Page 40 of Sway’s Peace (Delivery Service #2)

Sway was packing. He was tossing his clothes in a bag that was sitting open on his bed.

Grace was perched beside it, watching him move around the room.

She wasn’t saying anything, but he appreciated her silent presence.

The last time he’d been planetside had been as a youngling, before Rik-Vane.

He almost wasn’t even sure what to bring.

An emergency beacon, of course, in case he was separated from the others.

A small med kit in case someone was injured.

Emergency rations for at least a couple days.

He’d already hidden his old claws inside before bringing the bag into his room to pack.

He shouldn’t need them, but just in case.

He was packing like he was expecting to survive an attack, but he didn’t know what else to do.

They’d swung into subspace. Once inside, he didn’t need to do much. Especially not now that the crystals were fresh and charged. He would be more necessary when they swung back into real space and he had to navigate to the colony world, but he had a free moment now.

They were going to be landing within the Song’s compound, and he wanted to be ready for a few days on the surface, just in case.

Tanin had gone off to tell the crew that they would linger there for a short while, despite their previous plans.

And the others would go along with it because Tanin made the decision.

They followed him without question, so they probably wouldn’t even wonder about the change.

But it would be hard to miss the real reason once – if – Sway encountered the male that was his father.

“Everyone here is so supportive,” Grace said, smiling after Sway told her about them deciding to come along. They might not know the reason, but they traveled together as a unit regardless.

“Supportive?” He repeated, confused by the conclusion she had drawn. “I don’t think that’s right.”

“Aren’t they though? Tanin didn't even hesitate to agree to stay. And now the others are coming as well? Isn’t that to support you?”

“Probably not,” Sway sealed the bag. “It’s more likely that they’re coming along for the sake of protection. We can’t be sure there won’t be some form of hostility down there.”

She chuckled, like he’d said something amusing. “Isn’t that the same thing? Your friends are coming along to support and protect you.”

“We’re not friends.”

“Aren’t you?” She asked, cocking her head with a teasing smile on her face.

“No.” He said simply, confused about the question. “We don’t… You don’t have friends on Rik-Vane. You can have a gang. People still band together for strength and protection. But even trusting those people can be foolish. That’s all we are. We’re a gang with a common goal in mind.”

“Are you sure about that? You guys all seem close. You hang out. You watch each other’s backs. You work together for your future. You’re practically family, right?”

“That’s only because we need each other. We’re dependent on all of us for our survival.”

“So, does that mean you don’t like them?”

“I wouldn’t say that either.” Sway came to a halt in front of her. “I respect the others. I appreciate them. I even enjoy their company. I guess.”

Grace snickered like he was saying something silly. “Where I’m from, we call that friendship.”

“No, it’s a mutually beneficial partnership.”

“So is friendship.”

Sway cocked his head, looking at her. Garnet and Goldie had a tendency to refer to them all as friends as well.

Sway would never have called them as much, and he was certain the others wouldn’t either.

It just didn't seem right. Friendship was for children, or for innocents like Grace. He’d already seen her making friends with the other females.

He even rather liked it. He wanted Grace to enjoy the other females’ company. It meant that she was comfortable here. Females were meant to group together in such a way. And if she were comfortable here, there was a greater chance that she would want to stay.

He liked that for her. He wanted it for her. But for himself…?

Friendship involved intimacy and vulnerability that would be nothing but a weakness.

He could never show such a thing to the others, and he knew they wouldn’t show him that either.

They already relied and trusted each other more than anyone on Rik-Vane would have ever allowed.

Tanin made sure of it when he recruited them.

If they couldn’t trust each other to be completely devoted to their goal, to protecting their way of life, it wouldn’t work.

In that way, he supposed, Grace was right. They were closer to each other than anyone.

But labeling each other as friends just seemed…

“You should rely on them,” she said, taking his hands. Holding them tenderly. “You guys look out for each other, right? I think they’re coming with you because they want to make sure you’re okay. This is a big deal. Have any of you met up with your families since you escaped?”

