I shook my long quills violently, backpedaling away. "This isn't our way..."

"But it is our mate's," Eh'kt countered, referring to Mourning Crow as ours like it didn't even matter.

"We're Zhaguai, not razkurs," I snarled. "I get that you two need a donor, but that can be supplied through a lab. We DO NOT share lifemates!"

"But we are possessive," Eh'kt held his ground. "I chose you and will accept no other to aid in siring Mourning Crow's offspring or you mating with another. And I don't expect you will tolerate anyone else either."

What the fuck is wrong with him?! I knew the bastard was twisted, but... "How long have you been plotting this?"

"Since before our mate's Dread Rite," Eh'kt flashed a smug grin.

OUR!! He dares say it again!

I stood over him, teetered on ramming my claws in and gutting him naval to chin.

"Save your energy for her," my impudent Adjutant had the nerve to chitter. "You'll need it."

"Fuck you!"

"No Shale," Eh'kt lunged at me. "Fuck her. After we have a chat and bring her up to speed, we'll work out a schedule."

I threw up my hands and backed away. "You're insane if you think I'm going to submit to an absurd timetable!"

"I know, I know," Eh'kt bobbed his head. "Mourning Crow's not big on structure either. As you said, we're Zhaguai. I figured it was best to keep our expectations within reason. I'll give you two all the space you require."

"How can you possibly be ok with this?" Did he sustain some kind of brain injury while fighting with that Graven?

"I made the same protests when Dr. Kazz'mon first announced Mourning Crow couldn't be augmented," Eh'kt sighed. "Any scenario of denial you can manufacture, I've already exhausted. Heck, I'd still be dithering in resistance if you hadn't shown up that day by the waterfall."

"You knew..." My cheeks grew hot.

Of course, she was aware of me and it was stupid of me to think she wouldn't tell him.

"What do you think she was telling in Ahnzi the entire time?" Eh'kt flung the truth in my face. "At the time I wanted to rip your head off and wear it as a codpiece, but then I came to realize, who better to facilitate my entrance into the Eternal Bloodline than my most vexing rival?"

"I didn't even know you."

"But you were everything standing in the way of my objectives," Eh'kt touched his claws to his chest, admitting to me his true, unfettered weakness.

"What you demand," I had to sever this delusion at its core. No amount of bravery could change the facts. "It's not my place."

"You proved that it is this morning."

I clenched my fist. How many times will my screw-up be wielded against me?

"In all the Nexus," Eh'kt took a bold step to confront me. "Who do you trust more than her and me?"

I pushed him away with a growl and turned back the way we came, leaving the asshole to finish his ridiculous errand without me.

...

I wandered aimlessly through the streets of Karwarak, nodding vaguely whenever the occasional razkur greeted me. It was still two hours before the concert and my brain was in no state for diplomatic banter or subordinates expecting orders.

I leaned against the railing of a lofty catwalk looking out across the colorful spotlights dancing in the sky. There was singing in the streets, speckled with jubilant roaring and an announcer shouting words I couldn't decipher.

We granted shore leave to a large percentage of the crew and it was good to see our two species mingling unchaperoned. At least I could relish in one victory this night.

I chose you...

Eh'kt's words echoed in my mind.

Did Mourning Crow have a say?

Of course she did. But there's no variant in the multiverse where a Zhaguai could give in to such a divergent relationship without choosing it for himself first.

And damn him for being right about another's seed.

My mind flickered to Oru's youngest offspring. Fucking Dran!

For the first time, I felt rage toward the nameless line of male competitors I'd ever defeated for my rank in the Joust.

"What if those two naïve fools roll the dice next cycle and compete in the Joust off-world?!"

My chest burned. No, this wasn't another attack... it was fury!

I tapped my claws on the metal railing.

Where has all that cunning run off to, my Adjutant?

I chose you...

"I should have made the challenge. Simpler to end this with a duel to the death," I questioned walking back, but I knew it was futile. The moment had passed and Eh'kt wouldn't be where I left him.

It wasn't that mating with Mourning Crow while Eh'kt was present made me upset. And surely he was aware that I wasn't attracted to him.

Males rut other males, it happens. Lifemates are lifemates. Mating season was fair game and we spent a lot of time together, traveling off-world and waiting while each member of the troupe took their turn completing the sacred Dread.

