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“Oh, theTastingWeekis next.Ithink you can guess what happensthen.”
“Ican, but…they have a whole week devoted just tothat?”Celiaasked with wide eyes.
Katnodded.
“TheKindredlovegoing down on their women.Theyactually have a biologicalneedto do it—it helps strengthen theBondbetween a warrior and his mate.”
“Dios,”Celiamurmured again. “DoIdare ask about thelastweek of theClaimingPeriod?”
“Oh, that’s theBondingWeek,”Kattold her. “That’swhen you either decide to go home…or stay here andBondwith your guys permanently.”
“Well,Ialready knowI’llbe going home,”Celiasaid. “Only…”
“Onlywhat?”Katasked.
“Only,Ihad a fight with my fiancé last night,”Celiaconfessed. “Hewas really upset thatIleft withHoldandFiercewithout putting up more of a fight,Ithink,” she added. “Butwhat wasIsupposed to do—make themdragme out to their ship?Imean,Iknow the law—when you get called up in theBrideDraft, youhaveto go.”
“Youdid the right thing,”Kattold her, nodding. “Sodid you two make up before the call ended?”
Celiashook her head.
“No.Infact,Itold himIwanted to take a break—just a little breathing space, you know?”
Katlooked at her speculatively.
“Thatsounds serious, doll.Sotell me…does taking a break mean you’ll do more of the traditionalClaimingPeriodactivities?”
“Oh,Inever saidthat!”Celiaprotested. “Imean,Iamstill engaged.”
“Mmm-hmm.”Katnodded. “Iunderstand.Sodid he call you to make up this morning?”
“Nope.”Celiashook her head.Actually, the fact thatPeterhadn’t called back was troubling her.Theyhadn’t been engaged for that long—hell, they’d only known each other for around six months—and this was the biggest fight they’d ever had.Wasit normal for him to not call?Shouldshecallhim?Butno—she was going to stick to her guns and wait it out, she told herself firmly.Shewasnotin the wrong here.
“Well,I’msure he’ll come around later,”Katsaid comfortingly, reaching across the table to pat her hand.
“Thanks.”Celiasmiled at her. “Andthank you for explaining about the different weeks,” she added gratefully.Shewanted to ask more—about how twoKindredcould fit inside one human woman at the same time.Butit was kind of crowded at the little café and she didn’t really wantKatto launch into a graphic description in public.
“You’rewelcome, doll—you can always ask me anything about dealing withTwinKindred.Believeme, you name it,I’vebeen through it with them.”Katrolled her eyes expressively. “Nowhow about we talk decorations for a little while?”
“Ohyes—of course.”Celianodded eagerly. “Tellme, what are you thinking?”
“Well,Iwanted to bring someChristmasspirit without importing a bunch of plastic junk up fromEarth, you know?”Katsaid. “Iwas thinking it would be nice if we could find natural elements to decorate with.Butnot just mistletoe and holly wreaths and poinsettias fromEarth.Imean,Iwantsomeof that, of course.Butwhat about getting different little things from other planets—the otherKindredhome worlds, you know, and incorporating them into the decorations?”
Celiawas instantly intrigued.
“Oh, like what?” she asked, leaning forward and resting her chin on her hand.
“Well,I’veheard they have this special kind of glowing moss that grows on the cavern walls of some of the grottos and caves onTranqPrime—that’s theBloodKindredhome world,”Katadded. “Andget this—it glows red and green and gold!VeryChristmassy, right?”
“Yes, very!”Celiaagreed. “Buthow much would you need to bring to decorate the entireMotherShip?” she added.
“That’sthe beauty of it—Ican just put it in my replicator and make copies of it.Soyou wouldn’t have to bring very much at all—just a sample, really,”Kattold her. “Youcould bring it back in a portable stasis chamber to keep it fresh.”
“Oh…you wantmeto go get it?”Celiaasked, surprised.
“Well, you and your guys.Idon’t expect you to fly off and fold space all on your own.Speakingof which,canyou fold space?”Katasked. “Imean,I’mtrying to be delicate about it but…could you be pregnant?Becauseif you are, you can’t fold space—it’s bad for the baby.”
“Oh…”Celiafrowned. “Imean,Idon’tthinkIam butIdidrun out of birth control recently andIhaven’t had a chance to get more.”Shedidn’t want to tell her new friend about howPeterhad flushed her pills—it made him sound awful.Andreally he wasn’tthatbad—was he?
