Page 33 of Not So Stranded
“I mean, technically…” Hiaka said.
“I… I do not know…” Zenori swallowed audibly. “I have no memories of supporting a mate through hosting and delivery.”
And they seemed a bit panicked about that. “Oh, then never mind,” Kit backtracked. “Hiaka can go first, like you always intended. We can learn about supporting them together.”
“Wait, though,” Hiaka said. “You have memories of it all from the parent’s perspective, right?”
“Yes,” Zenori said warily.
“They supported whatever animal was hosting for them, didn’t they?”
“But that was not amate.” And from the sound of it, that mattered to Zenori.
“True,” Hiaka said, “but the things that were done to make the host comfortable are the same things you’d do for a mate.”
“Um,” Kit said, “the elixir makes human hosts…” Since there were kids nearby, he simply pointed to what they were all sitting on. “And I assume that’ll be the same for cecaelia hosts?”
“Okay, not the sexual part,” Hiaka amended. “That definitely didnothappen with the animal hosts. But that’s theonlyexception. And I think it’s a good one because you definitely know how to handle horny mates.”
Zenori huffed a laugh and grinned a bit.
“We could do both of us at the same time,” Hiaka said, “but it’s your choice, Zenori.”
Giving Zenori a chance to think about that, Kit watched Eric and Ty with Primus and Jonah. They were the only ones going over, which he thought was a good thing. A little parental support without an overwhelming crowd of visitors. While they were in a spot that was away from the main dock, it was still out in the open. But it seemed like that side of the lagoon was for babies and their parents, because Larkin’s family was also nearby.
Then Kevin came down to the lagoon from the cabin. He carried a playpen like the other one, but this one was at least twice the size. Clearly wanting to present his gift withoutintruding, he let Eric see it on land, gave his twin a kiss on his cheek, and walked away. Maybe Larkin’s week-old hatchlings and Jonah’s newborns were going to share the space? Suddenly, Kit was itching to see that many adorable babies in one spot.
“We can do both of you at once,” Zenori said.
Hiaka gasped and wrapped their arms—and a few tentacles—around Zenori before peppering their face with kisses. Kit chuckled and waited his turn, leaning in to kiss Zenori properly when he got the chance.
“You’re going to do great,” he encouraged. “I’m pretty sure you just have to make sure I don’t drown. Hiaka will be way easier to manage since theycan’tdrown.”
Zenori rolled their eyes and pulled Kit into a hug.
Tangled up together while sitting on the rock none of them had used yet for its name, Kit started getting ideas for changing that. But before he could act on them or say anything, Hiaka pulled them into the water and swam for the other side of the lagoon. Not for privacy, though, because they were heading right for Michael and Serion.
“We’ve decided,” Hiaka said as they let Zenori go and plopped Kit on the little beach beside Michael.
“Decided what?” Michael asked.
Hiaka squinted at him. “Only theone thingyou’ve asked me every day since we got here.”
“More than once on some days,” Zenori added.
Kit snickered but then pretended to cough into his fist when Michael eyed him.
Serion asked, “What have you decided?”
Hiaka tilted their head back like they were going to issue a challenge. “Kit and I are both going to host at the same time, while Zenori watches over us.”
Michael clapped his hands and whooped before throwing his arms up and yelling again. Kit was already blushing fromHiaka’s announcement, but then he really felt his face heating when Michael grabbed him into a bear hug.
“Ah, this is excellent,” Michael said while holding onto Kit’s shoulders. “If you have any questions, just ask me.”
“Oh, well, we’ve been talking already.” Kit cleared his throat.
“Will you be donating,” Serion asked, “to both of them?”
