Posted 2024-01-23; Beta'd by Eeyorefan12

Normally, Sabellian mates remained together in the mating house, the male tending to the female through the usually mild and brief illness. But Edward had warned her, and Esme had agreed, that when in the throes of mating fever, he shouldn't trust himself to care for his human wife.

And because Bella was human, her sickness was the opposite of mild and brief.

Esme, Alice, and Rose took on the role of caregivers, visiting her a few times each day, bringing the little mild food and drink Bella could stomach. It didn't seem as if any of them stayed very long but she couldn't be sure.

The fevers came and went in violent shivering tremors, leaving her cold and exhausted. Sleep was fitful. On the third day, she woke to the strange and not unpleasant pressure of the blanket wrapped tightly around her. Normally, she kicked it off, waking chilled and tangled in disordered bedding.

A powerful tremor made her entire body tremble, but not with fever. She felt . . . better—rested—if a little cold still.

That was when she noticed the hands pressed against her stomach, recognizing the arms embracing her from behind.

"Edward?"

"Are you well?" he asked. There was another tremor, but not from her.

"Yes, just cold still. I . . . didn't expect you back." It had only been three days. He'd said it would likely be longer. Was he in control?

"I was worried about you, so I came to check." He adjusted his grip to let her move. "I'm sorry for disturbing you, but you kept kicking off the blankets every time I wrapped you in them, and then you'd start to shiver, so I, well—"

"Thank you. It helped." She really did feel better.

"Good."

Another powerful tremor shook them both.

"But you're not okay." She wriggled around to face him. "What's wrong?"

Edward tipped his chin towards his shoulder. There was a patch of blood on his sleeve. "The effects will pass soon enough."

She stared at the rough edges of the wound, visible beneath the shirt's worn fabric. "How long?"

He shrugged. "In a few weeks."

Bella frowned. "I thought the bite helped suppress pain?"

"In women, yes. In oneself, no."

She rested her hand on his good arm, massaging gently.

He closed his eyes, sighing.

"Can I do anything to help you feel better?"

She watched his brow furrow as he shook his head. He looked . . . guilty.

"Is there?"

"There's nothing you need to do, Bella. I'm in no danger of making myself a Kotravats."

She'd heard the word before, searching for the memory. "Alice's cousin."

Edward opened his eyes, meeting her gaze. "I didn't know she'd told you about him."

Definitely guilty. He was keeping something from her—at least about this. Watching the look on his face, she felt mildly relieved. If he was so transparent about this, it meant she could read him about other things too.

"Edward, not so long ago you told me you hadn't ever lied to me."

"I haven't." Another tremor, more violent than the others.

"Then you're telling me the complete truth now? That I can't do anything for you?"

He closed his eyes, exhaling. "If we mated again and I bit you, it would—it would relieve many of the symptoms, but I'm well enough, Bella. I don't need that."

She hummed in reply, reaching up and touching his hair, teasing it. He sighed again.

"Does that feel good?"

"Very," he mumbled.

Good.

She continued stretching her fingers out into his scalp and retracting them, softening him up a little bit more.

"Edward?"

"Hmm?" He sounded half-asleep.

His shirt was threadbare, dirty in spots, and he smelled . . . earthy. It looked like he was wearing his work clothes—the ones the men never came inside the house with.

"Where've you been since you left?" Not at the house, obviously. The whole point of the mating house was to keep everyone else from having to deal with the pheromones and mating fever.

"One of the old storage sheds. Far corner. Field." The words were a jumbled mumble.

She let him doze a bit longer, still massaging his scalp. "Edward?"

He grunted in response.

She could probably ask him anything at this moment, she realized, deciding to test her theory.

"Can severance happen at anytime? Between our worlds?"

His eyelids snapped open so fast, she thought she heard them.

He lifted his head and stared at her, his slate blue eyes intently focused. "Who suggested it could?"

"Can it?"

He sighed. "Not safely."

So, Jasper might have been telling the truth . . . sort of.

"How is it unsafe?"

"Bella, who talked to you about this?" He pressed his hand gently against her back.

"Why does it matter?"

