Disclaimer: See Chapter 1. Thank you so much to Fameanon (and all your characters), Caren Rose, Ahlysha, 2redbird, and the anon reviewer(s) for reviewing!
Tawny drifted awake and blinked to clear her eyes, and she opened her eyes wide when she realized Kuvak was sleeping next to her. He wasn't touching her, simply lying on top of the covers, deep in slumber. His gray hair was mussed up, and he looked so relaxed and peaceful.
She slowly sat up and rolled onto her side, watching him sleep. He was flat on his back with his hands folded on top of his stomach. She felt a pang of joy at the sight, and she realized how careful he must have been all this time. He had held her through the night on more than one occasion, and could have taken that opportunity to cross the line with her. And now that she had promised herself to him, he wasn't even under the covers with her.
She scooted forward and draped an arm over his chest, laying her head near his shoulder. She closed her eyes and waited for him to realize she was there, and when she felt his hand stroke her hair, she knew he was awake.
She licked the shell of his pointed ear and sighed contentedly into his chest. "Good morning, love," she whispered, kissing the cloth beneath her cheek.
"Good morning, ashaya," he replied, stroking her hair again. "T'Mil will want to speak with you later today. Unfortunately, the debate over this new legislation is still on-going, so I will be absent for most of today. Tonight, however..."
He kissed her lips with tenderness, and she cupped his cheek. "I'll miss you," she whispered. "Good luck...fight hard for the cause."
Kuvak paused and pondered her for a moment. "You do not stutter as often, Tawny," he said, stroking his fingers down her cheek. "I will see you tonight, ashal-veh."
…
Tawny wasn't sure how she had agreed to take a walk with Kovan out beyond the back courtyard on the family grounds. There were rock formations and desert-dwelling plants to see, but with Kovan of all people? She knew Kuvak had left several hours ago and would be back soon. Kovan had been pestering her about going on a walk, but the day was too hot to go out right after lunch. They had to wait, and Tawny had only agreed on the condition that they keep the house in sight at all times.
The path was shaded with a rock tunnel, and she saw some benches up ahead, carved out of living stone. He gestured to one of them, and she sat, relishing the cool stone around her. He, on the other hand, paced in front of her, then turned and approached the bench, towering over her. His bright blue eyes were alive with an expression she couldn't read, and she suddenly felt nervous and had the distinct feeling that she shouldn't have come out here.
Kovan leaned over her, smirking ever so slightly. "Why do you fear me, Tawny Townsend? How am I any different than Kuvak?"
She glared at him. "I-I don't even know you..."
"Have you tried to get to know me? Every time I try to spend time with you, he comes and takes you away."
"I'm h-his f-fiance," she said, and he frowned.
"His what?"
"I-I'm marrying him."
Kovan flared his nostrils. "You must not, young T'Sai. You must not agree to this."
"Why not?" Tawny felt her ire raised, and she narrowed her eyes at him. "What say do you have in my business, in our business?"
"I would be better than Kuvak in many ways. The man has been a cad all his life, using priestesses to ease his fever, never bonding with a woman...and I have heard his fever makes him a beast."
Tawny frowned, completely confused. Kovan scoffed.
"He hasn't told you of pon farr, has he? Oh, why wouldn't he? Kuvak will use you...abuse you, physically, sexually...that's what he does during his fever."
She felt a cold chill flush through her veins, and she scooted away from him. "What are you talking about? What fever?"
"Every seven years," he said softly, stepping still closer, "Vulcan men are plagued with this. They become illogical beasts, intent on one thing: mate. He will take you, Tawny. He will rape you. Do you really wish that?"
She slid off the bench and backed away. "You're...you're l-lying...why should I believe anything you say? I-I...I don't trust you."
"I have told you the truth. I haven't kept anything from you." His blue eyes glittered. "I'd think that reason enough to trust me."
She narrowed her eyes and planted her feet. "What do you want?"
"I want you, little ashaya. I want you to be my mate."
She only hesitated a few seconds before she turned on her heel and left him standing there. She heard him follow her, but she didn't look back.
Suddenly she was trapped in his arms, immobile, her arms pinned at her sides. "Kuvak doesn't deserve a beautiful little gem like you," he growled, touching his nose to the top of her head. "I would see to your contentment even as fever burned in my blood."
"If you say he's horrid during fever, how would you be?" she spat, struggling against his grip. "Let me go!"
"Calm thyself, little one, I will not harm thee," he purred, holding her tighter. "He did not tell you that the marks on your neck are supposed to be for a bondmate, and he did not tell you about the pon farr because he is manipulating you. I am giving you the truth because I desire you to be my informed bondmate..."
"Let go of me right now!" she growled, struggling still. "Let me go! You're not allowed to touch me like this, and I will hurt you!"
Kovan opened his mouth to speak, but a hand clamped down on his shoulder and ripped him away. Kavel was standing there, keeping his hand on her assailant's shoulder, and the newcomer turned to her.
"Go to the house, Tawny. Kuvak is on his way home, but you need to report this to T'Mil. Go."
