“I have to agree with you, even if I never understood it very well.”
Renay laughed. “Not the poetry type, then?”
“Oh, no.” He grinned. “I’ll read tales of our biggest battles for hours, try and stop me! But the endless descriptions of Syh seem a bit pointless to me, when I could go and fly in it.”
“Don’t worry about how I’ve been entertaining myself,” she said, reaching out to take his hand. “Tell me about the human crew. They started today. Didn’t they? I saw some come past the medbay.”
“They spent most of the time just checking out the place today. They haven’t actually been given tasks yet.”
Renay rubbed his hand eagerly. “I’ll be happy to work with them once I get to know the ship better myself. I really want to get a library started, somewhere we can have lots of media from both cultures. I’d like to write new books showing the cultures coming together.”
“You—you want to open a library,” Tyff asked incredulously.
“Why not?”
“Well, my warriors… They aren’t exactly the reading type.”
“Don’t be silly,” she exclaimed. “Warriors need to be educated just like everyone else. I’m sure plenty of them like to read.”
Renay was so excited about her idea that she barely caught the look of horror that flashed across Tyff’s face. She couldn’t help giggling.
“Okay. Onto a better subject. It’s only a few days until the big ceremony. Isn’t it?”
“Five days,” he said softly. “It’s come up too fast. They want me officially named war master as quickly as possible. I think the guys down below are feeling a bit guilty.”
“No one needs to worry about a thing.” Renay squeezed his hand. “I’m going to be on task, and I’m going to make sure everything goes perfectly.” She reached up, touching his cheek so she could plant a soft kiss on his cheek. He smiled, returning the kiss. She could feel his dragon waking to her touch, twisting inside him as it reacted to her love.
She could also feel his doubt. He wasn’t sure that having humans on board was such a great idea, especially right now. Inviting strange people onto the ship just before a major celebration when important members of Preor would be gathered did seem like inviting trouble.
She also knew the gesture was important. The Preor wanted an outward show to prove to humanity that they trusted them. The Preor had a high sense of honor, and they didn’t mind risk if it would prove their virtue.
Renay deliberately steered the conversation back to drills and military tactics, where Tyff was most comfortable. She loved how his eyes lit up and how his voice changed. She couldn’t wait to see him in action, not just his own fluid beauty in motion but the strength with which he handled his warriors. Deep inside her heart, this felt right. She was where she was meant to be and the two of them together were unstoppable.
Maybe that’s why he’s holding back. Maybe he’s afraid of the power we will have when we are completely together.
The conversation wound down and Tyff crawled up on to the bed to curl up beside her. Renay snuggled into him, absolutely delighted that he was so comfortable with her. Even if the Knowing had yet to strike, he knew her. Part of him couldn’t fight it, and the easy way he arranged his arms around her made her heart soar as if it could join with Syh all on its own.
Even with Tyff wrapped around her, Renay couldn’t relax. She stared into his beautiful face, the long lashes falling against his cheeks as he fell into deep dreams. He was so tired he fell asleep almost immediately, and even though Renay was tired too, she wasn’t ready to sleep. Not just yet.
Her mind was spinning with ways to help humanity and Preor come together in acceptance. She knew all the mates had been trying to do this already and still, the resistance burned like a thorn in their side.
There has to be a way to prove once and for all we are made for each other. They can save us just as we can save them.
No matter what the resistance believed, the joining of the two races was written in the stars. If they had not come together, they were doomed to extinction. Together, they weren’t just saved. They became something else. Something new.
Something wonderful. Something greater than both of us. All we need to do is love each other to find it.
Chapter Twenty-Three
The next morning Tyff shared breakfast with Renay, ready to head out to train with the troops straight after. Usually, first training was held before breakfast, but he had gotten up extra early to spend some time together before he left.
She was absolutely glowing, her smile wide and radiant, her eyes bright. He didn’t know how he was going to tell her she couldn’t just come on rounds with him, but he wouldn’t have to deal with that for at least a few days.
When Yazen came out to check on her, Tyff got ready to leave, eager to get to training. Yazen gave her a quick examination as he got ready to kiss her goodbye and head out, wishing her luck with her books.
“Well, I can’t keep you here.” Yazen laughed, helping Renay out of bed. “You’re a healthy woman.”
“Did you bring me some clothes,” she asked, eagerly. Yazen handed her a bundle of red silk.
Tyff watched all this go on, disbelief shrinking his thought processes into something close to panic.
“I’ll let you get dressed,” Yazen said. “You’re a lucky man, Tyff. She’s a strong woman.”
Tyff’s voice stuck in his throat as he reached out to Yazen, full of a million questions. As he turned back to Renay, he had a thousand protests spinning in his mind, but they fell away when Renay pulled off her hospital robe.
Her skin was ice white, soft looking and creamy. Her breasts were huge, much bigger than a handful each and topped with strawberry pink nipples. Her hips were wide and her thighs full. Tyff blinked stupidly as she fumbled with the red silk, trying to figure out how to put it on.
This is ridiculous! I don’t even like strawberries.
She finally found the neck of the gown and pulled it over her head. The falls of soft fabric draped her body, gracing her curves and enhancing her womanly shape. Renay looked up and caught his eye, grinning.
“I’m sorry, Tyff. I didn’t think. Was I too bold?”
He shook his head, struggling to speak. Just too many words were stuck inside him now.
“It’s okay,” he breathed. “I was just surprised.”
“Sorry.” She reached for him, her eyes dancing. “I’ll try and give you some warning next time.”
He nodded, still trying to recover. He was so shocked by the sight of her beauty that when she led him from the room and down the hall, he didn’t even know where they were going.
“Uh, Tyff?”
“Yes, Renay?”
“I’m going to need you to take the lead here. Where are we going first?”
“Upper training room,” he answered, automatically. “The troops will be waiting.”
“Excellent,” she replied. “Let’s do it.”
He really didn’t want to take her to basic drills, but he felt he had no choice. All the way up to the training area she pointed and asked questions, almost bouncing up and down in her excitement. He found her behavior adorable… But he didn’t think it was appropriate to act this way in a military regime. He wanted to tell her so, but he had no idea where to begin.