Gently, I whispered, “What do these rings do?” He and Pluma Creo had three in their Harem. My stomach twisted as an unfamiliar emotion burned my gut, but I pushed it aside quickly. I wanted answers, and they would give it to me. “Stiller said the rings allow Vaq to feel their women’s emotion, but what else do they do?”
Just as quietly, he answered me. Truthful once again. “These rings also allow me to find my Harem. Their exact location. It’s a homing device made to protect the women.”
“That’s all?”
“Yes.”
“Can they the rings be replaced for the woman?”
“No. Once the mark is given, only those rings will work.”
That might be an issue at some point.
Pinching my lips, I continued twirling the ring on his thumb. “How old are you?”
He paused at this question, but quickly cleared his throat. “Twenty-seven.”
“Pluma Creo?”
Instantly, the left side of my face gleamed as Pluma Creo opened his eyes, also lying on his side, facing me. He responded smoothly, “I’m also twenty-seven.”
My fingers stilled in their action. “Your father was busy.”
“Yes, he was,” Pluma Moir answered when Pluma Creo did not. His tone was hard edged, indicating the topic was off limits. “Our father, one of the previous Plumas of the east, is not spoken of anymore.”
My brows rose, and I ignored the warning. “Ever?”
Instant. “No.”
“Is he still alive?”
Pluma Creo did speak then. Harshly. “Fuck no. That bastard died when my mother killed Phila’s mother, who was his Soul.”
My jaw dropped. I couldn’t even… “Oh…um…that sounds complicated.” Understatement.
“It was,” Pluma Moir grumbled, taking his hand back from mine and resting it under his pillow.
“Hmm.” I cleared my throat. “Which one of you is the true heir to—”
“I am,” Pluma Moir growled, done with this line of questioning. He leaned up on his arms, placing his face over mine. His white, long hair draped over one of his shoulders, soft as silk as it brushed my face, but it didn’t lessen the ferocity in his demeanor. “Enough, Ms. Valorn.”
“Okay, okay,” I mumbled, sighing heavily. I peered at his forehead. Stared there. It was easier to view than his daunting gaze. I needed to sweeten both of them up a bit. “You can quit calling me Ms. Valorn. My name’s Braita. Feel free to use it.”
Pluma Moir didn’t lower back to the bed. Instead, he continued to stare down at me. Though, his tone did change. It became lighter. More accepting. And definitely more formal. “Thank you, Braita. You may call us Phila and Killeg, as well.” Until his lips twitched, and he bent his head down just an inch further…and teased. “What do you really wish to know, Braita?”
I glanced down once to his mouth, seeing the handsome smirk there, then back up to his forehead. I tried not to scowl too much being caught. “Phila, how old are my Vaq?”
He tilted his head, causing his hair to brush my cheek again. “They are both twenty-five.”
My brows slammed together. “Is that like a ‘thing?’ Vaq being the same age?”
“Yes,” Killeg answered, sitting up slightly to crook an elbow and rest the side of his head on a fist. “All Vaq are the same age.” He stared pointedly. “As is their Soul.”
Turning my head to focus on Killeg, I brushed Phila’s hair off my shoulder when it tickled. “That is interesting. Stiller also appears to be about the same age as you two. So it seems that when Humans and Mian are linked, they don’t follow that same rule?”
He nodded his head, his white, choppy hair in normal disarray about his head. “It would appear that way.” His captivating blue gaze never left mine. “Get to what you really want to ask, Braita. Perhaps then we may get some sleep this day.”
Almost there. “What did Malik mean about Vaq who are in an intimate relationship normally waiting to tell their Harem about it?”
Killeg raised a brow, knowing I was still deflecting, but he kindly answered, “A Harem is under a Vaq’s protection. If they worry that their Vaq love each other more than they love them, then they fear that their Vaq might one day leave them. It is rare that it happens, but it has. So normally a Vaq pair will wait to prove they are men of their word before indicating they are sexually involved.”
I huffed softly. “That’s bullshit.”
“Possibly.” He didn’t argue.
Turning my attention to stare between them, up at the ceiling once more, I asked my true question. The one I needed to know. I tried not to sweat. “Are you going to send me back to them?”
From the corner of my eye, I saw Phila’s lips curve into a slow grin. “About time.” My gaze swung to his. I scowled in the wake of his inflated ego. He merely smirked further, but his words were calm, though set in steel, as he dealt out my fate. “We are. They have done nothing legally wrong. We won’t start a war over a misunderstanding.”
Killeg added steadily, “But we will be going with you. We’ll require that we meet at Center, where Mian from the east and the west are both allowed. It’s where you first landed here on Triaz.” He winked…and my stomach fluttered. It wasn’t nervousness of seeing my Vaq again that had me holding my breath either. He whispered softly, “Even though we won’t start a war over a misunderstanding, we aren’t entirely sure that we’re ready to give you up so easily. Especially if your heart does not belong to them yet.”
My eyes widened, and I inhaled harshly. “Oh, that’s really not a great idea.”
“We think it is,” Killeg replied, a mischievous flicker entering his gaze.
I froze when he blurred, and his lips were suddenly on mine.
This…kiss…was nothing like when Jax mouth had brushed mine.
I didn’t move.
Not at first.
His plump lips glided over mine. Repeatedly. Just waiting for the moment--
I couldn’t stop myself. I lifted my hands into his chaotic hair and gripped tight. This may not be the Human way, but I sure as hell didn’t live on Joyal any longer. And his lips were like the candied treats I was occasionally given as a child. I wanted more.
Uncaring that I didn’t completely understand what I was doing in the art of kissing, I hungered for his embrace. He grinned as I moaned loudly and pressed my lips harder against his, stroking his mouth just as demanding as he was mine. Killeg’s tongue slipped inside my mouth, massaging against mine, and I shuddered as heat unfurled between my thighs.