Warning: There are so topics that may be upsetting to so readers. There will be an end marker for sensitive readers.
She squeezed my hand back and choked on her tears. Her voice sounded rough as she finally began to speak, "It was so much worse than I had ever imagined it would be. I can’t believe that I ever thought the ritual was a good thing, that I was ever complacent. They don’t care who joins the ritual, as long as they have gems. There was actually a cri leader there who cut up the females that he bought, and another male who wanted to take away and pee on . They kept us locked in tiny cabins with bars on the doors. We had to sleep in the dirt, in our own filth; they didn’t allow us to bathe. They didn’t take us outside to relieve ourselves; they made us use a bucket in the corner, like prisoners sentenced to execution."
I gasped and held her with both arms, and she let out another sob.
"They drugged us and chained us to a pergola while males inspected us. They put us in see-through dresses. But before that, before that. He touched ."
I could feel rage boiling within , but I was holding myself back from erupting so that I didn’t interrupt what Elara wanted to tell . I clenched my teeth and took a deep breath. "Who touched you?"
"The guard," she said in a haunted whisper. "I don’t even know his na, but I’m carrying his child. He was my first, but I don’t even rember it. He chained to the pergola when it was just the two of us. He ripped my clothing and touched , but when I fought back, he choked unconscious. It wasn’t until I woke up that I realized what he’d done, that he’d violated . I was...damaged."
I sucked in a deep, shocked breath. "He...will...die."
She let out a small, humorless chuckle. "He’s already dead. When I found him alone, I couldn’t hold back my rage, and I killed him. I actually took a person’s life. I killed my unborn child’s father; I murdered their father."
Warning Concluded
"No!" I took her face in mine. "Don’t you even think that for one mont! That unnad beast has no right to be your child’s father. You will have proper mates who will treat you and your unborn child as their own, and you have here, too. I will babysit, and our hatchlings will play together. I’m their Auntie, and you’re their Auntie. Does Beck know?"
"He knows that I’m pregnant but not the how of it. He’s willing to beco my mate and help raise the child as his own. I feel like I’m doing him a disservice."
"I’m pregnant with Milo and Oliver’s babies, but all of my males have already fed them their mana. Just think of it the sa, and when you’re ready, get Beck pregnant!"
Elara flushed. "You knew about that feature? I couldn’t believe it when Beck told , my brother and Kai won’t let live it down once I do. I can just see the jokes about being so manly that I got a male pregnant being unending."
"So you’re willing to forgive them?" I said.
"They didn’t know, they thought they were doing the right thing, just as I thought Snatching Rituals were good because they prevented raids. I will tell them when I see them again, and I hope that Kai will use his authority to investigate villages within the Eastern Alliance. This kind of thing can’t be allowed to continue," said Elara.
I hugged her once more and then wiped away her tears. "Don’t you worry that he won’t cooperate. If he has any objections, I’ll stomp them down. It might be a while before that happens, though. He...arrived shortly before you did, and he was in a bad state. He’s currently in a dically induced sleep, but Oliver said that he’ll recover with ti, and he’s keeping a good eye on him. He’s my chipmunk mate and a reliable and licensed healer."
She gave a brave smile. "I saw your lineup. You’ve been busy collecting cutie-pies."
I could feel my face heat up. "When I found out that you were taken away, I kind of lost it and went off to confront Kai, and then I was captured by a giant bird monster, and a lot happened after that. It kind of just happened."
I went on to describe my adventures while we were separated. The entire ti we were sitting down side by side, without either of us saying anything, we knew that we wanted to remain in contact. We talked for so ti until, after everything was said, we sat quietly in contentnt.
"What are you going to do about your feelings for On?" she said.
"I...don’t know yet. I think that for now, so separation is needed. If, while we’re apart, my feelings for him fade, then I’ll let it be and see it as sothing that just developed since I was isolated with him. Honestly, I don’t want to care about him. It’s just complicated," I said.
"A spider beastkin...wow, and a legendary breed too. He does sound sexy though, in a dangerous bad-boy kind of way," said Elara.
"You have no idea, and I don’t even like spiders," I said.
She looked at thoughtfully. "If your feelings for him don’t fade, you should talk with your mates about it. Maybe Titus can use his influence to have On investigated so that you can learn more about him before making a decision. I don’t want you or your family hurt."
"Our family, you’re my sister now, don’t forget," I said.
She smiled at . "Our family," she corrected herself. "Speaking of our family, I brought a female back with who I t at the snatching grounds. Her na is Skye, and she’s...a vampire bat beastkin."
"A vampire bat! I’m terrified of vampire bats!"
