Page 97 of Ahelno
“Kashtinela cannot leave Ptekennan,” Dakleth interrupted. “Her children will inherit the throne.”
“What do you mean? Why would your children not inherit?”the King asked.
“Andie is a live bearer. We cannot have children,” Dakleth explained.
Oh right. I’d forgotten all about that. And somehow, I guess the King never heard that conversation.
“Is this true, Andie?” the King’s eyes bored into me.
“Um, yes. Sorry, I didn’t put it together about the fact that you all lay eggs and humans don’t. I didn’t know we couldn’t, ah, breed.”
King Akapa looked at Dakleth. “You know I love Andie like my own daughter, but you must put her aside. We should have looked more seriously into how to dissolve the bond.” Kashtinela gasped. “Father! How could you?!”
I understood. Really, I did. Dakleth had a duty to the royal line of succession, and the King couldn’t allow his personal feelings to interfere. But damn, it stung. He had treated me like a daughter. Now I was just a failed broodmare in his eyes.
Dakleth growled, low and menacing. “Make no mistake, Father. Andie is my chosen mate. If I must choose between this family and her, I choose her. If I must choose between her and the Ptexari people, I choose her. If I must choose between the whole damn planet, by the stars, I will choose her again and again. I will have no other. Kashtinela’s children will inherit. She will mate a Ptexari or a male willing to relocate here. And honestly, given that Andie just saved your whole godsdamned planet, I would think you would show a little gratitude.”
King Akapa had the grace to look a bit ashamed. He cleared his throat. “My son is wise. I apologize, Andie. I should have known better. I was just taken by surprise.”
I nodded. I really couldn’t think of anything to say. But Isqueezed Dakleth’s hand under the table. He’d stood up for me. I would never forget that.
CHAPTER 65
Andie
Two months later, and everything had returned - mostly - to normal. The dead had been buried and honored. The living mourned, but carried on. Camavel, my dear friend, was one of the casualties. Every morning, I looked at the door, expecting her to waltz in for a cup of Oonag and a bit of gossip. Every morning, a fresh wave of grief hit me when I remembered she wasn’t coming.
On the days I couldn’t stand being alone in my cottage, I had taken to going to visit Miravel and her baby Leveron. He was a pudgy thing, and adorable in my eyes. Ptexari children developed faster than humans. He could already crawl, and he was standing up. He gave little hops with his wings unfurled, like he wanted to fly. It was so cute, I just wanted to eat him up. Not really. But cute aggression is a thing.
The best mornings were those where I woke up with Dakleth wrapped around me. For a few weeks after the plague, neither of us was interested in sex. Dakleth was still recovering physically from the disease, and I was recovering mentally from the crushing weight of responsibility and grief of losing Camavel. She had been a friend, a confidante, a mentor - even a substitute grandmother. I don’t know if I would have everrecovered if she hadn’t taken me under her wing.
Despite everyone’s constant reassurance that I had handled the crisis well, each death weighed on me. It was a person I wasn’t able to save. Logically, I knew it wasn’t my fault. In my heart, though, I felt responsible for not getting the medication out to everyone who needed it in time.
Lately, though, the guilt was easing. The Ptexari viewed me as their savior. It was hard enough being a fabled Lumanela with a magical voice. Now I was a legend. The Ptexari chanted “Lumanela” whenever I walked through the city. A sculpture of me riding M’Pak was erected in a square. Gifts of food, rare musical instruments, and ancient texts about Lumanela were sent to my doorstep. It was more than a little uncomfortable. I’d been avoiding the palace and the city for weeks.
Dakleth and I were talking about building a new estate just outside the village. I loved it here and wanted to remain. There were a couple of empty, adjoining properties on the outskirts, and Dakleth wanted to knock them both down and build something new. There’d be a big yard for M’Pak and my gardens, which was all I really cared about.
The first time we made love in the aftermath was deeply emotional for both of us. I’m not ashamed to admit that I cried. Dakleth kissed my tears. He moved so slowly in me as he brushed my hair from my face and laid gentle kisses on my forehead, my eyelids, my cheeks, my lips. He built the passion oh-so-sweetly as his eyes held mine and he told me how beautiful and brave I was.
Dakleth admired me - worshipped me even - in his own way, which sometimes scared me. But I could feel his love through the bond. He didn’t see me as a mythical Lumanela or god-like savior of his people. He saw the real me. He saw my fearsand doubts - how I put on a brave face but was sometimes acting for the proverbial camera. He saw it all, and his love for me was sweet and strong and true. I reveled in it. I felt safe with him, which was ironic given how we began.
He rolled onto his back and let me ride him - showing me that he, too, felt safe with me. I slowly swiveled my hips, and he groaned. He let me set the pace for a while. I loved grinding my clit onto his pelvic bone. As I climbed higher and started whimpering, he took over and thrust up into me. He held his hands on my hips as he moved me up and down his length. He started pounding into me with vigor, and I arched my back, inviting him to suckle my breasts. He surged up and sucked and nibbled my nipples, biting gently and pulling one as he thrust up into me. I whined, “Please, Dakleth, I’m so close.”
He chuckled. “Greedy mate. Tell me you want my cum.”
“Yes, I want it,” I pleaded. “Fill me up, Dakleth, I want your cum.”
He thrust a final time and pinched my clit, and I screamed, throwing my head back as I saw white spots behind my eyelids. I felt him pulse within me as I clamped down on him, and we rocked together as we came down. Bliss. Sheer bliss.
He rolled us to our sides. He was still inside me as I started to drift to sleep. “Sleep, sweet mate,” he whispered. “I will stay here with you.”
“Forever?” I asked.
“Of course. Forever and always,” he said as he kissed my brow.
EPILOGUE
Dakleth
