by Maven, Ella
I let out a choking sob, and my knees buckled. Drak caught me before I hit the ground, and there was a scuffle and a growl before I was scooped into a set of strong arms. I knew without looking it was Zecri.
“What happened?” His deep voice demanded.
“I think she’s just overwhelmed,” Miranda said in that soothing voice of hers. “Why don’t you take her to her hut? I’ll bring a tray of food.”
Zecri murmured something and then strode off. The crowd was mostly quiet now, and I was embarrassed. I had never been some fainting violet but seeing Riven happy and with a friend like her—something I never thought she would have—was too much. Zecri stepped over the threshold of my hut and that was when I finally let go and burst into tears.
Fourteen
Zecri
Sybil sniffled for a while before falling asleep with tears tracks on her cheeks.
I stared at her for a long time as she slept, fingering the ends of her yellow hair.
I’d expected to feel some peace when I saw my brothers, and while a part of me felt settled, another part was still twisting in the wind. And I knew it had to do with Sybil. That last part of our journey had been torture. She’d been angry with me, for good reason, but the warrior training in me couldn’t reconcile the selfishness of keeping her for myself.
Eventually I rose with a sigh. After asking one of the females to keep an eye on Sybil, I went in search of Rexor. I found him and Daisy outside their hut, talking quietly. When his mate spotted me, she leaped to her feet, face like sunshine, and threw herself at me. I caught her with an oomph, and she squeezed me tightly until Rex made a coughing sound into his fist. She pulled back with a roll of her eyes, which were wet. “I never thought I’d see him again,” she sniffed at Rex. “Let me have my hug.”
“It’s good to see you, Daisy,” I said, giving her shoulder an awkward pat.
“Well, I’ll leave you two to catch up,” she said. “But we’re chatting later, okay, Z? I want to hear everything about your mate.”
She skipped off before I could correct her.
I sank down into the chair she vacated and stretched out my legs. With my hands folded on my stomach, I watched the liveliness of the village. Outside one hut, Riven played with Bazel and a large furry animal.
“Can’t believe there’s two of ‘em,” Rex said, gesturing to the young females. “Daz and Sax each have boys. Gar has twins…”
I blinked, feeling an odd stirring in my chest. “We’re rebuilding.”
“Can’t believe you’re actually here, you flecker.” He nudged me. “Of course, a human mate will get you to do things you didn’t think you could do.”
“She’s not my mate,” I murmured.
Rex’s brow furrowed. “What?”
I cleared my throat and spoke louder. “She’s not my mate.”
He studied me carefully. “Is there a reason? She thinks you’re ugly?”
I snorted. “No. At least, I don’t think so.”
“Explain this to me like I’m a chit. There are no feelings between you?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“Z, for fleck’s sake, explain to me what’s going on.”
“I can’t have chits,” I blurted out, staring sightlessly in the distance.
Rex went solid at my side.
“That’s why I was sold to the Plikens. The Uldani tried to make me a breeder and it backfired. So, I can’t be Sybil’s mate. I can’t…” I swallowed. “I can’t help repopulate. I should leave her to find a mate that’s whole—”
The punch came out of nowhere, slamming into my head so hard I saw stars. I whirled on my friend fists raised. “What was that for?”
“You dumb stubborn fleck,” he spat the words through gritted teeth.
“Hey—"
“No, you listen. I saw how Sybil looked to you for protection and safety. Those two females are your family, and if the only reason you aren’t claiming her as a mate is because you can’t have chits together, then I’m going to beat some sense into you.” He shoved me so hard I nearly toppled over.
“Quit it,” I growled.
“No,” he snapped. “Fleck’s sake. This is ridiculous. And no warrior here is going to walk within breathing distance of her. She stumbled and Drak caught her. You were there in a few seeks, shoving Drak so hard he nearly fell before you hauled her into your arms. You think any warrior is dumb enough to try to win her over after seeing that?” he snorted. “You already have a chit. Riven. So, take care of her, claim your mate, and quit being stupid. If I tell Daz you said any of this, then my punch will seem like a tickle compared to what he’ll do to you.”
