Nymphaea

Part V

Chapter 36: Scheming

Late in the evening of the twenty-fourth, Stephen’s doorbell rang. The blond man had just come down and placed his presents next to the McCourt’s in their living room.

“Are you expecting anyone?” Anne asked, lying comfortably on the sofa in the arms of her husband.

Stephen shook his head with a puzzled expression and got up to answer the door.

Opening it and peering into the dark, his face lid up.

Thought you might like some company, Ayve stepped closer to him.

Stephen met him halfway, stopping at the brink of the single step that led from the garden to the house. He ran his fingers through Ayve’s hair, something warm settling in his stomach. They were on the same level now. Stephen felt Ayve’s hands brushing over his bottom and resting on his lower back, drawing him closer. He leaned forward and embraced Ayve, placing his lips lightly on his lover’s, enjoying the soft resistance of the flesh to his pressure, running his tongue over the silky skin and finally entering the abyss to drown in it.

You’re so warm, Ayve breathed into his mind.

“The house is cooling out,” a voice informed them mockingly.

Stephen turned to see Paul leaning leisurely against the doorframe, one hand in his pocket.

“And the neighbours are looking,” he added, with a twinkle to make sure they understood the joke. “Wanna come in? We were just about to open a bottle of wine. You said you were the wine type, didn’t you?”

“Sure,” Ayve replied, following Stephen inside, through the McCourt’s kitchen and corridor into the living room.

Anne greeted him heartily and handed the men a glass of wine each before filling one for herself. After clarifying that Ayve was fine with their choice of wine, they sat down.

“Stephen said you were busy over Christmas, what’s happened?” Anne asked.

“Well, yes, I am supposed to be at a meeting concerning the family business,” Ayve bended the truth, “I don’t think my uncle is delighted by my absence. But I was clever enough to call my brother who gave me leave for the day,” he explained with a sly smile.

“Brother?” Stephen dug deeper.

“Doesn’t happen to be a big chunk with short red hair?”

Ayve raised an eyebrow. “Yes he does.”

“Would you fill us in?” Paul demanded.

Stephen turned to him. “Remember the evening before yesterday? When you made jokes about me staring at that woman? I wasn’t staring at her; I was staring at Ayve’s uncle who sat at her table. I was wondering what he was doing there and who the other three were.”

“I didn’t see any elder person at that table,” Paul chipped in.

“My uncle’s about my age, a little younger even,” Ayve replied, understanding what Paul hinted at.

Paul nodded. “But what’s so strange at going to a pub that you were wondering about him being there?” he posed a question, directing it at Stephen.

“He’s not exactly the sociable type,” Ayve helped Stephen out again. “I suppose my half-brother talked him into taking a greeting drink somewhere, he must have arrived that day. He usually lives in the U.S.”

Ayve sipped his wine, absent-mindedly caressing the nape of Stephen’s neck. That small, intimate gesture was bliss.

“And the other two?” Anne asked driven by her curiosity. After all, they didn’t know much about that man their best friend had fallen in love with.

“My brother’s girlfriend and my half-sister, I suppose.”

“And you are going to meet to do what exactly?”

Ayve smiled benignly. “We’re advocating the interests of our ethnicity and need to discuss a few things there. Nothing I want to talk about on Christmas Eve, really.” Stephen was silently surprised by Ayve’s ways of speaking the truth without divulging anything he did not wish his friends to know.

He placed a hand on Ayve’s thigh, feeling connected to Ayve through the secrets they shared.

Don’t do that right now, Ayve’s voice suddenly sounded in his mind.

Stephen looked at him puzzled until suddenly realisation dawned on him seeing the suggestive look in Ayve’s eyes and he withdrew his hand again.

When they had emptied their glasses, they bade the other couple good night and went up the stairs. Stephen went behind Ayve, painstakingly exploring every inch of his enticing behind.

At the top of the stairs, Ayve grabbed Stephen and pressed him against the wall with his whole body, gaining a moan out of his surprised lover as his mouth closed over his. Oh yes, Stephen noticed, Ayve sprang to live very quickly.

“What about Lissy?” he managed to squeeze into a breathing-break.

Asleep.

Ayve opened Stephen’s belt buckle and undid the button and zipper. Stephen was carried away by Ayve’s sudden activity and freed him of his shirt with matching eagerness. Before long their clothes had disappeared and Stephen felt Ayve’s left hand on his behind whilst they were grinding their bodies against each other and kissing so passionately that his lips started hurting. Ayve’s right teased one of Stephen’s nipples.

