Page 38 of K'Vella

I'm sure she has plenty of questions, but unless she asks, I'm not answering. I also don't know how much Holoth has told her about our relationship or whatever it is. I don't want to counter anything he's told her, so it's better not to mention anything unless she does.

"I am grateful," I mumble.

One of my hands stays on my abdomen, rubbing it as though I can comfort the babe inside of me already. I know it is much too small for that, but it makes me feel good. I only stop the movement when Helna narrows her eyes on me and presses her lips together.

"I don't know how much you know about Rytharians," Helna says, moving her eyes from my abdomen back up to my face. "Scent matching is important for us. I didn't realize how my brother felt about you. I wouldn't ever do anything to hurt his relationship with you. I promise."

I clear my throat and force myself not to frown at her. It's a feat in and of itself because she most definitely was trying to do exactly that this morning when she told Holoth that I couldn't possibly be meant for him.

"I care for your brother more than I should since I also know he's not scent matched to me. Everything you're thinking, I already think about constantly." My hand strokes my abdomen without me thinking about it, and Helna catches the movement again.

"Well, you won't have any issues from any of my friends," Helna says, one of her brows arching at my abdomen in a question. "If you have any issues with any females, you let me know."

"And what will you do?" I ask, trying to keep the laugh out of my voice. "I thought you'd be happy if your brother found a female here who he wishes to be with."

Helna narrows her eyes at me, but her cheeks stain a bright pink, just like her brother's when he's embarrassed. She opens her mouth to say something, huffs slightly, and places her hands on her hips.

"Let's get you dressed," she says, turning away from me and heading back into the room. "I'll show you what I'll do to any female who disrespects you when we're in the great hall."

I swallow down a thick lump of emotion and try to figure out what has changed to make Helna feel as though we are close now. Just this morning, she would've gladly sent me back to space so I wouldn't be near her brother anymore.

"Why?" The question is small, much too small, considering I'm so much bigger than the female holding out furs for me to wear.

"Why?" she scoffs and then shakes her head. "My brother didn't tell me you were carrying his babe. That would've stopped me from saying many of the things I did. He's chosen you as the mother of his young? You're family now, my sister now."

I take the clothing from her with shaky hands and wide eyes. Helna notices the panic in my features and puts the pieces together quickly.

"Does Holoth not know?" she asks, her head tilting. Something else dawns on her, and she continues. "You haven't told him, and he can't smell it on you. Why haven't you told him?"

"I planned on it before we came here," I say, slipping into the bathroom so I can change without getting naked in frontof Helna. I doubt the clothing will cover much, but I can still have some privacy when I'm fully naked. "When we came to your planet, I didn't want to tell him in case he ended up scent matching someone. I don't want him to feel trapped with me."

Helna laughs again, and this time, it's a deep, throaty laugh that has my chest flushing in embarrassment. "Rytharian men beg females to trap them. Give him babes and tell him he's not allowed to leave you. Yes, he'd love that."

"Yes, well, that's because he doesn't know what he's missing out on," I say as I tie the fur meant to act as my skirt around my waist.

Helna told me she made these for me, but I'm not quite sure how she decided to make them the size she did. The clothing doesn't seem to be made for a female of her size, and I assume that's why it looks to be made up of even less material than Helna's.

The front is a flap of fur that covers my intimate areas, and the back is the same. They're tied together and around me with a leather strap. The top is not much better. A furred halter top that ties around my neck and another tie between my arms so it covers my breasts. Not that there's much to cover.

"I know I didn't help with your fears this morning," Helna says right outside the bathroom door. "My brother cares for you, though. I think he's being honest with you when he says he doesn't care about a scent match. He plans on leaving Rythar as soon as your friend is through her heat, so there's nothing for you to fear from his commitment to you."

I step out of the bathroom and feel my chest turn violet almost instantly. The halter top covers some of it, but it's clear to everyone that I'm flushed because so much of me is visible. Helna beams at me, her eyes turning bright with joy when she sees me.

"You look beautiful," she says, "A true Rytharian female. And with all those bites." She wiggles her brows at me. "My brother wasn't joking when he told me he wanted you dressed up like a claimed female. I thought he was being dramatic, but look at you."

She spins me around toward the full-length mirror inlaid in Holoth's wardrobe. She pushes the clothes aside, and I can see myself in the clothing—all of myself. I do look beautiful.

It's not clothing I would ever pick out for myself. Varon clothing is more conservative than this. All of my other dresses cover most of the bites on my neck, shoulders, down my chest, arms, and between my thighs. Now that I can see them all, I feel warmth in my chest, and the burning in my wrists comes back like a shock.

Normally, Holoth is here when it happens to lessen the pain, but this time, it bites into me until I'm wincing before it eases. Helna doesn't catch the look of pain that crosses my features because she turns toward the bedroom door.

"Let's get going," she says with a wave. "Holoth's probably itching under his skin to be back with you. I won't tell him about the baby, but he might find out with how many of us start piecing together what the scent is."

"What does it smell like?" I ask as I follow her out of the room. I've been curious about my scent, whether it's pleasant, and whether Holoth would like it if he ever smelled me.

"It smells like you, and then there's a hint of my brother. I thought it was just because you're always wearing his furs or you've been rutting like crazy. It wasn't until you were in there rubbing your belly that I realized it was a babe." Helna gives me a bright smile. "Others might think it's just vigorous rutting, which is good for your claim on him. Some females will think twice before trying to get between a male and a female he marks so much." She shoots me a wink that has me flushing even more."Some will see it as a challenge, though. Just follow Holoth's lead. He won't let anyone get close enough to him to hurt you."

"Oh gods," I groan under my breath. I don't want to go through with this any more than Holoth probably does. The only reason I agreed to it is because I know he's going to be all but attacked by eager females if he goes alone.

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