Page 47 of Desperate Measures

“I just finished breakfast.” Her grin, for Betra alone, sent his heart beating faster. “The only time I indulge in day drinking is a single celebratory mimosa on Christmas morning.”

“You continue to celebrate the Earther custom?” He hadn’t been aware.

“Many of us on Kalquor do. Earthers gather on Christmas Eve in various regions to have a special dinner. Some celebrate older Earth faiths and get together for those.”

“Do your clanmates participate?” A sense of loneliness stabbed him. The Christmas Shalia had spent on his transport had been marked by a fun celebration for the Earther refugees on board. He’d enjoyed sharing in the tradition. There hadn’t been another Christmas for Betra since.

“Absolutely. My clan decorates the home a week before, then we exchange presents Christmas morning. The kids love it, of course. It’s become the highlight of the year for them.”

“I’m sure it is.” Betra sank on the lounger next to her, hungry for some sense of belonging to a portion of her existence.

“Larten applies for permission from the local government to find and cut down a small tree for the festivities. The children go with him and take turns choosing the tree. Jordan was in charge last year. When they returned, she brought me a branch smaller than her instead.”

“A branch?”

“She’d gotten upset about killing a tree, so Larten cut the limb she chose. We had to warn Anrel and Nayun to stop telling her she’d ruined Christmas because we didn’t have a proper tree. So much drama.” Shalia laughed as she rolled her eyes.

“I wish I could have seen it.” I wish I could have been part of it. Betra’s heart ached in longing for all he’d lost: special celebrations, children to share them…and of course, Shalia herself. He took her hands in his. “What a wonderful life you have.”

“I do. I wish I wasn’t stuck on this lounger for the rest of the trip. I live to add to the memories.” She pouted.

“I could stay here instead of hunting. Keep you company, bring you mimosas,” he offered.

“It isn’t necessary. Nekis is staying with me today, so your vacation doesn’t have to be interrupted.”

“Nekis loves the children and enjoys taking them to hunt. I hate for her to miss out.”

Shalia bit her lip uncertainly. “Well, I suppose you could offer, but—”

“We’re ready to go, Betra.”

He jumped at Oses’ bark behind him. He released Shalia’s hands and stood as his Nobek came in the room. “Oh, well, I was thinking perhaps if Matara Nekis preferred to hunt, I could keep an eye on our invalid here.”

Nekis herself glided into the room as he was speaking. “Don’t be silly, Betra. Shalia and I haven’t had a chance to catch up since she arrived. I’ve been looking forward to doing so for weeks.” She sat at the end of the lounger and got comfortable as she beamed at Shalia. “In fact, just before Resan commed to say you were coming, I was ready to ask if your clan wished to visit us.”

“Really? We would have jumped at the chance, Nekis. When this pandemic is over, we should get together more often.”

“I agree.”

“Betra.” Oses’ tone prodded him to bow in respect to the women and reluctantly follow his Nobek from the room.

“We’ll see you later, ladies.” It was all Betra could do to restrain a sigh of resignation.

* * * *

“This has to stop.”

Despite Betra’s efforts to avoid being alone with his Nobek clanmate, Oses had managed to herd him to a secluded spot in the grasslands where no one would hear their conversation.

“Am I supposed to pretend I don’t still care for her?” he demanded, going on the offensive.

“As a lover? Yes, you are.” Oses didn’t glare, but his iron gaze made Betra want to cringe.

He managed to keep from doing so. “Maybe Nobeks can turn off their feelings at will. I can’t.”

“You’ve done so in the past, for her good. For the good of us who once counted ourselves as her clanmates, though it was impossible to make it official.”

“At the time. Everything’s changed, Oses. Nontraditional clans are legal—”

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