After a few minutes, Stephen pushed his lover off him and turned around, seeking hold on the wall. If they went on like that, he wouldn’t be able to withhold much longer.

Ayve seized Stephen’s hip and grinded his member against Stephen’s butt cheeks, at the same time stroking Stephen’s back with the remaining hand. Said hand wandered tenderly over his skin to Stephen’s chest to clear his back for Ayve’s kisses.

The hand moved lower, over Stephen’s belly and finally to his excited member, taking proper care of it. With a profuse amount of Stephen’s pre-cum, Ayve’s fingers moved to his behind and applied the substance there. Then he let them move lower and carefully knead Stephen’s testicles from behind. Stephen had to brace himself to keep standing and silent. He caressed the fingers that caressed him, breathing raggedly.

Stephen felt wetness running down between his buttocks.

Help me in, Ayve demanded.

Stephen’s heart pounded insistently at his ribs as he enveloped Ayve’s length and moved its tip over his anus.

You’re teasing me, aren’t you? I asked you to help me get inside of you, not to make me come…, Ayve remarked mockingly.

Stephen snickered, well, tried to but failed since he was too aroused.

He held Ayve’s penis steady and moved his behind slowly back and forth, each time trying to be penetrated a little harder until finally he thought it might work and pushed on, feeling Ayve’s glans gliding into him and moaning as his body relaxed completely. His eyes watered as Ayve slid deeper into him. He found what he was looking for and Stephen threw his head back in bliss. Moving slowly but with determination he rode him closer and closer to the edge, the hand that moved over his thigh only making Stephen silently beg for more. He didn’t like talking during sex or he would have voiced that desire. Finally Stephen jumped over the edge and spread his wings, flying off towards the sun. That was at least how it felt, so warm and light.

He sank back into Ayve’s arms, pushing his behind back and delighted in the reaction that caused in his lover’s body. They stood like that for a few moments, still united, Ayve having one arm on the wall to support them.

Merry Christmas, Ayve finally whispered and left Stephen’s body to lead him into the bathroom.

*

They woke the next day to a soft knock at the door. Soft but insistent. In other words: repeated until they did wake up despite the knock being soft. “Daddy?” a meek child’s voice would join the small sound of a child’s hand against wood.

Ayve smirked (Stephen guessed he would have chuckled but chuckling included a certain amount of low sounds that he wasn’t able to produce) whilst stealing the blanket from Stephen to go on sleeping while he had to fulfil his duties as a parent on Christmas morning. It was a little beyond half past seven, the time he and Lissy had agreed on as a compromise between her wanting to unpack her presents at six in the morning and him wanting to sleep until nine o’clock. Seven thirty was okay. At least when you haven’t stayed up way past midnight…

“Come with me,” Stephen pleaded with Ayve.

He only smirked into his pillow, not even opening his eyes.

Stephen reluctantly left the bed. “Coming, darling, go ahead downstairs.”

When Stephen entered the McCourt’s living room, their boys had already unpacked a great deal of their presents. Lissy was sitting in front of hers, waiting for her daddy to finally arrive. He gave her an encouraging smile.

Anne handed him a cup of strong coffee.

Half an hour later, Lissy was just examining a board game, Ayve entered the room, having supplied himself with a portion of coffee already.

Anne went to prepare breakfast. He offered her his help.

After breakfast Ayve said he had to go. Of course none of the Donaghys were delighted but he bade them good-bye nonetheless.

*

Pheus prepared breakfast in silence. He prepared roles, a lot of meat, roast potatoes, coffee without saying a word and hardly throwing a glance at his guests. Playing the servant wasn’t what he usually valued but this way he at least did not need to communicate with his guests, he brooded. It was ten o’clock, Ayve was on his way to them, finally.

“Can I help you with anything?” he was asked by Ayve’s bond-mate. He merely threw a not-so-polite glance at her. She was perplexed.

“Come, let him be,” Sho called her. She turned back to the little family, Shoa’s offspring playing with its Christmas present. How charming. His own kin celebrating a mindless human religious (!) holiday! Why was he bearing all of this?

“You can set up the dishes,” he finally answered her question in what he deemed a restrainedly polite tone. She was his bond-mate after all – no matter what, it was best to keep her in good spirits.

The redheaded woman watched him throughout the whole meal with her quick blue eyes while he was sitting a little apart from his guests leaning against the cool glass of the window, peering out of it into the cloud-covered sky.

Finally, Ley got up and motioned for him to join her outside. He embraced that invitation.

