"Me? Oh, no, I didn't-" I shake my head vehemently, trying to take a step back like I can retreat from this whole thing, but Mavyx's huge, solid, muscle-laden body isright there. His hands find my shoulders and he gives a squeeze. But right now, I can't be sure the gesture was meant for comfort or to just keep me in place. "I didn't do anything. I-"
"I shall name him Ah-Lynn, after you, honorable female," the male says, nodding. On my shoulders, Mav's grip intensifies a little too much.
"Alan?" Skye grimaces where she still sits, watching, "don't dothatto the poor kid. He's far too cute to be called Alan"
Chastity snorts and I look over at the other girls. They're all trying not to laugh. Even Serena is biting her lip. The sight of it melts some of the tension from my body and I take a breath before addressing the new father and son again. "Please don't do that," I say. "I really didn't do anything that the Elders didn't do too." I gesture to the small group of older Trixikka standing off to one side.
"But you are the first female to ever aid with-"
The male had begun to protest but from behind me I hear the sudden swish of feathers. Turning my head, I can see Mavyx has splayed his wings out wide. They're huge and beautiful - jet black but with flashes of iridescence in blues and greens, not to mention the tiny, sparkling lights, too. I crane my neck to look at his face but he's fixed on the new father.
"Choose another name, Zylynn," he growls, his whole demeanor threatening.
Flustered, the new father nods and bows his head. "Yes, Second Spear. I meant no-"
"It is forgotten," Rynn says, stepping in and throwing a pointed look at his second-in-command. Mav grunts and I can't help but imagine him staring down his High Spear, glaring back at him over my head. Rynn raises a brow, an exasperated look in his eye before turning back to the new father and son. "Come, let us celebrate this day and your new son, Zylynn."
The newly born member of the tribe is hoisted up into his father's arms and they're both enveloped by the crowd of celebrating males. The poor boy still looks startled. My heart lurches for him. He's just beenborn- he must be terrified.
"You didn't need to go all growly on him like that," I say, turning in Mavyx's arms to face him. "He was just being nice about the name. It's just that I wasn't-"
"He mated your name with his own," Mav huffs. "Ah-Lanah and Zylynn.Ah-Lynn. It is too familiar, and I could not allow it."
Oh.
He...Brangelina-d us?
Now that's just weird. "Why would he do that?" I can feel my face scrunch up with the question.
Mav's hands fall away from my shoulders and he sighs. His eyes drop from mine and he looks away, watching all the others start to gather themselves up and launch into the air, the ceremony having now ended. "In case you have not yet noticed, Ah-Lanah, Trixikka males would rip a wing off to impress a female."
I grimace, my hand moving of it's own volition, reaching out to brush my fingers down the beautiful black feathers of one wing. "Please don't do that," I murmur, watching the pretty little lights on the tips of his feathers glow brightly with my touch. "Please don't rip any limbs off for me."
Mavyx doesn't answer at first, only stretches open his wing a little, a silent invitation for me to keep petting him. He then leans his huge body in and says in a deep and smoky voice, "I didn't say it would be my own wing."
I smack him lightly on his stupid, hot-as-fuck, muscled abdomen, but he only smirks down at me, not even flinching. Suppressing a shiver, I smooth down my hair. "Why was he trying to 'impress' me in the first place, anyway? I thought I was 'taken'?" My eyes drop to the glowing skin over his heart. Mavyx follows my line of sight, his chest expanding on a large inhale like he's trying to make himself seem even bigger for me.
"Taken?" he asks. "I have not taken you, Ah-Lanah."
Damn, his deep voice does things to me.
"No, you haven't," I say, swaying into his space as I look up at him.But I think I'd like you to.
Mavyx's pupils expand, and his nostrils flair. And...shit. I'd forgotten he can smell my arousal.
Swallowing thickly, I glance down and try taking a deep breath. Getting all horny with Mav is not a good idea. He doesn't even like me but he's fuelled by those stupid heart-twinkles. He said it himself; called it 'his problem to deal with'. He doesn't actually want me. It's those... those...stupid lights.And I'm...I don't know- maybe it's my hormones screwing with my brain.
I suck in a breath. My hormones. Mypregnancyhormones.
All the more reason not to complicate anything between Mavyx and I. My eyes drop to his huge chest, the skin there lit up - shining, sparkling and pulsing like a firework display at Disney World.
Except, this isn't Disney World.
I'm not on vacation having the time of my life. I'm stuck on a primitive alien planet, in a scary-ass jungle and I. Am. Pregnant.
"We should... we should go back with the others," I say, meeting his gaze. "Go and celebrate the new arrival."
"Do you feel well enough to partake in-"
