them.
Had she just been thrown from the frying pan into the fire?
Chapter Three
“Down, Dada,” his daughter demanded.
Inzen did his best not to show his reluctance as he leaned over and carefully placed Lily on the ground. His tail flicked after her, equally reluctant to let her go. She was so small and helpless and, unfortunately, utterly fearless. He knew he was being overprotective, but he couldn’t stand the thought of anything happening to the little girl who held his heart in her tiny hand.
“What a little adventurer,” Abby said, laughing as Lily toddled off after Abby’s two girls, her beloved stuffed toy dangling from one pudgy little hand.
They were sitting on the back porch of the cozy house that Hrebec, his former captain, had built for his human mate. Abby had been one of a small group of females they rescued from a Vedeckian slave ship. Lily had also been one of their captives, and Inzen had willingly assumed responsibility for her. But as she grew, he found himself constantly worried about her health and safety, and his concerns were the reason for his visit.
While he admired the rolling countryside, carpeted in the bright greens and purples of Trevelor, but he found the rural quiet disturbing. He missed the constant hustle and bustle that surrounded his house in Wiang, the capital city.
“That is the problem,” he said, returning to the subject of his visit. “She is so fearless, but she is so delicate. I cannot stand the thought of anything happening to her.”
Abby reached over and patted his hand. He allowed the touch, recognizing it as a friendly gesture, even though his instincts wanted him to pull away.
“All parents feel like that.” Her eyes softened. “Didn’t you feel like that with your first daughter?”
“I suppose I must have, but I was so young back then. I thought the future was assured.”
How wrong he had been. First his mate and then his daughter had been taken from him by the horrible plague they called the Red Death. It had wiped out every Cire female on Ciresia and left him a shadow of the male he used to be.
The little girl currently pulling up handfuls of feather grass had changed everything.
“But now I know how quickly everything can change,” he continued. “All of you humans are so fragile. I am concerned that she will come to harm because I do not know enough about your species.”
“I don’t know everything about Tiana,” Abby pointed out, referring to her adopted Cire daughter who was the same age as Lily. “Don’t you think I worry about her too?”
He knew she had a point, but Abby had Hrebec to assist her. He watched Tiana as she tottered over to Lily. Her steps were just as uncertain, but she had her little tail to help her balance. She plopped down next to Lily and started pulling up handfuls of feather grass as well. Lily tilted her head, studying the plant, then happily stuffed a handful in her mouth.
“She is eating the feather grass!” He raced over and pulled Lily into his arms, frantically trying to scoop the half-chewed vegetation out of her mouth.
The sudden movement shocked her and she started to cry, big brown eyes filling with tears that ran down and joined with the purple drool from the grass. Her sobs tore him apart and he snuggled her against his chest, his tail patting soothingly at her tiny back as he murmured reassurances.
“Inzen, calm down. It’s not poisonous and they all do it.” Abby came up beside him and patted his arm reassuringly before she reached for Lily. “Come here, sweetheart. Let’s get you cleaned up.”
He would have refused, but Lily had already pushed herself towards Abby and he reluctantly let her go. Unable to let her out of his sight, he trailed behind as Abby carried the baby up on the porch and cleaned her face with swift efficiency. Lily was all smiles again as she lunged for him this time. She gave him a big hug, her little arms tightening around his neck, and once again wiggled to get down.
“Don’t worry, Unca Inzen. I’ll watch her,” Lucie said. She was Abby’s oldest daughter and liked to be in charge of everything, even though she was still a child herself.
He and Abby watched the children play for a little while—without any attempt to eat the vegetation this time—before he turned to her.
“What am I going to do? I worry about her so much, but I