Chapter 9
Soren had helped her out of her dress when they’d gotten back to the residence. Lucia was upset beyond belief. She was livid, embarrassed, fuming from the ears and worst of all she was upset that she was even upset to begin with! I can’t win, she yelled in her mind. When she’d nearly ripped the button off the back of her neck in an attempt to undress, Soren had brushed her hands away and did it for her.
Lucia hated that she’d let her frustration get the better of her and cried. She didn’t cry. Well, certainly not in front of people. She was tough. She laughed things off or punched something. She didn’t cry and yet she had.
Lu didn’t protest when Soren ushered her into bed or even when he didn’t join her, choosing instead to wear tread in the rug as he paced by the door. She was too busy replaying the events over in her mind. Everything Quinton had said, everything everyone heard, everything she’d done. Quin was loved by the territory; the golden boy. And while Lucia was well liked, she knew most of it was because of her family name and how loveable her dad was.
I don’t care what they think.
Yes you do.
Not anymore!
It didn’t take long for the riled energy of the event to leak from her body. She slipped into an exhausted sleep and didn’t wake until midway through the next day.
Lucia’s eyes felt like swollen sandpits and they were so dry, it almost hurt to blink at all. The pain made her tear ducts water and once there was some moisture, it was much easier to keep her lids open.
Meow. Bat, bat.
Lu jumped when a large furry paw batted her arm and then relaxed when she saw the family Ro’Catta staring at her expectantly among the pillows beside her. She hummed in greeting and began scratching behind the creatures ears. Cue instant purr fest.
The Ro’Catta was a common house pet; the result of Earth’s domesticated male cats being bred with the much larger female Rohga, a felid species on Dor Nye. The Rohga were too wild to tame, but their offspring with Earth’s felines were much more suitable for pets. The Ro’Catta retained most of Rohga’s genes, aside from the temperament. Their fur was always long and had incandescent spots on their flank and chest that would attract small prey at night. The fur was always very pale in colors that reminded Lucia of sweet confections that could be found in shops at the capital.
“Hello Dezzy,” Lucia croaked as she snuggled his large body to her chest and ran her fingers through his thick, turquoise fur.
“He’s been waiting all morning for you to wake up,” Frellie nodded her head toward Dezzy when she entered through the bedroom curtains. Dezzy chirped and stretched against Lu before he dozed into a nap.
Frellie joined her on the bed, invading the bubble and sandwiching Dezzy between the two of them which only made him purr louder. She stared Lucia in the face and Lucia stared back. Frellie’s brows rose expectantly so Lucia mimicked the gesture.
“Well?”
“Well what?” Lu asked.
“You know what.” Frellie’s dark eyes were very expressive and reminded Lucia of their mother. While Lucia’s hair was curly, like their fathers, Frellie’s was thick and straight like their mothers but still a shade of brown resembling Lucia’s. When Lu said nothing further, Frellie continued. “Your face is all over League One.”
Lucia’s head shot up. “What! Why?”
League One was the main global news outlet of Dor Nye. Lucia hadn’t even remembered seeing vid comms at the event, but of course they would’ve had them. Every Curra function was filmed for local news. League One wasn’t local though.
“Because you made Quin bleed. Literally.” Frellie said this like it was all the explanation needed. “You were right about him though, that’s apparent; especially after what he said last night.”
Lucia laid her head back down and thought about what it all might mean. What was this unwanted attention going to be like for her family? What was Quin telling the media, her neighbors or whoever else?
“How’s mom?” Lu winced. “Is it bad?”
“She’s nursing a migraine,” Frellie said nonchalantly. “She hasn’t gone off the deep end. Yet.”
“Where’s Soren?” She realized he wasn’t in the room and she hadn’t heard him moving about.
“He’s in the den, where everyone else is. Gramps taught him moco,” she smiled, referring to the puzzle game her grandparents loved to play. “I think he regrets it. Soren keeps winning.”
Lucia smiled down into the fur on Dezzy’s head. She wasn’t sure if she was more pleased that her grandfather was trying to welcome Soren, or that Soren was beating her gramps at his favorite game.
“But why League One?” Lucia was still confused. Slapping Quin didn’t seem like enough reason for global news. Women didn’t smack men all the time, but it was hardly worthy of attention when it did happen.
“Weelllll,” she dragged out. “It’s easier to see it.” Frellie got up from the bed and Lu did the same. The silken nightgown that she didn’t remember putting on last night, unwrinkled itself from her hips and fell down her legs. She sat down next to Frellie on the couch while the projector blinked on.
Lucia’s heart sank into the pit of her stomach as she saw Quinton interviewing with one of League One’s well known reporters. He was impeccably dressed, as he always was and the way he sat comfortably in the cushioned chair made her want to scratch out his eyes. They did a recap of the vid from the previous night and it showed Lu tossing her drink into Quin’s face, her mother shrieking, Quin’s crass words and then Lucia backhanding him.
Bastard deserved it. I should’ve knee’d him.