Even Groon had a weird night in his youth when he and two of his buddies accidentally got high on fermented quandu-fruit during a tactical training trip on Vomia-6. I'll admit when he told the story, it made me curious. However, even while heavily inebriated, the sight of naked males never got me hard.

A pair of razkurs in the street below splade their arms in the air while telling a story to a female lieutenant Zhaguai.

An alliance would inevitably lead to more interspecies relationships. Maybe others would be secure in being designated supplementary to their lifemate, but the notion of sharing Mourning Crow enraged me.

My mind skipped to that day in the lagoon, Mourning Crow riding Eh'kt with his black claws on her skin.

Why couldn't I shake that image from my head?

Their mingled scents were sweet and, contrary to the provocative position, the atmosphere between them was tender. The union was more than a pursuit of mutual pleasure, and it had nothing to do with procreation or dominance. I'd never witnessed anything like it.

They were simultaneously playful and sensual and all I could do was stand there wondering what the two of them tasted like with her dripping all over him.

...

Eh'kt opened the door and let me in.

"Check this out!" Mourning Crow stood across the hotel suite opening and closing a pair of wide glass doors that open onto a terrace, silencing all the Carnival sounds outside each time they sealed. "Oh, hey Shale, what's shakin'?"

"I haven't had a chance to talk with her," Eh'kt spoke softly.

"Talk to me about what?" Mourning Crow hopped cross-legged onto the luxurious sofa in the center of the room. "What's wrong? Oh shit, did I fuck up not going with everyone?"

"No-" I tried to answer.

"He has something to say to us," Eh'kt interrupted

Mourning Crow's ears swung up curiously. She was munching on a handful of sparkly pink kernels from a little rainbow bag in her hand bearing the name of the candy shop Eh'kt had been searching for. The additional words Fizzy Bubble-Corn were scribbled on the side.

"I..." I shied my eyes from the razkur. "I don't know how to do this."

Mourning Crow's ears dipped in confusion, then popped up once she realized what was happening.

"It's ok," she shot up and wrapped her cool fingers around my own. "We're going about this deaf and blind as well."

I had a thousand questions. How do I say the things I've wanted to scream for weeks? Does she feel the same as I do or is her interest in me merely a compromise to keep her true mate happy? Why is all of this happening?

I could only stare at her, grinding my fangs.

"I don't like sharing," I eventually blurted out while squeezing my fingers between hers, desperate to maintain my composure.

"Neither do I," Eh'kt made himself comfortable on one of the fancy upholstered chairs.

"Ok," Mourning Crow stretched a bright smile. "So there's one thing you two agree on. Keep going."

"I..." No, this was all wrong. I stepped back, shaking my quills and released her hands. "What do you want?"

"Oh," Mourning Crow fidgeted her fingers and angled her head with an introspective smile. "I want you, Shale, and I want you equally, Eh'kt. I want one dwelling that doesn't move or constantly needs repairing. And I want a life filled with lots of noise!"

Mourning Crow fluttered her ears and strolled around me, listing things on her fingers. "Also, I insist on one big bed. You can do everything else separately, but we sleep side by side by side, snoring and all. Ooo, can we take trips together, all three of us, like on a wilderness planet at least once a cycle? And Eh'kt, I want you to bring all your U'la'ke trophies back home and out of storage. Speaking of which, where will we live?"

Eh'kt snickered from his chair and gave me a look that said 'you asked her'.

"I want us to be equals," I relaxed my fists. "If that's even possible."

"Ok," Mourning Crow nodded.

Eh'kt agreed as well. then scooted to the edge of his seat. "I want a schedule. I'll go crazy if I can't stay organized."

"See," Mourning Crow peered up at me. "It's not so scary if we can talk to each other."

Then why did my intestines still twist in turmoil?

She slid her hand over mine once again and I felt that familiar pins and needles tingle running up my hand.

"I can't-" I yanked my hands away and bolted for the door.

"Don't," Mourning Crow called out. "We know it's not fair."

I hovered at the door, unsure if I wanted to smash it open or slam it shut.

"You have every right to be upset," Mourning Crow persisted. "We've had time to mull this whole thing over. But everything's crashing into you all at once."

