Page 86 of Sway’s Peace (Delivery Service #2)

Grace didn’t really buy much though. And even when she seemed interested in something, if he asked if she wanted it, she’d shake her head and make a face. The fun for her came just in looking at these things, not actually acquiring them.

Though, really, that wasn’t a surprise to him.

Grace was from a wealthy family. She’d probably gotten everything she ever wanted growing up.

For her, value wasn’t in material objects.

It was in the joy and memories she could make around them.

So, why would she need to buy these things when her only happiness was in the actions of pretending to shop around them?

Sway, on the other hand, kept having his eye caught by the most random assortment of items. A soft, fleece lined blanket.

A light breaking crystal mini-chandelier.

A bolt of silken fabric in a blue shade he immediately though would look lovely on Grace – not realizing until his hand touched it that it was the exact shade of his feathers.

It wasn’t until he found himself squishing a series of pillows, feeling strangely critical of each and every one, that he caught the knowing smile on Grace’s face and realized what he was doing.

He was nesting.

The things he kept seeing and buying were objects he either wanted to use to make or decorate a nest with. Because his room was good enough as a nest to trigger his mating bond, but it wasn’t good enough for him to actually be satisfied with.

“How long ago did you figure out what I was doing?” He asked, setting aside a pillow that his instincts determined was far too soft for his nest.

“About three blankets ago,” she snickered, looking at the bag he was carrying that was bursting with soft fabric.

“Keep going. I want to see what else you pick for my nest. I get confused though. For the farasie, am I involved in the nest making at all? I know it differs from species to species. I don’t want to step on any feathers here. ”

“You make the nest,” he said, grabbing another pillow. “I just provide you with everything you need to make it with.”

“What’s wrong with that pillow?”

“Too scratchy.”

“Uh-huh,” she grinned. “And that one?”

“Too heavy.”

She laughed outright this time, but she didn’t protest as he continued working his way through various textiles until he eventually needed to rent a hover cart to hold everything.

But he didn’t care. He had enough saved credz that this wasn’t a detrimental purchase, and he needed to give her these things so she could make the perfect nest for them.

“Where am I making this nest?” She asked when Sway finally seemed satisfied, the trailing hover cart loaded with all sorts of soft things.

“Huh?” He gave her a confused look.

“Like, do I make it on the bed? On the floor? Is there a specific place. I just want to make sure I do it right.”

“You can’t do it wrong.”

She grinned, like he’d just issued her a challenge. “You wouldn’t be saying that if I made a nest of sticks and hung it from the ceiling.”

“I wouldn’t complain that if that’s how human females made their nests. Is that how you make your nests?” He smirked back, meeting her challenge.

She pouted, because that was clearly not how human females nested.

But he understood why she was asking. Many species had different means of nesting.

Having nesting instincts were the most common mating instinct in all the cosmos.

But it tended to take different forms. The kind of nest, it’s purpose, it’s size, who made it – everything varied.

For the farasie, a nest was strictly a place for the egg to be placed.

After the egg was laid, it was just for the egg to be safe, secure, and warm.

However, before it was laid, it was inside Grace, and the nest would, therefore, be a place for her.

So, in a way, there were two nests to build.

Sway would give these things to his mate for her to build their nests with.

That’s how it would be if they were both farasie. But they were not.

“My instincts only tell me to provide you with these things,” he said, taking her hand and lacing their fingers together. “What you do with them is completely up to you. However you want to build the nest is your decision.”

Grace made a face. “That tells me nothing. Humans don’t really have nesting instincts like that. I mean, I think we kind of do, but it’s more like denning instincts. Just tell me what I’m supposed to do so I can do it right.”

“You can’t do it wrong,” he repeated, grinning.

She was adorable when she was pouting. In the end, it wouldn’t really matter. Once she was gravid, she would begin displaying farasie instincts anyway. But he wanted to see what her natural inclination would be.

Grace continued to lob questions at him as they moved through the street. He would occasionally stop to buy something, but she rarely did. It just made him want to buy her more things. If she wasn’t going to adorn or treat herself, then he wanted to do so.

They were passing a shadowy alley when it happened.

Someone grabbed Grace by the wrist, yanking her into the dimness.

