“Yes, Fatila.”
Fati-la? I’d had my name mispronounced many times, but I’ve never been called Fati-la.
“FAH-tee-mah,” I corrected him. Luminescence mate or not, he was going to get my fucking name right.
“FAH-tee-mah,” he repeated slowly multiple times as if he were trying to memorize it on the spot.
“Yes, thank you,” I sighed. “Look, I think we both know what’s about to happen right?” I began.
Drelic nodded his head. “Luminescence has chosen us for each other.We are supposed to mate to complete the bond.”
“Exactly,” I flashed him a broad, encouraging smile. “We’re going to spend the night in this cave, uh, mating.”
Drelic let out a deep sigh of relief, and the tension in his shoulders finally began to ease.
“I’ve never mated before,” he confessed. “You’ll have to show me what to do.”
It was my turn to let out a deep sigh. I guess I’d have to take control in this aspect too.
Chapter 2
Fatima
CW: animal attack, descriptions of fatal injuries, blood
The next morning I sat at the entrance of the cave letting the light of the rising sun caress my face as Drelic slept. I was pleasantly sore between my legs and the idea that my future child might be growing from one cell to two and beyond brought an immense amount of warmth to my soul.
I wanted a little one so badly. I wanted this. Well...maybe not this exactly. Drelic had needed much more instruction than I had anticipated. Everything from where to place his hands to how much pressure to apply. Everyone’s first time is a bit awkward, but I really thought he’d take more initiative and explore my body on his own, but no. He kind of just sat there and waited for my direction.
Eventually we got to a good place and things started to feel pretty good, but it took far too long to get there.
“Next time will be better,” I assured myself. I showed Drelicthe ropes so from now on he can take the lead. This was fine. Everything was fine.
“Good morning,” my new mate stood behind me with a sleepy smile on his face.Mate. That title felt...too official. He was more like my fiance. That felt more accurate. My new fiance.
“Good morning,” I smiled up at him. “Did you sleep well?”
“I did,” he replied. “Did you?”
“I did.” I said in turn.
Then we just stared at each other like two strangers after a night of hooking up. It would feel more natural to bid him goodbye and make my way back home, but this wasn’t just some random hook up, this was my new fiance.
“Well, we should probably head home to the village. I will show you, our house, and I will make any changes to it that you’d like.”
His words made a lump form in my throat and ice fill my veins.
“I actually thought, we’d live in the mountain home of the other dekes,” I cut in. When Drelic through me over his shoulder and ran into the forest, our two dekes’ were fighting. I hoped that Tarak was able to get the women out of the valley and back home.
I would not live apart from my friends, and I would certainly never agree to live under the rule of the Savrix that had me kidnapped.
“With those savages?” Drelic huffed. “No. We will live in the valley where it is safe. My mate and children deserve the best this world has to offer, and that’s the village we’ve built within the valley.”
“Children?” I squeaked.
“Of course,” Drelic looked at me with a confused expression on his face. “We will have many children, and our house will be filled with little ones for many years.”
“But what if I just want one?” I asked as my world began to spiral out of control.
