The next week is a flurry of activity, a few harsh learning curves, tons of black tar baby shit and exhausted, sleepless nights. I sit on the bed, slowly folding our freshly laundered clothes to put in our bags in the birthing room of the Halthara. Fafnir snores on the couch in the corner of the room, Hatheus snuggled in the crook of his enormous arm. I have not seen his mother since the day I gave birth, so, when a soft knock comes from the door, my anxiety spikes and my mate jerks. A snarl leaves his throat, his hooves crashing to the ground so loudly I wince before he settles, reassuring himself he hasn’t dropped our son. I give him a raised brow and an annoyed look before my eyes widen on his mother, looking every bit as worn and tired as me.
The way she stares at the two of them with such love and pride nearly makes me forget about my greasy hair, the fact that I haven’t changed my shirt in two days, and that I’m in need of a diaper change.
Okay, not quite a diaper, but close enough.
I look like a gross mess, but she doesn’t seem to mind as she crosses further into the room. “You two are heading home today. I don’t assume I can convince you to stay another week… just to be sure?”
I glance at Faf with a pleading look. I want to go home; it’s great here, but I’m growing weary of the constant visitors. He shakes his head. “We live close enough to get to the healer, should any complications arise. Lenora and Hatheus have a clean bill of health.”
There is a fat, lingering kind of silence that comes next. Neither of them moves, a stalemate of biblical proportions, until I can’t take it any longer and clear my throat.
My giant speaks first. “You were away.”
She was?
My head snaps between the two when Hatheus decides to fuss. When Helgoid steps forward, a silent request in her eyes, I nod at Fafnir to hand over our son. Which he does with the utmost care. It is quite endearing to see him as every bit the doting newborn father I suspected he would be. Ogarrex was confused by his continued presence after the birth. Even more so when Fafnir explained to him his duties as a mate did not end with his fated female. Ever the introspective type, the older male stood gruffly in the corner of the room for a while before leaving silently. He’s returned a few times since to do the same. He’s the only male that’s been allowed back without my mate going half mad again. I think that says quite a bit, although they still both deny being even remotely fond of one another.
She turns to me, rocking and cooing at the baby.
Or kit, as they call him.
His tiny little tail makes to curl over her arm, and the older woman melts before my eyes, her true exhaustion showing as the remaining icy exterior fades away. “I held counsel with the village elders. It was received… not as horribly as I had hoped. Naturally, the females listened better than the males, but I was forthcoming with the tools and techniques outlined in your research, should they wish to partake in private.”
Tears well in my eyes as my heart pounds in my chest.
“When I returned, we held a meeting here as well… with all the information and the testimony from the doctor and Ogarrex, we have agreed it is unreasonable for Fafnir to be sent to wander. A few males even expressed interest to Ogarrex about receiving his help. It is assumed they will sign up for the doctor’s study.”
My mate stands, his face cloaked with emotion before he schools it, thanking her with a resolute bow of his head. I, on the other hand, start blubbering like a madwoman. She sits beside me, letting me carry on as she dotes on Hatheus. For a moment, my heart breaks, wishing my mom could be here too, that my sisters could meet Fafnir and gawk at his enormous size and tickle my baby’s feet.
When my thoughts turn toward Dad, I’m halted as his mother hands our Hatheus back to his father, kneeling before me on the ground. My eyes are wide, nose snotty, as she places her head to mine. “You have given me more than I can repay.” She whispers the rest in their language, and I only catch bits and pieces, but one that rings amongst them is the word daughter. As she leaves the room, nodding her goodbyes, I’m sobbing all over again.
It’s late into the night when we finally get home. When I step off the sled, my vagina definitely not ready for a ride on anything else, I head to the front of Val. He makes a mewling sound, one that sounds more threatening than he meant it. I know what he wants as I tug the side of the sling Hatheus rests in down, letting his giant nose inspect the bundle of fur and baby while I scratch under his chin. “This is your little brother. I expect you not to get him into loads of trouble or knock him over as you do me.”
