Page 79 of Truthful Deceptions

“You're being dramatic,” Narmuna said. “This is an inconvenience, nothing more.”

Horrible images of being incarcerated here filled my head. How long until I succumbed to the Ending because I couldn't get access to my scent-bonded partner? I'd heard it was an excruciatingly painful death. Would I need to beg Narmuna or Lexarit to kill me?

After I was dead, who would protect Opal? Mieshorum was all the way on Ortheema Station and Narmuna and Lexarit would likely remain incarcerated.

She'd be all alone again and vulnerable. Another Vicpor might try to sell her to the highest bidder. She could end up with a Talin who would abuse her because she was clever and outspoken. What if they hit her? It would be easy to accidentally kill a human with one blow.

We were all doomed.

“Stop it,” Narmuna snapped.

I turned to face him. “Stop what? Pacing?”

“Stop thinking,” he demanded. “I swear I can hear your fear and panic growing. If this situation requires it, I'll contact the Committee of Stations and Travel. They would be more than eager to come to our aid. I'm waiting to see if it's necessary because I’d rather not owe them a favor.”

Narmuna’s words helped pull me out of my spiral. “Yes, they'd have the authority to get us released. It might take some negotiating, but I'm not going to die in here.”

“Of course we're not going to die in here,” Lexarit said. “Even if we're found guilty, there's a strict limit to Massoc punishments.”

“He didn't say we,” Narmuna said, his eyes fixed on me. “He said I’m not going to die in here. Why would you die and not us? Is it because you've scent bonded to Opal?”

Narmuna’s question made Lexarit sound a rumble of amusement.

“Are you only now figuring that out?” he asked Narmuna. “I think he scent bonded the first night Opal was with us.”

I jerked and looked at Lexarit. “You knew?”

He sounded another rumble of amusement. “It was hard to miss.”

“I didn't know,” Narmuna said.

“You didn't want to see it,” Lexarit said, “so you didn't.”

An annoyed rattle burst from Narmuna. “What do you mean by that?”

Lexarit sounded a soothing rumble. “Nothing really, only that you tend to overlook things you find distressing. I'm sure it's a coping mechanism you developed in the cresh.”

“I do not,” Narmuna said. “It is not.”

We could both hear the defensiveness in his voice. That made me rumble with amusement.

“It’s true,” I confessed. “I scent bonded with Opal.”

I thought Narmuna would be frustrated with me, but instead he relaxed a little. “That’s good. That means there’s no worry that you’ll start Fading again.”

Relief made me slump against a wall.

“Do you think Mieshorum has scent bonded with Sloane?” Narmuna asked.

“Probably,” I said. “It’s a nearly impossible urge to resist.”

“Interesting,” Narmuna murmured. “That explains why you're constantly rubbing your scent glands in her hair. I thought it was for Opal, but it’s for you.”

“She enjoys it too, so it’s for both of us,” I said, touching my face. My scent glands were overfull and aching.

“I'm sure they'll let Opal visit us once she explains everything,” Lexarit said.

“But why did she run away?” I asked. It was hard to say the next part. “Do you think it was all an act so we'd bring her back here and she could run away?”