Page 59 of Aria's Desire

It was different with her mates. She knew, without any doubts, she could count on them for anything. There was still a learning curve to being in a relationship, however. It had taken time, but she’d come to understand they needed to feel needed in more ways than she initially gave them.

She always sought their advice and greatly valued their unique perspectives, but they needed more than that, so she made a conscious effort to give them opportunities to care for her in more personal ways. She let them carry her when the urge struck and bathe her in the evenings. They both liked to give her food off their own plates, regardless of whether hers was full, and share their drinks with her. Tirox liked to fix her hair, and Kix liked to pick out her clothes in the mornings. It cost her nothing to give them those things, to let go of some of her autonomy, and it made them happy.

So, she remained relaxed in Kix’s arms and didn’t try to help when he juggled her to open the bathroom door, knowing he didn’t want help. And when he lowered her into the massive, steaming bath where Tirox was waiting, she let her demon arrange her against his chest.

This was their routine. They’d bathe her, then she’d take her turn bathing each of them. Afterward, they’d relax in the water and catch each other up on the events of their day. They didn’t always have time to crowd around the food fabricator and ‘make’ dinner together back home, but this, at least, was something they tried to do every day.

It was a deceptively simple thing, this ritual of theirs, but it meant so much, and she’d missed it, hadn’t even realized how much until just then.

Chapter 31

Finished with their bath, they all relaxed in the small swimming pool of a tub. Aria had her legs hooked over the edge, floating on her back in the shallow water between the seated bodies of her mates.

“Who wants to go first?” she asked, peering up at them.

They exchanged a glance which told her she wasn’t going to like something they had to tell her, but she stayed relaxed. Whatever it was, it wouldn’t be that bad, or they’d have either commed her or said something when she commed them.

Kix shifted, sitting up straighter so she could see him easily without having to sit up herself. She knew he did it without thinking, and it made her smile.

So thoughtful, my firefly.

His lips curled, having heard her, his eyes shining. “I will start with: the majority of those opposed to this alliance are such because they fear conscription.”

“Yeah, I encountered the same thing among the people in the villages. They’re not unwilling to fight, they’re just unwilling to be forced. That’s good and means it’ll be an easy thing to alleviate those fears.”

Tirox grunted in agreement but muttered, “We will have to teach them how to fight, first.” At her questioning look, he explained, “I watched the warriors for a time. They have skill with blades, and when they pair off to fight one on one, they are very good. They move like… stabby water, much like your devil.”

Aria chuckled at that description, even as her heart skipped at him calling Rellik hers.

“But together?” He shook his head, looking confused and a little disgusted. “It was like they were trying to become one large being. They did everything as one: walking with the same steps, huddling into groups. They even cut with their swords as one. They became… unwieldy. Loud. They lost all stealth. Worse, it was like they stopped thinking for themselves. They had to have someone tell them what to do. I do not understand why they would train their warriors this way. Perhaps it works well in these mountains or battling their own people? Even so, I would rather have ten warriors capable of assessing and attacking where needed than a thousand who have to be told what to do.”

Aria chuckled again, amused at his disgust though she understood it. “They’re open field tactics.”

Tirox snorted. “Whatever it is called, it is useless to us.”

“That’s true. I anticipate Ishtal will petition for us to train her army in the alliance talks tomorrow, but if she doesn’t, we will. We would’ve needed to train them on our weaponry anyway. I just hope they’re like Rellik and learn quickly. I don’t want to be here for the next month.”

They both made sounds of agreement, telling her they didn’t like the thought of being here that long, either.

“I have news,” she announced after a pause, her heart beating faster with the remembered sense of awe. “Sin grew wings. In his humanoid form.”

Tirox’s eyes went wide and Kix’s astonishment moved through her. “You jest!” her demon boomed.

Shaking her head, she grinned. “You should’ve seen it. It was incredible.”

“Were they big enough to carry him? What shape did they have?” Kix asked, always the scientist needing to know how things worked.

She chuckled but shrugged. “They looked big enough to support him, and they didn’t seem any different than his dragon wings, just smaller, obviously. Back to your snooping. Find anything suspicious?” Something Kix said a minute ago struck her. Before either could respond, she added, “You said the majority. Why are the minority opposed to the alliance?”

There was that shared glance between them again, telling her this was the part of the update she wouldn’t like. Aria watched their exchange closely, not to read their expressions. That wasn’t necessary. She trusted them to tell her everything. No, she watched to see if Kix broke the news or if he was going to leave it to Tirox. It was important, that decision.

Kix used to be what he called thesahaatin their little triad. It translated to peacekeeper, but it was more complex than that. It wasn’t just about playing referee and settling disputes. It was about being the voice of reason, about seeing all sides of an argument, and about helping them see those sides. It was a position to which he was both well suited and genuinely enjoyed.

Being able to feel the emotions of others meant he understood how they felt, and that came in handy, sure, but even without his ability, he had the temperament for it. He was just good at understanding people. He was patient and compassionate. He wanted people to be happy.

But he’d withdrawn from that role, in the complex and in their relationship, as his ability continued to grow, and he struggled to cope with it.

So, it fell to Tirox. It wasn’t that her demon couldn’t be diplomatic. He’d been second in command of his clan back on his homeworld, and he was damned good at peopling when he had to be. But he, like her, was better at getting shit done than soothing ruffled feathers or mediating the frequent little squabbles in the complex.

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