Aercek
Ahstahl had to basically twist my arm to get me to go back to the ship and use the med-i-pod on board to heal what I now know was a moderate concussion. Our fight after my poorly timed words last eve exacerbated the wound given to me by the bear. I’d been fighting off pain and nausea the entire time we were talking to Keelie before she retired for the night, but nothing was going to make me leave for a paltry wound when things with our mate were so unsettled.
Eyjolf, the frakyn eejit, was the first to notice my arrival and, in usual fashion, made it a point to strike up a conversation with me. His exclamation over my disheveled appearance caught the attention of Ofeig and Ketil, and I ended up telling them about the bear and the events after, excluding the personal topics of conversation Keelie shared. Thankfully, I managed to escape having to converse with them further by telling them Ahstahl was guarding Keelie alone and I needed to get back to them with all haste.
Now, it’s the next morning, and I’m back to my usual self—my concussion gone as if it had never happened. I’ve never been more thankful for the advanced healing tech my people have. I don’t need anything interfering with the wooing of our mate.
Ahstahl and I are waiting for Keelie to wake, and I’m not sure either of us slept more than a short nap here and there during the night. The sun is slowly rising, and it’s not quite light yet; the darkness is slow to relinquish its hold on this world. Keeping my voice low, I ask Ahstahl in vrkari, “How much longer do you think she’s going to sleep?”
He takes a moment to think about my question before he answers. “Not long, our mate is not a being that greets the rising of the sun with any enthusiasm, but she isn’t one to sleep long into the day either. Why do you ask?”
“She fed us out of her stores last night and made sure we were full. Our appetites will mean she runs out of supplies faster than we have time for. If she doesn’t have her human food, she will have to leave. I mean to supply something for her to cook for us this rising.”
Realization dawns, and he nods aggressively. “Truly, I hadn’t thought of that. Go, then. I will stay here and make sure she does not use her stores until you’re back.”
Leaning over, I rub my snout against his in a rare display of affection, thoroughly scent-marking him at the same time. Ahstahl isminejust as Keelie is, and I’m feeling overly territorial at the moment. Emotion wells in myfrater’seyes, and he clears his throat as I withdraw. “Good hunting, Aercek.”
Replying with a quip to make him laugh, I say. “It’s always good hunting when I am the hunter, Ahstahl.”
His bark of laughter is music to my ears, and I head off into the forest in search of something to feed the three of us.
AHSTAHL
Aercek fades out of view, his coloration blending in well with the gray of the rising sun as it burns away the night. I’m still shocked at his affectionate display. Aercek guards his emotions closely and isn’t one to offer much in the way of physical affection, even though it’s something I deeply long for. I’ve never wanted to push him to do anything out of character that he’s not comfortable with, so I relish the moments when he acts on his deep feelings for me.
While some males bond sexually with theirfrater vinculums,that isn’t something Aercek and I were ever interested in. We both agreed long ago that we loved each other asfrater’sand nothing more, not that there is anything wrong with the love other triads have for one another. Love in all its forms is pure, but that isn’t how our bond developed.
Rustling from Keelie’s tent snaps me out of my inner musings, and I watch in amusement as she stumbles out of her sleeping area to the canopy where her cooking supplies are.
Time for her morning beverage.
Chuckling to myself, I carefully make my approach, ensuring she can see me coming so I don’t startle her. Her adorable flat face is scrunched, her brows pinched together, and I can see she’s having trouble getting her camp stove started. The flame won’t catch, and she needs to boil water to make her elixir of wakefulness. Peering at the device, I realize my large hands will be too unwieldy to manipulate the controls.
Wisely keeping my mouth shut, I skirt around her to the fire ring. Gathering kindling, I click my firestone and exhale a small stream of fire onto the wood, adding larger pieces as the flamegrows. When I have a stable blaze going, I slide on the grated cover before standing and slowly ambling back to Keelie.
If I didn’t know how sweet she is, the glaring would be concerning.
Thankfully, she’s prepped her kettle, and I don’t have to ask her how to do it. Right now, I’m slightly afraid of what might happen should she speak before she drinks her brew. Snagging the kettle from her tight grasp, I ignore the hostility and move back to the fire. Setting it on the grate, I bite back my smile when I see Keelie sitting in her chair, staring at the container as if her life depends on it.
Realizing she doesn’t have her little purple cup, I fetch it for her and slip it into her lap, so she doesn’t have to get up to locate it.
Moving around the fire, I settle under the large tree across from her and enjoy the morning with my beautiful mate.
Even if she does look rather murderous.
Chapter 13
Keelie
Taking my first sip of coffee, I feel myself becoming human again instead of a feral hobgoblin.
I hate mornings.
Always have and probably always will. This morning isn’t any exception, and it’s a bit worse since I’m so fucking sore I can barely move.
Where’s that damn ibuprofen bottle?
I’m in my mid-forties, and don’t foresee any sort of drastic personality change at this stage of my life. On that thought, I pause.
