Page 64 of Sway's Peace
“You should rely on them,” she said, taking his hands. Holding them tenderly. “You guys look out for each other, right? I think they’re coming with you because they want to make sure you’re okay. This is a big deal. Have any of you met up with your families since you escaped?”
“No,” he said immediately, staring down at her hands, at the way her fingers interlaced through his. “I am the only one who has still living family that hasn’t cut them off.”
Grace frowned. “Whose family cut them off?”
“Trove’s. He was dishonored among his people. And Vytln. His family, I believe, are trying to kill him. The rest of us don’t have living family anymore.”
“Except you now.” She smiled. “Are you excited?”
“Honestly? No. I… I don’t know if I want to meet him. That’s wrong, isn’t it? Shouldn’t I be happy that my father survived?”
“You’re nervous. That’s normal.”
“Is it?”
“Sure! This is a big moment. But your dad created this Song, this whole colony, because he lost you. Right? He didn't do this before, did he?”
“No.” Sway’s memories were faded, but he at least remembered that much. “My parents were artists. My father painted and my mother made mosaics. They were good. At least, I remember them being good. People told me they were growing up.”
“See?” She smiled, getting to her feet. Slightly closing the distance between them. “I bet he’s spent all this time apart dreaming of the day he could find you. He’s probably going to have a lot of big feelings when he sees you too. Whatever you’re feeling though, good or bad or whatever else, it’s okay. You’re not wrong for dreading this or being afraid of it. It’s an important moment. It might lead to great things. But it’s okay to be uncertain about what’s going to happen.”
“I’m sorry.”
She started in surprise. “Sorry? Why?”
“We’re just starting to get to know each other. I feel like I’m relying on you too heavily now for this.”
“No way!” She snapped immediately. “Iwantto be here for you with this. Sway, I-...” She hesitated and his head cocked as she shifted her weight, cheeks turning a bright shade of pink. “I know we haven’t known each other long, but I feel so comfortable with you. This thing between us… it feels right. Doesn’t it?”
His heart pounded heart in his chest as he whispered, “You feel it too?”
“I do! You do?” She was bouncing on her heels now, like she was barely resisting throwing herself at him. He wished she wouldn’t. He wanted to hold her. Always. “Sway, h-how do your people mate?”
“I… I don’t know.”
The soft confession stole some of her excitement. Which he hated. But he had no other answer, only an explanation he knew would make her sad.
“I wasn’t really old enough when I was taken to have talked about those kinds of things yet. And it wasn’t something I ever bothered to learn. Honestly, before you, Grace, I was never really interested in sex or mating.”
“You’re a virgin?”
“No. That was taken from me long ago. The Master… It doesn’t matter now,” he shook his head quickly, ending that conversation before that look of horror could deepen on her face. “I just never cared before you. There are a lot of things about myown people I don’t remember anymore, or never knew before I was taken. That’s just one of them. I do know that I’m meant to make a nest for you. I do know that I should display for you. But that’s about the extent of my knowledge.”
Her gaze traveled up, looking at his crest. It was still tight against his head. He’d felt it trying to lift a few times around her, but it never went far. He honestly couldn’t remember the last time his crest had raised or his tail feathers spread. Even now, they were both closed tight, his crest pointing down his back, his tail feathers collapsed into one, long line.
“It’s okay,” Grace smiled. “We can reclaim that part of your life too. We can learn and explore all of that together.”
“Reclaim it, huh…”
“Sure. Like your pacifism and your family. You can relearn your culture and your history. All of those things were stolen from you. But you can get them back!”
Sway chuckled. Her enthusiasm was adorable, and so counter to his own reticence to explore himself. He wasn’t even that interested in exploring himself, but he felt like through her, he could be. He released her hands so he could instead wrap his arms around her. A smile pulling at his lips.
“I would like that.”
“Yeah?” She smiled, resting her hands on his chest. “I won’t get in your way?”
“Pleaseget in my way,” he begged, making her chuckle, as he rested his forehead against hers. His scalp tugging as his crest began to rise. Only partway, but it was further than it had ever gone. “I still don’t know if I want to do this. I feel like I have to, soI’m going to. But I do know that I want you there. I want to rely on you. Will you let me?”
