"The name my parents gave me is... difficult to pronounce," I said. Only other unicorns could speak it properly. Other species tried but it always sounded mangled in their mouths.
Ryan nodded. "I get that. I mean, I don't have a similar experience since my parents gave me a really boring name, but..." He trailed off with a self-deprecating chuckle.
"I don't think your name is boring at all." No mate of mine had aboringname, but I couldn't exactly tell him that. He didn't even know I was a unicorn yet, much less his fated mate. I knew humans didn't have knowledge of such a concept, and if they did, they assumed it was fictional.
"I appreciate that," Ryan said. "I'd try to call you your other name, if you'd like. As long as you don't mind me screwing it up while I learn."
I glanced at him in surprise. I hadn't expected him to offer, given that nobody else ever had. Generally, I abhorred it when other species butchered my name, but Ryan's suggestion was so pure and sweet. I had a feeling I wouldn't mind it even if it did slip and slide off his tongue.
"Maybe one day." I gestured to the dispersing crowd down by the bench. "By the way, Ryan, those people were bothering you, weren't they?"
The smile dimmed on his face. "Ah, sort of. It's not a big deal."
"Nonsense. It upsets me to see you upset."
Ryan's brows raised. "Oh... Sorry. I mean, I'm fine now that you're here." His cheeks turned a shade darker. "Er, is that a weird thing to say?"
"Not at all."
I wanted to reach out and stroke his face, touch his hand. But I held back. Despite knowing in my soul that he was my fated mate, I was bound by the constraints of human society, and that included not randomly touching people I had just met.
"In any case," I said, "I gave them a stern talking to. I doubt they'll bother you again."
"Thanks." Ryan's cheeks were getting pinker by the second. "You didn't have to do that, Ulysses. They were just being rowdy kids."
My unicorn let out a derisive snort inside me. "No, they were out of line. Harassing a single omega and his young child is unacceptable."
"Oh." Ryan licked his lips, drawing my attention to them. "You know I'm an omega?"
"Yes."
"And... I take it you're an alpha?"
"That's correct."
His gaze did another not-so-subtle circuit up and down my body. If he wanted to check me out properly, all he had to do was ask. I would offer him an up close and personal view of me. Well, maybe not out here in public. Human society was also a bit prudish about that sort of thing.
"Yooshy!" Andrew called out.
Ryan laughed. "Aw. I think he's trying to say your name, Ulysses."
I couldn't help but smile. "Well, I dare say he's making an excellent effort."
Andrew reached for me with his little hands and grunted.
"You want to see him?" Ryan asked.
"Ya!" Andrew said.
Ryan turned to me sheepishly. "Are you okay with kids? You don't have to hold him if you don't want to."
I was almost offended that he'd asked. "Don't fret. I adore children. And they tend to adore me, too, if I do say so myself."
Ryan looked amused as he reached over to place Andrew in my arms. It was love at first sight. Those dark eyes of his looked exactly like Ryan's, smart and beautiful. He had a little mop of brown hair on top of his big head. He carried a sweet smell with him, too—sweeter than the cherry blossoms around us.
"Yooshy?" Andrew said, staring up at me.
"Yes, Andrew. Ulysses at your service."