“Don’t blame him, he’s too young. He doesn’t understand our ways anymore,” she advised Pheus while he was lighting one of Ayve’s calming cigarettes that he had spiced with vanilla for Pheus.

He looked gloomily about him as they descended the stairs towards the rocky beach.

The previous evening Pheus had expressed his displeasure over Ayve’s absence and Shoa had had the impudence to voice the opinion that Pheus should ‘get a life’, should finally forget about Ayve since his claims had no foundation anyway. Little he knew, this boy. He was of a different generation. He had no sense of duty, no understanding of what it was like to fight for your own survival, no idea how it felt to stand alone. And he had absolutely no clue about Pheus’ relationship with Ayve. There were but two people who truly knew. Shoa was well advised to keep his tongue out of this, if he knew what was best for him, idle fool.

Of all his damned family, apart from Ayve, Ley was the one he got along with best. She was very much alike him. Sharp-minded, strong-willed, pragmatic, proud. Ley valued silence, sparse wording as much as he did but additionally she lacked his biting cynicism. She could play the sweet lady if this benefited her cause. And perhaps he liked her because she was the only pureblood in his family who had not been corrupted as everyone else had been.

“Do we really need him?” Pheus asked her. He didn’t really mean to send Shoa away, he knew the answer to his question himself, but he needed to express his unwillingness. Pheus for once needed to be brought back to his senses. Usually that was Ayve’s task but that might not be the best idea in this situation. He just needed to hear the truth out of somebody else’s mouth to tame his temper.

“You know we need him for the masses. For the people who lead a life so different from ours that we could never reach them and would loath to even try. You call him fool because you don’t like the way he leads his life, the way he raises his daughter, because you don’t like the women he surrounds himself with. But his lifestyle resembles that of a great part of our people, that’s why we need him. We need him to make them feel represented by someone who is like them. You hold the power – or perhaps the three of us: Ayve, you and me do, if you like that better – but he is the one who will ascertain that we keep it. He will ascertain that our culture is not entirely corrupted by human values and rules.”

There it was: she had done the trick and turned Shoa’s stain into an advantage. Clever being. Pheus smirked at Ley knowingly and gratefully as he turned – noticeably calmer – to climb the cliff again and meet Ayve who just arrived.

Ayve waited at the top of the stairs for him. Their eyes locked. Pheus placed his right arm around Ayve’s shoulders and dragged Ayve close, without much body contact.

“Tell me yourself, don’t bypass me,” he murmured into the skinny man’s ear. Then he sought eye-contact again and released Ayve, opening the front door for him. They stepped inside.

Ayve dropped his mantle on top of his bag and changed into more comfortable shoes while Alannah was approaching to greet him. Tight blue jeans, a warm, wide wool sweater in green, crème coloured earrings that dangled seductively against her high neck, her hair straightened and pinned up – she had dressed up for him. Her sensuous lips gleamed with lip-gloss.

“More beautiful than ever,” he whispered to her as he embraced her lightly und breathed a kiss onto her lips. He granted her a long moment to beam at him. They hadn’t seen each other for over half a month after all.

But standing so close to her, inhaling her scent, evoked the strangest reactions in his body. “Have you had your tea yet?” Ayve asked the lady in his arms.

“With all those people around?” Alannah looked down embarrassed. She pressed closer to him, her cheeks flushed. Oh yes, she was affected by him, too.

Ayve pushed her softly away. “I intended to make some tea anyway, I might as well prepare one for you, too.” He retrieved two parcels out of his luggage and went past Alannah into the kitchen/living room–area.

“Merry Christmas!” Sho greeted him mockingly. Ayve merely threw an amused-yet-disapproving glance at him, demonstrating that he thought as much of celebrating human holidays as his host did.

Ayve was selfish for once and brewed his tea first. Just the vapours that steamed up from the cup calmed him down already. If he hadn’t brought that, if he hadn’t foreseen that, this would have been a trial. When he had finished preparing Alannah’s as well he joined the others that were still seated amongst the remains of breakfast and sank down on a cushion next to his bond-mate. To Alannah’s right was Shoa’s bond-mate and Shoa himself, with their small son playing between them, to Ayve’s left sat Ley and next to her Pheus.

Ayve looked to his left in anticipation.

Ley took up the word. “I suppose it’s best to give you an overview,” she directed to the whole group. Shoa looked at her in surprise, surely not expecting them to take up business this soon but stopped opening his moth halfway, probably realising that a remark wouldn’t improve the ambience.

