*10 months later*
I hold my little Nanih close after rushing to my father's willow trees, excitement coursing through my veins. I cannot believe I have found my second mate, and he is so sweet and charming. He could tell I had a kit, and I explained that she was from my first mate, it took me months, but I finally told him what happened to cause my kits' early appearance into our world, and what happened to Nanih's twin and father. He seemed understanding and asked if I was ready for them to meet. I had already told him she was my world, and that she would always come first, even before him. She is my kit after all.
He seemed understanding, and still wanted to meet her, so after months of pestering, I finally agreed. This will be the final test to see if we complete the mate bond! I cannot wait! If Nanih likes him as much as the bond calls upon me, then we will complete the mating ritual in the ballroom, if she does not, then I will have to reject him as my mate. I cannot have a mate my kit does not trust. Pulling Nanih close against my chest I tell her more about MaKheel.
She already knows just about as much as I do about him, and she is just as excited to meet him as I am for him to meet her. "Mother, will my liking or disliking MaKheel have anything to do with your decision to mate him? Normally mates complete the ritual within a few days of meeting them, like uncles did." Nanih questions, tilting her little face up towards mine. Today is her birthday and I want it to go as beautifully as possible, she is six now, I cannot believe how quickly the years have gone. Oh, how I wish we could lie. No one in this realm can lie, aside from humans. Deception, or hiding the truth, yes, but lying, no. Humans developed the skill as a self preservation tactic when their species became dangerously close to becoming extinct.
Stroking Nanih's cheek gently, I kiss her forehead, "Oh, Nanih, my sweet kit, your thoughts, desires, fears, and all others are my top priority. You, my sweet, mean everything to me. Your joy and happiness are all I care about. So yes, your decision will affect mine in completing the ritual, but that is because I value your safety above all else." I whisper to her, setting a plate of fish and shrimp in front of her as I sit her in a chair to eat. Nanih nods once, smiling as Aruka enters the kitchen. After ten months, you would think he would finally get up with the sun as the rest of us do, but no, he has a talent for sleeping well passed high tide.
"I still think you are a nature elf. Our realm responds to you in kind as well." I say with a smile for greeting. Aruka rolls his eyes, shaking his head with a small chuckle as he gathers some crab and fish onto his plate. "You will forever cling to that, I am telling you, where I am from, fey is a distinct species, not a term for a variety of species like it is here." Aruka responds, sitting down next to Nanih, tousling her hair between her ears in greeting. "The way nature calls to you and you to it, that is how a nature elf is here. Your skill is close to mine, once you become one with nature and rid yourself of the metal from your realm, you will see what I mean," I say with a sigh. Sipping on my dark morning brew, I swipe a piece of fish off the main plate, relishing in its sweet flavor.
"Nanih, my kit, my mate is ready to meet you today," I say with a small smile and purr of contentment. "Aruka, you will be joining us, of course." I say with a dip of my head, before gesturing towards the grove of willows by the sea. "We will meet there." I stated, petting my kit's hair before finishing my brew. Wrapping my tail around Nanih and Aruka, we arrived in the grove just as MaKheel was surfacing from the sea. Smiling, I walk with Nanih to the shore, excitement is clear on my face as he approaches us, a small smile of his own gracing his siren lips. Holding Nanih close to my side for a moment longer, before allowing her to walk forward to obtain her scent, I watch with high anticipation, nervous and prepared to defend her if needed.
MaKheel watches Nanih closely as she approaches him, noting the protectiveness I am displaying over her. "Hello Nanih, I am MaKheel. I hope that we may become friends." MaKheel says in a silky voice, standing straight backed while dipping his chin low in greeting. Nanih looks back at me, her eyes questioning, before turning back to the male siren, taking in a deep breath of his scent as she does. "Hello MaKheel, I hope we can one day too. I understand I will not be able to see you often though, as you are a siren, and I am mostly cheshire." Nanih says with a small, breathy, laugh, eyeing MaKheel warily.
I take a step towards my kit, noticing her unease as I lower my eyes at MaKheel, listening for any signs of other movement, finally taking note of the life forms around the grove. I had ignored them at first, dismissing the possibility of them having anything to do with our interaction, but now I am not so sure they are random. Locking eyes with MaKheel I whisper a low promise, "MaKheel, while you are my mate, if any harm befalls my kit, mate or not, I will choose her, always. Do you understand this?" MaKheel's eyes flash, disgust and possessiveness there and gone before I could blink, leaving me to wonder if I saw the emotions, before giving me a small, imperceptive nod indicating he understood.
"Yes, dear mate, I understand, quite well. You have already made the same statement more than once before. I wish to build a strong bond between us, after all." MaKheel says smoothly, moving his arms wide as if gesturing towards my kit and I. With a small nod, I step towards Nanih, giving her a loving smile, "What do you think my sweet kit? Shall we continue to get to know him?" I say softly, touching noses with Nanih as I speak, licking the hair on her forehead smooth as my tail hugs her close.
"I think we should, he seems protective already, which is good. I just wish I could be in the water for longer so we could spend more time together." Nanih states, a small smile gracing her lips. "Nonsense, I am grown and can handle being on land for longer periods of time, little Nanih, do not worry yourself with these things." MaKheel says, flashing a wide grin at her before opening his arms to her, crouching to Nanih's height. Nanih giggles, touching my nose with hers before running to MaKheel, laughing gleefully as she jumps into her arms. My guard instantly drops at how gentle he is being with her, smiling to myself as I watch MaKheel swing Nanih in the air, tossing her up as Rahuhl often does.
I sit back and watch as MaKheel and Nanih play, talking to Aruka about living arrangements when Nanih and I go to his realm to complete the rest of the information gathering needed to create a trade agreement between our two realms. I smile, feeling content as I watch MaKheel and Nanih, now using shells, sand and branches to build small towns. Nanih is overjoyed, her ears and tail flicking back and forth, maintaining full attention on the siren. Smiling, I stand, preparing to join my kit and mate, when he wraps Nanih in a large hug, swinging her around in the air. What happens next stops my heart. This is not how I thought this day would end.