Page 79 of 20% Stud 80% Muffin
Blant, I hated these lessons. Every conversation with my father was a guessing game. What does he want me to say? I inhaled till my ribs ached—get yourself together—while my tail kicked up snow drifts behind me.
“High Regent Tuniga.” I bowed my head. “To what do I owe the honor of this call?”
Is that adequate?
“You are formally summoned to return to Lorne for your nephew’s naming.” His eyebrows pinched, a small tell that he was doing something distasteful. “My personal shuttle will arrive in Yurstille tomorrow. Prepare for your departure.” He reached to end the call.
I blew out a breath, surprised to discover his alpha voice no longer compelled me to do his bidding.
“Wait, Father…” I gulped. “The youngling’s time is not for three weeks. How is Jast’s health?”
“You will refrain from addressing me as father.” His jaw clenched as he spat out the words. Disdain bled through his usually emotionless voice. “The youngling has come early. Also, I expect you to be attired in an official capacity. You can leave that ridiculous head cover behind.” The com ended with the same abruptness it had begun.
It’s nice to see you too, Father. I’m doing great. Thanks for asking.
My tail swooshed off the ground, showering snow and hugged my waist. “I need to com my brother and make sure everything’s all right.” My hands shook so much that I couldn’t correctly hit the commands on my wristport.
Geo tugged me into his side, settling my jangling nerves, and he typed in the request for a vid com to Bonic. Moments later, my brother’s happy smile appeared in front of us, and I collapsed into Geo’s side, exhaling a huge lungful of air.
“Congratulations, brother!”
“Congratulations!” Geo and Ginger shouted.
“How are Jast and the youngling?”
“They are well and resting happily in our nest.” Bonic beamed. “How did you know? It’s only been a short time.” His eyes narrowed. “Ah, Father commed you. Mother’s going on about the naming ceremony and how the advisers are outraged that the High Lord Tuniga will not be present. Apparently, he has buckled under the pressure.” He snorted distastefully.
“He has commanded my return,” I said quietly.
“Although Father’s being Father and forcing you, I’m happy you will be present. I know you’ll love my son with all your heart no matter where you live.” A newborn cried in the background. “I must be off now.” Chest forward, he ended the com, a new father with a purpose.
“Congratulations, Uncle.” Ginger hugged me. “Or should I say High Lord Tuniga?” She placed her hands on her hips and shook her head. “Off-planet for the first time, and I meet royalty too. I wondered about Janny. You certainly have moved up in the world, Geo.” She wandered away to get more furs from the dwelling, muttering, “That Jast is going to get an earful from me. I spent two dayswith her, yet not a single mention of royalty. Hmmm…I wonder what the market might have for a royal baby?”
“She’s a bit of a galactic storm, isn’t she?” I reached for Geo’s hand and chuckled at Ginger’s tendency to drift from topic to topic in a heartbeat. “Hard to keep up with her.” Then my smile dropped. No matter how much I wanted to meet my nephew, I had no desire to return to Lorne.
Geo turned to face me and pulled my forehead down to his. “Hey, are you okay?” His mitts slid over my bulky jacket in a soothing gesture. “That was a lot.”
“Yeah.” I’d not fully digested the conversations yet. “I’m an uncle, Geo.” Then I straightened my shoulders.
“Yeah, little lion, you are.” Geo kissed the tip of my cold nose again.
“My father’s alpha voice has no power over me any longer.”
He clasped both of my mitted hands. “That’s a good thing, right?”
I nodded, my words stuck in my throat.
Geo’s alpha voice wrapped around me like a warm blanket, and my nose filled with summer fields on a crisp snowy morning. “Here is what we’ll do. You and Ginger will sell your mittens and hats. We’ll get gifts for the baby and your family”—he swung my arms a little—“and make a plan for the dogs and Ginger. It’ll be fine.”
It’ll be fine…
Blant, it wouldn’t be fine. My parents would never accept an off-worlder as a potential mate. Geo can’t come. My heat was nearly on me. It would be absolute agony without him. He has to come. I could handle my parents’ wrath, but I couldn’t handle the abuse they’d rain down on Geo. He has to stay here.
With the cold season upon Tern, the bustling market had migrated indoors. The windows of a giant greendwelling, operated by a couple of enforcers as a side project, dripped with condensation, and the potted plants we walkedthrough spiced the air with their exotic scents. Ginger carried my beat-up duffel bag loaded with hats and mittens. While we unloaded our goods, my mind remained unsettled, plagued by indecision.
Everyone shed their warm outer clothes as they met the steamy inside air. I wished I could shed the doubts about my trip to Lorne so easily. Thankfully, Ginger took on most of the transactions. My sole purpose diminished to plastering on smiles in response to customers eager to purchase our dwindling supply of hats and mittens.
Ginger answered another question about her hair as she sat beside me. Most of Yurstille’s residents had never encountered a female from Earth before, and they were curious. JayJay loomed nearby like a silent guard, awkwardly out of speaking distance, but noisy in his presence. And Geo had disappeared amid the masses, but the tether would lead me to him if needed.
