Page 32 of Tavarr's Mate
“I insist on helping, that is, if your mate gives permission for such a project.” Helena grins. “Some of the booths in the market are selling books that have been scavenged from the ruins of Capital Acres. We can try to acquire as many paperback books as possible, including any e-readers that have been found too. I’m sure we could develop quite the collection of books in all genres and for all ages.”
“Tavarr brought me a few romance novels from the market a few days ago,” I say. “I’ll ask him to keep a lookout for other books as well, and a few e-readers too. If we download all the e-reader libraries onto one main database, perhaps we can rig something for the women to easily check a book out.”
“Zandek is a whiz with technology. I’m sure he will help,” says Helena.
A few minutes pass, and we sit and work quietly on our pages, but inside I’m bursting with excitement. I want to make a difference in the lives of the human women in this village, and in the lives of their children. Perhaps in addition to the library, we could hold a weekly story time for the youngest half-human children. Well, once they’re born, that is. I know there are half-human children that had been rescued from the labs outside Capital Acres, but Tavarr once mentioned that they were all sent to live in Kleax-Lul.
By the time my guests depart, I’m a bundle of nerves. Though I enjoyed having Helena and Joanna over to work on the books, two thoughts have me increasingly preoccupied.
One—could I be pregnant? And two—will Tavarr say yes to my idea for creating a library?
Of course, I won’t discover the answer to either of those questions until my mate arrives home.
I clean up the sitting room and venture around the house, making sure everything is perfect. The aroma of the seafood dish Zell is preparing for lunch wafts through the rooms as I return to the entryway in anticipation of Tavarr’s arrival.
The door glides open and my huge red mate hurries toward me, lifts me in his arms, and kisses me hard. He thrusts his tongue deep in my mouth, and even after he sets me back on my feet, he moves to cup my face and keeps kissing me. When he finally releases me, I’m panting for air and squeezing my thighs together, the familiar stirrings of desire causing my pussy to throb with longing.
“You look most beautiful today, Katrina.”
I open my mouth to speak, but then I’m not sure what to say first. Before all my scheming to create a library in one of the spare rooms in our house, Joanna and Laylah had strongly hinted that I might be pregnant, insisting I was glowing.
Tavarr’s handsome face becomes clouded with concern. “Is something wrong, my sweet human?”
“I…”
“No lies, remember. If something is wrong, you must tell me.”
Feeling suddenly flushed, I nod and take a deep breath. “Nothing is wrong, but I was wondering if, um, if my aura looks different to you?”
Understanding dawns in his eyes. “No, my love. The color of your aura is still the same light blue. You aren’t with child, but it is my hope that we will start a family soon.”
My heart sinks. I hadn’t realized how much I wanted to be pregnant until I learned I wasn’t. I force a smile and contemplate my increasing hunger. Then I recall a doctor in the women’s clinic telling me that when the birth control shot starts to lose its effectiveness, that I might experience mood swings, an increase in appetite, hot flashes, or a number of other side effects I can’t remember now. Well, I think, at least the shots—which had been a requirement for sexually active women residing in Capital Acres—are finally wearing off.
A dark thought strikes me. Vonn. At least the shots lasted long enough to prevent me from carrying his child. I peer at my mate and thank the stars for being given a chance at love.
Tavarr and I will start a family one day, and in my heart, I know it will be everything I’ve always wanted. He’s already a loving mate, and I now he’ll be an excellent father.
“Come, let’s enjoy the midday meal on the patio, and you can tell me about your morning.”
Chapter Nineteen
“A library for the young half-humans and their mothers? Here? In our house?”
Tavarr stares at me from across the table. We’ve finished eating and we’re both sipping glasses ofyinsizawine. I casually mentioned the idea that had come to me as I worked on the picture books with Helena and Joanna earlier in the day.
I’m relieved my mate’s initial response is surprise rather than being told ‘no’ outright. That gives me some wiggle room. He has an open mind, and perhaps I can make him understand how a library could be beneficial for this village.
“Yes, there’s the extra sitting room downstairs with a door leading out to the other patio. The kids and their mothers wouldn’t even have to walk through the house. It would be small at first. It probably wouldn’t require much of my time once it’s all set up.”
“Katrina, by the time any of the children born to women taken during the downfall of Capital Acres are old enough to be walking around, we won’t be here anymore. We’ll be at my family’s home. Prince Kenan says I may return to Hehna with you in two moon cycles. That’s roughly two and a half Earth months. Any library you started now would only be serving the human women, as none of those recently claimed females have given birth yet.”
I feel instantly dumb. In all my excitement and planning, I had forgotten that eventually we’d be departing this village for good. My heart clatters to the floor. I will miss this little village, especially Helena and Joanna.
“Oh,” I say, trying to hide my sadness. “I keep forgetting we’ll be leaving soon.”
He reaches across the table and squeezes my hand. “Perhaps you can finish the picture books in time and we can order a few thousand copies of each, to be distributed to all the human women on Tallia to enjoy with their children.” He leans back and his expression turns thoughtful. “If you would like, we could travel to some of the nearest towns and personally deliver the books. And once we are settled in Hehna, if you are still interested starting a library for the humans, I will not object. I want you to be happy on Tallia.”
“I’m already happy here, Tavarr. Now that I’m bonded with you.” I smile and lace my fingers through his. “But I appreciate your support. Is it really possible to have a few thousand copies of each book made? I mean, I imagine that will be quite costly.” Tavarr isn’t rich—only the Kleaxians of royal blood live in grand houses and possess great wealth—and I don’t want to accept his offer if it will land him in debt.
