Page 90 of Cozy Prisons
“You knew. Nataly knew. Why didn’t I know?” he asked, sounding a mournful rumble.
“I found out the night Hale and Cassius got into a fight,” she explained.
“That’s why your scent changed!” Utharium said with an excited rattle. “You’re not dying! I thought you were dying, and that’s why you wouldn’t tell me what Falkilm found out. Do you know how terrified I’ve been?”
“I’m sorry, Utharium. I should’ve told you.” She rubbed her hands over her face. “I was going to tell you, but then everything happened.”
”We’ve been peacefully camping here for five rotations,” Utharium said. “Five rotations! You had plenty of time to tell me!”
She was quiet for a moment, then finally spoke. “I was scared.”
Utharium flinched back. “Of me?”
She moved fast, grabbing hold of him and holding on tight. “No, never scared of you.” She let out a mournful rumble. “What if the life growing inside me didn’t make it?”
Understanding made his feelings of anger and betrayal vanish. “Then we’d grieve together.”
He pulled out of the hug and sank to his knees in front of her. He put his face to her belly and whispered to their future child.
“I don’t know you yet, but I’m ready to die for you. I swear to you that I will be there for every moment. I will care for you as no parent has ever cared for a child. You will always know you’re safe and cherished.”
He felt something drop on top of his head. He looked up to see bonding oil dripping down Palathum’s cheeks. He reached up and gathered some of her oil in his hand and then squeezed his own scent glands until his hands were covered in both their oil. Then he rubbed it over her belly.
“Know these scents, my child,” he murmured without breaking eye contact with Palathum. “This is the scent of safety and adoration.”
“Yes,” Palathum said, her voice thick with emotion. She put her hands over his, pressing them against her stomach.
He knew it was far too soon to feel or hear their child, but he could’ve sworn he sensed a life within Palathum responding to them.
Closing his eyes, he pressed his face against Palathum’s sternum. “Whoever they are, they will be perfect.”
Palathum hugged his head and shoulders. “As all children are.”
Chapter 28
Daxus
As Daxus expected, far more crew than necessary came down on the ferry ships to help load them and their possessions. The crew mostly ignored the other Talins and rushed to assist the humans. Grace, Merrick, and Maeve got the most attention, especially Maeve.
It would’ve been amusing if he weren’t concerned about Maeve getting separated from her parents. He stopped worrying when Utharium assigned Massium and Torcimus to personally attend the family and insulate them from all the attention.
The next favorite human for the crew to pay special attention to was anyone without an obvious partner. Hale, Cassius, Decard, and Sima ended up with several Talins “helping” each of them.
Cassius, Decard, and Sima took it in stride, but Hale seemed suspicious. Their anger and resentment had all but disappearedsince the night they shared their memories with all the other humans, but they were still distrustful of outsiders.
“She has to come with us!”
Nataly’s sharp demand drew Daxus's attention. He’d been under the ferry loading their things. Shoving a last bag in, he rushed out from under the ferry to see Nataly standing next to the old mover bot.
A crew member stood in front of the mover, keeping it from continuing to the ferry. “I’m sorry, Human Nataly, but there’s simply no room.”
“Can’t you make some room, or take a second trip?” Nataly asked. “She’s really not that big.”
Daxus reached Nataly at the same time as Utharium. The crew member ignored them and continued to address Nataly.
“I’m sure the captain would be happy to give you one of our nice mover bots,” she said. “There’s no reason to bring this half-broken bot on board.”
“Bop is not half broken!” Nataly protested.
