"Dargon, please, come and sit with me. I wish to get to know you better."
Her son’s mate stiffened before turning towards her. He rubbed his palm over his flat stomach, seemingly unaware he did so. Surely he could not be nervous? He crossed the room like a male walking to the gallows. Ashari pressed her lips together to keep from grinning. He sat on the edge of the settee, and after a few minutes of silence, he scooted back on the cushion until he rested against the furniture's high back.
"You are uncomfortable with me."
Dargon huffed. "Your highness—"
"Please, call me Ashari when we are in private."
"Ashari, please understand that where I come from, the Dar Massaga have one parent. Father to son, mother to daughter." Dargon paled slightly. Looking for the cause, Ashari noticed Valdor and the twins were now silent, obviously listening to her conversation instead.
"You do not have a mother?" she ventured after Dargon's pause lengthened to silence. "Or do you not get along with females?" Either would take some effort to circumvent.
Dargon looked as if he did not know what to do with his hands. He finally clasped them together in his lap, but kept his gaze there, too. "I met many fine, upstanding females when I entered the Galactic Patrol's service. They all were good soldiers that I would trust to have my back. My travels offworld have taught me more about the other genders than I would have known if I had stayed home."
She nodded to show her understanding. "Do not worry about how to act around me, Dargon. Being a mother, in some ways, is very much like being a soldier. We protect our young with extreme prejudice, but we also nurture, probably no differently than your fathers nurtured you."
Dargon deflated, letting out a gusty breath. "I apologize. I was not sure what to expect. We love Zeus above all else, and we did not make a good first impression with his brothers. His family is important to him, and if we are going to move to Atlainticia..." He pressed his lips into a fine line. The poor male still looked unnecessarily stressed.
"Sohm'lan told us of your concerns."
"I thought he ignored me. Zeus has been asleep since the incident, and we have been unable to question him regarding his treatment from the Mar'Sani. The Monticore admire him, but how can they guarantee the kits’ safety when other houses look upon Zeus as a mongrel? If their opinion of his heritage leads to violence in word or deed ... how then would they see our kits? What harmful whispers would they trade within the hearing of the young? If we returned to Hedisa, Alpha Trines are revered, and our offspring doted upon and protected. We would not separate Zeus from his family, but we will not have the kits living with threats and uncertainty, either."
Ashari narrowed her eyes in thought as she regarded Dargon, pleased by his candid response. "I believe you and I will get along quite well, Dargon Kal-Turak, for you and I are of the same mind. Valdor and I have worked hard to address the negative opinions some Houses hold. It does not help that humans are held in low regard due to their actions. Over the years, most Mar'Sani have come to see Zeus for who he is: a Mar'Sani royal. Once word has spread about his true heritage, most others will drop their prejudice and will instead attempt to curry his favor, since he is now also close to both the Galactic and Fal'Amoric thrones. Not all will lose their low opinions. Some will take longer to be convinced than others, but as long as they refrain from causing harm, they are allowed their opinions.
"However, the person who approached him the other day has deeper, more sinister ideas, and seems to be a part of a conspiracy to remove House Vondorian from the throne," Valdor continued. "We are diligently working to acquire enough evidence to remove that group from free society."
She sat back as Valdor took over the conversation; they were of one mind in this matter. No people or culture was perfect, and they both wanted Dargon and Alpha to feel safe on Atlainticia. As important as the conversation was, she could not stay focused on what Valdor or Dargon said because she sensed the energies of her sons become more active in the other room.
Her gaze strayed to the tall double doors leading to the sleeping chambers. All Mar'Sani mothers felt the life thread connecting them to their younglings. Some females felt it more strongly than others, though she knew not why. Faint though it had been, she had always known Canry lived, and although the thread had been stretched tight with distance, her connection to him never broke.
Before Zeus turned one summer old, she had formed a connection with him as well. Prior to then, she had often panicked because she could not tell where Zeus was in the palace. She diligently tracked him down every time, overwhelmed with relief to find him safe. Ashari had never heard of another taking an orphaned youngling into their home and developing a life thread with them, and she had asked.
