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“I am glad that you think he will approve of me in any way whatsoever. But I know from your mother’s reaction that this will be considered sudden and, therefore, unwise,” Khoth answered simply. “My own parents may very well have that same reaction though we do mate. But our connection is so much deeper than anyone else’s.”

“It is.” Jace smiled at Khoth, feeling his mate’s love for him all around him. There was literally a mental caress from Khoth. He wanted to figure out how to do that.

But there was a sudden downwards rush of air. Jace turned his head towards the location of the burst. His hair was blown back and he shielded his eyes from the dust blown up from the tarmac as his father’s drop ship landed.

The engines whined before they powered down. The blinding landing lights dimmed then shut off. Jace found himself already jogging towards the gangway before it had even unsealed. There was the hiss and gush of white smoke as the gangway lowered. When his father was revealed at the top of the gangway, Jace was already jumping up to him. Jack grabbed him, picking Jace up, even though Jace was now bigger than himself.

“Dad!”

“Jace!”

He was so glad his father hadn’t even tried to salute nor did he attempt to once they broke off from the hug. His father had felt solid and warm. There was no sense of injury or disease coming from him. Jace realized the Osiris was sending him every single vital sign from his father, plus he was picking up other things simply from touching Jack. He ran his hands over his father’s forearms before letting him go.

“You look well,” his father said, doing a quick up and down of Jace.

“You do, too.” Jace couldn’t hide his relief.

And it was more than look. The Osiris had told him and shown him that his father was fine before this. Not even a scratch on him. But to see him, touch him, ascertain for himself that his father was well was what he’d needed. His own vitals improved now that Jack was near him and he found himself smiling so broadly that his cheeks ached.

All Altaeth are connected to one another, the Osiris sent him. Family units most closely, but even friendships with no near familial relationship adjust over time to be part of an Altaeth’s network.

Okay, are you telling me that Altaeth are connected mentally and physically to their friends and family? Like literally? Jace asked.

Yes.

Jace blinked. His father must have seen his confusion as his father’s eyes flickered over his face. “Is all well here?”

There was a hint of worry in Jack. He saw it. Felt it. Just a thread. Weirdly, though the Osiris didn’t say anything, he got the sense of worry from his father as well that went beyond this moment.

Osiris, what’s going on? Did you and Dad have a fight or something? Jace asked.

No.

Jace’s eyes narrowed and he realized he could play back any interactions that his father and the Osiris had even if the Osiris didn’t put little videos aside for him.

Hoisted on your own petard, Osiris. I’ll know what you did, Jace thought.

He chose the timeframe in the ship on the way down and he found what he was looking for.

OSIRIS! Why did you do that? Jace demanded to know.

There was a beat and then the Osiris answered, While I was aware of the connection Altaeth form to one another, your bonding with your mate caused… concern.

Ah, so you “knew” what to expect, but it was still unexpected? Jace realized. Now you understand why I need to experience things without you simply telling me about them.

No, that is different.

It isn’t. It’s exactly the same thing, Jace replied firmly.

“Jace?” His father’s eyebrows were lifting.

Jace shook him. “Sorry. I was just speaking to the Osiris.”

“Ah, yeah, about that, son. The Osiris seemed… off,” Jack said with a furrowed brow.

“Oh, yeah, it’s adapting to something new,” Jace said, suddenly not wanting to tell his dad about the mating in relation to his AI’s discomfort. This was a happy occasion and the Osiris was not going to ruin it. “Don’t worry. I’m dealing with it. Sorry you had to.”

The furrows in Jack’s forehead lessened a little, but didn’t completely smooth away. “Good, but there might be… Well, we’ll talk about it once we have something to drink and you tell me what’s so important that I needed to be planetside. Not that I don’t want to be here with you.”