by Laurel Night
“Sorry,” I interrupted, “What is that? The brah-shool?”
“The brashule is the pair-bond. I suppose we never really explained that to you and Emily. When we complete pairing, it’s not just a life-force bond, it’s deeper than that. It is a deep, psychic and emotional connection between the mates. Todd and Emily can now sense each other’s emotional state, I’ve witnessed it. Because they are not full vimpiri, they may have to work to develop the depth that is easier for vimpiri pairs, but I am certain they will reach it. It is the reason we pair, the reason the male’s life is tied to his mate. He becomes dependent on her emotional strength. I don’t know how to explain it other than to say that together they form the whole—before pairing, neither is complete. The brashule is the bond that makes them truly one.”
“I see,” my voice quivered only slightly. He said he wanted to form this irrevocable bond with me. Still.
“So, I’m sorry I hesitated, and I’m sorry I didn’t explain it to you better. That was my mistake, and I regret it deeply. What happened next was out of my control. Once I had thought over your decision, and my reaction, I realized I was being foolish. I messaged my mother to inform her I intended to pair with you.”
At this, I sucked in a surprised breath. In all that time he had never mentioned this to me; I thought he was just sitting on the fence, unsure the entire time.
He smiled at my reaction. “An unfortunate part of my position, my family, is that I have to officially announce when I’ve chosen a mate. Or, rather, when she has chosen me.” His eyes burned with a glow so bright they surpassed the reflected firelight. “I wish I had defied tradition and just done it when you asked. Her reply was not what I expected.”
“She doesn’t want you to pair with me?” I asked in a small voice. I had always found Shaline intimidating, but I thought she liked me.
“Not that,” Mick was quick to explain. “She told me there was some controversy among our people about Todd’s pairing with Emily, and she wanted me to hold off until she could settle it down. She instructed me not to tell anyone, and so I couldn’t explain to you. I didn’t have a reasonable explanation to give you and not wanting to mislead you I opted to leave things in the worst disarray between us.” At this he reached for my free hand, squeezing it tightly. “Please understand I still desire to be your mate and form the brashule with you. That is if you still want me. That has never changed, never been a question.” His eyes radiated sincerity and hope, and I swam in the heady sensation of relief. I didn’t realize how much I’d been fearing that he had changed his mind.
“Mick, all I want is you, too. That hasn’t changed for me either. I admit it has hurt me, not knowing why you pulled away and held me at arm’s length. I felt… unwanted.” Admitting that was easier now that he just reassured me how much he wanted me.
Mick set down his glass, then lightly tugged mine from my hand and set it down as well. One hand still gripping mine, he stroked my cheek tenderly with the other, touching his forehead to mine. “Lucy,” he whispered, “I’m so sorry. Believe me, there was never a moment when I didn’t want you. In fact, I wanted you so badly it was difficult for me to be close to you and not go further. I had to restrain myself, and I found it was just easier if I didn’t let myself get into a position with you where I lost sight of my obligations. It’s far too tempting for me to decide that you are more important to me than any promise I made my mother.”
“I don’t want to come between you and your mother,” I replied, a note of sadness creeping into my voice. Surely, if it came to that, he would choose family?
“No, love, it’s not like that at all.”
“So, what is it like? And why are you able to tell me this now? I thought you said she told you not to tell anyone?”
Mick leaned back, still holding my hand tightly. “She has explained to me the reason for her orders. Now that I understand fully what’s going on, I know what we need to do.”
“And what’s that?”
“Mother has asked us to spend more time with her, Shanii, and Todd and Emily. They need to observe them, observe us, to determine whether theirs is a true brashule.”
“But I thought you just said-”
“I know it is, but she needs to witness it with her own eyes. She and Shanii have to make a decision that will affect so many of our people, they want to be absolutely sure. They won’t take my word for it, particularly since they find my opinion on this matter a little… biased.” He grinned at me with an almost impish expression. “Regardless, this is a good thing. Once they witness Todd and Emily together and get to know you, I don’t see how they could deny the truth.”
“But you said Drake is against it? What if Shanii listens to him?”
