Korum grinned. It seemed like small, cute creatures had a thing for him.
Mia’s parents had a lovely place – the epitome of what he thought of as American human. It had a comfortable, lived-in vibe, with overstuffed couches showing minor signs of wear and family photographs everywhere. Korum particularly enjoyed seeing those of Mia as a child. She had been a pretty toddler, with her long curls and big blue eyes. For a second, those photos made h
im ache to hold a daughter of his own, with Mia’s features – a strange and impossible urge he’d never felt before.
Mia’s father walked into the living room just as they sat down on the couch. Mia jumped to her feet. “Dad!”
“Oh, Mia, honey, I’m so glad to see you!” Dan Stalis embraced his daughter, kissing her cheek.
Korum got to his feet as well and extended his hand in a human greeting. “Hello, Dan.”
“Korum, it’s good to see you as well,” Mia’s father said, shaking his hand. He was more reserved than he had been with Mia, and Korum knew her father was still partially on the fence about their relationship. Korum couldn’t blame him; if he had been in the human’s shoes, he wouldn’t have been nearly as accepting of someone taking his daughter away.
“Where’s Marisa?” Mia asked when everybody sat down again. “Is she coming?”
“Yes, she should be here in a few minutes,” her mother replied, still beaming with happiness at having her daughter home. Mia was glowing as well. Watching them, Korum was more convinced than ever that he had done the right thing in reaching out to the Elders. His charl would’ve been miserable if she’d had to watch her parents aging and withering away, knowing all the while that Korum had it in his power to prevent that from happening.
“Can I offer you some tea? Maybe some fruit?” Ella asked, addressing Korum. “Are you two hungry? I made a delicious beet salad yesterday –”
“I’m all right, thank you,” Korum said, softening his answer with a smile. “We ate just before we came here.”
“I’ll take some tea,” Mia said. “But don’t worry, mom – I’ll get it myself.” Getting up, she walked toward the kitchen, leaving Korum by himself with the two older humans.
Ella and Dan Stalis were watching him strangely, almost expectantly, and Korum had a sudden flash of intuition. They thought he and Mia were getting engaged – and likely expected him to ask them for permission, in the old-fashioned human way.
Korum felt an unexpected flicker of regret for letting them down. That wasn’t why he and Mia had come today at all, nor had the idea ever occurred to him before. As far as he knew, no Krinar had ever married a human; it just wasn’t done that way. By claiming Mia as his charl, Korum had already made a commitment to her – even if she didn’t necessarily view it the same way.
To his relief, the doorbell rang again, diffusing the awkward moment. Both humans got up and hurried to the door, letting their older daughter and her husband in. Mia came out of the kitchen as well, a broad smile on her face.
Korum stood up to greet them as they walked into the door. He kissed Marisa on the cheek and shook Connor’s hand, genuinely glad to see the young couple. Mia’s sister was just beginning to show, her trim figure rounding out with the baby, and she looked radiantly happy.
At the light brush of his lips against her cheek, Marisa blushed, her fair skin as sensitive as Mia’s. Korum suppressed a smile. He knew human women found him attractive, and he rather liked having that effect on them. It was better than having them cringe in fear, as they sometimes did because of what he was.
Connor didn’t seem to mind his wife’s reaction, smiling as calmly as before. Korum couldn’t understand his placidity. If Mia had blushed at the touch of another man, that man’s lifespan would’ve been numbered in minutes. Humans were definitely more laid back about such matters; some males were as possessive as the Krinar when it came to their women, but the majority were not.
Mia greeted them next, and then everybody walked back to the couch area.
“All right, baby sis,” Marisa said, taking a seat on the sofa. Her husband pulled up a chair next to her. “Tell us what’s going on.”
Mia took a deep breath and Korum squeezed her hand for encouragement. “I’m immortal,” she said baldly. “I can now live as long as Korum – and if you come with us to Krina, you might be able to also.”
For a moment, there was complete silence in the room. Then everybody started speaking at once. In the cacophony of voices, it was impossible to hear any specific question. Only Dan Stalis was quiet, leaning against a table and observing the proceedings with an expression of mild curiosity on his face.
“You’re not surprised,” Korum said, looking at Mia’s father.
“No,” Dan said. “I’m not.”
“Why not?” Korum asked.
“Because it makes all the sense in the world,” Dan Stalis replied. “How else could you and Mia be together? She has never talked about a future with you, yet she never seems upset when we bring it up. How could that be when she loves you and wants to be with you? And besides, you cured my migraines with nothing more than a small capsule. It’s not that big of a stretch to think your people could cure other things, like cancer or heart disease.” He paused for a second. “Maybe even aging.”
Korum smiled, involuntarily impressed by the human.
“Dan, you never said anything to me.” Ella’s tone was bewildered. “In all the times we discussed Mia, you never once voiced these suspicions to me!” Her voice rose at the end, her eyes narrowing as she stared at her husband.
“It was never anything more than a guess,” Dan said soothingly. “Ella, sweetheart, I didn’t want to get your hopes up in case I was wrong.”
“So are you now a K?” Marisa was looking at her sister with a shocked expression on her face. “Do you drink blood too?”