Page 139 of Sway's Peace
“Thanks,” she breathed taking it gently. She frowned between it and his wrist. “Did that… hurt? I know your blood isn’t, like, blood, it’s you. I didn’t just take your finger or something right?”
Loyalty laughed. “I will say, it probably hurts me more to do that than you. I don’t really have a ‘blood’ to sample, but I promise I can lose that much without damaging myself. I’ll recover. And that sample won’t hurt you or gain sentience or something. Despite how some people think, that’s not how our bodies work.”
She beamed, clutching the vial close to her chest. “Thank you, Loyalty. You’re a really good friend. I can’t wait to see your baby.”
“I could say the same to you,” he grinned, making her squeak as her face burned. She couldn’t help but dart her gaze up to Sway, away, then back again. “I plan on breeding my mate the moment I get back. Shall we have a race to see who has their youngling first?”
“We’d win,” Sway said. “Farasie females lay their eggs after three tendays.”
“Ah, but it takes much longer for them to hatch,” Loyalty smirked. “My kind don’t spawn in eggs, therefore my young would be here first.”
“Should get to work then,” Sway said, putting her arm around her waist.
“S-Sway!” She sputtered, her cheeks burning hotter.
Footsteps signaled Tanin and Garnet’s arrival as the two males laughed at her.
“Can I get in on this baby bet?” Garnet asked, grinning.
“Doesn’t count if you’re already pregnant,” Sway said easily as Loyalty nodded along.
“We’re ready to go,” Tanin said, touching Garnet’s arm. “I’ll be back soon.”
“Have fun,” she nodded happily.
“Bye, Loyalty,” Grace beamed, stowing the vial back in her pocket so she could give him a hug. A move that clearly surprised him, because it took a second for him to hold her back.
“We’ll see each other again, I promise,” Loyalty said affectionately. “And if you ever need help, be sure you call on me first.”
Grace nodded, stepping back into Sway’s waiting arm. Her mate nodded at Loyalty before saying-
“The same goes for you. I won’t forget your, well, loyalty.”
He chuckled. “I earned my name for a reason. I’m ready if you are, captain.”
Tanin nodded, walking past him to the shuttle.
Grace stayed in place even after the door shut, the shuttle launched, and Garnet left to go back to whatever chores she set herself for the day. The sorrow of saying goodbye was twisting in her chest, making tears prick at her eyes.
“You’re not saying goodbye forever,” Sway reminded her gently, pulling her into his embrace.
“I know,” she pouted. “But I still don’t like it.”
He chuckled, kissing the top of her head. She didn’t like it, but she couldn’t deny it was very comforting to have Sway hold herlike this. She was saying goodbye to someone else, but she wasn’t being left alone this time. She would never be alone again-
“Got you!”
They jumped apart, looking over as Vytln suddenly yanked up a panel in the floor, revealing a whole lot of wires and cords that made no sense to her. She hadn’t even heard him sneaking in. However, whatever he was chasing down must have because the space was empty.
Cursing in his native tongue again, he dropped the panel with a loud clatter before stomping out, grumbling under his breath.
Grace and Sway started laughing. It was a ridiculous way to end the moment, but at least she could say she wasn’t feeling so sad anymore.
Chapter 37
Sway
Grace passed the vial of Loyalty’s blood off to Garnet, who took it up into the upper bridge. Sway imagined that Alred’s core was hidden up there somewhere. Though, why he was putting the vial near his core was confusing to him. If he wanted to study it, wouldn’t it be better to have it in the med bay where all their bio safe scanners were?
