27. Suni

Chapter 27

Suni

S uni rested beside his mate as she slept. He had worried she would tire herself out and had kept his eyes on her both during and after the battle. A Minotaur warrior was trained to stay awake and alert for rotations, but he doubted Amma had the same training. Normally, she usually slept a good while every night. He had been excited to get her alone and in the furs, but when she yawned three times while trying to keep her eyes open, he pulled her onto his chest and hummed her to sleep instead.

As Amma rested, Suni's mind raced. He was anxious to get back home and make sure Gar and Rown had made it back safely. Not that he doubted the two young males, but Suni worried witches from the High Coven could be watching his village. He would be devastated if the brothers were captured and treated like the warriors he had fought earlier. He also wanted to apologize to his family for the way he had been acting. While he had celebrated his brothers finding their mates, he hadn't let the celebration reach his heart. Jealousy had almost ruined the tight bond he had with his family, and he would have to be diligent to make sure it never happened again.

"Suni?" Amma's sleep-laden voice pulled him from his dark thoughts. "You're wound up, what's wrong?"

Suni smoothed a claw down her back. "Nothing that needs to be talked about right now. Go back to sleep. I will try to not bother you."

"You're not bothering me." Amma replied. She sat up and wiped her mouth. "Oh no, I drooled on you. Now I can't go back to sleep."

"Why not?" He frowned. "Did you not sleep comfortably?"

"Judging by the puddle of drool on your chest, I slept beyond comfortably." She rubbed away the wetness. "Why didn't you wake me up?"

"You need your rest, and I didn't mind the drool."

"I guess." She said, laid her head back on his chest, and sighed. "I don't know why I am so tired. It's like I haven't slept in days."

"That is a normal reaction to battle. The younger warriors usually fall into a deep sleep or rut with any willing female who comes within a tail span of them." He chuckled at her snort. "You do not believe me?"

"I believe you. I had hoped I would get the ‘fuck everything' reaction. Not ‘fall asleep and drool.'"

"We have our whole lives to explore each other's bodies." He patted her back. "Go back to sleep. We have time before the ceremony and last meal."

"Are you sure?"

"I am sure."

"Okay. Wake me up when it's time."

Suni smiled when she dropped back to sleep like a calf with no worries.

He dozed half asleep with an ear tuned to the movements outside the hut. There was no way he could fall fully asleep in a strange village. It was because of this that he heard someone shuffle up to the door. He gently laid Amma on the furs and quietly moved to intercept the person before they woke his mate.

"Hey Suni," Jo said and smiled up at him. "Is my cousin still sleeping?"

"Yes." He glanced at the sky and saw the first moon was almost to its highest point. "Is the ceremony about to start?"

"Yes. I was coming to tell you guys."

"We will see you there." He returned to his mate's side and smiled at the picture she made. Sprawled out with her limbs going in every direction, she slept like she was the master of it. Suni knelt and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Amma, my heart. Amma."

She turned away from him and tucked her arm under her head. "Another hour."

"It is time to get up." Suni gave her a gentle shake. "We do not want to be the last ones to the celebration."

Amma growled as she sat up and scrubbed her eyes with her fist. "I'm up. How much time do we have?"

"Not long. Jo informed me the ceremony is about to start. It is bad form to show up late."

Amma climbed to her feet. "I think I'm going to put on some of my clothes from home. It may get chilly out there."

Suni couldn't take his eyes off his mate as she stripped out of the clothes he had made for her and put on the strange garments she had on when they met. Just that glimpse of Amma's bare body made his cock harden painfully in his pants. When she turned to face him, he could tell from the devilish look in her eyes that she was happily teasing him.

"You will pay later," he growled.

"I hope so."

Suni shook his head as he followed Amma from the tent to the market area. He felt a little out of place as he watched other warriors walk past, each with the colors of their house painted on their hooves and their family design on their face.

"Wow, everyone looks so cool."

"They are not cold."

"No, what I mean is that they look amazing. All the different colors and designs. If I look closely, I can see which ones match in small ways. I can't wait to see what yours looks like."

"I look stunning."

"Now you're being silly. You look stunning no matter what you're wearing. Or even if you're wearing nothing at all." She wrapped her arms around one of his and leaned against him. "I can't get over how pretty the nights are here. The flow of energy I get from your moons is fascinating. I wonder if Jo and Shelly would do a ritual with me before we leave."

"Can I watch?"

"You just want to see me dancing naked," she teased. "Yes, you can watch. Don't run if some of my ancestors show up and start causing trouble."

"I run from no one." He paused. "Well, I run from my dam. She has a strong arm."

"I can't wait to meet her."

They walked quietly through the village as they joined the others on their way to the pyres. It was humbling to know if he'd made one wrong move during battle, he would be the one being burned. Before he met Amma, he thought often of the glory dying in battle would bring to his name. Now, he didn't want to waste one day away from her. Dying a glorious death was no longer his foremost dream. He wanted to live long and grow old with Amma.

