Page 15 of Nyanine's Divide

“Ah, we all need some downtime. I’m just glad I could help.”

Sitting on the porch, we lean back and rest, grabbing our drink cups. “So, how are things with your mate? Have you talked to her or anything?” I glance at him before letting my gaze focus on the trail to the village, my eyes wandering around and taking in the scenery.

“Aside from seeing her step through the portal, no. I know that she’s been through some unspeakable things, I don’t know the extent, I don’t know how to help, and I don’t want to push her. I’d rather keep my distance while she finds her footing, you know? Besides, the Guardians assured me that our time will come after you complete this mission and our village is safe once again. So, I’m biding my time, for both our sakes. You’re my priority, Captain.”

I give him a sympathetic smile, hating that I’m keeping him from love. “Not forever, kiddo. You’ll have a life of love soon enough, I’ll make sure of it.”

He nudges my shoulder with his. “I have all the love I need for now right here. You, the hunters, I know I’m not alone. I have friends, family, in all of you. Our bond reminds me that I’m loved and appreciated for the work I do, and that’s enough for now. Don’t pity me too much, ‘kay?” He grins, and I huff a laugh.

“Fair enough. You’re a good kid, Kosiiba.”

He grunts before we fall into companionable silence, enjoying the cool breeze on the summer day. I don’t know what secrets we’ll uncover in the upcoming days or weeks, but for now, I’ll be grateful for what I have, for those in my life, because who knows when I could lose them all. If I fail this mission, I might just lose them all. Best to take the time I have while I have it.

Chapter 11

Jeff

Walking up the path to Vahru and Kari’s, Kosiiba waves and tells me she’s around back on the porch. I nod in thanks as he turns and continues his patrols around the house, leaving me to visit with my best friend. It feels like it’s been weeks since I’ve really sat and talked with Kari, she’s always locked away trying to work on her research, despite it seeming to get her nowhere. I wish she would take a break and just be for a minute, let the answers come to us. Someone is bound to have something, right? And hasn’t she contacted others for help? She’s not alone, but she acts as if she is. That’s always been her way, though, stubborn brat.

“Hey, Cap. Mind if I join you?” I call out as I round the corner and see her sitting in her rocking chair on the back porch. Her blonde hair is longer, hanging past her shoulders now comparedto resting above them when we first arrived. Green eyes widen and sparkle as she shakes her head, smiling and waving me up to join her. Today, she’s dressed casually in a flowing purple dress with blue accents that match Vahru’s eyes. It frames her upper body well, leaving the bottom to swell around her ankles and feet.

I settle into the chair on her left as Vahru returns with a tray of teacups. He sets it on the small table in front of us before handing the cups out to each of us and settling to Kari’s right. He’s in his usual beige pants and t-shirt, but his long black hair is neatly braided down his back, letting his horns rise tall against his scalp. If I didn’t know he was a gentle soul, I’d be terrified of him. He looks rather foreboding with his height and those horns. Reminds me of when we first met him and I really did think he was bad news there for a minute. Oh, how wrong I was.

“So, how have you been? You’ve kept yourself locked away, working on your research. I feel like we haven’t talked in forever. What’s the news?” I sip the tea, a sweet blend of orange, honey, and jasmine. Kari’s favorite, of course.

“Ugh, it’s been miserable, honestly. All the information I seem to find is consistent, eerily so, and nothing seems to indicate that there is any other story but this one. Not to mention that laptop of frustration that does NOT want to work for me. I’ve called the so-calledgeniuswho coded it, and he’s supposed to come and help me with it soon. Not sure when that will be, so we’ll just wait and see.”

“So… you’re taking a break today?” I cock a brow at her as she leans her head back in her chair and sighs. She nods, her body deflating, and Vahru chuckles.

“Much to her disappointment.”

Kari sticks her tongue out at him without opening her eyes, and we both chuckle. Knowing her, this is eating her up inside to sit here with no solution. Kari is a woman of action, she doesn’tsit around and wait very well, never has. Maybe I can distract her with something, get her talking about something mundane but interesting.

“Willa wants a whole litter of kids.” I drop that and take a sip of my tea. Vahru grunts, not surprised, and Kari sits up slowly, her gaze focusing on me as a wicked smile of intrigue crosses her face.

“And what do you want, Lieutenant?” Her tongue runs along her back teeth as she tries and fails to hide her amusement at the change in conversation. She’s not a person of drama, she can’t stand it, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t interested in good gossip that hurts no one. I mean, who isn’t interested in knowing all they can?

I chuckle, taking another sip of my tea and making her wait. Her eyes widen as she leans farther over, closer to me. “Oh, my god! You’re gonna give it to her, aren’t you? Whatever she wants, right? You with a litter of kids!? Can you even handle that!?”

I laugh out loud, setting my tea down on the table. “Kari, you wound me! How capable do you think I am? Seriously?”

“Wha–I–” she stammers, huffing before taking a slow breath. “I don’t mean to insult, I just never saw you having kids, I guess. I never saw me having them, either. It’s such a foreign concept. But is it something you’d be happy about, something you’d want? In the future?” Her expression sobers, the smile dropping as her brows raise in genuine curiosity.

My smile remains, growing slightly as I think of how happy it would make Willa to see her belly swell, to see her carry a baby around and coo at it all day. She’d be in love, and that would be worth every struggle it comes with. “Yeah, I do. I mean, Willa would be so happy and adorable with a little baby to fawn over. Plus, it’s just more love for us, right? Isn’t that what we want, to grow families and build more love around us?”

Her head cocks to the side as she studies me, and I notice the way Vahru’s studying her instead. His eyes bore into her head, and I’d bet all I have that he’s reading through her emotions and thoughts as best he can with their bond to see what she truly feels inside about that. I have no doubt he wants to grow a family with her, but will she do it? It’s not something I ever saw her doing because she’s not the type to settle, she’s always on the move, but if she had something that meant everything to her, would it be enough to finally tie her down and plant roots?

“Wow, Jeff. I’m looking at you in a whole new light. What changed your mind on all this?”

“I found something to live for other than my missions. Willa is my home, where my heart is, and I’m putting down roots right there with her. Part of growing is expanding, becoming more. Being a dad is only the next logical step after mating, isn’t it? I mean, it’s how things went on Earth. Marriage, home, kids, big family, grow old with them, and live happily. I just didn’t have that there, but I do here. So do you.” I give her a pointed look, cocking one brow as I raise my teacup to hide my smirk.

Her lips curl in between her teeth as she nods ever so slightly, thinking on that. Vahru grins, finally turning his attention to the woods and away from Kari. Just in time, too, as she turns and examines him for a long moment.

We sit in silence for a while, just enjoying the nice weather and the sounds of the wind through the leaves, when it's broken by the buzzing of a drone. I jump up at the same time as Kari, our eyes trained on the skies. Vahru growls as Kosiiba comes running over, hands on his knives.

“No way,” Kari breathes before taking off down the trail, Kosiiba hot on her heels. Vahru yells out for her before we chase after them. She doesn’t stop until we reach the shield, where she drops down to examine it. We both do, but neither of us noticeanything out of the ordinary, but we’re not coders or computer experts. We wouldn’t notice anything.

Growling in frustration, she stands and rips her comm from her pocket, lifting it to her ear. “Ayira, the shield has been tampered with again, the drones are back in our air space. We don’t know how to code this, we need some back up here… Great, thanks.”

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