Page 48 of The Pleasure Contract

Mom’s whole expression changes as she bends down and picks Roomba-me up. “Lois?”

My vision blurs around the edges as I nod my head, even though she can’t see me. “You said I should have danced with him, and that you would have happily cleaned that lady’s ugly house for as long as it took to make up for any rip or stain.”

My mom’s face crumples. “It’s really you, Lo-Lo?”

I let out a pathetic sob.

“It’s really me, mama.”

21

Az

My Lois managed to communicate with her mother for almost three hours in the end. Pax had wanted to wrap things up much sooner, but I did some communicating of my own to him with a singular look that I hope he read correctly as ‘don’t even fucking try it’.

She had been so incredibly happy.

There were tears as well. Which was concerning.

But somehow, she had managed to smile widely, though her cheeks were wet, and her nose was snotty.

And it hit me like a rogue drakball to the chest at how beautiful this little creature truly is.

Because Goddess-damn-it, she was a mess.

But she was gorgeous.

Once her mother had finally relented and believed that Lois was, in fact, her daughter, the two had talked on all manner of topics. On how Lois had ended up three systems away, living with us, of course, and of other things, such as how this ‘Mr Callahan’ character had been supportive when Lois’ mother had launched all manner of searches for her missing daughter. Once it had been established that word of this conversation could not spread beyond those present on both ends, and that it was impossible for my Lois to return to her native planet, one human female was insistent on learning whether Lois was being treated well… the other was fixated on why ‘Mr Callahan’ now lives with her mother. Beyond that, joyful conversation seemed to flow out of them both like the pink waters of the southern babbling brooks.

Pax had gotten bored and wandered off halfway through. But I had not. I could have listened to my female talk until the sun came up.

Pax had needed to disable the connection and wipe any trace of it from DJ’s system after an emotional goodbye from both humans. But he had promised them that they could speak again at a later date. In all honesty, I think he only made said promise because female tears tend to make him uncomfortable.

“And honestly, I just can’t believe Mrs Pritchard would complain about Mom keeping her Christmas lights up for so long-”

This ‘Mrs Pritchard’ person had repeatedly been mentioned over the course of the humans’ conversation – apparently a neighbor of Lois’ mother who makes it her business to regulate everyone else’s ‘front yard’… whatever that is.

“I mean, as far as everyone knows, the woman has lost her daughter, you know? Show a little compassion,” Lois says, gesturing with her hands as we ride the cruiser on auto back to my apartment. “And don’t get me started on Mr Callahan-”

“He seemed like a genuine male,” I offer.

Lois tilts her head and looks up at me from beneath her brow in a way that suggests she thinks I need to reevaluate that statement.

“Is he? Or was he an opportunist who preyed on a vulnerable woman while she was distraught about losing me?”

I let out a short laugh and shake my head. “I wouldn’t rule it out, but he seems to care for your mother. Sometimes, people are exactly who they present themselves to be.”

She opens her mouth to say something, but promptly closes it again, and I find myself wishing I could chase those words down her throat to see what they were.

Possibly with my tongue.

And it’s that thought, paired with the way Lois eyes me, her gaze looking me over from horn to toe and back again, that causes my fangs to start to slide down from my gums.

“And who do you present yourself to be, Prince Az, celebrated First Drak Rider of the Northern Principality?”

Now, I don’t normally enjoy any kind of formality when it comes to myself and my titles. Leave all that pomp and ceremony I’ve grown up with down to the important brother, Kiahn, you know? But the way Lois had just said it?

Makes me want to challenge K for the top spot just a little bit, I won’t lie.