My parents were hesitant about the news that I was bonding with a human, but were kind to Kelly and welcoming. Their main worry stemmed over his lifespan as well as the political implications.
“I really liked them,” Kelly said as we walked back to the barracks. “I think they liked me too, at least a bit.”
“They did,” I assured him. “They’ll come to love you as much as I do once they get to know you better.”
He stopped and turned to face me. “You love me?”
I searched his face and was relieved to see it was hope I saw shining forth.
“I do. I know it’s soon but so help me, every little thing about you made me fall a little bit at a time until, well, here we are.”
He crashed his lips to mine in a bruising kiss. Pulling back, he confessed, “I thought I was crazy, feeling this way about you when we’d basically only just met. I tried telling myself it was lust, but honestly, as much as I enjoyed having sex with you, I treasure merely spending time with you just as damn much.”
I laced my fingers through his. “As do I.”
We resumed walking and as we turned a corner, I winced.
“And don’t you come back around if I’m working again!” a voice shouted as my brother was tossed into the dirt outside his preferred tavern. Richard came out a moment later, of his own volition.
“I take it that things ended well, then?” I called out as we hurried over to the pair.
“You think?” Miljack retorted. “It was going grandly, everyone buying rounds and asking Richie here all about what it’s like being human and living in the human towns. Then some asshole mentioned you were marrying the human he came here with and guess who decided to come show Richie that I was spoken for and not to be matched with any other omegas he might have come over with?”
“He didn’t even let me explain to the guy that I hadn’t come with any other omegas. He just shoved the guy off his lap and said, ‘I told you before, you have great cock sucking skills but I’m not interested in anything else with you.’” Richard shook his head in consternation as he spoke. “There was a lot of screaming and flying glassware after that and then next thing I knew, they were tossing us out.”
I laughed. I’d had a feeling it was going to end up going something like this.
Miljack dusted off his pants. “Yeah, and now I’m going to have to find a new bar,” he moaned, “and this one made great smoked klirit stew at dinner time.”
“Which I’m glad we finished eating so didn’t up wearing it,” Richard added. “Some of the patrons weren’t so lucky.”
Kelly pursed his lips. “Not the sort of impression I’d hoped we’d make.”
“Sorry, Kel,” Richard replied sheepishly. “I should’ve known it was a bad idea when he suggested it.” Then looking at us carefully, he added, “You two go anywhere fun?”
“We went to last meal at my family home,” I informed him.
Miljack glared at me. “Why didn’t you say? This could have waited until tomorrow! Now they’re going to think I skipped out on an important family get together. You were introducing your Intended!”
“It’s all right,” I reassured him. “I explained the whole situation more or less, telling them you were tying up some loose ends and getting his deputy settled as well.”
“They expect to see you both with us in two nights’ time, anyway,” Kelly said. “So tomorrow, Richard, you and I have to go see about getting us some ready-to-wear formal clothes.”
“They throwing a party?” Richard asked.
“No way,” Miljack breathed. “Tell me you’re not, already?”
“We are,” I confirmed as Richard’s eyes bounced between us in confusion. I turned my attention to him. “We sent word to your parents to make their way to the station tomorrow and arranged for them to be met by a train which will bring them.”
He stared at me in open-mouthed astonishment. “Wait, they’re coming here? To go to this party? Oh, shit, you’re getting married, aren’t you? In two days!”
Kelly lifted my hand and kissed my knuckles. “Yup, sure are. Wish it was just because we’re crazy in love, but there’s more to it than that.”
“Let’s go,” I said, spotting several patrons watching us from windows. “We can fill you in along the way without remaining a spectacle.”
As we walked, Kelly and I took turns for the reasons behind our swift move.
“Well, shit,” Richard said. “I never thought about any of that.” He sighed. “Probably should have. Fuck, but this has gotten super complicated.”
His words would turn out to be prophetic.