Page 41 of Temple

He smiled. “Now you are getting it.”

“Do we have to live in the tower? I fucking hate the tower.”

“There is an estate in the hills near the city. I can order it prepared for us.” He rubbed her back.

“Good because if I ever do get pregnant, that fucking elevator will kill me. I can deal with heights, but that lift is a nightmare.”

“Understandable. I will fly you to the top if we ever need a night in the heart of the city.”

She grimaced. “I do not have fond feelings about that tower.”

“I understand.”

She went down to the bottom of the list, signed, and confirmed her identity. She handed the tablet over, he pressed some buttons, and the screen flashed before it locked. The signal had been sent; the contract on the way to the archive.

Sage looked at him. “Can I talk to Bailey now?”

He chuckled. “Symo has been at my mind for hours. I believe they assume that we were locked together.”

“As long as they managed it, I don’t care what they think.”

The door to the guestroom opened, and Bailey rushed in, wearing loose robes in black and white. Symo walked in slowly, a slight smile on his lips when he saw them sitting together with Zell’s wing around her.

Bailey ran over and knelt next to Sage for a hug, ignoring the huge red Hmrain next to her. “Are you okay?”

“Yes, Bailey, I am okay. Are you okay?”

Bailey went scarlet. “Yeah. It’s... things are good.”

Sage hugged her. “Ready to go our separate ways?”

“No, but Symo says we can come visit. Did you get planting rights?”

“Yes, and I don’t have to live in that stupid tower.”

Bailey grinned. “I promise to visit with plenty of snacks and new plants.”

“Good because I am getting space to plant what I like, and I like coffee and cacao. Both do well in volcanic soil.”

They were sitting inches from each other and smiling.

Zell sighed. “Sage, I know you will miss her, but I promise that we will have an open-com policy. You can contact her at any time that neither you and I, nor Symo and Bailey are bound together.”

Bailey laughed. “Nice caveat.”

Sage snickered. “Right, well, I supposed it is a round of goodbyes all over again.”

Zell stood, picked her up, and grabbed her bag with his tail. “Come on, Consort. We have a lot of very slow travel before we are back home. Why don’t we divert and visit Aten? There are many of your kind on Ra’s world.”

“Many? Females who have undergone transformations are in charge of cities on Aten.”

“Ra is importing fifty thousand of your people as a gift to Harwin.”

“Whoa. That is quite the housewarming present.”

“I believe it is a present for his consort. I am going to have to think of something suitable to give you.”

“A place to grow things.”

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