Conri (6 page)

STELLA

Stella had no idea how Sarai had not heard her come
in. She said hi to her friend but Sarai hadn’t responded. So instead of
interrupting Sarai from her fantasy book world she started to browse the
shelves of the ample library. She was looking for any history one the Leopards,
if she was to become one, she would need to know their customs. Behind one of
the shelves was a gilded spiral staircase and touching the smooth golden brass
felt good under her fingers. She climbed the stairs to find it opened to the
second level of books. But if she turned to her right there was another golden
spiral staircase.

In for a penny, in for a pound, Stella climbed higher.
On the third level she glanced down at her friend. Sarai was still lost in her
novel, still oblivious to her being there, still alone. If Sarai knew half the
things that Stella knew, maybe she would be less worried about going home and
more focused on cultivating her life here. Oh the things Stella knew too.

Ever since she started what she thought was going to
be a whirlwind romance with Flynn, she unexpectedly found herself fixated in
something she could not have imagined. The intensity of everything was out of
this world. After only a few days of out of her mind encounters with Flynn,
Core had leaned over Flynn’s lap during dinner and planted a hard kiss right on
her mouth. Flynn had chuckled as he watched her carefully.

When she didn’t freak out, she hadn’t reacted at all
because she had been unsure what Flynn expected of her, Core clandestinely slipped
in little caresses and kisses; veiled to a passerby but always under the
watchful eye of Flynn. Then Flynn had invited Core into his room and everything
Stella thought she had known- was blown.

And then
came
the whispers,
the pillow talk and the full out divulging. Stella was now privy to some pack secrets.
For instance, Conri’s mate had been the only female leopard to have red hair. Actually
it hadn’t been red in the traditional sense, but more of a strawberry blonde.
At first people were nervous of what was then thought to be a birth defect. But
when she reached her first female cycle and developed her unique scent she was
more powerful than anyone could have imagined.

There had been no secrets of who had claimed her then
to be his son’s future mate. Conri and Andraeanum were destined to be together;
sure to create the greatest leader of all time. Stella shook her head at the
sad thought that it would never be; Andraeanum- called Andrea, had died trying
to give birth to the next generation of kings. And Ova, the then head healer,
had been given to mob for causing her death.

Stella sighed as she moved away from the balcony and
toward a shelf of books. She let her fingers slide over the spines. Initially
she had come to read up on the mating ritual. Now, she just needed to clear her
head. Flynn had asked her to be his mate; even though he had no right. A female
was the only one who could choose. But Stella was not a female; she was a
woman- a human.

Stella dropped her hands and weaved her way through a
couple of isles. Her being human could be remedied, Flynn had told her. He
could not bite her, his blood or saliva would kill her. It was a failsafe to
make sure a male couldn’t just run out on his pack and turn any human. No, it
was much more diabolical than that. A human female had to be sponsored by
another female leopard. The exchange of blood would most likely succeed. But
the blood exchange bonded the two females’ and they would become sisters in the
eyes of the pack. But there was a catch. A turned human was not pure and her blood-status
could turn out to be Omega, a servant. She could work to remove herself from
the lower class but while she did her “sister’s” status would also suffer.

Thus it was difficult to find a female leopard willing
to perform the ritual. Flynn said he could find an Omega female, but that would
most assuredly lower Stella’s status and thus she and Flynn could not be mated
until she was at least a second legion. God, it all sounded so complicated. And
Stella was losing hope her and Flynn would ever be able to be together.
Because no matter what, as a Beta, he could not take a human as a
mate, all because the offspring of a leopard and a human was 50/50.

Stella groaned as she found a leather chair and
plopped down in it. The real kick in the pants was Sarai. Flynn had said he had
smelled something in her blood, maybe a latent leopard; like she had it
somewhere in her linage. If a female sponsored her it was possible she would be
turned into second legion immediately.
And the King....
Conri could choose any female he wanted and according to Flynn and Core he had
already chosen Sarai. He just wasn’t going to tell Sarai that.

But if he ever did, Sarai could very well become the
queen of an entire race... but only if she chose it. Why no one would tell her
this, why they were forbidden to tell her this- under penalty of death- was
beyond Stella. But the biggest question was
,
did Sarai
fancy the king? Stella had noticed how everyone treated her like she was
already the queen, standing when she entered, letting her eat first,
bowing
to her when she wasn’t looking. It was all because
everyone knew the King had made his decision; if Sarai would have him, he would
take her- human or leopard status didn’t matter.