He glanced away. "Because it was cruel of whoever talked to you to suggest the possibility. It is that remote. We schedule for the most optimal time. The chances increase the closer we get to the window, and we are far from a safe window right now. I might as well jump from a cliff and hope not to suffer harm, not to mention the death I could cause if I landed on someone. The same considerations must be made in severance, which is why we're so careful with our calculations. Who told you about this?"

"Jasper."

She'd never heard Edward swear before, but she did now. He wrapped his arm more tightly around her. "What else did he say to you?"

She stared at Edward, considering what he'd just said. It sounded plausible—true. It helped that his speech wasn't coloured with Jasper's bitterness.

Her words came out slowly, first in pieces, then in longer strings, nearly the whole of the conversation from the grove finally tumbling out. "I'm not sure I've been fair in recounting this, Edward. I was pretty upset—"

"Of course you were." He pulled her to himself. "I'm so sorry you heard that from him—and for the pain it's obviously caused you. I see that my brother and I need to have a . . . more in-depth conversation. I haven't lied to you, Bella, and I won't ever."

"I know that." She nodded, relieved that she'd been right to trust him, but . . . "Will you stop withholding information? Like you did just now?"

He tilted his head, looking quizzical.

"I asked you if there was anything I could do for you. You evaded the question."

He frowned. "I didn't want you to feel obliged to . . . provide that to me."

For God's sake, the man was saving her life. Surely a little reciprocation was only fair.

"How I feel is my problem. Not yours."

She felt his hands tighten at her back and then release. He nodded. "Alright. I'm sorry. I won't do that again."

Bella closed her eyes, leaning into him and exhaling. She felt Edward similarly relax. His embrace felt safe, and she found herself dozing off. When she woke, Edward was fully asleep. She heard the sound of the main door creaking shut, a tiny breeze bringing with it the smell of food. As quietly as she could, she slid out of his grip, padding to the bathroom, then to the table and chairs, where the food had been left. Instead of the one plate kept warm in the heavy chafing dish, there were two. Whoever had left the food knew that Edward had returned. As she looked out the window, she thought she saw Esme's figure in the distance.

"Mothers." She smiled.

Walking back to the bedroom, Bella ran face-first into Edward's chest. He looked half asleep. This didn't stop him from wrapping her in a secure bear hug.

"Edward?"

"I thought you'd left." He exhaled into her hair, tightening his grip.

When she struggled to suck in a breath, Edward lessened the pressure of his embrace.

"No, just to the bathroom. And, there's food."

"Of course, you're hungry." A powerful ripple ran through him.

"Aren't you?"

He shook his head. "But you should eat."

She lay her hand on his chest, looking up at him. "Let me help you feel better."

"I'm alright." This was belied by another powerful tremor. He felt warmer than usual. She pressed a hand to his forehead.

"Did you—do you not want to?" Perhaps he wasn't feeling well enough? Or perhaps . . she couldn't bring herself to ask if he'd found mating with her unpleasant.

"We are mated, Bella. I will always desire you. It is the nature of the bond." He slid his hand into her hair, kissing her. "But what you do with your body and where you take pleasure and with whom, those are entirely your choices. You've . . . been robbed of enough choices by being brought here."

She blinked at him, stunned by the last words. "Then . . . let me make my own choice, let me help you feel better. Be my mate."

She could sense it the moment he gave in. The first kiss he gave was gentle, the second hard, and the third came with a nip. He carried her back to the bed, where he rested himself between her legs, sliding along her opening, fondling her breasts and kissing her.

She pushed her hands up to his head, kneading his scalp, listening to him practically purr into her neck as he left a wet kiss, running the points of his teeth down to her shoulder and making her shiver. She steadied herself by gripping his waist, feeling the not-infrequent shivers and tremors that still rippled over him. His face tightened with each of them.

Watching him suffer troubled her. Did she need to offer more than what she had already, verbally?

"I like it when you kiss me and touch me," she said, feeling very brave for being able to say as much.

Taking the hint, he ran his fingers down her body, teasing, toying. His hand twitched at another tremor.

As good as what he was doing felt, it was obvious he was still suppressing his discomfort.

"Mate with me, Edward." She pulled at his back, trying to move him towards her.

"I haven't prepared you yet," he whispered.

There was no question of her preparation. His few touches had more than roused her.

She lifted her hips, bringing them to meet his.

