A harsh comparison to the beautiful, cultured civility protected by that glass.
It had to be a vid feed. They were in the middle of the Song. That window couldn’t be showing them the forest floor just beyond. But it was so well done, her eyes couldn’t tell the difference.
There was already an array of food lined up on the table – fruits and veggies only. It smelled wonderful, the steam from the dishes filling the air with their spiced scent. In each corner of the room, a large pot held miniature versions of the same trees outside, but they were carefully trimmed and manicured to flawless perfection.
Veesway, who was standing at the glass, looking through the forest beyond, didn’t move when they walked in together. Even when Vweet announced them, he was still. Vweet gave them an encouraging smile as he lingered there, waiting…
No one said anything. In complete contrast to their first meeting, the air was tense and still. Sway’s face was completely impassive. Staring at his father’s back. Both of their crests down.
Grace reached out and slid her hand into his. He squeezed it back. The only sign of the discomfort he must be feeling.
Should she say something? Should she wait? There was obviously something going on, and she wanted to break thestrain of it for Sway, but she also didn’t want to interfere until it became necessary.
But before she could make that decision, Veesway spoke. His tone soft and raw. Not quite as croony as Sway’s voice, but it was cracked with emotion.
“I’ve forgotten,” he said without looking back. “I never imagined the day would come that I would forget her face. The sound of her voice. The memory of her love drives me, but I’ve been so completely focused on my goals, on my mission, I’ve let myself forget herface.”
Sway said nothing, but his hand tensed in hers. Like he already knew what Veesway meant without needing to ask.
“You look like her.” Veesway finally turned, his black eyes swimming with unshed tears. “I don’t know why it took me so long to realize it.”
“I think I rather look like you,” Sway corrected, his tone low and even. Like they were talking about the weather.
Veesway chuckled, but there was no humor in the sound. “Maybe in your colors, but your face, your eyes especially, they’re hers.”
Sway didn’t respond. The silence between them was so tense, it was making Grace’s stomach hurt as her eyes darted between them. Waiting for the tension to snap. To break.
Veesway took a step forward. It was slow and hesitant. But, seemingly gathering his conviction, his second one was more confident. As was the third. The fourth. He walked with a slow, steady determination until he was standing before Sway, the two of them eye-to-eye. Veesway searched his face.
Grace didn’t know what he found, but whatever it was broke him. Hurt made Veesway’s face crumple as agony burned in his eyes.
“My son,” he whispered, the musical quality of his voice completely gone. “My sweet, happy boy. What has happened to you?”
Sway finally looked away from him. The untouchable mask he wore cracking. Though he didn’t answer immediately, there was clearly something there. A life too hard to speak of. Too many things to properly describe. A refusal to talk, or maybe just the lack of desire to revisit the memories.
Finally, after a long silence, Sway said neutrally, “Nothing I can’t live with.”
Veesway smiled. And though there was pain in the expression, there was joy there too, as he took his son’s face in both hands and turned his eyes back onto him. He offered him a smile.
“My dear Eefwan. My beautiful hatchling. Yes. What matters is that you have survived, and you have returned home. The horrors that were visited on you are over. You are back with me.”
Veesway threw his arms around him. Hugging him close with a breaking sound in his throat. It hurt Grace to see the obvious pain on his face, and she tried to pull her hand back. To give Sway the space he needed to hold his father in return.
But his grip tightened. Keeping her there.
Still needing her.
He didn’t return his father’s embrace.
Chapter 21
Sway
This was a stranger.
Until this moment, Sway didn’t realize just how much that little thought had been sitting there in the back of his mind, trying desperately to make itself known. A voice he wasn’t able to understand and identify insisting something he didn’t try to hear. Not until Veesway put his arms around him, wanting only to hold him close, and Sway’s immediate, reflexive urge was to shove him away.
Because there was a stranger hugging him, and he didn’t want that. From this position, he could too easily put a blade in Sway’s back. Crush his throat. Hold him down. Kill him. He could be a threat, and Sway could not trust him to stand that close.
