Page 44 of Accounting for Drakes

“It’s a dominant gene.”

“Oh. Oh!” She blinked.

Abil asked, “What does that mean?”

“My dad isn’t my dad, or my mom isn’t my mom, or I am adopted.” Nanitha shrugged.

Yorath smiled slightly. “You don’t seem concerned.”

“I eat small planets. Concern for my bloodlines isn’t high on my priorities.”

Orwon said, “It might not be a bad idea to look into it. If your parent is out there still, it would be a good idea to find them in case any of our children are of an independent streak. Mating within a bloodline isn’t great.”

Ninitha blinked. “Right. I forgot about that. They might not have my senses.”

Orwon squeezed her hand. “I appreciate your senses.”

She beamed.

Abil said, “You are staying for the dancing?”

“Of course. That was my promise. Have you been in touch with Mbrak?”

“Yes. He’s sending wedding presents.”

“That sounds like him.” Nanitha smiled.

“And we have to visit in the next three years.”

“That definitely sounds like him.”

“There has been a resurgence in interest in Nekkordans in recent years. Some want them for collector’s items, and other races are attempting to rework themselves in that image. There are alerts set up around the inhabited worlds to notify interested parties when one of your kind is seen.”

“I am also a drake-dragon mix.” She smiled and looked at Orwon. “I have different genetics.”

He nodded. “I know. Your scent screams it. I am not worrying about crossing bloodlines on my end.”

She blushed. “I have been soil-bound for too long. The scent comes out most in this form.”

Orwon wrapped himself around her and sniffed behind her ear. “There it is. Intoxicating.”

“Which is what led to Nekkordans being dissected and used for irresistible aphrodisiacs.”

Yorath nodded. “You are okay for the party?”

“I will dance as promised to Abil, and then Orwon and I will leave if he doesn’t mind.”

“That will be sensible. The gifts and good wishes have been offered. I am looking forward to the dance.”

Abil smiled. “I have sort of seen wedding dancing in the simulations. It is lovely, but I never really learned.”

Nanitha cleared her throat. “At the station?”

“Yes.”

“I may or may not have visited Mbrak a century ago and let him create scans of me.”

Abil grinned. “That was you?”

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