There was a low growl in his chest.

"May I take you as a mate?" He gripped her hip.

Hadn't she said as much? "Yes."

Gently, he turned her onto her stomach, lifting her backside and pushing her legs apart. She gasped at the profound sense of depth and fullness as he entered her, cupping his hand underneath and using his fingers to slide on either side of the sensitive nub there.

She heard less of his low growls this time, the familiar wave of pleasure beginning to build. Chasing it, she moaned quietly into the bedding, fingers kneading the sheets in time to Edward's thrusts. She climaxed around him, the rippling heat of pleasure sweeping down her legs. The last tingle was leaving when she felt Edward's body tighten, and she tensed in anticipation of the sting and fire. It would be easier this time; Edward had said so. She just hoped he was right.

The pinch inside was mild, and instead of fire, there was a second flush of not just pleasure but euphoria. It was like floating. Floating and falling and rising up again on a wave.

She was so lost in it, she barely registered the pained grunt near her. It recalled to her the entire purpose in their activity. She swept aside her hair. "Edward."

Nothing.

"Here, Edward."

Another grunt, this one sounding more pained.

The ongoing euphoria was a swirl of color. It was hard to focus or speak. "Bite me. Here."

She heard it, felt his breath on her skin, but there was no pain, just the sense of pressure, like someone was squeezing at her neck.

Edward was still inside her, and when he pulled his face away from her neck, he groaned as his body shuddered with his release. His movements stilled, as did hers, her breathing slowing.

Instead of him rolling off of her, she felt him harden again.

The last time, he'd left before being tempted to couple a second time. Would he now? More importantly, would that lessen the help their mating offered him?

"Bella." He swallowed. "I—I can—"

"Please, again. I want . . . more." She could at least offer him the relief of this second release.

And yes, it was relief she heard in his shaky exhale. He began to move again, at first slowly, and then in increasingly faster, frenzied strokes, the single growls merging into a long, steady rumble in his chest. His body buzzed where they were joined, and his climax came with a sharp final thrust and a quaking.

The stinging euphoria that followed was nearly hallucinogenic for Bella. The light around her pulsed, warmth flooding every extremity, the tingling persisting even after Edward withdrew.

He wrapped her in the blanket, holding her tightly against him. When he licked at her neck, which surprised her, there was a mild sting that passed quickly before she felt sleep tugging at her.

They dozed together, sleepily rearranging themselves in the bed until Bella's stomach growled loudly.

"You haven't even had your lakoodya." There was a rustling as Edward pulled a basket towards them. "Here." He held out a thumb-sized square of something fudge-coloured.

Bella popped it in her mouth, muttering a quiet, "Oh my god." It had notes similar to chocolate but tasted better than any fudge she'd ever had in her life. "Where are the rest of them?"

Edward chuckled. "I suggest you wait a few minutes. They're very filling."

Yeah, after the melisikaru incident, maybe she should listen on this.

"They're amazing." Gastronomically, they were on par with what she'd experienced earlier with Edward, or what he'd made her experience. She blushed.

He lifted a finger to her cheek, tracing the movement of her blood, still in full flush.

"What are you thinking?" He moved his hand to her free one, toying with her fingers.

She was glad he looked away, as she felt her blush sweep higher. "I was debating which was better, this or, uh, what we just did." She coughed. Her throat felt tight.

Edward exhaled, obviously relieved.

"Why—why wouldn't someone want that part—the second part?" she asked. Not that the first part hadn't been wonderful. "I mean, I assume most couples have, um. . . relations." Bella supposed her face was fire engine red at this point but. . . surely married people had some sex, didn't they?

He nodded. "They take pleasure in each other, yes. As for mating to procreate, they do indulge in 'the second part', as you put it, as long as the woman is already pregnant. At least, I assume they do in this day and age."

As in, it hadn't always been that way? "Why not before?"

Edward frowned a little. "It was seen as . . . uncivilized, dangerous even, to subject one's mate to that for anything other than procreation."

It had been intense, but intensely pleasurable too. She blushed again as another thought occurred to her. She was very likely pregnant, given what she'd been told, so that meant she and Edward could—

"You might not remember, but I mentioned some of this when I asked you to be my mate." Edward reached out and gently laid a hand on her hip. "It's why I was—I tried to be very . . . restrained. I was afraid of hurting you. I am just so much stronger than you, I have to be careful."

