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“An Atlavan ahaku typically only mates once in their lives. We will not suffer terribly other than a loneliness of spirit, but we would have likely not mated anyway. We do not expect you to adhere to a promise that you did not realize that you were making.”

Agrel nodded in agreement, though his expression was far more miserable as he made the gesture. That didn’t make her feel any better. Although it relieved a lot of immediate pressure, it also left a void in the pit of her stomach. They were giving her exactly what she was going to originally ask them for—at the time unable to imagine that they would want forever with her—but suddenly she wasn’t so sure that she wanted it. She also wasn’t sure if she was ready to commit forever to someone she barely knew when Zack had committed years to her and still disappeared into the woods, whether by accident or design.

“I… I’m not saying that I wouldn’t consider being… ah… mates,” she replied, heat rising once more into her face as she recalled what all that entailed in very vivid, knee-knocking detail. “You are right, though. It isn’t the reason I came out here… I wanted to offer an exchange for help. But I may be open to it. If given time,” she quickly added.

Gehj regarded her shrewdly but inclined his head with a sympathetic smile. “I see. You were going to trade pleasure for passage, correct?” At her nod, he sighed, his tail feathers fanning slightly to betray a hint of emotion despite his even demeanor. “I understand your reasoning. You have your nestling to care for. Of course, your primary concern will be for her welfare. As for time—time is what we have plenty of while we are traveling, especially since traveling with two humans will not be as quick. If you are open to considering us, we will consider that a fair chance. Rest assured, you are welcome to travel with us as far as you like regardless, even if you prefer to settle among other humans rather than accompany us in our search for our new home. Is that not right, Agrel?” he asked as he looked over at the other male intently.

Agrel inclined his head, though he wasn’t as successful in covering his disappointment. His crest lifted slightly as his tail feathers fanned, only for both to flatten miserably. Despite that, there was no reproach in his gaze as he met her eyes. Only sympathy.

“We would not have left you, or your nestling, behind willingly in this place, even if you had not joined with us. You would have been required to chase us away, insisting that you did not wish for our assistance before we would comply,” Agrel quietly affirmed and Delilah felt her heart rise in her throat, choking her with emotion. An uncertain look crossed his face. “Would you at least consent to allowing us to care for you as we would our mate as we travel? I do not necessarily mean sex,” he quickly added, “though neither of us would object if you desired to share pleasure with us again. But our instinctual needs are more… performative,” he said with a wince.

“He means that it is ingrained with us to tend to our mates and offspring,” Gehj explained. “Because it is instinctual, it isdifficult to ignore our drive to caretake and protect our families. If you do not find it objectionable, it would be very welcome.”

Delilah nodded, overwhelmed all over again. She could hardly believe that they truly desired a family that included a middle-aged woman who had already birthed a child for another man. It was a little shocking. With the exception of Vernon, who was old enough to be her father or an uncle, no one had looked twice at her since Zack’s disappearance.

Though a few men chose to be huntsmen, the fact that the number of men born every year was declining within the population had many even more fussy with their insistence that the females they accepted and married not have the inconvenience of children that they had no desire to spend their energy on. In recent generations, the man being able to be increasingly selective for his bride meant that it was increasingly evident that “used up” women were expected to not attend any social events where they might be mistaken for one that they considered eligible for marriage. Though she may be present for casual pleasure.

There were even some strange ideas that if a woman had given birth for one man that her womb would not be hospitable for making sons for another. So that somehow it was being turned on women despite all scientific knowledge. And it was even worse in the villages, far from the citadels.

She would have to be insane to refuse something so simple and yet meaningful as their instinctual desire to nurture and shower with attentiveness. Lily would soak that up…. And even Delilah could not recall when time, affection, and consideration were freely offered by Zack during the course of their marriage without Delilah begging for it. And there wasn’t a time that Lily had been given it by anyone in her life who wasn’t her mother. This mate thing was at very least worth considering.

