by Erin Raegan
That’s right. The whole damn planet had a front row seat to the show between my legs. Syn looked vaguely sick while Uthyf was a stoic statue of disturbed awe. Mona stood behind Vivian, a handful of cloth in her arms, tears streaking her face.
Another fireball shot down and out of my uterus, then there was nothing but relief. A cheer went through the crowd, and Vivian held up a bloody ball of goop. I sagged back into Tahk, sobbing in relief and joy and pure amazement as I looked at my gross little baby.
“A boy,” Vivian whispered, and one by one, everyone in the room repeated her.
“Boy?” I asked, just to be sure. I had been so damn convinced it was a girl.
Vivian nodded, tears falling in fat streams.
Tahk jolted, and his chest expanded in a deep breath. Vivian let Mona wipe my baby boy, while she discreetly severed his umbilical cord and cleared his airways. He opened his mouth, and a screech startled everyone into silence. Vivian laid him on my chest. My fingernails slowly retracted from Tahk’s arms and my hands so, so carefully went to the naked little boy lying on me. Tahk’s hands covered mine, and together we held him, staring at him in wonder.
He was a dahkling in every way imaginable. Light lilac skin, tiny limp wings, and a nose flatter than a human’s. And those eyes, they were all his daddy. The only thing I could lay claim to was the little tuft of hair on his head. That, and his bone structure. There were no clown feet or curved legs. He had the legs, arms, and feet of a human. But otherwise he looked just like Byda’s baby girl, Saysa.
“A son,” Tahk whispered in reverence.
“You win,” I agreed, not the slightest bit disappointed.
Haytu had, at some point, escaped his rage and was crouching beside the bed, staring at my son with the same amazement as Tahk. “Name him, son.”
Tahk’s arms tightened around me. I’d had ideas for a girl, but a boy? I hadn’t even really considered it.
It was tradition for the father to name the baby. And she was a boy. Tahk had wanted a son so badly. I wouldn’t take this from him. “Go on, Daddy, name him.”
Tahk’s eyes whirled as he bent to look into mine. After kissing me softly, he looked back down. “Sym, to honor my mate’s father Symon.”
“He would’ve loved that,” my mom said, wiping her tears.
Tahk nodded. “My yula has named a heetbull after him, but I feel our child deserves the name far more.”
Several chuckles filled the room and I choked on a laugh. Dad’s name was Simon, but in Dahk, it would sound like Simone and yeah, Sym was kind of awesome. Dad would have loved my heetbull Simon, but my boy? He would have loved that more. “Sym.”
Haytu crowed his name, and the rest of the room followed suit.
I pulled Sym to my face and whispered the first blessing. No one ever shared their blessings, and I wished so much for my little boy that it took a long moment to impart all of it onto him. But Tahk waited patiently for me to finish.
Then he stood from behind me and cradled Sym, bending over him to whisper into his crown. I heard honor, strength, and valor, but Tahk, like me, had so much to wish for our son that it took him a while to finish. No one said a word, everyone reverently waiting for Tahk to finish. He handed Sym to my mother, who cried through her turn, then Haytu and his mates. One by one, Sym was passed around the room.
Lastly, Mona whispered her blessing then handed him to Uthyf. The room was heavy with wonder and a warm awe as the king of the Dahk blessed the first human-Dahk child. He did not rush it. He took his time, showing his care for this new child in his kingdom.
Then he walked to Tahk, handed him over, and the Dahk King bent to one knee and pounded his chest. “I vow to protect this child for you, my friend. I vow to do all in my power, with all the might and strength of my throne, to help him grow and flourish in a safe kingdom that accepts and cherishes him as you do. As I do.”
Tahk dropped his hand onto Uthyf’s shoulder, holding it there as the Dahk warriors under his command knelt one by one and made the same vow.
6
Tahk
My mate was magnificent and the fiercest female ever to have lived. She endured a tremendous battle, bringing our son into the universe, and became victorious. My love for her knew no bounds. Every morn she captured me and gave me the gift of her love and trust.
