AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He shrugged and got himself a stack of cream puffs from the tray.
Vallu was into the jelly, and the royal couple was diving into a mousse. The rest of the desserts disappeared rapidly.
Ylara ate her cream puff and one of Riithan’s, then she looked up. “Can that come down here? Don’t want to waste any of that.”
The tail and stinger descended, and she licked the seven deadly inches clean.
When she was done, she patted the tail, and it got out of her way. That was when she noticed the silence. Everyone was staring.
The thrumming started at her back, and folks jumped a little.
Riithan chuckled. “They can’t believe you did that.”
She looked at him. “Oh, come on. Once it has been inside you a few times, there is nothing to worry about.”
He laughed as if she had said the funniest thing, and the alphas looked uneasy, but they laughed.
Riithan’s mother was laughing behind her hand, and his father looked amused. Ylara’s friends were holding onto each other and laughing.
Ylara leaned into Riithan. “Lovely dinner.”
“Yes. You survived.” He leaned in and whispered into her ear, “Why didn’t you accept the harp?”
“It’s a bride present, from the days before the Sethir-Nin went alpha crazy. You guys don’t have brides anymore, so no harp.”
He tensed under her. “Oh.”
She shrugged. “It would be a reminder of things your people don’t offer.”
He leaned back, and she kept her face calm. “I see.” His tone was soft.
She patted his leg. “Don’t worry about it. My problem, not yours.”
Vallu tilted her head, and Ylara excused herself. Riithan let her go reluctantly, and she and her friend walked out to the balcony.
Vallu put an arm around her. “What is going on?”
Ylara swallowed. “When you got married, and I caught the bouquet, I had the fleeting idea that I could have a husband and kids, too. All of my dreams came true... until my heat was over. You know the rest.”
“And then, you went to Khytten’s and found out that Brit and Sabine had gotten married, and then, your heart broke more.”
Ylara shrugged. “I just associate it with being safe, you know? My inner child wailing into the void for a place to be safe.”
Vallu hugged her. “That’s why I agreed to marry Etgar. Just in case something happened before I delivered. I didn’t want him to have a problem claiming the child.”
Riithan’s arm came around her the moment Vallu stepped back. He calmly asked, “Where did you find a Sethir lap harp, Lady Daycross?”
Vallu smiled. “It was one of Etgar’s connections. When I found out that you had spirited Ylara away, I bought it as a gift. I have heard her play a replica before. She’s really good. I thought it would make a good present. I didn’t know about the circumstances.”
He nodded. “The Sethir were what our people were before the attacks, and the breeding of alphas was imperative. There was no space for marriage when one woman could produce multiple alphas in her lifetime.”
She shivered. “Which is why omegas run like hell when they see one of you guys.”
“Aw, you didn’t run fast enough.” He squeezed. “You need to up your cardio.”
Vallu laughed. “Well, you don’t have to accept it, but will you play for us? Just this once?”
“Oh, I am really not dressed for it. There are special robes that are worn for this.”