“Lucy,” he paused, considering his words, “mates are equals, but the core, the leader, is always the female. The male may influence her, but she is always in possession of her own mind, and for my mother and sister, the role of their mates is to council, but not influence, the queen and future queen. Drake may have his opinions, but he can’t bend Shanii to his will.”
I considered this for a moment. Shaline had a power difficult to describe; I could feel her strength from anywhere in the room, it just seemed to flow around her. She was as impassive as a mountain but still fluid like water. There was a deity-like quality about her, an all-knowing grace.
Shanii, Mick’s sister, had some of those qualities. I understood that she was still learning, and that perhaps was why I didn’t feel the strength of her immobile conviction the same way I felt it from Shaline. I wasn’t 100 percent convinced that Drake wasn’t able to influence her. He seemed the type to speak his mind, despite how he held his tongue in front of us. I had no doubt that behind the privacy of closed doors, he told Shanii what he thought frequently and with much enthusiasm. I couldn’t help but wonder how much he could affect her decisions if he tried. Mick appeared to trust completely in his mother and sister to choose wisely, and in the way he hoped. I was not as hopeful; it seemed too simple.
I reached for my wineglass and drew a long sip. “So,” I asked, “when do we start convincing your mom I’m the right woman for you?”
REUNION
LUCY
For several days after Mick confessed the reason for his strange distance, we visited with Shaline and Shanii every night. Sometimes Benjamin and Drake were there, often not. Typically, we shared a relaxed meal with them in Mick’s apartment; it was a comfortable space for Todd, Emily, and I, and the familiar surroundings helped keep us at ease. I didn’t tell Todd and Emily everything Mick shared with me; instead, I explained they wanted to get to know us, and understand us better. That they were curious about their bond, and to be as lovey-dovey and honest about their feelings as possible.
Todd and Em were happy to oblige. They were naturally the sickeningly happy couple, so it was no stretch for them to behave like it. The labs on the vimpiri ship were still testing Em’s blood sample, and it was helpful to distract her from that worry.
Mick said that this was about proving they had the brashule, the bond that was so important to vimpiri. However, I suspected that their perception of that bond would be heavily influenced by how much they liked or didn’t like Emily and me. Em was a natural charmer, everyone loved her. She’d had our boss Fred wrapped around her little finger since our intern days, and she basically got away with murder at work.
It was harder for me. I wasn’t naturally outgoing, or charming, or funny. I allowed Emily the spotlight since she seemed to flourish in it. I preferred to be her sidekick, happy to tag along as the best friend of someone that everyone wanted to be friends with.
I realized a few months back the role Emily played in my life. I hadn’t realized it before, hadn’t considered why I was so attached to her. When I saw her laying on the cold cavern floor, sickly green and not breathing, I suddenly understood. My older sister was the popular one, my protector and best friend growing up; she died while we were in high school. Em was my first roo
mmate in college, and she was just as popular and outgoing as Mary had been. Something in her took over, and she started acting like Mary used to: Styling my hair, fixing my makeup, fussing at me to set aside my homework and go have fun.
Em brought me out of my shell the same way Mary had. It was astounding to me I’d never realized it until the moment I thought I’d lost her, just as I’d lost Mary.
Now she was here, radiant, fingers clutching Todd’s hand and chatting animatedly with Shaline. I tried to involve myself in the conversation whenever I could, but it was difficult to talk over Emily. Mick gave my hand a reassuring squeeze, reminding me he didn’t expect me to be Emily.
Shaline appeared to enjoy Emily’s spirit as much as anyone else. She smiled softly and asked questions about our life on the outskirts of Philly. Em gestured wildly, retelling a story from our college days that was clean enough to tell a queen. Shanii observed and appeared amused, but it was hard to read her thoughts behind the expression. I couldn’t tell if it was sincere, or she was behaving as appropriate. The smile on her lips didn’t seem to reach her eyes, which made me suspicious of what she truly thought.
On the occasions it was just Shaline and Shanii, the evenings were light-hearted and comfortable. I really felt that we were making progress. It was clear to anyone who witnessed them together that Todd and Emily were one heart, and the improved spirit of our gatherings was enough to make me hopeful.