I stared at him.
“What?” he barked. “Was that what you were waiting for? Our permission?”
I swallowed but my mouth was bone dry. “I have a duty—”
“She is All. That’s your duty. So, what does she want?”
“She … wants me.” As soon as I said the words, guilt lodged in my chest like a boulder. “Fleck.” I muttered, pitching forward to rest my head in my hands.
Rex sighed heavily next to me. “You, me, Mikko, and Fenix. We’ve been through a lot, and we all felt the same as you—we weren’t meant to have happiness. But now it’s been given to us and it would be wrong not to take it. If it wasn’t for Daisy… I’d be dead. She cured me of my Rage.”
I lifted my head. “What?”
He lifted his wrists to show off a set of black marks. “These are loks. Daisy is my cora-eternal. Do you remember what that is?”
I vaguely did—a Fatas-blessed union. I rubbed at my scarred wrists. “I do.”
“So, I can feel her in my mind. She can feel me, too, and she was able to work some mind magic and put out the fire inside of me. The ol’ wings still work but I’m not such an angry fleck anymore.”
“No more monster,” I said.
“No more,” he grinned, and then let it fade. “But it doesn’t matter whether we were Fatas-blessed or not. Sybil is yours, Zecri. Or maybe I should say… you are hers. If that’s what she wants.”
“She might not anymore.” I scratched my head. “She’s been mad at me for a while.”
Rexor let out a peal of laughter before slapping my back. “Ah, your first fight. Well, it’s time to learn how to grovel.” He leaned forward and rubbed his hands together. “Ready for your lesson?”
I glared at him. “You seem way too excited about this.”
“Look, use my techniques and I’ll have you ending this fight with a naked mate coming on your cock.”
The smell of Sybil’s arousal hit my memory like a tidal wave. I shifted in my chair. “Okay then.”
Rexor clapped his hands together. “Great, now first…”
* * *
Zecri
I stood outside Sybil’s hut, giving myself a pep talk. I could do this. I could grovel and plead and beg for her forgiveness. And if she didn’t take me back and wanted another mate, well… actually no. No. When I’d seen that other Drixonian male grab her when she stumbled, I’d nearly come out of my skin. I learned now he was mated, but at the time I hadn’t known. I would have to apologize to him later. I’d let him get a few shots in if he wanted. I deserved nothing less.
But Sybil came first. I wanted my family.
I opened the door. “Sybil,” I called and stopped dead when I found the hut empty. The furs were folded neatly on the pallet, and a tray of half-eaten food sat on a small table.
My cora raced. “Sybil?” I called again, half hoping she’d come rushing out of the expeller room but that was empty too. I whirled around and dashed outside, only to collide with Mikko. I grabbed his arms. “Sybil is missing.” I rushed out. “I left her sleeping, and one of the females said she’d watch her but now she’s not there—”
“Calm down, brother.” He gave me an easy smile. It was unusual to see Mikko without a smirking scowl. “She went for a walk with Rian.”
I slumped. “Thank Fatas.”
; He pointed to a trail leading away into dense brush. “They went that way. There’s a nice lookout point over a cliff.” He gave me a little shove. “Go on. You seem to have something you want to say to her, yeah?”
I nodded. “I do.”
He grinned bigger. “Fleck, it’s good to see you.”
“You and Rian are doing well?”
“Better than well. Life is good here. Never thought I’d have it this good after living in the Pit for as long as I did. But you know what?” He cocked his head. “Fleck it. I deserve this. And I’ll dedicate my life to making sure Rian doesn’t regret letting me be her mate.”
I smiled. “Mikko is all grown up, it seems.”
“Go get your female, you stubborn fleck.”
I left a smirking Mikko behind and followed the trail. I walked for a while until female voices could be heard lilting on the breeze. When I stepped out into the clearing, I spotted the backs of Rian and Sybil as she sat near the edge of a cliff, looking out over a lush valley.