I knew she would do no less for my Sym. She would protect him with the same ferocious conviction with which she gave him life.
My son was the greatest gift she could bestow on me, and I would be forever indebted to her for bringing him life.
Still, there would be no more babes for her.
“Tahk,” she sighed heavily in warning.
I would not budge. I told her so with my firm gaze.
She laughed quietly. “No sex ever again then?”
I grunted. “Do not worry, my yula, I will satisfy you in other ways. You will not miss my cock.”
She snorted. “Doubtful.”
“You enjoy my mouth, arguably more than my hands.” She flushed red, and I added, “Though my fangs alone could keep you content.”
“Tahk, shush.” She looked pointedly at Gryo as he bustled around the room, cleaning up the afterbirth with a sickly pallor.
“I do not care who hears me, my mate. I will not survive another human birth.”
“Ugh, so what? You won’t miss me, you know, that way?”
“I will grieve your cunt—”
“Don’t. Say that word.” She glared at me. “I know you talk to Fihk, and Bailey might love that in her bed, but I do not.”
“I will grieve the wet heat of my mate”—her cheeks flared darker—“but I value your life more.”
“We’ll see about that.” She huffed, relaxing into the soft bedding.
I hid my grin, looking at my son. My Sym.
I was a weak male when it came to my mate. I had no doubt, after she was healed, she would test my restraint. I would put up a valiant fight, but I could not refuse her. I knew this about myself for certain. But I also knew the humans used contraception. It was distasteful and would certainly shame me if it became public knowledge, but I truly did not believe I could withstand watching her go through such pain again. I had already given Olynth the order to gather all the information he could on these condoms and find a way to discreetly replicate them. Or to acquire them if he could not have them made.
The male had not made a sound of protest. My lieutenant had looked sick with worry after witnessing Sym’s birth. I had no doubt he would be applying them with his own mate after having seen Peyton’s pain.
Gryo would have a new task very soon as well. Surely the humans had methods to endure such pain, and Uthyf and I would soon be ordering the healers to research those methods and find a way to implement them on Home World.
My Pehytohn closed her eyes in exhaustion, so I left her to rest while I sat at the foot of her bed with our son until he showed signs of hunger.
He had received great blessings from all that had witnessed the first moments of his life, as well as a vow of protection from my king and my Dahk. But it was only the beginning. Dahk from all over would be visiting to bless my son. I did not hold the same trust for my Dahk as I once did, but I would not deny those that wished to bless him. It would be a long process, allowing them an audience one at a time in a carefully controlled manner. It was unusual way to celebrate a blessing but my son deserved that honor.
And he would have it.
But I would not be lenient with any that dared harm him.
Until he grew to be the great warrior and commander I knew he would become, he would be carefully guarded and watched over, as I knew the ancestors did now. No greater care would ever be taken for another being on Home World, of that I was certain.
Even now, my Dahk were preparing his guard, enlisting my most trusted warriors.
Sym was a marvel. The first dahkling born of a Pythen mating bond in hundreds of sunspins. A true blessing.
But he was also in great
danger.
And as I looked at my son, carefully bundled and shielded from the threats of the universe in my arms, I knew it would not always be so. There were those that may see him as an abomination. A threat to our species.
But they did not know what I felt in my heart.
There was no greater threat to them than me.
The Commander of the Dahk Army.
They did not know the lengths I was willing to go. The worlds I was willing to destroy. The lives I was willing to take to ensure my son’s safety.
7
Lydia
We were heading back to the castle. Vyr had brought Vivian here as soon as Sym was born and she offered her blessing. Now she, Prin, and Vyr were back in the castle, looking after Peyton and Sym.
Yilt and the rest of the Dahk stayed as we prepared Star to come back with us. Nick didn’t want her to go to the castle, but Linda was there as well, so he was coming too.
But not Bailey or Fihk or Nathan.
