Page 16 of Lorran
Once Gavran ran off, Seeran turned his fierce gaze to his younger brother. “He is three! He is too little—”
“I’m not little!” Gavran shouted from the depths of the apartment.
“He wore protective coverings. I am not so foolish.”
Seeran huffed, his nostrils flaring, then pointed a finger at the rifle hanging behind Lorran’s back. “But no helmet? What were you thinking? He has no horns.”
“He is Mahdfel with a thick head like his father, horns or no horns,” Lorran said.
“That is not the point,” Seeran growled. “You endangered my son. You are irresponsible and require focus.”
Focus.
He could focus. Hehadfocus. All he did was focus. He felt so focused, so finely tuned to a sharp edge that he might burst from the intensity of it all.
He held his tongue while his elder brother lectured him about responsibility and priorities. Amid the reprimand, Gavran trotted up carrying a small container. The serious frown of concentration was reminiscent of his father. Fortunately, it was much cuter on the youth. “Mommy says these are for you.”
Lorran could smell the sugar and butter. Lifting the lid confirmed the contents to be the Terran delicacies of chocolate amaretti, a favorite of his brother’s mate. “Give your mother my gratitude.”
“You are meant to be on a ship, answering a distress call,” Seeran said.
“Yes, that is important and a priority, but I assumed you would want me to return your son. And he brought me cookies. Is it not my responsibility to enjoy the chocolate amaretti gifted to me by your son? When does your flight leave?”
Seeran turned an interesting shade of magenta.
Bad enough that Lorran had to miss the family gathering to celebrate Golau, but he would not miss out on the sweet treats. Or spending a few more moments with his nephew.
“And now you are late,” Seeran said.
Because his brother loved to lecture.
Amazingly, he held his tongue.
“Be nice. Gavran wanted to give his uncle his present. Thank you for entertaining him,” Hazel said, as she came up behind her mate. She hugged one arm around Seeran’s waist and smiled up at his stern face, patting him on the arm.
Lorran’s stomach did not twist with envy. Both of his elder siblings were mated. He had learned to swallow his envy long ago. A Mahdfel warrior lived for the fight and his family—to put it politely—and he had more family than most.
“Go! Do not shame me,” Seeran snapped.
Lorran gave a crisp salute. “Festive Golau to you. May the year bring you luck and good fortune.” He kept his tone light and carefree, just to bring out that wonderful magenta in Seeran’s cheeks, and sauntered away for spite.
Once he turned a corner in the corridor, he broke into a run. He would not fail this mission. He had focus. He could be responsible.
“Lorran, status update.” Mylomon’s voice came through the comm.
“On my way. I’ll be there before the seat warmers get toasty.”
“I will leave with or without you on board,” Mylomon warned, and Lorran believed him.
“I’ll be there. Can’t have you go off on a mission without my smiling face.” Lorran ended the connection. Pushing himself even harder, he weaved his way through the corridor and finally into the crowded hangar.
It seemed as if the entire clan planned to celebrate the holiday on Sangrin, and Lorran could not blame them. A tense atmosphere lingered in the clan. The increase of Suhlik aggression with raids on outlying settlements, paired with the growing boldness of smugglers in Sangrin territory and deliberate damage to communication systems meant the decades of peace enjoyed by civilians would soon be at an end. Trouble was coming. No wonder mated warriors scrambled to enjoy time with their families. The future was uncertain.
Lorran wished he too were on a shuttle with his brother and family, even if he would suffer the constant comparisons to Seeran and Mene. He wanted to see his mother one more time, if trouble should arise. He’d even listen to his father drone on about the Council and the latest political drama.
The moment Lorran reached the shuttle, Mylomon raised the ramp and initiated launch protocols.
“You are late,” Mylomon said as Lorran fastened the safety harness.
