Defiance (Rise of the Iliri Book 3) (9 page)

Chapter 10

At the sound of footsteps, Sal and Roo found their feet, smiles on their faces when they recognized the cadence.  Jase walked into the light of the fire.  Panting, his breath froze in the air around them.  Sal moved to his side feeling a need to be near him as he bent with his hands on his knees.  His blue eyes met hers easily.

"Ayati, Sal, that was a fun one," he managed to get out.

She laughed and kissed him before tugging him toward the fire.  Just as he reached the circle of warmth, they heard the soft tread of paws on the snow and Roo yipped.  She galloped to Hwa as he came through the trees and tackled him, pinning him to the ground to nuzzle his face gently.   As the iliri watched the young couple frolic, Sal felt Jase slip his arm around her.  He pulled her back against his chest and buried his face in her hair.

"This feels like home, kitten," he told her quietly.  "Our hunts are good, our kills are clean, and our pack is happy.

Smiling sadly, she looked back at him.  "I miss home, though, Jase."

"Blaec?"

She shook her head.  "Not really.  I thought I would, but it's not that.  I miss being able to walk into a town without a man making a comment on my clothes.  I miss being able to go somewhere without my head covered.  I miss the Blades, too."  A wistful smile flickered across her mouth.  "I wonder if Zep found himself a woman iliri enough to make him happy.  I wonder if Tilso is keeping Risk in line.  I always expect to hear Shift cracking a bad joke at my expense.  I just miss my own pack."

"I know, kitten.  I miss 'em, too.  I'm just willing ta enjoy what I have now."

"Me too," she assured him before kissing him sweetly.  Jase slid his hand to her face and pulled her closer, savoring her and enjoying that she was just his.

A short growl made him break off the kiss and look.  The grauori were watching them, their tongues lolling, and Roo had her ears pinned close to her head.  They had something to say, and it looked important.

Sal turned in his arms, resting against his chest and raised an eyebrow, "Yes?  I take it you want something?"

Roo nodded, and they all felt the click of the link opening. 
I am glad to have my Hwa back to me, and I'm glad to see you so happy with your mate, Kaisae.  This much happiness makes me want more.  I would like to ask formally if I may be a breeder for the pack and produce pups for the Black Blades.  Would you allow it?

Sal smiled.  She hadn't expected Roo to ask in front of their small pack, but this had a feeling of formality.  "Aroora, I would be proud to call your pups my own, and to have the strong talents of you and Hwa joined together.  You may have as many litters as you choose, at any time you want, so long as Hwa is agreeable."

Hwa looked at his mate and then back to Sal, his eyes carefully resting on her jaw. 
I would be more than proud to sire pups with Aroora.  She is the best bitch I have known, regardless of her color!

"I kinna like her color, myself," Jase added with a shrug.

You sure you'd want to have pups with me, Hwa?
Roo asked him, and Sal felt the little female's fears of rejection.

I'd want nothing more!  We could have tons, and they could grow big in the southern sun.  They could choose to be whatever they wanted, no matter what color they are.  The Kaisae has said you can breed, Roo.  I want to see little Arooras, and to have them chase my tail, and to pamper you when they keep you up all night.  I've always wanted to have pups with you, but until now, there hasn't been a chance of it.

Roo ducked her head, her eyes only for her mate. 
I asked her earlier when you both were hunting.  Sal said she'd train our pups herself, Hwa.  She said the pack would raise them as their own.

"I did, and I mean every word of it," Sal assured them.

Our pups would be full packmates? 
Hwa was beaming.

"Of course.  It's very likely that Roo would be the first breeder for the pack.  Her pups would have a special place with all of us."

Jase hugged her, resting his chin on her head.  She knew he liked the idea of a family but found herself wondering.

"Jase?" she asked, twisting to face him, "Does this count as the family you said you wanted?"  She kept her words for him only.

He nodded, a strange smile on his face.  "Yeh, kitten, that counts."  He turned to Roo and Sal saw his eyes gleaming.  "Roo..." he paused.  "Thank ya Roo.  Yer offer means a lot ta me.  I allus wanted a family, but -" he broke off.

Is it because your mate did not want to breed?
Roo asked.

Jase shook his head, words failing him.  "Nah, it's because I'm part human."  He released Sal and squatted in front of his packmate.  "Ya see my blue eyes, and ya know what it means.  But I can na be around humans well.  My body tells me they are prey." 

You worry you would destroy them?  That your instincts would reject them?
she asked.

"Yeh."

But my pups?  You're not worried about my pups?

Jase shook his head.  "Roo, ya and Hwa bring something out in us.  It's like yer what we were supposed ta be.  When I held Worau's pups, they pulled at me and I wanted nothing but ta protect them.  I would feel even stronger 'bout yers.  Even if Sal chooses na ta raise them
with
me, having kids in our pack?  That would mean so much ta me."

Roo shoved her head into his chest, dumping Jase onto his rump in the snow.  His arms wrapped around her neck.  When Sal saw his smile, she realized how much she still had to learn about the man she loved.

Then,
Roo said, turning to look at Hwa,
If the pack is agreed, I want to apologize.  I asked too late.

The males looked at her, both confused, but Sal smothered a giggle.

I'm already pregnant, Hwa.  The pups should be here by late spring.

Hwa howled and charged her, tackling both her and Jase into the snow.  Laughing like she'd never seen him, Jase wrestled with the beasts.  They used both hands and mouths to throw him around easily, making a game of it.  Sal found herself smiling.  For the first time, she felt like a true Kaisae.

