Of Another Dimension (19 page)

I soaked up the lyrics as he sang.

It was a love song, but it was also sad.

I closed my eyes and listened as he crooned to me softly.

"For only those who truly do,

shall their love burn so bright.

My heart is yours until I end,

maybe more so when I die.

For I will watch for you, my heart,

by the hall
where heroes lie

and shun the chance at a warrior's peace

to see you one last time."

"What does he mean
, 'see you one last time'? Won't they be together in death?" I asked, looking up at him.

"No. When a Sodraden warrior dies, he goes to a place of honor reserved only for war heroes."

"The hall where heroes lie," I murmured. "Kind of like Valhalla or hero's heaven," I said thoughtfully. "What happens if he doesn't go there? Can't he just go with her to regular heaven too?"

"No." He shook his head.
"If he shuns 'hero's heaven' as you call it, he'll be stuck in between planes, not alive and not dead. A restless entity that roams about aimlessly, dead to both worlds, but alive to himself."

"A ghost." I nod
ded, seeing the similarities. "How sad... and he'd do it at the chance to see her one more time. That's ridiculously romantic. ...in a very heartrending sort of way."

I frowned as I let that soak in.

"Okay, now I'm a little depressed."

"I haven't finished the song y
et. You interrupted me," he shot back in a faux prim voice.

"Well
,
excuse
me. By all means, finish please," I mimicked in the same prim tone.

He tugged on my braid and pulled me back against him.

I swayed from side to side, putting my hands on his hips to get him to move with me as he began to sing again.

"My warrior mate
,

fret not for me,

don't shun your warrior's peace.

For if you do,

I'll shun peace too

and join your disparity.

If you should choose your hero's peace,

don't worry so
, my mate.

I'll don your skins and hold your sword,

to take when death awaits.

I'll shake the walls of heroe
s’ hall

I'll slash your sword at Fate.

I'll prove myself as worthy too.

There'll be no great debate.

And when you see me, warrior mine,

you'll know my words were true.

Nothing could stop me from my quest

to find my way to you."

"A woman staking her claim. I like it.” I grinned.

A woman after my own heart.

“Who sang the song first?" I asked, wondering where he'd picked it up from.

Do they have Sodraden karaoke nights at a local tavern?
I thought and giggled.

"I made it up," he admitted reluctantly.

Really?
I thought, impressed.

"Hmmm... a lover
and
a poet. My, my, demon lover. What else are you keeping from me?" I asked saucily and pinched his rump.

He yelped and jumped back at the unexpected n
ip from my fingers to his sweet red, pants covered derriere.

He flushed blue.

Sexy and so adorable! How did I get so lucky?

"We'll save the dancing lessons for later
, my love," I winked, "I'm hungry and these pink eggs aren't going to cook themselves."

****

I rolled over in the funny yellow grass, my arms up high over my head, stretching my over worked muscles from our latest foray into recreational, outdoor sex.

Mmmm... mmm... mmm...

I grinned up at Kieve as he smiled down at me, bracing his body over mine.

"Liked that
, baby?" he asked on a chuckle, amused by my cheshire cat grin.

"Mmm... maybe a little," I hedged.

"A little?" he scoffed, raising a perfectly shaped black brow, "If you only liked it a little, then why were you scaring the shaxnas, shouting out my name?"

"I was not!" I gasped out indignantly.

"Oh, Kieve," he moaned loudly in a high falsetto, rolling onto his back beside me.

"I don't sound like that!" I insisted, trying to cover his mouth.

He easily kept my hands at bay and started making weird mewling sounds, reminding me of a shaxna in labor.

"I do not!" I burst out.

What an ass!

I got up and grabbed my
shirt, tossing it over my head.

I didn't bother with the ties and gave up when I saw that the rest of my clothes were underneath Kieve.

The red skinned donkey bum was too busy laughing at himself to notice my retreat.

I walked up to the house in nothing but
one of Kieve's borrowed shirts.

