Page 23 of Ahelno
“What?” I asked.
“I hear the other males talking. You are a lovely and exotic female, Andie, and much desired in the village.” Well, that was news to me. Also, no thank you. My lady bits were firmly closed for business.
“Most of them held off because you are technically mated to the Prince, but now that it is clear that he is out of the picture, and that you never consented to the mating, there are those willing to risk his ire,” he continued. “That Granthor of yours is the only reason you haven’t been overrun by offers of courtship. He snarls at any male that looks at you sideways.”
Again, this was a surprise, and not a welcome one.
“If you have the opportunity, Canticor, you can spread the word that I’m not interested in any courtship or mating,” I said. “I’m happier on my own.”
“I will, but I suspect some of the more persistent ones will not listen,” Canticor said. “You do not have to worry about your physical person. A Ptexari male would never mate you without your consent. But I expect some of them will be rather aggressive with their courtship. Your refusal will need to be firm and direct.”
“I appreciate the advice,” I said.
I decided to make my way back to my cottage. Canticor’s prediction held true. Without M’Pak at my side, two other males inquired about my well-being and asked if they could call on me later that week. I was polite, but direct with my refusal. They backed away gracefully, but I was in a foul mood when I arrived home. I loved M’Pak, and I relied on him. I hadn’t known that he was also the only reason I was able to walk around relatively unmolested.
It was an unhappy realization.
CHAPTER 25
Camavel, M’Pak, and I walked slowly to the Bowl for Miravel and Canticor’s mating ceremony. Most of the villagers were flying there, but Camavel had slowed down noticeably in recent weeks. I think she was happy to have the excuse of accompanying the non-flying human as her reason for walking.
It was a pleasant walk, but I did worry for her. I didn’t know how old she was, and I’m sure it was impolite to ask. She was sharp as a tack, but she tired easily. Fortunately, we had left early in the morning, so we had plenty of time to get to the Bowl for the wedding.
We chose a seat near the top of the hill because Camavel couldn’t walk down far. We still had a good view of Miravel, Canticor, Belar (Miravel’s father), and several other males from the village.
Miravel and Canticor both wore skirts of gold strips of cloth, which matched perfectly with the gold in Canticor’s gold and teal crest feathers. I wondered if that was intentional. The other males wore various colored skirts that didn’t seem coordinated in any way. Maybe they were groomsmen? I asked Camavel.
“The other males are there to illustrate that Miravel’schoice is intentional. She will choose him out of the group. It shows that she had her choice of males and is not simply mating with Canticor because he is her only available option.”
Ah. Different from our customs, but no judgment.
Belar addressed the crowd. “Greetings, honored visitors. Thank you for witnessing Miravel’s mating today. She informs us that she has made her choice. Is this true, Miravel?”
“Yes, father.”
“Then blessings be upon your chosen mate and the house you dwell in.”
“Thank you, Father.”
Belar sat down next to Miravel’s mother in the crowd. Miravel stood in the center of the bowl. All the males formed a line to the left of her, with Canticor in the middle. She sauntered to the line of males and stood in front of Canticor. She smiled at him, and he smiled at her.
“AHELNO!” she yelled, loud and clear, pushing him hard in the chest and running to the other end of the Bowl.
CHAPTER 26
I relived my worst nightmare in real time.
“Mate!” My translator said in my ear. Canticor took off after Miravel. The other males drifted to sit on the sidelines. Canticor chased her, and with an impressive flying leap, tackled her around the waist. She landed, sprawled face-down on the ground.
Oh no. No, no, no, no no. Tell me this wasn’t happening. Was he seriously going to fuck her in the dirt in front of all of us? Her parents were in the front row! I must be hallucinating. I started to feel queasy, and a terrible memory bubbled up in my brain.
She fought him hard, and he pinned her every time. She punched, kicked, spat, and honestly put up a much better fight than I did. They were nearly equally matched in height and strength, and she made him work for it. But eventually he overpowered her, flipped up her skirt, pulled out his cock, and plunged into her from behind.
My own experience overlaid what I was witnessing. I suddenly couldn’t breathe, and my chest felt tight. M’Pak asked if I was ok, and I couldn’t answer. I couldn’t tear my eyes away as Canticor pumped in and out of her. The villagers cheered. Meanwhile, I was frozen in terror, trapped in thememory of what it felt like when Prince Dakleth tore me apart.
Canticor roared and then dragged his claws down Miravel’s back.
Something inside me broke.