“Some would say your comments were prejudiced,” the female reporter said calmly. “What do you think of that?”
Quin’s easygoing demeanor boiled Lucia’s blood all over again. He smiled, as if he was indulging a child.
“Let’s not jump to such absurdness. Calling that male a creature was simply a dig from my hurt pride that my intended partner was choosing him over me. We’ve all said things in heated moments. It doesn’t mean I’m prejudice.”
“So you’re saying this male is Miss Herana’s new intended partner?”
They replayed a part of the vid that did a close up on Soren. It was the worst possible part of the night they could’ve presented because he looked fucking scary. He was standing behind her, growling at Quinton, mouth slightly open and his giant teeth glistened while his black eyes bespoke the need to inflict pain.
“This is ridiculous!” Lucia shot to her feet. “They’re making him look like a monster!”
Frellie chortled. “He kind of is.”
“No, he isn’t!” Lu swung her arm out in frustration. “He’s a giant teddy bear; except toward lome’s and that idiot spewing his drool!”
“I can’t confirm,” Quinton replied and then gave her a knowing look. “But people talk.”
“Yes they certainly do,” the reporter smiled, completely eating up the vile vomit Quinton was tossing her way.
“UGHHHHHH!” Lucia shrieked and turned off the projector. She turned and stomped through the double doors of her wing, grumbling the whole way down to the den. When she burst through the archway with Frellie in tow, everyone looked up.
“Did you hear what that beast shit said?” she exclaimed and began pacing the middle of the large room that was naturally lit by rays of sunlight, seething with everything she had. She incoherently babbled about all the things she wanted to do to him and how he would ruin the Assembly’s quality with his petulant mind and selfishness.
“Lucia,” her father chided, flipping a page in the book he was reading.
“You know it’s true!” she argued and he grunted noncommittally.
“She’s right you know,” her grams piped in after her turn in moco finished. “That boy needs a good whippin’.”
“Thank you Grams!” Lu continued to pace in her nightgown, completely unable to stand still. “I still don’t understand why League One would take the time to report on that.”
“Because he’s next in line to take his family’s seat at the Assembly,” her mother said pointedly, drinking from a sweating glass and fanning herself. Lu was surprised that her mother wasn’t yelling at her and telling her what an embarrassment she’d made of herself last night.
“Loo-Sha?” Soren turned in his chair once his turn passed.
“What Soren?” Lucia huffed.
“Woosah,” he said slowly.
Lucia stopped pacing. She sucked in her lips as she tried and failed not to smile. He’d apparently picked up her calming mantra and her heart did a little flip that he was reminding her of it now when she really needed it. Her feet carried her over to Soren and she leaned her forehead against his and sighed while her hands rubbed and stroked his jaw and under his chin. His loud purr brought a silly, stupid grin to her lips.
“Woosah,” she breathed and said it a second time.
Frellie interrupted Lucia’s calm when she said, “I called it! Ryla!” She cackled and flopped down on the couch next to Rafe, draping her legs over his lap.
Nova groused.
“I don’t know why everyone is jumping to conclusions,” Lucia snarled and went back to rubbing Soren’s scales. “Soren and I are friends.”
“Friends don’t fu-”
“Frellie! Watch your mouth!” Nova blanched before gulping down more of her beverage.
“Ryla?” Soren questioned, looking confused.
Lucia shook her head. “She’s mama’s grandmother. Once upon a time-”
“Who would like to go out for second meal?” Nova interrupted and cut Lucia a glare.
****
Lucia’s amusement rose to new heights as she watched Zan trying to teach Soren how to flip a coin into the fountain and explain it’s a tradition to make a wish. When Soren began to make a wish, Zan waved his arms in panic and told him he had to think the wish; he couldn’t speak it aloud or it wouldn’t come true. Soren looked at Lu confused, but entertained nonetheless.
Grams and Nova had picked the place to eat, but the wait was long. So they made reservations and walked the market while they waited. They garnered stares, as she’d expected. Probably more so since the global cast of the previous night’s party.
People are afraid of what they don’t understand.
What is there to understand? Soren’s harmless. Mostly.
“Let’s stop in here,” Nova said as she began to enter a large tailors shop. “Soren will need a new wardrobe.”
Lucia hid a smile behind her hand as she and Soren entered the shop. I can’t believe it! Her mother was acknowledging Soren’s existence and she wasn’t under duress. Maybe that was a little harsh. She’d only had one day to get used to him. Not everyone had spent a week on a ship with him. Not everyone saw how he’d taken down a beast to save lives. Her life. None of them knew that yet. They didn’t see how Soren tried to understand the universe in such a short amount of time, just to survive. They didn’t know he’d been a slave or that he couldn’t remember what his life before enslavement was like.
Lu had to remember this, and give them a break.
