“What was that about?” he questions, nodding at the cats as they leave.
“Patient-doctor confidentiality, Josa. I can’t tell you.”
His eyes slide to the console, so I go back into my exam room and check over my firewalls on the client files just to make sure he can’t get into them. I wouldn’t put it past him to snoop, just like he did with Lila, and then tell Natalia what occurred. He would revel in that kind of discord. Once I’m assured it’s secure, I step back out, locking the door to my exam room behind me.
“I’ll be out for a while. Message me if there’s an emergency,” I tell him.
He sits up straight, his eyes wide. “Where are you going?” he demands, but I don’t respond. He’s still sputtering when the door shuts and I leave him behind me.
Lila
It’s like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders as Caspian and I go in search of my grandpas. I feel lighter now that I know for sure there’s no spell manipulating me. I’m still disappointed in myself for trusting Dylan so easily, but I made the decision to throw myself into this wholeheartedly, even though it makes me wary about trusting my other buddingfriendships. Link, Xavier, and Magenta all fall into that category, and I hate that there’s now doubt involved.
At least I know Caspian and I are solid, and I have one person I can completely rely on. In hindsight, it’s actually a little reassuring that his beast forced the mating even though I was initially upset when I found out. Where I would still be distrustful of Caspian the man, I’m a hundred percent sure of his beast, which helps settle my concerns about the two of us. Our relationship is tangible and comforting.
“Do you feel better now?” Caspian asks as we make our way around the ship, his hand in mine.
“Yeah, I really do. I’m just still trying to wrap my head around the whole Dylan thing. It really makes me think twice about who I can trust now, and I kind of feel sorry for those who are genuine. They don’t deserve my distrust, yet here we are.”
Caspian grimaces when I look at him. “Yeah, me too. His whole reaction kind of blindsided me. Never once did he insinuate he wanted more except during the confrontation. Not that I would have given it to him, I didn’t feel that way about him. Clearly he was delusional enough to think I’d reciprocate those feelings.”
“So you’re bi?” I question, wanting to know more about him.
“You’ll find that most alien species are a little more sexually fluid than humans. You’ve experienced this yourself. Sex is natural, and who cares which species or gender you’re intimate with as long as it’s consensual? As for reproduction, that differs from being to being.”
I take a moment to think about his words, appreciating that he’s being honest with me. It’s almost like he’s telling me it’s okay to be interested in all species and genders. It’s just people taking care of their needs, and I am all for it, but it’s the reproduction piece that’s caught my attention.
“I did wonder about that. I mean, you tell me you planted eggs into my womb. How exactly does that work? Are they just your babies? Do you fertilize them and I’m just the incubator?” I ramble, trying to ask as many questions as possible. I can’t say I’m prepared to hear this, but I’ll be sad if none of my DNA ends up in these babies.
“Lila, forget what you know about human reproduction, because that’s not how it works with kraken. When my beast gave you the mating bite, it made your makeup compatible with mine. Kraken males lay the eggs, and kraken females incubate them. The fluid they are floating in is what fertilizes them, so if we compare it to human reproduction, you’re doing what the male would normally do.”
I’m silent while I let my mind wrap around that new bit of information. “So the babies will be half mine?” I ask quietly, needing him to confirm it.
Caspian slides his arm around my shoulders and gives me a side hug. “Yes, sweetie, theyarehalf you. Hopefully they are crazy smart, kind, and loving like you too.”
I warm at his reassurance, and we keep walking. I’m lost in my thoughts as I think about this pregnancy thing a little more. “Do you turn into a moody, raving bitch when you’re ovulating? Because this may be a problem if we sync up,” I tease, and he chuckles and shakes his head.
“I only ovulate when I want to, or to be more specific, when my beast wants to. He forced that ovulation. He’d been chomping at the bit since we caught your scent that first night. You sent me straight into ovulation, which is part of the reason I was so bitchy toward you. I thought there was no chance you’d be interested and I’d have to shed the eggs. Imagine my surprise when you weren’t horrified at the sight of me.”
“Nope, not at all. I thought you were sexy as fuck,” I tell him honestly, and he smiles as we make our way through the ship. My grandpas have an office on the same level as Link’s clinic, but it’s on the other side of the ship. It’s nice, though, just walking and talking with my mate.
“I know. When you gripped my tentacle, I could taste your need through your skin. My beast tried to force his way through. That’s why I got out of there so quickly.” He shudders at the thought. “Otherwise he would have taken you right then and there in front of the whole crew.”
“Ah, yeah, not my idea of a good time. I don’t mind a little bit of voyeurism, but that would have been ridiculous.” I giggle. “I can’t believe you could taste my horniness. I’m slightly mortified.”
“Don’t be ashamed of knowing what your body wants, and just know I won’t be the only one. A lot of species have senses that can feel different emotions.”
“Like the warlocks?” I inquire, still curious about my mysterious new friend. Can I call him a friend after one interaction? Possible friend maybe?
Before Caspian can answer, we reach my grandpas’ offices. They use these rooms to do all the admin work that goes with the circus, including the diplomatic stuff as well as the trade deals. They have three desks in a triangular shape with a large holoscreen in the space between them. All three are able to use it together, or they can separate it into three individual work spaces. They look up as Caspian and I enter. On the screen is what appears to be a human male, but I could be wrong.
“Ah, Lila, there you are. We were just telling James about you.” John gestures for me to come over. Although I can see the being on the screen, I’m pretty sure he can’t see me until I step in front of John’s desk. “James, this is our granddaughter Lila, she will be taking over management of the circus when we retire. Lila, this is James Smith, our Earth liaison. He and a team of agents monitor all the alien beings that choose to visit Earth or make it their home.”
Holy shit, he’s a real MIB agent. My excitement at meeting him is not mirrored on his face. He seems to look down his nose at me in disdain, which is impressive in itself.
“Nice to meet you, James,” I say politely, smiling at the man. Sometimes you have to kill dickheads with kindness because we all know it irritates the fuck out of them. It’s obvious he doesn’t like what he sees because he doesn’t respond for a moment. Instead, James just studies me like I’m a science experiment gone wrong.
“I knew your parents, Ms. Adams. They never mentioned you to me.” He sounds disgruntled, but I’m reeling at what he called me. Holy shit. My real name isn’t actually Lila Jenson.
