Page 30 of His Human Rebel
Erid leans forward. “I don’t like the way you were treated on your home planet. I don't know if it's worth it to try and go backwards and get any of that fixed considering I hope you're not returning, but I want you to know that on Tarvos, we have none of those same laws. But you have to understand that when you decide to walk to the courthouse with Rake, you will legally become his mate until one of you dies from natural causes, hopefully very far in the future. There is no human divorce on Tarvos. And if any children you have, including the human child that he's adopting, if you then decide later that you want to leave and return to New Earth while still bound to Rake, those children stay on Tarvos.”
“Rake already told me all of that,” I confirm. “But I appreciate you telling me again and making sure I understand what I’m getting into and will be able to give my genuine consent.”
“Good, if there's anything else you ever want to know about the laws here on Tarvos, if you want to read up on them and educate yourself, I can help you with that and send you the information.”
“I'd like that,” I answer with genuine enthusiasm. “I enjoy studying law. I always think that if I weren't a teacher, I probably would have been a lawyer.”
Erid smiles. “I like her.”
“I like her too,” Gryce says. “And I think that I can speak for everyone in saying that we appreciate your transparency. You have nothing to worry about, you will see that our laws, even in the most remote villages, would never allow such a thing to happen, where you were forced into a mating for instance and then forced off planet.”
“Well,” Erid says, “she could be forced off planet in one moon cycle, unless she chooses to walk to the courthouse with Rake. After that date I will indeed have to escort her to the transporter station for her return trip to New Earth.”
“Yes, but I think there’s the distinct possibility that you might like it here on Tarvos,” Lucy pipes up from across the room. She points over at Mica. “We're both happy here. Mica and I are treated as equals, even though we’re female and human. There hasn't been a single problem and there's lots of other women who live here too and they're happy. I think you'll like it. You should give it a chance.”
“Okay,” I nod. “Okay.”
“Well, I think now is a good time to deliver your gift to Stella,” Sten remarks, handing a thin package to Rake, who then hands it to me.
“What is this?”
“Open it.”
I carefully remove the wrapping and find the most beautiful, sleek, thin glass tablet. The type I’ve always coveted but never thought I could afford.
“This is your new tablet so you can communicate with me, or anyone else here on Tarvos, but so you can speak with your mother and also access your accounts.”
Mica points to a small box by the front door. “And I brought along a starter pack of Hyrrokin clothes. I hadn’t met you yet, but after speaking with Martina and with Rake, I hope I was able to guess at your size. Later, you can go into town with us and we can show you how to get a whole new wardrobe that will be custom made for you. You can even get shoes, or as they call them here ‘human foot coverings.’”
I hug the tablet to my chest. “Thank you, all of you. Thank you very much.”
Rake rubs my back and then pulls me into a hug.
Chapter 11
Rake
My mother and Mica, Lucy and Stella sit together at the table, chatting about a variety of subjects. The cleaning bot remains busy picking up after us, quietly incinerating trash or washing dishes and repacking them for transport back to the main ranch. Leftover food is sent to our cook to be devoured by the ranch hands who I’m certain will make quick work of this bounty.
The females finish their meal and make plans to go shopping. Stella invites them all upstairs to meet “Coco and Boots.”
There’s an immediate buzz of excitement.
I am pleased to see them getting along. I simply wish this was happening at someone else’s domicile or at a public restaurant.
Both my niece and nephew are here. Locus, Thorn’s child, is a toddler, able to walk on his own. Kelli, Burl’s daughter, is still a sleeping infant.
“Thank you for bringing the small beasts,” I tell Lucy as she breastfeeds her daughter.
“Oh, see I knew you’d like them. Cats are irresistible. Gryce recently adopted a kitten too.”
“I do enjoy them, but my female enjoys them more. I have a feeling she likes them better than me and considers them better company.”
Lucy laughs. “You might be right.”
“The cats will help keep her here.”
“I agree, they will make her more comfortable, seeing a bit of home. I like her. Thank you for bringing another human I can befriend.”