Amma's hands tightened on his arm when they left the Ykot's gates and spotted the rows of pyres lined up in the clearing.

"Suni, are all those warriors from here?"

"We are also honoring the warriors who attacked," Jo said. She joined them and began to walk at her cousin's side. "We cannot send them home, and I want to make sure they are welcomed beyond the veil."

"Why?" Suni asked. He had never heard of a village burning the bodies of their enemies. "They were dishonorable."

"Honestly? I think we must rethink this ‘controlled warrior' thing." Jo replied with a frown. "We have always been taught people with weak minds were the only ones easy to control, but these warriors, there's something different happening. I've seen evil warriors before, and–"

"They seem innocent," Amma finished.

"Innocent?" Suni gasped. "How can you say that after they attacked?"

"But after the influence of evil was removed, look what happened. They seemed like children who were awakened from a bad dream. I think there is more to the High Coven than what we know now."

"You and I both." Jo let go of Amma's arm. "Ru wanted me to invite you to join his family. They will be leading the ceremony."

Amma leaned into Suni. "I don't know. I hate being in the spotlight."

"Trust me, you won't." Jo waved her hand. "Everyone is focused on making sure their loved one is sent beyond the veil with the best party ever."

"Your cousin is right," Ru said as he joined them. "Tonight we honor those who have departed from this life. It saddens me that we lost any. We have so few warriors."

"They will come," Suni said. "I will spread word back in my village, and I am sure some of the young warriors will be glad to earn their battle scars."

"Thank you." Ru took a deep breath as they reached the midpoint between the pyres. "May the Goddess guide me."

"You got this, honey." Jo said and gave him a quick kiss after taking a few steps to join him at his side.

Suni stood with Amma behind the leading couple. He admired the way Ru handled not only the battle, but the aftermath. He hadn't left the cleanup to other people but had gotten his own claws dirty. Suni could imagine Ykot growing as word spread about the young, strong chief who had a powerful witch by his side. If he didn't have a family back in his home village, Suni would take Ru up on his offer to become a warrior of Ykot.

Ru raised his hand and the clearing quieted. "Under the watchful eyes of our moons, we send many of our warriors to our ancestors. They fought with bravery against odds we have never faced before. Each died with honor and left behind fond memories and strong bloodlines."

"May their spirits be received by our ancestors." Suni's voice joined the villagers. "Their memories will be forever carried through this life and bring peace to those left behind."

Warriors stepped forward in unison and lit each pyre. Suni smiled as each family started to tell the story of their fallen loved one.

"This is beautiful," Amma whispered. "Look at the joy everyone has as they recount their memories."

"This ceremony reminds me of ours," Jo whispered back. "Ru and I need to mingle with the families. And I need some water. The smell of the burning is churning my stomach."

"We will go stand with Ru's family," Amma said. "I'm sure we can find a way to be inconspicuous and keep Shelly in line."

Suni carefully led Amma through the families and the burning pyres. His family had been blessed. Neither he nor any of his siblings had died on the battlefield this time. He felt the pain of others who only had memories of a beloved family member. They joined Ru's family, who were standing at some distance from the celebrations.

"Hey Amma. Suni," Shelly said with a small wave.

"Staying out of trouble?" Amma asked.

"Always," she said brightly.

Suni chuckled at the very innocent look Shelly was trying hard to maintain. "Ok, maybe not always," she admitted.

"She is trying," Nej said. "Will you both be leaving now?"

"Yes," Suni answered. "I am sure my family is wondering where I am."

Nej frowned. "Your poor dam. You did not send word that you were here? I should pull your ears for her."

"I did send word." Suni's ears flattened against his scalp. He hated when his dam pulled his ears. She still did it too, even though he was no longer a calf. "She almost died when my brother did not return from the battlefield. I do not want to put her through that again."

"I am sorry about your brother."

"I am not." Suni chuckled at Nej's look of outrage. "He is happy with his mate and calf."

"Suni!" Amma hit his arm. "You should have led with that. You had us all believing you were a coldhearted jerk for not being sad that your brother had passed beyond the veil."

"You will meet him and understand why. There was no need to assault me." Suni rubbed his arm.

"I doubt you felt it." Amma rolled her eyes. "Nej, I meant to ask, do you mind keeping an eye on Shelly? I don't think it's a good idea to take her away from here."

"I was hoping you would ask." Nej smiled. "She is like the daughter I never had."

"Don't I get a say?" Shelly asked.

"Well," Amma slowly answered. "If you have something to say, say it."

"I would like to stay here." Shelly looked up at Nej. "Nej reminds me of my mother."

"You mean talking in riddles that no one could understand?"

"Not that part," Shelly said.

"I still expect you to practice your magic and do your morning affirmations," Amma warned. "I will visit you using Flix to help you train."

"I promise. I'm going to like it here." Shelly smiled.

Suni was glad Shelly had found a family. A calf needed a mother to grow up well-adjusted and a useful part of society. He could imagine Ru having to knock males away from her when she grew up into the powerful witch she would become.