“Okay,” she said at length. “I can agree with that. In fact, I think it would be very beneficial to Lily to be exposed to that for however long it lasts. Of course, that means that we will need to tell her our plan to travel together. Just don’t make promises about the future that we are not certain if we can keep.” She hesitated, his eyes flicking toward Gehj and then Agrel uncertainly, and both males nodded in agreement. “Perhaps… would you care to eat with us?”

That was one way to get things moving. Her momma had always said that being around a table brings people together. Though, knowing Lily, she would be angling to have everything. If only she didn’t get hurt—that was all that mattered. Otherwise, she was going to do everything in her power to give her daughter exactly what she deserved and needed.

Chapter

Nine

Excitement vibrated through Agrel, making his wings twitch. After days of watching the activity of the humans from a distance, and longing to share in their warmth and closeness, he was finally a part of the family. He would no longer be obliged to stop a safe and non-threatening distance away like an unwanted stranger, but would be one of them. To be an ahaku male with a mate and nestling was everything he wanted. A mate to cherish and a nestling to love and watch grow—and he did not even have to wait for the latter to come. The gods were giving him blessings in multitudes. He could barely contain himself. It was scarcely believable that he could be so fortunate to be granted so much so quickly.

Despite the mess they made of their mating, he was once again optimistic. Although Atlavans didn’t experience the drive to join outside of mating, he understood that they were different species with unique expectations and social rules. Mistakes were to be expected; he just had not anticipated it happening already and especially not regarding something his species took very seriously. But he was confident that he could fix it and the sort of mate and father that the females needed him to be. And hewould start by providing in the most basic way he knew how—by giving his time and providing food to fill their bellies. He nearly trilled with pleasure as he patted the sack hanging from his belt. He had made a point to stop and collect a few of his recent kills for their supper.

“I must warn you, Lily has a very active imagination,” Delilah said as they entered the small, gated yard around the dwelling. “If she says anything strange, do not take it too seriously.”

He looked over at her curiously, but nodded. It seemed that nestlings were not too different between species then.

“She is named after you?” he inquired as glanced around anxiously, eager for his first full glimpse of the little female.

A look of surprise crossed his mate’s face, and she smiled. “In a fashion,” she agreed. “Or at least it sounds like it, doesn’t it? I was often called Lila by… it doesn’t matter.” She shook her head, her smile dimming briefly. “I always liked the name Lily. It’s a flower that my mother grew in her garden.”

“Do you grow these lilies, too?” Gehj queried curiously.

“No. They are expensive to acquire and difficult to grow on this world. She is the only Lily I have, but she’s really the best one.”

Agrel nodded solemnly. He did not know anything about growing flowers—he was a hunter and that was where the majority of his skills lay—but he understood about valuing that which was most precious. Something of beautiful memories from the home world would doubtlessly be seen as valuable among his own people as well, but family was the real treasure. And a nestling—an ahaku pair and their mate could wait for a great many revolutions to be blessed with one. Nestlings were the true treasures guarded within the families.

“Then Lily is my favorite as well. Lilies and Delilahs,” he announced, startling a soft laugh from her.

“I think I can handle that,” she replied, her eyes bright with amusement.

Gehj took her hand in his earnestly. “I do not think you understand. To us, you—a mate—and Lily, a much-desired offspring, are the greatest gifts that the gods could bestow upon us. Many males would wait long—some perhaps all of their lives—for such gifts and consider themselves lucky if they obtain even one.”

“That… that is good to know,” she replied in a voice thick with emotion despite the obvious conflict on her face.

Agrel’s heart hurt for her. He understood that she had intended nothing permanent—even she hadn’t known that Atlavans were not designed that way—but was it so hard to accept such words for him? Surely, she had heard such things from her previous mate? But no, she looked so overcome with emotion that it struck him that perhaps the human male had not appreciated her or was negligent in demonstrating such feelings. Fortunately, Atlavan males doted on their females and nestlings. She would never suffer such lack again.

He was about to ask if she wished for them to wait outside so that she could bring Lily out to meet them on more neutral—and less intimidating—ground when a tiny female launched from the dwelling with a small furry creature grasped in her arms. She drew to a stop right in front of them, her mouth gaping open for a long moment before a sudden, sharp squeal of excitement left her that made his feathers fan in surprise.