“He was inconsolable when you… left, were reborn, I’m unsure of how to phrase it. Then you returned, and I feared he would be injured again. There is also the matter of instincts and body language. I know you don’t understand that you are threatening me or my Seth when you growl or extend your wings, but my instincts see you as an outsider who is a potential threat to those who are mine. Logically, I can accept you are Caleb, but it is taking time for me to truly understand that. It was never about you. My apologies. I never intended to hurt you.”
So he, like me and Fyn, was struggling with the newness of everything. I got that. He was protective of his brother. I got that as well. I had two choices: make him work for my forgiveness or move on. I was so damn tired of struggling, and right now, being friends with Kal sounded nice.
This was hard on everyone, and honestly, I wanted to move forward.
“So do you want to watchStar Trek?” I asked.
He smiled. “I do. Seth doesn’t like it.”
“What? Who doesn’t likeStar Trek?”
“I know. If my mate has a flaw, that would be it.”
We sat on the couch, and I smiled to myself. This. I’d wanted this for so long. Friends, family, and a place to belong. I’d wandered away from home so many years ago, and now, I’d come back. Though it looked different, and I looked different, it was still home.
I entered my parents’ quarters and both Mother and Father were on the couch. Father was reading something on his screen while Mother was rewiring a circuit board. They both looked up at me, and Father’s expression remained the same calm mask he often wore, so similar to the one Dontilvynsan often had, but Mother gave me a tight smile.
This wasn’t going to be a pleasant meeting.
I took a seat on the stools across from the couch. Neither of them spoke, and I remained silent, arms crossed. If they wished for a battle of silence, I would come out the victor.
Eventually, Father asked, “When are you and Caleb officially bonding?”
I couldn’t, not yet. I needed more time to assure myself that Caleb wasn’t going to disappear the moment I lost sight of him. The thought of days, if not weeks depending on how grand Mother and Father wished to make the ceremony, without seeing him or having him by my side was too much to bear. Besides there was the matter of Caleb’s health. He still struggled to stand for long periods and required my help.
No. The official bonding would have to wait.
“Not yet,” I said, but I couldn’t stop my tail from thrashing in agitation.
Mother stood and placed a hand on my chest, above my pounding soul. “You don’t want to be away from him.”
“I can’t,” I whispered.
“I understand,” she replied. “I truly do.”
Father moved to my side and hugged me tight; I allowed the contact, tensing for all of one moment before wrapping my arms around him. He held me tight, and Mother smoothed my hair.
“Your Caleb is not going anywhere,” Father said. “He is going to stay right beside you.”
“You cannot promise that.”
“You are correct,” he said, “but I doubt your mate desires to leave you any more than you desire to leave him.”
That was true. Caleb loved me as much as I loved him.
“Your fear is reasonable, Zoltilvoxfyn. You lost your mate and now have him back. Of course, you wish to stay by his side, but this cannot go on indefinitely.”
I pulled back. “I do not need it to be indefinite. I need it for right now.”
Father said, “For now, then.”
My parents exchanged a glance, and I asked, “What?”
“There has been some unrest,” Mother answered.
“I am aware.” Having a human soul come back to life in a drakcol body was new, and not only that, shocking.
“The Council of Seekers wishes to speak with you because they are curious to see if such a thing can be replicated. The Ranks wish to speak to you and Caleb to find out why he is so special and why the Crystal chose him. The Ranks, of course, oppose the seekers trying to replicate this occurrence, as they believe the Crystal alone could or should do this again.”
