by C. W. Gray
Fire’s Mate
Charybdis Station
C.W. Gray
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Epilogue
Also by C.W. Gray
Copyright © 2020 C.W. Gray
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law. For permissions contact:
[email protected]
Cover by Cosmic Letterz
Edited by Kiki Clark at LesCourt Author Services
Created with Vellum
1
Anchor’s Rest System, Charybdis Station
Fire and his guinea pig, Jellybean, were curled up in the middle of the large, comfortable bed with their friends. It had been a long morning, and Fire needed to recharge, so they had made a cozy nest of pillows, and sleep was fast approaching.
Marmalade, a large orange tabby cat, watched him with sleepy green eyes. She was an expert napper and had taught Fire the importance of finding just the right spot for prime napping potential.
Closer, she thought and sent him an image of them cuddled together. Fire wiggled over and Marmalade nestled against his shoulder so he could settle his head on her. Jellybean moved to lean against the cat’s side, and she wrapped a paw around him.
Fire’s other friend, Gretty, was already asleep. The little hybrid toddler was fast becoming an expert napper too. She curled against his stomach, and the bushy tail poking out of her diaper tickled his arm.
Fire stared at the tunnel tubes lining the wall of the bedroom. Small balls of fur bustled through the tubing, traveling quickly between rooms in the house. Years ago, the Druffle had been one small nest belonging to Fire’s friend Leti. After five years of expansions, there were Druffle nests in every house in the neighborhood and several others on Charybdis Station.
Fire and Marmalade enjoyed watching them. He thought they were adorable, but Marmalade just thought they looked tasty.
Expand the nest. Expand the nest.
Fire chuckled softly. “Silly Druffle want to take over the station, Marmalade.”
She patted his nose with her paw. Sleep. Rest. No worry.
“Good idea,” he whispered and closed his eyes.
The door to the bedroom opened and made him open his eyes again. Lucas looked around, face frantic. When the Betonize-Cardinal hybrid noticed them on the bed, he instantly relaxed.
“Damn it, Fire. What did I tell you about taking Gretty from her room without telling me?” Lucas asked, glaring at him. His silky black feline ears were flat against his head.
Fire hugged Gretty closer. “I left a note.”
Lucas held up a piece of red candy. “You left a cinnamon ball.”
“Hmm, give me.” Fire held his hand out, instantly wanting the hot candy.
Lucas rolled his eyes and sat on the side of the bed before handing the candy to Fire.
“Why are you in my bed?” Lucas asked, smoothing a hand over Gretty’s dark, messy hair.
“It was Marmalade’s idea. She said Gretty needed to nap with us too, and this is the most comfortable bed,” Fire said, pouting around the candy in his mouth.
Truth, Marmalade thought, yawning wide and settling in to sleep.
“You can’t blame Marmalade all the time,” Lucas said, giving him a look.
“It’s the truth,” Fire muttered, feeling the grumpiness he’d been hoping to nap away return. “Go away. I need this nap.”
Lucas patted his shoulder. “What’s wrong?”
“I don’t want to talk about it,” Fire said and pushed his face into Marmalade’s fur. A second later, he looked back at Lucas. “Okay, so this morning, I saw Silas and Rune kissing at the tram before they left for work.”
Lucas gave him a gentle smile. “They kiss all the time. They’re mates.”
“I want a mate.” Fire narrowed his eyes. “Almost everyone has a mate but me. Even Estella and Mo are mates, and they don’t even know it yet! It’s not fair.”
Lucas covered his ears. “I didn’t hear that. I don’t need to know they’re mates, or I’ll have to tell Morgan and he’ll kill Mo. Estella’s his little girl, no matter how old she gets.”
Fire poked his ear. “You’re not listening. I want my mate. I want someone to love and take care of. I want to make them smile and laugh and hold them when they cry. I want babies too, lots and lots of babies, or maybe we can adopt a kitten and raise it. I like kittens.”
“You’ll find your mate someday.” Lucas gave him a thoughtful look. “You’re young, at least in body. You have years left to find a mate and settle down. What about trying your hand at dating while you wait?”
“I did already.” Fire made a disgusted sound. “It was horrible, Lucas. I tried, I swear I did.”
Lucas’s eyes widened, and his tail twitched with agitation. “You tried dating someone? Did you tell Sebastian? Why didn’t I know about this? Damn it, I don’t like it.”
Fire shook his head. “Sebastian didn’t want me to go, but I went anyway and didn’t tell him about it until I got back. Sebby never lets me have any fun.”
“What did you do, Fire?” Lucas asked, expression as growly as his voice.
Fire sighed and scratched the top of Gretty’s head. The toddler smiled in her sleep, then snuffled and burrowed closer to him. “I went to a club with Liam.”
Lucas’s lips flattened into a thin line. “Liam Doney.”
Fire nodded. “He used to date Shae, and Shae told me that Liam would be a good practice date.” He gave Lucas a solemn look. “He was wrong, Lucas. It was horrible.”
“What did the bastard do?” Lucas growled and moved to pace around the room. “I’ll get Sebastian, and we’ll hunt the fucker down.”