Blooms ranged in color below, and a small stream babbled.
Rian’s red, curly hair blew about her face, and when she turned, she offered me a blinding smile.
Hopping to her feet, she wrapped her arms around me in a firm hug. “I’m glad you’re here, Z.”
I patted her head. “Me too, Rian.”
She jerked her head toward Sybil, who hadn’t turned around. “You should talk to her.”
I nodded, and she called over her shoulder. “Hey Syb, I need to head back.”
Sybil shot her a look over her shoulder. “Traitor.”
Rian laughed and stuck her tongue out.
Sybil’s expression softened and she smiled. “Thanks for chatting with me.”
“Anytime, girl. Good luck with Mr. Stone Face here.”
Rian gave me a smack on the arm which seemed more threat than friendly before heading off down the trail. I stood for a moment, once again gathering my courage. I had no problems fighting off a gang of Plikens, but this one little female had me quaking.
When I stepped to the side, I found her eyes red, and my heart lurched. I crouched at her side. “Ah, Syb. I flecked this up.”
She sniffed and swiped her eyes with her sleeve.
I drew her into my arms, and at first, she resisted, but then she melted against me, her head plunking against my chest.
“Not fair to be this nice and get my hopes up,” she murmured.
“I plan to be this nice to you until the day we die,” I pressed a kiss to the top of her head.
She went still for a moment before jerking out of my arms. “What?”
I gripped her hands and tugged them into my lap. “I’m sorry, Sybil. I’m sorry I didn’t see that in trying to be selfless I wasn’t only hurting myself.”
She blinked at me. “Wait, what… what changed your mind?”
“Rexor punched me.”
Her eyes went wide. “What?”
“And threatened to let Daz beat me up.”
Her eyes bugged out before she scowled. “Where did he punch you? I’ll have a word with him—”
I let out a chuckle at her reaction. “I’m fine. But he knocked some sense into me. It’s not that I needed him to give me permission to be happy, but I needed him tell me this wasn’t selfish to want you. And Riven. To be happy as a family.”
Her eyes filled. “You want us?”
“I never didn’t want you, Syb. Not once, not since I saw you defending Riven against me in that dirty room at Fisk.” I cupped her cheek and drew her face close to mine. “Do you forgive me? Will you give me a second chance?”
She swallowed, and her gaze dipped to my lips. My cock noticed, and I expected her to close the distance and give me a kiss.
“Ow!” I hollered as she slapped me, her palm smacking my shoulder.
“Never do that again!” she cried, eyes firing at me in a way that only made me harder. There was nothing like fierce Sybil. “I’ll forgive you because of course I will. I love you. But you pull that stupid shit again, and I’ll let Daz beat you up.” She pointed a finger at my face. “You understand?”
I grinned at her. Her slap hadn’t honestly hurt. “I understand.”
Her features immediately softened, and her hand fell at her side. “I love seeing you smile like that.” She gripped my face. “When we first met, I wondered if you could smile.”
I touched our foreheads together. “I wondered too.”
“Jesus, Zecri. You could have saved us a lot of heartache.”
“I’m sorry.”
“No more apologies,” she whispered. “Today is day one. We start fresh.”
“Hmmm,” I murmured, squeezing her thigh. “I like that.”
“Zecri?”
“Yeah?”
“Kiss me.”
Fifteen
Sybil
His lips touched mine, and it felt like coming home. As far away as I was on Earth, as strange as this new place felt, it all melted away when Zecri touched me. He didn’t waste time, licking into my mouth and slowly rising up over me until I was forced onto my back. The sky above us was clear, and the sun warmed my skin as he trailed kisses down my neck.
“Let me have you, Syb,” he murmured against my collarbone.
“You have me,” I answered, running my fingers through his hair.
He untied my bandeau top and it fell away to reveal my breasts.
I wondered how I looked to his eyes, all non-blue skin and flesh instead of scales, but his eyes were wide with wonder, a warm violet which made my pulse race.
