Bird of a Flock (Bow 2)

Chapter 36

No one slept well that night. Tai'ray and Ryraso argued loudly for a few more hours, Dyn'ad trying to calm them down and failing. In the end, Ryraso stormed into his room and slammed the door. Dyn'ad caught Tai'ray's arm before he could storm out too and yanked him close. 

"No," Dyn'ad said firmly. 

"Dyn'ad," Tai'ray murmured, "Let go."

"You're not leaving this room," Dyn'ad warned, wrapping his arms and wings around Tai'ray. "I've got one in the cage room looking after our son, I am not having the other two in separate rooms too," he stated gruffly against Tai'ray's hair. "You're my mates and you're both hurting so you will have to deal with sleeping in the same bed." 

"He doesn't want me at the moment," Tai'ray muttered, pressing into Dyn'ad and taking as much comfort as he could from his mate. "Better I go and remove the thing distressing him."

Dyn'ad didn't say anything. He leant down and gave  Tai'ray a firm passionate kiss. Tai'ray kissed back, closing his eyes and enjoying the feeling. Letting it wash through him and fill the holes that were currently open. Dyn'ad pulled away and pressed their foreheads together. "I love you," he murmured.  "Now, let's go to bed," he added in a sterner tone, pulling Tai'ray's hand with him as he pulled them into Ryraso's room.

Ryraso was already in his bed, looking at neither of them as he curled away. Dyn'ad looked at him a resisted the urge to sigh. Dyn'ad pushed Tai'ray onto the bed before flopping in between two of his loves and wrapped a wing around each. Ryraso resisted momentarily but ended up pressed against Dyn'ad, his back pressed against Dyn'ad's side still facing away but now in contact. Tai'ray curled up so his wings were facing away, the Winglord's face pressed against Dyn'ad's ribs. 

Dyn'ad dimly sent Nel'os a pulse of love, Nel'os replying back softly. Tai'ray flinched and Dyn'ad narrowed his eyes for a moment before realising what Nel'os had done. Exhaling, Dyn'ad poked Nel'os to let his barriers down so Tai'ray could feel him. Nel'os grumbled but did so, mentally nuzzling Tai'ray in apology. 

"The Goddess, she may force these roles upon us but she never gives them without thought," Dyn'ad said softly. His mark not active at the moment but the flashes of heat throughout the day had his role in his mind. The protector and shield. "She rewards us well for doing our roles."

"She promised to protect people who I consider mine who pass through the border," Ryraso murmured.

"And you have put forward the idea that humans who pass without permission become ours," Tai'ray added. "She will protect them in her own way. We will ensure that Zaro is safe. K'nairi or not."

"He will become so," Dyn'ad settled. 

"You haven't left them in those cages overnight, have you?" Ryraso asked tensely. In the tone of someone not really wanting to start a fight but also remembering something important possibly too late. The cages were meant to be temporary unless the people had done something unforgivable. Normally people who had broken the law were moved to a set of cell rooms. Ryraso had no idea which path Tai'ray had taken. 

Tai'ray shifted and curled into Dyn'ad more. "The Sparrows and Zaro have been moved somewhere they can sleep easier. Fetmar is with Yerir'o tonight as Yerir'o didn't trust anyone else to keep him from doing something stupid," Tai'ray admitted gently. Dyn'ad reached down and wrapped his arm around Tai'ray tightly, shifting and kissed his forehead. Others might have argued against letting the Sparrows sleep comfortably after their actions but much like Eyeri, the Sparrows were fated to live on k'nairi lands for the rest of their lives.