“There was no food,” Fire said, fighting back unhappy tears at the memory. “The stupid, horrible club had no food, just drinks. What was I supposed to do, Lucas? All Liam wanted to do was drink and dance, but I was hungry. Then, he said something unforgiveable.” Fire buried his face back against Marmalade’s side. “He said I shouldn’t have brought Jellybean with me on a date.”
Lucas was quiet for a moment, and Fire peeked up at him. His friend looked like he was holding back laughter.
“That’s why it was a horrible date?” Lucas asked, shoulders shaking.
“Yes,” Fire hissed. “Why was there no food? It’s not right. I was so hungry and had to wait until I got home to eat. Plus, who wouldn’t bring Jellybean with them anywhere if they could? He’s the best guinea pig alive. Liam Doney is the worse date ever.”
Lucas sighed and sat back down on the bed. “One day, Fire, you’re going to make someone a very good mate. Just stay away from Liam Doney, okay?”
Fire sighed and leaned into Lucas’s shoulder. “I really need a nap.”
An hour later, Fire was no closer to finding his usual peace and contentment. He hated feeling so out of sorts, but sometimes his feelings simmered for a long, long time before he could make sense of them.
There were days he missed being a simple flame on his home world of Genarg. His earliest memories were of burning a path across the planet while Genarg whispered to him. It had been a peaceful and innocent time. There wasn’t a Sebby though, he thought, frowning. There wouldn’t be a mate there either.
Fire had wanted a ma
te ever since he met the absolute best person in all the galaxy – Sebastian. His Sebby was mated to Alois, and they were so happy. Fire wanted that happiness.
He passed the community park and saw Gravy and Perriwinkle cuddled together under a rose bush. Normally, the two dogs went to work with their people, Hack and Alois. Gravy had told him they were taking a romantic day off soon, and today must be that day.
The two dogs licked each other’s faces and mumbled sweet nothings to each other. Usually, Fire loved seeing the two happy, but at the moment their joy just made him sad.
Jellybean rolled beside him in his ball as they continued down the street. Mate come one day.
“You’re right, Jellybean.” Fire scowled. “I just gotta be patient, and that isn’t any fun.”
Fire passed his friend Leti’s house and waved at the large Fire Veil dragon basking on the front lawn. Princess Buttercup usually stayed at Leti’s side, but someone had to raise the baby dragons that now lived in the neighborhood.
At least Chutney helps, Fire thought and made sure to wave at the big tomcat in the tree too. Chutney’s attention was focused on the two baby dragons, Honey and Stardust, romping around the yard.
Chutney nodded to him before hissing at the babies when Honey pushed Stardust a little too hard.
“You’re a good daddy, Chutney.” Fire laughed when the cat sent him the image of the two babies behaving perfectly. “Good luck with that.”
Princess growled and nudged Aagy, making the juvenile dragon hiss.
Aagy gave Fire a pathetic look and ran to him. Want to play.
Fire’s hands went to his hips. “No playing until your lessons are over. Princess is teaching you to shift sizes. Don’t you want to be able to go with Pepper to school when she starts? You can’t do that if you’re always big.”
Aagy moaned and flopped on his side. It’s hard.
“Sebastian always says that anything worth doing is gonna be hard,” Fire said, shaking his finger. “Princess had to learn all this on his own, but you’re lucky and have him to help. You better get to work.”
Fire noticed someone watching them from the house. Pepper gave Aagy a longing look, sticky hands pressed to the window. Must be her lunch time, Fire thought, stomach growling. I need lunch too.
Love sister. Aagy slowly got to his feet and went back to Princess, head hanging low. For sister.
Princess hissed and smoke curled from his nostrils. Annoying juvenile.
“He’s trying, Princess,” Fire said, hugging the big dragon. “Give him a chance?”
Rather eat him, but Mother likes stupid little one. Princess sighed and nudged Aagy again. He learn.
Fire chuckled and looked back at Leti’s house. Now, Leti stood with Pepper and watched the dragons. The man had his son Milo on his hip and wore the same look of longing as Pepper. They wanted their dragons to come play with them.
“Princess, maybe you can have a break?” Fire nodded toward the window.
Princess looked up, eyes softening when he saw Leti. Mother needs me.
Sister, Aagy said, balancing on his hind legs to watch Pepper. Playtime?
Princess grumbled but went to gather the babies before going into the house.
Fire’s stomach rumbled so he hurried to his own home next door. “Jellybean, we need lunch.”
Sebastian and his apprentice, Kelly, were in the living room studying. Sebastian was a shaman and was training Kelly to be one too. Fire had overheard them talking about learning more defensive skills to better protect the neighborhood.
To the average observer, they looked like they were sitting across from one another, staring at the air above them. Fire let his mind fall into the spirit world, so he could see what they were doing.
Instantly, the world brightened around him and filled with threads connecting everything around him. He admired the strong gold and red thread binding him to Sebastian. He remembered having a similar thread connect him to his queen, but that was a very long time ago, and he didn’t like thinking about her. That thread had never been as strong as the one connecting him to Sebastian.
