“Myarte,” Olarte says, “we have just come from the government office. We have officially mated and married.”
Myarte’s gaze widens. “You have donewhat?”
“Surprise!” I weakly say.
Myarte studies me before focusing on Olarte again. “Are you sure he is how you wish to mate?”
Olarte nods. “I am. I love him.” Olarte drapes an arm around my shoulders and pulls me close. “Did Colarmin relate to you what happened?”
“Phey did. I am glad that you are both safe and that it was resolved in your favor. I am sure that must have been terrifying for you both.”
“You ain’t kidding,” I mutter.
Olarte takes over again. “I hope that this development does not cause you distress, but I love Davies, and he loves me.”
Myarte sighs. “The heart wants what it wishes.”
“Is that a blessing?” Olarte asks.
“It is not an objection, although I cannot speak for others in our family.”
We end up spending the night there. Which is more because of me than Olarte. I get the feeling if left solely up to Olarte, we’d have taken the last shuttle of the evening back up to the space station.
“I don’t care if they don’t accept me,” I whisper to them after we go to bed.
I’m tucked in Olarte’s arms and they are the only thing that helps keep the worst of the nightmares at bay.
“Icare, love. Because I want you to have my family’s love. It will not deter me or make me change my mind.”
“You’re a good egg, mate,” I tease, trying to make them smile.
“That is a good thing?”
“Yeah.” I kiss them. “It’s a very good thing.
“A scrambled egg, I hope?”
I realize they’re making what passes for a little smirk at me, making me poke them in the arm.
“Well, love, your scrambled eggs are quite good,” they say.
* * * *
We return to the space station the next day. I’ve got another counseling appointment, and Dr. H’looder wants to talk to us.
Still haven’t decided if I want to go back to work yet or not, despite the increasing number of job offers hitting my e-mail now that word’s spread I’m once again on the market.
Very profitable job offers.
After my counseling appointment, Olarte and I go to Dr. H’looder’s office.
He wastes no time. “My team has developed an experimental procedure you might be interested in. We think it’s possible to make it so a human can bite and envenomate a Pfahrn.”
I’m not sure I heard him correctly. “What?”
The Veraci smiles. “You heard me.”
I know that’s something Olarte hasn’t outright said they’re sad about, but I can feel it from them, man.