It wasn't really indecent or anything because it was practically a dress on me.

Unless you got it wet…
white wet shirt plus no bra equals free show
, but it wasn't, so I'm good.

The house is empty anyways
, so there's no chance of anyone seeing me
, I reasoned.

I pulled a few pieces of grass and other unidentified foliage out of my hair, combing my fingers through it to pull the tangles free.

I haven't worn it down since that one day in the tub, preferring to have it out of my face since its getting so long.

Kieve had looked like he was going to have a heart attack when I'd told him I'd been thinking about cutting it.

Man am I a sucker for his sad face,
I thought laughingly, eyeing my hair.

The cool ground felt good under my toes and I hummed quietly as I reached the house.

"Lil?"

I whirled around and found Teivel, Teila and Sieren all gawking at me. They were coming from the side of the house and I hadn't seen them.

"Uh... erm... uh..." I spluttered.

"What are you wearing?" Teila sneered.

I took in her skin tight ensemble and glanced down at my billowy shirt dress. The only thing truly slutty about my outfit was the gaping ties at the front. One quick tug and tie and I was all fixed up.

I will admit, I
am
showing a good bit of thigh, but it still isn't mini dress length or anything.

Unlike some...

"A dress," I said sweetly, playing stupid. "You like?" I twirled a little and looked at her blankly.

She pursed her lips and clenched her fists at her sides.

I pulled a bit of my hair over my shoulders, just in case the girls were still pebbled. I'd been careful to keep my trench coat on when the weather was a little nippy out.

I'm not one for giv
ing out free shows and Sodraden have never heard of bras, apparently... Not that any of the guys would have one handy or anything...

"What's wrong
, human? Your mate couldn't afford to buy you your own clothes?" Teila sniped at me.

"I lik
e wearing Kieve's clothes. They’re comfortable," I explained, completely unashamed, smoothing my hands down the front.

"You look like a b
rartna," Teila sniffed at me, "Smell like one too."

"Takes one to know one," I quipped, then wanted to smack myself.

How fifth grade am I?

"Teila!" Sieren barked, surprising me, "You will not talk to her like that."

Teila seethed, glaring at Sieren now.

So much for her taking him as a mate now... I think that bridge just went down in flames.

Teivel looked at Teila, appearing surprised by the venom in her voice.

Where the hell has he been?

Earth to Teivel, your mate is just as hateful as you.

"I'll do what
ever I want! You going to make me, Sieren?" she snapped, spitting mad.

"Control your intended
, Teivel," Sieren growled at his brother.

Kieve came sauntering up, my clothes in his hand, nothing on but a smile and a pair of tight pants.

He hurried when he saw everyone else was here too.

"I thought you both said you weren't going to be back until tomorrow?" Kieve asked Teivel and Sieren, running
his free hand through his short dark hair.

He draped my trench coat around my shoulders and rested his head on top of mine, cuddling me close to his chest.

I took the rest of my clothes from him and held them to my chest, using them as a shield against the troupe of early returns.

"What's wrong?" Kieve asked once he took in everyone's expressions.

"Nothing," I said quickly, before anyone else could speak.

I turned around and mock glared at Kieve.

"Now, demon lover, if you're done making fun of me, I'm going to go get dressed for dinner. I'm sorry, I mean,
'evening meal'
or whatever it is I forget you guys call it."

I turned around and tugged at Kieve's hand, toting him along as I headed into the house.

"Hey, Kieve?" I asked as he set our shoes by the door.

"Yeah
, baby?" He looked over at me.

"Race ya to the bathroom!" I shouted and ran up the stairs.

Grinning, he followed.

"Cheater! You cheat
, female!" Kieve accused and raced after me.

****

I can't sleep.

Kieve went with Sieren to help one of the herders take their shaxna
s to the inlet to sell and Teila had insisted Teivel stay behind.

Sieren was originally going to stay behind, but Miss Teila was having none of it.