It was also why Kellen’s transgression nearly got him
killed. He had directly disobeyed the king. He had sought to claim Sarai and
elevate his own status. In the end, it had cost him everything

“Good evening Sarai.”

Stella perked up, scooting to the edge of her seat.
She listened to the exchange for just a moment. Then, as quietly as she could
she crept to the edge. She watched, with building intensity as her friend put
her fingers in his hair and then- caution thrown to the wind- drove both hands
in his thick black mane with reckless abandon. When they kissed Stella about
came out of her skin, her friend did fancy the king.

And in that moment she knew she had to find a way to
be with Flynn because they were most undoubtedly staying. She scooted back a
little too fast and bumped into a bust. The statue teetered and Stella held her
breath. But as it toppled and took several books with it, she darted behind the
large leather chair. If she heard running footsteps or curses she would feign oblivious.
But there was nothing, just the soft whisper of shoes as they exited the
Library.

Stella had to tell Flynn. They couldn’t come right out
and say it but some way they had to get Sarai and Conri to acknowledge there
was something there. And by doing that they could seal their future together.

Sarai had been in a daze for the past week. She was
never alone with the King after the library incident; there was always someone
who needed him for something, a hunt that needed his particular supervision, a
spat that needed deliberation.
 
Turned
out Conri’s adopted daughter had wanted to be elevated to huntress. Conri, of
course, had handed the training over to someone else. But the girl needed his
approval to do it. But all the interruptions didn’t stop Sarai and Conri from
exchanging heated glances and fleeting touches.

Sarai was in her room, losing herself in her book when
there was a timid nock. “Come in!”

Stella walked in, closed the door behind her and
sashayed to the bed. “So I have something to tell you.” Sarai raised a brow.
“So this thing between Flynn and
I
....?” Stella looked
at the covers and traced her finger over the intricate hand stitching.

“Is getting pretty serious.”
Stella nodded without looking up, “And?”

Stella sighed and decided the wall was a better
distraction, “He and I are going to be mated.”

“WHAT!” Sarai dropped her book and sat up straighter.

Stella looked her straight in the eyes. “You know I
have had many boyfriends. And you know I jump into the serious part pretty
quickly. But have I
ever
said- ‘oh
yea, he’s the one’?”

Sarai thought back and if she were honest with herself
she could honestly say no. Stella might have been a little indiscriminate about
whom she took to bed, but her friend was never one to fall head over heels. She
always referred to her boyfriends as ‘Mr. Right now’ or ‘My good time Vegas’,
or even ‘My phase’. But she had never, ever said she was interested in more.

Sarai shook her head and Stella nodded once, “Flynn is
the one. I knew it since the moment he held the door for me and said I smelled
like a human. He had chuckled and winked at me. Then he had said it wasn’t a
bad smell, I just smelled like wet dog. I laughed so hard I almost
peed
my pants. And Sarai I will tell you, I didn’t think
about Link a moment after. Ever since then, these past three months, all I can
think about is being with Flynn, when can I see him next, what should I wear
and even, I wonder if the cook will let me cook for him.”

“WHAT?”

Stella nodded shamefully. “I don’t even cook for
myself
Rai
. But all I want is to make him happy.
Anything to hear him laugh.
And...” Stella bit her lip.

“And hear him say he loves you?”

Stella nodded again and Sarai wanted to hug her
friend. She really was in love. And Sarai was not a person to stand in the way
of love. She reached out and took her friends hand; she would at least do that.
And when her friend laughed around happy tears she reached to hug her.

But just as Stella leaned in the door burst open.

“Sarai!
Please! You must come
quickly!”

Sarai didn’t hesitate, when Lilly said something was
urgent, it was urgent. She was off the bed as fast as human speed would allow. She
raced through the halls and open spaces, Stella on her heels, and after the
training rooms she knew where Lilly was taking her.

“What’s happened?”

“It’s Lena, Dahne’s
mate,
she
is in labor and...” Lilly hiccupped.

“Isn’t Dahne the one who took Kellen?”

“Yea,” Sarai answered Stella. “What’s happened Lilly?
What is wrong with the cub?”

“I don’t know.”

The three women burst through the birthing chambers
doors and Conri, Luke and Core were holding Dahne back. He was snarling and his
incisors had elongated.
 
The scream that
ripped through the room had Sarai turning.

“Darma what have we got?”

