“What isn’t?” I asked.
He waved at the laughing people. “All of it. Friendship. Love.” A look of horror twisted his face. “I’ve never needed or wanted it.” A cool smirk took its place. “I much prefer battle and blood.”
I once heard the doctor on our first ship say Vorjyn was like the drakcol of old—craving blood and violence—but it was a polite way of saying he had psychopathic tendencies that mixed with homicidal urges in a catastrophic way. No one truly knew what Vorjyn did on his so-called mercenary missions, and I doubted we ever would. He wouldn’t remain within Coalition space no matter what, even for me, even when I worried. No, he would flee as he always did, chasing the stars, money, and his need for violence. Nothing would ever make him return home.
“You can have your fill of both, just not here,” I said.
Vorjyn shook his head. “I won’t do anything here. I’m behaving.” He held out his arms. “See? No blood.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m glad you are.”
“I better leave before your little mate shreds me,” he whispered before slipping out.
With a frown, I turned to look; Wyn was indeed scowling at Vorjyn. My tail flicked and my wings wiggled as I smiled. I tried to contain it but couldn’t. Wyn’s obvious jealousy shouldn’t make happy, but it did. It was claiming. Yes, he cared for me, but I worried he wouldn’t return that all-essential love and desire to remain with me for all time. However, I was content to wait for as long as I had to.
“Is that a smile?” Kalvoxrencol said, handing me a laughing Bobbinvoxlyn.
I blinked. I had never held the kit, not once. I glanced at Seth and caught him looking at me and his son. He wasn’t upset, though. He just turned back to Wyn and Urgg. I said, “Should I not be smiling?”
“You should be, often, and yet you rarely do.”
“I’m happy,” I confessed.
Before Kalvoxrencol could say anything, my father’s link appeared on my screen. I accepted it without thought and his and Xapher’s voices boomed across the room at Wyn, who beamed.
“They’ve met him?” Kalvoxrencol asked.
I cocked an eyebrow. “Of course. My xapher and Wyn speak quite frequently.”
My youngest cousin gave me a sly grin, which looked nearly identical to my own. “Do you have news to share?”
“Not anything you or anyone else needs to know.”
“I’m not sure I believe you.”
“You don’t have to.” I headed toward Wyn, who instantly drew me closer with his tail. I squeezed in beside him, and the conversation continued to flow around us. In a low voice, I asked, “Are you well?”
“Yes, for the first time in a very long time, I feel very well.”
“I’m glad.”
Wyn smiled at me, and it was something soft and warm; the expression tore my soul out while simultaneously making it clench. He said, “I have you. I have my friends. I have your parents.” He shook his head, his braid hitting me. “I belong.”
“You do.” I pressed a lingering kiss on his forehead. Wyn belonged right here.
I remained tucked in Monqilcolnen’s arms as I worked on my screen. We were in his office. Technically, he still had duties, but he’d blatantly refused to leave my side even though it had been almost two weeks since I’d returned to him. I had weakly commented I could spend time with Seth, Urgg, Bartholomew, or Camden and Noxlyn, who I’d missed so much,but Monqilcolnen had been firm. I was grateful, though. I didn’t want to leave him.
So now I sat in his lap while he worked at his desk. It was not the most comfortable, but I needed physical reassurance from him. Monqilcolnen rubbed his forehead against the back of my head before returning to going over reports. The action made my pulse speed up, though I ignored the scent marking in case he wasn’t ready to discuss it.
Cincin had decided to come with us. She was currently napping on her tree in the corner, her legs folded under her plump body. I studied her, positive she was rounder than the last time I’d truly taken a moment to actually inspect her, which was before our separation.
“You overfed her, didn’t you?” I demanded.
“What, Peace?” he asked, voice distant.
“Cincin. You fed her too much.”
The utter silence behind me told me everything I needed to hear.
