CHAPTER 2
There’s a strange tearing sound and Phantom and their whole office disappears. It doesn’t feel like we moved, but I’m familiar with the room we’re in now. It’s on the other side of the club.
We’re alone. Just us, two floating cups, and an unspoken ultimatum.
“You don’t have to do it,” I tell him. “We can figure something else out.”
“I will, though.” He takes a deep breath and snatches both of the cups out of the air. “If it was only about protecting you, I would do it, but… I’m not the only Opodean who visits the booth. You’re not the only one at risk.”
I nod and ask, “Do you want to take care of the first one right now?”
But before he can answer, my comm pings. The reminder sound is enough, I don’t have to look. “Shoot. I have to go meet Kita’s parents.”
“Aris is here?”
“Either that, or Kita’s pulling a really weird prank on me.”
He pulls out his comm and flips through messages. “Ah. She told me last week and I missed it.”
“My fault, I guess.”
“No. Definitely not your fault.” His brow furrows and then he straightens, sitting up fully, despite the chair’s shape trying to pull him back down.
“Can I introduce you to them instead?” He brushes a tentacle across my cheek. “I would like my sister to know you as my mate, first and foremost.”
“You’re mate? Is that what I am?”
He nods, pulling me close and pressing his forehead to mine. “You are my osserate. But they would know you as my mate. It’s one of those things I’ve been trying to tell you—to ask you.”
“I thought the next big thing was going to be you asking me to move in with you.”
“You can do that whenever you want. I don’t want to push you… but I don’t like to lie to my sister, and there is only one truth to who you are to me.”
“Okay,” I lick my lips and try to settle my nerves.
Why meeting Sirin’s sister feels so much more important than meeting Kita’s mother, I don’t know.
“But, afterward you are going to have to tell me exactly what being your mate means.”
He agrees.
“Oh, and just so you know, I have met them before. They just don’t remember me.”
I pull out my comm as it sends a reminder buzz and I tap out the message to Kita.
Sirin’s comm pings, almost as soon as I hit send.
“Why are you trying to steal my best friend?” Kita asks as soon as he answers.
When they speak to each other in their own language, I can understand them. I shouldn’t be surprised, they’re the two who have taught me most of what I know, and the only two I speak to in it.
“I’m not stealing anyone.”
Kita looks at me, eyes narrowed and then turns back to him. “I get that you two are seeing each other and that you like her, but—”
“I love her,” Sirin interrupts and my heart flutters. Every time I hear it, it’s like the first time.
Kita asks a question with a few words I don’t understand, and Sirin says, “Yes. I thought you’d be happy about it.”
“I am,” she glances at me sideways and I keep my lips pressed tightly shut instead of asking what she said.
“Okay, fine.” She throws two tentacles up in an utterly human mimicry of frustration. “But I am going to be there when they meet her.”
“Of course. Send me the details.”
She agrees and then turns to me. “It’s very rude of you, you know.”
“I don’t.”
“He has dibs on you now.” Her pout seems genuine.
“Pretty sure that’s not how people work.”
“You know what I mean.” She huffs and disconnects.
“I don’t know what dibs are.” Sirin’s brow pinches, but he doesn’t give me a chance to explain.
He calls his office and Ferrok answers immediately. “Tisx wasn’t exactly happy about your departure.”
“Neither was I. Reschedule him for whatever time he wants tomorrow.”
“Will do.” One of the Sovian man’s eyes twists toward me. “And are you off for the rest of the day?”
“Yes. I’ve just found out I have family on station.”
“Hope your unexpected visitor is quieter than mine was.” Ferrok grimaces. “See you tomorrow.”
When he hangs up, I give Sirin a questioning glance, but he shakes his head. “I’ll tell you later.”