It clicked then, the memory of that conversation in her room, of Edward's shamed admission of the crimes of the Sabellian race against other species. Human and other alien women had been brought here for the purpose of . . .

Oh.

The image of the plant stand at the Hatzis' home popped into her head. She'd never had a chance to ask Edward about it or his almost violent reaction to seeing it.

"The plant . . . table we saw that night, the human-shaped one with the cage," she said, picturing it. The end of the semi-circular cage had reminded her of a woman's body reclining, and the plants had appeared deliberately placed as if to suggest the same. She cleared her throat, where there was a light tickle. "Was that . . . ?"

His solemn and almost sorrowful gaze was answer enough.

The metal bed had not been designed for Sabellian women, but for those brought here as . . . what was the term Edward had used?

Surrogates.

She thought of the cage and how it would function to protect . . . but also restrain.

Edward's work with the committee and his passion for justice made a lot more sense to her now. She touched the spot next to where he'd bitten her, wondering if the tightness in her throat was only from what they were discussing.

"The bite?" Lightly, he brushed his fingers against her neck.

"It didn't hurt." She cleared her throat again. "But I've got a frog in there." She smiled and shook her head, seeing his confused expression. "Never mind."

Edward still looked concerned. "Does it hurt to talk?"

She tried coughing again, working to clear her throat. "A little." Her voice was noticeably hoarser.

Gently, Edward palpated her neck, pausing near the bite. "The secretions in our teeth can produce many effects—numbing, pain reduction, but sometimes, temporary loss of speech or hearing. If it hurts to talk, it's important that you not."

"It doesn't feel that bad." Her voice broke over the last words.

"Please rest your voice for now. The aggravation can quickly spread to the ear canal." He eyed her with obvious dismay.

Well, I hope you sign then. She shrugged and smiled.

A little, he replied in sign, pinching his fingers in the gesture. "But it's best if you sign slowly." He gave her a sly grin.

Where—how did you learn? She mouthed the words as she signed.

The grin disappeared. "From Lucas."

Lucas?

"He was with the matriarch when we brought our tribute."

She thought for a moment, recalling the man Edward had been so friendly with. Lucas had said nothing while they were there.

He's deaf?

"Partially deaf, yes, but fully mute. He's a Kotravats." He glanced at his shoulder and the bite wound there.

She remembered his comment: I won't risk making myself a Kotravats.

Suddenly Alice's story about her cousin made more sense.

They're treated differently?

Edward looked down. "You could say that."

Does everyone learn to sign when there's a Kotravats among them?

"No, though I wish all the tributes would."

Why did you?

Edward's chuckle was without humor. "That would be because I was a rather self-absorbed idiot."

She lifted her eyebrows. Edward was the picture of concern for others.

How? she asked.

"Children can be very cruel. I was no exception." He stared at his hands for a moment before looking at her again, his expression contrite. "I thought it would impress my fellow tributes to make Lucas trip into the latrine pen."

Oh, she mouthed.

"Indeed. Oh."

Bella thought of the Matriarch's whip and Edward's mention of it, making the motion.

"No, the matriarch didn't whip me, though she'd have been within her rights to. Lucas asked her not to, I learned later. He was very wise for his age. He knew that would only make me resent him more. And the matriarchs rarely use their whips. They have better methods for teaching."

Like?

"Service." He smiled. "To start, I was given the job of cleaning the latrines—for a year."

She made a face.

Edward chuckled. "I think I made the same face."

And what else?

"I was forbidden to speak for two months."

Bella lifted her eyebrows.

"But the matriarch told me I could sign—if I could convince someone to teach me. And Lucas, being the kind person that he is, taught me."

Wow.

Bella's stomach gave an impolite grumble.

"Come, you should eat more than just sweets. I'll make you tea and tell you more entrancing stories of my youth while you eat."

You should eat too, Bella signed. And . . . bathe. Giggling, she waved her hand in front of her nose.

Edward chuckled, lifting an eyebrow in reply. "Yes, I should. And definitely change clothes. But first, let me care for you." He stood, holding out his hand so that she could follow.