SINATH
One Year Later
“You’re leaving the office early?” Rektar comes to my desk, his data-pad in hand, and glances at the schedule. “And off work tomorrow. It’s unlike you to request a mid-week schedule change. Is there a problem?”
“No problem,” I tell him, grinning. “It’s going to snow tonight, so Devin and I are going to celebrate Christmas.”
“Ah.” He nods. “Lucy wants to do ours soon.”
“Speaking of Lucy, do you have any of those star-shaped cookies left that she brought in? I’d love to bring some home for Devin.”
He rubs the base of his horns and clears his throat, then brushes a few crumbs off the front of his uniform. “No, I’m afraid they’re gone.”
I smirk. Once upon a time, I’d have given him so much shit for eating all of them. That, and the gut he’s acquiring due to his mate’s excellent cooking. But I get it now. Being with Devin makes everything different, and I can’t mock the guy for being so devoted to his mate that he’s obsessed with everything about her, right down to her cooking.
I get it. It’s what we mesakkah do when we’re in love.
Just like I told Devin, I’ve been madly in love with her since that first night at Liesje’s. She’s consumed my thoughts and my life, and I’ve never been happier. Being with my mate is…well, I laughed when Khex, Rektar and Ainar would wax philosophical about how their mates were everything to them. I’m not laughing any longer. Being mated is incredible, and the fact that it’s Devin in my arms every night just astounds me. I keep waiting for her to come to her senses and get tired of me, but she only tells me I’m silly and then kisses me all over and I feel even luckier than ever.
Which reminds me. I close down my work data-pad and pull out my personal one. “I should head out. I need to pick up a few things before heading home.”
“Tell Devin I said hello,” Rektar says with a nod, and leaves me be.
Before I leave the office, I send a comm to Liesje’s farm.
She answers immediately, her tone tart. “Make this fast, Sin. I’ve got cookies in the oven and I don’t want them to burn.”
“And a warm greeting to you, too, Liesje,” I tease. “Are those cookies for me? Or Devin?”
“Nope. I’m bringing them to the docks. One of the men said he liked my cooking and another offered to pay me if I’d bake them something. This place needs a bakery. I can’t believe the dock boys get nothing but dry ration bars and whatever swill they’re serving in that cantina.” Liesje grumbles to herself. “Just trying to make those poor fools spend all their credits on beer and gambling.”
“You’re a good female, Liesje. You’re going to make some male an excellent mate.”
“Mate shmate. Those men need a mother, not a spouse.” But she sounds pleased at my words. Liesje won’t admit it, but I know she’s been going up to the dock apartments—where all the port employees that run the shipyards live—several times a week for the last few months.
I don’t know if it’s because she just needs someone to take care of and look after, or if she really does have a love interest, but I’m glad she seems happy and busy.
“My cookies are about to burn, so spit it out.”
“We’re celebrating our Christmas tonight since it’s going to snow. I’m picking up a new tree for Devin and I thought I’d ask if you want to come by. You’re welcome to stay the night, too. It can be just like last year.”
“Christmas, hmm?” She thinks for a moment. “No, I’m busy tonight, but that gives me an excellent idea. Someone needs to introduce those boys to a proper holiday. I bet I have the ingredients for a lovely stollen…”
“All right then, Devin will come by your farm with your present later this week. Should I spoil it for you?”
“No! That’s terrible!” Liesje laughs. “Why would you do that?” Then she pauses. “Is it a scarf?”
“You asked me not to tell—”
“It’s a scarf. I saw her working on it the other day.”
Kef. Devin’s going to think I told her. I’m not great at keeping secrets, and it exasperates my mate sometimes. “I didn’t say anything!”
“I will pretend to be properly surprised,” Liesje reassures me. “Tell Dev I saidVrolijk Kerstfeest!”
I laugh, knowing I’m not going to be able to mimic her tongue-tangling human words. “I’ll tell her.”
* * *