She didn’t do very much, but I found her fascinating.
Whenever I looked at her, I imagined what a daughter of my own would look like. I wondered if she would have a lissa too. I was constantly thinking of Kovu, my intended, and the more I was around my newly born sister, the stronger I felt the urge to claim Kovu as my mate and start our own family. Surkah regained my attention when she moved. She made a soft noise somewhere between a growl and a coo, and I just about died right then and there.
I got to my feet, drawing my parents’ attention as they lounged up on the top of their bed, holding one another.
“What’s wrong?”
I looked at Mother. “Surkah is perfect … I want my own daughter.”
The smile that spread across my mother’s face was stunning.
“I told you.” She looked at Father. “I told you that he was considering mating Kovu earlier because of Surkah.”
“So you did, moonlight.”
“Please excuse me.” I moved my sister from her spot on the bed to my mother’s arms. I placed my fist over my chest and bowed my head to my parents. “I must go and find my intended and mate her before she changes her mind about me.”
I turned and hurried out of the chamber with my parents’ laughter behind me. I tapped into my comm’s feed and searched for Kovu’s work schedule for the day. I saw which sector she was in and made my way toward it. She was close by, so I didn’t need to take a vehicle to reach her. I ran there instead. When the forest’s edge came into view ten minutes later, my heart pounded with anticipation.
Where are you, my female?
By the forest’s edge in Sector One, she replied. I am on berry-picking duty today, shilo.
I want to mate you and seal our bond more than I need to breathe, I told her. I want a family with you.
I almost heard her musical laughter.
I told you I would mate you before my fortieth natal day. You have been the one to wait for my uva to contract.
I know, I told her. But I cannot wait any longer. I love you. I want us to be mates right now.
I love you, too. I am waiting for you, shilo. I am ready for you. I always have been, my heart.
I was going to mate my intended.
My essence was going to flow in her veins. I almost couldn’t focus because I was so excited. I came to a stop when I saw her. I saw other females and guards on patrol, but I blocked them out and focused on my intended, who was walking towards me like the vision she was. Her cream work clothes wrapped around her light blue skin. Her long, straight, dark as night hair flowed in the wind, and her silver eyes gleamed from afar. My female.
I had only taken three steps her way when I heard the first scream.
One second, everything was calm and tranquil, and the next, it was a war zone. A pack of borak, stealthily vicious beasts, shed their camouflage and attacked the working females. The members of the Guard who were on patrol sprang into action. I realised in my haste to get to Kovu that I stupidly left the palace unarmed. I had no weapon to defend myself, but that meant neither did my intended. As I began running towards her, she too ran towards me. I saw fear on her stunning face.
“Ezah!”
Her scream echoed in my ears as I sprinted towards her. As I rushed her way, I knew I was too late before Kovu did. The borak that singled her out was unmatched in its speed. I watched in horror as it sprang up behind her and swiped out with one of its claws, ripping Kovu’s back open. She went to the ground instantly, and the beast was on her as quick as a blink. Its mouth clamped down on her neck, and the screaming I heard was not hers, but mine.
I tackled the beast, the force of my attack caused the creature to lose its hold on Kovu. I slammed my fist into its face, ignoring the swipe of its claws against my flesh. I was a healer, so I healed naturally without having to focus my lissa.
The borak’s body was armour plated except for a soft section on its underbelly. I struggled with the beast and stunned it with a punch to the nose and flipped it onto its back in the midst of its confusion. A member of the Guard jumped over my head and rammed his sword straight down and pierced the beast’s weak spot. It screeched and roared in pain, but it was now defenceless. I rolled away from the creature, leaving the male to kill the beast.