“We have relocated the greatest parts of our straying population to settlements where they were given housing and tasks so they could feed themselves and try to re-socialise. Picked were mainly small settlements with strong social bounds that were partly populated by elder people so they knew how to deal with relocated people who – after a long time with hunger and scarce contacts in the wilderness – could not immediately fit in. This means were necessary due to recent captures of poaching specimen of our kind by humans. In the long run this might have led to a negative perception of our race as well as a few of our people ending up in scientific programmes without their or our consent,” Ley explained to the new members of the circle. The two men at her side knew all this already, of course.

“A welcome side-effect of this project was that we established better contact to some of our South American people. That might come in handy in our next undertaking which should be some sort of public opinion poll,” she went on.

“A third matter we should not put off for too long is the rest of our people who still live underground and that suffer from poverty. They are the source for our stray poachers and have been neglected way too long. They could turn into a threat.”

“People living underground?” Alannah chipped in, having snuggled up to Ayve’s arm. She was the only person in the group that had grown up in the midst of human civilization; she knew few about the old ‘society’.

“It once was common to have housings underground,” Ayve started to explain. “That’s why even these days many people sleep in simple wholes dug into the ground as in the house of your family. When the threat of being discovered and persecuted by humans grew, our people withdrew further, creating tunnels and living space sometimes a dozen metres and more under the ground in hills and mountains where the groundwater couldn’t hinder them.

Yet it was hard to feed a big population and a part wandered off. Those are the ones who are living amongst humans now, who have established a way of living amongst them without being recognised for what they are, as you know better than me.” Ayve freed his arm and put it around his bond-mate’s shoulder instead. Alannah took pleasure in this kind of attention.

“Yes,” Ley took up the thread, “and the ones who remained had to watch how their territory in which they could find food was growing smaller and smaller because humans settled down their. That’s why there are still specimen who leave to find nourishment elsewhere. Some of them grow desperate, don’t get to join a new group and start hunting cattle from human farms to fill their stomachs. We’ve fought against that symptom so far but without solving the original problem our actions will have been in vain.”

“The question is just how to solve the problem. I think we agree that we don’t want to force them into a different life style but-“

“Why not?” Shoa interrupted Ayve. “I don’t mean force but we are leading a good life amongst the humans why shouldn’t we share that?”

“Because it is false peace,” Pheus stated determinedly, “and no one can foresee what they will do when they truly know about us. When they get to know how much our people have infiltrated their society. It might provoke them and lead to yet another outburst of violence.

And because this is our culture. I will not encourage anybody to give that up. Human life style is not meant for us. We have other, greater virtues.” Pheus’ voice had dropped in temperature by several degrees. Alannah couldn’t help but stare at him again.

He was – in his ways – a very fascinating man. There were the obvious features: he was as tall as Ayve, had the same black hair, only shorter and tied back (Alannah would have liked to see them loose), his athletic stature. But the stature alone wasn’t it. In every of his movements resonated strength, pride, a very powerful will. His face was serious, set, with a sharpness in his eyes (and on his tongue) that gave her the creeps, sometimes. Pheus was seldom acting kindly. He tried politeness with her sometimes but never warm hearted kindness. That was the main difference between him and her bond-mate.

Him and Ayve. That was an entirely different issue. There was something between those men. Alannah sensed they were very close. She was certain they knew each other for a long time. But Ayve had acted strangely at their first mutual meetings. He had never sat next to his uncle in theatres or restaurants. And Pheus in turn was a lot more patient, a lot more courteous, towards Ayve than towards anyone else. He hadn’t cared to even glare at Shoa when he had thrown his opinion into the discussion; his eyes were fixed on Ayve. And Ayve pretended not to notice.

Alannah would have loved to get to know more about Pheus, to get to know Pheus better. Her instincts told her that he was more important in Ayve’s life than her bond-mate let on to. She had never seen the two of them disagree, despite Pheus’ obvious temper and shrewd views on the world (‘We have other, greater virtues’?). After all, you didn’t let anyone pick your bond-mate, did you?

“What I meant to say,” Ayve meanwhile went on, “is: if the majority of us agree that we should try and preserve our old ways, how can we cultivate new sources of food for them? Is there perhaps land we can buy nearby?”

“I’ll research that,” Ley said and wrote the point down on her note pad. “In any case we should start with summing up our financial means that we are willing to invest if necessary. I have a healthy amount of stocks and a very competent broker. I guess you still have a bit of money left from your painting period?” She looked at Ayve.