My vision began greying out at the edges.

"Be mad, break whatever," Mourning Crow eased closer to my back. "You can punch Eh'kt if you think that will help."

I glance back at her, mildly bewildered.

"I'd rather you be angry in here with us than out there alone, surrounded by strangers."

Who do you trust more than her and me...

My brain flooded with chaotic static. Then she touched me and pressed herself into my back. Suddenly, the world became silent and all the colors surged into my vision.

I turned to her, basking in the smooth touch of her fingertips gliding up my chest. Then I leaned down and filled her mouth with mine.

"Do I still get to punch Eh'kt?" I chittered quietly, resting my forehead against hers.

Eh'kt rolled his eyes and thrummed his chest.

My lower fangs quivered in satisfaction and I kissed her again deeply, this time pulling her body flush against mine.

Eh'kt's footsteps thumped past us as he stood up and walked across the room for his pauldron and shinguards.

"Oh, that's right!" Mourning Crow pulled back to take a breath. "The concert."

"Stay," Eh'kt fastened on his armor. "Only one of us needs to make an appearance."

I released Mourning Crow to let her extend him a proper farewell.

"It's never fun seeing you go," Mourning Crow twirled to the middle of the room, ready to kiss him as he passed by. "Though it's a bit of a relief you two agree on taking turns."

The razkur giggled, and my blood ignited.

With a broad step and a quick flick of my claw, I unclamped Mourning Crow's loincloth.

Eh'kt froze mid-buckle, staring at the swatch of cloth landing on the floor.

I tapped the retract button on her gauntlet to remove her thermo-straps, then snapped the hunk of metal off.

"Hey, uh..this isn't -" Mourning Crow's heart rate accelerated.

I scooped her up by the ass and spread her exposed legs wide in front of Eh'kt.

The black-scaled Zhaguai required only a second to recalculate the situation, then he tossed his pauldron aside and proceeded to unfasten the remainder of his obstructive armor.

I tilted Mourning Crow back against my chest and dragged my fangs across her shoulder, then nibbled on her neck.

"What about the concert?" Mourning Crow wriggled in my arms.

"Fuck it," I grunted and presented her pussy to Eh'kt.

Eh'kt approached, stripped down to his loincloth, and took his place between her legs. He hissed amorously, stroking her cheek with his thumb, then bent down to taste her mouth.

Mourning Crow's scent intensified and her left foot started doing that spontaneous fast-tapping thing her people do when extremely excited.

I thrummed and clicked into her ear. "We haven't even touched you and you're already drenched."

Eh'kt unhooked his loincloth and started licking his way down her chest, pausing briefly to taste her nippleless breasts and spread her knees further apart.

The pair's scent was mouthwatering.

Eh'kt knelt on one knee and took hold of Mourning Crow's rear, shifted her weight to his hands, and freed one of my arms to wrap around her torso and steered her chin to kiss me.

The razkur purred and panted between each contortion of my tongue, then gasped when Eh'kt's tongue invaded her from below. She reached into my mass of red-tipped long quills and hooked her arm around my neck while combing her right hand over Eh'kt.

I thrummed louder and began unlatching my armor.

"Eh'kt," she flinched and tossed her head back when his fingers slipped inside.

I kept my hardon tucked under my loincloth despite the fabric being cold and damp from my leaking tip. It was unlikely Eh'kt minded my dick so near his face, but I wanted him focused solely on pleasuring our mate.

Mourning Crow quaked with labored breaths and leaned in when Eh'kt sank one of his long quills inside. It wasn't safe to push the razkur too far, but we could savor her provocative moans a bit longer.

Eh'kt pulled his quill loose and slithered his tongue up her abdomen until settling on her chest. He glanced up at me to confirm that I was watching, then pressed his forked-tongue against the plump apex until the skin parted to reveal a tiny hidden pink nipple.

I dug my claws into her pale thigh when my cock involuntarily reared up and wept against her wetness. "How many more secrets are hidden inside you?"

Eh'kt stepped back and left the other breast for me to tend to later.

"There," I pointed to the gigantic plush bed neatly arranged by the far wall.

Eh'kt complied and tossed the superfluous bedding to the floor. Then he sat down to face us as I carried Mourning Crow over.

