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“You do not believe they will find us objectionable?”
Visions of Torben’s splayed body dance in my head. I had to filter out the clutter of words I wanted to say. Every single one of these Otherkin are beautiful in their own way.
The males, especially those who are protective of females.
That in and of itself makes them infinitely desirable to a majority of women looking for a partner who is also a provider.
“No they won’t find you objectionable.”
Torben clears his throat. “If I may add to your point. Not only does an invitation work, but one that shows we are a safe haven for females and/or their young. Those who have vulnerable status. Sometimes there are no recourses or shelters due to the human system being overwhelmed. As human laws don’t apply within our borders we will deal with threats on our own terms.”
“I like that a lot,” Vane says. “Especially about the females and young. They need to be protected. If they cannot find protection with their own community, they will always find it with us.”
I am overwhelmed with emotions and so I focus on eating. The conversation continues around me, buzzing with a newfound excitement. Torbin places his hand on my back. I look up to meet his gaze. There’s a question there and it seems like he is asking, Are you okay?
I smile and nod at him. I’m more than okay.
The rest of the meal is passes in good spirits. Eventually, they leave. Mayor Eddie and the rest of his Chamber of Commerce all state that they can’t wait to get started on some proposals, inviting me to the next town meeting. Eddie mentions needing to touch base with the orc and Forest Guardian representatives, whose turn it was to sit out of the meeting to tend to the land.
“I know for a fact that they are going to be mad they missed this,” Vane says.
“They are always welcome. Please let them know that,” I say.
They promise they would communicate my regard and eventually retreat off of the property. A moment of silence finally settles into the house, and I’m able to finally relax.
As if it is a natural thing that we’ve done multiple times, Torben gathers me in his arms. I let myself rest my face against his chest.
“Can I ask you something?” I ask after a while.
He’s gently caressing my back in soothing strokes. “Anything.”
I shift positions so that I rest my chin upon his chest, looking up at him. “So the house is sentient?”
If Otsos can blush, he is doing it now. “Yes, and it deems you it’s lady.”
“And you?”
He seems to consider. “A stain that it cannot remove.”
I burst out laughing at the unexpected sentence. “No, not what the house deems you. What do you deem me?”
My god, I can’t believe I just said it. Well, it’s time to take the bandage off, anyway. If he doesn’t want me to stay…if this is all temporary, I need to know now before I get too attached. Trying to remove myself when I’m fully entrenched will become so much worse.
Torben cups my face as he had before down in his laboratory. His gaze bore into me as his eyes shift from gold to blue.“Mine.”
I feel his passion through my skin and down into the very marrow of my bones.
“I thought I made it clear, but I am happy to continue clarifying for you as many times as you need to know. You are mine. You are my mate and you belong in my house.”
His conviction in that one word unmakes all the insecurities I’ve endured in the past. One where I never belonged anywhere.
“But you just met me?”
“Yes, I just met you and I am grateful to fate and the universe that I have found you.”
“You don’t think it’s too soon? That we are moving too fast?”
His face crinkles in a very cute way. “Time has nothing to do with mates?” It’s as if he’s pondering the the mysteries of the universe. “It is like trying to explain the rightness of stars. The orbits of the planets. The bloom of flowers. They just are and you just know. Granted it is the males who understand a no their mates, just as the house knows it’s lady. We serve you for as long as you want us.”
