and have built small, temporary structures.

"Look!" Nadira says, pointing west.

Other species are pouring in, coming in ones, twos, and threes, hurrying to arrive before nightfall. Nadira was right when she said we'd have an army.

"Imagine all these people descending on the Works," she says, her tone full of awe. "We've got them outnumbered dozens to one. No amount of laser weapons will protect them from this. Once we free all the slaves? We'll have all the manpower and laserpower we need to attack Tower One. Then the women will be free to live their best lives."

I always look at the dark side. It's my way of staying safe, wanting to make certain I've thought of every negative possibility to avoid something going wrong. Even with my pessimism, I think she's right.

I glide in for a landing near the community firepit. When we left, there were only monks here. Now there are almost a dozen different species. Even though it's not treaty lands like at the rendezvous, people are coexisting in peace. Before my hooves even touch down, I hear laughter.

My mates are at our side before I unfurl my wings. Dhar's enormous hands reach to Nadira's waist. Although it's under the guise of helping her down, it also seems he couldn't wait to get her back in his arms again.

I try to suppress my jealousy as the three of them hug each other, Nadira's head snapping from one to the other as she enthusiastically kisses them both.

"Thallose!" She almost sings the word. It's how she talks when she's ecstatic. "Thallose, come join our hug."

This is what I've been dreading. The grim looks of my male mates, the uncomfortable moment when they realize they'll have to share the female they love with an additional male. Another person who wants her attention. One other greedy cock that wants to enjoy her holes and fill her with pleasure.

Neither wants to relinquish their spot next to Nadira, so instead of fighting for supremacy, I squeeze in between the two males. Beyette calls to us, motioning from the other side of the fire. "Nadira, Thallose, come. I have stew for you. You're probably starved."

We eat hurriedly under the inquisitive stares of many of the monks. They've watched as their leader brought home a mate, then expanded his pack to three and then four. I'm sure they noticed the strain between the four of us before I left. Now they're probably reassessing our mating status.

Soon we're in our hut, and all pretense of camaraderie evaporates.

Azael gets down to business first, asking pertinent questions about our trip as he sketches details of the compound on the hide map we made. Both males are serious as we describe in detail what we saw. They listen to our assessment of our chances and even our recommendations on how to launch the first attack.

I must admit, I've always been treated as an equal member of the group when it comes to our plans to attack the human males.

"You have faith in these two? The centaur and the elf?" Dhar asks thoughtfully. "You agree with putting them at the head of one of the units?"

"They're strong, smart, canny, and committed," I say. "I doubt we can do better than having those two in charge. There were many centaurs in the compound. My guess is the moment they're freed from their bonds, they'll work side by side with Zoron and Eldar against their masters."

"Good. We'll discuss this in greater detail later, but it sounds as if things are coming together better than we could have hoped. Now…" Azael pierces me with his probing blue gaze, "we need to talk about a different type of coming together— us ."