Alannah did as well – in surprise. Was there amusement flashing up in Pheus’ face for a second?

Ayve ignored the reaction of the woman in his arms and just nodded minutely. “And I know how to make the sum grow as well.”

“Shoa?”

The redhead just nodded and looked at his uncle. Who determinedly rested his gaze on the point that it had hardly left in the last hour and ignored any communication attempts. But Shoa seemed the only one not informed about Pheus’ finances since no one else asked him.

“I’d suggest discussing the poll now,” Ley said.

“Do you really need us for that?” Sho’s girlfriend asked. “I mean, it’s Christmas and our short one’s getting restless…”

Alannah saw one of Pheus’ brows move up minutely. That was his whole reaction.

“No, I suppose we can do that by ourselves,” Aye gave them leave.

As soon as the small family had left the house, Pheus un-froze and put up a grimace that expressed his disapproval. But he refrained from commenting. Walking into the kitchen area he asked: “How long does that stuff affect me?”

“Eight to ten hours,” Ayve replied.

Pheus came back with a cup of tea. Alannah was startled. Did she… had her? Had her scent on this bitter man the same impact that it had had on Ayve?

Ley looked at her and shook her head slightly, smiling. Was she answering her thoughts? Or had she just seen her confounded look?

Ayve started the work.

“I guess we should decide first what type of information we want. Of course the usual statistic stuff like age and gender. Present occupation, I suppose as well. Are they alone or living in a group, how many of our kind are close-by, how many of them are nymphs? Of course we have rough estimations of that already but more precise numbers are better and it also gives an impression of how good they are integrated into the community, how much they know about it. I’d also like to know how they feel about living with nymphs – since that will have an impact on our plans for future ways of living – and of course with humans.

Speaking of which, it would be helpful to know how many of them have had negative experience, how many have lived in tribes (which tribes, that would enable us to see how far they’ve been scattered and perhaps lead people back together if they wish in the long run) and whether the knowledge of such events in the past is still present in the younger generation.”

“So you would strive for a census, for questioning everyone who is willing?” Ley concluded.

Ayve nodded. “And I’d try to convince them into being willing. Explaining them exactly what we are doing this for, of course that none of the sensitive data will be handled lightly, and sending an interviewer to their house to try and convince them to answer our questions. It might be that some are unwilling because they don’t want to face the past or because they do not recognise our right to act on their behalf.”

Ayve halted and Ley added her thoughts.

“All that unfortunately will be very costly. We might be able to reach a small number of people via e-mail but the greater portion won’t use the internet or even a computer. In the worst case they aren’t even regularly visited by a postman… perhaps we’ll be bound to work with interviewers early on. Especially in regards to the possibility that not everyone will be literate. That in turn equals finding trustworthy interviewers.”

“I could do that job,” Alannah proposed.

Ayve’s voice was lower than before as he answered.

“Perhaps, yes, although the idea of sending my bond-mate to people whose loyalty is uncertain does not please me. In any case one person wouldn’t be enough. Perhaps you could try to organise the recruitment,” he said diplomatically.

“But will everybody be able to understand our language? It would be the safest to compose the questionnaire in our language but of course that only works as long as everyone is able to understand it,” Ayve remarked then.

Ley made a soothing gesture. “I’ve not met one of our kind who did not have a basic understanding of our language. We can be happy that is the case – having to write the poll in twenty or more languages would have been a true trial.”

“You forget that we don’t have addresses so far and are unlikely to maintain all,” Pheus finally raised his voice. “Your interviewers should best be tasked with distributing the spare questionnaires as well. Which means they have to have certain mental skills to detect the as yet unknown people.”

“And we need to realise that the survey will consume time,” Ley added. “Collecting the data as well as its evaluation. For that work we’ll need helpers as well; we can hardly sort through such quantity of material ourselves.”

Ayve shifted position to sit more comfortable. “It’s best we try to find someone who is experienced in working with statistical data, in processing it with professional software and who can check our questionnaire as well for methodological flaws. I mean, the basic rules are apparent: starting with a question that sparkles the interest of the respondent, setting up the questions in an order that prevents them from influencing answers to later questions, formulate questions neutrally, without already suggesting an answer, all that stuff. But it’s never wrong to have a professional look over the whole thing once more.”

“You’re right,” Ley agreed. “I know someone who has studied Politics and Sociology; I’ll check whether he is competent and willing to help us.”

Ayve nodded. “Would you mind taking a break, now? Or is there anything important left to discuss in regards to the poll? I need a bit of fresh air, I think.”