Oh, joy!

I got up and quietly made my way downstairs.

The house was really dark, but I didn't want to turn a light on.

I
really
don't want to have to deal with the couple from hell if I don't have to.

After grabbing a glass of water and chugging it a
ll down, I still felt restless.

I grabbed a blanket from my room and set myself up on the front porch swing.

Closing my eyes, I let the night envelop me, drifting off a little as I let it wrap around me comfortingly.

I didn't hear anyone come outside until I felt the swing sway.

Teivel sat down next to me and stared off straight ahead.

Scooting until I was all the way on my own side, I turned a little away from him and continued to rock the swing gently with my foot.

I am not giving up my spot just because of him.

He can go find his own spot.

"I couldn't sleep," he said after a while.

I glanced at him, surprised by the dark purple circles under his eyes.

"Intended keeping you up?" I joked.

"Not in the way you
’re thinking," he muttered.

Blech! So don't want to know!

...but just to be a butt...

"Ahhh. Gotcha. She
's a sleep tooter." I shook my head sadly, smiling with fake sympathy.

"A what?"

"You know," I said meaningfully and nudged him, "She pinches them in all day long and when she falls asleep, she lets em rip."

"Let
’s what rip?" He frowned.

"Come on now, yellow eyes. I know you're not
that
slow."

He glared at me and I laughed.

"She farts. Blows ass. Ya know?" I chortled.

"Ooohhh
…. Wait! No! I was talking about... Aww, forget it. I don't know why I even bother with you. All you…"

"Ah. Ah. Ah," I chastised
, cutting him off. "This is the neutral zone. You can't say anything hateful to me when I'm sitting here."

"Says who? You?" Teivel snickered.

"Says my right to be treated like an equal. There isn't one fucking place in this house that I can go that you or your evil intended twin aren't biting my head off, pounding on my door or just plain looking at me funny. I have feelings! I hurt too! I fucking matter, damn it!" I growled, starting off at a calm even tone and ending in a shout. "So you
will
give me this one god damned thing!"

I settled back down in my seat and wrapped my blanket tighter around me, keeping my face averted from his.

He cleared his throat and took up the rocking of the swing.

"I'm sorry," he said
gruffly after a moment.

"No you
’re not," I snapped at him, "So either shut up and swing or get up and fuck off."

I was surprised he didn't move from his spot and even more surprised when he didn't explode and spew more bullshit at me.

He just kept up the rocking.

****

I woke up to a tickling on my nose.

I batted it away and pulled my blanket over my head.

I felt like I was being smooshed alive.

"Kieve," I mumbled, "You're squashing me. Get up."

"Does this mean that you two are friends now?" Sieren ventured from somewhere off to my right.

The blanket was pulled off of my head.

I opened my eyes and frowned when Kieve grinned at me from the porch railing, leaning back against it, his booted feet crossed over one another in a lazy pose as he watched me interestedly.

I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and tried to get up.

Something was weighing me down heavily and I elbowed the offender.

"Huh?" A muffled voice mumbled.

"Get off of me!" I shrieked when Teivel's head popped up from my blankets.

"Guess not," Sieren chuckle
d, smiling at me from the porch steps.

"Trying to steal my mate
, Teivel?" Kieve teased.

"What? No! I have my own intended to deal with. One female is enough."

"
This
is where you go at night?" Teila screeched at Teivel from the doorway. "You crawl into
her
bed?!" she accused.

Where the hell did she come from?

"NO!" I shouted and shook my head vigorously.

"I didn't..." Teivel tried to explain, getting mad at Teila for once.

"I'm not good enough for you, but you'll sully yourself with your deformed brother's brartna?"

It grew dead silent. You could probably hear a pin drop.

"Take that back!" I demanded and threw my blanket off.

I stalked forward and planted my hands on my ample hips, glaring at Teila with all the pe
nt up anger and rage her stupid thoughtless comments provoked in me.

She didn't say anything.