Fafnir sighs, hating how I baby his so-called war beast, but he can’t hide his smile.
It’s then that our child lets out an unholy, screeching cry. Valoryx rears back as if he’s been slapped. Backtracking until the sled knocks loudly into Fafnir’s equestrian style shins. Judging by the enraged look in his eyes and the growl that leaves his throat, that pain is universal. I pat Val, ensuring him he did nothing wrong before I’m ushered inside.
A fond smile grows on my face to see that Elat has been here along with… dozens of others. Ensuring it’s clean and stocked to the brim with food and gifts for the baby. A fire stands roaring in the hearth despite it being past the point where they consider one necessary. We’re not more than a few steps inside when a shrill ringing echoes through the house. My mate tenses, reaching for one of the weapons on the wall before I roll my eyes, “It’s my sat com, from the agency. In the bedroom, go, go! He just started calming!”
He rushes off loudly, not at all graceful, and when he returns, I find he’s ignored the call. I glare at him. “Why did you do that?”
Fafnir, always looking, always watching, doesn’t meet my eyes. His attention on our child slung to my chest as I bounce him. When he shifts, I realize he’s scared I’ll leave. My heart seems to pulse with affection for him as I step up, gesturing for him to lean down as the phone rings again. I let them wait, kissing him deeply, telling him with each pass of my lips that he has nothing to fear. Stupid giant male.
I answer the call, watching as the odd shaped Oozarian couple pops up. “Finally, you answer!”
“Yes, we were getting settled.”
She truly looks at me then, her eyes widening with joy. “It was a successful match then. How brilliant! Look at that little Bhaurnul! It always amazes me how grotesque and oddly…cute the children always are. Dear, can you see it?”
Her mate’s head takes up most of the holo, looking at my kid the way you would a child’s art project, fondly, but with no understanding. “Yes, it’s fine. Carry on, my darling, we’re late for dinner.”
My mate growls behind me.
“Lenora, your contract is up. Will you be staying on to nurse the kit, or shall we arrange for you to return to us?”
“I will be staying, permanently. We have mated.” I announce proudly, my smile dimming when hers turns knowing, making me wonder again about those other abilities Oozarians are said to possess.
“Very well. Fafnir, does this mean you will continue the regular payments to her family personally, or shall we act as a medium?”
My jaw drops, heart lurching to my throat as I turn to face him.
His eyes are stern, face unreadable. It is easy to forget him like this, what he truly was before I met him. “I will handle them.”
“Very well. Congratulations to both of you, should you require our services in the—’
“The message, my love.” Her mate chimes in.
“Oh yes, we just spoke with Melody Arnold, the girl I believe you arrived with. She wanted us to tell you she checked in on you and hoped you were well.”
A wealth of fondness fills me, and then a bit of guilt. I’d barely thought of Melody since I arrived. Everything has been overwhelming. “Oh wow, that’s great. Please tell her—’
“Oh yes, for the love of the fucking gods, I am coming.” She interrupts, rushing out a, “Best wishes, thank you for choosing the Solar Breeding Agency,” before she ends the com.
I’m sitting there in stunned silence for a moment before I turn back to Fafnir. “You kept sending them money… for how long? The dowry was more than enough.”
“I started the second week you were here. We have more than we’ll ever be able to spend, say nothing about it.”
I smile at that. “I will say plenty about it. You are a kind male, and I am so glad to be yours.” I grunt as I lift from the couch. He follows me into the bedroom where I lay a now sleeping Hatheus in his bassinet.
Fafnir’s arms wrap around me from behind, his lips finding the top of my head. “Thank you, my Sha’vria. You have given me everything. A life indebted is the least I can do.”
“Indebted, so dramatic.” I tease, giggling as he lifts me into his arms, capturing my lips with a deep, resonant growl.
