Page 108 of Labor of Love

It’s an ongoing joke. I can simply turn the console on, and I’ll meet at least one person who’s going to turn into a good friend in time. I smirk without answering.

“Those guys are some of my closest friends. We talk daily. We exchanged phone numbers years ago.”

Iri glances at the computer. “You’ve never mentioned them.”

“I haven’t,” I agree. “Actually, I may have a long time ago when we first met, but I admit, I haven’t brought them up since. When we got closer to breeding age, I really began to become afraid. Unsure how I was going to keep you.”

His hand rests along my cheek, and I lean into his touch.

“I started talking to them about it, and together, we began forming a plan. They’d already created a pack together. Which I’d gotten to watch happen over the years, and it made my heart happy. The more I got to know them, the more I began to love them. The more Iknew, without a doubt, you were going to love them, too. And they’re already crazy about you, Iri.”

Iri’s eyebrows knit together again. “How? We’ve never met, right?”

“Right. But I talk about you all the time. All. The. Time.”

He smiles, cheeks flushing, and bows his head.

“We devised a plan in which, right before our year ends, we leave for a last trip. Outside the city walls, our new pack will be waiting for us to take us to our new home.” My fingers touch his neck. “I’ll bond you as soon as we leave. And I’m sure one of our new breeders—if you want, there’s no pressure—will be compatible with you. We’ll still be able to have babies.”

His lips are parted as he stares at me. I can feel his heart racing since my hand is still resting along his neck, right over his pulse.

“You want us to leave?”

“I wantyou,” I correct. “They’re not going to allow us to stay together if we can’t conceive. I will lose my shit if someone else touches you, Iri.”

His shoulders tense. “I don’t want anyone else to touch me.”

It’s not unheard of that some breedables can’t conceive. The inability is higher in male breedables than in females. They don’t get removed from the family cities because they’re not able to conceive. That would be cruel. But that needs to be proven by several partner attempts.

We’re a holistic community. All basic necessities are free—housing, food, clothes, etc.—in exchange for community work, which is a job in health, education, government, etc. That doesn’t mean there aren’t ways to earn money. There are a ton of ways and a whole lot of things to buy with that money.

But every basic need, every necessary need to live, is free. It’s part of what the family cities of Alyra, Aryla, and Yrlaa were built on. No-stress living. Peace and safety. All the optimal conditions for conceiving and raising happy, healthy families in an effort to increase the conception rate of breedables.

We can’t opt out of the program and remain with a free ride. That’s not how the cities work. If we’re not chosen or unableto conceive for whatever reason, that’s fine.Afterlegitimate attempts.

I’m not willing to let that happen.

“You understand that our options to facilitate us staying together are very limited, then, right?”

Iri closes his eyes and nods. Sadness etches lines in his skin. “Yes,” he whispers.

“I don’t want to leave either.” I bring him closer, bringing his face inches from mine. “But I think we both recognize that this isn’t going to work for us,” I say gently.

Tears make his eyes glisten. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. I understand you feel at fault, but it’s not your fault at all. We’re born how we’re born. As much as I love living in Alyra with our friends and family, I’m also angry that there are no exceptions to their laws for instances like ours. You. Are.Mine. We’ve known it all our lives. It’s shitty, cruel, and unacceptable that they’d still split us up.”

Iri sniffles. Closing his eyes, he nods.

“When do we leave?” he whispers.

“Eight weeks. We’ll pack just enough that it follows the story that we’re going on vacation.”

“Why don’t we tell the truth?” he asks. “We’re allowed to leave if we want to.”

“We are,” I agree. “But I’d like to avoid the exit interview process if I can.” I’m not sure I can explain the uneasy feeling I get when I think about it. There’s a feeling in my gut that says we don’t want to go through it. More specifically, I shouldn’t let Iri go through it. A coveted, rare breedable.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” he asks, and there’s the hurt again.

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