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  “No!”

  “No.”

  She and T’kol spoke simultaneously as she tried to step forward, but neither Hisst nor T’kol would let her pass. T’chok looked at the three of them, his hand still hovering on the tube, before he focused on Hisst.

  “Icluthians were not given permission to land anywhere on the surface other than New Haven.”

  “I did not intend to land,” Hisst said quietly. “However, I can’t regret it since it led to my meeting with my queen.”

  “Your queen?” T’chok’s hand clenched on the tube. “I know you do not mean my little L’zabet.”

  “Your Lissie?” Hisst’s body turned rigid. “You cannot make that claim. She has no other warriors in her brace besides us.”

  “Us? T’kol, you have two seconds to explain what the fuck is going on before I shoot all of you and figure it out later.”

  “You will not shoot Lissie.” A blast tube appeared in Hisst’s hand.

  T’chok tensed and she pushed desperately at her two males, but before she could get past them, T’kol hobbled in front of both her and Hisst.

  “T’chok, calm down. Tell Hisst you are not going to stun L’zabet.”

  “Of course, I was not. I would never hurt my daughter.”

  “Your daughter? Ah, yes.” Hisst lowered the blast tube. “If you intend to stun me, please make sure I will not fall on her.”

  “He isn’t going to stun anyone.” Taking advantage of the momentary confusion, she finally managed to slip past her protectors and rush across the cave to throw her arms around T’chok.

  “Everything’s fine, okay? But T’kol broke his leg and he shouldn’t be standing and Hisst is a good guy so can you please stand down.”

  T’chok finally released the blast tube and returned her hug but then he looked down at her and growled again.

  “You are not dressed. I will choose to believe it is because it is warm in this cave.”

  “Um, sure. Just give me two seconds and I’ll throw some clothes on, but can you please look at T’kol’s leg?”

  “Very well. But we will be having a long discussion in the very near future.”

  He looked past her, and his gaze sharpened as he saw that Hisst had slipped an unobtrusive hand under T’kol’s arm. “Sit down, you idiot. I promise not to shoot anyone. For now.”

  While she hastily donned her leggings and buttoned up her shirt, T’chok knelt next to T’kol. Hisst hovered protectively on his other side, although he glanced frequently in her direction.

  “Bring my bag, L’zabet,” T’chok ordered, and Hisst glared at him.

  “You do not order a queen—”

  “It’s fine. I’ve got it,” she said quickly. Fortunately, he had only brought a small lightweight bag and she didn’t need any help retrieving it from where he’d dropped it at the entrance.

  T’chok scanned T’kol’s leg, gave a reluctantly approving grunt at the splint, then removed it and replaced it with a length of cloth. Just as she was wondering how that would support T’kol’s leg, he manipulated something, and the cloth inflated and formed a hard shell.

  “Fortunately, your message contained enough information that I knew what to bring, but you will report to the medic as soon as we return,” he ordered. “I will assist you to your flyer now. L’zabet, you will return with me.”

  “No, T’chok,” she said quietly. “I will come back with T’kol and Hisst.”

  Despite her attempt to speak calmly, her stomach felt queasy. As much as she’d pushed the boundaries, she’d never really defied him before. The disappointment on his face tore at her but she couldn’t back down. If he didn’t understand, surely no one else back at New Haven would either.

  “I do not like this, but we can discuss it after we return.” His gaze flicked to Hisst who had quietly fastened his suit once more. “Are you prepared for this weather?”

  “I can manage.”

  “That is not what I asked.” T’chok glared at Hisst.

  “No. I am not prepared, although my queen has generously provided me with some of her clothing.”

  There was a moment of shocked silence, then T’chok’s lips quirked. “I am sure that is an… interesting sight. In that case, you will not object to these. I brought them in case L’zabet needed them but, despite her original appearance, it appears that she was prepared.”

