Page 56 of Sway’s Peace (Delivery Service #2)

When he finally got up the next morning, his cock retracted back into his body but not nearly satisfied, it was with the determination to get started.

She needed a feast first. He didn’t know anything about fruit carving or the like.

But he knew that Grace loved trying new and interesting foods.

She was adventurous in small ways. She didn’t want to put herself into dangerous, scary situations, but she did want to expand her experiences.

He liked that about her. So, maybe a feast of new things to try as well as old favorites to enjoy – just to make sure she ate.

Maybe he should find a way to cook her some meat.

She enjoyed that. He wanted to make sure she knew that he wasn’t going to ask her to change her diet, no matter what Veesway and Vweet insinuated last night.

Though, that would be hard in a Song populated practically entirely by farasie. Why wasn’t Loyalty back from his hunting trip yet? He’d be able to help Sway track down some food for his omnivorous mate-to-be.

But when he tried to message him, he didn’t respond. And when he commed him, the 108 didn’t answer.

That was strange. Sway frowned at his floating combot. He had been focused on his own problems, then on the joy of Grace wanting to be his mate, that he hadn’t actually taken the time to consider Loyalty’s disappearance.

And sure, he could accept that the male had gone hunting. Xenoms were bound to whatever diet their host body required, and ratchi, while being omnivorous, were notorious for preferring meat. It made sense that he’d go seek out that food.

It made less sense that he wouldn’t tell Sway about it personally.

And it was absolutely ludicrous that he wouldn’t answer his comm.

Loyalty may have wanted to linger around here for some reason that Sway couldn’t understand, but his ultimate goal was to return to his mate.

Knowing how much he personally craved Grace’s company, he could understand the drive that made Loyalty willing to pay any price in order to make sure it happened.

That was what made Sway concerned though.

Because Loyalty had to keep in contact with Sway in order to know when the others returned and when they were leaving.

Sure, Tanin had given them an approximate date of their return, but it could be sooner or later depending on whatever happened during the course of completing the job.

Loyalty wouldn’t risk this hard won passage back home. So why…?

Before Sway could figure out what he should do about him, someone rang the chime on the door. Sway was genuinely surprised and confused to see Vweet on the other side when he checked the console beside the door. So much so, he very nearly didn’t answer it.

Sway hadn’t spared Vweet or Veesway more than a passing thought since leaving their headquarters.

He had his closure, for whatever it was worth.

Apparently, not much, since Sway didn’t really feel any sense of relief or joy.

Meeting Veesway, talking with him, had done nothing to ease the pressure of his soul’s disquiet.

That sense that something was wrong remained with him, just as strong as it ever was, as the screams of his past continued to shriek in the back of his brain.

He was almost guilty about the fact that his own father meant so little to him now. Especially in the light of how relieved the older male had been to find him.

But he was honestly just eager to get back home, to the Humility, and away from this Song.

He couldn’t make Grace a proper nest in a place like this.

A nest was a place for a female to feel safe and protected.

A place where she would be comfortable laying down with her eggs.

There was only one place like that in Sway’s mind – the Humility.

But until his crew returned, he could still complete the other steps of the mating process.

Why, then, did he need to think about Veesway?

However, that niggling guilt finally persuaded him to open the door.

After all, Veesway was his father and it cost Sway nothing to retain a connection to him.

He might not stay here like Veesway clearly wanted, but he could still leave an open channel of communication.

He could still try to build a relationship between them.

And who knew? Maybe Grace would want hatchlings.

And a proper female like her would want them to be able to have a meaningful bond with their grandfather in a way Sway simply couldn’t.

If his heart was only big enough for Grace, then he could live with that, but he could at least make sure her hatchlings had everything they could want.

That was what finally convinced him to open the door. Vweet smiled brightly as soon as he saw him, crest starting to rise.

“Hello, Eefwan,” he greeted quite warmly.

“I’m glad I was able to catch you before you got started with your day.

Veesway is down in the central square. He likes to meet with the people of the Song there from time to time.

