He straightened at her suddenly serious tone, running a palm down her arm.“Yes?”
Her eyes ran over the scars lining his flesh.“Will he be sent away to military training?”
Vaxa’an said, “What brought this on?”
“I’ve been wondering for a while,” she admitted, not quite meeting his gaze.She looked at his chest instead.“But it’s something I don’t like thinking about.”
Vaxa’an let out a rumbling purr.“Female, it is an honor for all males to train.It is the Luxirian way.”
“But he’ll be part human too,” she said, her voice soft.“What is he’s not as strong, or as resilient?You said so yourself…humans are physically weak compared to Luxirians.”
“The child may not be a male,” he said, unsure how to soothe her worries.
“I’m quite sure,” she argued.
Vaxa’an looked at the silver pools, studied the way the water lapped at his mate.Finally, he said carefully, “He will be the Prime Leader’s son.Thelavrix’an’sson.He must go, Kat.You realize this, do you not?”
“I was afraid that you’d say that,” she said in that quiet voice, tilting her head down and blowing out a heavy breath.
“I know that it is not the human way,” he continued.“But we are on Luxiria, not Earth.The consequences for him not training…there are not only political repercussions but social ones as well.All Luxirian males must complete the required years, no matter if they decide to stay in training afterwards or not.”
“I know.It’s—it’s just hard for me to wrap my head around sending my son away, at such a young age.And he’s not even born yet.”
“My mother struggled with it greatly,” he said.“But she held to our customs.You are mistaken if you believe that Luxirians are not affected.But they know that warriors are made and it is warriors who keep our planet protected, ourgalaxyprotected.”
Like all young warriors, he had struggled during military training.But it had made his mind and body strong.He didn’t know who he would be had his parents not sent him away…but he certainly wouldn’t be the leader he was now.He certainly wouldn’t be holding this female against him, this female who was heavy with their child.
He could only wish the same happiness for his own son, forallthe children that he would sire with hisluxiva.
“I won’t like it,” she said finally.“When the times comes, I know that I will fight you on it.I’m just warning you now.I will try to get my way because the idea is so…is soaliento me.Even though I know it’s probably for the best.”
“I am no stranger to your claws,luxiva,” he told her.“And Ilikethem.We will fight when he comes of age.But that will not be for many, many more rotations.There will be much to cherish and experience until then, much to learn about our son.”
“One step at a time,” Kat murmured, meeting his eyes.
His lips quirked.“Yes.For now, let us enjoy this place.”His chest rumbled.“Let me enjoyyou.”
Kat shook her head, pressing their slick bodies closer, and leaning her forehead on his chest.“Don’t you always?”
* * *
Kate woke before Vaxa the next morning, for once.Through the small opening at the top of their tent for the fire smoke to escape, she could see a heavy shroud of silver mist andpinkfog.If the creaking, breathing trees swayed just right, she could make out brief streaks of the coming dawn.
Kat looked up at her mate, careful not to disturb him, for she knew he was a light sleeper.He needed to rest.He’d needed a little break from his duties and responsibilities.And while she knew Luxirian needed less sleep than humans typically did, her mate was dead to the world, catching up for lost time.
The furs were slung haphazardly over his body and the majority were wrapped around her.He’d accused her before of being a fur-stealer and now she had the proof.Not that she could feel particularly sorry about it as her eyes ran over her mate’s nude body.His cock was tucked against his thigh, hard even in his sleep.A light smile touched her lips, not being able to resist leaning over him to lightly touch the swollen ridges lining it.She was obsessed with his body, completely obsessed.
He shifted and groaned, eyes blinking sleepily up at her.
“You wish to mate, female?” he rasped, already turning her so that he could slide between her legs.
She laughed and pushed at his shoulders, wiggling out from underneath him.“No, go back to sleep.I shouldn’t have done that.”She’d known better than to rouse her mate in such a way.Because once she showed the least bit interest in having sex, he wasallover her.And he needed to sleep.
Kate rose to her knees, eyeing the fire that was nothing more than a few tendrils of wispy smoke.It was cold in their tent and she added another piece of wood to it, hoping it would catch on the last of the dying embers.
Nature called and she looked over her shoulder to find Vaxa on the verge of sleep once more.
She leaned over to kiss his forehead and murmured, “I’ll be right back.”