I knocked on Bailey’s door, shuffling my feet as the three interrogators stood at my back. They hadn’t stopped following me around, even after Prin left. It was worrying to say the least. They barely spoke to me. Ohta and Hylg rarely spared me a glance. But Ignyt? He watched my every move. He followed me and the others followed him. He didn’t talk to me, though I knew he could be chatty. Ignyt and Nathan got along great. They carried on, huddled over Nathan’s comics, whispering and snickering to each other. Ignyt apparently had a fascination with superheroes and their superpowers.
I knocked again, and a curse drifted from the door. I hadn’t seen Bailey since arriving last night. Not once had she left her room, and I sort of felt obligated to check on her. Bailey rarely hid from anyone or anything.
The door swung open and I gaped at her. She looked terrible.
“Oh my gosh, Bailey, are you okay?”
She grunted and walked away. I hesitantly followed her into the room. She dropped onto the enormous bed in the middle of the room, groaning and clutching her stomach.
“Bailey?”
She didn’t look at me or the three scarred males that followed me into the room. I wasn’t sure how Fihk or especially Olynth would feel about the interrogators in their room, but if they weren’t concerned, I wouldn’t stress about it. I was too worried about Bailey anyway.
I crouched by the side of the bed and looked at her pale face. “Are you sick?”
I looked around in worry. Where were her mates? I knew enough about them to know they wouldn’t leave her like this.
Hesitantly, I reached out to feel her forehead, but she swatted my hand away. “Go away.”
“Um…” I looked at the blank faces of Ignyt, Ohta, and Hylg. Ignyt was glaring at the hand Bailey had swatted at me with, but the other two looked distinctly bored. They would be no help. “Can I get you anything?”
“No, just—oh shit.” Bailey leapt from the bed and ran into the bathroom at the end of the room.
I gaped as she bent over the toilet and dry-heaved. I rushed after her, gathered her hair in my fist, and held it back from her face. The ends were pale, pale greenish-blue, the dye nearly leeched from it. All I could seem to focus on was how she was going to get her hair dyed again and if it bothered her as she spent long minutes barfing into the toilet.
This felt like a strangely intimate moment to share with her. She barely knew me. But I couldn’t leave her.
She finally collapsed on the floor and against the wall, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. Looking up at me beneath her wet lashes, she sighed and rolled her eyes. “Guess someone would find out eventually.”
“Find out what?”
She squinted at me.
“Y-you’re—”
“Pregnant,” she sneered. “Yeah.”
“Oh wow, that’s… congratulations?”
She chuckled humorlessly. “Yeah, woohoo.”
She didn’t seem happy about it, and I didn’t know what to say.
She groaned. “Don’t look at me like that. I’m happy about it. Thrilled.” She brushed me off and stood. She turned in a circle, her hands yanking her hair. “It’s horrible! I can’t stop throwing up! I can’t eat anything or smell anything without losing my shit! It sucks!”
“But you’re happy?” I asked to confirm.
She nodded, sniffling. “Yeah, I am. I am happy. Fihk and Olynth are so damn happy. But they won’t let me do anything! They won’t let me leave this damn room!”
“They’re worried about you.” I smiled, a pang of envy flowing through me.
She sniffed again and sighed. “I know. But I’m going out of my mind. I need to get out! I need to go outside! I need to stop throwing up every second of every day.” She looked at me and seemed to really realize I was in the room with her. “Lydia, right?”
I nodded, holding out my hand. She looked at it and quickly shook it.
“Sorry, Lydia, for unloading all that”—she waved her hands around—“shit on you.”
“It’s cool.” I smiled and turned to the sink basin, wet a clean cloth, and handed it to her. “I heard it passes. Morning sickness.”
“So I’m told,” she grumbled.
“Vivian knows?”
Bailey nodded. “Fihk was dragging her over here the first time I puked all over the place.”
“Where are they now? Fihk and Olynth?”
“I kicked them out this morning.” She grinned, wiping her mouth. “Like mother hens, those two. It was driving me crazy. They won’t stay gone long.” The door clicked open and a low growl came from the bedroom. Bailey sighed. “They’re cool with Ignyt and his crew, but probably not in our bedroom.”
