Page 39 of Temple

Zell opened his com and said, “Matron, does Sage have permission to contact with me?”

“Of course, Overseer Zell. She may do whatever she is comfortable with.”

“Thank you, Matron.”

Sage blinked.

He looked at her, widened the positioning of his left arm and extended his left wing. It was part demand, part invitation, and more interest than he had shown in her to date.

She got up, and her silks slid as she moved, sat down next to him, and let herself be pulled against him.

Sage sighed as his arm came around her. She blinked at the comfort that the feeling gave her. She blurted out, “So, do you have any empty worlds that I could use for planting?”

“What?”

“Planting. Farming. Gardening. That kind of thing. That is what I like to do, and I am good at it.”

“So, are you agreeing to be my consort?”

“Bailey says I need to read the contract first. I have alotof stipulations.”

His hand slowly slid up and down her arm. “And what are they?”

“Mostly this kind of thing. I need touch. I need it more than I imagined. You don’t seem to have that built into you, so I think we are a bad match.”

He sighed. “Did I tell you about my first consort?”

“No. There is a statue of her in the square. That’s all I know.”

“Lematha was an energy match, barely. I needed a consort to boost me for the development of one of the satellite worlds. Our contract was sparse. She got financing for her family, and I received the power that I needed when I needed it. It was cold and efficient. I never drank blood from her. We were together for two hundred years before she decided to let herself fade. She lived a hundred years with her family after that.”

“Ah.”

“I got out of the habit of contact, took what I needed, and usually, before her clothing was straightened, she was making an appointment to go see friends for tea the next day. I am out of practice.” Zell squeezed her slightly. “But I am in favour of creating new habits. I have a tactile nature myself, and being able to exert it is something I am rather looking forward to, and your body makes me hungry.”

“You were in such a rush.”

“Coupling was in the contract, but cuddling was not. I didn’t want to breach the terms. To say that I was startled when you left was an understatement.” He laughed softly. “I think the entire world heard my roar.”

She smirked. “That must have been startling. No wonder you slept so long. You are irritable when you wake. On Earth, we referred to that asnot a morning person.”

“I believe I could be if I am able to do it again and wake with you next to me or in my arms.”

“That’s quite the change.”

“It will be in the contract with a penalty if I do not hold up my end of delivering what you need. That is what the consort relationship is supposed to be. Reciprocal. I give, you take, and you give so I can take. Your lifespan will increase to keep pace with mine, and you will be at my side as long as you wish to be.”

“Plus farming.”

He laughed. “We will hash it all out, but I believe we can find somewhere you can have your garden.”

“Farm. Bailey has been collecting seeds from our world from—uh—lost shipments.”

“Oh, so you wish to reclaim some of what was lost.”

“I wish to start a new version. I will need the right soil, pollinators and, of course, the plants that Bailey is growing. She has a knack for getting things to sprout.” She chuckled, and fatigue began to sweep over her. “She’s also an excellent baker. She makes things that taste like home again.”

“I will ask Symo to visit with deliveries of plants and baked goods.” Zell caressed her head and kissed her hair.

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