“Understanding is an understatement.” Sylvan raised a finger to order a drink. “It probably helped that you saved so many during your escape but I still can’t believe they forgave you for bonding her even after a breach of contract.”
“They did, though.” Baird ordered a drink as well. “There aren’t even any sanctions against me and Olivia is cleared of all wrongdoing too, since she used the Think-me without knowing what she was doing.” He frowned. “That really was my fault in the first place for hiding it from her. But I was afraid if she knew she could get out of the contract so easily she would. She was so determined to get away at first.”
“Almost as determined as she is now to never leave your side,” Sylvan said, smiling a little. “Where is she, anyway?”
“Spending time on the Think-me with her sister. Now that we’re bonded they can talk as much as they want.” Baird laughed. “They’re planning our bonding ceremony down to the last detail. Sometimes I think the damn thing is glued to her head.”
“It’s a good thing the Council loosened their restrictions. And I understand they’re going to let Olivia’s sister come up to see her more often than usual?” Sylvan’s tone was carefully casual and he looked down at his drink as he spoke.
Baird nodded. “Twice every Earth month. It helped that two of the newest Council members are Twin Kindred. When I explained that Olivia and Sophia are twins they decided it was cruel and unusual punishment to keep them apart so much. In fact, there was even talk of letting Sophia move up here permanently.”
“Oh?” Sylvan’s eyebrows shot up. “Is she going to?”
Baird shrugged and signaled for another drink. “Don’t know. She has a career on Earth she doesn’t want to give up. Speaking of which, I want to thank you, Brother. Olivia is really happy working in the med station. She says our technology is fascinating.”
“She’s very accomplished and she actually feels deeply for the patients she treats.” Sylvan looked thoughtful. “It’s given me a new outlook on the whole situation.”
Baird laughed. “You gonna change your cold-blooded ways? I thought Tranqs never learned to feel until they found a bride and blooded her.”
“I’m not looking for a bride as you know,” Sylvan said stiffly. “I’m simply saying that I—”
“I know what you’re saying,” Baird interrupted him. He leaned in, taking a closer look at his brother. “Look, I hate to say this but you don’t look so good. Are things still crazy at the med station?”
“No, that’s cleared up since we routed the Scourge and sent them back to their ships.” Sylvan sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose between his finger and thumb. “I just…haven’t been sleeping well.”
“Bad dreams?” Baird asked sympathetically. He’d had a few himself after his second escape from the Scourge. Luckily Olivia was always there to soothe him and remind him they were safe in each other’s arms. He felt sorry for his half-brother, with no bride to warm his bed. If only Sylvan would retract that damn vow he’d made but Tranq Kindred took such things very seriously. It would have to be a matter of life and death before Sylvan would break his word, especially since he’d made the vow not just to himself but to the Mother of All Life.
But Sylvan was shaking his head. “Not bad dreams, no. They’re just…strange. I don’t know what to think of them.”
“Maybe you should go to the temple and ask a priestess to interpret them.” Baird took a sip of his drink.
Sylvan’s normally pale cheeks went red. “No, I…I don’t think that would be a good idea. I’ll be fine anyway. They’re just dreams.” He shook himself and motioned for another drink. “So speaking of your bonding ceremony, where will it be held? Here or on Earth?”
Baird frowned. “Olivia had her heart set on being married—uh, bonded—at the same religious landmark her parents used. But after the way her shuttle was taken by the Scourge the last time she tried to go to Earth, she’s agreed to have it here.”
“You think she’s still in danger from the Scourge? But they let her go—it sounded to me like whoever they were looking for, Olivia wasn’t it.”
“It sounded like that, sure. But I don’t know. They were looking for something—someone with some kind of a mark, from what Olivia told me. To fulfill that damn prophesy of theirs, whatever the hell it is. And you know the Scourge—they won’t stop looking until they find whatever or whoever it is they want.”