The celebration lasted long into the night.  Jase asked questions about Roo's pregnancy, and they answered.  The grauori were truly a part of her family now, and Sal couldn't imagine life without them.  She found herself excited about the coming pups and making plans in her head how to care for them.  As the evening wore on, the males drifted away, but she heard Jase asking Hwa permission to spoil his mate.  Hwa laughed as he trotted beside the iliri. 

Kaisae? 
Roo slipped in beside her.

"Yeah?"

You have made me the happiest bitch in the world tonight.  Thank you.  You were right about Hwa, he's so happy. 

Sal reached over and rubbed her friend's neck.  "I'm glad, Roo.  You deserve it.  I know how it feels to be shunned by those around you and then find yourself in a pack that finally understands that you aren't just one thing."

You had that, too?

"Yeah.  In the Conglomerate, humans are in charge.  Iliri are slaves, and most of us have either been bred out, or killed.  The handful of us that are left, well, we're usually slaves."

And yet, here you are, Kaisae.

"I know.  I was lucky enough to find a pack that understood me."

Me too. 
Roo rubbed against Sal's leg in a sign of friendship. 
Can we see if I can talk to your friend?

"Now?"  I thought you'd be wanting to celebrate with Hwa. 

Nah, Hwa needed a male to speak with.  I think they'll be a while.  Give me that burning of your friend, and we can see while we have time alone.  I know you miss your pack, and this is the best way I can think of to say thank you.

Sal nodded and thought of Arctic.  Her mind easily recalled his pale skin and full lips.  She closed it into a tight package in her head.  It was easy to remember the look of his nearly white eyes, his namesake, and his ebony hair.  She could almost smell him, warm and soft, with the hint of oils and leather under his armor.  She knew how he tasted as her teeth sliced through his skin, and his laugh as he encouraged her to be better, to be more.  She thought of how her friend had always been there for her, whether it was in battle, or being worried about her lovers.  Then there was her respect for him as a tactician, and how he'd halted her frenzy with a gentle command, accepting her for who she was so easily, caring about her in his own way.

She took those memories and tied them in a knot, wrapping it in the feel of his mind holding her mental link.  With the burning in her mental grasp, Sal looked at Roo and pushed it between them.  Roo took it gently, cradling the memories like a newborn pup in her mind as she savored every layer.  Sal watched her friend's face as feral smiles flicked across her features and she inhaled the imagined scent of him.  A few moments passed before Roo's eyes focused on the present.

You do that nicely, Kaisae, and your friend seems like the kind of iliri I'd be proud to call a packmate.

Sal nodded.  "He's a good guy.  An enigma in many ways."

Link with me and let's see if we can find him.  Have you done this before?

"Never.  I didn't even know it was possible until you told me earlier."

It's easy.  Just link with me like we would for hunting.  I'll talk you through it.

Sal opened her mind to Roo.  Together they entwined in their heads, becoming one.  Sal could feel Roo's memories at the edge of her own, but didn't look at them closely.

Good.  Now reach for his mind.  Call to him, that often makes it easier.

Sal obeyed and sent her thoughts south.  Searching with her mind was like trying to peer into darkness too far away to see.  She strained, and with her Roo pushed, guiding her further.  Slowly, so slowly, she moved past flickers that could only be grauori packs, their touch feeling like waves brushing against her mind's path.  Each one felt like a hint of color that she couldn't quite see.

Think of him, smell him, taste him, hear him.  Look for that feel, open your senses, Kaisae, and find the mind that matches it.

Sal tried, and Roo tried with her.  Together they reached.  When she felt like she could stretch no further, she caught a whiff of him.  Roo shoved against her, preventing Sal's mind from sliding back, and she reached just a bit more.  She could almost touch him.

Arctic! s
he called. 
I can almost reach you.  Damn it, Arctic.

In her head she could nearly taste him and his scent was getting stronger.  She knew he was reaching so dug in and pulled herself closer.  Suddenly she felt something brush against her, a whisper of softness she hadn't expected.  She could almost hear him and, in her mind, she knew just where he was.

Roo's mind shoved against her, springing forward, and latched onto him, holding tightly.  Sal's mind tried to slip back, but Roo held tightly to the feel, the scent, and the sound of the man Sal knew so well.

Take it, Arctic,
Roo screamed into the mental distance.
I can't hold this far unless you meet me.

Arctic, you're so close, just take the link!
Sal called to him, begging.

And, like a rope breaking, he did.  The females crashed back into their heads, but Roo refused to release his mental grasp.  Like elastic, the link stretched taught but didn't break.  Sal could feel her colleague's confusion, but he'd recognized her voice even after this long. 

Sal?
Arctic asked, confused.  She could feel him stand up in pleasant shock.

Yeah, man.  That was rough for us,
she told him.

Us?

The other mind is Roo – Aroora – my friend and a new packmate up here.

She?  She feels strange.  Is it the distance?

I am grauori
, Roo answered.

Everything ok, demon?
How did you do this? We can't reach this far!

We can't, but Roo is a linker, too.  We met her and her mate – long story, man.  Look, can you link with her again now that you know her mind?

Since I've never done this before, I wouldn't swear to it, but yeah.  I'm pretty sure.  Roo, just throw rocks at my head and I'll reach back for ya now that I know you have my brothers with you.