“I do not like this,” he grumbled.
Terri wasn’t thrilled either, but her overactive imagination kept coming back to the horror of delivering without a medic on their ship, or even being one of the rare casualties of childbirth. The odds would be a lot higher if they were traveling alone onThe Wanderer. The idea of giving birth in general terrified her. She knew that Veral would do everything he could to help her and wouldn’t leave her side, but the idea of having a large family and a trained medic at hand was suddenlyveryappealing.
“Veral, I think we should follow Tarik’s advice and stay,” she interrupted.
His vibrissae puffed out as his eyes whipped to her.
“Why?” he demanded. “We do not need to hide in fear when we are onThe Wanderer. We go where we wish, take the work that appeals to us and provides many credits. You like being alone on the starship with me just as much as I do.”
“Yeah,” Terri hedged. “But this shit scares me, okay? When I thought of my pregnancy, I thought I still had a lot of time before I had to worry about giving birth, but now it’s just weeks away and I’m scared. Anything can go wrong out there, and as much as I love it… and love the adventure of just being out there with you… I really want to be here where there are others to help us. Just in case the worst happens,” she added.
Her mate eyed her skeptically but let out another, far wearier huff and nodded. Stroking a hand down her cheek and along the curve of her jaw, he leaned forward and settled his plated forehead against hers.
“I worry of these things, too. But I also worry of remaining where our enemies are so close.”
“Your mother-kin will help you. We will guard you,” Tarik reminded him. “Regardless of the worries and opinions they may possess on your mating and offspring, we understand our duty to each other. I cannot think of anyone who would betray your presence here and not make certain that your mate and daughter are cared for.”
Veral grunted. “You speak convincingly. Since when does an Argurma have a quick tongue and persuasive manner like a Vashinakar merchant?”
An amused chuff escaped Tarik, and the corners of his mouth upturned into a smile. “It comes from studying interstellar medicine on one of the galactic space stations before I was called home to take my place as the medic of the Monushava line.”
“You could do that?” Terri asked, immediately fascinated.
She didn’t think that Argurma left the planet unless sent out for a specific purpose, or if they were running away from it.
The male chuffed again, his smile widening, showing his sharp teeth as his mandibles vibrated in a happy hum.
“There are allowances made by our council to give the intergalactic councils of allied species a sense that we are willing to work cooperatively with others. It is not always necessarily genuine, but it opens experiences for some of our people. My opportunity was terminated when my older sister died with my parents, leaving the role of medic to fall upon me.”
“Do you miss it?” she asked curiously as he escorted them to the door.
His smile dropped, tinged with an unmistakable look of regret. “I enjoyed the greater opportunities to see and do more, to experience more than what I would find within the confines of the compound. There is little opportunity to find a mate here since few females desire a medic… one with little station within the household. But I am pleased to be here for this momentous occasion,” he added. “I am sending a list of foods that you will wish to avoid during your gestation, as well as those that will be particularly nutritious and pleasing for you. You will find the information waiting for you in your comm.”
“Thank you, Tarik,” she said warmly.
His vibrissae knotted, but he turned and bowed slightly in deference to Veral as they left the medical quarter.
Her mate nudged her lightly with his arm, his expression unreadable as he looked down at her. “You will take care while we are on this planet. Be observant when away from our chambers, and go nowhere without me, Dreth or Navesha. They were the first to swear their protection when they had no reason to, and so I will trust only them with your safety.”
“Right,” she agreed solemnly. Glancing up at him hopefully, she gave him a small smile. “Now can we eat? I’m suddenly starving, and Tarik did say that I will need to eat a lot.”
“Not difficult for you, anastha,” Veral murmured, his eyes alight with amusement.
“Cracking jokes, my love?” She chuckled. “Come on, feed your mate before I start following my nose to whatever appeals to it.”
With an affectionate purr of his mandibles, Veral pulled her beneath his arm and held her tight against his body as he led her through the corridors. She only hoped that it was the way to the kitchens.
10
Veral held in a groan as Terri moaned with pleasure. That coupled with the way she sucked another spoonful of pink mush into her mouth made his civix leap to life within its sheath. His female was going to kill him slowly since there was little to do about his desire with Navesha sprawled in a nearby chair, sharpening her claws on a rough pumice stone imported from the northern volcanic valleys. Due to their conditioning and social norms, it was not considered polite in his society to publicly show affection, much less seduce one’s mate in the company of another.
In consequence, he was resigned to suffer with the surge of lust that raged easily at the slightest provocation from his mate. He glared at her, trying to convince his cousin to leave, but the stubborn female merely smirked at him. He felt a growl of frustration climb up his throat and was about to order her to leave when Terri distracted him with another loud moan that sent a fresh wave of heat through him.
“By the gods, it is so good! I can’t remember anything tasting so good,” Terri declared appreciatively.
“It is versin,” Navesha supplied, her smile broadening beyond what was considered good taste so that a hint of teeth peeked out. “It is made from scourra’s milk blended with the brain of a corafel with several sweet spices. It is a much enjoyed first meal,” she finished approvingly.
Terri paused, her spoon freezing just before her mouth. Veral eyed her with concern. It was difficult to predict at times where his mate’s tolerance for unfamiliar foods might end. He did recall her mentioning that she refused to eat bugs, or anything made of a bodily organ. In retrospect, he should have stopped her when she insisted on trying the sweet versin. His eyes narrowed, and his body tensed as her face turned a sickly hue.