The razkur's heart rate spiked again as I flipped her around to wrap her legs around me. She was nervous and rightly so. These two sought to become mine, and I intended to claim every inch of them.

Mourning Crow coiled her arms around my neck and meld her lips to mine. Her taut white skin felt like delicate orchid petals.

I eased closer to Eh'kt, carefully lining up her pelvis above his lap.

She twinged her ears and tried to readjust to straddle him, but I kept hold of her rump and aimed her lower lips around Eh'kt's impatient shaft.

Eh'kt growled when her wetness enveloped him. Then he locked his arms and leaned back, content to relish the sensation of me sliding our mate up and down his shaft.

Mourning Crow huffed with each descent, unable to control the speed or depth that I inflicted. Had there been only one of us present, I'm certain the razkur would have demanded more, but she was outnumbered and didn't dare provoke us further.

Eventually, I let her straddle Eh'kt and grind on him of her own volition while taking the opportunity to yank off my loincloth.

Eh'kt leaned all the way back with his legs draped over the edge of the bed and massaged his claws into Mourning Crow's back and buttocks.

I lowered my face level to Mourning Crow's and stroked my rock-hard cock. "What does he feel like?"

"Colors, like the ones that shine off the crystals," Mourning Crow touched my face while continuing to gyrate. "And little bells."

"Mmm.." I growled with a smirk, then dove down to fill my mouth with her un-expressed tit. She squirmed a little as the tips of my flat-forked tongue probed for the correct location to squeeze.

"Higher," our mate let out an exuberant, quick breath.

There.

The little nodule popped free. I suckled and lapped, all the while embracing Eh'kt spread open legs.

Our mate purred and moaned and hugged my head to her chest. She tasted like springtime at daybreak, and I wanted to devour her.

I let go and folded down on my knees to burrow my mouth lower.

"What does she feel like?" I directed at Eh'kt.

Eh'kt curled up a bit to look at me around Mourning Crow's side. He stammered and struggled to keep his rhythm, but came around and growled out, "An inside-out-"

I licked the base of his cock, stroking my tongue indiscriminately up and down the slippery folds that linked them.

"Out..."Eh'kt strained to finish his thought, heaving his words out like unstable lead boulders. "Vol.. cano..." he flung his head back and clamped his fists shut. "She-...Fuck!...I can't-"

I sped up and delved my tongue tips into the crevices of Mourning Crow's petals. The pair tasted of honey before and after the bees had worked their magic.

Mourning Crow circled her hips with her hand on my head and arched her back further.

"And what do I feel like, Eh'kt?" I called out, knowing full well the black-scaled Zhaguai was in no condition to answer me.

Eh'kt roared and thrashed his long quills while trapped on his back. He was as thick as he was that day by the waterfall.

I rubbed my thumbs on the sensitive tendons of his inner thighs and saw his black claws curl around our mate's waist. Mourning Crow yelped as he pumped and thrummed wildly, tightening his grip each time I flicked his frenum piercings as they slipped by.

Eh'kt howled and slammed his hips up in one final ragged rasp, followed by exquisite white liquid seeping out the sides of Mourning Crow's cunt.

I traced my finger along the drips and smeared it on the black-scaled Zhaguai's leg. "You really have been craving this."

Eh'kt made some muffled noises, but made little effort to click back in defiance.

Mourning Crow didn't finish but from her clenched fist on the verge of pulling out my long quills I could have made it happen had I'd chosen to be gentler with Eh'kt.

Our mate fought to regain her breath and slumped onto my head. I nudged her arms away and rose to find her eyes. She was smiling and weary, but still kissed me when I wrapped my arms around her.

"I think you broke him," Mourning Crow giggled.

Eh'kt grumbled at her from behind, still sprawled out on his back.

"Nah, he's young. There are many more fights left in him," I nudged my forehead to hers and motioned to glance downward. Eh'kt was still inside her, and he wasn't getting smaller.

I pushed up, cradling Mourning Crow's back onto Eh'kt's chest. Her breathing staggered when I reached under both their arms and pushed their bodies to the center of the bed.

Eh'kt thrummed from below, doing his part to calm her.

"I can only do this one way," I climbed on top of her, resting my face on her chest. "All of me or nothing."

