“And what are your options? You do not have a mate…and there are not enough men.”
I snort and take the cart off him. “I was sick of the games, so I quit playing. They always expected more and more just to stick around, only to find out they were seeing other women, anyway. Some of them want a family with all three of their genetic matches, expecting the women to share their attention.”
“Bridget has both Vari and Orik. In some tribes, a woman may take two mates, but in those situations, the men already have a strong affection and do not want to be separated.”
I shake my head. “That’s not what was happening. Besides, I don’t see how a man can satisfy three women.”
“If the women are not also lovers, I understand how that might be a problem. Does that mean when the colony tells you to have children, you will raise them on your own?”
“Ah, you know about that.” I had wondered how much the women told the Honey warriors about our situation. Apparently, they told them everything.
“I do. And my brothers are looking forward to children.”
“Even though they will be someone else’s?” Not that there will ever be Honey-human children, so if they want a family, there isn’t another option.
“Yes, is that so hard to believe?”
“A little. Some men do not want to raise another man’s children.”
“Yet they will not commit to any of the women they are matched to?”
It’s the way he says it that irks me. Like his kind is so superior. So as much as I don’t want to defend those human men, as they don’t deserve it, that is what I find myself doing. “Not all of them. There are plenty of happy couples.” And a few throuples.
“I have upset you again.”
“It’s a delicate subject.” I drag the cart into the building and park it, ready for it to be loaded with the next run.
“Does that mean we should not talk about it?” he asks, refusing to drop the subject.
I exhale and stare at him. “Why do you want to talk about it? Why do you care?”
There’s a gleam in his eyes, even though his lips remain unsmiling. “Why do you care if other women are trying to engage me in conversation?”
“I don’t want you wasting time when there’s work to do,” I snap, and we both know it’s a lie.
“Fine. Do you want me to load up the cart, or would you rather supervise me mending clothing?”
“Load the cart. You can do the next run on your own.” I don’t want to watch the other women fawning over him.
“You aren’t worried that I will waste time talking?” He teases, as a smile dances on his lips.
If I keep talking to him, I’m going to end up losing my shit. Why am I so annoyed with him? With everyone. With this whole damn colony. “No.”
“When you are ready to talk about why you are not fine, you know where to find me.” He stalks over to the pile of bags ready to be returned, grabs an armful as if they weigh nothing, andplaces them in the cart. We don’t speak for the rest of the day and the only person to blame is me.
10
YVA
Tiril’s sweat-slicked skin gleams in the light. The electric hum vibrates through my kams. Many of the lights go out at a particular time every night, leaving only a few to light the way. The humans do it to conserve electricity, but also to indicate that people should be in bed asleep, not roaming around.
The period between dinner and when the lights go out is recreation time for most people. They visit their friends, their siblings, their parents or they go to the gym. Tiril explained that is where the humans who aren’t soldiers train. Though sometimes the soldiers use it too.
We have been training outdoors since dinner.
The others sensed my unsettled mood, but it was Tiril who asked that we practice fighting, claiming that it had been too long since he had trained with us.
This is not our first fight.
