Saving Na'Drahg

Chapter 39

"Are you really going to let my big brother explain that to you? He knows as much about that as he does about how the female head works."

Farah's bony hips swayed and her pencil heals made their way over the wooden floor, disturbing their peaceful moment.

"I do not remember being told that I need your permission to speak to my husband about anything that is going to happen to me. He was the one that put that slimy leach into my ear and it will be him that tells me what I am in for."

"Oh. I see your little cat has claws. Did I hit a nerve?"

"Every single one of them. I will be outside until we can have a moment to ourselves to speak about all of this."

"Did I do something wrong to you? Why are you so-"

"Is your brain as blond as the hair on your head? You truly want to ask me that after you stood by and allowed your husband to play with my feelings? If you didn't notice, not many men would give me a second look, so for him to make me feel like I actually mean something to someone, other than just a whore that can be used and then dumped, was really low. You are married to him and you just stood by and let it all happen. That is lower than low. That is just plain sick and don't give me that bullshit about tradition and that is how it's done. There are better ways to do it. If it matters so much to abduct the female or male, then just take them, don't try to butter them up and mess with their damn heads before the time."

She stormed off, leaving the siblings to stare after her. Her wings spread out unhindered, as soon as she stepped onto the snow, because of the slits she had suggested Ja'brahin leave in the shirts. The spray from the waterfall was refreshing, but it couldn't calm the storm inside of her. She plunged into the water, feeling the sharp bite of the icy water. Her throat closed up and she was tempted to take a deep breath, but she managed to shoot back up and breath in fresh air.

The air instantly started freezing her wet clothes and hair, but her internal fire heated it up and melted the ice away. She flew back up and started mingling with the people still standing around the bonfires. People started leaving in groups, coming over to her and bowing before taking off into the sky. After about 30 minutes of this, only three young men remained, whispering to each other. When she approached them, they must have realised that everyone else was gone, and took off, but not before she had a good look at them.

Apart from the shifty eyes that was too dark for a Drahg, their skins hung loose as well. Plus there was the little fact that they ran at an incredible speed, instead of flying. She went looking for Alex and found him in the kitchen speaking to a really small woman. She had more wrinkles than a human roadmap had roads.

"Janine, you are back. This is our cook. She prefers to be called Alice. She has been with the family for many years."

"It is a pleasure to meet you. Please excuse my dour mood but it seems as though we have some Mal'ikiai roaming around our lands. Three of them were at the festivities and took off as I approached them. I think I can safely say that they are not the only ones roaming around. They were headed into whichever town is behind us. Running really fast, in case you were wondering. As in almost as fast as Marco can fly. Is my point getting across here, because I can go on if you want me to?"

"No, I think your point is quite clear. I am amazed that you were able to see in which direction they went. Either they wanted you to know or you have really good eyesight."

"I am glad to see that you are finally thinking with the right head. Now we can wait until they sneak up on us and attack us or we can use Ja'nuk's little girlfriend to spy on them for us. What are you planning on doing about the unprotected outskirts? I think we need to step up on the things that have gone unnoticed, while you have been...preoccupied. Oh, and there is still that little discussion to complete and do not ask me to get the information from Farah, because that is just going to set me off again. I don't like this new temper one bit and right now I have no idea how to control it. If I'm not sitting crying my damn eyes out, I'm shouting at someone. This is not me. You said I won't change, but I have changed more in one day than in the last 20 years."

He walked over to her and wiped her face with his thumb. "I am sorry that I have been wrong about so many things. I do not like seeing you like this. It hurts and frightens me. Please do not remain upset with Farah and Marco. They only did what they thought was right. It has been our way for so many years that it is imbedded in us."

"Well then it is time for a change. I'm not saying go against the traditions, but it is a lot easier on the mates if they are either aware of what is to happen or taken unsuspectingly, without their feelings being hurt. A girl like me, that have no reason to stay, would go along willingly, if she was approached properly. Someone like Tracey, does not care either way as long as she gets the guy that her heart is set on. If she had been seduced by Jackson and ended up with Marco, she would have been seeing red and trying to find ways to get away from here."

"Well then I have a solution to that ma'am. Sorry for intruding in a private conversation, but I just thought it would be a good idea if you were to go with the scouts to find the women and men and then bring them back here to meet the person they are meant to be with. That had been done many years ago, before our own Shehana had declined her mate. I still remember the day clearly.

"She wanted a man from ma'am and instead they brought her a Tsi'a'Lur. She walked out of the cathedral announcing that she refused her chosen mate and would kill herself if they forced the Rya'mart on her. She disappeared for a few weeks and when she came back she was dressed in that suit that his Ma'ruhg painted on the ceiling. Not a hour past before a horde of Mal'ikiai came storming our fields. She called to the guards and started slicing them down, one after the next. Anyway, I do not wish to fill this one's head with more images of his secret lover."

Janine stood laughing at the old woman's grin and Alex's shocked expression. Tears were once again raining from her eyes, but not in sadness.

"So, I have another suggestion to make," she said, once Janine stopped laughing. "Why don't you come sit and let me explain some of the female stuff to you since this one won't know the proper way to explain it to you. You will feel more at ease when you are aware of what to expect and how to manage your own hormones. Something the males do not know about."

The glint in her eyes held many secrets. Some of which she was about to share with Janine. Alex threw up his arms and stormed off, only to return a few a second later.

"I usually work from the bedroom, but I will be going to the security room to work alongside Ja'brahin to sort out our security issues."

Janine stood biting her lip as she watched him walk off. Her finger tapped her leg as she waited. She held up her hand to stall the old lady when she was about to speak.

"Janine, could you come here a second please?" Alex called.

She closed her eyes with her hands and blew out a breath she did not realise she had been holding. She had to either explain why he was unable to get in or come up with an excuse fast.