I listened to her heart flutter. "You can say no. I will leave and provide your doctor with whatever samples you require until the day I expire, if that's all this is."

My eyes stung and I didn't know why.

Mourning Crow filled her hands with my quills and tugged at me to look her in the eyes. "We are bonded Shale."

"You are the Aixx in this triad," Eh'kt added

"And have been for some time," Mourning Crow cupped her ears around my face.

Aixx, Tomo, Feahh...according to the razkurs, these were the three pieces that made a whole.

Eh'kt took hold of my wrists. "We will tolerate your absence no longer."

It didn't make any sense.

They meant it.

I was raised listening to stories about the powerful Zhaguai instinct for recognizing our lifemates, but I always assumed there was a measure of exaggeration.

No. It was real, and I was living it!

I don't know precisely when it struck me, but reflecting back; I was certain this was the source of everything terrible and wonderful that was happening to me.

All or nothing.

I kissed Mourning Crow. Her arms trembled, but she didn't fight me. She spread her legs with me between them while Eh'kt waited patiently inside.

I lowered my hips and let the head of my swollen cock glide along the slippery edge of her pussy's lips. The engorged nodules on Eh'kt's shaft rubbed against me as I felt him slide out to make room for my entrance.

How did this even work? Apparently, it was second nature to male razkurs.

Eh'kt's hand touched my stomach, hinting for me to lift up. I complied, presuming he'd likely already done all the research.

He raised Mourning Crow's waist as well, aligning her angle to better receive me. All but his hood was out then he grabbed my dick, and pointed it where I needed to apply pressure.

I squeezed in.

Mourning Crow panted in panic before the tip even entered. The last thing I wanted to do was scare her.

The prospect of being mated for the first time by two razkurs must have been daunting, but Zhaguai are bigger and bumpier.

"I'm ok," Mourning Crow chirped with her face hidden inside my mane of quills.

I thrummed into her neck and encouraged her to dig her claws into me as hard as she wanted.

Razkurs probably sang to one another to ease the other's nerves. If Eh'kt and I tried that we'd scar her with even more permanent nightmares.

Only one option bubbled to the surface.

I leaned into her ear and professed my irrevocable weakness.

I couldn't sing to her, but I could carve out my insides and prove that I was without fear.

Mourning Crow's pulse elongated between thumps.

Ever so gently, I shifted my weight and eased further inside her.

Mourning Crow squeaked and bit into my shoulder. I licked the lower rim of her ear and repeated myself louder.

Her claws cut into my sides, and I had to stop moving. The embrace between her and Eh'kt was making me dizzy. She was soo tight and those hot razor-thin slashes were feeding my brain dangerous impulses.

I took a moment to breathe and settle down, then realized both Eh'kt and I were growling. I was barely halfway in and Eh'kt had yet to fully join me.

"No harm," Eh'kt whispered in her sire's native tongue.

He rocked gently, nudging a fraction of himself in and out. Then followed my lead and declared his own frailty while caressing her sides and arms.

Mourning Crow made little sounds, not quite moans but short gasping breaths.

I rumbled my declaration again and again, feeling emboldened by each successive confession. It was just me and Eh'kt saying it back and forth, but it was helping. Our mate relaxed her legs and released her teeth from my shoulder.

The warm slick ridges of Eh'kt's piercings stoked the softly churning embers in my loins, beckoning me to plunge in with him. Without warning, a throaty roar escaped my lungs as I arched my back up and let my long quills tumble down around my face.

Mourning Crow raised her eyes to mine, "I want you."

I slammed into her all the way to the hilt.

"SHALE!" Mourning Crow screamed and squeezed her legs around me.

Fuck! There really were colors!

I eased back and thrust again.

Mourning Crow was trembling all over and moaning heavily as every thick, red inch of me impaled her over and over. Her mostly occupied channel was soo warm and tight! It felt like my spine was melting and catching fire all at once.

"All of me!" I howled.

Eh'kt was hesitant to match my force, until in a breathless mewl that was almost a whimper, our mate cried YES and he bucked without mercy.

Mourning Crow was wide open and could only steady herself with one of her hands clamped inside Eh'kt's and the other digging into my neck. Her ears were curled down and her limbs went limp. It was intoxicating experiencing her in this state of vulnerability.