However, on the nights that Benjamin and Drake joined us, the atmosphere was different. Benjamin was nice, and usually had a kind smile for everyone, but he didn’t speak much. Drake was a black cloud on every occasion. He appeared to be insulted just being among us and avoided conversation as much as possible. Typically, on these nights Mick attempted to keep him and Benjamin busy with a discussion and allow Shaline and Shanii time with Todd, Emily, and me.
Tonight, Drake appeared more agitated than usual.
Emily was telling Shaline and Shanii how we first discovered something was different at the movie theater when she punched that guy so hard he went flying. They laughed when Emily pretended to demonstrate her killer uppercut on Todd, who was happy to play her hapless victim.
I glanced at the group of guys, just checking on Mick, but it surprised me to see Drake with his arms crossed, glaring at Emily, a flush creeping up his neck and reddening his cheeks below his auburn hair. Mick appeared to not notice, or at least was ignoring it.
When Todd pretended to fly backward, wheeling his feet to land hard on his butt, an enraged voice rose from behind us.
“ENOUGH!” Drake was standing, his hands splayed wide and his face entirely red. “This is unnatural!” He pointed at Emily, her fist still up in a pretend punch. “Why are you entertaining this insanity?” His accusing eyes aimed at Shanii, and the smile slid from her pale face. “We didn’t know this would happen before, we thought they would both perish and that would be the end. Their choice. But now here they are, an abomination to both our species, and we’re all acting like this is normal? Like its entertainment? I’ve had enough!” He turned and stalked toward the exit with long, angry strides. With his hand on the doorknob, he glanced back, his jaw working furiously. “I just hope that when you decide, you remember that this is supposed to be about what is best for our people, not just for your friends,” he spat. He rattled off a few more sentences in the lilting vimpiri language that I didn’t understand, then flung the door open and stalked out.
My eyes sought Mick’s first, and his expression told me he was just as shocked at this outburst as I was. Benjamin appeared embarrassed, and when I glanced over at Shaline and Shanii, they looked saddened, their eyes downcast to their laps. Todd rose and rejoined Emily, both of their expressions contrite. Shaline and Shanii shared a long look, wordless communication passed between them, and they rose as one.
Shanii stepped forward and reached for Emily, her long corn silk hair swinging forward as she embraced the smaller woman gently. “Thank you for the story, Emily. I believe I should depart, but I hope you have a lovely evening.” She walked toward me next and wrapped me in a similar hug. “Goodnight, Lucy.” Her crystalline blue eyes caught mine, and there was a quick moment of sadness that flashed behind them before she looked away.
“Goodnight, Shanii,” I replied, kissing her cheeks and waiting as she crossed to Mick and Benjamin to bid them farewell.
Shaline and Benjamin remained for a short time, but they soon left us in the wake of Drake’s outburst. The mood of the evening was in tatters and we sat quietly when the guests were gone, staring at the fireplace.
Emily was the first to find her voice. “What did he say?” She asked softly.
“What?” Todd asked as if he hadn’t understood her question.
“When he left, he said something in vimpiri. I wondered what it was,” she turned the full force of her bright blue eyes on him, and they almost appeared to glow in the firelight the way Todd’s and Mick’s did.
Todd cleared his throat. “It’s not important, baby. It… wasn’t worthy of being said once, let alone repeated.” He leaned over and kissed her forehead.
Emily’s jaw clenched, and I knew she didn’t like that answer. Like me, she was a reporter because of her curious nature and her tenacity to get to the bottom of any mystery. I had a feeling we didn’t really want to know what he had said, and the guys didn’t want to tell us. I changed the subject.
“What did he mean when he said, ‘not just for your friends?’” I asked. “Todd, are you and Shanii friends?”
Todd nodded, his Adam’s apple bobbing as if swallowing was difficult.
“We’ve all been friends since we were very young,” Mick said. “Shanii was scarcely born before my mother was pregnant with me. Todd is older than me, younger than Shanii. We were always together…” He paused, and I got the feeling there was something he wasn’t saying.
