“But…your back…eggs…”
“All normal. Penny said her back hurt early when she was pregnant the first round. And Sam is having the same egg cravings I am. Liz says it’s probably some sort of mineral. But Veronica says we’re fine and we’re very healthy.” D’see beams at me. “Are you happy?”
“I am trying to think about us having two kits at once,” I confess. “My mind will not wrap around it.”
“Juth said someone in the Outcast clan had twins once, but it was before he was born. Maybe they were of Shadow Cat, too?” She runs a finger around my nipple, glancing over at the fire, and I can practically read my mate’s mind. She wishes to eat her eggs, and then she wishes to mate.
The evening meal will definitely be late tonight.
Her mention of the Outcast clan makes me think of my brother. Outcasts run in my family. “What if our kits have stunted tails? Like Juth and Pak?”
“Then they will be even more darling and I will not love them any less. Will you?”
“Of course not.” I lick my lips, my mouth dry. I am still terrified, but D’see’s elation is overtaking my fear. Two babies. Two little girls that look like my D’see. I love the thought. Or a boy and a girl. Or two boys that look like D’see. I groan, pulling her down against me. “You are incredible, my mate.”
She laughs. “I didn’t do anything. Resonance decided that we’d waited long enough, so it’s giving us two.”
“Then we are both incredible,” I say, putting my hand on her hard belly again. In there are two kits. My kits, inside my mate, the female I have loved and adored since I first saw her. “I love you, my D’see.”
“Love you, too,” she tells me, leaning in for another smacking kiss. “Now…about my eggs?”
THE PEOPLE OF ICEHOME BEACH
Icehome Beach
Mated Couples and their kits
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Liz – Raahosh’s mate and huntress.
Raahosh (Ra-hosh) – Her mate. A hunter and brother to Rukh. Co-leader of Icehome Beach with R’jaal.
Raashel (Rah-shel) – Their oldest daughter.
Aayla (Ay-lah) – Their second daughter
Ahsoka (Ah-so-kah) - Their third daughter.
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Angie – Adult female at the beach camp. Pregnant with mystery baby when awoken. Gives birth to Glory (a clone female). Resonated to Vordis.
Vordis (Vohr-DISS rhymes with Floor-Miss) – One of the red “twins,” ex-gladiators of a race called a’ani. Longtime friends/brothers with Thrand, another clone. The really devoted one. Hot sauce. Resonates to Angie.
Glory – A qura’aki clone toddler, implanted in Angie. Cute as hell.
Violet – Younger daughter of Angie and Vordis.
_______
Veronica – Healer to the Icehome Beach tribe. Resonated to Ashtar upon arrival. Bit of a klutz. Has enlisted Hannah to be her assistant. Mom to Katamneas and Varukhal.
Ashtar (Ash-TARR) – Flirty golden ex-gladiator and former slave. Drakoni male who can shapeshift to a “battle-form” as a dragon and has the ability to communicate telepathically. Resonates immediately to Veronica upon arrival to Icehome. Stud. Doting dad to Katamneas and Varukhal.
Katamneas (Ka-TAHM-nee-us) – Older son to Veronica and Ashtar.
Varukhal (Var-oo-call) – Younger son to Veronica and Ashtar.
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Willa – Adult female with a southern twang. Lo’s friend. Gren’s most ardent defender. Resonated to Gren. Mom to Shade. She and Gren are currently trying for another child.
Gren (rhymes with HEN) – Beastly, feral ex-gladiator male. Attacks on sight. Resonates to Willa. Soft and fuzzy, according to Aayla. Father to Shade.
Shade – Small, fuzzy son to Willa and Gren.
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Thrand (rhymes with “bland”—no one tell him this) – One of the red “twins,” ex-gladiators of a race called a’ani. Longtime friends/brothers with Vordis. The hotheaded, competitive one. Ketchup. Resonated to Nadine. Father to daughter Deeni.
Nadine – One of the adult females at the beach camp. Huntress and go-getter. Resonated to Thrand. Mother to Deeni.
Deeni (dee-nee) – Daughter to Nadine and Thrand, is being spoiled silly by her doting father.
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Steph – One of the adult females at the beach camp. Former psychology student. Neolithic bisexual therapist. Resonated to Juth. Mom to (adoptive) son Pak and (biological) daughter Jethani
Juth (joooth) – Outcast male who snagged Raven in exchange for goods. Adoptive father of Pak. Eventually joined the tribe at Icehome Beach and resonated to Steph.
Pak (pack) – Littlest outcast! Adoptive son of Juth and Steph, big brother to Jethani
Jethani (JETH-ann-ee, rhymes with Bethany) – Daughter to Juth and Steph, has the same stub tail as her dad. It’s cute.
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Samantha – One of the adult females at the beach camp. Quiet. Secretive. Former barista back on Earth and loves caffeine. Really fucking loves being on the ice planet, which no one else can figure out. Resonates to Sessah.
Sessah (Ses-uh) – Youngest son to Sevvah and Oshen. Grown into a big, hulking hunter like Aehako but with his father’s quiet personality. Resonates to Sam.
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K’thar (Kuh-THARR) – Hunter, de-facto leader of Strong Arm, resonates to Lauren/Lo. Owner of Kki/Fat One.