“I don’t know yet dear. All I know is that Lina is in
more pain than she should be and is refusing to push. I think I see the head
but I can’t be sure; it doesn’t...” Darma cut herself off, and glanced at Dahne.
“It doesn’t look right.” She whispered.

Sarai was being dressed in scrubs and gloves by Lilly
as Darma talked. Now she stepped up and checked on Lina. “Lina, I’m Sarai.”

“I know.” Lina panted. “Save him.”

“I have to find out what’s wrong first.”

“He doesn’t... want... to come... out.” Lina gasped.

Sarai prodded the woman and swore under her breath. “Lina
is
this your
first birth?”

“No.
Two girls, dead.”

“What’s wrong Sarai?”

Sarai looked at Darma, “Prolapsed uterus. We’ll have
to go in from above.” Sarai moved around to the head of the table. “I’m sorry
Lina we are going to have to operate. I can save him but... you may not have
any more children.”

Lina growled, “I don’t care, just save him.”

“Where are you taking
her!
”
Dahne screamed around his extended teeth.

“To surgery.”

“NO! Deliver my son here.”

“Take her!” Sarai demanded of Darma. She turned back
to Dahne, “I am the only one who can save your mate and your son. So SHUT THE
HELL UP or get out of my OR. I understand you’re scared but that is NOT helping
her. Stop screwing with me or they will both die!”

Dahne
whimpered and Sarai
glanced at Conri. He nodded once and she disappeared behind the operating
doors.

*

Sarai tossed her gloves into the dispenser as Lina
listened to Darma on how to nurse. Sarai smiled and exited through the double
doors.

“My mate?”
Dahne was
squatting on the floor, his head in his hands. He looked up when Sarai walked
out and Conri and Luke stepped up next to him. Core was holding Stella who was
crying softly. She had been in nursing school and had been taking her sweet
time with courses when they had decided to go
ATV’ing
that fateful day. So she knew what a prolapsed uterus could mean.

Sarai smiled and Conri and Luke relaxed. “She is
learning to nurse.”

Dahne stood up so fast Conri tensed again. “She is
well?”

Sarai nodded, “She will need some time to recover but
you will not be able to have any more cubs. She will not survive another one.”
Dahne nodded.

“And the young?”

Sarai smiled wider. She held her hands in front of her
like she was holding a newborn baby just out of the womb. “He shifted, right in
my arms. I pulled him out of her stomach and he looked right up at me with the
brightest yellow eyes I have ever seen. He was perfect, ten fingers- ten toes
and then...” She sighed contently, “
he
was abruptly covered
in the softest white fur I have ever felt.” She looked up at Dahne, “Then he
was a human baby again, like it had never happened.”

Dahne’s mouth fell open and Conri slapped him on the
back. “A true Alpha you got there. How many males can say that of their sons?”
Right before Sarai’s eyes the most stoic of males broke down into tears. He
sobbed for a total of ten seconds before he wiped his face and headed towards
the double doors. Before he entered he turned back to Sarai.

“My deepest thanks
Mi
’ Lady.”
He dropped fully to one knee, head bowed and all and then was on his feet and
through the doors before Sarai could react.

Stella gasped, Core covered her mouth, Luke looked
away but Conri met here stare.

“What was that?”

“He showed you respect for saving his mate and his
cub.”

“I’m not buying it.” Sarai ripped off her scrubs and
tossed them into a sanitation bin. Lilly stepped forward from the other side of
the room, Sarai had not seen her a moment ago; that female was as stealthy as a
single shadow on a cloudy night. Sarai pointed a finger at Conri, opened her
mouth and then shut it. When she spoke her voice was a whisper and her teeth
clenched. “I have a bone to pick with you. But I am not going to start this
conversation when there is a family celebrating new life in there. Plus there
are onlookers.”

Someone cleared their throat but Conri’s eyes were for
her only. “Shall we discuss this in my chambers?” Sarai’s blood flowed through
her veins like lava. The idea of being alone with him inside his room burned
deep within.

“I...”

“I think we have somewhere we need to be.” Stella
whispered, loudly, to Core.

Luke nodded, in response to Stella or just in general
Sarai didn’t know, but he held is hand out for Lilly and she accepted. When the
room was empty Sarai found her voice. “I don’t know if that is a good idea.”

“I will not do anything until you have spoken your
peace.”

Sarai threw her head back in frustration, which kind
of frustration she refused to acknowledge, but when she looked forward she
nodded.