She obeyed without question and ran to the house, and she was winded and on the verge of tears when she got to the back courtyard. She breathed in, composing herself even though her heart was thundering in her chest. She found a servant and shakily asked for him to lead her to T'Mil, and soon she was sitting across from the clan matriarch, her hands folded tightly in her lap, sweat beading on her forehead.
"Tell me what has transpired, child," the elderly woman said softly, and Tawny burst into tears.
After several minutes, she took a deep breath and swallowed thickly.
"Are you ready to talk to me now?" T'Mil asked gently, handing her some water. Tawny downed it and took a deep breath.
"Kovan..." More tears blurred her vision, but she pressed on, despite the tightness in her throat. "He said Kuvak would...a-abuse me...h-he said s-something about fever..."
T'Mil's gaze darkened. "He told you about pon farr?"
She nodded. "He s-said K-Kuvak would b-be..." She couldn't finish the sentence, and T'Mil poured her more water.
"Child, I must inform you that Kuvak will fall to illogic during his Time. So will Kovan when his Time comes. All Vulcan men must suffer this, and their wives with them."
She sniffed. "I-I don't understand."
T'Mil sighed. "Every seven years, nuerochemistry in the Vulcan male's brain becomes unbalanced, and to correct it, he must mate, or he will die."
Tawny frowned. "Kovan said...K-Kuvak u-used priestesses..."
"He has refused all bonds I have found for him, but to seek the aid of a priestess during fever is no shameful thing when a man has no wife. I suspect my son has been waiting for you. He will bond with you."
She sniffed again. "A-And I-I'll have to..."
"Attend him, yes." Her gaze was somber. "Do you remember my questions from when we first met? I asked if you were prepared to be taken to the slaughterhouse with Kuvak at your side. Fevers are known to be brutal, but I will remind thee that Meskhenet, your kinswoman, went through fever and came out smiling, if the reports be true. She did not fear the flames, and went willingly and joyfully to help her telsu. I have the notion that this type of intercourse is not so foreign to your people."
"I-I don't-"
"He will engage in very rough intercourse with you. For at least two days, perhaps as long as five."
Her eyes widened and more tears streamed down her cheeks, but as she thought about it, really thought about it, the apex of her thighs began to strum with desire.
A knock at the door woke her from her thoughts, and she hastily wiped her tears as T'Mil called for her visitor to enter.
She twisted around and saw Kuvak rushing towards her, and she leaped to her feet and opened her arms to him.
"Kuvak," she whispered, burying her nose into his neck and breathing him in. "Kuvak, I'm so sorry..."
"Where is Kovan?" he insisted, his voice nearly a growl. Tawny closed her eyes.
"I will deal with thy cousin, my son. Take her to her rooms and comfort her. But Tawny..."
She turned and faced the elderly woman.
"Do I have an answer from thee? Wilst thee stand with thy mate when the flames come?"
She nodded firmly. "I'll do whatever needs to be done," she breathed. "I'll do whatever he needs me to do. I love him."
T'Mil raised an eyebrow and said something in Vulcan, and Tawny looked to Kuvak. He looked almost shocked, but also triumphant, and he quickly led her from T'Mil's office.
When they were alone again behind closed doors, she sat down on the bed and looked up at him with pleading eyes. He was at her side in an instant, wrapping his arms loosely around her, holding her close enough to be supportive, but far away enough so she could move away from him if she wished. She began to cry again, digging her nose into his shoulder, and he stroked her hair.
"I'm here, Tawny," he whispered. "I am with you."
…
T'Mil went back to organizing L'Vek's wedding when someone knocked on her door. She called for them to enter and frowned as Kavel dragged Kovan in by the shoulder.
"T'Sai, I found him outside with Tawny. He was trying to take her as his mate."
"I did nothing of the sort, Kavel! We were discussing her options!"
T'Mil quirked an eyebrow. "I suppose 'discussing her options' includes driving her to tears?"
Kovan looked appalled. "T'Sai, I was simply informing her of what your son has not. The fever is something that should not be kept from a potential mate, especially one that is human. I was simply telling her that I would be a suitable mate, perhaps more so than Kuvak." He glared at Kavel. "I would have told her of the kali-fee had I not been interrupted."
T'Mil stood and came around the desk. "Did you restrain the woman, Kovan?" she asked, stepping closer to him, "Did you touch her?"
Kovan looked away, seemingly unable to take the heat of the matron's gaze. "I did not restrain her as such, T'Sai..."
T'Mil spoke a little louder. "Did you touch her, Kovan?"
"I did...but your son bit her and is yet unbonded," he spat back.
T'Mil set her jaw. "My son will rectify his mistake. In any case, I believe in human culture, it is improper for a man to touch another man's woman, no matter what stage of the relationship they are in. Another's mistake is no excuse for impropriety, Kovan."
She began to circle him. "I realize that you are not a true member of this household, that your father married into our house and took you in with him. We have been generous thus far, and I have worked to find you a proper mate."
She let this matter sink in. "No man is allowed to touch another's woman. You seem to have forgotten this. If I use such logic as you have presented to me today, then Kuvak has every right to touch your wife, if I find you one. He has every right to touch her as he touches Tawny, and has every right to try and win her as his wife."
