Page 1 of Purring, Presents, and Parties

Chapter 1

Ari

“You’re in perfect health, Human Ari,” Kasium announced as he made the happy rumble of two sticks being tapped together. After putting away his scanner, he reached into a nearby ornate container and drew out a bright red sweet to present to Ari. “I’m afraid I only have the red ones today.”

“Thanks, Kasium,” Ari said as she accepted the candy and popped it into her mouth. “These ones are my favorite.”

She put her hands on the table in preparation to jump off, but Baz was quick to step up and block her with a negative rattle. The sound made her think of wasps moving in slow motion, and she’d been hearing it a lot lately. This rattle wasn’t just the way Talins said no, it was their version of a frown.

“Remain on the table,” he ordered, then looked at Kasium. “That can’t be correct; there is something wrong.”

“I told you I was fine,” Ari reminded Baz with an exasperated sigh. To keep her sitting on the exam table he’d put a hand oneach of her thighs. She covered his large, four-digit hands with her much smaller ones.

“You’re not well,” he insisted. “You aren’t smiling, and I’ve found you staring off into nothing and looking sad several times.”

“That doesn’t mean anything,” she argued. “I was only thinking. I’m allowed to get lost in thought sometimes.”

Baz’s negative rattle indicated he didn’t believe her. “I’ve witnessed moments when you’re engaged in deep contemplation, and these times aren’t the same. That’s not the only thing different.”

“Dissociating from reality could be a symptom of something,” Kasium summarized as he sounded the poorly-tuned-engine rumble of curiosity. “Perhaps your mind chemicals aren’t at the correct levels.”

“I’m not dissociating, and I don’t have brain issues,” Ari stated, working hard to keep her voice calm and not snap at the well-intentioned Talins.

“It’s nothing to be ashamed of,” Kasium assured her, grabbing more candies and holding them out to her. “Several of the other humans here need medications for their moods or anxiety. I recently recalibrated Human Aubrey's medication. She’s doing much better now.”

“I don’t have a severe anxiety issue like Aubrey,” Ari argued. She’d tell Baz if she was feeling anxious or scared all the time. She didn’t feel any of those things.

“But you could be suffering from something else,” Baz countered and looked to Kasium. “Please test her for any of the human mental disorders.”

“I’ll need to study the literature,” Kasium said with a short rattle that sounded like a bunch of metal tools being dumped in a pile on the floor. “Unlike Talins, humans can suffer from many mental maladies, and some cannot be solved with medicationalone. If you will give me a rotation, I’ll have a better idea of what to test for and how.”

Ari glared at Baz. “I’m not coming back here tomorrow.”

Baz leaned in close. “I know you don’t want to, but I’m in distress. It would make me feel better if we saw Kasium again tomorrow.”

Ari wilted under Baz’s admission. “Fine, but he’s not going to find anything because there’s nothing wrong with me.”

“I need to contact Horicin. She’s been studying this topic exclusively!” Kasium was so excited over having something new to learn about he didn’t even say the proper words of goodbye before bustling out of the small medical room. Baz ignored his departure and remained focused on her.

“Thank you, my human,” he murmured. They were alone, so when he brought his lips close to her, Ari leaned in for a kiss. Even though the compound they lived on was generally safe, everyone was still cautious.

To maintain the illusion that humans were simply pets, they had to keep their relationship a secret. Cuddling in public was socially acceptable in Talin society because humans were considered emotionally weak and in need of constant reassurance. Kissing like this was a step too far for anyone to see who wasn’t in on their secret.

The familiar scent of hazelnut filled her nose as Baz opened his mouth to hers. She hadn’t felt like having sex the night before, but now desire blossomed inside her.

Ending the kiss and pulling away, Ari looked into Baz’s eyes. “Let’s go back to the cabin.”

His deep, thrumming rumble of desire made it clear he didn’t mistake her intentions. “Yes! We—”

Whatever he was going to say was interrupted by an insistent ping from his Ident. He was forced to straighten up to unclipit from his belt and see who needed him and why. The distant-bass-drum sound of a worried rumble came out of him.

It was another sound she was hearing from him way too often.

“Danisal was supposed to visit Darra and Mani, but their owner is trying to reschedule again,” he explained. “I need to contact the owner and potentially alert the authorities.”

He started to lift her off the table so he could carry her off to the compound office, but she put a hand on his chest. “No.”

“No?” His confused rattle of tools being dumped on a floor made her sigh.

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