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“That works. I can check with your fathers on the way home and find an evening that works for everyone.” Jody glanced over at the two males. “If that’s alright with you?”
“We’ll sort out the details during our walk,” Sulat said before Tariq could open his mouth and blast the idea out of the sky. Not that he was certain that would happen. His anrik’s thoughts had been turbulent and hard to read for weeks now. Tonight, he was more like himself, but Sulat would assume nothing until they’d had time to talk privately. He wanted to know Jody better. Much better. But that couldn’t happen without Tariq. Whatever happened, they’d make this decision the way they made all others—together.
The evening had filled Jody’s soul as well as her stomach. It had been too long since she’d spent a relaxed evening with good company. Lores didn’t count. They had been friends so long they’d heard all of each other’s stories. Tonight was different, like her new life had finally started.
She appreciated the chance to get to know Sulat and Tariq better, despite the way Vixi had ambushed the three of them. It wasn’t the smoothest of beginnings—but she had to admit, it worked.
The three of them strolled through the colony. Tariq walked to her left and Sulat on her right. The big males both altered their stride to match hers, though she did her best to walk briskly so they didn’t have to slow down too much.
They pointed out various shops and made a few recommendations on where to find some of the household items she wanted to acquire. While her new home came with basic furnishings, she wanted to add her own touches, including some of the elements she’d seen tonight.
When they reached the midpoint of the walk, Sulat shifted his wings in a way she’d learned was the Vardarian equivalent of clearing one’s throat before speaking.
She turned her head in his direction but then had to move quickly to look at Tariq when he spoke first.
“Now we are alone I wanted to say that you do not have to include me or Sulat in your invitation to dinner. That would leave you free to enjoy an evening with Vixi without us.”
Sulat made a noise somewhere between a growl and a huff of annoyance. “Do not speak for me, Riq. We may not be of the same mind.”
Tariq stopped and stared at his anrik. Neither of them spoke aloud, but Jody saw the subtle movements of their jaw and lips and knew they were conversing via their internal comms.
Their conversation ended quickly enough things didn’t get overly awkward, but it still deflated some of her buoyant mood.
“I accept your invitation for dinner,” Sulat’s declaration broke the silence.
“As do I,” Tariq said. “I only wished to ensure you didn’t feel pressured. Vixi’s enthusiasm can sometimes place others in difficult positions.”
Jody laughed and nodded. “You mean like inviting the three of us to dinner and not mentioning to any of us that there would be other guests?”
Tariq’s lips twitched in amusement. “Yes. Exactly like that.”
Jody once again marveled at the way the male’s smile transformed his appearance. It made him so much more approachable—and appealing.
“I would like to have you all over for dinner and conversation. We are colleagues, and that means we should know each other better so we can work as a team.”
Both males nodded in agreement, and Jody felt a tingle of anticipation at the idea of seeing them both again. Only as friends, she reminded herself. Even so, this was an important step in their relationship. Their professional relationship.
They set off again, only to stop suddenly when her comm uttered several strident chirps. Veth. That specific pattern meant there was a situation with a special patient—Phaedra, the very pregnant princess.
In the time it took her to retrieve her comm unit and call up the message, both Sulat and Tariq had unfurled their wings and moved into the street, clearly preparing to take to the air.
“With me, Jody!” Sulat pointed to a spot directly in front of him.
The command in his voice was so compelling she took several steps toward him before she even realized what she’d done. She hadn’t read the fraxxing message yet. How could they know more than she did?
“Why? What’s happened?” she demanded.
Tariq gestured her forward and pitched his voice low. “It’s begun.”
Fraxx. The princess was in labor? “It’s too soon,” she murmured, certain they’d hear her. Vardarian senses were all more acute than humans.
“We estimated she had at least ten to fifteen days left,” Sulat said, matching their low tones.
That was one of the challenges they faced with Phaedra. She was the first human female to become pregnant with a Vardarian child. That left them with a measure of uncertainty about gestation time and what the delivery would look like.
To complicate matters further, the parents had chosen not to alter the child’s DNA. Not only did this go against societal norms, but it added more unknowns to the whole process. Jody agreed with their decision, but it didn’t make her job any easier.
“You two should go ahead. I’ll call for a vehicle and meet you there.” She didn’t mention their destination. The princess was in hiding until her child was born. The decision not to alter the baby’s DNA had triggered a backlash of judgment and discontent from the more xenophobic elements of Vardarian society, including some here in Haven.
