Whisk. Whisk.
The boy-child wailed louder than ever he hadbefore.
Whisk.
A low growl.
Whisk.
Jana blinked. She turnedher head at the precise moment a gargantuanmuubeast ran into the cavern andlunged toward her male pup. Her mind still splintered, ‘twas aninstinct as old as time itself that caused fangs to explode fromher gumlines and wings to burst from her shoulder blades as shetook on herkor-tariform. In an eruption of anger and innate defensiveness of herpup, Jana flew toward themuubeast at top speed and, using the spikes on herwrists, dealt it one swift, lethal backhand. ‘Twas an instantdeath.
Shapeshifting back into herhumanoid form, the jagged pieces of her splintered mind began torethread themselves. She gasped as she fell to her knees before herson and wept. The male pup was still crying, but he immediatelyceased in doing so when hisvazi—mommy—picked him up and held himfor the first time through sane eyes.
“My son,” she saidhoarsely, tears streaming down her cheeks. Her breathing wasragged. “Forgive me, my beloved.”
Jana held her pup to her breast for thefirst time—an action that caused him to shapeshift into humanoidform so he could nurse. She rocked him back and forth as she fedhim through teary eyes.
Later that moon-rising,after her son had finished feeding and wished to sleep, Jana laiddown beside him and stared at him in awe. For a certaintyhermaniand papawould accept her beloved son—and her—no matter that they were notof their species. They had to did they love her.
“I name you Vorik,” Janamurmured, leaning down to kiss her son’s sleeping head. Her smilewas soft, maternal. “I love you, my hearts.”
Mother and child sleptpeacefully for the first time in three moon-risings. Jana wouldnever turn away from Vorik—the Khan-Gori word formy beloved—everagain.
* * * * *
Meanwhile, in Zyrus Galaxy…
“’Tis not what it lookslike, my hearts!”
Geris rolled her eyes asshe stared at her nearly incapacitated Sacred Mate throughtheholo-screen.“It looks like Kara is a talented High Mystik.”
Dak cleared his throat. “Mayhap ‘tis exactlywhat it looks like, my hearts.”
“Ohmayhap, my damn ass!”
“Think you any of us had asay in this?” Zor asked, panting. “By the goddess, Kara and Isarhave been at it nonstop for moon-rising uponmoon-rising!”
Kyra’s hands flew to her hips. “So this iswhy you couldn’t communicate with us earlier? Because you’ve beenhaving orgasms for three days?” She frowned. “Where is Dari? Gerand I would like to speak to someone who has their wits aboutthem.”
“Gio took her to the bedfurs,” Kil said as he pulled himself into a standing position.“Leastways, where is mynee’ka?”
“In hyper sleep. A place Ikind of wish I was after this idiotic conversation.”
“’Tis not our faults,” Kilsniffed. “Leastways, ‘tis not my fault.”
“Or mine!” Zor roared. “Donot get mynee’kariled, dunce!”
“Nor mine!” Dak bellowed.“By the goddess, she gave me no channel for a fortnight the lasttime she was riled.”
“I’m not riled because ofKara’s abilities,” Geris said through gritted teeth. “I’m riledbecause you tried to lie to me.”
“That!” Kyra seconded.“Exactly that!”
“I would that I could bewith you in my arms,” Zor said grandly. “Leastways, I—”
“Oh shut up,” Kyra snapped.Her hand flew to her head as she looked at Geris. “Larry, Curly,and Moe are giving me a headache. I vote we end thisholo-communicationbeforewe actually do get riled.”
“Agreed.” Geris swiveledher neck and snapped three times. “Call us back when you can standup!”
