Page 69 of Clan and Crave

“I don’t like it. Vel will be coming to checkon you.” Her mouth was set in a straight line.

“I’m sure he will.” Conyod had alreadyresigned himself to his Nobek father’s frequent visits.

He noted Tuher coming their way, his gazefixed on Lafec. Conyod thought of signaling he was okay dealingwith his mother but decided against it. He wanted to go to hisclanmates, to bask in the joy of being their Imdiko.

“My Matara,” Tuher said upon reaching them.“Erybet’s mother has been looking for you. She said she hasn’t hadthe opportunity to speak to you yet.”

Lafec scowled at him, no doubt realizing hewas diverting her from their son. At her Dramok’s level gaze, shegave in. It helped she and Erybet’s mother got along so well.“Where is she?”

“By the refreshment table. I think she’sfound a bottle or two of prime bohut and is fending off everyoneelse so you, she, and Sletran’s mother can enjoy it in some privatecorner.”

A smirk tugged at Lafec’s lips. “The womanknows her bohut. I’m glad she took charge of the reception’sbeverages. I need a strong drink or seven.” Her glare skeweredConyod as she headed off. “I’ll see you much later, myDramok.”

Tuher chuckled and whispered to his son, “Sheprobably won’t see me or anything else until the morning aftershe’s slept it off. I’d better have the pain inhaler and stim tabsready.”

“I’m sure you laid in a supply in honor of myclanning ceremony.” Conyod kept a straight face.

Tuher regarded him, amusement fading. “It’shard for us to give up on the hope you’d come home to stay. My headsays it’s good, but my heart breaks.”

“I love Erybet and Sletran, my father. Ienjoy training the kestarsh, but my work as a psychologist is whatfits me best. It’s what I need to do.”

“You’re where you should be. Perhaps one day,I can come to accept it. Sema might too. Vel and Lafec…” Heshrugged.

“I understand.” Impulsively, Conyod huggedTuher. “I love you all. I hope you realize it.”

His father’s grip on him was strong. “As longas we have your love, we’ll manage. I may not be the best father,but I’ll be the best I know how. You have my word on it, myson.”

* * * *

“I think it went well,” Conyod said when hisclan returned to their well-furnished quarters, which had once beenErybet’s alone. “The food was perfect, we didn’t run out of liquordespite our mothers’ impressive attempts to drink it all…” hepaused, grinning as he waited out Erybet’s and Sletran’s laughter.“And I wasn’t kidnapped by my parent clan.”

“They made no attempt to murder me andSletran either,” Erybet chuckled. “The ceremony and reception wereabsolutely a win.”

“Clan Tuher will eventually come around,”Sletran said as he pulled off his dress boots and wiggled his toesin obvious relief. He opened his dress uniform’s top, displayinghis impressive chest.

“So optimistic,” Conyod sighed, but he waspleased at how the day had turned out. “Clan Erybet is publiclyrecognized, and no one can do a damned thing about it.”

“Can you relax now?” Erybet rubbed hisshoulders and nuzzled his cheek.

“Maybe.” Conyod smiled at him. It did feel asif a weight had rolled off…his Dramok’s massage certainly helpedthe notion. When Erybet’s hands slid to his waist and drew him inan embrace from behind, the Imdiko sank in the warmth and comfortof it.

Against the odds, he’d overcome his childhoodtrauma and claimed the perfect clanmates. Wanting to submergehimself in the knowledge, he held his arms to Sletran. Smiling, theNobek came to him. His arms circled Conyod and Erybet.

“Thank you both,” Conyod said.

“For today?” Sletran asked.

“For all of it. You, for rescuing me when Iwas a kid and putting up with my infatuated neediness. Erybet, forgiving the three of us a chance.”

Erybet snickered. “Once I understood what Ihad a chance at, you two would have been worth fighting through anyobstacle. Those kestarsh, on the other hand, especially Adwal…”

Conyod laughed. “Maybe they’ll come aroundwhen my parents do. Hey, Dresk likes you. That definitelycounts.”

“I’ll take it.”

They fell quiet. For a while, the trio simplystood there in the great room, holding each other. They basked intheir union, which had seemed so impossible at times.

Conyod hoped his joy would last forever. Howcould it not, with Sletran and Erybet as his lifemates?

---