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There's no one but drakoni and their mates left in the room now.
Rachel gives me a giddy look. "That was amazing, Jenny. I didn't know you had it in you!"
"I didn't, either," I admit, picking up my spoon again. I'm determined to eat all this good food while it's still warm and delicious. "But after knowing what Mhal went through, it's wrong to just let it continue on." I cast an affectionate glance over at my mate. He's wearing the stiff, arrogant expression he always does, but as I look at him, his mouth curls up into a faint smile.
I want to bask in that gorgeous smile of his.
You did very well, Mhal tells me. I have never seen a Salorian retreat before. He feels cornered.
Good. Let him stew for a bit.
Gwen clears her throat. "I just hope he finally listens. We've all tried to get him to see that imprisoning the drakoni is wrong, but it's hard to argue when he really is protecting innocent people. But you're right—we've got enough drakoni at the fort now that he doesn't have to hold anyone against their will. I just hope Melina can convince him that we're right."
Mhal's thoughts fill with amusement, and then Gwen laughs quietly. I glance over at my mate, and his eyes gleam with gold. Vaan says that it is impossible to reason with Salorians when they do not view us as people, just tools to be used.
Then it's going to really suck for him to realize he has to work with us, I point out. Because I'm serious. If he doesn't give in to our demands, we're not staying. I won't have a constant reminder of what he did to you shoved in your face every day.
Mhal is quiet for a long moment. Then, he sends me a wave of pure affection. I am proud of you, my mate. Your strength of will makes me so happy. We will have glorious children together.
I just send him a wave of affection as I happily eat another bite of soup. "I think this has chicken in it."
"Probably," Rachel comments. "Nothing but the best for our buddy Azar. Meanwhile everyone else eats scraps."
My stomach clenches, and then I'm reminded of Bethany and Michael, and the pot of bugs. "I forgot a demand," I admit, pushing the delicious soup away. It now reminds me too much of Bethany's bubbling meal over her fire. I notice Gwen's not eating, either. She picks at a piece of cornbread, her face distracted. Rachel, on the other hand, plows through the food with vigor. "I wanted to tell Azar that no one should eat the bugs. They're…they're wrong. They're not from this world."
Rachel snorts. "Only a fool would see those things and think they look like a meal."
"There are a lot of hungry fools in this fort."
She straightens, her expression pensive, and she knows I’m right. She's quiet for a moment, and then speaks. "We'll get the word out either way. Make sure no one touches them. Jurik and I will take care of that. We sometimes hunt for some of the people that are really hungry, but it just encourages others to rob them and steal the food from them. There's no good answer."
There never is. Any time you try to help someone in the After, another equally desperate person ruins it. It's hard to get mad when everyone's struggling.
At the far end of the table, Gwen sucks in a sharp breath, her hand flying to her belly. Vaan immediately jumps to his feet, a huge grin on his face as he hovers over his mate, pulling out her chair.
"What is it?" Rachel asks before I can.
Gwen gets to her feet slowly, her face tight. She touches her rounded stomach. "Baby."
37
MHAL
Since the Salorian has abandoned us for the night, Jurik and his mate ensure we are given quarters in the human hive. Jenny wants to go and check on her friends in the fort, but she is tired, her thoughts sapped of their earlier strength. Standing up to the Salorian has taken a lot out of her, and while I could not be prouder, she needs to rest for the morning's confrontation.
So I coax my mate to stay, and I put on my glasses so I can see her pretty face better. We are alone, so I can show this vulnerability, but only to her. When Jurik suggests that I mention a bath to my mate, I do. Jenny immediately lights up, and we head into the bathroom and fill the tub with water. It is not warm water, so I casually stream fire from my mouth into the tub while Jenny undresses, heating the bath for her.
I get into the tub first, then indicate that Jenny should sit between my legs. Come, I say enticingly. I will wash you.
