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“Grating?” she replied, trying not to laugh.
Imber nodded. He didn’t want to insult her or her people any more than she would endure living here with him. But he supposed... Well, the truth had to come out at some point. “It is very high pitched.”
“Ah.” She brought her words down to barely a whisper and then slowed them down even further. “I am the only one who can understand you. Please tell them that the devices I created were only so we could speak with each other. They were only a one time creation. The droid that made them, Beta, it’s with my father. I don’t think I could make them again, and my people certainly cannot.”
He repeated the words to his sister, making sure that he said everything that she wanted his sister to know. And when he was finished, Virago gravely nodded.
He saw the expression on her face. It was one of sadness, and he already knew he wouldn’t like what she was about to say.
“I think it would be best if we keep it that way.” She even looked Alys in the eyes as she said it. “I am sorry that we will not be able to converse easily, new sister. But your people cannot have a way to know our language, and I refuse to put anyone else in danger because of it. The risk is too great.”
Alys nodded before looking up at him. “I agree with her.”
“Are you sure?” It broke his heart to think she would never truly be part of his people. She would be able to understand them fully, but, like a pet, they would never be able to understand her.
“It’s technology I don’t think my people should ever get their hands on,” she confirmed. “Your sister is right.”
So he repeated the words and then answered any questions his people might have.
How did they meet?
Where did she come from?
What were the small flippers on her tails? Why did they have notches in them?
They reached for her hands again, touching the long funnels between her fingers where there should be a membrane. And she let them. His little Alys answered every question without fail, even when she yawned and yanked the air out of him so quickly with the movement that he had to pound on his chest.
Finally, he couldn’t take it anymore. This was the first time he’d had her in his world, and they were both exhausted. His people would have more time to ask them questions, but for now, “We’re both tired,” he interrupted the newest person asking her questions. “I think I should get her to bed.”
“To bed?” his sister asked. “In your nest?”
He hadn’t thought that far ahead. His nest was one of the many that didn’t have any cover. It would be a miracle if either of them got any sleep with so many people staring at her. He wouldn’t put it past the more curious younglings to sneak a touch while she was resting.
Rolling her eyes, Virago gestured behind her. “Take mine for the night, brother. Perhaps then you will have some semblance of rest.”
“I couldn’t. Your daughter—”
“Will be fine with me in your nest tonight.” She grinned, sharp teeth flashing in the dim light. “Take your achromos to my nest, brother. Make sure she has good dreams there, yes?”
Alys would understand the words, although he wasn’t sure she knew what his sister meant. Good dreams were only for those who had earned them. His sister had essentially told him to work hard to give her a restful night, which meant... his sister couldn’t possibly be suggesting what he thought she was suggesting.
Embarrassment heated his cheeks, and he gathered Alys up in his arms before she could ask what his sister meant. He would not explain in front of everyone that his sister was highly inappropriate.
Drifting through the water, away from his people, to where they were finally going to be alone again, it eased something in his chest. Though he adored his people, he hadn’t realized just how much he wanted to be alone with her.
They had always had their own time together. That kelp grove had been their haven, far away from anyone else that might look in on them. And he didn’t want to lose that.
He’d liked it being just the two of them. Without that, what did they have? Just a lot of responsibility and weight on their shoulders. Too much stood between them, and being here reminded him of that.
“Imber?” Alys asked, her hands braced on his chest as he swam them toward the covered nest. He stopped in front of it, hesitating.
The inside smelled like his sister and his niece. There were little toys hanging from the covering above them and it was so... his sister. He couldn’t sleep with her here. It wasn’t right. It wasn’t them.
“I think I know a better place,” he said, bumping her forehead with his. “You trust me?”
“As long as a shark doesn’t try to eat me in the middle of the night.”
“There aren’t that many sharks in the ocean.”