  “I will not take anything intended for her comfort,” Hisst said firmly, and once again the look of reluctant approval crossed T’chok’s face.

  “I will let L’zabet decide.” T’chok’s words hung in the air and she wondered if he meant more than just the clothing, but before she could decide, he began pulling items out of his bag.

  A knit cap and a pair of gloves were followed by a thin silvery top.

  “The material will stretch,” T’chok said as he offered them to Hisst.

  “Go ahead, take them,” she urged. “I’ll be fine.”

  Hisst still hesitated, then surprised her by looking at T’kol. She realized that T’kol had been strangely silent since T’chok worked on his leg and her heart sank. Was he regretting the situation already? But despite the grim look on his face, he nodded at Hisst. “Take them. We will watch out for her but for this distance, you need them more than she does.”

  T’chok looked from T’kol to Hisst and shook his head, but all he did was hand the clothes to Hisst and order them to get ready to leave. Within a few minutes, everything was packed and ready to go. In addition to T’chok’s items, Hisst once again tied the thermal blanket over his clothing then helped T’kol to his feet. The new cast was apparently sturdy enough to support T’kol and he was able to stand on his own and walk with only a slight limp.

  “L’zabet, you will walk with—” T’chok began, then sighed. “I suppose since we are the only two who are not incapacitated, we should each escort one of the walking wounded.”

  “I am not incapacitated,” T’kol growled.

  “No, I am sure you are in fine fighting form,” T’chok said sarcastically. “Now take your fighting ass back to your ship.”

  As the four of them set off down the rocky hillside, she paused to look at the cave. So much had happened there. She didn’t regret any of it, but she couldn’t help but worry about what would happen next. Hisst stepped closer and put his arms around her. She heard T’chok growl, but she ignored him and leaned into Hisst, breathing in his reassuring spicy scent.

  “Do not worry, my queen, we are at your side.”

  She smiled up at him. “Thank you.”

  Instinctively, she turned from him to T’kol. He was regarding them with that same odd look on his face, but he smiled at her and her heart lightened. Together they set off down the rocky hillside.

  Chapter Seventeen

  They reached the flyers surprisingly quickly. T’chok assisted T’kol over several rockier patches but with the new cast, his leg didn’t seem to impede him much. Even Hisst seemed better able to keep up and had only slowed a little by the time they emerged on the road.

  “You are sure you will not come with me, L’zabet?” T’chok asked, glaring at the other two warriors.

  “I’m sure. Thank you for coming after me.” She hugged him and he returned it with a sigh.

  “Of course. I will always come for you.” He looked at the two males waiting for her and his face hardened. “I will be behind you the entire way home.”

  “Are you sure you can keep up?” she asked teasingly.

  He shook his head. “T’kol, are you capable of flying?”

  “Of course.”

  “Thank the Ancestors. Let us hope there are no more unfortunate incidents along the way.” He watched until they were onboard, then waved a hand and turned to his own vessel.

  She breathed a sigh of relief once he was out of sight. As much as she loved T’chok, his presence had definitely put a dent in the relationship she thought the three of them were building. They should probably discuss it, she thought as T’kol lifted the flyer s
moothly into the air, but she didn’t quite have the courage. Instead, she focused on more practical matters.

  “What’s going to happen now? I can’t take you both back to my house. I doubt T’chok would let either of you stay with me.”

  “I’m sorry, my queen,” Hisst said. “I have no accommodations on Earth, and on our ship, I share a bunk room with other warriors.”

  They both turned to look at T’kol. He sighed.

  “You know my quarters are in the warriors’ barracks.”

  “Yes, but at least they are private.” She remembered the stiff look on his face. “Unless… unless you don’t want us?”

  “Of course, I want you, L’zabet.” He frowned at Hisst but there was no real disapproval on his face. “And I suppose the lizard comes too.”

  “I certainly hope to come,” Hisst said, and Lizabet cracked up. Even T’kol smiled as he shook his head.

