Page 25 of Relyn
That didn’t mean that Wendy was safe. What if one of the other aliens had carried her off, like the amoeba one that looked like he wanted to get handsy, or blobsy, or whatever appendages they felt like laying on her?
And where had Data gone? He had an automatic dry food feeder, but she’d promised Clover that she would care for him as her own, including supplying him with a daily portion of wet food. Nora sat up as the guilt started to descend. Not for sleeping with Relyn, that had been great, more than great, but for puttingher personal needs and desires above her responsibilities. She swung her legs over the bed and stood up.
That’s when she realized that she was completely naked and Relyn had pretty much ruined the only scrap of clothing she had that would make her decent.
“I need something to wear.”
The man had the gall to look disappointed, but he got up from the bed without complaint and went to work pushing buttons on the replicator.
Chapter 12
Relyn
Relyn watched Nora pull on the clothes that he had replicated. He was apparently a bad guess for size, because she seemed to be swimming in the top. The trousers were a tight squeeze, but he could appreciate the way her bottom filled them out. Nora gathered the ends of the shirt and tied them in a knot, pulling the fabric together so that it fit her form better. Not once did she complain.
As for shoes, there were limited options, so he opted for a pair of insulated slipper socks that would stretch and protect her feet from the cold floor. They would have to do until he could get back aboard Gale’s vessel and collect more of her belongings for her.
“Now, this was fun, but I really do have to get back to Terra,” Nora said as she pulled her hair back and ran her fingers through, trying to get some semblance of order to her dark locks.
The thought of her leaving him was untenable. He knew Mahdfel warriors left their mates behind often when on a dangerous mission, or heading into a battle. Usually they were given a few months to let their mate settle in and start making a baby. Relyn wasn’t sure if and how this was possible, but if his existence was ruled by Mahdfel laws, and he had obviouslyfound his mate, then it would follow that she could bear his children.
“Terra may have to wait,” Relyn said. “I have work to do here.” He pulled out a fresh set of clothes, and began to put them on. Apparently, his body had dissolved the ones he was wearing yesterday, searching for new nutrients. His knives and com were laying just under the edge of the bed. He picked them up and replicated a new holster.
“I don’t,” Nora said. “I have a hundred and seventy-five students waiting for me to get back.”
Relyn didn’t even know where Terra was. He’d never heard of it before, so it could be on the other side of the galaxy or some far corner of the universe. Either way, her students would have to wait. Relyn was on the brink of successfully integrating into this crew, which had been notoriously difficult to do. He could not jeopardize that for personal reasons. It would not be fair to all those that needed his help.
“I have obligations here,” Relyn said.
“I get that, really I do, which is why I’m not suggesting that you pack up everything and leave. I’m suggesting that I leave.”
“We will not separate,” Relyn repeated. “However, when my responsibilities are over, I will take you to Terra.”
“And how soon will that be?”
“I cannot say.”
“In Earth terms, that means you don’t want to say, because I’m not going to be happy with the answer,” Nora said, crossing her arms over her chest and giving him a critical eye.
“Earth?”
“Earth, Terra, same thing. They both translate to the big ball of dirt that I call home. Either way, I need a ride home sooner rather than… indefinite.”
His mate saw directly through his deflection. “I will think on it.”
“That’s another Earth term that generally means no.”
“I’m not sure I like this Earth.”
“It’s got its bad spots, but there’s no place like home,” she said.
“I would not know. I do not have a home. Caldar has promised me a place on Sangrin, but I don’t know if that is where we will settle. Do many aliens settle on Terra?”
She actually laughed at him. He cocked his head and crossed his arms over his own chest.
“What is so funny about that suggestion?” Relyn asked.
“Humans are a little on the xenophobic side. Very few aliens choose to live on Earth. I mean there’s the odd Mahdfel filling an administrative duty, but most of them stick to Shackleton Moon Base,” Nora said.
