Page 20 of K'Vella

I rub my hand over my abdomen, imagining there might be a young growing there already. I hope there is because I've never wanted anything more than to start my own family.

"You planned on that, so does that mean you might be thinking of something else?" Sloane asks, picking up on the slip of my tongue without me even noticing.

I chew on my lip, not wanting to admit to these women that I might've gotten it in my head during the rut that Holoth might want me for longer than just to sate his lust. It was silly and inappropriate, especially considering the stipulations I put on it before we were even together.

Instead of answering Sloane, I redirect the conversation in a different way that will hopefully take the focus off my relationship with their friend.

"On Varon, conception is difficult. Not only is there a slim chance of it happening, but we can only attempt it once a week or so. It's most unfortunate since so many of our kind yearn for large families and yet are lucky even to have one child. My mother had two girls, and it was a blessing. Two daughters who might bring more children into the world." My words trail off as I shake my head.

"Well, you're doing that now," Sloane says, giving me a soft smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes. "She'd be proud of you, I'm sure."

I let out an unflattering laugh and then cover my mouth with my hand. "Sorry." I cough to cover the straining laughter and then try to compose myself to explain. "No, my mother and sister are not happy with me. I was sick, and well, I'll never have Varon children. I'll love my Rytharian, but many will see the babe as a mistake. My mother and sister don't even know I'm here if I'm to tell you the truth. I wouldn't want them to either. If I had it my way, I'd never see them again."

"Shitty family." Essa shakes her head and then gives me a knowing look. "My parents have promised my hand to an awful male. I haven't seen him since I was a child, but he was a terror then. I can only imagine it has gotten worse. Still, I'm not allowed back on my planet, or they'll force me to marry him, or worse, they'll force me to reject the proposal so he may take my younger sister." Essa snarls as the last words leave her mouth.

"You and your sister get along, though?" I ask, hoping that the strain of her parents hasn't ruined that relationship for her. I don't know if my sister and I would be friends if not for our mother, but I don't think so. My sister is mean and has always been mean. I don't know why or how, but it's just in her.

"We do, or we did," Essa's smile is sad. "Niivi is a wonderful female. She's much better at politics and composing herself in a manner befitting the Bylath family. I sometimes wish she was the one who was born first so that she could take over instead of me. But then again, maybe she's just as happy knowing I continue to disappoint our parents, and there's nothing they can do to relinquish my control over our home when they pass from this life."

"I wish Kiena and I were an equal force against our mother." I sigh at the thought.

What if we supported one another instead of my sister always feeling like she needed to tear me down? Even when I found out I was sick and was told the treatment I would have to undergo, she still found ways to make me feel less than as though I wasn't already feeling horrible.

"Kiena?" Essa asks.

Her eyes burn with something that seems almost like hatred. She sits up straight now, and even Sloane's staring at her like something's wrong. Essa's tail is twitching between her legs rapidly, and the little tuft of black hair is at the end brushing against the floor in furious movements.

"Where on Varon did you say you were from?"

"The ninth district," I say slowly, unsure if I should tell her.

When her dark eyes only grow more furious, I feel like I've messed up. Her pupils contract so much so that the black is a sliver of a line in her yellow eyes.

"I'm sorry. Is there something I did wrong?"

"No, not you." Essa's lips pull back until her sharp canines flash against her golden lips.

She stands from the couch in one swift movement, and for a second, I think she'll come after me. She takes long, angry stomps in my direction, but when she stops in front of my chair, she tilts her head to the side and just stares.

"I won't hurt you," she says, her voice a soft melody that doesn't match the way she's looking at me.

I wrap my lower arms around my abdomen to protect the unborn young that might be there, but my upper arms stay loose and ready to block an attack if I need to. I think about calling out for Holoth, but Sloane's already pulling out her comm and urging Avery to leave in case something happens.

"I'm not going to hurt her!" Essa snarls louder, her teeth biting into her lower lip as she closes her mouth.

Her canines are definitely longer, indenting against her lower lips. They make the bites on my body throb in recognition of the damage she could do with them. Her eyes pierce me, and a chill coats my spine at the fear screaming at me to run.

Essa's still towering over my recliner when a growl vibrates through the room. My heart beats even faster, recognizing the sound without needing to see the male who just came in.

"Step away from her, Essa," Holoth growls, his voice sounding too far.

"You'll never guess who she is," Essa says as her eyes narrow on me once more. Her tail thrashes wildly behind her. She seemsway too amped up in her anger to be thinking rationally right now.

"Get away from the mother of my children," Holoth growls.

His statement catches me off guard. I'm not the mother of even one of his young yet, so I don't know why he's making statements like that.

It surprises Essa, too, who finally takes a step back from me and shakes her head, her tail finally slowing in its movements. She's barely two steps away when Holoth is beside me, helping me to my feet. His eyes are planted firmly on Essa, ensuring she doesn't get too close or try to attack me.

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