  “My warriors are not going to know what to think,” he said as his face sobered.

  “You’re the commander. Why are you worried?”

  “Because it is important that my men respect me.”

  “You think they’ll lose respect for you?” The prospect horrified her.

  “I don’t know. You realize this goes against every tradition we have?”

  “Should we stay apart?” she asked, her voice small. She couldn’t stand the thought that T’kol would lose the respect he had earned. Reality was quickly intruding on the mutual acceptance they had reached in the cave.

  “No, my L’chka. I—we—are your males. I will not hide that. You will stay with me.”

  “Perhaps I should stay with the Icluthian delegation,” Hisst volunteered. He clearly didn’t like the idea, but he didn’t hesitate.

  T’kol paused and she held her breath, but then he shook his head. “It would only prolong the inevitable. If you are serious about this path, L’zabet, we should begin as we mean to continue.”

  If? Did he doubt her, or himself?

  “I’m quite serious,” she said firmly.

  He nodded and turned back to the controls. The silence that filled the cabin felt curiously expectant, but the rest of the trip passed in silence.

  When they arrived back at New Haven, the landing field was in darkness except for a few lights outlining the area. They all sat in the flyer and waited until T’chok’s flyer landed next to them.

  “You realize that he will want you to go with him?” T’kol asked.

  She sighed. “Yes, I know. But he’s going to have to understand that things have changed.”

  “I will speak with him,” he said.

  “No, it needs to come from me. Why don’t you take Hisst over to your quarters while I’m talking to him?”

  “We are your males. We will not desert you,” Hisst protested.

  “T’chok would never dream of hurting me.” At least, not physically. The remembrance of disapproval on his face still tore at her.

  The three of them descended from the flyer to find T’chok waiting. He had never looked more intimidating. Slightly shorter than T’kol, he made up for it with his massive frame. Hisst’s leaner muscles looked positively child-like next to him. Both of her males gathered behind her as she faced him.

  “We shall return home now, L’zabet,” he ordered.

  “No.” Her insides quivered, but she kept her chin up. “I am staying with T’kol.”

  “And the Icluthian?”

  “Yes.”

  “This is completely unacceptable—”

  “I’ll listen to what you have to say, but before you get started, I want T’kol to take Hisst to his quarters and then go to the medic.”

  He waved a dismissive hand. “Then go.”

  Neither male moved. If anything, they stepped closer to her, and T’chok frowned, his horns lowering. She appreciated their concern, but this wasn’t helping.

  “T’kol, please. Just show Hisst where to go and then have your leg examined. I’ll be there when you get back.”

  He glanced from her to T’chok. “I do not like to leave you.”

  “It’s fine. We just need to talk.”

  “He is not treating you with the appropriate respect,” Hisst muttered.

  “He’s my sire, he’s allowed to grumble at me. But he would never hurt me.”

  “Hurt you? Of course, I would not.” T’chok scowled at the two warriors, then sighed. “You have my word of honor that L’zabet will not be damaged in any way by our discussion.”

  T’kol nodded and, after a brief second, Hisst followed suit. T’kol touched her cheek and Hisst her hand and then, to her relief, they moved off into the darkness.

  “I do not suppose we could have our conversation at home?” T’chok asked.

  “I don’t think so. Rachel will get upset and you’ll be even harder to deal with if that happens.”

  “Perhaps. But it is too cold for you to stand out here.”

  “It’s not going to be lengthy conversation.” He didn’t look convinced, so she compromised. “What if we walk while we talk?”

  “Very well.”

  Together they headed for the meandering path that led along the edge of the open meadow. How many times in the past had they walked like this while he had listened to her troubles and encouraged her dreams? Her throat tightened as the memories swept over her. Tonight, it felt different. She still wanted his approval, but she had chosen her path and it was her turn to help him understand.

  “L’zabet, what happened this week? When you left here, you said it was to forget T’kol.”