Eh'kt growled each time I made her cry out my name. In his mind, I had been a rival, but in this arena; the contention drove him wild.

How was this much pleasure legal?

I want this forever.

Mourning Crow screamed again and grit her teeth into my pectoral, triggering me to ram in harder.

"More!" I let out a hoarse bellow.

I rolled my hips and sank in deeper while my brain cascaded through every curse word imaginable. Between Eh'kt's vigorous rhythm, Mourning Crow's moans, and our mate's supple channel devouring me whole, coherent thought didn't stand a chance.

The Joust didn't come close to this! Not even claiming my finest trophy approached this level of rapture.

Eh'kt thrummed from below, hammering himself into her and against me while keeping pace and diving in sac-deep on my every withdrawal.

I seized Mourning Crow's leg and spread her further to make room and pummeled her faster.

"Look at me," I nuzzled her head.

She yanked her mouth from my flesh with my quills to gaze into her eyes. They were half-open and fully glazed.

"Fuck," I growled. "You make me soo hard."

Mourning Crow tried to speak, but it came out as euphoric nonsense. She still clung to my neck and Eh'kt's hand, but the slack in her legs told me her muscles were disregarding orders.

I grabbed Eh'kt by the waist and tugged him closer, pinning Mourning Crow even more securely between us.

"Don't... stop," she squeaked, with her mouth agape.

"Never!" I thrummed and let her swallow me whole.

Her pitch went higher and Eh'kt took hold of her arms, pulling them up over her head. Then he clicked in her ear, "I've never felt you this tender. I can feel your heartbeat on all sides."

Mourning Crow purred and wriggled uncontrollably on our cocks, exhaling these strange staggered murmurs.

"Tell us, which is better," I grunted between thrusts. "Every other or all at once?"

I skipped my turn and plowed into her with Eh'kt.

Her head wrenched back and she flashed her teeth. Then the glimmer in Mourning Crow's half-open eyes started to flicker and her body became rigid and quiet. From Eh'kt's tempo, he felt it too. I pressed my weight on her and sank in several long languid pumps until Mourning Crow's muffled screams rang off my chest.

Oh, and there it was, that sweet vexing vice grip!

Mourning Crow squirmed and wrapped her legs up around me.

But there was no pain. This time, the lockdown was wholly different. We continued to move freely, no matter how rapidly the contractions magnified.

I roared and my blood boiled. The sensation was like being intravenously dosed with stimulants and hallucinogens, and Eh'kt was experiencing it with me.

There was no need to slow down. The lockdown was at its zenith and Mourning Crow was lost in her happy place, moaning blissfully.

"Vroh'kri vra!" I licked Mourning Crow's neck and cupped her ass as I savored her and Eh'kt's heady aroma filling my mouth. "That studded cock of yours and her tight little pussy are going to make me cum!"

I grabbed Eh'kt wrists and pinned them to his sides, stroking my head astride his and Mourning Crow's.

"Mine!" I rumbled.

Eh'kt hissed and struggled to break free with his fangs splayed to the limit. His shaft swelled on instinct and I laughed and asserted my claim again, reveling in his secret kink laid bare as I fucked my mates into submission.

Mourning Crow's warm channel squeezed us tighter and Eh'kt's protests degraded into gruff snarls.

They were mine until our glorious demise!

I reared up and arched back, surrendering all of me and everything full swing. Indulging in the lockdown was spectacular, but I could hold out no longer.

In one cacophonous roar, my ecstasy ruptured, followed by Eh'kt, cumming immediately after.

.

.

.

TRANSLATIONS:

U'la'ke/Abura = alien cat species that are mortal enemies of the Zhaguai. Have stinger tails with paralytic venom. Known as "The Felija" to humans. They live in large Prides. Lieges are biggest and are both sexes with large manes and thirteen tails. AlSO: a sacred predatory species that shares a symbiotic relationship with the Razkurs.

Vroh'kri vra! = Fucking fuck!   

...

😵OOff... 

Was it good for you?

Don't worry, I aim to top this 😉 More big reveals + 🔥🔥🔥!😁

The big finale I have in store makes me squeal, really hoping you will as well.

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~A. E. Shelly (a.k.a. Oloo)