Page 7 of Tender Captivity
“You know what kind to get for her,” he said.
“Certainly!” Renalan said then looked to her. “Come along, Jinna. After the healer, we can come back here and sip sweet sopa while we wait for the commandant.”
Rubbing her neck, she reluctantly followed Renalan. She didn’t want to be parted from the male who had made her feel safe and free. By the sound of it, she’d be getting another collar, but she had a suspicion it wouldn’t be anything like the harsh metal band she’d been wearing.
And part of her didn’t mind the idea of wearing Holian’s collar.
Chapter 4
The meeting with Committee Citizen Sornlian went as well as he could have expected. Sornlian agreed to open an investigation and would be interviewing everyone, including talking to Jinna at a later date. He’d accepted that the human was traumatized and needed time to recuperate before being questioned.
The moment he could, he concluded his meeting with Sornlian and hurried the man out of the house so he could get to Jinna. He felt a little foolish when he burst into the room to find Jinna sound asleep on a reclining mat while Renalan sat on the floor next to her reading something off his Ident Cube.
Grabbing the heavy, ornate door so it wouldn’t crash against the wall, he remained where he was while Renalan hastily stood and walked over to him.
“Jinna was very good for the healer,” he whispered. “I asked the healer to make note of injuries and submit them to Committee Citizen Sornlian.”
“That’s good,” Holian praised him. “What did the healer find?”
Renalan’s tone turned grim. “She has bruising all over her back and sides. An old cut on her thigh is infected, and she has evidence of repeated trauma to her face.”
Even after a lifetime of practicing strict control over his emotions, Holian almost sounded an enraged rattle. He took a few deep breaths before speaking. “Anything else?”
“Other than the injuries, the healer said she was in good health. Not malnourished or underweight. But she did stress Jinna shouldn’t be bred because she’s of an age where carrying a pup could be problematic,” Renalan explained. “I took the liberty of telling her you would never allow that to happen.”
“You’re correct. She’s only having a pup if she wants it enough to take the risks.”
“I also told Jinna you had no one but a son in your life, and he’s busy establishing himself, so you see him rarely. She was shocked to find out that Ianino is your only family left. No living parents, no spouse, and no siblings. Like her, you’re alone also,” Renalan said.
Holian repressed a sharp rattle of displeasure. “That hardly sounds like a suitable topic.”
“She was feeling desolate and asked about you. Now she knows you understand how she feels,” Renalan said without remorse.
He dropped his gaze to focus on Jinna. He didn’t want to talk about feeling alone, so he focused on her health. She was curled up on her side, her face relaxed and hair lying in a halo around her head. “Did she fall asleep after the healer left?”
“The healer gave her something so she wouldn’t be awake while the cut was being cleaned and closed,” Renalan explained. “I prepared the room next to yours for her. The soft bedding for her nest hasn’t arrived yet, but I found as many pillows as I could and piled them all together on her bed. I hope that will make her happy.”
Holian suppressed an amused rumble. “I’m sure it will be perfect. Don’t get too attached, my friend. She might leave us to go live on Kalor. Or Sorana.”
“I’d hoped this one would stay with you,” Renalan responded, surprising Holian. “Especially after she smiled while you rubbed your bonding oil in her hair.”
Holian sounded a soft, inquisitive rumble, encouraging Renalan to continue.
“I might not see you often, but I can tell you’re lonely,” Renalan said. “You care for everyone else but keep nothing for yourself. Perhaps give Jinna a chance before sending her away. She’s already attached to you. She kept glancing at the door, looking for you. And I think she’s a strong one. She faced the healer with her head held high, even though I could tell she was afraid.”
Holian tried to squash his budding attachment to Jinna. It hadn’t even been a full rotation yet, and he felt closer to this human than he had any other. “You know I let the humans decide where they want to go. And now, with the colony of Sorana so close to Delorta space, they have an avenue to escape Talin ownership only a short shuttle ride away. She might want her freedom back.”
“I only ask that you tell her all the reasons she should stay,” Renalan said mysteriously. That’s when Holian felt something trickle down his check. Wiping his face, he realized the scent glands in his cheeks were so full of bonding oil that some had ended up leaking down his face.
Most Talins would be beyond humiliated if this happened in front of a witness, but he and Renalan had known each other far too long for him to feel any shame.
He did feel a bolt of shock go through him that had nothing to do with embarrassment and everything to do with surprise. His scent glands had never produced bonding oil for anyone before.
“I see your body has already decided,” Renalan said before leaving the room with a quiet, happy rumble.
*****
Waking in a panicked rush, Jinna sat bolt upright. Arms flailing out, she sent a dozen objects flying. Only after gasping in air for a moment and wildly looking around did she realize she’d been sleeping in a nest of fluffy, soft pillows, most of which were now scattered on the floor.
