Page 14 of Bound By the Vori

“That is because you are a young, personable, and outwardly friendly male. You are older than most of these fools and possess a higher rank than them, and yet you have not lost your easy disposition. They seek to take advantage of that.” A grim look crossed his face. “I will be honest, Sijhord. At this point my recommendation is that you leave the guard. The males will not cease targeting you, and I fear for your wellbeing—and even more for theirs—should you become even less receptive as your bond with your mate deepens. It happens this way with some males. Once they are mated, they are destined to be in the nest for the good of everyone—Father of Sentries grants it.”

Sijhord regarded the male with surprise. “I had never considered the nest male in that light. Those of my fathers who remained home seemed always calm and the gentlest of males.”

Dahtir laughed. “Of course they did—they were content in a peaceful nest.” He looked at Sijhord thoughtfully. “You grew up near Evath, I assume.”

“One of the outskirt towns,” Sijhord corrected with a shake of his head.

The male grunted. “Same difference in some respects. It is safer than in the vast territories within the jungle. There are some who live near each other in loose family groups like the Etales, who build up a strong clan home, but many live in isolated nests. I grew up in the darkest parts of the jungle, and I have seen the viciousness of my nest fathers more than once when it came to strange males or wild animals invading the territory.” He patted Sijhord on the shoulder. “Your instincts are natural and are perhaps even more fine tuned in this regard given our breed.”

Sijhord accepted the male’s words with a nod. He gave him a lot to consider. The soft sound of scales sliding against stone drew his gaze up as Mija returned. The male gave him a sympathetic smile.

“You are to return the main sentry post. There you will wait until Esheb rises. He will be dealing with this matter personally.” At Sijhord’s wince, the male chuckled and thumped his shoulder companionably. “Do not worry. Esheb will have reports from both of us. He is also a mated male, as well as being the highest head of the sentries, so he will best understand your position.”

“And what of Roth?” Sijhord asked, glancing back down at the crumpled male.

“Oh, we will take care of him,” Mija remarked dryly. “Now go on while we get the medics here to revive him. We are certainly not carrying his heavy ass down to them.”

Mumbling his thanks as he was ushered off, Sijhord slipped through the dimly lit halls of the palace until he reached the sentry station tower. There was no one there save a few males monitoring the security feeds, but they paid him no mind other than to give him brief, knowing looks as he entered. Settling on a bench, Sijhord settled in to reflect on the way everything was likely to change as he waited.

He felt no regret for any of his actions, nor did he feel any shame or dismay at the thought of Dahtir’s recommendation and the possible consequences for attacking a fellow guard. Was he not just considering a short time ago how he lost his taste for guard duty? The only thing that made him balk was knowing that being dismissed could potentially bring shame on his nest and his maternal nest as well. Although he had been born and reared near Evath, his mother was bred in the deep jungles and had never succumbed quite so much to the sickness as many of the other females populating Vora. She did not suffer the madness to such a great degree, and when other males were driven from their maternal nest when they became mature, Sijhord’s mother had wept when he left despite the pride she felt for his acceptance into the guard.

He hated to disappoint her as much as he hated to bring any embarrassment to his sweet mate, or to Rykaal who had trusted him enough to bring him into his nest. He stared at his tail morosely as he waited for the remaining hours to trickle past.

“Sijhord.”

Lifting his eyes, he fastened his gaze on the large male looming in front of him. Esheb was of enormous proportions even compared to the guard, his face set in stern lines that had made more than one cocky new guard curl in on themselves beneath his gaze.

Straightening, Sijhord nodded, and the male grunted as he unlocked a door and waved him into the room.

Entering an office sparsely decorated and in muted tones of bare stone, Esheb settled on a short bench behind a desk and looked at his datapad. “It is early, so let us do this quickly. I am certain that you know what is going to happen by now.” He glanced up at Sijhord and grunted again when Sijhord once more nodded. “I have already read over Mija and Dahtir’s reports as well as their recommendations, and I agree with them.” Settling back on his coil, he regarded Sijhord thoughtfully. “Dahtir said he explained his concerns to you, but I would like to hear from you what you think should be done.”