He wanted to know if you would join him.

Just the two of you. I’m merely here to deliver the message this time. ”

He was whistling again. Speaking in their native tongue. Sway couldn’t persuade himself to respond in turn, so he answered in Standard.

“I wanted to spend the day with Grace, actually.”

“Oh, she’s already gone.”

“Gone?” Sway frowned, his crest tightening against his head as his anger rose. “What do you mean she is gone?”

Vweet blinked at him, confused, before saying quickly. “Nothing bad! Of course! Veesway asked some friends of his, females, to escort her today. To teach her about our people. She should be in the square as well. That’s all I meant.”

He seemed genuine. Loyalty being missing meant Sway was probably being overly sensitive. They weren’t going to hurt Grace, of course not. They were farasie. They couldn’t.

He grunted, nodding. “Very well. I’ll speak with Veesway. After I see Grace.”

Vweet, to his surprise, looked suddenly heartbroken. “Brother. I understand you’ve been through a lot… But what horrors could have possibly befallen you that you cannot trust your own kind? You know we would ever do anything to bring her harm.”

They couldn’t hurt her physically. That didn’t mean they couldn’t do her harm.

But Sway didn’t say that. Instead, he leaned into what Vweet clearly believed was another mark of his traumatic experience. And maybe it was, but he wouldn’t do anything until it was proven that Grace was still around and unharmed.

“I will feel better once I see her,” he said, deliberately making his expression and tone fearful and longing. Playing to Vweet’s pity for him to get what he wanted.

Sure enough, Vweet, crest laid low, gave him an understanding smile. “Of course. Are you dressed? We can go now.”

He was. Out of the farasie style costume and back into his comfortable jumpsuit with the high neck and the heavy boots.

He felt more like himself as he stepped back into the hallway.

Though Vweet watched him, confused and hurt, Sway still took the time to first cross the hall to Grace’s room.

To make sure she wasn’t still there, that everything was still in its place.

Once he confirmed that she was indeed gone and there was no sign of a struggle, he finally left and followed Vweet out of the inn and back onto the street.

It wasn’t the first time he walked through the city without one of the others. Their first day here, Vweet had given him new clothes and walked him through. But he hadn’t been paying much attention then, too focused on his own internal disquiet. He was now. It was different.

The music of the Song flowed around him without interruption. His people smiled and greeted him as he passed. There was no bubble of aversion from Loyalty. There was no sense of polite distance from the presence of Grace.

It was the first time he understood really what it was like to walk among his people. And it was stunning. There was a sense of peace and calm that he didn’t recognize. But it wasn’t bad. As they continued moving through, he felt that calm sinking into his body. Easing his discomfort.

They hadn’t hurt Grace. Of course, they hadn’t.

She was safe. This place was safe. These people were safe.

His crest wasn’t fully up, but nor was it lying flat against his head.

It remained somewhere in the middle, partially up, reflecting his general comfort.

Lulled into peace from the beauty of the song that hummed throughout the city.

The central square was busy, as it always seemed to be. The beautiful melodies of the people going about their life was soothing. So much so, Sway didn’t even feel that pressure, that unease, from last night when he caught sight of Veesway.

The older male was talking with a group of others, but when he spotted Sway, he quickly ended the conversation and came towards them instead. He gave Vweet a grateful smile before focusing on Sway, touching his shoulder.

“There you are, my son. Thank you for coming out.”

“Where’s Grace?” Sway asked, cutting him off before he could get into anything else. He might be feeling the peace of his people, but he wouldn’t lose sight of that most important thing first.

Veesway blinked, confused, before chuckling. He pointed. “Over there. I had some friends of mine come meet her. There’s a lot for her to learn about farasie culture. She seems eager to do so. Don’t worry. I’ve been keeping an eye on her.”

Sway didn’t have to search long to find Grace. Not just because she was a drastically different color from the females around her, but it was like his eyes were immediately drawn to her, regardless of the size of the crowd.