Page 91 of Guiding Desire
Orrey’s father rolled his eyes, and Livis simply ignored her female partner. As Senlas and Orrey followed through to the dining room, past the art his mother had collected and the childhood photographs, Orrey got treated to watching Senlas in glances.
The Guardian took in everything with interest, eyes lingering on the family photos. A smile quickened on his lips when he saw the one from back when Orrey had started school, dressed in his new uniform and wearing a bright, gap-toothed smile.
I wonder if he was already tall when he was that age.
But more than that, Orrey realized that he had never brought a lover here, had never thought of bringing one, not because his parents wouldn’t have liked it, but because Orrey himself had never had anyone he’d have wanted to introduce.
And yet, this Guardian, tall and broad-shouldered, dressed in fashionable clothes that were tailored to bring out all the features of his body, he fit Orrey. He shouldn’t have, not that easily, not that quickly, but he did.
Orrey smiled and leaned into Senlas’s side. It pulled the Guardian’s focus away from the pictures.
“You look happy, kitten.”
The smell of berry stew and folded raska pancakes hung in the air, mixing with Senlas’s scent to create a flavor of home, old and new.
“I am. Let’s eat.”
Theystayedforalittle over two hours. Senlas chatted with Orrey’s parents, keeping the conversation going with ease, getting along with them better than Orrey could have ever expected. After everything else, just this was a relief.
Umara was in the process of explaining his interior design philosophy to Senlas when Orrey leaned back in his chair to cover a yawn.
Otanna poked Livis with her elbow, chuckled. “Don’t tell me you’re getting little sleep.”
“Mom.”
“Sleep and hydration,” Livis said, one finger raised. “I learned that’s important when dealing with your other mom and dad.”
“Mommy, please, stop it.”
“Senlas, we didn’t raise our child to be that easily embarrassed,” Umara said. “I conclude you must be doing something right.”
Senlas leaned over to Orrey, and Orrey’s chair just…Moved. Not much, but a good decimeter closer to Senlas’s, who was squeezing Orrey’s shoulder.
“I think you raised him to be perfect for me. He’s learning to channel though, and that can tire out a new Conduit easily, even a talented one. Kitten, if it’s all right with you, I think we should head out soon.”
Orrey nodded. “Yes, of course. Moms, Dad, we have to meet with the rest of Senlas’s team after this.”
Otanna pointed her spoon at Orrey. “You are coming back here. With the lot of them? I’d still like to thank Conduit Coldis for giving us updates about you when you got hurt. It’s a relief that’s not going to happen ever again now.”
“If it’s no inconvenience to them, Mom,” Orrey said. And wondered whether he was really beyond hurt when he set foot outside the wall. Not that he was going to tell her about that now.
Senlas’s hand wandered from Orrey’s shoulder to the small of his back, and he said, “It’s not an inconvenience. I already let Col know. He’ll probably be the one to set something up with you all, but I will warn you; if you offer this kind of feast to the team, they will make a point of finishing everything.”
“Huh,” Umara said. “I think that’s a challenge. And a reason to bring out the nice glassware.”
“We accept that challenge,” Otanna said, crossing her arms like Umara had. Livis laughed between them.
Orrey put on his best smile for the three of them as he tried to avoid thinking of all the things beyond the walls, the people who lived there and weren’t safe. That image, families like his, but huddling in whatever they could scrounge up for shelter, families never knowing the comfort of a home, of a meal around a dinner table… It made his mind go to the Judiciary. To his oath.
Uphold the laws, safeguard the people within the walls. Don’t I at least owe those people outside to try getting them into this city? Maybe there is a way Coldis simply hasn’t seen or never thought of, and maybe if life here is explained to them, they’ll want that too.
The idea seemed ambitious, but it settled into the rough shape of resolution. Orrey was not fool enough to think that he’d be able to do anything right away, not if Col hadn’t managed, but perhaps with time. And determination. With everyone realizing that outcome would benefit all.
“I said, should I pack you up some of this to take home with you?” Livis said.
Orrey looked up from his lap as Senlas gently tapped a finger against his back as if to wake him from his daydreams.
“Oh, no, thank you.”
