Page 52 of Sway’s Peace (Delivery Service #2)

“No,” Veesway answered immediately, sounding relieved.

Like he was glad that Grace wouldn’t be singing again.

He clearly couldn’t appreciate what Sway heard.

“The song the female sings is the male’s mating trigger.

The male then dances for his female. Displaying himself for her.

That is the female’s mating trigger. There is generally a long period of singing and dancing, but it is up to the couple how long that period lasts.

Could be a single mark; could be a full year.

But when the male is ready, he will create a nest for the female.

And when she is ready, they go into it together and seal the bond through sex. ”

Grace gave Sway a coy look up through her lashes.

They only had two rooms at the inn now. Sway could choose to stay with Loyalty, or he could go to her.

It wouldn’t seal the mating bond without the proper triggers and steps needed for him biologically, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t enjoy each other regardless.

“That will come later, of course,” Veesway said, catching their attention again. “A courting process is not a quick event. It is meant to be treasured and valued every day. And, of course, Grace will need to learn about our people and culture. Are humans capable of being vegetarian?”

“Oh, er, yeah,” she said, not quite enthusiastically.

Sway frowned. He was an obligate herbivore.

He physically couldn’t eat meat. Even the synthesized meat – which moral vegetarians could, and did, eat – was not an option for him.

But the same wasn’t true for Grace. He’d seen her eating many things while on the ship, meat included.

It didn’t bother him any more than his diet bothered her.

But the way Veesway spoke, it was like he expected Grace to give up meat. Like she might be in the wrong if she did not.

A thought that was confirmed when Veesway made a grunt of satisfaction.

“Good. I was worried that you might be carnivorous like that 108 you brought with you.”

Grace’s smile turned up to full blast, even as the glint in her eyes sharpened like a blade. “His name is Loyalty. And he’s currently inside a ratchi, and ratchi are not carnivorous. They’re omnivorous, in fact. Like myself.”

Veesway made a sound of disgust. A sentiment echoed on the other male’s face. However, Vweet quickly fixed his expression before he spoke.

“A thing like that has no place in our Song. But that is not important. He’ll be gone soon enough.

I believe we agreed to focus on important things.

Eefwan, would you like to help us in our mission?

We would certainly make a place for you in our organization.

I’ve been serving as second to your father for years.

I would happily take you under my tutelage. ”

“I have a job,” Sway said, even more disturbed by Vweet using his name than Veesway. He didn’t like that name. In fact, that name was dangerous. All his crimes were connected to that name. He couldn’t be called that. “And if it’s all the same to you, I prefer Sway.”

“Sorry?” Vweet actually looked confused, though he was the one who sung Sway’s name the proper way it was meant to be pronounced when they first met, so he obviously knew it.

“I go by Sway.” He looked at Veesway as well. “I would prefer to be called that.”

But Veesway was frowning. “Eefwan is your name. Your mother chose it for you. She spent many days thinking and debating over names before picking that one.”

“And I appreciate that. I do. But it is not how I am addressed any longer.”

“I don’t know that I can do that,” Veesway said, his eyes closed like he was bearing a deep, bone aching pain. “I have nothing left of your mother. I cannot give up the name she picked for you. She loved that name. It is what you have always been in my heart. That cannot change.”

Sway’s eye was twitching. He did appreciate that the name might mean a lot to them, but it did not to him. Sway was the name he picked in this new life. He wasn’t forgetting his old name. He certainly wasn’t disparaging it. He just couldn’t be that person any longer.

“What happened to her? Sway’s mom, I mean,” Grace asked, her hand squeezing his. Changing the subject before Sway could do something that might get them in trouble. Or end this meeting prematurely.

No. Bad thought. Stop thinking bad thoughts.

“Her name was Offwa,” Veesway said, gladly switching topics, his voice filled with longing and pain.

“It took me years to find her after we were separated. But by the time I did, it was too late. She was gone. In a way, I am lucky. I at least found her body and was able to lay her to rest properly. Some cannot even claim that much. And, if nothing else, it was an answer. I could say I knew where she was at last. There was closure in that, even if there wasn’t a lack of pain. Something I could not say for my son.”

He was looking at him again. That deep, loving way that was uncomfortable because it felt too much like it was coming from a stranger. Sway didn’t like it, but he couldn’t figure out a way to say that nicely, so he kept his silence as Veesway grabbed his shoulder.

“I looked for you for so long, my Eefwan,” he said, voice shaking, whistling his words again.

“I had given you up for dead, truthfully. I had no hope that I would actually find you. Only for you to come walking into my office one day like it was nothing. How long were you looking for me? How long did you search? It must have been ages.”

Sway couldn’t answer that. The truth would have been devastating for this male that looked at him with such love. The fact that Sway hadn’t once tried to look for his family was, like many other things in his past, something better left unsaid.

“You are back now,” Veesway continued when the silence dragged on. “And it is uncomfortable at times, I know. But you will recover your identity, and you will be able to forget. You are still whole. You are still one of us. We can rebuild this thing between us.”

Sway didn’t say anything, because he wasn’t sure what to say. It was starting to sound like Veesway expected that he would remain here, in this Song, from now on. Like he was going to turn his back on his crew, on his life, and live here permanently.

And the more apparent that became, the more Sway just wished Tanin and the others would return so he could get back on the Humility. Where he really belonged.