Mako

I watch as Raine's face pales, "Queen?" She asks, her voice more a like a squeak.

Mother chuckles, "did my darling daughter not tell you?"

"We haven't really.. talked much about our families," Raine says.

Mother let's go of Raine's hand and looks at me, "well, I'm not surprised. Makiono has never liked to flaunt her heritage. But, now that she is mated, things will have to change."

"Change?" I growl. "Nothing is changing."

Mother sighs slightly, "Maki, you are the sole heir. Your father and I have let you get away with more than we should have, but now, you have a mate and a child on the way. Things are already changing, and there are duties that you must attend to." She turns from me to Raine, "I would love it if you both could come for dinner tonight."

Raine nods quickly, "of course ma'am."

Mother smiles, "we're family now. No need to be formal. Neera will do just fine."

"Yes ma'am- Neera," Raine corrects quickly.

Mother nods approvingly and goes to leave, "don't be late tonight Maki. Your father has missed you," she pauses briefly before adding, "and so have I."

I nod once, not trusting myself to answer her. She looks over us once more and then she's gone.

I sigh heavily and go to my trunk, opening it to reveal long formal gowns in all colors. I pull out the one on top and shake the dust off of it. The dark green color stands out harshly against my skin and hurts my eyes, but Mother will be expecting me in a dress.

I pull out another one, blue this time, and shake it out before handing it to Raine. "We should have time to get this altered for you before dinner."

She holds the dress delicately, "why didn't you tell me?"

"Would it have changed your feelings towards me?" I ask her, slightly afraid of her answer.

"No," she tells me. "I still love you." She grins slightly, "my pretty pretty princess."

I growl at her words, "never call me that again."

She holds back a laugh as she nods, "ok.. princess."

"Since you are my mate, that makes you a princess as well," I remind her.

She blinks a few times before grimacing, "yeah let's never say that again." She pauses before asking, "so your name is really Makiono?"

I groan, "yes. After my grandmother. Her and my grandfather created this hive."

Raine nods slightly, "and your mom calls you Maki but you prefer Mako?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Why what?" I grumble.

"Why don't you like your name?" She asks again.

I sigh heavily, "because of my brothers."

She pauses before asking, "your brothers? But your mom said that you were the only heir."

"I'm the only one left," I correct. Closing the trunk, I sit on it before continuing. "I had three older brothers. Tilum was the oldest, Branch the second and Keck the third."

"What happened to them?" Raine asks softly.

"They died."

"In the war?"

I shake my head, "no. They never tasted war, never tried to be warriors. They were the future of the throne and couldn't be risked. But me, I was never supposed to be the heir, so I could do whatever I wanted." Sadness sweeps over me and I rub my eyes, "there was a sickness several years ago, when I was still in training. It killed almost half of our hive, my brothers included. I was only spared because I wasn't here."

"Oh Mako," Raine says softly. "I'm so sorry."

I give her a sad smile, "Tilum was my best friend. He always encouraged me to be who I wanted, love who I wanted. He was the one who first called me Mako and it became a name only he used. When he died, I kept the name to remember him by."

Raine drops the dress and comes over to me, pulling my head against her chest. I snuggle against her, my cheek on top of her belly, listening to the heartbeats of my family, and for a moment, everything is as it should be.