Page 45 of Mated By Twilight

“You’re not dumb,aevea. You’re experiencing an entirely new world. There’s going to be some confusion involved. The important thing is that you understand now.”

She nodded, smiling as she turned into him, putting her arm around his waist. “Thank you for being patient with me.”

“It is my true pleasure. And don’t hesitate to ask. Your questions are good things. It means you’re interested. And we want you to be,aevea.”

She smiled, placing a hand on his stomach. It wasn’t a smooth or confident movement at all. She applied pressure like she didn’t think it was her right to do so. He said nothing, just smiled at her encouragingly. Ease and comfort would come. The fact that she was reaching out for him at all was a milestone in and of itself.

“So, I know the role of a man and woman in a human relationship,” she started slowly. “I know what would be expected of me there. But what’s my role in an avanava relationship? Sollit just said I have to look after you and any younglings we have.”

“Just?” Tillos snickered. “You say it so dismissively. As if those two things alone aren’t enough work by themselves.”

She licked her lips, like she was nervous. “That guy I was going to marry, the one my dad chose, he expected those things from me too. I had to take care of him. Feed him, clean after him, make sure he was satisfied. And I had to take care of the kids. Both the ones from his previous marriage, and any he might have with me. I was also expected to help him with his business. He wanted me to work for him.”

Tillos frowned. “He expected all that from you as well as for you to be employed?”

“Oh, no. He wasn’t going to employ me. He just wanted me to work for him. He owned a barber shop. He wanted me to clean up there and probably do the scheduling and other things like that. Just help him out.”

“Wait,” Tillos’ brow furrowed. “He was going to make you labor for him – without compensation. As well as care for the younglings? And him? But, of course, he was going to help you with the younglings, right?”

“No. That’s considered women’s work.”

“Women’s… You are one female! How can you possibly be expected to do all of that? And for the rest of your life! What would he do?”

“He would work.”

“So would you!”

She shook her head sadly. “It’s not the same.”

“In what way? Forgive me for saying so, Leah, but I am having a hard time understanding this mating arrangement. You both work, but he does not help you with the younglings… But he cares for you, right? He takes care of you as you would him?”

Leah didn’t answer, and Tillos felt sick. What kind of terrible male was her father trying to give her away to? Did he know? He couldn’t know! But Leah had said their meetings were chaperoned, so how could he not…

“Your father was the same,” he said, realization dawning. “He treated your mother in the same way, didn’t he? You grew up learning and expecting that you would be doing all the care for a male who selfishly demanded you look after him, the young, the home,andwork as well.”

Leah hesitated before mumbling, “He loved us. In his own way. But… yes. That’s how things worked in our community. The man ruled the house. He made the rules, and he demanded respect. His wife was a servant to him.”

“Servant?!” Tillos recoiled in horror.

“That’s just how it was,” she whispered, head lowered. “I know that’s not right. But it still seems so strange when you two trip over each other to try to take care of me when that’s supposed to be my job. And how do I devote myself completely to my husband when there are two of you? It feels like I’m not going to love you the way you deserve and I’m going to fail you. Like I won’t be enough, and you’ll realize what a mistake you’ve made.”

“Leah, no!” Tillos grabbed her, pulling her off the path, stepping out of the way of the others that were going about the station on their own dates and outings. He took hold of her upper arms and leaned down so that he could look her in the eyes. “Leah, that willneverhappen.”

She smiled, wan and sad. “You don’t know that…”

“Ido. I really do,” he chuckled, wishing he could make her understand. “The very fact that you’re even concerned about it tells me that you won’t let it happen. And you are only responsible for a third of our relationship. Sollit and I share responsibility for the rest. We work together to make sure that none of us are left wanting or unsatisfied. And you certainly aren’t going to be responsible for taking care of usandour homeandour youngandwork on top of that.”

Leah smiled at him. But there was a hesitancy in her eyes. Like she was hearing him but didn’t quite believe what she was saying.

Tillos stood straight. “You’ll see. But don’t worry. When Sollit and I are done with you, you won’t have a worry left in your head.”

Surprised laughter bubbled up past her lips. “You almost make that sound like a threat. When you’re done with me? What’s that mean?”

“You’ll see,” he repeated, kissing her forehead. “Come on. We’re almost there.”

Taking her hand, he pulled her along. For his date, he’d chosen to bring his soon-to-be mate to one of the handful of viewing platforms on the station.

The square shaped station had, at the four corners and directly in the middle of the long roads, platforms at the top that offered an external view in all directions but down. There wasn’t much to see out in the blackness of space, but the station and the ships connected to it through the tubes were all illuminated.

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