Page 62 of Slow Heat

“Let’s not get mired in that discussion. That’s for our lawyers to help us figure out.”

“Fair enough. Who’s Zephyr?” he asked again.

“My cat.”

“Oh, you have a pet?” Due to Pater’s allergies and fragile state, he’d never been allowed one. He’d always envied Xan his fluffy dog and his classmates all their various cats, gerbils, and birds. “Is it a boy or a girl?”

“A girl.”

“Wow. That’s amazing. Can I look at her sometime?”

Girls were fascinating beasts. It was stunning to Jason that once upon a time there had been human females, too. He’d seen pictures of them in Old World art.

Vale’s tone held a smile. “If Zephyr wants you to see her, then you will. She’s a magician and a marvel at hiding if she’s nervous.”

“What color is she?”

“Silver.”

“Oh, she sounds lovely.”

“She can be. She’s also very good at knocking things over. She has a true talent for that. And sometimes she bites. She’s either a doll or a demon.”

Jason laughed. “Changeable. Like the wind.”

“Very much like the wind.”

“So, today at university was strange,” Jason ventured, answering Vale’s initial question now that he didn’t feel like such a child about it. “Everyone had heard about me imprinting on you.”

“I imagine your cohorts had a lot to say about it.”

Jason frowned, remembering Wilbet Monhundy’s taunting.Your omega’s a slut. Your omega’s all used up.If it hadn’t been for the massive amounts of alpha quell in his system keeping him unnaturally calm, he might have punched him.

“You don’t have to save my feelings, Jason. I’m sure you were teased about my age.”

Jason sighed. “But you’re beautiful and perfect and smart and talented. They’re just jerks. Jealous jerks.”

But he knew that wasn’t entirely the case. Sure, they were assholes, but none of them especially envied Jason for imprinting on an older omega. Most of them wanted the usual experience of finding an age-mate match, even if theyweretitillated by the idea that Jason might have already consummated with Vale.

At least he only had to put up with them for two more days before the University closed so students could be home in plenty of time for the second Autumn Nights feast on Saturday. As the Feast of the Expectant Wolf, it was the most holy of the three.

“Mm, well, omega persuasion is a bit blinding. But I’m glad you’re not entirely dissatisfied with me.” Jason had a strange sense that Vale had left off the wordyet. “And your professors? How are they treating you? Some might have some trouble reconciling that one of their colleagues is now yourÉrosgápe.”

“They’ve been fine.” Though Professor Shriner had suggested he watch ahead of the class on the educational films in preparation for consummation. Jason had broken out in a cold sweat at that. “All my teachers are being really generous about giving me enough time to complete my make-up work.”

“I’m glad everyone’s being fair.”

“Well, professors are for sure. The others…well, I can’t blame them if they’re acting a little different from usual.” His stomach shriveled as he remembered the way people whispered when he walked by and how he’d been shunned at lunch, like mere contact with him would make them imprint on the next random professor to walk by. “They probably didn’t mean the things they said.” Though he suspected Wilbet Monhundy absolutely did.

“Do you want to talk about that or how it made you feel? I don’t think it’s likely to change as time goes on. People will talk about us this way forever if we contract.”

Jason grimaced. “It doesn’t matter what other people say. I’ve never cared about that anyway.”

“But you’re Yule Sabel and Miner Hoff’s son. You’ll have a role to fill in society when you inherit your father’s company.”

“I want to be a scientist. I’ll let someone else run Father’s company.”

“You’ll be expected to be the figurehead, attend the right parties, schmooze with the right people.”