Page 18 of Across the Stars (Cosmic Threads of Fate #1)
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
WATAI
“She’s with Z’myu now,” the Z’Aymo said, her eyes dimming as she let go of Mae. Her gaze remained fixed on his threadmate, who was collapsed on the hut floor. “If our goddess forgives her for having metallic items, she is worthy to live among our people.”
“What happened?”
Watai carefully bent down, his long tail swaying behind him as he reached out to pick her up, unconcerned about his parents’ eyes on him. He snatched Mae into his arms and cradled her against his chest, feeling an overwhelming desire to touch her—to feel her breathing, to know she was still alive.
She shifted slightly and rubbed her head against him, inhaling sharply, but she didn’t wake. He reached for her cheek, his fingertips lightly brushing against her soft skin to calm his threadmate.
“We had a conversation,” his mother said, taking his father’s hand in hers.
She smiled and nodded as he helped her to her feet, wrapping his arm around her waist and connecting their xa’mylus.
“Mae is from a distant land looking for a new home. I believe her when she says she has no ill will. If she survives Z’myu’s judgment, that means our goddess has discovered no ill will in your threadmate’s heart and wishes for her to learn to live among us. ”
“She’ll pass,” Watai muttered, staring at his threadmate in his arms. Her mouth hung open as her chest rose and fell in a deep slumber.
“Iskzo agrees that Mae has shown nothing but good intentions since she’s been here.
My threadmate has been open about learning more about the world around her, despite coming from a distant land and being unprepared to live among a weavetree. ”
Watai walked over to his hammock and gently placed her on the bed, taking care not to wake her. When she didn’t move, he sighed in relief and grabbed the black and sapphire marbled fur blanket from the shelf. He carefully draped the blanket over her, tucking it in around her body to keep her warm.
She shifted slightly in her sleep and turned to her side, her dark hair spreading out around her as her chest gently rose and fell with each breath.
Watai forced himself to take a step back as he admired his work. He wanted to make sure she was safe and comfortable while she faced Z’myu’s judgment, knowing she’d wake up exhausted and disoriented.
“Mae will be fine,” Iskzo reassured him, sending a wave of comfort through their cosmic bond.
“She’s a strong female with a pure soul.
If Mae wasn’t worthy to stand beside you, she wouldn’t have connected all of us on the same cosmic thread.
Cordmates are supposed to support and balance one another out.
We wouldn’t share a cosmic connection if she wasn’t supposed to be in our lives. ”
“I believe Z’myu brought her into our lives for a reason,” Watai agreed, sending a wave of gratitude his way.
“May it be a test of my strength as a wingleader. I must be ready to support my sister when she takes over for our mother. I can provide for a mate from another land, no matter how hard it might be.”
“I’ll be there for you through it all.”
“What else have you discovered?” Watai forced himself to turn away from his threadmate and faced his parents, who watched him closely. “Do we need to be concerned about the threadmount she left behind by the Frozen End?”
“I was able to see your cosmic thread of fate in the spiritual realm. She has no thread connected to a mount,” his mother explained, gazing at his threadmate resting in his hammock.
“She told me the mount wasn’t hers, and that she was only using it to look for a new home—one that we could give her. ”
“You mean she’s capable of using someone else’s threadmount?” his father asked, sounding impressed with the news. “Are you certain you saw what you saw?”
“You doubt my ability to see other people’s cosmic threads?
” his mother challenged, turning in her embrace to face her mate.
“I don’t need to be in the spirit realm to see that our son’s connection to her is still faded because they haven’t sealed their bond, or to see that she hasn’t discovered her threadmount along their cord. ”
“I would never question you, nyi yasunu,” his father soothed, his features softening as he cupped his mate’s face.
“I’d like to know what our next steps should be regarding the mysterious female so that I can prepare.
It is my responsibility to protect not only our family, but also our people and weavetree.
If there is anything we should know about Mae, please tell us so that we can prepare. ”
“I told her she needs to learn our ways and find her place among us.” The golden speckles in his mother’s eyes twinkled to life as she regarded him, not as his mother but as the clan’s Z’Aymo.
“You must make sure she does this, so she can be prepared to take the trials and bond with her threadmount. If she is to survive among our people, your cosmic thread must be completely sealed. You must not rush the process, however. Allow her to proceed at her own pace.”
“What am I supposed to do if she isn’t ready to take the trials before the harvest festival?
” Watai looked down at his sleeping female, noting how her breathing had slowed to an even pace and feeling relieved that everything appeared to be fine.
“I can’t bear the thought of losing her before I’ve even had her. ”
“We will deal with that problem if it arises,” his father replied, the tone of his voice telling Watai everything he needed to know.
He was not to question the clan’s Z’Aynu.
“For the time being, we must do what Z’myu wills and accept her into the clan.
You will show her around tomorrow and try to find tasks for her to take on.
I’m curious about your alien threadmate’s abilities. ”
“What about my wingleader duties?” Watai glanced at his parents, taking in his father’s hard eyes. “The rainy season has just ended. It’s up to me to lead my wing and clear our territory. I can’t stay behind—”
“You must,” his mother snapped, her eyes shining brightly. “Your mate needs you just as much as you need her. These initial cycles are critical to the development of your relationship.”
“He can’t abandon his responsibilities,” his father snapped, glaring at the sleeping Mae. “She’ll be fine with the Crafter’s Alcove workers; they’ll find something for her to do. She must be able to do something with her hands or she would not have survived as long as she has.”
“He can’t just leave her there!” his mother hissed, stepping in front of Mae as if protecting her, facing his father—her threadmate head on. “How is he supposed to build their bond and teach her our ways if he’s on the other side of our territory, leading his wing?”
“I will not allow our son to neglect his responsibilities, nor will I show favoritism to him because he is our son.” His father was a full-fledged Z’Awnu, his teal eyes dark as his tail whipped angrily.
“She’s an adult and should be capable of keeping herself busy and out of trouble while he is away.
They have time before the morning meal and after the evening mealto work out their relationship.
I refuse to let the tribe suffer because one of its wingleaders is too preoccupied with his threadmate like a mother Z’myuzo overseeing her hatchlings. ”