Page 100 of Sway's Peace
“Hey, Vweet,” Grace waved at him happily.
He inclined his head at her before looking at Sway and speaking, in Standard, “Do you mind if I take Grace? Veesway wants to speak with you alone first.”
Sway looked at her with a frown. Unwilling to be parted. Ever again, really, but especially right now. Though he’d had her in his arms all day – and night –it was still too soon. But she returned his look with a smile of her own.
“Go,” she encouraged, nudging his side. “Vweet and I will take a walk around.”
Sway still wasn’t convinced but Vweet chuckled, patting his shoulder. “Don’t worry. I’ll take good care of your female. Like she were one of my own nestmates.”
Sway blinked, startled. He hadn’t expected such a declaration. “Why?”
“Hm?” Vweet cocked his head.
“Why would you treat her like family?” Sway pressed, his arm going around Grace’s waist, pulling her into his side as she giggled.
Vweet laughed along with her. “Well, she practically is, isn’t she? Veesway is like… Oh, well, I suppose it would be rude and presumptuous of me to say he’s like my father to his blood son, but…” He turned his head, coughing self-consciously. “It is true though, that I consider Veesway close like a parental figure. He’s guided and taught me for a long time. And if that is true, then you must be like a nestmate of mine as well. Which, in turn, would make Grace like a nestmate too…”
It was a lot of stretching. Really, Sway could call it foolishness. But Vweet seemed so sincere in the declaration. And Grace was smiling at him.
Maybe this was normal. Maybe this was how normal people thought.
“Alright,” he said, his grip loosening. “I’ll trust her to you then.”
Vweet chuckled, giving him a smile. “I don’t know how long you’ll be. Veesway wouldn’t tell me what’s going on, but it seemed serious. So, take your time. If it gets too late, I’ll escort Grace back to your inn myself.”
“Don’t worry about me,” Grace said, touching his arm. “Go. Enjoy the time with your father.”
Sway hesitated only once more before nodding, agreeing to do so. But he remained in place, watching as Vweet guided Grace up the street. He watched until she was out of sight. A thrill went down his back every time she glanced over her shoulder, as if to check that he was still there, and caught his eye. Every time it happened, she would smile, squinch her nose, then look back at Vweet.
Yes. This must be normal. A sweet, happy, pleasured female smiling at you. A sense of purpose and belonging. Family. Even if it was an extended version of one. For whatever bond he might be forging between himself and his father, and even himself and Vweet.
It felt good to be normal. At long last, it felt like he was shedding the last of the burdens, the weights, the chains, that living on Rik-Vane had saddled him with.
When Sway eventually turned away, heading to meet with his father, it was with a smile.
The courtyard was filled with people. Though it was getting late, that didn’t mean it was time for them to go to sleep. Really,the night had just begun. There was a lot of fun still left to be had even when the sun went down.
But as he stepped into the crowd, Sway’s crest immediately flattened as his instincts went on high alert. And it took a moment for him to realize why.
The music of the Song was muted.
The musical whistle of his people’s voices created a symphony that filled the air with a beautiful melody that was as chaotic as it was lively. In a crowded street, it was a lovely cacophony that was always pleasant on the ears.
But now, for no reason he could discern, it was a low hum. Discordant. Uneasy.
Restless.
Sway was on edge as he walked through the crowd. Were they staring at him? No. Were they deliberately looking away…?
They were avoiding him.
Some were staring. Some were deliberately casting their eyes to the side. Others were staring only until he glanced in their direction, then they quickly looked away. But they were all giving him a wide berth as he walked through the crowd.
Not at all dissimilar to how they treated Loyalty.
Just remembering the reptilian male made a chill go down Sway’s spine. He had been so focused on his joy with Grace, on reconnecting with his father and his people, he’d somehow forgotten the other person who had come here with them.
It didn’t take days for a ratchi to hunt. Their sense of smell was very strong, and especially in a humid, tropical sort ofenvironment like this, he would have no shortage of places to hunt. Up to and even including the bay itself. As a xenom, he would have the same abilities as the ratchi that he had taken over.
