Once Colarmin has all the information I am able to supply to phem, Dr. H’looder calls one of his guards in to show us around the ship and take us to the mess so we can eat.
After we have been served, we find seats in the mess hall, tucked away in a corner, where we will be assured relative privacy.
“Myarte and Kholarten are extremely concerned,” my sibling tells me in a low voice.
“About what? You did not tell our parents what is going on, did you?”
“Not about this in particular. About your relationship with the human.”
Inwardly, I fume. “I thought phey wished for me to find happiness?”
“Phey did and do. We all do. However, you do notseemhappier with this human in your life. For the past two years, before we even met him, we all saw a change in you. We saw you acting uncharacteristically melancholy and moody when you were around us—when we saw you at all. You have not been home to visit as often as you once did since meeting him, and even less now that you have apparently gotten personal with him.”
“That will hopefully not be an issue for much longer.”
“Oh? Is this finally convincing you to end things with him, then?”
I fight the urge to smack the table. “No, quite the opposite. I am going to talk to Davies about becoming mates.”
Phey stare at me for a long moment. “He has asked to sign a mating contract with you?”
“No. He likely will not sign one.”
Phey make a noise so much like the way Davies does when he snorts. “Well, then.Thatwould seem to settle the issue quite succinctly. No one in their right mind would enter into a mating without a contract. Matings are not legally recognized on our planet without one, even for farborn mates. You know that. All Pfahrnmustregister a mating contract, regardless of who they are mated to or where they were originally mated, otherwise it is not recognized.”
“Iwould enter into a contractless mating with him.”
Phey stare at me for a long and uncomfortable moment. “Then youaremad. Iseriouslyquestion your judgment.”
“You have no right to say that. Is your issue with Davies that he is a human?”
“My largest issue with Davies at the moment is that he is now lodged squarely within the center of a very serious criminal investigation. And, yes, that he is a human. But that is secondary to the legalities of this issue. Then there is the matter of his reputation to take into consideration.”
I must have betrayed something with my expression because phey nod. “Oh, yes. Dholartin said phey have heard plenty of rumors of Davies McKellan’s sexual prowess with non-humans.”
I am stunned into silence as phey slowly shake their head at me. “Until this matter is settled, it is many layers of insanity to even contemplate continuing your personal relationship with him on the level of friends, much less anything more…intimate. He could be implicated in these crimes. He is the ship’s navigational officer. And he is, as they say in Standard, an absolute slut. You have your own career and family to consider and you would do well to remember that.”
I am losing my patience with phem. “If Davies was guilty, he wouldnothave contacted me. It is obvious the captain did something to the ship’s systems during their first layover here. Davies knew nothing of their treachery.”
Phey take a bite of pheir meal. “That does not mean he is innocent. He could have simply realized he is in over his head, reconsidered the severity of the crime, and had a change of heart. Heisrather cocky for a human. Perhaps his fame among ships due to his navigation skills went to his head…or other body parts. Rumors which as exist about him in such great quantities cannot all be false. What is the human saying about smoke following fire?”
I shake my head as I realize phey are serious. “No. Davies isnotlike that. Not atall. And he wouldneverbe wrapped up in something illegal. He hasintegrity.”
That is definitely a snort of derision phey make. “You are always so trusting, Olarte. It will get your heart broken. One cannotreallytrust humans, and you of all people should know this after being appointed to supervise them. You know their ways. They can be exceedingly treacherous when they wish to be. I only hope this human does not crushyourreputation and future in the process.”
“I thought you liked him.” It makes my heart ache to think how much Davies loved meeting my family, yet to now hear one of them speak of him so.
“Of course I liked him, but I like a lot of people. I can like one of them and yet not wish to be family with them. For a human, McKellan is pleasant enough to converse with or spend time with, I suppose. That means as a friend, or even as a casual fuck, as they themselves like to say. But for amate?”
Colarmin takes another bite of pheir food. “Even before this happened, I would not have thought you to be one to settle for one ofthem. If you are serious about permanently mating, you should hire a matchmaker. There must be someone for you on our planet that is one of our kind. Even anishblanewould be preferable, rather than taking a human as your mate. Especiallythatparticular human. At least ishblane are of our kind. Do you not wish to have children any longer? You once said that you do.”
I feel like I cannot breathe and my appetite has suddenly fled. I do not answer pheir question. “Do the others feel like that? Our parents? Our siblings?”
Phey shrug. “I have told you all I know and I speak only for myself. I believe phey all like McKellan. I have not heard phem speak poorly of him, other than Dholartin telling me of McKellan’s reputation as a slut.” Colarmin makes an expression very similar to what I now know is called a smirk, and it is not a pleasant look on phem.
“Oh, it is not like any of us would wish him ill, Olarte,” phey continue. “Please do not think that. It is my hope we can safely extricate McKellan from this situation, and that he is, as you insist, innocent of wrongdoing. But you and I both know you can dosomuch better regarding a mate.”
Phey point their eating utensil at me. “You are the eldest sibling. We do not have birthrights, or a family estate of our own. The veryleastyou can do to honor our family is to mate well. If not well, then at least mate with one who we can legitimately claim as family, and phey us.”
