He grunted. “That is claiming a mate.”
“Ah. Are there any ceremonies?”
He tilted his horns to the side. “There can be specific celebrations, especially if it is someone of high standing, but it is usually just between the two individuals. We celebrate both taking mates and births together during our annual festivals.”
It seemed like everything integrated so well into their society, where they came together to celebrate and no government got involved in something like the connection between two individuals. It made how we did things at home seem so cold and clinical, with all the societally “required” aspects of our lives.
“Do you have a mate that’s waiting for you at home?” He frowned as he said it and I wondered what he was thinking.
I paused, thinking of Lyle. While he was another researcher and we had a lot in common, he definitely wasn’t someone I’d marry, even though we'd dated on and off for years. “I don’t.”
“Why?”
The question surprised me. “Maybe for the same reason as you.” I shot back, surprisingly uncomfortable at the personal question.
A slow smile curled his lips. It was absolutely wicked and entirely too delicious. My stomach flipped traitorously, as though I were a star-struck teenager. “I doubt it’s the same reason.” He stepped back, effectively ending the conversation as Junyv and another steward came into view. They brought floating orb lights and released a few around us as the long sunset came to an end.
Junyv escorted me back to the house we were confined in and apologetically latched the bar after I stepped inside.
Jaron was at the table with what looked like work spread out in front of him in paper form. Tatiana came to help me put away the items I’d gotten.
“They won’t allow you to use a tablet for all that?” I put away a net full of some type of thorny fruit.
“No tech for us.”
“Tonight went well, don’t you think?” Tatiana asked.
“Yes. For now, we’re ok.”
Jaron looked up from the work he was doing. “For now.”
Chapter 14
“Why are you taking the female out?” Captain Jzulyk hadn’t hidden his distaste for having the humans so close.
“One of the teachers has agreed that her class could benefit from the experience. I am simply taking her out to make sure she finds a suitable location to teach them some of what she knows. It’s also part of a test to make sure she truly is what she keeps claiming.”
“It’s dangerous to give them access to our small ones.” He turned to Kyvar. “Do you not agree? This is a security concern. They have proven to be crafty enemies, and it’s likely that they have planted these humans to gain inside information on us.”
“I disagree.” Kyvar’s wing twitched, a testament to his irritation. This hadn’t been the first conversation like thisbetween the captain and us, besides the ones we’d had among ourselves when we initially captured the humans.
“They’re being constantly watched when they’re out of the house and they aren’t allowed access to anything they could use against us. Security isn’t an issue.” I braced my hands on the desk. It was getting close to the time I’d told her I would take her out, and I wanted to get her. I’d found myself thinking about her. How she’d calmly but strongly responded to Jyyl the other day. How she’d listened so intently when I answered her myriad of questions and asked intelligent follow up questions. She was not what I expected of a human.
“Vorazyr.” My captain always used the same tone whenever he was trying to sound reasonable and convincing. Today it grated on my nerves. “It’s a bad look for you to be personally involved with them. Send a guard. They shouldn’t be wasting your valuable time.”
“I hear you.” He’d been a good captain for many years, ensuring my warriors were disciplined and well-trained, but he was overstepping in thinking he was allowed to tell me how to spend my time. “You bring up good points. But I am the Vorazyr and if I decide I need to be there personally, I will do so. I do not appreciate my decisions being questioned.”
A tick worked in his jaw, but he tapped his wings in acquiescence. I got to my feet, itching to get Jacqueline and show her the areas I thought would be good to take the small ones on a short excursion. What she didn’t know was that this teacher was the only one willing to cooperate because she believed her students should expand their minds as much as possible. Some parents had taken their children out of the class, but I’d spoken with most of them and they’d been ok, knowing that I would personally ensure their children’s safety.
Jacqueline was waiting for me and after a quick greeting she stepped out with a small pack. I pushed the bar into place to keep her brother and Tatiana secured.
“You only wear that.”
“What?” She tilted her face up toward me, brow furrowed.
I gestured at her clothes. “You never wear the dress.”
“You know what clothes were brought to me?”
