He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He would control his instincts, no matter how his zyln howled within him.
The challenge was that he actually…liked her. It had been so long since he liked an individual, he was having trouble adapting to it.
She was brave and playful and caring. For a moment, he wondered if she might consider sharing her life with a shifter.
He shook himself internally. She might seem more accepting than most, but once she learned more about his people and his own past… There were some things no one could see past. He should stop torturing himself with “what-ifs.”
“We should go.” He stood abruptly, almost knocking over his chair.
Kimmy glanced at him briefly and smiled, still giving most of her attention to Payback. She had wrapped him in a towel after cleaning him and was drying him off gently.
“Just a second,” she said, fluffing up the parcel’s fur as he made more contented cooing sounds. “Aaand, done. I wish I had a ribbon for your antennae. They’re so cute. And you’re so cute.”
Payback rested four of his paws on her arm, gazing up with loving adoration.
Serac could understand the sentiment. He shook the thought away. It was ridiculous to be having such thoughts—much too soon. And yet, a true mating bond would come on quickly.
In all of his past relationships, he had never experienced the faintest stirrings of wanting to form a bond. Was she feeling anything toward him as well? If she was, then it was a sure sign that they were meant to be mated.
In any case, she wasn’t Centauran. Rushing things could scare her off. Or worse—bind her in a relationship she would eventually come to regret.
Centauran bonds were permanent. Their souls would be linked together for the rest of their lives.
“As it should be.” He felt another flood of determination from his zyln. Apparently, it was absolutely fine with that idea.
Serac was still adjusting.
He picked up his jacket and put it on. Kimmy finally stood, lifting Payback to her shoulder as she did. The parcel settled into the collar of her jacket, burrowing beneath her hair.
“It’s going to be fun driving with this little guy riding like this,” she said.
“Parcels usually burrow into the fur of their Lyrian. He’s most likely resting there because it’s the closest approximation.”
“That makes sense. Still, if I wasn’t afraid he’d get too cold, I’d make him sit in the back.”
“Lyra is an ice world, like mine,” he said. “We don’t feel the cold as you do.”
“Oh, wow. That must be nice. I can never seem to get warm enough.”
Once they were bonded, she would never feel cold again. It would be a boon for her.
He shook away the thought. That was not where he should be focusing.
“He can stay on my shoulder anyway—I kind of like him there.” She gently prodded Payback, and said, “But no sudden movements, okay? You don’t want to distract the driver. You might not feel the cold, but those roads are icy and we don’t want to be in an accident.”
She led them out the back door and to a smaller building near her house. Inside was a land transport—a car. Once they were seated in it, she pressed a button, and a large door opened on the wall behind them, much like in a hangar bay. In a few moments, they were underway.
Serac examined the surroundings as much as he could while they traveled along the roads. Her car slipped a few times, prompting words that his translation session hadn’t covered, but he assumed were expletives. He saved his questions and let her concentrate on piloting the vehicle.
The area was thick with trees and other plant-life. While everything was bare at the moment, he’d seen vids of what this place would look like when the weather patterns warmed. He wished he could get a chance to see it with his own eyes.
Earth’s resources were astonishing. No wonder the planet had been given preservation status.
After some time, she stopped the car in front of a smaller dwelling than her own, but one with multiple outbuildings of varying sizes and shapes. One looked to be a hangar, like the one where she kept her car. Others were much smaller—barely big enough for someone to walk into and turn around.
There was little more than a shack with fencing around it, as if to keep something in. The fencing was weak enough that Serac didn’t worry about what might be within the small building. He still made a mental note to monitor it.
“Here we are.” She took a deep breath before opening her car door.
A refreshing breeze blew into the vehicle. Kimmy let out a small “eep” noise.
Serac joined her outside the vehicle. She was shivering already.
“You truly don’t like the cold, do you?” he asked.
“Not so much—but I do like warming up afterwards.” She glanced up at him, a small, furtive smile on her lips. That pink flush rose to her cheeks again, and she passed unnecessarily close to him as she headed for the dwelling.
Was it wishful thinking or was she expressing interest in him?
By the time they reached the door, it was already open. An older Earthling filled the entire space. He was even taller than Serac, which wasn’t common, and was built with a similar musculature.
For a moment, Serac was reminded of his grandsire. He had to hold himself back from slapping one hand to his chest in the standard greeting between Centauran warriors.
“Kimmy,” the man said. “This is a nice surprise. Come on in, both of you.”
Once again, Serac was being invited into someone’s den. The man didn’t even ask for a name.
Inside, Kimmy lingered close to Serac. She was still shivering. He’d never seen someone so affected by the cold before.
“I don’t suppose we could have some cocoa, could we?” she asked.
The man chuckled. “Some things never change. Head on to the kitchen with your friend here.”
The way he said friend put Serac’s hackles up. His zyln sensed the challenge in the word, along with a bit of a threat.
The urge to respond to the challenge didn’t come, though. Instead, Serac felt a need to earn the man’s trust and acceptance.
Another sign of a mating bond.
Serac bowed his head slightly before following Kimmy into the kitchen. She grabbed a blanket from the back of the couch on her way, draping it over herself as she walked. Rather than sit next to her once they’d reached the room, Serac stood behind her chair.
“I’m Marvin, by the way.” The man extended his hand as he joined them.
Serac knew this custom. He took Marvin’s hand in his and shook it, noting how tightly the Earthling squeezed. He also stood very close to Serac, his gaze again filled with challenge.
“I am Serac.”
The muscles along Marvin’s jaw stood out as he clenched his teeth. His grip on Serac’s hand increased to a point that was almost painful. But then, Marvin let out a sigh and released him.
“Both my girls,” he muttered.
“Cocoa?” Kimmy prompted, in a small, plaintive voice.
“We must provide,” his zyln thought.
Serac’s gut lurched. “I will get it for you.”
What was he doing? He didn’t even know what cocoa was.
“I’ll get it,” Marvin said. “You just…stand there, I guess.”