The shop runner paled when he saw Soren, but quickly tried to recover and be polite as he greeted them. They were guided to the back of the store where plenty of seating was available around small circular platforms. The family arranged themselves, taking refuge from the heat, as her mother began speaking to the tailor about what kind of outfits Soren would need. She continued on and on as Soren was directed to stand on the platform. Lucia walked around him and his tail snuck up to stroke the back of her neck. She chortled and batted the tail away. When she reached his other side, his tail snuck back up to tickle under her chin.
“Soren,” she playfully warned him, grabbing the tail and stroking her fingers through the thick fur. He purred.
Hmm, so he purrs when his tail is rubbed.
“Please remove your clothes,” the tailor said and grabbed the measuring tape.
Lucia’s hold on the tail squeezed as she choked.
“Yes, please do,” Grams said.
“Mother!” Nova exclaimed.
“I’d like to see what caused that entire ruckus yesterday. I’m not getting any younger!”
“Soren,” Lucia warned. “Do not take off your clothes.”
“But I need to measu-”
“You’ll have to measure with his clothes on,” Lucia said stiffly, leaving no room for arguments. Her eyebrows rose, waiting for the tailor to catch her meaning.
Soren wasn’t wearing underpants of any kind.
He choked. “Yes, yes, this won’t be a problem.” He bustled into action, standing on a step stool as he measured Soren’s broad shoulders.
There was a collective sigh of relief from her family, except Grams. She grumbled.
Soren was looking down at Lucia and she noticed his cheekbones were a black-blue. He was blushing. This made Lu grin and she reached up to tickle his chin. He started to sink to his haunches and lean into her hand, which caused the tailor who was still standing on the step stool to bluster. Lu bit the inside of her lips and urged Soren to stand up straight. Once he was, she stepped away, promising the tailor she’d keep her hands to herself.
Yes, keep your hands to yourself.
I’m trying. He’s just so adorable.
Groan.
****
Twenty minutes later, once Soren was measured and the order for his wardrobe was submitted, they were back out into the market and making their way to the eatery. A breeze kicked up and the folds of Lucia’s dress flew around her ankles. It was a welcome relief since the heat was almost stifling. The breeze set free a few wisps of the large bun high atop her head and she did her best to tuck them back. That’s when she looked up and saw Quin’s evil face.
Lucia missed a step and would’ve face-planted if Soren hadn’t caught her arm and steadied her. “Thank you,” she said absentmindedly. When the side of Quin’s mouth kicked up in a mocking smile, she couldn’t stop the curl of her top lip lifting into a sneer. He disappeared around a corner to continue with whatever he’d been doing and Lucia moved along with her family.
The first part of the meal Lu tried to calm her nerves and enjoy the light atmosphere. Her family needed light and fun. She’d only been back one day and the mess she’d created wasn’t fair to them.
She’d ordered for her and Soren, since he’d never had any of the dishes on the menu. When the food arrived, he sniffed his plate and his pupils did a little dance. It was a dish of poc’da, a river fish from the Semlen territory. It was a very cold territory, filled with rivers and lakes. The fish was roasted over coals until its skin was crisp and the inside was tender. It was drizzled in a berry sauce that gave the tongue a zing sensation. Soren loved it. He ate all of it; the skin, the bones, the tail. It was entertaining and slightly gross when he started on the tail since it seemed like it was quite chewy.
By the end of the meal, Lucia was in high spirits with the rest of her family. They spoke about the entertainment at the capital happening in a few weeks’ time, and where all they wanted to go while there. Her dad told his terrible jokes that only Grams laughed at because she was his mother and it was an unwritten law that every mother must laugh at their sons and daughters jokes. And because Grams laughed at the jokes, Lucia laughed; mainly at the absurd unwritten law.
Just before they were all standing to go, Quinton and his parents and siblings walked into the establishment. The fun Lu had been having went crashing down and she wanted to wave a fist at the universe for leading him into her life at all. She stood and the rest of her family followed suit. They were preparing to leave when Quin just couldn’t resist opening his rancid trap.
“No hard feelings?” Quinton said backhandedly. His family stood around him, looking at her with measured disdain.
“I have nothing to say to you, Quinton,” Lucia said lightly. She would not let him get the better of her again.
“Come now,” he brushed the back of his hand against her shoulder. “Be reasonable-”
Soren growled. “Do. Not. Touch. Her.”
Quinton’s hand dropped back to his side as he scowled and completely ignored Soren. “So it’s true then.”
“Goodbye Quinton,” she turned to leave and when he began to say something, Soren interrupted.
“Quinton,” he ground out, half turning to look over his shoulder at the blond. “Eat a dick.”
Quin sputtered and his parents gasped. Grams and Fellie choked, and then yowled in merriment as they leaned on each other to keep standing upright. Her dad’s dimples were straining in his face as he tried to remain indifferent, but his eyes danced with delight.
“Soren!” she chastised, smiling.
“What?”
“You weren’t supposed to repeat that,” she twittered, reaching her hands up to rub his jaw. “Now pick me up, ya big lug.”
Soren did just that and as a last insult, Lucia waved a middle finger over his shoulder while they left the eatery.