Sway wasn’t sure what he wanted yet, but he had to figure it out quickly as it didn't take long for Tanin to finish the cargo inspection. He and Garnet both came up the lift together. Sway stood, taking Grace’s hand without thinking as she did the same. Her grip was steady, warm and comforting, as he faced them.
Tanin came to a halt only a few steps away, expression impassive, while Garnet looked on curiously. She glanced down at the way he held Grace’s hand and smiled but said nothing.
Sway couldn’t let Grace go. He didn't know what it was about this female, but he wanted her with him always. Especially now when he felt like he was being torn up on the inside. The sound of her breaths, the gentle beating of her heart, the way her clothes swished, her shoes clicking on the ground, were a beautiful symphony that he needed to keep away the bad thoughts. To help him think.
“What did you need?” Tanin asked, getting to it immediately. He no doubt noticed that Sway was affected by something, but he wasn’t the type to gently pull an answer from him. His question was as direct as his burning red gaze.
“Captain,” Sway started seriously, “that colony we’re going to…”
“The Song?” Tanin cocked his head when Sway’s voice trailed off. “Your people call groupings like that songs.”
“Right.” Sway’s jaw tightened. He didn't know that. About his own people, he didn't know something that basic. “The Song. I think the leader… The leader is my father.”
Garnet gasped, covering her mouth. Tanin’s brow cocked, but he otherwise remained unmoved.
“Really,” the captain said neutrally.
Sway hesitated before nodding once. Not because he wasn’t sure, but because it seemed strange to acknowledge it. To say it out loud.
“I see.” Tanin straightened his head. “So, what do you want?”
Sway hesitated again. Genuinely because he wasn’t sure this time. Grace squeezed his hand, and he drew strength from her presence to admit exactly that. “I don’t really know.”
“Is it a bad or a good thing?” Garnet asked, her tone cautious.
“I don’t know,” he said again. “My parents and I were separated when we were abducted by pirates. I haven’t seen him since I was a child.”
“Aw!” Garnet let out a long sound of painful joy, her eyes welling up. “And he started a group dedicated to finding stolenpeople? Sway, he must have been looking for you this whole time!”
Had he? It made sense. Sway was surprised he hadn’t made that rather obvious connection himself already. Though, maybe he was just more focused on the fact that it was his father at all.
“Do you want to see him?” Grace interjected to ask. An even more basic question than what he wanted to do.
He wanted to say that he didn't know again. No, he wanted to hide away from this problem. To not confront it at all. He wasn’t even sure why. Surely, it should be a good thing to see his father once again, right? The faded memories he had of him were of a big male with warm, loving arms who always kissed and adored his mate and spoiled and played with his son.
But it was so long ago. And it hurt to remember those things. How much worse would it feel to actually look him in the face again?
At the same time…
“I can’t not see him,” he said at last. “I don’t know what I would say to him. I don’t even know if there’s a point to meeting him after all this time. But… I think I should.”
“But do youwantto?” Grace asked, pressing her point.
He chuckled, turning his gaze onto her. The expression on her face was quite fierce. Determined. Like the answer to the question was extremely important.
“If I said no,” he spoke her to softly, not really excluding the captain, but it was clear he was speaking only to her, “what would you do?”
“We’d stay in here until after the delivery, of course,” she said firmly, her hand tightening. “I know he’s your father, and yeah, he might have been searching for you, but what you want and what’s best for you also matters. You can delay this until your ready, or even never do it at all.”
He chuckled, enchanted by her fierceness. It would be easy to do as she said, but…
He her hand back, offering her a tired smile. “IthinkI want to see him. That’s the best I can say for now.”
She gave him a wide smile. “In that case, I’ll go with you.”
Relief rushed through him at her words, and he nodded, grateful.
Was this what she meant by being adored? Unwavering support and kindness. He could certainly do that for her.
