Page 1 of Rhaz's Redemption
Chapter 1
Rhaz
“She has a strong spirit,” Karo commented as he held the newest member of our dekes.
Little Tabby held tightly to his finger as he held her. Tarak and Gabby smiled as the elder held their child.
“She likes you,” Gabby said between bites of her breakfast. She had healed well from the delivery and with the help of the dekes there was very little need for her or Tarak to do any chores while they spent time with their new baby girl.
Orsu and Julie were behind the cook fire restocking supplies. Orsu pretended to find a bit of syrup on Julie's face and made her laugh when he kissed her cheek in an attempt to clean her off. Her belly was swollen with their child who would be the next new member of our dekes. Julie was doing well. Kayla, however, was not. Her weak heart was struggling against the strain of pregnancy and despite Sozu’s efforts, she was not thriving.
Drovo doted on her constantly. He made her a chair that hung above the ground with ropes. It worked on a pulley systemand she could easily use it to go from room to room, but she rarely got the chance. He insisted on carrying her everywhere.
“It is not every day a male gets the chance to carry his mate and child all in one go,” he pleaded with her when she looked like she was about to argue. “Please let me carry you both.”
“Drovo,” Kayla sighed. I’m just going from the table to the cushions to sit with Taylor.
Taylor held a hand over her belly. There hadn’t been any formal announcement that they were with child, but it seemed obvious by the way Brexl hovered over her and how she smiled when she patted her belly that there would be an announcement soon.
“It takes a lot of muscles to move from here to there and you should use mine instead of yours.”
“Fine, go ahead.” Kayla sounded annoyed but the corner of her mouth turned up in a smile as Drovo took her in his arms.
He set her down next to Taylor and Brexl and the two of them laughed as they got to work knitting baby clothes together.
While I’d never seen Drovo happier than what he was right now, this was the first time I’d seen Brexl happy at all. Ever since he’d benn mated to Taylor he was nothing but smiles. She was the light of his life, that much was obvious. I was happy for him. He had carried a deep sadness within himself since we were very young and I was glad to see him shedding that sadness like an old skin, worn out and no longer useful.
I shifted my gaze to Beatrice like I often did. I couldn’t help myself. She was like a beacon of light and I was powerless against it. I felt drawn to her like a moth to a flame. Her radiance called to me and I wished more than anything to draw closer to her. I wanted to run my fingers along her warm brown skin, and through her soft curly hair. I wanted to be the reason why she laughed and smiled. I wanted to give her the same joy her existence gave me.
Luminescence had chosen us for each other. I had no idea why. She deserved so much more than me. I would not let her be brought down by the curse that burdened my own soul.
I dared to look at her again. She pursed her lips and my cock hardened as I thought about what it would be like to have those lips pressed against mine. The humans brought that tradition to our dekes and the other couples seemed to like it well enough, but I wanted to know what the fuss was about myself.
These thoughts are what had made that lonely luminescense night torture. I stroked myself many times over that night and even though I’d find release I never found relief. The lust kept coming back in waves. I would picture Beatrice naked beneath me and quickly spill my seed, but then I would just grow hard again not long after.
She sat at a table next to Fatima. She said something and they both laughed. She was happy and I wanted to keep it that way. Which was why it was so important for me to stay away.
Beatrice
“Fess up already. It’s been five days and you’ve yet to tell me what happened that night,” Fatima nudged my side with her elbow as she demanded answers. In all fairness she’d been quite patient with me, far more patient than most of the other people here. Which, was admittedly a low bar considering how much everyone craves gossip around here, but Fatima had respected my boundaries nonetheless.
“What was it like? He seems so…distant,” my closest and dearest friend said as she spared a quick glance in his direction. “I can’t imagine him being sweet or romantic.”
“He wasn’t,” I shook my head and sighed.
Fatima’s eyes grew wide. “Was he…rough…” she let her words linger hoping I’d get her meaning.
“No,” I shook my head again. “Walk with me.”
There were too many eyes and ears in this room and I didn’t want anyone else to hear what I was about to confess to my best friend.
We both got up and she followed me to our shared living quarters where we both donned our coats and headed outside.
“Spill,” she said as soon as the cold air of the great outdoors touched my face. She’d clearly run out of patience.
“He never came back,” I confessed.
“What do you mean he never came back?”
