Page 37 of Abducting Sarah

She shook her head, and a sad look passed across her Ladrian features. “I barely know my cousins. I met my aunt twice when I was a little girl. That’s it. It’s nice that you’re so close with them.”

“Uh,” the right words stuck in my throat, “I would not say we are close. I know them, but it is a superficial knowledge. I know their taste in banwine, their occupations. Not the important things. Not the way families should be.”

When we arrived at my mother’s home, I had expected to receive some grief about my union. My mother had been a Sellac prior to uniting with my father, and the Sellacs were an old, highly respected family. Tall and regal, they were some of the first families specially bred to retain knowledge. Many were historians themselves, so to be excluded from her eldest son’s union would feel like an insult to her.

We were greeted at the door by a servant and led into the sitting room. It was one of my favorite rooms in her home. Overrun with plants in many colors, Mother’s sitting room should have been a place to relax and unwind. It had been, when I was young. But when I saw her angry face, I felt like the boy who had broken her antique mirror.

I swallowed nervously and said, “Greetings, Mother.”

The lighting was dark, but I could see her expression did not change. She sat among my cousins and siblings on a long, padded bench. Even seated, she was still taller than all of them. She wore the blue mourning robes of a widow beneath her purple over-cloak. Her black skin shone gray in the light.

Those purple eyes glared at me. “I did not know you held me in such low regard, Deacon.”

“I do not—”

She lifted her chin haughtily. “For me to find you have united in a private ceremony by message, you must hold me in low regard.”

I sighed. “I meant no insult, Mother. I was overcome with love for my consort and could not wait for propriety,” I fibbed, because she would never understand the truth. That Sarah was a human conduit and our family needed her. Desperately.

Her eyes shifted to Star, narrowing as she studied her very intently.

I quickly introduced her. “Mother, this is Star Qvia, my consort.”

Those dangerous eyes softened briefly. “Qvia? I do not know this name.”

“It is an old name in Yesanol,” Star lied, sounding very sure of herself.

I was impressed that her tail did not change posture and assumed it was because humans were practiced liars.

My cousin, Candle, grimaced. “You’re from Yesanol? No wonder you wanted to have an off-world union, Cousin.”

My other cousins snickered.

I glared at her for the rude comment, and she looked at her fingernails to avoid my scathing gaze.

“That is enough, girls,” Mother said. “Star is a guest in my home, and you will treat her as I treat you. If you are in any way rude to her from this moment forth, I will show you exactly what I think of you, and most of you do not wish to know.” Then she turned her focus back to us. “Come, child. Let me have a look at you.”

Star looked nervously to me, but I nodded, so she stepped forward to where my mother was sitting. Mother looked her over once more on a closer inspection, then with lips pursed with disapproval, she asked me, “Can you not afford to purchaseproper clothes for your consort, or is she to look like one of your crew?”

The comment didn’t surprise me. Mother was always about propriety. “I have already sent for a proper wardrobe for her.”

“See to it.” Mother stood, towering over everyone in the room, by at least a head. Then she plucked two grapes from the vines behind the bench. She handed one to Star, nodded, and ate hers. The guests in the room almost collectively held their breaths, and I fought the urge to join them.

Star ate hers, as well. She swallowed and smiled graciously. “Thank you.”

Mother returned the smile as the tense moment passed. “Star, you are welcome in my home. All our amenities are yours to enjoy. Deacon, give your consort a tour.”

As we left the sitting room, Star asked, “Why did everyone act so weird when I had the grape? It was very good.”

“Because if you meant anyone here any harm, it would have poisoned you.”

She gasped in shock. “Are you joking right now?”

“I would never joke about poisoning you.”

She stopped walking, so I did the same and looked at her.

Her tone was serious when she next spoke. “If someone might try to poison me, I’m gonna need you to tell me, Deacon.”

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