“Sorry, that’s my fault. They’ve been following me around since last night.”
Bailey chuckled. “Better watch yourself, Lyds. Sounds like you might end up with a few overprotective mates of your own.”
I gaped at her. “Uh, no, I’m good. One would be too many for me.”
“Right.” She winked. “’Til you got more than one of these guys panting after you, willing to strip you down and make you scream their names, everyone says no to more than one.”
I nodded. I would take her word for it. We walked out into the bedroom to witness the showdown. Olynth had a handful of wild flowers and various foods in his arms, and he was growling threateningly at Ignyt.
“No, babe, no! No food!” Bailey shook her hands then clutched her stomach.
“You need to eat,” he growled at her. “I brought only baked suk.”
Bailey covered her mouth and her whole body bucked. Then she was back in the bathroom. Olynth cursed and dropped everything, chasing after her.
I bit my lip, watching as he cradled her by the toilet. “Congratulations!”
Olynth turned toward me, his face stoic as always.
I scratched my nose, feeling unwanted and awkward. “Before you know it, you’ll be right where Peyton is, popping out a baby!”
Olynth looked back at me and paled. His face completely washed out and alarmed me so much, I stepped back.
Bailey patted Olynth’s thigh. “Don’t worry, babe, I’m built with tougher stuff than Peyton.”
Olynth didn’t seem convinced. Just how bad was Peyton’s delivery?
With nothing more to offer, I left and walked down the hall. I felt eyes on my back the whole way. I tried to ignore it while I helped Star pack her presents for the new baby. I tried to ignore it as we loaded into the ship.
But when we got back to the castle and they were still following me, I had no choice but to turn on them. “Why are you following me?”
Ignyt stopped and his eyes roamed my face while the other two looked at him. But I got no answer. I tugged one of my little braids into my mouth and nibbled on it nervously. He watched me, not saying anything.
“It’s a little scary, you know? Not knowing.”
His chest slowly inflated with a big breath. “We are your guard now.”
“What?” I looked around. I’d
expected my guards to pop out any minute to resume watch over me. “What happened to Cyl and Pryt?”
“Reassigned,” he answered.
“Why? Are they okay?”
Nothing.
“Am I in danger?” A tremor worked its way up from my toes. Mona got new guards when she was poisoned. Was it my turn to get attacked by a psychopathic Dahk female? Was a Juldo coming back for me?
Ignyt cursed and stepped toward me. “No, there’s no danger.”
“Not any more than usual,” Ohta added, watching Ignyt closely.
“Where did they go then?”
“We reassigned them.” Hylg snickered. “This bastard reassigned them.”
Ignyt flashed his fangs at Hylg, and I stepped back. “Why?”
Ignyt lifted his chin, looking down at me with a stubborn tilt of his scarred mouth.
“Lydia!” Star called from down the hall. I looked to see her bouncing on her toes next to Roxy. “It’s time to see the baby!”
I rushed around the three Dahk, anxious to get away from the burgeoning questions in my mind. I figured in this case, ignorance was bliss.
For now.
Star, Roxy, and I lightly knocked on Peyton’s door. We each had gifts clutched in our hands. Star’s was a stuffed animal made from silk and beads from Ilynda, while Roxy and I had made a baby blanket of silk and fur.
The door opened and Linda waved us in with a smile. Nick was already there, sitting on a chair by Peyton’s bed.
Star sucked in a breath and tiptoed to his side, looking at the baby. “Wow, he’s so big.”
Peyton snorted. “He’s a chunker for sure.”
“He will be a warrior like his father.” Myrna smiled as she fussed over Peyton’s blankets.
“How are you feeling?” I asked Peyton, setting the blanket we made Sym by her side.
She smiled at me and picked up the blanket, running her fingers along the stitching. “This is beautiful, thank you. I’m good, but tired.” Her eyes snagged on something behind me and her brows went up into her hairline. “Ignyt?”
