Love Code by Ann Aguirre

Author:Ann Aguirre
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Paranormal
Publisher: Ann Aguirre
Published: 2020-11-23T00:00:00+00:00

[ 13 ]

Helix waited for Qalu’s reply, however baffling and painful it might be.

She drew in a breath, evidently shocked at his blunt assessment. Perhaps this was not how a Tiralan would handle such matters, but he was done with conforming to expectations that did not match his own ideology. To him, it seemed far more efficient to confront issues directly than to avoid them. If she required an apology, he would proffer it, once they cleared the misunderstanding that caused her to retreat.

“It is for the best,” she said finally.

“In what regard?”

“I can’t be with you forever. Therefore, you should learn to connect with others to avoid loneliness when I return to Tiralan.”

There were so many logical problems with her statements that Helix didn’t know where to begin. “Why can we not remain together indefinitely? If it was your intention for us to part, why not do so more expediently on Tiralan? And why does my connection with you preclude an association with others? Love groups are customary, are they not? Your mothers gave no indication that Tiralan affections were possessive in nature.”

Qalu stared, as if she had no answers for any of these inquiries. Her head tendrils flexed with obvious distress, before she said, “I may have read the situation incorrectly. Since you are not native Tiralan, I feared you would focus on me to the exclusion of all others…that you would seek no further for emotional support. And if I allowed it, that would be—”

“I feel that you’ve taken these measures in some attempt to protect me from myself. You believe that you have power over me because you created the prototype, yes? Because you have taught me many things. But…at what point do you acknowledge me as a sovereign being? You don’t wish to take advantage of me or prey on an inexperienced person. Yet as you deny me intimacy, you also disavow me as one capable of granting consent.”

“I never thought of it like that,” she said softly. “I just…on Tiralan, I was literally the only person you knew. I felt that you should experience other options before deciding whether I’m someone you—”

“But you didn’t give me that opportunity. When others entered the equation, you removed yourself from my calculations. Already, you speak of leaving. You don’t fear harming me but rather, the probability that I may decide that you are not a viable option. Logically speaking, you’ve chosen to protect yourself. You’re not keeping me safe in any regard, as losing your emotional warmth is already an injury. Do you not see me as an equal, Qalu?”

“That’s…” Her hesitation indicated that she was processing his words. “…an accurate appraisal. I wouldn’t have realized it without prompting, but you’re correct. I do see you as someone I need to protect.”

“That may have been true in the beginning,” he allowed, “but the situation has changed. Neither of us is familiar with our current circumstances.”

“True enough, and I apologize. I should trust you to make your own decisions.

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