The two shamans were listening to one of Sebastian’s spirit guides, Tell, while he explained something about drowning someone in soil. Boring, Fire thought, wrinkling his nose and leaving the spirit world, so he wouldn’t have to hear Tell drone on and on.
While Fire could see the spirit world, since he was an Element, he couldn’t manipulate any of the threads he saw or even do more than talk to a spirit if it happened to show up around him.
A sweet trilling drew his attention, and Fire turned around. Sebastian’s bird, Mustachio, watched them from one of his many perches. The large Radollia shimmered in the light.
“Hi, Mustachio,” Fire whispered. “I need lunch.”
The bird glared at him and used a wing to cover his own plate of fresh vegetables and strips of meat.
“I wasn’t gonna take your food,” Fire said, rolling his eyes. “I only did that once, and Sebastian got mad.”
Fire went and made himself a couple of sandwiches and grabbed a carrot before returning to watch Kelly and Sebastian. He helped Jellybean out of his ball and handed him the carrot before focusing on his own lunch.
Jellybean flopped back against his favorite pillow and nibbled his carrot.
Fire grabbed a pillow and lay down beside him. He ate quickly and sighed when his stomach continued to grumble. Need more food.
He made sure Sebastian wasn’t looking, then stuck his tongue out at Kelly.
She looked away from Tell and snickered when she saw him.
He made a face and wiggled side to side. Stupid Kelly.
She winked and blew a raspberry at him.
“Behave, you two,” Sebastian said, turning around to give Fire the look.
Fire’s shoulders slumped. Kelly really wasn’t that bad, but she took a lot of Sebastian’s time, and Fire didn’t like it. “Sorry.”
Sebastian held his arms open, and Fire went in for a hug. Sebastian’s aura of calm and love instantly made him feel better.
“How was your nap?” Sebastian asked, rubbing Fire’s back.
“Lucas interrupted us and made me talk,” Fire grumbled. “I want my mate, Sebby, and maybe a kitten. A kitten would be nice, wouldn’t it?”
“Maybe after you mate,” Sebastian said, amused. “You have Jellybean.”
“I love Jellybean.” Fire watched his guinea pig friend roll around on his pillow. “A kitten would love Jellybean too.”
Kelly laughed. “Come on, Sebastian. How can you resist that face?”
Sebastian snorted. “Don’t you start. We have too much going on for Fire to get a kitten.” He held Fire back a little. “We’re going somewhere that I think you’ll really like.”
Fire patted his stomach. “Juniper’s Diner? I’m hungry.”
“Of course you are,” Kelly said, rolling her eyes.
Sebastian bit back his smile. “We’ll go there too since it’s time for a break. The place I’m talking about is far away. It’s a planet called Burnished Outpost.”
Fire tilted his head, thinking over what he knew of their system. “That’s where Leti’s mate is from.”
“It’s a desert planet,” Sebastian said, straightening Fire’s mussed hair. “Hack is going there to meet his younger half-siblings. We’re all going to go with him, and you’ll have a few weeks to play in the heat.”
Fire smiled widely, something settling deep within him. “I can’t wait.”
2
Anchor’s Rest System, Burnished Outpost
Quigley watched the sun slowly rise over the sand dunes around the clan’s encampment. The bright, fiery orb turned the sand a soft pink, and he had to fight down the urge to grab one of the Oryx and ride toward the sun. His bones told him a sandstorm was coming, though there was barely any wind.
“What’s firing up your shorts?” Gram asked him, moving to stand beside him, her hand a welcome weight on his shoulder.
His gran
dmother was still a beautiful woman, though her face was lined and her hair gray. She used to stand tall and strong, but age and a hard life weighed on her, and her bones hurt more often than not. To him, that didn’t matter. She was still his Gram and would always be the most beautiful woman around, her only equals his sister, Sara, and his daughter, Aster.
“Quig, did you hear me, or do I need to yell louder?” Gram asked, voice rising with each word.
Quigley rolled his eyes. “I’m okay, Gram. I’m just feeling the need for a hunt.”
She gave him a considering look. “You’ve been getting that feeling a lot lately. It reminds me of when I felt the mating call. My feet itched like they were on fire, and I practically ran the whole way to your grandfather’s clan to find him.”
Quigley snorted. “Unless my mate lives in the sky, I’m not feeling any mating call.”
“The rumors say the chieftain in Star’s Oasis sends our people there,” Gram said, pointing into the sky. “Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to go.”
Quigley looked around, making sure no one was around them. “They’d never let us go, Gram. You know that. They don’t even like it when we go off on a hunt by ourselves.”
She gave him a sad look and patted his stomach. “One day, you may not have a choice, Quig. I’ll get the kids ready for the hunt.”
“Thanks.” He turned away from the rising sun and walked toward the clan elder’s tent.
Horus lived in the largest tent at the center of the encampment. The man had only been clan elder a few years now, but he had already made changes. Changes for the worse, Quigley thought to himself.
The smell of cooked meat filled the air, but the cooking fires were already being doused. The desert heat made cooking on a fire during the day unpleasant to say the least. They cooked breakfast before sunrise and dinner after the sun set.
