Lorse glared at the air around them. “I wish we didn’t have to perform the binding ceremony out in the open. It’s so uncivilized. Let’s hurry back to the shuttle. The sooner we’re back on the outpost the better.”
Myrum mumbled something about bugs and tensed as Lorse placed a hand on his back.
The moment they were on the shuttle, Amina moved to stand next to Myrum. “Was the sun too bright, sir? Did it bother your eyes?”
“Oh, my poor Myrum,” Lorse said. “I didn’t know you have light sensitivity. It would make sense; that planet is so unpleasant.”
He turned to Gis and the other two attendants boarding behind them.
“Set up a reclining chair for my spouse,” he snapped. They scrambled to obey, unfolding a chair from the wall and pressing pillows into it.
As they worked, Lorse rubbed a hand over Myrum’s back. “I know your body is fragile. Don’t worry, you’ll never have to do anything as strenuous as today again. No more traveling on nasty little freighters, no more uncivilized planets, and only the best of everything from now on.”
Amina could see Myrum’s slight flinch at Lorse’s touch, but the Ossiso didn’t notice. He led Myrum to the chair once it wasset up and urged him to sit in it. The staff had positioned it as reclined as possible so that Myrum was almost laying down.
Playing his part, Myrum laid down with a bone-deep sigh of relief.
“Pet,” Myrum said, waving his hand a little in the air. “I need my pet's little fingers.”
Lorse looked up at her. “Get over here and see to your master!”
Amina rushed over and stood at the head of the chair, straddling the strut that supported it.
“I’m here sir,” she murmured, rubbing her fingertips lightly behind his earholes. She didn’t know if he could even feel it, but at least she was close. She knew it was helping when he pulled a deep breath in through his nose and started purring.
“That’s a content sound,” Lorse said with a happy expression. “You rest. Later we’re having a feast. After that we can spend the night together. I know I’m not female yet, but I’m sure I can please you.”
Oh shit!
Chapter 26
Amina
The moment they stepped off the shuttle, Lorse was in a rush to put Myrum to bed so he was well rested for the feast later. Instead of taking them to the guest room, Lorse led them to a different room with a massive bed at the center surrounded by curtains even more elaborate than the ones in their room.
“You’ll be staying here from now on,” Lorse said to Myrum. He pointed to the end of a wall near the cleansing unit door. “I’ve already had all your things moved here. They’re in that cabinet.”
Amina could only be thankful they didn’t have anything incriminating in their bags.
“I don’t know if…” Myrum said, probably about to protest sharing a bed, but Lorse made a soft hushing noise that made Myrum’s words trail off.
“Quiet, my soul,” Lorse said, stepping close and rubbing a hand down Myrum’s chest. “I’m not going to ask anything from you yet. But we can still hold each other through the night.”
He pushed Myrum to the bed. “Rest. The traditional joining feast has twenty-seven courses, poems, and blessings. Don’t worry, I’ll explain the significance of each one.”
Myrum went perfectly still for a moment. “Thank you for being my guide.”
“I’m your soul’s match,” Lorse said, sounding delighted. “Teaching you all about your new civilization is my pleasure.”
Myrum then turned his gaze on Amina and made an impatient rattle. “I’d like to bathe before laying down. I think there are bugs caught between my back plates. Go warm the room as I like.”
Amina tried to follow his orders, but Lorse grabbed the back of her robe. “I need to speak to it.”
“Then say what you need,” Myrum said, his voice dangerously low, “and let her go to do her duties.”
“I need to make sure it understands how to interact with my staff,” Lorse said, tugging her toward the door. “I’ll send it back in as soon as we’re finished."
Myrum’s shoulders tensed, telling her he was about to come to her defense. She shook her head slightly and gave him a warning look.
