Page 3 of Cozy Prisons (Human Pets of Talin: Origins #4)

Falkilm sounded a rumble that sounded like little stocking-clad feet running on a hardwood floor. It was the sound of approval or agreement. In this context, it meant he was pleased with her words.

“Please remain still,” he instructed. “This won’t take long.”

She and all the humans were familiar with being scanned, so she knew the drill. There was a faint humming sound and then it was over.

“You did very well,” he praised. She sat up and pulled the pillow back in her lap. She knew that she didn’t dare leave the table until he’d examined the scan. He or Daxus would simply pick her up and put her back there.

“There is nothing obviously wrong,” he murmured. “It looks as if you might have exercised recently.”

“I went for a hike,” she lied. “I probably went a little too long. That’s all.”

It was the wrong lie.

“By yourself?” Daxus asked, sounding a worried rumble. “That’s dangerous. You could’ve gotten hurt and there would be no one there to help you.”

“I didn’t go far,” she said.

“Your words aren’t logical,” Falkilm argued. “If you went far enough to make yourself so fatigued you became dizzy, that isn’t indicative of a short time spent hiking.”

Nataly sighed. “I guess I went farther than I thought. I won’t go so long or so far next time.”

She could tell neither Talin was happy with her answer, but it was all they were going to get.

“You don’t go alone next time,” Daxus declared. “Or I’ll assign a carrier bot to you. It’ll follow you everywhere you go and inform me if you leave the compound.”

At least he wasn’t threatening to put a tracker on her person.

“I’m going to be too busy for a while to go out anyway,” she assured him.

“I don’t approve of letting the humans work,” Falkilm grumbled.

Nataly rolled her eyes but kept quiet.

The Talins on Arise were split 50/50 between those who accepted that humans could be useful and wanted to do things to help and those who thought humans shouldn’t labor at all, even mental labor.

Thankfully Palathum was in charge of this colony and her word was law, so the humans got to work if they wanted to.

“I want to collect samples for further analysis,” Falkilm said.

“Sure,” she agreed and tilted her neck to give him access to the artery. He pressed a small collection unit against her skin. There was a moment of pressure, and then it was done. She watched as he separated the collector unit from the extractor and popped it into a tabletop machine.

It would take at least a few marks for the machine to finish all the analysis. She didn’t want to spend that much time here.

“Healer Falkilm, are we done?” she asked, softening her voice and looking up at him with a pleading expression. “I bet seeing everyone having a good time would make me feel much better. I haven’t seen anyone all day.”

Was she infantilizing herself? Yes.

Did she care if it got her to the party? No!

Falkilm’s shoulders tensed. “I’d rather you stayed until I finished.”

Nataly tried something she’d never done before: she pouted. “But then I’ll miss everything. Dalia said she was going to make an Old Earth-style cake. I don’t want to miss such a rare treat!”

Falkilm looked up at Daxus. “Will you stay by her side the entire evening? I don’t want to risk her having another spell and injuring herself.”

She barely managed to keep the scowl off her face at the way Falkilm was literally talking over her head.

“I’m right here,” she reminded him with a forced smile.

“I’m very aware you’re here,” Falkilm responded. “I’m asking Daxus because I know he’ll be more diligent about your health than you will.”

Ouch! True, but still, ouch.

“I won’t leave her side,” Daxus said. Then he looked down at her. “Is that acceptable?”

She liked that he was checking in with her, even if her options were still limited. “I guess I'm your date for the evening.”

Both Talins made a rumble that reminded her of a poorly running engine. It was the sound of confusion.

“How can you be a date?” Daxus asked.

“A date is a moment in time, not a person,” Falkilm added. “If you’re this disoriented, maybe you shouldn’t go.”

“It’s a human expression,” she said, quickly jumping off the table before the healer revoked her pass. Falkilm sounded a startled rattle and grabbed for her, but she was already standing.

Her legs felt a little unsteady, but she was able to hold onto the table until they felt firm under her again. To cover the move, she tossed the pillow back on the bed and pretended to tidy the bedding as she explained.

“When humans are interested in forming an intimate relationship with each other, they’ll spend a specific amount of time together doing pre-planned activities. That time is called a date.”

“Oh, I see,” Falkilm said. “I’ll add that to my notes.”

She stifled a chuckle. “You do that.”

Daxus stepped around the table to stand next to her. “If you are assigning our time together as a date, does that mean you’re interested in me as a potential partner or mate?”

His question made her heartbeat kick up for a whole new reason.

Since Daxus's arrival, Nataly had become aware of how long it’d been since she’d partnered up. Her anxiety hadn’t been as bad before, allowing her to leave her home without issue. She’d spent some time hanging with him during communal meals or projects that needed her programming help.

It didn’t take long for her to realize he was funny—for a Talin—kind, and smart. All qualities she appreciated. She thought about pursuing him further, and then she started having problems. Her world narrowed as her anxiety got worse.

Maybe she could use Daxus as a motivation to get better?

“Let’s see how tonight goes,” she said. Feeling steady enough to walk, she let go of the table and hooked an arm around Daxus’s bigger one.

“If tonight goes well, then what will we do?” Daxus asked.

“Go on another date,” she answered.

“Don’t let her move too much,” Falkilm said as he let her lead Daxus out the main door to the medical building instead of the door to Falkilm’s private quarters.

“I will look after her,” Daxus said over his shoulder.

They both ignored Falkilm’s worried rumble.