“And?” I prompted.
“And Shanii and I were very close,” Todd said, his voice rough. “I wanted… I mean, I thought… I hoped at one time to be her mate.”
The sudden silence in the room was deafening. Emily sought my face, her eyes wide with surprise. I returned her look, then lifted my eyes to Todd’s face. “What happened?” I asked.
“We weren’t meant to be,” Todd replied softly. His eyes returned to Emily, and he lifted her hand to his lips, kissing her knuckles softly. “I understand now, I did not understand what it felt like before. I imagined that the affection I felt for her was the beginning of brashule. Now I know it was just that, affection. Nothing more. Nothing, not a hundredth of what I feel for you.” He smiled, and Emily beamed at him.
I put two and two together. “What Drake said in vimpiri before he left, was it about that?”
Todd nodded, the glow in his blue eyes dimming when he dragged them from Emily to me. “Yes, he reminded me I’d been wrong before, and he said I would be proven wrong again.”
***
MICK
Lucy’s eyes were on fire tonight. Ever since she and I spoke last night, and she finally understood what was going on, the spark I’d been missing had returned. We hadn’t been as physically intimate as before this whole mess started, but that sense of closeness had returned. The sexual tension between us was building again, slowly.
Watching her with my family set my heart ablaze. She belonged here, with me. She didn’t realize yet, couldn’t truly understand, but my mother and sister were already treating her like my mate. They treated her with the respect of a female vimpiri, considering her and greeting her before they spoke to me. It was subtle, but I knew what they were doing. They agreed that she was my equal, and that elevated her status.
Lucy wasn’t as boisterous as Emily, who demanded to be the center of attention nearly as much as Todd did. Well, now they were paired Todd seemed content to allow Emily the spotlight when he wasn’t on stage, giving her the deference that a male vimpiri owed his mate. It was amazing to witness the change in him, how pairing with Emily had settled somethi
ng in his restless nature. He was content, relaxed, open. He often played that character, the rockstar who was too cool to be bothered by anything. The truth was, he was more of an anxious being, second-guessing himself often behind closed doors. Pairing with Emily clicked something into place for him.
Even after Drake’s outburst, and having to explain what he meant, Todd wasn’t as upset as I expected. I could tell he was slightly embarrassed, confessing that he had once wished to pair with Shanii. Even if their young relationships were different, I think Emily and Lucy understood his difficulty in admitting that. Shanii had rejected him gently, but since Drake was already in the picture, he knew everything. I suspect he resented Todd on some level for trying to claim her. It was Drake’s appearance in Shanii’s life that had prompted Todd to rush in before he considered what he was doing. I suspected he was just afraid of things changing; he had grown accustomed to being close with both of us; Shanii pairing would inevitably change that.
In any event, Drake was Shanii’s mate, and now Emily’s was Todd’s. Cleary Mother recognized that, but Shanii was sometimes a little harder to read. She greeted Lucy first, as my intended mate, then Emily, as custom dictated. But there was something hesitant about it. She appeared to be following my mother’s actions, and I couldn’t be certain if she did so willingly or not.
After Emily and Todd retired to their room, Lucy and I remained in the living room. She was still in her place on the couch, nearest the fireplace, so I rose from my chair and retrieved the bottle of wine from the kitchen before returning to sit next to her. After filling her glass, then mine, I settled into the seat next to her and waited.
She was staring at the flames, apparently lost in thought. The flickering light reflected in her eyes, catching the flecks of gold that made them more hazel than green. Her jaw worked, and I could tell she had the inside of her cheek pinched between her teeth, biting it softly, thinking. A smile curled its way onto my face as I watched her—she didn’t realize it, but she always bit her cheek when she was deep in thought. It wasn’t an overt gesture, like pulling her entire lip between her teeth. It was like a physical manifestation of what she was doing, chewing over information in her mind. I reached up, brushing the dark blond locks back from her shoulder and exposing her neck. Slowly I caressed the back of her head, massaging before running my fingertips down her neck. My heart rate picked up speed as I trailed my hand over the tender skin below her ear.
