Page 15 of Indentured Companion
“That explains how you came to be the Dynast’s feeding companion.” Xeya surmised. “But I also asked you what it’s likebeinga feeding companion to the Dynast.” I don’t know why, but I’m suddenly feeling more nervous now than ever. I want to know the answer to the question, but I fear her answer as well. I treat her well, of course, but she professes how much it hurts to be bitten by me. Will she advertise that fact? It would put a lot of people off becoming feeding companions. I hide my worried frown behind my veil and wait to see what Valerie says next. I hope the way she squeezes my hand is to reassure me she’s not about to leave me high and dry.
“It took some getting used to. I’m not going to pretend it wasn’t a big change from my life before. It is. I have to make sure I’m healthy and take care of myself. I have to exercise and diet well. Make sure I get a good amount of sleep, and Idomiss coffee.” Xeya listens politely to Valerie, and I hope neither of them realise how anxious I am from how stiffly I sit. “It’s not something you can do, if you can’t commit to being healthy. The Dynast is relying on me. Like he said earlier? His life depends on me.”
“And what about theexperienceof being a feeding partner?” I know what Xeya is trying to ask, but if Valerie has realised or not, she continues innocently with the conversation.
“The Dynast pampers me, honestly. I live in luxury compared to my life before. He’s kind to me, and he trusts me. He’s right.” Valerie shrugs. “We spend so much time in each other’s company, it’s important to make sure you click before agreeing to this arrangement. We do, by the way. Click.”
“I’m glad you two get on.” Xeya shifts in her chair, and I raise a brow. She’s gearing up for another go at her real target. I can see it in her eyes. “So far, from what you describe, the Dynast takes care of you and caresforyou. You two live together and clearly you get along.”
“Indeed.” I answer, trying to get the pink Sacron’s attention again, but she’s focusing only on Valerie.
“But you must understand, that the part of this arrangement that my readers will be keenly interested in, is thefeedingpart of the arrangement.” I narrow my diamond pupils on her. There it is. The only thing anyone ever asks when it comes to Korvis relations.
“What about it?” I look at Valerie. She sips her hot chocolate and hasn’t broken a sweat. She seems perfectly at ease.
“Well?” Xeya flashes me a nervous glance, before focusing intently on her prize. “How often do youfeedhim?”
“Three times a day, and with a regime of Regen pills, I recover from each feeding with ease. The Dynast gives me excellent after care, so I feel very safe.” She’s amazing. Valerie is doing an excellent job. She’s not a woman who easily flusters. Whether she’s snarling down the gaze of a bigoted security officer, or dealing with an intrusive reporter. She’s cool as ice. Once again, I think she would be rather formidable in a debate. “It’s specified in the contract that he has to take excellent care of me, so anyone considering a feeding companionship with a Korvis can be reassured of that.” I could kiss her. She’s advocating becoming a feeding companion far better than I could have managed on my own. She blushes, spotting my adoration in my lilac eyes for her, and she shrugs at Xeya.
“So it’s perfectly safe?”
“Yes.”
“Well?” Xeya finally regarded me again. “Perhaps you would demonstrate that? I have a visual recorder with me? I could-”
“I’m sorry?” I lean forward in my seat, chuckling, like I couldn’t possibly have heard her say what I thought she did. “What do you meandemonstrate?”
“A feeding. You could show our readers once and for all that what we think of as a Korvis feeding on one of us, is far from the truth. You could showhowyou feed and-”
“Miss Xeya, you were not to know, so I am not offended.” I keep my voice quiet and push down my outrage at the highly inappropriate request. I have my right hand on table, and centre myself before continuing. “But as I said earlier? The relationship between a Korvis and his feeding partner, is a precious and intimate one. We revere our feeding partner, and the experience of joining bodies, as we sustain one another. We therefore don’tfeedin public. Or with any sort of audience. It’s private.”
“I see. I wasn’t aware.” I bet she was. The frustration in her eyes shows she was hoping to get an exclusive onthatas well. “I hope you aren’t offended?”
“No, of course not. Like I said, you weren’t to know.” I chuckle and slide my hand back over to my lap. “It’s been a century since my people interacted with yours. Icantell you, however, that what has been portrayed in popular fiction is not an accurate representation of a Korvis feeding.”
“I can attest to that.” Valerie joins in. “It’s nothing like in the movies.”
“Understood.” Xeya smiles, but she’s visibly disappointed not to get to record a Korvis feeding. “Miss Stone? If you could sum up your experience as the feeding companion to the Dynast for my readers? What would you say?”
“I would say…” I watch Valerie as she looks off to one side in thought. She chews her bottom lip, and I recall the taste of her saliva when I licked my finger after my first natural feed with her. “The Dynast is a gentleman. His diet is different, but on the inside he’s just like any other Theskian race. He just wants respect and equality for his people. Just like we do. I don’t see what’s wrong with that.” She shrugs, and I swallow the lump in my throat. I couldn’t have put that better myself.
“Thank you for your time. Both of you. Miss Stone. Dynast to the Hive.” Xeya signalled her departure, took the recorder with her, and we all stood to politely bid our goodbyes. Valerie finished her hot chocolate and once I was sure Xeya was gone, I couldn’t wait a moment longer.
“Miss Stone?”
“Yeah?” She puts her mug down on the table and wraps herself up tighter in the black shrug. I check the roof access again, just to check again we are alone, and then I cup her shoulders with both hands.
“I did not know the reporter would question you like that. Your answers were therefore not rehearsed, and honest.” I pat her shoulders, and then lean down to speak by her ear through my veil. “I have never been so humbled. What you just did for me, and for my people, deserves gratitude I do not know how to put into words.” I slowly tip my head to look her right in the eyes. She’s surprised by my gratitude, but she deserves it and more. “Miss Stone?” I gulp. “When we are alone…would you…” I’m about to do something I can’t take back. I don’t know how else to show her just how much her words and actions today have meant to me. It is the most precious thing I have to give her. “…call me Vrajan?”
“…” Her round pupils widen and she gasps. “But you said that in your culture calling you by your name is intimate?”
“Yes. It is. Valerie.” If I wasn’t wearing my veil, she would see my heartfelt smile. “Well?” I cup the back of my neck and chuckle nervously. She can’t tell, but I’m blushing as deeply as she is. I release her shoulder, and close my eyes with embarrassment at the rumble that breaks through the awkwardness of the moment. Valerie looked down at my stomach and chuckled.
“Hungry?”
“Yes, a tad.” I cup my hands together over my rebellious navel. “Could we swing by a feeding site? Oh, and of course, then I’ll take you to buy shoes?”
“Sure.” Valerie smiles and offers me her hand. “Let’s go.” I beam with joy and gladly thread my fingers with hers. “Vrajan.” She tries my name on for size and my heart flutters in my chest. Oh goodness. I…rather like how my name sounds on her lips.
