Page 60 of Eat My Moon Dust
He hesitated, so I took off my Santa hat fascinator and held it out to hissenti.He wrapped his tendril around it and shuddered, finally nodding.
Then I turned on my heel and walked straight up to Zufi with purpose. Rearing back, I smacked his cheek as hard as I could, and after years of kneading dough, I was a lot stronger than I looked. The slap cracked across the ambassador’s cheek, and he stumbled sideways from shock. I chased at his face, one finger poised like a sword between his eyes.
“Youare a bully and a creep.” My voice vibrated with fury as his tendrils shrank back behind his shoulders in submission. “Howdareyou pressure your delegates into seducing humans that have endured and lost so much? You knownothingabout what we’ve been through, on Earthorafter being abducted.”
He held up his hands to placate me. “Tinsley–”
“It’s Miss Adams to you,”I roared. “And Hunar didn’t choose to deceive you.Idid. I improvised, because he’simportant.To the colony and to me. He should be winning awards for how brilliant his perimeter drones are and how well he’s adjusting to being a single dad, not worrying about ending up homeless with three kids. And it makes me livid that I have to confess that I’m falling in love with him in front ofyouand not in the privacy of our own relationship. Otherwise, you’ll kick him out and I won’t get the chance to–”
I hiccuped as a tear of anger threatened to fall. I swallowed down the sob, but the tear raced free as I took a deep breath. Zufi didn’t try to speak as I found my voice again. Just the familiar night insects filling up the silence.
“He’s staying,” I decided with conviction in a low, menacing tone. “You’re going to renew his contract, and he’s going to stay.”
Zufi bowed his head, his voice frustratingly calm. “Alright, Miss Adams. He stays.”
My breath hitched, surprised. “Just like that?”
“Just like that.”
I blew out a sigh, quaking with adrenaline.
“But I want you to understand something,” Zufi said with seriousness, pressing his fingers against his cheekbone with a restrained wince. “Shilpakaari women hold all the cards in our society. Men have no leverage. We aren’t venandi that can converge with anyone we like, or advenans with chimera genes. We’ve fought for centuries to better our circumstances, but since a natural coil only happens within our own species?” He raised his arms to the sides with a bitter laugh. “Every other major species has made huge leaps towards equality while all we do is churn shit. We males instinctively seek monogamy while ourpriyasdo not. We hold positions of power less often, are paid less, have fewer familial rights, less representation in courts… Even though we make up two-thirds of the population. I bet that sounds familiar, right?”
I swallowed on a dry throat. “That doesn't give you the right to push people around.”
“No,” he sighed, glancing at Hunar over my shoulder. “It doesn’t. But I won’t apologize anymore either. Delegates that enter the colony moving forward have no such expectations because the coildoeshappen naturally with humans. But how could I pass on an opportunity to affect so much change when we’re strangled by our own society?”
I turned sideways so I could see Hunar. He was stiff with anger and fear, fists kneading the meat of his palms.
“Thank you,” Zufi said.
Shocked, my palm still stinging, I blinked at him. “Why?”
“For protecting Hunar and his spats. I probably won’t be remembered fondly in history books, but your indignation is exactly what I’m fighting for.” He smiled sadly, then inhaled the night air. “Now, I think I’ll take a walk and keep your refreshing fire for company a while longer.”
Zufi side-stepped me and strolled past Hunar, disappearing down the road towards the twinkle lights. We watched him go, mortified into silence. My eyes slid to Hunar’ssenti,where my fascinator was crushed in its grip.
“Hunar,” I murmured, holding out my hand. “Are you okay?”
I brushed my hand down hissentito soothe him as he stared at the ground.
“We’re staying,” he croaked with uncertainty, as if he couldn’t believe it either.
I bit my lip and for once, kept myself from smiling. The last time I’d fought someone was when Valerie Beaumont pulled my pigtails on the playground. I was a wobbly tornado of feelings: triumph, righteous fury, shame over losing my temper, worry for Hunar…
“Yeah, I think so.” I wriggled my fingers and dipped my head to catch his eyes. “Shall we?”
Hunar’s jaw ticked with his little nod. He straightened his shoulders, hand hovering over mine with confusion and deep thought. I reached for him slowly so that he’d have time to pull away if he wanted. When he didn’t, I laced my fingers through his and his nostrils flared, the stripes on his neck warping as he swallowed hard.
Then I pulled him towards our home tower, heart in my throat.
21
?HUNAR?
My spats and I would be staying.
And I was going to lose Tinsley before I was ready.
