Page 26 of Purring, Presents, and Parties

Pulling her against him, he regarded his cresh-mate. “I’ve taken proper precaution so Aubrey will be fine for the next few rotations.”

Salfrin looked at Aubrey. “You’ll be inside. We sleep here as we did in the cresh, sharing large rooms. This isn’t a place of warmth or softness, little human. This is a place to understand our most basic instincts and overcome them.”

Tarrian started to assure Salfrin that Aubrey was stronger than she looked, but Aubrey spoke first, surprising him.

“Then it’s a good thing I’m here, because everyone needs a little warmth and kindness in their life,” she said and stepped away from him, holding out her arms to invite a hug.

“Is this an invitation to clutch, which I read about?” Salfrin asked. As she spoke, she sank to her knees, almost as if she didn’t realize she was doing it, and opened her arms. Aubrey stepped in close and gave the woman a hug, holding her tight around the neck.

“Humans like to clutch people they like or think are in distress,” Tarrian explained. He didn’t like it when Aubrey hugged other Talin, but it was something he’d learned to get used to. “Sometimes they do it when they haven’t seen the other person in a long time or simply because they enjoy it. You can clutch her back, but gently.”

Salfrin slowly wrapped her arms around Aubrey, and an involuntary soothing rumble came out of her.

“How is she so soft?” Salfrin marveled. The sound of a large, deep gong ringing somewhere in the monastery startled Aubrey into letting go, but Salfrin didn’t release her hold. “It’s nothing to fear, adorable human. That is the sound for the evening gathering.”

“You must release her, or we won’t make any progress,” Tarrian pointed out, keeping tight control over his possessive instincts to not rip Salfrin away from Aubrey.

With obvious reluctance, Salfrin let go of Aubrey and stood up. “Both of you should join us for the evening gathering. I could carry Aubrey if she’s fatigued from the journey up here. She could also sit in my lap, so she isn’t exposed to the cold stone floor.”

“That’s nice of you, but Tarrian’s my Talin,” Aubrey said, grabbing hold of his hand in both of hers. Her claim on him calmed all the parts of him that wanted to claw Salfrin to pieces.

“I’ll care for my human, as is my duty and my right,” Tarrian said, marking a clear boundary.

Salfrin didn’t make a rattle or rumble, but Tarrian could tell she was disappointed. “Very well, follow me.”

Aubrey put her mouth to his earhole as he picked her up. “What are we doing?”

“We are going to listen to a lecture, eat the evening meal, and then meditate,” he answered. “Welcome to the Ancestors’ BeltMonastery, my Aubrey. I hope you enjoy sitting quietly for long periods of time.”

Chapter 11

Aubrey

“This one too!” Aubrey said, holding up a small rock between her thumb and first finger.

Purring, Tarrian held up the bag in his hands and let her drop the rock in. “It looks the same as the other one.”

“But this one has bigger inclusions,” she explained.

He jingled the bag. “Remember, we can only carry as many rocks as fit in this bag.”

She laughed. “It’s only a quarter full, plenty of room!”

“Don’t be upset when we have to leave some precious stones behind,” he said with an amused rumble.

“I won’t!” Aubrey promised and moved to the next auspicious looking spot.

She was having the best time! Last night had been long and boring, and by the time they moved to the silent meditation portion of the evening, she’d fallen asleep in Tarrian’s lap. He hadn’t complained, and she got to snuggle in his lap, warm andcomfortable. She wasn’t sure how anyone stayed awake in the dim room as all the Talins harmonized their rumbles.

It was late and cold by the time they’d retired to the dormitory-style sleeping area. The cot was barely big enough for Tarrian, so she’d slept mostly on top of him with the omnie covering her. It was probably a combination of exertion and thin mountain air, but she’d slept soundly despite the tight bed.

They’d gotten a lot of looks during the lecture, dinner, and meditation, but no one approached. The mountain wasn’t the place to ask about a human pet, and Aubrey found it refreshing.

Now they were exploring the mountaintop east of the monastery where a sharp ridge kept the section of rock from being covered in snow. She paused to take in the mountaintop with the monastery tucked behind several large outcroppings.

“I thought it would be warmer up here,” she murmured as a bitterly cold wind tugged at her omnie.

“You thought it would be warmer?” Tarrian echoed, sounding a puzzled rattle. “You saw the snow from the ground!”

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