Page 13 of Bound By the Vori

“You will do this for the first three hours of your day, and then spend two simply keeping me company in the manner which we are currently enjoying. I can learn from any amount of tedious reading on my datapad—which I do—but it is the casual and informal companionship that I find will be the most helpful.”

“So basically you’re paying me to tutor your daughter on all things human and help expose her to being around humans—and be your friend.”

Leiora smiled. “Precisely. I knew you would understand. I have the contract on my datapad now if you wish to look over it.”

Wiping her hands on one of the wet napkins waiting in a bowl, Kim reached for the datapad and skimmed over the contents, her eyebrows flying up when she came to the number offered for her salary. It was easily three times what she made as a teacher on Earth for far fewer hours. She covertly pinched herself to make sure she wasn’t dreaming or hallucinating. Nope, the numbers were still there.

“I hope everything is satisfactory?”

“Umm, yes. I think so. I’ll just go ahead and sign then,” she mumbled as she drew up the laser pen from the screen and used it to rapidly scrawl her name at the bottom of the contract before handing it back.

Leiora accepted the datapad and added her own signature with the flourished characters that made the Vori script. “Perfect. You start tomorrow. Rykaal will accompany you to the nestling wing. He is stationed there as a guard and can introduce you to Zana. I am quite certain that she will be absolutely delighted to meet you.”

Kim smiled as she popped another berry into her mouth. If this were all a dream, she hoped that no one would wake her up.

Eleven

It only took an hour on duty for Sijhord to realize that he hated being separated from his mate. Rather than be curled around his female and nestmate as they slept through the night without him. He could not even focus, his attention straying toward his mate. He never imagined that he would ever have the desire to be the sort of male with no interest beyond protecting his nest and mate. It was not that he looked down on such a position, but he had always assumed that he would never be content with that sort of life when he observed the males among his mother’s mates who were coiled with her when not attentively guarding her or caring for the nestlings.

He understood their purpose and their value to the nest for which the other nestmates appreciated their presence. They were considered the embodiment of the Father of Sentries within the family. Not only did these males protect the nest from any intruders or anything dangerous that might attack the nest, they also were the ones who were responsible for devoting themselves to the needs of their family. In his youth, Sijhord viewed that sort of life as tedious and dull, confined entirely within the nest unless there was some desire for the female or the nestlings to venture outside. And when it became apparent that he was born in a way that guaranteed that he would remain unmated, it ceased to matter.

Now, however, he understood the appeal.

He would rather be doing anything at all with his mate than on night guard in the nestling wing. It was his usual post, one that was familiar to him despite being a different shift, but any fulfillment he once felt was dwindling by the moment, especially if he had to listen to another comment from the male he was paired with for the night.

The male, Roth, blinked over at him with a little too much interest when Sijhord failed to laugh or respond with anything more than a grunt at his latest anecdote. He had not yet perceived the fact that Sijhord found nothing amusing or entertaining about his commentary on the human females living within the capital. Such gossip was not new, but it usually took other males a lot less time to notice that he was not receptive to it. Speculations on breeding tight, little human cunts and discussing females that they would enjoy having within their coils never sat right with him. Although their breed of Vori was naturally more aggressive and dominant, such discussions were always received for the smaller and more vulnerable humans whom many of them had come to objectify as exotic little sex pets.

“I just recalled hearing that you are nestmates with Rykaal. You have a human mate, right?”

Sijhord cast him a narrowed look. He contemplated simply ignoring the question, but he knew that the male would not desist until he got a satisfactory answer. “I do,” he bit out.

Roth hissed with interest. “I hope one of the males who is next selected choses me for a nestmate. Some of the males are already attempting to pair up in anticipation of it. Or at least trying to,” he amended with a laugh. “I have attempted to attract a favor of one more than of the higher-ranking guards but was rebuffed repeatedly. At this rate all the good cunt will be claimed by the time I am eligible for a mate.” He groaned like a wounded angyal, prickling Sijhord with annoyance. “How did you accomplish it?”

Shoot an impatient look at the male, he growled, “I certainly did not go around speaking in a way that reduces the females to what is between their legs.”

The male blinked once and laughed. “Nothing is meant by it. I never took you to be so prickly. You always struck me as a male who would be entertaining.” The corners of his lips inched up as he considered Sijhord. “You know, there is nothing that restricts family groups among the guards to two. Most are just aiming for that because that is what the chosen guards have done, but you and I both know that some of us are friendlier than others and could share a female among us more easily in larger groups. Rykaal is somewhat stiff, but he is not unbearable like some of the Elite Guards. You could likely talk him into taking in a third. I have heard that three and four males to one female is still quite common in the jungles away from Evath.”

Tension shot up Sijhord’s spine and he glanced sharply at the guard. “And why would I wish to do that?”

Roth hissed jovially. “You are a lot like me and many of the other younger guards—the ones who aren’t determined to murder themselves and everyone else to climb to the top. You are in the best position of all of us to help at least one, if not two more males. While I would have enjoyed fucking one of the tiny humans, your mate could probably easily handle more males attending to her needs.” He leaned in close, mistaking Sijhord’s furious silence for consideration. “Does she allow you to bind her in place as you rut her? What is her cunt like? Is its clutch as soft and sweet as I have heard said of other humans?”

Something within Sijhord snapped. Rounding on the male, he whipped his tail around, striking Roth hard enough to send him careening into the wall. His head struck the stone. The thud of his collision resounded in the hall, drawing the attention of the guards stationed at the other end of the hall. The males rushed forward, their tails undulating with the superior speed of their breed as they closed the distance between them. Sijhord did not bother to move from where he loomed over the unconscious male. He did, however, tear his gaze away from the pitiful sight to straighten and address his superiors properly. Aside from their bright sashes that marked them of the Elite Guard, he recognized both males, having been introduced to them just earlier that evening, as the pair in command of the entire wing.

“Mija es’Farlong. Dahtir es’Lovath,” he said politely as the guards looked from Roth and back to him, askance.

“What happened?” Mija growled while Dahtir bent to check Roth’s vitals.

Sijhord followed the male’s gaze back toward the collapsed guard and hissed angrily in his throat. “He insulted my nest, my mate, and my nestmate.” He swallowed thickly with embarrassment at having to repeat the vile words to his superiors. “He inquired as to my mating activities with my female, as well as the clutch of her sex.”

Mija made a sound of disgust and cut him off with a sharp wave of his hand. His brow lowering, he exchanged a critical look with Dahtir, who scowled as he rose from his inspection. Whatever silent communication took place between the males, Mija moved away some distance and lifted his comm, his quiet words inaudible as the male communicated with someone on the other end in a hushed voice.

“Did he?” Dahtir turned a disgusted look upon Roth’s prone form. “He is fortunate that he tried that with you and not Rykaal. Otherwise, he would be dead and not merely unconscious.”

“I wanted to kill him, but I would prefer that he serve an example to the other young males who are waiting to be granted mates. It would be punishment enough if it causes some obstacle for him getting that which he desires,” Sijhord spat, and the other male nodded with understanding.

“He is doubly fortunate, then. I will include your restraint and the reason why within my report. Hopefully it will deter any more foolishness from the guards,” Dahtir added with a grimace. “We are not ignorant of what is going on among the younger and low-ranking males. Mija and I have both been approached multiple times. It has become so vexing that we decided to nestmate with each other and be done with the nonsense. We are on the next rotation and will be soon selecting our mate from the Mate Index. I will be glad when I see the end of all the hopeful inquiries.”

“It did not work out so well for me,” Sijhord pointed out dryly, and the male gave him a wry smile.

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