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I tap an E over my heart, and Lucie bobs his head, a generic sign anyone can understand, but he doesn’t know the true one. The one I never use. It’s something special, something that signifies more.

I won’t tell anyone, not until I know we can be more than what we are right now.

‘Why you here?’ I ask, leading him to two small chairs in the corner. They weren’t meant to be here, but Gerald rearranged this entire room today, and it actually worked out perfectly.

‘I don’t know. Dhoryn wanted me to come with him. When we got here, he said he needed to speak to Eissa. I can’t say no to getting out of the house.’ He huffs and turns his gaze away, looking sad before his eyes meet mine once more. ‘Doesn’t matter. All that matters is you’re here, and I’m so happy to see you again. I was worried you’d only see me in the forest with Dhoryn between my legs, or at one of the companion meets with…’

His signs trail off, and I add, ‘Dhoryn between your legs.’

I can tell he’s laughing, can almost feel it as his lips curl up, his chest bouncing. Then he swipes at his eyes and nods.

‘It’s not easy being a companion. Especially with a dark and mysterious Vyastil.’ His sign for them is different, not what I use with my friends, so it takes me a moment to understand what he means, but when I do, I bob my head.

‘I know. Eissa is mysterious. He keeps so much from me.’ My fist clasps before my mouth, and Lucie’s eyes soften.

‘Same. I know very little about Dhoryn. And anytime I try to ask, he shuts down and pulls away. It’s like this terrible push and pull. I hate it.’

‘Same. Eissa,’ I begin. ‘He is very… anything about Eissa’s other. How long have you been a companion?’

‘A year. Almost. It’s coming up to our anniversary. We’ve lasted longer than most.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘I mean that most companions don’t last that long. The Vyastil grow tired of humans; they change who they want to suck quite often.’

My face pales, and Lucie must see it because he shakes his head. ‘It’s not that way for everyone…’ But it doesn’t ring true. It seems like maybe this is the way the Vyastil operate.

A disappointment.

That word rings through my mind, and I wince.

‘Do you know anything about Eissa’s other companion? Kori?’ I fingerspell his name quickly, and Lucie’s eyes widen.

‘No. I haven’t heard about him, but I did hear about…’ His hands trail off, and I lean forward.

‘What?’ I press.

‘I mean, I heard about Eissa. Vyastil talk about him.’

‘What do they say?’

Lucie looks toward the door and then back at me, turning so no one besides me can see his hands when they move. ‘They say he’s rebellious.’

My eyes widen, and I let out a small laugh at that. ‘What? No way. He’s the biggest rule follower ever.’

‘I mean it. That’s the word they used. I guess he did something years ago and it had something to do with the death of his companion. Ever since then, he’s been making up for it.’

‘Did the companion have a name?’ It has to be Kori.

‘They never said a name. We are nothing more than bodies to be used, so it’s no surprise, but I know it didn’t end well. I think…’ Lucie works his bottom lip between his teeth. ‘I think it’s one of the reasons Dhoryn is so distant from me. Or at least I think that could be why. No one wants to get in trouble…’ His hands fall, and I can see the movement of his chest as he sighs. ‘It doesn’t matter. My contract is almost up anyway, and he’s not going to renew it.’

‘Really?’

‘Yeah. Like I said. We’re disposable. I bet that’s what happened with that companion, Kori. I mean, Eissa seems like a nice one, but you never know. They can’t be trusted. Not with your heart anyway.’

I don’t like that. It’s so contrary to what I feel for Eissa, so different from what I’ve come to learn about him. But he is distant. He keeps me at arm’s length most days, but he also lets me into his mind. He kisses me like I mean something.

I don’t think every human Vyastil pairing has this.