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Vallu waved her hand. “It will be fine.”
Ylara swallowed and patted Riithan’s arm. “Then, maybe I shall just get this over with.”
He hugged her. “Just a moment more. I like holding you.”
Vallu laughed. “I will be inside. Helen came along just to see how it was played.”
When Vallu was gone, Ylara asked, “How much did you hear?”
“Enough. I missed a huge clue from when you were talking to Baola. I am sorry. You are still afraid I will discard you, or my father will just assign me another.”
“Afraid? No. Wary? Yes. I know how unstable my link to you is. The moment that my heat finished, I was aware of how little chance I had for my happy ending. I am adapting to the idea, don’t worry.” She patted his hand. “But, if they assign you a second omega, I am going to grab our kids and run.”
“I won’t accept them. I swear to you now that you are my only mate for as long as I live. I only want children with you. I want to grow old... with you.”
She squirmed and turned in his arms. “I know. And I want to grow old with you, but being together is not something done in isolation, and that is what I am coming to terms with. I will get there. You spent your adult life looking for an omega. I have spent that time dodging alphas. I was successful until the wedding. I should be a worse friend.” She smiled.
He echoed her expression and tapped her nose. “Go and play. I have always wondered what one of the harps sounded like.”
“The sound is amazing. Playing one is embarrassing, especially in this outfit. Well, you’ll see.”
“You have played one before?”
“A replica. I learned in high school after I was adopted. My mother insisted. Seers are annoying.”
He laughed.
They returned to the gathering.
Chapter Nine
Ylara’s hands shook as she opened the case, and she smiled as she took out a silk bag with a familiar metal sound. Once that was set aside, she pulled the silk from the instrument and gasped.
The active, responsive relays were in intricate vine patterns in white all around the wide belly and the thick neck. The harp was patterned with black enamel and gold filigree over the sounding boards. It was magnificent.
With reverence, she lifted the instrument out of the case, and there were gasps in the room. She set it on the table and tuned it quickly. She put on the claws that were used to play, and she smiled.
“This is where it gets embarrassing. Where did you want me to play?”
Riithan gestured with his head. “Back on the deck. The stars are coming out, and I think it will sound great on the water.”
She nodded and carried the bulky item to the overlook.
Ylara found a good spot facing the ocean, and she sat on the stone slab, pulled her skirt up to the very top of her thighs, and then pulled the harp so that the fin was nestled between them. She practised quickly, then started to play Sethir classic songs. A few of the songs were the lullabies that her mother had taught her, and when she was done, she sang one that she had written over the last few days about Riithan. It outlined their meeting, the dancing, the days of heat, him turning away, and her stumbling free. She finished with her facing him and reaching for him again.
She stopped and flexed her fingers.
“And that is all for me. Vallu, Etgar, thank you for letting me play it.” She set the harp aside, scooted her skirt down, then got up from her kneeling position, and she picked up the treasure and carried it back inside, removed her claws, wiped it down, and tucked it away. The claws went back into the bag, and she returned the case to its original situation.
She stroked the wood and smiled. Over a hundred years old and still sounded beautiful. She scooted her skirt down a little further and started yawning.
Vallu had a slightly sad expression on her face. “Oh, honey.” Ylara was treated to an uncomfortable hug.
“Was it that bad?”
“No, it was beautiful. I am so glad I got to hear you play it.”
Ylara sighed. “Now, please, take it away, so I don’t have to look at it.”