“I’m coming with you,” Pheus stated.

“Then I’ll take a nap.” Alannah had arrived late the previous night and was still a little tired.

It was still cold and the wind had strengthened as they descended the rocky stairs down the cliff again. The two men walked along the coast, the wind pulling on Ayve’s long hair so he had to keep his eyes half closed as he peered out onto the sea to make sure the strands would not harm them. There was no snow but here and there a small puddle was covered by a layer of ice.

“From your reaction I take it she’s ready?” Pheus finally asked bluntly.

Ayve merely nodded.

“Do you intend to share bed with her tonight?”

Depends. Would that bother you? Ayve had stopped and faced the sea now which had the advantage that the wind blew his hair out of his face but made him close his eyes completely since they watered otherwise.

“You doing it in my house? What more could I wish for – apart from you doing it with me in my house…?” Pheus placed a strong hand on Ayve’s shoulder.

You’ll never give up, will you? Ayve asked without any emphasis, not looking at his former lover.

Pheus seized Ayve’s chin and turned his head around so that he opened his eyes and stared right into the unsettling green depth of Pheus’. “Never,” their owner answered decidedly. He brushed his thumb over Ayve’s lips.

Ayve moved away.

He went back into the house (Ley was working on her laptop) and up the stairs to the bed Alannah was sleeping on. The upper storey was not divided, apart from a small showering area that was confined by milky glass. The whole room had just recently been set up, everything was shiny and new, but kept simple as was the rest of the house.

Ayve liked that. He felt more comfortable here than he had anywhere in a long time.

The dormer opposite the spiral stairs showed the sea. The gable to Ayve’s far left was covered with oversized windows as well, so that the place was brightly illuminated.

In the corner to the left of the stairs there was a recess in the parquet, filled with a soft mattress and occupied by a charming young lady. To Alannah’s feet there stood an oven with a long pipe leading through the roof. A basket filled with wood stood to its right and a small fire cracked inside.

Ayve sank down beside Alannah’s sleeping body, shrugging off his mantle. His bond-mate lay on her side, with her back to him, having removed the pins from her hair so that it rested in wide waves on the pillow, her curvy hips (she must have inherited those from her mother, nymphs didn’t usually have such strongly developed traits of their sexuality) looking eatable. The blanket was twirled together between her legs because of the heat radiating from the fire.

Slowly Ayve let his slim hand glide over Alannah’s jeans clad behind and thigh. No, that was not the same look with which he might muster the bottom of another man. Women felt, tasted, different to him. A flavour he seldom longed for. It was sweet whereas men tasted spicy, somehow.

Once had Ayve shared bed with a woman so far. A long time ago. A human. This would be different. He was drawn to Alannah on a different level. His attraction to her was – besides his general affection for her beauty, for her sensitive, good-natured character – at the moment of a much more fleshly, carnal nature. Ayve wanted to do what was expected of him as her bond-mate: he wanted to seduce her, make her his. He wanted to see desire, longing in her eyes, fire, as he moved inside her, as he fathered his child.

Ayve smiled. Strange what hormones could do to you.

He bent down over Alannah’s face and kissed her – decently on the cheek. The young lady under him stirred.

“Would you mind going without your tea for the rest of the day?” he asked her in a whisper.

Her eyes opened immediately and she turned to look at him. A smile crept over her face. “So you’re gonna spend the night with me?” Alannah asked, anticipation vibrating in her voice.

Ayve smiled back, moved his thumb over her lips and kissed her forehead.

Then he got up and went down into the kitchen.

Coffee?

Ley looked up from her work. “Yes, while you’re at it.” She watched her half brother. She had little concrete memory of him from those days when her grandfather had still been alive and had Ayve fetched to be trained as he deemed proper. Her father hadn’t regarded Ayve as son but as yet another male member of the family who might keep him from becoming his father’s successor. And she, being his first child with a woman he truly loved (not like the ones he had had later on), was to be protected. Thus, Ley had barely caught a glimpse of her older brother back then.

When her father had finally claimed succession, she had obtained more liberties. When she had grown old enough, she had started travelling. Ley saw many things that opened her eyes to the incapability of her father. She met up with her uncle regularly in secret (her father had still regarded him as competitor, even though from what Ley saw in Pheus he was not a power-seeking man) and she saw much of what was going on between that man and her brother.