“No,” he said immediately, staring down at her hands, at the way her fingers interlaced through his. “I am the only one who has still living family that hasn’t cut them off.”

Grace frowned. “Whose family cut them off?”

“Trove’s. He was dishonored among his people. And Vytln. His family, I believe, are trying to kill him. The rest of us don’t have living family anymore.”

“Except you now.” She smiled. “Are you excited?”

“Honestly? No. I… I don’t know if I want to meet him. That’s wrong, isn’t it? Shouldn’t I be happy that my father survived?”

“You’re nervous. That’s normal.”

“Is it?”

“Sure! This is a big moment. But your dad created this Song, this whole colony, because he lost you. Right? He didn't do this before, did he?”

“No.” Sway’s memories were faded, but he at least remembered that much. “My parents were artists. My father painted and my mother made mosaics. They were good. At least, I remember them being good. People told me they were growing up.”

“See?” She smiled, getting to her feet. Slightly closing the distance between them.

“I bet he’s spent all this time apart dreaming of the day he could find you.

He’s probably going to have a lot of big feelings when he sees you too.

Whatever you’re feeling though, good or bad or whatever else, it’s okay.

You’re not wrong for dreading this or being afraid of it.

It’s an important moment. It might lead to great things.

But it’s okay to be uncertain about what’s going to happen. ”

“I’m sorry.”

She started in surprise. “Sorry? Why?”

“We’re just starting to get to know each other. I feel like I’m relying on you too heavily now for this.”

“No way!” She snapped immediately. “I want to be here for you with this. Sway, I-...” She hesitated and his head cocked as she shifted her weight, cheeks turning a bright shade of pink.

“I know we haven’t known each other long, but I feel so comfortable with you.

This thing between us… it feels right. Doesn’t it? ”

His heart pounded heart in his chest as he whispered, “You feel it too?”

“I do! You do?” She was bouncing on her heels now, like she was barely resisting throwing herself at him. He wished she wouldn’t. He wanted to hold her. Always. “Sway, h-how do your people mate?”

“I… I don’t know.”

The soft confession stole some of her excitement. Which he hated. But he had no other answer, only an explanation he knew would make her sad.

“I wasn’t really old enough when I was taken to have talked about those kinds of things yet. And it wasn’t something I ever bothered to learn. Honestly, before you, Grace, I was never really interested in sex or mating.”

“You’re a virgin?”

“No. That was taken from me long ago. The Master… It doesn’t matter now,” he shook his head quickly, ending that conversation before that look of horror could deepen on her face.

“I just never cared before you. There are a lot of things about my own people I don’t remember anymore, or never knew before I was taken.

That’s just one of them. I do know that I’m meant to make a nest for you.

I do know that I should display for you.

But that’s about the extent of my knowledge. ”

Her gaze traveled up, looking at his crest. It was still tight against his head.

He’d felt it trying to lift a few times around her, but it never went far.

He honestly couldn’t remember the last time his crest had raised or his tail feathers spread.

Even now, they were both closed tight, his crest pointing down his back, his tail feathers collapsed into one, long line.

“It’s okay,” Grace smiled. “We can reclaim that part of your life too. We can learn and explore all of that together.”

“Reclaim it, huh…”

“Sure. Like your pacifism and your family. You can relearn your culture and your history. All of those things were stolen from you. But you can get them back!”

Sway chuckled. Her enthusiasm was adorable, and so counter to his own reticence to explore himself. He wasn’t even that interested in exploring himself, but he felt like through her, he could be. He released her hands so he could instead wrap his arms around her. A smile pulling at his lips.

“I would like that.”

“Yeah?” She smiled, resting her hands on his chest. “I won’t get in your way?”

“ Please get in my way,” he begged, making her chuckle, as he rested his forehead against hers.

His scalp tugging as his crest began to rise.

Only partway, but it was further than it had ever gone.

“I still don’t know if I want to do this.

I feel like I have to, so I’m going to. But I do know that I want you there.

I want to rely on you. Will you let me?”

“Yes,” she breathed, her eyes shutting, a smile stretched across her face. “Yes, I will.”