The tip of Sijhord’s tail trembled anxiously but he hardened his jaw and met his superior’s gaze unflinchingly. “From what I have learned from Dahtir’s explanation, and my own concerns regarding my mental state when it comes to the safety and wellbeing of my mate, I have to agree with his recommendation.” He swallowed thickly. “If possible, I would like to request that this is done quietly so not to bring shame to my family or maternal nest, however.”

Esheb’s brow furrowed. “This is not a punishment, Sijhord, and will not reflect on you as such. Although what you did was a little excessive, it was not unwarranted. The security team examined the vids and said that as far as they could see, you tried to evade the male and shut down the discussion more than once. Of course, we also cannot have it happen again—or worse, which is our main concern.” His lips twitched faintly. “The Matriarch would be displeased if her guards suddenly started murdering each other, however provoked. It is for your welfare that I am terminating your contract as guard of the Western Palace of Evath but with full honor and respect, and gratitude for your service. The severance in your contract will be paid out in full both to you and your maternal nest as stipulated. Are there any questions?”

Bowing his head respectfully, Sijhord bowed his head in relief. “No, Sentinel.”

“Good. Now go home to your nest so that I can return to mine,” the male ordered crossly with a flick of his hand as he straightened once more.

With a grunt of relief, Sijhord hurried from the sentry tower to make his way out of the palace and back to his nest in the family dormitory building. He was both eager and anxious to get home. I was certain that Rykaal had been alerted as to the reason he had been detained and perhaps even received the notice of Sijhord’s severance on the comm system.

Despite the fact that his contract was terminated without prejudice, he was still uncertain of exactly how he would be received by the male he had always admired and who had become a beloved nestmate. Upon arriving at their nest, Sijhord trembled before their door, unable to make himself open it and enter. His instinct clamored at him to return to his mate, and his hand slowly extended toward the keyplate when the door slid open silently. Rykaal loomed in front of him, at his full uncoiled height as he peered at him stoically. Sijhord’s heart ached at the barrier the male’s huge body made, but he had no fight in him to push his way in, not when it came to his nestmate. He opened his mouth, willing to beg if needed to be reunited with Kim. when the male reached forward. Gruffly gathering him into his arms, Rykaal squeezed him tightly to his chest as relief swept through Sijhord, making him sag against the larger male.

“It is as it was meant to be, Sentinel,” Rykaal rasped into his crown coils, welcoming him home.

Twelve

An hour after arriving at the nestling wing and Kim was convinced that tutoring Zana was not going to be anything like a dream. Dreams didn’t tend to work Kim’s last nerve. There were few people whom she would have contemplated strangling, even in a dream, but Zana was quickly climbing to the top of that list. The princess was pointedly looking right through Kim, if in her direction at all, much to Rykaal’s obvious bewilderment.

Kim didn’t understand how he didn’t see it. The male was completely oblivious when it came to his young charge. A shame that Sijhord isn’t here. Despite his easygoing attitude, he was very perceptive and would have seen through this bullshit. He could’ve been there and would’ve happily come. She knew that. But Kim had insisted that he stay home and rest after being awake all night.

Despite her rising annoyance, Kim forced a polite smile on her face. She was still hopeful that she could do some good and make a positive difference. So she waited patiently while her mate tried once again to introduce her, unobservant as hell of the fact that the girl was too busy flirting with him to have any interest in cooperating.

In fact, the female was distinctly pouting as he attempted to retreat enough to give Kim adequate space to move in front of him where her student couldn’t possibly miss seeing her.

Zana rolled her eyes, somehow perfectly pulling off the same move as teenagers on Earth despite the considerable distance between planets. “Rykaal, I am too old for a caregiver. I have eighteen revolutions. I have just one revolution remaining before I will be old enough to legally claim my first mate.” She paused and gave him a sweet smile. “Surely you can agree that I have more important things to consider, such as which male I would like to choose as my first.”

Kim barely kept herself from gaping at the bold move. She knew that girl didn’t just—

---