Rumours had been muttered behind closed doors for a while when Ayve had left so sudden but had ceased after a time. But when she met her uncle again, Ley was deeply touched by the way he looked over Ayve. That was a few years after Pheus had found Ayve in such a bad state of health and mind, after he had nursed him back to sanity and Ayve had left Pheus’ care to look after his own people. Ayve was still far from well, that was plain to see. So every time she went to visit Pheus, Ayve was nearby. Because Pheus was watching over him.

This devotion was what had convinced Ley that Pheus was a good person. A better person than most in her family. Pheus did not think of his own well-being, he thought about Ayve. And Ayve in turn was busy protecting his people with the same kind of devotion, albeit with other motives.

“I would never have thought you would found a family,” Ley said to her brother’s back. “She’s a cute little thing.”

The tall, slender man turned around with a bright smile on his face and carried the coffee over to her. Yes, she is.

“You’re very fond of her, aren’t you?”

Yes.

“Does she make you happy?” Attentive eyes watched Ayve intently.

He sighed and looked out of the window.

“You’re private life is quite messy, isn’t it? Three people at a time…”

Ayve pressed his lips together. Indeed.

“And you have no idea how to sort it out.”

Ayve shook his head, arms folded.

“Yet you shouldn’t wait too long. She’s not the type of woman who can deal with such a situation.”

I know.

Ley left it at that. She knew that pressuring her brother wouldn’t help him to make his decision.

At seven, Ley left to go back to her hotel. Alannah waited for Ayve upstairs.

“Have a nice evening,” Pheus said to Ayve, his eyes gleaming strangely, as he went off to his bedroom.

Ayve carried the salad he had prepared as well as a loaf of bread and something to drink up the stairs.

Alannah stood in front of the big window to the left, dressed in a light nightgown that gently flowed around her body and showed a beautiful décolleté. As it was winter, it was already dark outside. Alannah had lit a few candles whose light was reflected in her long, silver earrings which accented her slender neck. She smiled nervously at Ayve.

He put the food down and stepped up to her. Blue eyes looked expectantly up into kind grey ones. Ayve let his fingertips gently run over his bond-mate’s cheek.

“Is there anything I need to know? Any special wishes…?”

Alannah shook her head slowly, not taking her eyes off his. “No, I just want to be close to you.” She placed her hands on his chest, felt his hardened nipples, led them further up to Ayve’s shoulders and pulled him into a kiss.

The next morning Ayve woke to the gentle caresses of soft fingers moving through his hair. Sleepily he opened his eyes and smiled indulgently.

You know, the trick when you’re secretly sneaking up on someone to admire him during his sleep is to be gone when that someone wakes up.

Pheus smirked. “I knew I had forgotten something.” He placed a strand of Ayve’s black hair behind his ear and removed his hand, finally.

The soft flesh that was pressed tightly against Ayve started to move. Alannah peered drowsily yet surprised over Ayve’s shoulder. “Good morning,” she greeted their visitor, trying to hide her body from him.

Pheus smiled politely at her - something that puzzled her even more. “I did not mean to disturb you. Just thought you might like to breakfast in bed.” He motioned to the tray he had placed on the floor.

“Wow, thank you,” Alannah replied.

“Yes,” Ayve agreed. “Thank you.” His voice was soft.

Pheus nodded and descended the stairs.

The following days were spent with the design of the questionnaire. Sho and his family came by for an hour or two each day but contributed little.

On New Year’s Eve, Alannah went to bed early: she didn’t feel good. Sho and his girlfriend were left to seek fun on their own; the rest of the party was not into big carousals. And what did the beginning of yet another year mean to them?

Ley, Ayve and Pheus had assembled around the fireplace and enjoyed a good cup of tea.

“There is something I would like to suggest you,” Pheus said offhandedly.

Ayve raised his eyebrows.

“I have been looking around for a while for a trustworthy physician. Ley recommended one in Florida, one of our kind.”

What for? Ayve asked.

“To repair your voice, for example. If we consider cooperating with mankind anyway, why not make use of their knowledge for once, as reparation for everything that’s happened.”

You don’t expect me to lie down and let any man, no matter whether ‘our kind’ or not, do whatever he likes with my body? Rendering myself helpless! Ayve shook his head, calm but determined.

“What if I were there, controlling what they’re doing? Not leaving your side for a second?”

Ayve stared at Pheus thoughtfully.

“Look,” Ley interjected, “we don’t say he’ll be able to help you. We don’t know about that. All we know is that he is very experienced in the field of rehabilitative surgery, that he has been able to help others of our kind already and that he would like to examine you closer.”

