“This heater is large enough to heat the entire space with ease and look at this.” I hold up a compressed square.
“What is that?”
“A proper sleeping platform, so no more hanging off the end.”
“Bummer, I had gotten quite attached to that small space.”
Kissing the top of her head, I bring the remaining items into our main living area. Then she yells out, “BuK, do you want me to open up the other doors?”
“No, I think we will stick to heating this immediate area in case the temperatures keep dropping.”
HaL walks into the sustenance room holding two cans in his large, furry hands. “Here is an extra tube of sealer in case one of the other viewers fails, but I believe you two should be quite cozy in here now. It is almost too hot for me already.”
Briar turns, looking up at HaL, who towers over all of us in this form.
“HaL, thank you for leaving your home world and getting here so quickly to help us. It’s nice to know others care, and I know I’ve said this before, but please forgive me for screaming earlier. You’ve done more for us than most would.”
“Little human, you are most welcome, after all … family takes care of family. I need to get going as I still need to find KyT. BuK, MeK was working on planet-wide communications, so I am sure you will be hearing from him soon. His mate was truly worried about both of you, and we all know he will do whatever it takes to keep her happy.”
HaL nods to Briar before turning away. I walk behind him to the lower level where the wind is so strong, it feels like it is going to cut me in half. He grabs me in a big hug, completely engulfing me in his massive frame, then pats me on the head before walking out like it is a lovely spring rising. Closing the door behind him, I seal it shut the best I can since I broke the locking mechanism earlier. Making my way back upstairs, I find Briar looking out at the viewer, holding a steaming cup in her hand, as she watches HaL effortlessly make his way down the path.
I fight the urge to walk over and pull her close. Since things were interrupted, I am not sure what to do now. “Briar, are you alright? Your tears worried me earlier.”
“I made you a cup of hot chocolate and it’s sitting on the crate. You and I need to talk.”
CHAPTER 12
BUK
No male of any species ever wants to hear those words. My eyes get huge and I swear if I could, I would have made up any excuse about needing to be somewhere or anywhere else.
“Lord, you look like a whipped puppy. Relax, I’m not mad, I’m simply curious. BuK, I don’t really know anything about you or your family. I mean, I just handled this entire situation with HaL poorly, and if I’d had a bit more information, I might have done better, or at least I wouldn’t have been so freaked out.”
“You know I have many brothers?”
“Yeah, but until Lacie explained that to me, Mister DaR was not on my list of favorites because I thought he was a male whore. But what no one seemed to mention is how different you all are, and because of that, I acted ignorant. I would probably run from one of the good guys and straight into the arms of the bad ones without meaning to.”
I sit down on the single chair and motion for her to join me. Quickly, she crawls into my lap and I pull a blanket over us andtake a sip of the warm liquid she has made for me. “Ohhh, this is good.”
“It is, and it’s great for warming the bones. I’m sure Lacie was the one who packed it, as it’s a favorite of hers. Now quit stalling.”
“I am not sure how to show you the extreme differences between all my brothers without a holopad. Kira refers to us as a rainbow of muscles. I am assuming that is something colorful in your world?”
“It is.”
“Each of us comes from a different world, except OrO, and we all have very different backgrounds and features. Most of us took something from father, but I actually favor my mother’s people more. The only real difference between me and my planet brothers are my runes and the spikes on my arms.”
“Wait a minute, now I’m even more confused. What’s a planet brother?”
“Brothers I only share with my mother. I am the oldest, but my mother mated when I was a youngling, and I have three younger brothers on her side.”
“For some reason, that never dawned on me. So, is it common for the women who win the lottery to have other children besides the ones they have with DaR?”
“Absolutely, it is an honor for the females to have a child with a Commander, and it gives her stability for her lifetime. But not everyone feels a child can fill the void that a mate does. So, if the female wishes to mate with another, the only stipulation is that the Commander has to approve the union. If he does not, hecan remove his son from the home, but still must provide for the mother.”
“Wow, I’d hate to be that guy. DaR is slightly intimidating.”
“It is not something we all talk about a lot, but I do believe he has been reasonable on most occasions. There were only a few circumstances in which he removed his son from that planet.”