Now, both of them moved about the room. Soon they would venture out and join them. The anticipation made her stomach flip about like a beached fish.
A warm hand over hers brought her attention back to Dargon. "They are both well. Alpha assured me of this before we left Zeus."
"Do you know what it is like to know someone you care about is out there, just out of your reach? You can feel them every moment of the day as if they are in the next room, making you believe that if you call out you will receive an answer. But the reality is that they are so far beyond your reach, you have to have faith someone else will watch over them for you."
Dargon stroked Alpha. "I only know by proxy. Alpha has that ability. The knowledge is a double-edged sword. It can be either soothing or painful."
She clasped his hand with both of hers to keep from plucking at her robes. "I have two sons who left home to find their own way, and I want them to be happy, to find their places in the universe. Zeus found you and Alpha in an impossible situation. Although, I wish you had waited to start a family until after the commitment ceremony." She patted his hand to soothe the gentle chastisement. "My other son has been away for much longer, and I do not think I can be in the same city, much less one room away, and keep myself away any longer." She gave a choked, mirthless laugh. "He may not even remember me, he was so young—"
"I remember."
She turned in her chair to look in the direction of the sleeping chamber. She had not heard the door open. Paralyzed by a host of emotions, she could only watch as Valdor, the twins, and Dargon crossed the room to happily greet Zeus and Canry, who were passed around for prolonged embraces and pressed foreheads. The hiss-clicks of greeting and love filled the room, and she could only sit, looking on as her limbs trembled and her eyes misted.
Canry appeared different. As a youngling, he had resembled his brothers. Now, as an adult he stood apart from them, his bearing regal with his crown of barbs and golden-yellow skin. His eyes seemed older, but kind, and even with all the changes, she would know him anywhere.
Once the exuberance died down, Zeus grasped Canry's hand and led him toward her. She quickly rose to her feet, her reluctance giving way to her need to touch Canry, to ensure he was truly there. She stretched her hand out to him tentatively, not truly believing he would accept, but when he slid his palm over hers, she choked back a sob and pulled him into her arms.
How long had she waited for this moment? How many nights had she lain awake and worried, wondering where he was, if he was cared for? How many times had she thought she felt him on the other side of a wave or further down the beach? How many sunsets did she watch on the water, hoping to get a glimpse, just one small peek at him, so she could reassure herself he was being well-treated? How many prayers had she whispered to Poseidon begging him to allow Canry to come home?
"My sweet, sweet son," she murmured in his ear between halting tears. Zeus grinned at them, standing close enough for her to catch his arm and pull him into the embrace too. "My younglings, how I have missed you."
Canry hesitantly looped his arm around her waist, as if he were unfamiliar with touch. Zeus embraced them both, resting his forehead on hers and Canry's. Zeus’s eyes glistened with unshed tears. Canry seemed to give in, his arm tightening around her, and then they were surrounded by Dargon, Valdor, Azaes, and Mestor. Valdor held her up as her body was wracked by her sobbing. Her young sang softly of reunion and she clutched her two youngest to her, afraid to let them go.
Canry buried his face against her neck and began to tremble. "I am sorry, Meme, I did not mean to go away." His voice broke along with her heart. "I heard the call and I had to answer."
"It is not your fault. You have nothing to apologize for. You are here now, and that is all that matters," Ashari soothed.
The family moved away, allowing her and Canry to have a moment to themselves. She found she could not stop the spill of words she whispered into his ear. "I love you. I have always loved you. And I am so proud of the male you turned out to be."
She listened intently as he opened up to her, answering her questions on his care and happiness. She could not wait to be able to spend time discovering everything about his life, where he had been, and what his responsibilities were. The rumors running among the guards gave her an idea, but she still had so many questions.
She caught sight of Zeus out of the corner of her eye, standing with his arm around Dargon, looking on with a wan smile. For a brief moment, she released all of her obligations and reveled in simply being a meme who had all of her sons near and safe.
