The Fall by Christie Meierz

Paran touched her arm, and comfort flowed from him. He wasn’t embarrassed. Nothing seemed to mortify a Tolari, not even bonding up against the wall in the stronghold’s main corridor in broad daylight.
    “No one could have anticipated how your condition would affect us during bonding,” he said.
    “We knew Marianne had problems with hormones colliding when she was pregnant. I should have thought about it.”
    His eyebrows went up. “Beloved.”
    “Oh, all right, I’m not that smart. And we had no way to know junior would come in for a landing so quickly.” She planted her elbows on the table and dropped her head into her hands. All around, people bubbled with happiness, their mood buoyed by the Paran’s. It washed away some of the embarrassment.
    But not all of it.
    He squeezed her wrist. “You have no reason to remain self-conscious. Neither of us bears responsibility for our actions in the corridor yesterday.”
    “You’re not as shy as I am.”
    “Even so, engaging in public sexual activity is not to my taste.”
    “I’m not so sure about that. You seem to like it outside.”
    “When we do not have an audience.”
    “And I am truly grateful for that.” She shook her head and peered up. “You would have stopped? If you could have?”
    “Yes, beloved, had I been thinking clearly.”
    “I didn’t even want to stop.”
    His eyes glinted. “Nor did I. It did seem an excellent idea at the time.”
    Her cough turned into a laugh, despite herself. “Why didn’t the guards just drag us into your quarters?”
    He snorted. “Were I anyone but a member of the ruling caste, they might have attempted it, but to do anything I could have interpreted as trying to take you from me would have triggered a murderous rage. I am too dangerous to risk that.”
    She sighed gustily and flushed again at the memory. It could have been worse. Guards had surrounded them, facing outward, to block them from view. Afterwards, the apothecaries examined them both and discovered the reason for their behavior. Her hand went to her belly. If she’d been paying attention, she would have noticed the new life glowing there.
    “Your tutor agrees you need a language implant,” he said, changing the subject.
    “But—” She looked down. “Is it safe for me now?”
    “It poses no risk to your child. Since you still lack an apothecary of your own, I have ordered Meilyn to prepare it. He informed me that the task will require some tens of days.”
    She slumped back in her chair. Only a few more weeks . The prospect of understanding and participating in casual conversations brought a smile to her lips.
    “Kellandin does, however, wish to continue your language lessons for now.”
    The smile fell off her face. The tall scholar had witnessed at least part of yesterday’s… incident.
    If only she didn’t remember it all so clearly.
    The Paran rose from his seat and dropped a kiss in her hair. “I have meetings. Kellandin awaits you in the library when you finish your meal.”
    She mumbled grumpily as he strode off, and the ebullient collective mood softened her embarrassment to something more like chagrin. She couldn’t suppress a smile at the Paran’s eagerness to get back to work. In her mind’s eye, she could almost see him rub his hands together with glee; the man so loved to scheme. He disappeared into the hall, and his voice rang out in rapid-fire Paranian, exchanging something businesslike with a woman. Laura crunched into a piece of fruit, mind drifting.
    Vondra strolled through the door, Veryth toddler-trotting along beside her with a death grip on her fingers. His mother hoisted him onto the chair beside hers and took her seat, grabbing food from the trays to set before him. For herself, she filled a mug of tea.
    Laura smiled at Vondra and waggled fingers at Veryth. “Good morning.”
    The youngster grinned, mumbling something that could have been a greeting. Or an invitation to swim.
    Vondra laughed and ruffled his