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You should carry me around more often, I tell him. I had no idea you had so many talents.

I have many you have yet to experience.

Will you show them to me? One day?

It’s a question filled with hope, of something more between us, but before he can answer, he twists, and we’re turning toward the mountain as he picks up even more speed. I feel the wind whipping past me, and I turn my face fully into his neck, holding on until his body begins to slow, and eventually his grip on me tightens right before he comes to a halt and lets me slip from his arms.

My feet hit soft ground, and I realize we’re at an entirely different cave entrance. This one, instead of going up the hill, goes down, and I can smell something vaguely familiar. Something like…

‘Water,’ I sign.

Eissa eyes me, then inclines his head just once in a short nod.

I don’t know a lot about Erethar, but I know they trace their time through the orbits of their moons. I know there’s never a completely dark sky because there are four of them, and their atmosphere is thicker and doesn’t allow them to see stars. And, while it rains often, their water collects in deep, vast underground oceans.

Water is a far more precious resource for the Vyastil. They don’t bathe as often as humans, and it’s only the elite that have things like bathtubs and showers. I haven’t asked about the other Vyastil that don’t live in the capital, but from what I heard about Cielo, my guess is they have some kind of rations, and they’re probably not generous.

So, the fact that I’m even close to their water must be a huge violation.

I tug on Eissa’s arm before we get too close to the mouth of the cave, and he looks back at me. ‘Illegal?’

He frowns.

‘I smell water.’

His eyes widen in surprise, and he takes a step closer to me. ‘Don’t tell. Secret.’

My first shared secret with Eissa, and it makes me feel…there aren’t really words in any language for it. I don’t feel good about it, and yet it’s a softer emotion that I tuck behind my ribs as he turns and finally leads me down beneath the ground.

The dark envelopes us, and Eissa keeps me close as I trace a touch along the walls, following his footsteps. Before panic can sink in, the path starts to glow up ahead, and it widens before opening up to a massive cave.

It’s similar to the one before, only this looks lived in. There are workbenches along the walls, and in the center, a massive fire is burning with something cooking in what looks like a fairy-tale witch’s cauldron.

And then, as we shuffle toward the fire, a huge shadow emerges from the far end of the cave. My breath catches in my chest when I see him, and although Eissa has shown me images of the Tarek, nothing can prepare me for this one.

At first glance, he seems shorter than Eissa, then his tentacles roll forward, and he rises several feet. His massive torso is a rich indigo, and as he gets closer, I can make out faint tattoos along his arms, chest, and neck. He has silver and gold hair in waves rolling down his back, and on the sides of his forehead, short, sharp horns extend upward.

His ears flick much like the Vyastil’s, and he turns to face me so I can see his fangs, which protrude just over his lower lip. There’s not a chance in hell I’ll be able to understand what he’s saying with those in the way.

Beside me, Eissa inclines his head, and then he signs as he speaks. “Prince Sabik.”

“Prince,” I blurt out loud.

Eissa turns to me, and while he speaks, his voice also enters my mind. “Sabik, son of Kharrek, from the ancient lands of Syel. He is the fifth-born prince to his house.”

Sabik speaks, and a moment later I feel Eissa push his words into my head. “What are the gestures you are making?”

I bristle. Are the Tarek like the Vyastil? Will he think I’m unworthy if he knows I cannot hear?

Eissa’s tail curls around me. ‘Peace. The Tarek do not share the same views as the Vyastil.’ He tugs me a little closer as he turns to Sabik, and I feel the words as he speaks. “Luca is Deaf. He cannot hear. Deaf humans use a signed language on their hands to communicate.”

‘Do you have Deaf?’ I ask Sabik as Eissa interprets.

Sabik’s eyes widen, then he inclines his head. “Yes. It is rare, but it happens. We have more senses than humans do.” He offers a tentacle out, and I see that it’s covered in small suction cups, a lot like an octopus.

I want to touch, but that seems rude, so I keep my hands to myself, and eventually he lowers his…limb? Appendage? To the floor. Turning his back to us, he makes his way over to his worktable, and I try not to stare at the way he moves.

It’s so…different. So strange. I wonder if I could be attracted to someone who looked like him, or would it be too much?