Broken

.18.

I hid my face in my hands trying to ignore the searing heat that had settled on my face. That had been almost mortifying but to be fair I was glad it was my mum who had walked in and not my dad. As Rhex had said, he was protective over me and just because Rhex was my soulmate and an Orrian probably didn't matter if he would have witnessed that. I had to concede that maybe Rhex's fear wasn't exactly unwarranted.

"You know that feeling you get when you are close to each other? The feeling of wanting to touch each other, to have contact?" My mum's words were soft and I peeked at her from between my fingers and her expression was gentle. "That won't go away. Even after twenty-six years with your father, Liv, the feeling is still there. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't have that feeling." I removed my hands from my face, the blush receding. I glanced over at Rhex who looked actually interested in what she was saying. She sat down in a chair across from us.

"How do you cope with it?" His question as quiet and she looked almost confused for a second.

"Cope?" She laughed lightly. "You can't just cope with it. I understand that you're Orrian and all that's going on is different for you but there's no coping." She gestured slightly as my dad walked into the room. "Your bond runs deep. That's what a soulmate is. They're the other half to who you are. You can't cope with that, you accept it." My mum's eyes were on my dad and a small smile ghosted the corners of her mouth.

The love between them was evident as was their bond. It was impossible for me to imagine my mum without my dad and vice versa, they were a team and always had been. My dad picked up her hand and kissed the back of it with similar smile on his face before he sat down on a chair beside her.

"Orrian traditions are quite... strict. I haven't had the privilege of knowing all of them but the ones I have become aware of are difficult to process." My dad looked between us and I placed my hands in my lap. "For a race of people that is so technologically advanced, you're very, very stupid when it comes to dealing with what nature intended." He smiled in amusement. "You're a race that prides itself on status and power. You were different before but your race has been in a slow decline since humans have known you." There was a sad look on my father's face and I glanced at Rhex whose expression was guarded.

"I have been searching for a solution to Orrian infertility since I started my career and it's difficult to pinpoint the cause. Many think you have actually bred out the ability to have children because you have gone against what the Source has decreed. You give up your soulmates, you give up the ability to have children." My dad looked thoughtful for a moment and my mum rolled her eyes.

"He's so serious." She gave my father an affectionate smile before turning to Rhex. "So how were you raised? Did you have a good childhood?" It was clear that she was going to keep Rhex busy.

I stood up and looked at my father. "Do you mind coming with me for a moment?" I watched as he nodded and I headed for the kitchen and into the backyard. There were a few moments before he followed me.

"What is it, Liv?" He pulled out a patio chair and sat down in it. I followed suit and rested my hands on the table. I needed to have some closure with what had happened.

"I don't think we had enough of a conversation regarding what I am, dad." I looked at him, I needed to know what had happened, why he had lied and he gave a small grimace.

"I can't explain it, Liv. I didn't want to lose you. Your mother would have been devastated if she learned we would have to abort you. So I tailored the results and made sure your actual DNA never reached the main database." He let out a heavy sigh but he didn't elaborate.

I worried the inside of my lip slightly. "Why didn't you tell me after everything? It hurts that you couldn't trust me." I took a deep breath in and slowly let it out. I frowned slightly as his face closed off. I wanted to let out a sound of frustration. There was something he was hiding from me, I could feel it.