Alien Refuge (36 page)

Iris smiled at her men, all four of them. Life had been cruel more times than she could count, but she thought it all might have been worth it to reach this moment. Right now, her heart was overflowing.

* * * *

Despite the monumental occasion that clanning deserved to be, too much was going on to properly celebrate right away. The attack on the Jones’ homestead warranted Ospar and Jol’s attention. The pair settled in the governor’s home office to work.

Meanwhile, Iris got Thomas on schedule. Rivek opted to spend the day with his new mate and son, quietly observing to learn the boy’s routines.

The Imdiko was impressed with how independent his adopted child actually was. Iris had a picture schedule on her handheld computer. Thomas consulted it at the end of each project and deleted the task he had just finished. Then he went on to the next item on his schedule without fuss. There were a few adjustments to what he was used to because Thomas’ home had changed, but Iris had prepared him over breakfast for those occurrences. When Thomas wasn’t sure where he was supposed to go for outdoor playtime, he looked questioningly at his mother.

“We’re going to the courtyard,” Rivek said brightly. “A whole new place for you to explore.”

Enclosed on three sides at the back of the house, with security patrolling the opening that led out onto the rest of the grounds, the courtyard area was a perfect space for an active boy to romp. Jol had doubled the home’s snowsuited guards in the wake of last night’s tragic events. Rivek assured Iris she could take Thomas out to play in the protected area.

Jol surprised them all when he came with them for Thomas’ hour in the snow. “I thought I’d help keep Thomas entertained enough so he won’t want to explore beyond the courtyard,” he explained.

Rivek suspected his protective clanmate also wanted to make sure he was on hand if any trouble started.

Rivek and Jol were delighted to discover Iris had played the child’s game Frozen Lands War, though she called it the much more benign ‘snow fort’. Jol and Thomas paired to build their fortress and stock up on snowballs, while Rivek and Iris partnered to establish their own battlements to fight against them.

It soon became apparent that Thomas found knocking snow forts down more hilarious than lobbing snowballs at anyone. The moment either side established a protective wall, Thomas would crash into it, giggling hysterically. His enjoyment had the rest of them laughing so hard they could barely breathe.

Jol knelt in the snow with his hands on his hips as he eyed the boy who enthusiastically stomped the barrier the Nobek had just erected. “You are not helping our cause, my son,” he said, unable to sound stern between snorts of laughter. “While your enjoyment of blind destruction is to be commended, it will mean the fall of our empire.”

“Thomas strong!” the child bellowed. “Thomas break wall!” Then he dissolved into giggles and fell onto the mess he’d made. He handed a fistful of snow to Jol. “Fix it, Jol. Fix it.”

So Jol fixed his wall while Thomas ran over to rampage on Iris and Rivek’s construction to their pretended horror. Then Thomas ran back and demolished his teammate’s newly built barrier.

Jol shook his head and laughed. “I’d give up and settle on a snowball fight, but he’s having too much fun.”

Iris grinned at him from beside Rivek. “Parenthood is all about adjustments. Never assume things are going to go according to plan.”

“A good way to look at all of life,” Rivek pointed out. He grinned happily. Play was just as much a learning experience as any formal lesson. Not to mention a lot of fun. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d goofed off for simple amusement.

If there was a better way to celebrate his new fatherhood, Rivek couldn’t imagine it.

At lunch, Ospar was disappointed to hear all he’d missed. “Someone might have told me there would be snow fortresses and their destruction,” he groused good-naturedly. “I would have enjoyed being a part of that.”

“Someone has to be responsible around here,” Rivek pointed out. “It’s good for you to be that person, even if it’s only for one day.”

Jol laughed as Ospar scowled at the Imdiko.

Dramok and Nobek went back to work in Ospar’s home office, where they remained for the rest of the day. Rivek was pleased to discover Iris had scheduled in some meditation time for herself and Thomas, as well as allowing for some self-defense lessons. Even Thomas managed to be attentive to learning how he should run away from someone meaning to hurt him. It lasted for about five minutes. Then he absorbed himself in his trains while Iris continued with instruction.

The day passed pleasantly and much too fast for Rivek. He reveled in the delight of being with Iris and Thomas, of thinking to himself,
My Matara. My son.
It was almost too much happiness to be borne, but Rivek made himself take in as much of it as he could. As the saying went,
All things eventually pass away. Remind yourself of this when times are bad, because they will not last forever. Remind yourself of it also when times are good, because they will not last forever.

Rivek knew how to enjoy the best moments, how to wring every drop of happiness from them.

Dinner was a bit too quiet. Much of it had to do with Imdiko Utber’s absence from directing the staff serving the meal. The missing staffer was a stark reminder of the sadness of one clan, lending greater appreciation for Rivek’s newfound joy with his own larger family. There was also the news Ospar and Jol shared from the team investigating the fire, lending extra gravity.

Jol’s handsome face stayed gentle for Thomas’ benefit despite the news. “The blaze was not accidental. In addition, there is evidence that both Earthers and Kalquorians were involved in setting it.”

Rivek’s heart dropped to hear his own kind had been a part of the horror. It raised new fears, fears his Dramok confirmed.

“We have to assume the Kalquorian rebellion led by the Basma has come to Haven. I’m convinced that we have rebels here who are now working with the E.I.K.”

“What can you do about it?” Iris asked.

