Again, I must work through her words, as several do not directly translate. The meaning hits.
“Oh! Your linen-and-cotton-economic system.”
“Wait,” Ati’s voice is low and dangerous, “Your society lets members gohungry?”
Octavia blinks. “Yours does not?”
“No!” all three of us blurt in outrage.
We sit in silence for several moments, all of us thinking things through.
It’s Lux that recovers from this revelation first. “You did nothing wrong, wedari. You were correct in your decisions, whether or not your planet’s ridiculous laws agree. No act, however, would have made us turn our backs on you. But to know how kind, and noble-hearted you are only increases our...affectionfor you.”
I agree, and I also heard Lux’s hesitation. She wanted to say ‘love.’She loves Octavia already. As do we all.
Octavia’s eyes fill with tears, and Lux holds her arms open for her.
Our omega hesitates, and I swear I can hear Ati and I holding our breaths. But sure enough, Octavia swoons into Lux’s arms, sobs muffled against her firm body. I bring my tail around the table to hold Ati’s, as I know we are both struggling with the lack of contact with our omega. We exchange a soft glance before turning back to our ladies. Lux holds Octavia gently, a low purr emerging as she strokes her hair, waiting patiently for our omega to calm down.
BREAKFAST, AFTER THEemotional dam broke, was easy and light-hearted. Octavia started to come out of her shell. She explained pizza and spaghetti to me. I am more confident in my ability to recreate pizza than I am the slender, round, grain-based ‘noodles’ needed to make spaghetti, but I am going to give both a shot.
Ati suggested nap time, and Octavia was agreeable, but she still refrained from inviting us to the nest. I could feel Lux and Ati’s sadness at that, but I quickly drew them into Ati’s room as Octavia went to the nest.
When I awoke, Atiox was already out of the room. Lux snored gently next to me. I laid a kiss on her shoulder and slipped away.
As I shut the door, a sound behind me causes me to turn. There stands our omega. Octavia looks as if I have caught her doing something naughty.
I grin at her and wait for her to say something. Finally, she shrugs. “I was going to the kitchen.”
I raise an eyebrow. “Why do you look so guilty about it?”
She seems to fall in on herself. “I don’t know, I guess it’s because I’ve had to eat on the prison schedule for the last few years?”
Again, rage burns through me. When I can see straight again, I vow to do some research on human ‘prisons’ and how they affect the psyche. “You can eat whenever you want, Tavi.”
“Tay-vee,” she responds with a smile. “I like that.”
I step forward and place my tail on the back of her thigh, a common gesture for Celnoe when we want to lead someone somewhere. But I realize I have touched her, and my step falters. But she easily walks next to me as we take the wide staircase down.
She’s warming to us. And it makes my soul lighter.
I usher her into the kitchen. “So,” I ask lightly, “what do you have a taste for?”
She wrinkles her nose as she twists her fingers together. “Anything sweet, really.”
“Hmm,” I respond, thinking. “I don’t have anything sweet made right now, but we could bake something?”
“We?” Her dark yellow eyebrows rise.
“Unless you’d prefer me to do it alone? I’m happy to—it is my job in the pack, and I enjoy it. I just thought company might be nice.”
She lets out a perfect little giggle. “I’m afraid I won’t be much help. I’m a terrible cook. I’ve lived off freezer meals since college.”
I give her a big grin, “Well, the company at least will be perfect.” I turn and grab my apron, and the spare I had gotten for her.
She smiles at me, her teeth flat, and for a moment I worry about mating marks. She knows nothing of them. She tugs the apron over her head, but the crossed straps get tangled and she spins, giggling, as she tries to correct them.
“May I?” I ask quietly.
