::Did I tell you I kissed her today?::Jonal asked, mind-to-mind.
::I know, I felt it,: Tonas replied.
Tonas was not yet completely calm, so Jonal’s hand circled his back in soothing motions. Tonas turned and spoke. “What happens if they reject us, all of us, and our way of life? What if the cultural conditioning cannot be overcome?” Then mind-to-mind again, ::No! Dammit—she—Anya—I don’t give laptard dung about the others, right now, we’ve given our lives for the others and I don’t want…::
So here is the meat of the trouble. Jonal pulled him closer, his heavy arms continuing to stroke and soothe. ::Yes, My Light, my love, we have something too precious to lose.:: Jonal whispered into Tonas’s ear, “Usually these positions are reversed. I preen and beg for your attention. You are the calm and determined one. Why these doubts, now?”