Sway reacted immediately. Without checking to see who had done it or why, he was already grabbing for her assailant.

His prey wasn’t moving particularly fast.

Or far.

“Sway!” Grace called out, stopping him before he could tighten his fingers around the neck of the familiar teal blue farasie male who had hold of her arms.

“Vweet,” Sway said, his voice hard. He didn’t release his hold, he didn’t loosen it either. He kept his grip tight, fingers digging into his skin. Not enough to choke, but certainly enough to threaten.

Vweet, however, remained impassive. His expression calm.

“Sway,” he greeted calmly, holding up his hands. Showing him that they were empty.

Sway’s female was standing there, unharmed, looking between them with wide eyes. Already, this simple show of violence was enough to make her breathing hasten. Sway didn’t want to break this male’s neck in front of her, but…

“Why did you touch my mate?” Sway demanded to know.

Vweet blinked at him, obviously startled, before chuckling. “Ah. So, this is the real you. Chilling, I must admit.”

“I’m glad you’re amused. You can die happy.”

“Please,” Vweet stopped him with a gentle smile in place. “I mean you no harm.”

And Sway didn’t mean to kill him. Not because he was against it, simply because he hadn’t gotten permission from Tanin. But Vweet didn’t know that, and from where he was standing, fingers digging into his throat, the threat would be very real.

“I only wanted to talk,” Vweet assured him.

“And that gave you permission to touch my mate?”

“I thought getting her attention would prevent, well, this .”

“It did not.”

“Clearly.” Vweet chuckled. But the humor quickly faded, replaced by a look of consternation. “I really do only mean to talk.”

Sway was unmoved. He didn’t particularly want to listen. Vweet wouldn’t be here by chance. If he had come upon him like this, it was on purpose.

Was Veesway planning something else? Did Vweet want revenge? Were the two of them working together somehow?

“Sway.”

Grace was there, her hands covering his that was holding the other male so tight. She gave him a beseeching look that he disliked greatly. He never wanted such a tender look to come over her face for another, much less another male .

“I want to hear him out. Please,” she begged him so sweetly. When Sway remained unmoved, she continued. “He helped me. Remember? I told you how he dropped his combot and that’s how I contacted Tanin. We can at least hear what he has to say.”

Sway didn’t want to do that either. He wanted nothing to do with Vweet or Veesway or any of his own kind ever again.

But he was helpless to those big, gray eyes. He let out a sigh, pulling his hand back – slowly, so he didn’t accidentally hurt Grace.

“Fine. But make it quick.”

Vweet gave him a grateful smile, his hands lowering back to his side. “This is a pub behind me. Shall we talk in there?”

Sway nodded once, putting his arm around Grace again. But as Vweet turned and let them inside, he detached his claws from his belt and secured them on his hands.

The pub was a simple one. It was a place designed to serve drinks as well as good, filling food. It smelled greasy and spicey, too much like meat. Sway was used to that scent since he was around it so often, but he fully expected Vweet to turn up his nose and change his mind.

He did not, however. He took them to a booth and ordered all of them drinks. Sway declined his offer of food, but Grace accepted gratefully. She even ordered something vegetarian – no doubt as a courtesy to the two of them, though she did not have to.

The drinks came quickly, floating their way on an automatic tray. Sway took his and Grace’s drink and set them down, letting Vweet get his own. As it was floating back, he finally looked at the other male expectantly.

“So? What did you have to say that it was so important?”

“First, I wanted to apologize,” Vweet said immediately, cradling his drink but not tasting it.

He looked first at Grace before turning his gaze to include Sway.

His eyes darted to his metallic claws, then back up again without comment.

“Both of you. I really didn’t know what Veesway was planning when he asked to talk to you alone.

He… I think he didn’t quite trust me around you. ”

Sway said nothing. It was Grace who asked, curious, “Why?”

It took Vweet a bit longer to answer this time, and when he did, he was staring into his drink.

“When you first arrived, Veesway was so relieved. I don’t think he wanted to ask any questions.

I was the one who initially questioned everything.

You hadn’t come seeking us on purpose, I know.

It was chance because we hired your company.

If you weren’t searching for your people, there had to be a reason.

Truth be told… I searched your name long before Veesway did. ”