Out of the Ashes (Maji 1)

“If they don’t want to have offspring, do they avoid sex?” she then asked.

I shook my head. “On Earth, if you have enough credits, you can buy birth control. There are different kinds, but basically, it is a medicine that prevents pregnancy from happening.”

Both Surkah and the Hailed Mother sucked in a dramatically sharp breath. They even went as far as placing their hands on their chest and leaned back in their chairs with their eyes widened in shock. A glance around the room showed me the four servants cleaning inside the living room had also stopped what they were doing to turn and look at me like I had ten heads.

I cringed. “I take it that there is no such thing as birth control on Ealra?”

“Absolutely not!” the Hailed Mother stated. “Our population is under threat, so we would never provide medicine to stop pregnancies when what we need is more pregnancies.”

I shifted uncomfortably.

“What about Maji who engage in casual sex? Surely, they wouldn’t want to have a baby with someone who isn’t their mate?”

“Of course not,” Surkah agreed. “But those who engage in casual sexual activities have methods they practice which prevents pregnancy.”

That stumped me.

“Like what?” I quizzed.

It was Surkah’s turn to blush.

“I do not know,” she admitted. “My brothers will not tell me. They told me to ask Mikoh, and when I did, it just made him flustered and demand I discuss something other than sex.”

The Hailed Mother chuckled. “Before a male orgasms, he would most likely pull his cock out of the female he is sharing sex with and release his seed on her body instead of inside it. The seed is where life comes from, and it needs a female’s womb to take root. Nowhere else will work.”

That made sense.

“But,” the Hailed Mother continued, “accidents can happen. A male could misjudge his release and not remove his cock in time. I know a few females who have become pregnant that way.”

I gasped. “Are they single mothers now?”

The Hailed Mother reached over and patted my hand. “No, my daughter. The males who fathered the offspring mated the females. It would bring dishonour to a female to birth a child without being mated, so the males, being that they were involved in the offspring making process, did right by the females and mated them.”

I frowned. “Are they loveless matings?”

The Hailed Mother frowned. “No Maji mating is a loveless one.”

I blinked. “But you said they mated just because the females got pregnant.”

“Yes,” she agreed, “but once a male and female mate, they become the other’s world and fall deeply in love. No matter how you feel about a Maji male or female, once a mating takes place, love will follow.”

“So matings can happen on their own but can also be decided?”

“Yes.” The Hailed Mother nodded. “During sex, a male can decide whether he wants to bite a female and give her his essence. In some matings, the urge is so strong that a male cannot help but bite and mate a female. Those are the matings we call fated.”

I blushed. “Kol said he believes we were fated for one another.”

The Hailed Mother clapped her hands together. “This pleases me so.”

“What pleases you so, stardust?”

I looked at the entryway of the room and saw the Revered Father fill the space in the doorway. His very presence made me feel like I should get on my knees and bow to this powerful male, but instead, I did what the servants did. I stood, placed my fist on my chest, and then I bowed my head.

“She is so respectful. It makes me very happy,” the Hailed Mother gushed.

I didn’t look up until the Revered Father called my name. I saw he had crossed the room and stood behind the chair his mate was sat on, and he was smiling at me while he reached out and placed a hand on the Hailed Mother’s shoulder.

“You need not bow to me, daughter,” he said, his voice warm and inviting. “You’re my family, and I request that my family not bow to me.”

I swallowed but managed to nod my head in acknowledgment.

“So,” he said with a grin as he rounded the chair and sat down, tugging his mate onto his lap, “what pleases you so?”

He was speaking to the Hailed Mother, so I remained mute.

“Kol said he believes that he and Nova are fated mates”

The Revered Father widened his eyes as he looked from his mate to me.

“That is wonderful,” he said happily. “You have my congratulations.”

I had no idea why he was congratulating me, but I smiled and thanked him nonetheless.

“Father.” Surkah spoke. “Where is Mikoh?”

The Hailed Mother squealed, and it caused Surkah to roll her eyes.

“I’m only curious,” she informed her mother who was still giddy with delight.

“He is with Kol … calming him.”

I looked at the Revered Father and swallowed.

“Is he okay?” I asked, my voice low.

“He is.” He nodded. “He is just frustrated with Ezah. Their conversation did not go well, and they fought.”

I gasped and jumped to my feet.

“Is he hurt?” I asked, panicked.

Everyone smiled at me.

“She is so caring,” the Hailed Mother praised me to her mate.

“I see that, moonlight,” he murmured and kissed her cheek as she rested her back against his chest. “And to answer your question, Nova, he is fine. Fighting is normal amongst the people … Kol mentioned it scared you, though.”

I slowly retook my seat.

“It scares me.” I nodded in confirmation. “I guess I’d prefer every other option before fighting becomes a possibility.”

Running away and hiding to be exact.

“That is worrisome.” The Hailed Mother frowned. “Brawling is very common amongst our males.”

“I know.” I sighed. “I

guess I just have to get used to it.”

Along with everything else.

“All will be well,” the Revered Father hummed before he nuzzled his mate’s neck.

The Hailed Mother grinned and made a rumbling sound that sounded similar to the one Kol made when he wanted to have sex.

Oh, shit.

“Nova,” Surkah suddenly said. “Let me escort you to your wing of the palace so you can rest up before the feast this eve.”

Surkah to the rescue!

I practically jumped to my feet. “I’d like that very much. Thank you.”

My parents-in…mate turned their attention back to me, and they smiled.

“We’re overjoyed to have you as a part of our family,” the Revered Father said. “We will take great pleasure in getting to know you.”

I bowed my head slightly. “And I you. I am very happy to be here.”

Surkah took that as our cue to leave, but her father calling her name halted our steps when we reached the doorway of the living room that the servants were not exiting, no doubt to leave the king and queen to their privacy.

“Yes, Father?” Surkah said, without turning around.

“I will discuss your punishment with Mikoh before the feast.”

I resisted the urge to laugh when Surkah stomped her foot on the ground and spun to face her parents.

“But Father!” she complained. “Mikoh already punished me. He swatted me five times … it hurt, and I cried. A lot.”

“Surkah,” her father said, his voice dropping an octave. “I have decided you will be punished for your actions. You put yourself in incredible danger, and I will not stand for it, nor will I stand for your disobedience.”

“But Father—”

“Surkah,” he cut her off, growling now.

I widened my eyes and dropped my gaze, feeling uneasy.

“Mother, please, aid me!” Surkah implored.

The Hailed Mother clicked her tongue, but other than that, she didn’t respond.

“Do not speak to me ever again, Father!” Surkah exclaimed before she grabbed my arm and all but dragged me from the living room.