“A good start.”Sheera’s voice held approval.
“Ellard, what are you doing here?”Gweneth asked, and her tone sounded distinctly cool.
“I was wrong.Thickheaded and stubborn.I want to make it up to you.”Ellard handed her the flowers.
She accepted them, pausing to sniff them before handing them to Sheera.“Why should I let you do that?What is to stop you from changing your mind again?”
“I deserve that.”Ellard took a deep breath and dredged for the right words to persuade Gweneth to his way of thinking.“I think of you all the time.You’re the first person I think of when I wake in the morn.You’re the last person I think of in the eve.I dream of you.”He paused.What else?“I can’t promise not to make mistakes in the future, but know I’ll try hard to always do the right thing.”
Gweneth’s dark brows rose.“I see.Anything else?”
“I will love you and our kitten.I will support you—”
“Will you allow me to continue working with theIndycrew?”
Ellard paused, aware of the silent dare in her words.They both knew Jannike struggled with her mates on this point, especially since her pregnancy.Gweneth was already pregnant.He forced himself to nod and made a mental note to offer his services to Ry.Where Gweneth went, so did he.“You’re part of the crew.That doesn’t need to change.”
She nodded, her green eyes without expression.“Good.”
His gaze wandered her face, coming to an abrupt halt when he reached the spot of her facial tattoo.It had disappeared, and he could see her face was free of the paint she and the other female crew sometimes wore.“What happened to your tattoo?”
“The strangest thing.I shifted the other night.”
“Why didn’t you say something?”
“I don’t know if I can do it again, and I didn’t try because I haven’t been feeling well.Mogens said I should wait until I felt ready.He also suggests that pregnant felines try not to shift too often—for the good of the baby.”
“Has the tattoo reappeared on your back?”
“No.”
“I see.”
An uncomfortable silence bloomed between them, and Ellard wanted to move.He fought the urge.Finally, when he could bear the hush no longer, he said, “I want you, Gweneth.You and our child.Will you give me another chance?”
“I’ll think about it,” Gweneth said.“Sheera, please show out Ellard.I wish to have a rest.”And she turned away, disappearing into her chamber.
Once the door closed behind Ellard, Gweneth strolled back out to her reception room to spend time with Sheera.
“Ellard is sorry.I can see he loves you.”Sheera dropped onto a gel-chair, her red jumper and black trews a contrast with the cream syn-leather of the chair.She flicked her wrist and a float table appeared along with two glasses of juice.“Why didn’t you tell him you forgive him?”
“He hasn’t groveled enough,” Gweneth said.
“Groveled?”
“He needs to prove his intent.His love.My father spent rotations making me feel worthless because my feline half made me different from the other people on Ornum.I’m not going to let anyone treat me as inferior.If Ellard wants me, he’ll fight for the honor.I want him to realize I don’t care about his exterior.That’s not important to me.It’s what inside that counts.I want Ellard to realize he doesn’t need to worry about other felines, other beings and what they think.He’s a good feline.Loyal.He has a big heart, but he needs to trust that I have the same traits, that I can be his best friend.Ellard needs to trust me.”
Chapter 17
One Cycle Later
Gwenethwalkedintothereception room with Leeam and Sheera to find Ellard waiting with Niran, Lynx, and Shiloh to hold their meeting regarding Leeam and Sheera.It had been postponed one cycle after Niran had needed to take care of some business on Narenda.
“Good timing,” Shiloh said, and he walked over to hug her.“Congratulations,” he murmured.“I understand I’m going to be an uncle.”
“Maybe.”
“Be gentle with him.He’s a male, and we can be thick at times.”