Rivek noticed how her gaze darted to Thomas, happily eating noodles covered in grated cheese and a vitamin-fortified butter sauce the kitchen had come up with.

Despite keeping his tone even, some of Jol’s aggressiveness came through. “We find the perpetrators and see to it they are stopped.”

Ospar nodded, his gaze distant as he no doubt turned the situation over in his head. “We have a lot of work in the coming days. I’ve imposed a curfew on the colony, which will no doubt have Hoover beating down my office door tomorrow.”

Rivek smiled and advised, “So you should take care to enjoy tonight as much as possible.”

Ospar glanced at him then looked at Iris. “So I should. And I will.”

Her pretty face turned pink, making all three men grin. The darker mood passed, allowing them to relax for the rest of the evening. They spent most of that time playing with Thomas while they discussed the formal clanning ceremony that would announce their new family to the rest of the community.

Rivek knew there were many problems ahead, both for his clanmates and Haven. But as he’d suggested to his Dramok, those future problems were not to be contemplated now. Now was all they truly had, and now was a time of great contentment.

* * * *

Ospar led the way out of Thomas’ room, having joined in the ritual of putting the boy – his son – to bed.

I’m a father. I have a son.
The thought was wonderful and terrifying all at once. Raising a child was no small matter in Ospar’s view, and he could only hope he was up for the task.

He also had a Matara now. As the other three came out of the room, Ospar stared into that beautiful face that was his to adore for eternity.

If Amgar felt anything like this for his family, then his sacrifice to save them was more than reasonable to him. I would do anything for Iris and Thomas. Anything.

Ospar swallowed back the emotion that threatened to choke him. He cleared his throat. “I think on this most wonderful day we should show our Matara the pleasure room.”

That lit Jol and Rivek’s faces in an instant. Iris blinked up at him, innocent of what their clanning night held in store for her. “What’s a pleasure room?”

The Dramok took her hand, marveling at how small it was compared to his. How dainty and fragile. And yet she was so strong, surviving and keeping their son safe without much help these last years. She made his heart ache with pride and a fierce need to shelter her.

“This way,” he murmured, tugging her along with the other two following.

The room where his clan indulged in private sensual play was on the other side of the sleeping room. The door had been kept closed and locked since Thomas had come to stay. Ospar had to restrain a chuckle. The days of getting clanmates into compromising positions throughout the house were no doubt at an end, at least for a while. It was too bad because he was a spontaneous lover, but the Dramok knew the trade-off was more than worthwhile.

Ospar couldn’t help but smile at Iris’ gasp when he opened the door and pulled her into the room. Her ocean eyes were huge as she took in her surroundings.

It wasn’t a large room, certainly not in comparison to the rest of the house. In fact, it had originally been intended as a storage closet for linens and the staff’s cleaning supplies. However, Jol had immediately seen the possibilities for the space and outfitted it for more nefarious delights.

A stretch of black heavy-duty fabric hung hammock-like at one end of the narrow room, its ends secured by metal chain links to the walls on either side. Soft tethers, meant for wrists and ankles, were also attached to the walls and ceiling, allowing a person lying on the hammock to be tied helpless. At the end of the hammock was a padded bench, suitable for sitting and playing with the person bound to the hammock. It was just as good for bending a lover over for a round of discipline or fucking.

Nearby shelves held implements of pleasure and pain, keeping everything within easy reach for amorous participants. The ones who weren’t bound, at any rate.

Ospar, Jol, and Rivek watched Iris as she took in the amazing room. Her eyes were wide as she looked around. The Dramok noted the tremor that ran through her body, the way her respiration sped up. He also saw how her eyes dilated and how her nipples became blatantly obvious against her shirt as they tightened in reaction.

Anxious and aroused. A response very much to his liking.

“Look at me, Iris,” he commanded.

Her gaze immediately jerked to look him in the face. Ospar managed just barely not to smile at her instant obedience to his order. He placed a finger beneath her chin to keep her face tilted up towards his.

“This is our clanning night, and I will not have you afraid. Nervous is fine, even a little reluctance is all right, but nothing in here will be used to harm you. You do know you are safe with us, correct?”

Her blue eyes searched his face. After less than a second’s hesitation, she answered, “Yes, Ospar.”

“Tonight you will answer my orders and questions with, ‘yes, my Dramok.’ Say that now,” he prodded.

“Yes, my Dramok.” Iris smiled as she spoke the words, and quiet joy filled Ospar’s heart to hear them come from her lips.
My Dramok
. Had anything ever sounded so sweet?

“You will also answer Jol and Rivek’s commands and questions appropriately.”

“Yes, my Dramok.” Iris bit her lip and her brows lowered. She seemed concerned.

“What is it, our Matara?” Ospar asked.

“It’s just – commands? Orders?” She looked at him uncertainly.

Ospar smiled and stroked her golden hair back from her face. His expression made her relax, which he’d hoped it would. “Iris, you are clanned to three very alpha males. We are used to being in charge. Even Rivek has a strong, dominating personality, particularly in sexual situations.”

He couldn’t help but shoot his Imdiko a quick glare. Rivek responded with an unrepentant grin. Last time they’d been in this room, Ospar’s clanmates had ganged up on him, and the Imdiko had been every bit as forceful as Jol. Ospar consoled himself with the knowledge that at least it had taken both of them to make him submit.

“So I’m supposed to just – surrender? All the time?” Iris’ question brought his attention back to her.