Han looked relieved. “That makes me feel a lot better. I can try to keep it on, but this is a good excuse if I can’t handle it at some point.”
Zeph couldn’t take it. “No! None of you will do this! It’s much too dangerous. If Rensom and Han get caught, then she’strapped for life. On top of that, Sandar, Rensom, and I will all die!” He dropped his gaze to Sandar’s belly. “The baby dies!”
He knew he was being loud because several creatures in the jungle beyond the fence started screaming and yowling. Everyone ignored them.
“Easy, Zeph,” Han said. “I know there is—”
Zeph sounded a loud angry rattle. He stood up, holding Han tight against his chest. “You could be forced to wear a collar for real. What if they try to breed you with another human? They could decide to discipline you because no one could ever break your spirit. You’ll be defenseless and no one will be able to help you!”
Before anyone else could speak, he ran off with her. He wasn’t thinking logically except that he wanted to sequester them in some safe place. Steam from the heat of the day rose up from the ground cover as he got to the little yellow shelter. He checked his speed long enough to let the door open then dove inside as if someone was chasing them.
Once they were inside the cool, dim domicile, he stood panting, panic making it impossible to draw in a full breath.
Images of the things that could happen to all of them kept his brain from holding onto a single concept long enough to get it out of his mouth. All he could do was stand in the small open area of the emergency shelter holding Han and trying to force air into his lungs.
It took him a few submarks to calm down enough to hear Han talking to him.
“...that means I’m not leaving you. No matter what, I’ll make this work. Besides, Blish is right on the Leemron-Talin territorial line. I’ve worked with a few Leemrons who can break us out for the right price. It’s not going to end with…”
As she talked, she was gently rubbing his scent glands with her little fingers. It didn’t feel sexual, it was comforting.
He sounded a soothing rumble.
She stopped moving her fingers. “Zeph? Are you coming back to me?”
Words flowed from his heart and out of his mouth, bypassing his brain. “Please don’t leave me. Not in this life or the next.”
Chapter 15
Han
He was breaking her heart!
She never wanted to cause anyone she loved this much emotional pain. His distress was almost enough to make her abandon the plan to get the kids.
“I have no intention of leaving you,” she said, shifting in his arms a little so she could put her cheek against his. “I’m not sure I believe in an afterlife, but if there’s anything there, then I’ll find you.”
His body relaxed a little. After entering the emergency shelter, he’d gone still but his breathing never slowed. She’d kept talking to him, hoping he’d come out of whatever Talin version of a panic attack he was having. She’d been about ready to try and climb out of his hold when he’d finally started interacting with her.
Now she felt like she had to tread carefully to keep him from dropping back into a scary mental state.
“You are trying to leave me,” he insisted, closing his eyes to rub his scent glands on her face and hair. “You want to put yourself in danger and risk all our lives. That means you don’t love me like you claimed.”
Damn, that was a low blow!
“I do love you,” she cried, struggling in his grip. “Sit down. I need to be able to look at you properly to have this conversation.”
He hesitated but then sat on the low bed. She moved out of his hold but didn’t go far; she didn’t want him to feel rejected.
Grabbing his hands with hers, she met his gaze. “I love you. I love you in a way I’ve never loved anyone else before. Honestly, it feels a little scary.”
“Then why do you want to risk so much?” he asked, his shoulders slumping a little. “I’ve scent-bonded to you. I’ve pledged my life to yours. Why are you so willing to throw that away?”
She was getting a little tired of his dramatics. “I’m not throwing it away. I’m making sure your niece and nephew get to grow up in a place where love isn’t punishable by law. That’s important too. Don’t you want them to have that?”
He sounded a loud, negative rattle instead of his usual softer ‘no’ rumble. “Not at the expense of everyone I hold dear. I’ve never even met these children. I’d never be able to pick them out of a crowd. They are five solars old, which means Sandar and Rensom have only met with them five times. These children are strangers to us.”
Han frowned. “That’s not the kids’ fault; that’s the system your empire has set up. Those kids didn’t do anything wrong other than be born into this time and place.”