Pheus seized one of Ayve’s hands and held it lovingly between his. “This will make life so much easier for you. You detest meddling in anyone’s mind. You don’t even read mine although I’d rather you did. And yet you have to enter other people’s minds all the time in order to communicate. Aren’t you sick of that?”

Ayve looked down on his hand in Pheus’.

“And it won’t grow easier,” Ley added. “I mean, what if one day you are speaking in a greater assembly of politicians, at some important signing of contracts and they want to record what you are saying on tape?”

Ayve looked down on his hand in Pheus’. Then he squeezed the hand under his and looked up into Pheus’ green eyes sharply. You’ll be with me all the time?

“Of course I will,” his opposite said with his dark, raspy, soothing voice.

***


Comments, critical annotations and suggestions are most welcome.

A/N (12-21)

Medya wrote:
Ayve sure is a busy bee...

And THANK YOU for mostly cutting out the *m/f pollination scene*

Looking forward to the next time Stephen/Ayve have a chance to sort their feelings after their trip and what changes will come about in their relationship.

Yay for more updates soon!

ps. AYVE. Please listen. You see him at your convenience, 3-4days a month. He's only been obsessed with you for half his life. His plans are always 'trivial' and can be scheduled around, yours are set in stone, he understands. He always lets you top him for god's sake! (no that both are not great, just basically it further cements the fact that Stephen is the sub in this relationship all around). And he understands when you have to perform certain *ahem* impgregnating rituals for the good of your people. After your jealous ex stabbed and murdered him, he still ran to your arms. He loves you regardless of your true appearance.... And god knows I could go on. All I'm saying is:

THROW THE KID A BONE!!!! :D

That made me grin, broadly. ^^ I intended to write that scene and then put a warning up. Yet when I came to the point of writing it I didn't feel like it and thought it might even confuse and some people will even be grateful to me for leaving it out... -so I was right ;).
But what do you say to the interpretation a reader on Aarinfantasy posted this morning? Is that a view you can accept/agree with or...? I'd really like to know.

knits alot wrote:

So Ayve doesn't know how to simplify his life, although I had thought Pheus was no longer a romantic factor. Ayve admits he likes this place, that there is no place else he feels completely relaxed, does he need Pheus to protect him, make him feel safe, and relaxed? It seems he needs something different from all three people, but are all three willing to be just a faucet of his life?

Does being a leader to his people give him some leeway or allowance in his relationships? Alannah I understand, there are many historical couples that are similar. And Pheus I also understand, he is powerful and trustworthy, part of which stems from his love for Ayve. The only one that doesn't add up is Stephen, he has no significance, other than he makes Ayve feel good.

Does Ayve love any of them? I think I've asked before, is Ayve capable of love.... He seems confused. I know it would be best if he continues to work things out with Alannah and Pheus, but if he doesn't truly love Stephen, with the intent of simplifying his life to only Stephen, then I don't see the point in Ayve continuing to pursue him.

I think most disturbing is that Ayve has no thoughts in his head concerning Stephen when he isn't physically with Stephen. Is he really able to compartmentalize each of his relationships? If any of the three, or all three decided to leave him, would he be upset? heartbroken?

How much longer is Ayve going to be able to keep up this balancing act? It has to be difficult for him and eventually he has to ask himself it is all worth it. And there is a distinct possibility that it will fall apart. Alannah could decide she cannot abide not being his sole lover, Pheus could understand he's never going to have Ayve again and turn on him, and Stephen could decide he's tired of being on the back burner so to speak.

Yes I understand why Ayve is doing all this for the most part. He basically doesn't want anyone upset or feeling hurt by his "situation". It's a race at this point to fulfill his commitments and reach his political goals before it all blows up. He has a way of keeping each of them in their place, and I find it disturbing, like he is preying on their affections. Knowing you don't have all of him, just a piece of him, can't feel very good whatever the rationale behind the situation.

(Did I mention how much I love long reviews? ^^)

I'm not sure whether I'll post another update before Christmas. Perhaps in the evening of the 25th, most likely there'll be another one this year but since I'm going to sit in the train for over 5 hours tomorrow and won't come back before the 25., I doubt I'm going to post anything sooner than that. But I'll check for an answer to this auhtor's note before I leave ;)...

12-25: Home sweet home!
Thank you to Zsadarya, Medya and Madlodger for their reviews!
Don't worry Medya: whatever happens, I am not going to leave Stephen standing in the pouring rain. If Ayve isn't the right one for him, I'll have to write Nymphaea volume 2 - how does that sound?

Anyway:
Merry X-mas!