Page 90 of 20% Stud 80% Muffin
“Let me see. Let me see,” Makir said, dashing toward his brother, his tail linked with Jast’s. “I can’t believe I’m meeting my nephew,” he purred. “Can I?” He turned pleading eyes on his brother.
“Brother, you don’t need to ask.” Bonic scooped up his baby and placed him in Makir’s waiting arms.
A wave of emotion crashed through the bond, and Makir’s eyes grew glassy. Caught up in the moment, my own eyes teared. Makir linked his tail with his brother’s, and Jast twined hers around them as they gazed at the linobee-wrapped bundle. He cooed to the little boy and lifted his gaze to mine. “Come meet him.”
The sun appeared to mark time by the color of its rings, and as I approached the happy family, the mirrored walls of the courtyard turned from bronze to copper.
“Stop!” Makir’s mother rose from her cushioned throne, her voice dripping with disdain. “You will not get any closer to the new heir, human.”
Fuck, I hate these assholes. The need to protect this child from his grandparents threatened to overcome me. I didn’t even know his name, but the urge to prevent this perfect new life from being subjected to the negligence and lovelessness that had left Makir so vulnerable thrummed through my veins.
“Do you love this grandchild with your heart? Or only as a tool to continue the Tuniga line?” I asked. The regents stepped back, gazes hardening at my implication.
Makir’s mother frowned and with words full of vitriol, spat out, “How dare you question—”
I interrupted her tirade with a voice so steadfast it could not be misinterpreted. “Because I’ll do everything in my power to prevent you from hurting this child like you did your own.”
I hadn’t sensed Makir at my side until his tail wrapped around my waist and he leaned his weight against me.
“I will too.” The force of Makir’s conviction caused his parents’ frowns to waver.
“Bonic, do something.” His mother moved toward where Bonic cradled the baby in his arms once more.
He passed the sleeping boy to Jast. Bonic’s gaze hardened, encompassing his parents in its lethal glow. “You’re right.” His father’s shoulders eased as Bonic continued, “It’s well past time I did something. I will not tolerate my youngling or any omega being treated as lesser by you any longer.” Makir’s mother’s knees trembled as Bonic’s eyes narrowed to slits aimed at her. “I’ve turned a blind eye and made excuses for you over the years, but they are wide open now. You will heed my words if you wish to be part of his life. Love my youngling as if he’s the most precious thing on Lorne, or you’ll have no place in this family.”
Bonic called his guard over. “Janny, escort them from the courtyard so they can think about theirchoices.”
“Bonic, please,” his father said, “I already love him. There is no need for this, I beg of you.” While his father’s remorse was evident, his mother walked rigidly beside the guard until they vanished from view.
“Makir, Geo…” Bonic motioned us forward, smiling as if he hadn’t just admonished the regents of the kingdom and sent them packing. “You’ll have the honor of being the first to know our youngling’s name.”
Jast purred as she held the baby out to me. With trembling arms, I cradled him like he was the most valuable thing in the world. Makir’s purr blended with Jast’s.
“His name is Telya.” At hearing his name spoken by his mother, the baby boy opened his eyes and fixed them on me before his own purr ignited like a little motor.
“He likes you.” Makir laughed.
The copper turned to gold, and Makir insisted we say our goodbyes. I reluctantly passed off Telya to his mother, kissed Jast on the cheek and shook Bonic’s hand. Makir’s sadness resonated along the bond as he hugged his family one last time.
“We’ll see them again soon.” I pressed Makir to my side.
Makir’s somber mood turned gleeful as we flew through the valley. The hovercraft dropped suddenly, and the contents of my stomach dropped with it. Makir tucked us into a private turquoise alcove and turned off the ignition.
He inhaled deeply and held his breath, as if trying to swallow enough sweet air to last him until the next time. “This is my special place.”
My fingers traced the branches of the tall trees surrounding us. Their limbs embraced the space with their enormous translucent bat wing shape. They turned the view overlooking the floating island we were on ocean colored. Their veins transformed the island into a vast cat’s eye-marbled dome. With the hovercraft engine stopped, the quiet was deafening.
“Little lion, this sanctuary is like you—a rare gem. Are you okay? Are you happy?”
“Feel it, Geo.” He dropped one hand to my thigh behind him, where I sat on his bike.
Makir opened his connection to me fully. Elation, wonder and profound satisfaction coursed through me. If I were a mountain climber, I would’ve just summited K2. My heart thudded, and I jerked back.
Is he feeling the same as me? Supercharged? Like bright light…and fizz…full of the mettle to defeat any challenge?
Now that my most pressing questions had been answered and our bond confirmed as unshakable, it was time to resolve what had plagued my mind for too long.
“And Reinik…”