He sucked a nipple into his mouth, and I gasped as the piercings on his tongue rolled around the hard bud. He flicked my other nipple with a claw, and my core went molten as all the sensations drifted south to pool in my lower belly.
His fingers railed down my bare stomach, and goosebumps broke out in their wake.
I pushed at his shoulders, and he stopped and gave me a questioning look. “I want to see you,” I told him.
He cocked his head. “See me?”
“Take off your clothes, Z.”
His lips parted before turning up at the corners. He slowly rose to his feet and toed off his boots. His pants came next, revealing a thick, long cock and heavy blue balls. He was also pierced, a large ring hooked through the head of his dick which made my insides clench. “Oh my God,” I whispered.
He was hard, with a clear sticky liquid leaking from the tip. He reached down and fisted his cock, spreading the liquid down his shaft. “Can I see you now?”
“Get me naked, big guy. I’m ready.”
He huffed out a laugh and went to his knees between my legs. After some maneuvering, he managed to get my shoes and pants off until I lay beneath him on the soft grass naked.
“Beautiful,” he whispered as his hand slid up my thigh. His knuckle nudged my clit, and I sucked in a breath.
I was so incredibly sensitive even that touch had me feeling like I was going to explode.
“I want to taste you again.”
I could only nod, and then he ducked his head and unfurled that long tongue. The next few minutes passed in a haze as he went at me with his lips, tongue, and teeth. I squirmed and cried out, not caring about how loud I was.
He prushed, the vibrations zinging through me like a live wire, and that was the last push I needed to come like a rocket, screaming his name the whole time.
He rose over me, lips wet with me, and fisted his cock. The tip nudged my entrance. His eyes were wild and a little unfocused. “Please,” he gasped out, nostrils flaring. “I can’t… this is too much. I need you.”
His arms shook, and I detected a hint of fear in his expression. After all he’d been through, I couldn’t imagine what this moment was like.
“Hey,” I crooned to him, holding his face, and staring into his eyes. “Look at me.”
His ping-ponging gaze finally focused on me.
“It’s just us here.” I smiled at him and petted his shiny black hair. “
This is something special between us. Only us. Come inside, Z. Make me feel good. Make yourself feel good.”
He blinked rapidly and seemed to come back to himself. “You are my everything, Sybil,” he whispered.
“You’re my everything too, Z.”
He pressed inside, and I felt the delicious glide of his piercing along my inner walls. As predicted, he stretched me, but there was no pain, and his mouth dropped open almost in awe until he was fully seated inside of me. He went down to his elbows on either side of my head, almost like he couldn’t keep himself up. “Sybil,” he muttered, seemingly unsure and nervous.
My heart pounded, and I caressed his back and shoulders before wrapping my legs as far around his waist as I could. “Go on, Z,” I encouraged him. “Move in and out. Do what feels good.”
“I might—”
“There’s no wrong way to do this between us.”
“What if I hurt you?”
I smiled. “Then I’ll tell you. But you’re not going to hurt me. I’m pretty resilient.”
That got a laugh out of him, and he began to move. His hips rolled like he was made for this, and I moaned as he hit all the right spots inside.
“Oh Syb,” he murmured, dropped a kiss on my nose. “Fleck, you feel incredible.” He began to fuck me harder, faster, and I jolted with each of his powerful thrusts. Just when I thought I couldn’t take it anymore, I felt something latch onto my clit and… Suck?
I managed to look between us to find a node above his cock had extended to pleasure me as well. And no fucking way was I complaining about that. Between the clit sucker and his thick dick, I was seeing stars in minutes.
When I came, I bit down on his arm, bucking up against him until he too let out a hoarse shout. His cock pulsed inside of me and he thrust wildly before his elbows gave out and he collapsed at my side.
I panted, feeling spent, happy, and at peace.
Zecri’s arms came around me, and I was immediately pulled on top of his warm hard body. He dropped a kiss on the top of my head and clung to me. “I was really stupid and stubborn, wasn’t I?”