Zeus guided Dargon toward the sleeping chamber door. "You will halt your steps right there, Zeus Pylos Vondorian. You have yet to greet me properly. Then you will explain why you left Atlainticia without a word to your family. And then, my youngest, you will explain how it is you started a family without introduction, announcement, or ceremony."
Zeus’s eyes became large and rounded, his mouth opened and closed several times. Her young may be grown, but she did teach them respect and manners. And on occasion, she needed to remind them she was the Meme.
It was late into the night before his meme whisked Canry away to his own rooms with the twins and their father in tow. She could be embarrassingly persistent in her questioning. Zeus found himself recounting the whole trip from the moment he stepped onto Dargon's ship at space station Basquer'Qa for his parents benefit. Mestor and Azaes added their own comments and observations. He apologized profusely and made several promises, albeit some were easier to make than others, such as having a commitment ceremony once they returned to Atlainticia. Other vows he hesitated to give, but both his parents and Azaes refused to let up until he gave in, even if the mere idea made him feel sick to his stomach.
Dargon crossed the room unbuttoning the top of his robe. "I like your meme. She is fierce."
Zeus glared at Dargon's back. "You did not even defend me."
"You were the one who kissed Dargon first,"
Alpha teased.
Dargon's chuckle held a wicked edge. "Alpha has a point. I had been willing to take it slow and give you time to adjust to being our Marked."
Dargon shrugged his shoulders and the robe slid down his arms to catch on his upturned hands. The parallel stripes running horizontally down his spine rippled as the muscles moved sensuously. Zeus’s mouth suddenly became dry. What did Dargon say?
"Your meme only wanted to ensure you intended to do what is right by Alpha, the kits, and me. I suspect she wanted you to squirm a little for leaving home abruptly, too. You only made matters worse for yourself by avoiding the reason for your departure."
Zeus swallowed, working on discarding his clothing. "You said it before, she is fierce. Both of my parents are. I was only trying to keep the peace."
The robe slid the rest of the way to the ground. Dargon bent at the waist, stepping out of the puddle of material before retrieving it off of the floor. Zeus sucked in his breath at the spectacular view before him. "I love you."
Dargon turned and met his gaze. He stood in the middle of the room nude, a trail of clothing strewn across the floor behind him.
"I know Meme took the romance out of my commitment proposal. I had hoped to devise some spectacular way to ask the two of you to spend the rest of your life with me. Events got out of control in such a short period of time, I had to put my desire aside temporarily. I wanted to do something more."
"Zeus, it was perfect just as it happened. You are our Marked, you already have us."
"With or without a ceremony, we are yours," Dargon finished, his gaze raking down Zeus’s body, locking on Zeus’s burgeoning erection. He shivered at Dargon's rolling growl.
"Do you see something you like?" He let his gaze rove over Dargon's hard body as he took a step back. "Will the kits be okay if we make love?"
"We can work around it for now and talk about the details later."
He matched Dargon's prowling footsteps, keeping his lover from closing the distance too soon. Dargon's tail thrashed from side to side, causing Zeus’s heart to speed up in anticipation. Normally, he would draw out the chase, but tonight he wanted to be caught.
The backs of his knees hit the sleeping platform and a lustful light flared in Dargon's eyes. Bright laughter escaped Zeus as he turned and attempted to leap across the broad surface. Dargon's strong, warm hand grasped his ankle before he could escape over the other side. He let out a yelp as Dargon tugged him back to the center.
Zeus rose upon his hands and knees as Dargon licked up Zeus’s spine, his raspy tongue leaving gooseflesh in its wake. He shivered with need. The last time they had made love been weeks ago, before Dargon began to sleep the time away. He would not be able to last, not with Dargon's touch lighting a fire within him. Already he ached. Dargon nibbled his shoulder blade. Alpha echoed Zeus’s moans as Dargon covered him, his unsheathed erection sliding along the valley of his ass cheeks. Zeus arched his back, reveling in the responsive thrum vibrating in Dargon's chest.