"I said take it back, you little bitch, or I won't be responsible for what I do to you!" I threatened.

"What?
Because I called you a brartna?" She smirked and raised a brow at me.

Kieve growled at her from off to my side.

"No," I said with an edge to my voice, "Apologize to my mate for calling him deformed."

"You have
got
to be kidding me," she laughed.

"Do I
look
like I'm kidding?" I growled and took another menacing step.

"You won't do anything," she taunted, "Y
ou're just a short, fat, little pink play thing to them. You're no better than the nickname Sieren has for you. What was it?" She smiled nastily and tapped her lip with her finger. "Oh, yes, chomcharra.
How fitting
. A short, lumpy mutt with chubby limbs and not enough brains."

She smirked.

I lunged.

Teila screamed bloody murder when I landed on her and grabbed her by the hair, giving it a vicious yank.

"Help!" she screamed, clawing at my wrist, "Get her off of me!"

I put my weight on her chest and slapped her across the face with my free hand as hard as I could.

"I said take it back!" I screamed at her and slapped her again.

Teivel tried to pick me up, but I snapped my teeth at his hands.

He snatched them back quickly and pulled them up to his chest protectively.

I looked back down at Teila.

"Something you want to say to my mate, Teila?" I snarled at her.

"You are as much of an abomination as he is," she spat, glaring at me through her good eye.

Hmmm... did I really slap her that hard?

Yes. Y
es, I did.

"Wrong answer," I growled out.

I adjusted myself on her and tugged her hair again.

"Chub! Come!" I yelled and waited.

Chub came rushing around the corner and hopped right up the steps. He stopped in front of me and licked my elbow.

"Chub, eat her face," I commanded and got up to step back.

Chub pulled back his teeth and lifted his lips, head lowered, shoulders back.

A long line of drool slipped out and hung from his opened maw as he prowled on six legs towards Teila, a fierce growl eliciting from somewhere deep in his little lumpy chest.

And
that
is when Teila wet herself and passed out.

Chapter 15

The sounds of Teila's hysterical ranting could be heard near and far. That's why I chose
this
particular spot to cool off at.

It had been two days since the
incident
and she was still flapping her gums ninety to nothing about Kieve's crazy mate.

"Kieve's been looki
ng all over for you," Sieren called from behind me.

"He knows where I am. Who do you
think brought me here? Try again," I said casually as I sank down a little deeper into the warm mud.

I closed my eyes and let my head fall back on the bank of the warm mud pit, of which I was currently basking in.

Day spas eat your heart out
, I thought as I raised an orange mud covered hand and wiggled it around.

"Are you naked?" he asked as he tugged his shirt and boots off and set them down in the grass.

He yanked his pants down and I squeezed my eyes shut.

"What are you doing?!" I chok
ed out, shocked.

His response was a chuckle.

The mud sloshed around as he climbed in across from me.

"Hey! Don't come in here!" I squeaked, but he ignored me and settled himself down.

I sank down even further in the mud and turned beet red.

"You can open your eyes now, chomcharra. There's nothing to see anymore," he teased.

I opened my eyes and glared at him.

"This is supposed to be relaxing," I complained and flicked mud at him.

He wiped the mud off his shoulder and laughed when it just smeared.

"Why are you here anyways? No one else to tease? Want to make fun of me too?"

"That's not fair, chomcharra," he said quietly as he studied me.

"Yeah
, well... I'm not in a fair kind of mood today," I muttered in a clipped tone.

"I'm surprised," he said casually.

I frowned at him.

"Surprised by what? My mood?
Seriously?"

"No." He studied his fingertips.
"I'm surprised that you aren't either exhausted or smiling like an idiot with all the shouting and thumping around you and Kieve were doing a little bit ago in your
bedroom
. ...sounded like two wounded talanax stomping around in there. Someone was showing his mate how much he appreciates her and... Hey! I'm just saying!"

He dodged the glob of orange sludge I slung at him.