Kovan railed. "No, but the ancient principles state that if he has not bonded-"
T'Mil held up her hand. "She is human, Kovan, and as such and as she is a part of of IDIC; we must protect her rights. You have behaved inappropriately and are now banished from this house for one year's time. I will see to it before the year is up that you are bonded. Your mother has not, so I will."
She sat back down and went back to her work. "Dismissed."
…
Kuvak felt her muscles finally relax, and he stroked her hair with a tender and light touch. "I'm sure you must have questions for me."
She lifted her head from his chest and kissed his lips. "Yeah," she whispered, cupping his cheek. "Tell me more about fever."
He swallowed thickly. "What do you want to know?"
"What is it like? I don't know much about it."
Kuvak sighed and stroked her hair. "Oh, Tawny...I have been through several now, and...it is terrible...I become an illogical beast prone to primitive urges...they will take us to the ceremonial marriage grounds, where we will be married. You have..." He squeezed his eyes closed. "You have the right to call a challenger. You don't have to accept me, and the-"
Her lips pressed to his, silencing him, and he melted into her kiss. "I don't want to hear about that," she whispered. "Not now...tell me about..."
"The intercourse?" He felt his ears flush green. She nodded.
"It will be...animalistic. I will take you, over and over again, without stopping, a slave to primitive desires and lusts...if you run, I will still take you, and I will not show you any mercy..."
"But what if I behave the same way?" she whispered, cupping his cheek. "What if I let myself be an animal too?"
Kuvak swallowed thickly, and he gasped when he found himself flat on his back, Tawny above him, her eyes dark with desire.
"Tawny..."
"Hush," she purred, nipping at his lips. "Let me taste you..."
She bit down on his shoulder, and he cried out softly. "Harder," he gasped. "Oh, Tawny..."
His ashaya obeyed, drawing blood, and she licked greedily at the mark she had made on him. She had found the latch of his shirt and tore open the cloth, revealing his chest to her. Her eyes grew even darker, and he watched helplessly as she sheathed her fingers through his gray chest hair, then dipped her head and licked up his chest from his stomach to his collarbone.
He growled and gripped her hair, rolling so he was on top. He pinned her hands above her head and took her earlobe into his mouth. "You make it difficult for me to be a gentleman, Tawny," he growled, nipping at her neck. She chuckled darkly.
"You bring out the darker side of me, I guess," she sighed, eying him with open desire.
He bit his lip and let his gaze rake over her body, and he noted that her shirt was crooked, revealing a new expanse of creamy flesh below her collarbone. He leaned down and sniffed at it, flaring his nostrils when the spicy, heated scent hit his nose.
"Tawny," he growled, licking her flesh. "Tell me you're mine." She raised an eyebrow, but he pushed.
"Please, swear it to me...you are mine and no other man's," he demanded, and her gaze softened. He let her hands free, and she cupped his cheek.
"I swear, I'm yours," she whispered against his lips. "And I'll be there for you when your Time comes...w-when is it?"
He swallowed and tamped down his lust. "Eight months from now," he said, hanging his head. "Probably less than that...you tempt me, Tawny."
Her expression softened further, and she kissed his lips. "Then we'll need to...open the door."
He frowned. "I don't understand."
"Well, you know I-I'm a v-virgin...I-I can't go into your f-fever if I-I haven't h-had you yet...w-we'll need to...g-get to know each other..."
He stared at her for a few moments, then pressed his forehead to hers. He was about to respond when someone knocked on the door, and he quickly fastened his shirt and straightened hers, then answered.
It was a servant. "Osu, L'Vek and his telsu have arrived."
…
Kavel steered Kovan to the gates, shoving him towards the edge of the family grounds.
"If I ever catch you near Kuvak or Tawny again," he hissed in Vulcan, "I will not wait for Kuvak to dispatch you. Too long you have wallowed in your petty jealousy. I suggest you meditate. Go to Seleya, or to the Forge...you are a disgrace to our family name, and I for one am not displeased to see your back."
Kovan glared at him.
"Go," Kavel commanded, and the worm turned on his heel and walked off into the gathering dark.
…
Name: Joanna Hudon
Age: 25
Occupation: Undersecretary's Assistant
V'Las stared at her profile, at the picture on the page, remembering the feel of her skin, the brilliant color of her eyes, her parted lips...
He hadn't been able to get her off his mind ever since their meeting, though he had deliberately avoided her during Somil's party. He would wait until the proper moment to retrieve her...the plan was in place, and all that needed to be done was to get to Tawny Townsend...
He wasn't sure why she, of all the females at the Embassy and on Vulcan, was being singled out, but he did what his masters told him, lest he die a slow and painful death.
But Jo would go the same way as Tawny, and he would have himself a new prize to savor...
He grinned to himself and composed a message to Kuvak, explicitly inviting his charmingly shy "girlfriend" as well. A little private dinner...it wouldn't take too long to give her a dose...
He hit send and leaned back in his chair, staring at Jo's picture, knowing he would have her soon.
A/N: Big thank you to Fameanon! You know why, sweetie!