"I know, I know, but she’s a sweetheart, I promise," said Elara.
"Vampire Bats...spiders! What’s next? A friendly mosquito beastkin? A centipede beastkin?" I let out a groan and a shiver.
"I know! I know! But I promise that she’s a sweetheart and she doesn’t go around flashing her fangs at everyone and trying to suck their blood."
"Fine! I trust you, if you say she’s a sweetheart, then she’s a sweetheart."
"I also t another male who I’m considering allowing to beco my mate," said Elara.
"Really? Where is he? Why haven’t I t him yet?"
"He had to go back to his village to settle so business with his family, but he said that he would et up with us here after he was done. He’s...a cute fluffy."
"Ohhh...do tell," I said.
"He’s a golden retriever beastkin, a dog breed that’s...smaller than a wolf. He’s a little shorter than , and his beast form is small, but he’s gentle and kind. I inford him of my interest, and he’s accepted , but he won’t tell what his power is yet. He said that it’s sensitive knowledge and it’s against his clan’s laws to tell unless I’m already his mate."
I frowned in concern. "Are you alright with that?"
She nibbled on her lower lip. "When we t, he was captured by that male who cut up beastkin; he was almost dead, obviously having been tortured. It makes sense that he has unusual magic; otherwise what would another male have to gain by capturing him like that?"
"After what he’s been through, I’ve decided to respect his privacy and wait until after we’re mated before he gives more info."
"You rescued him, huh? Did you throw him over your shoulder and haul him off?" I said while teasingly wiggling my eyebrows.
Her face flushed and she looked away.
"...you did?! You actually did?!" I let out a peel of laughter. "Next thing you’ll tell is that you spanked him and put him in his place!"
Her face flushed even redder.
"You spanked him, too?!" I laughed so hard that I started hiccupping.
"His butt was right there. So cute and firm, and he didn’t mind at all," said Elara. "Think you’re a bad influence on ."
"Or a good one," I said with a wink. "So, do we know how many eggs you’re carrying and what kind of beastkin it’s going to be?"
"We stopped by a healer’s shop on our way here, and he said I’m only carrying one egg, and he believes it’s a female from the way I’m carrying it. I’m not noticeably pregnant while wearing loose clothing because of the single egg, but the healer said that it shouldn’t be long now before I give birth. The biggest concern is that I was in a horrible environnt, with poor nutrition, so my single egg will be small. I’m worried that she’ll be sickly and sothing will be wrong with her. No matter how I got her, she’s mine now, so I worry about her," said Elara.
"When we get back to my ho, I’ll show you the egg basket that we designed and give you one as a Festness gift. It’s made to keep eggs warm and give them a steady supply of mana while they grow. Your baby hasn’t hatched yet, so there’s plenty of ti to feed her all of the mana she needs."
"Really?! You’ve all designed such a thing, and you’re willing to give one?!"
"Absolutely," I said.
"You’re my best friend ever! You sent Beck to co save and are even taking away all of my worries now. I will never forget what you’ve done for ," Elara said, hugging .
"We’re sisters, this is what I should do for you. Let’s have that tour now." I helped pull her up and we walked around the house.
"You know, when I was locked up, Lirit ca to the snatching grounds to gloat and made think you’d died," Elara said. "You have no idea how relieved I was when Beck arrived and told that he was sent by you to save ."
"That absolute bitch! So she knew all along and didn’t do anything to stop the snatching grounds. I bet her mom doesn’t know."
"You don’t have to worry about Duarte Village’s snatching grounds anymore. I burned them to the ground. Oh, by the way, my magic manifested, and it’s badass fire magic!" Elara said and grinned widely.
I could have sworn that she was back to normal if she hadn’t still been holding my hand tightly, as if she were worried that I would suddenly disappear at any mont. "Seriously? That’s aweso!"
"I’m telekinetic," I said.
"No...way. That...is...so...AWESO! You’ll have to show soon."
"Of course! You know what we need? We need to have a girls’ night out. I haven’t had a chance to check out downtown, but I made friends with a great female nad Sugar who doesn’t have a male at all and gets around just fine. I’m sure she knows what we could do without our mates watching over us. Where I’m from, females get together in large groups of friends and enjoy themselves dancing. We could invite your friend Skye and Lily too, Lily is another nice female I t who’s friends with Sugar. She lives across the street, and Sugar lives in the house on the other side of mine. We should at least visit the spa and get our hair done," I said.
"A girl’s night? I’ve never heard of such a thing, but it sounds wonderful. I do need to get my hair done and being in a group of friendly females sounds like exactly what I need," said Elara.
Coming Next Ti: Girl’s Night Out
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