  “That didn’t stop you from sending him after me.”

  He shrugged. “He was as concerned as I was when I could not contact you. Besides, I suspected that despite your words, you still cared for him. It appears that I was right.”

  “Yes, of course, you were right. I did—I do—care for him.”

  “Then for the love of all the Ancestors, why the Icluthian?”

  “I don’t know exactly. After he crashed and I rescued him—”

  “What?”

  Briefly she explained the scenario leading up to their time in the cave.

  He shook his head grimly. “He sounds as reckless as you are.”

  “Perhaps that’s part of it. In some ways we are very much alike. More alike than T’kol and I. And I think I need that—I need someone to laugh and play with me.”

  “That is not the job of a warrior. A warrior protects his mate.”

  “Oh, he’ll do that too. He even stunned T’kol.” Now that she knew T’kol would be fine, she couldn’t help but giggle at the memory.

  “He did what?” T’chok looked outraged but once she explained, he reacted as T’kol had done and nodded.

  “He acted correctly,” he said begrudgingly.

  “And I love that he wants to protect me, but I also love that he can relax and have fun with me.”

  “But what of T’kol?”

  “That’s different. He’s just as protective but he’s that way all the time, as well as being dominant and possessive and bossy.” She smiled reminiscently. “I love the way he takes charge.”

  “That is the Yehrin way.”

  “I know it is and I love it, but I think I need both.”

  They had reached the far end of the meadow, where the mountain dropped away to reveal a vast expanse of rolling hills dusted with snow. The stars twinkled overhead, seeming to shiver in the cold night air, but it was a peaceful sight and some of her tension started to ease. They stood there in silence for several minutes before T’chok sighed and pulled her against his side. His warmth made her realize that she was beginning to get cold.

  “I think perhaps I understand.” He turned her back in the direction of the warriors’ barracks and they resumed their walk. “I wondered how T’kol could agree to such a situation, but I suspect that he too understands your needs. Although I do not know how any warrior could agree to share his L’chka.”

  “Do you think it will be too much for hi
m?” The question had been plaguing her since she had seen his face when T’chok appeared.

  “Honestly, I do not know. But he is very strong, and he loves you very much.”

  “He does?” Her throat closed.

  “L’zabet, no warrior would ever even consider such an arrangement unless he loved his mate. Do you doubt his feelings?”

  She kicked at the snow. “He hasn’t said anything.”

  “It is not the Yehrin way. Our mates have had to teach us.”

  He stopped and turned to her. “You must be very sure about this, L’zabet. We are not human—when we claim a L’chka it is a lifetime commitment. It does not change upon our partner’s whims.”

  “Is that what you think this is? A whim?” Unexpected tears sprang to her eyes.

  “No, my daughter. You can be wild, but you are never thoughtless. But a triad…” He shook his head. “It will be difficult, and each partner must be committed. Even the lizard.”

  “His name is Hisst and if you weren’t so damned prejudiced, I bet you’d like him.”

  “If he makes you happy, then I will… accept him.” She couldn’t prevent the eye roll and he smiled. “Now come. You have been long enough in the cold.”

  They turned and walked towards the barracks. T’chok’s words echoed in her mind. Was she one hundred percent sure? When the three of them were together, she had no doubts, but it was harder to maintain that certainty when faced with the knowledge of how their relationship would be viewed.

  “Are you sure that you do not want to spend tonight at home? To take some time and consider matters?”

  For a moment she was almost tempted, but then she shook her head. Aside from the fact that she was already missing her males, she suspected that separation would cause more damage than benefit. Their bond was still very new and very fragile. It needed nurturing, not testing.

  “No. I know what I want.”

  “Very well.” T’chok sighed. “I will ask R’chel to wait until tomorrow to come and see you.”

  “Come see me?”

  “You know that she will want to talk to you… and see your lizard. I suspect S’rah and M’lee will also insist on coming.”