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I want to see my brother.
You can’t return to Earth. It’s not safe.
Can you find a way for him to come here? Please?
There’s a pause, so long that I think maybe he’s shut me out. Then I feel something that could be a sigh. Yes, my Luca. I will go and see Rathyn about it.
Thank you.
There’s a warm pulse of affection, and then I withdraw, feeling the connection between us settle. It’s not complete silence, but I can tell Eissa isn’t making it easy for me to dip into his thoughts.
It’s only fair. I’ve been shutting him out the same way.
Rolling onto my stomach, I do a few push-ups to get my blood moving, then hop to my feet and make a loud hooting sound to get Gerald’s attention. ‘Outside,’ I sign.
I don’t know if he understands me or not, but his antennae turn away from the sofa, and he lumbers toward the door, so maybe he is picking up on my language. The thought makes me feel all soft inside.
I wonder if I could train him to be a hearing service animal. He’s slow, but it’s not like I’m ever in a hurry to answer the door or take a call, so he’s kind of perfect. I watch him waddle past me as I open the door, and the moment he’s outside, Gerald picks up speed and rushes immediately into the brush.
Fuck.
Glancing around at the sky, I feel a pulse of relief when I see there doesn’t seem to be any storms on the horizon, then I take off after him. He’s cleared a path through the low-lying plants, and I see him far ahead, heading for the walking trail.
I know that Gerald can take care of himself, and I know he knows his way back home, so I slow my pace to enjoy the quiet coolness of the forest. I miss home. I miss my family more than I can say. But I do like it here.
It’s not a place I want to give up willingly. I can only hope that Eissa’s able to arrange for Dante to visit because I want to share this with him. I want that human connection in a world entirely alien to ours.
Coming around the corner toward the path, I skid to an instant halt when I see the figure of a Vyastil kneeling on the ground with his hand extended toward Gerald. I’m immediately ready to defend my wild kradun with my life when the Vyastil tips his head up.
Something in my chest constricts as I recognize Jyrion’s face. His ears flick as he pushes himself to stand, and I take a good look at his exposed arms, the heavy necklace resting against his chest, and the cuffs at his wrists. He’s wearing a thin, gauzy wrap around his lower half that shows off everything.
Every inch of unmarked skin—skin unlike what Eissa has now. Because he’s the one who robbed Eissa of being able to walk around without shame.
My hands curl into fists, and I storm over, coming to a stop beside Gerald. My gaze meets Jyrion’s, and while I know I’m meant to be secretly spying—to get him on my side so I can learn what he’s planning and plotting—I can’t.
‘Asshole,’ I fling at him.
He blinks at me, his rainbow irises flashing. ‘I don’t understand that word.’
‘ASSHOLE. Where humans take a shit out of. It’s an insult,’ I tell him.
His cheeks darken. ‘I’ve upset you. I did not hurt your kradun.’
Taking a calming breath, I shuffle a single step back. If I confront him about what Eissa told me, I know enough to know that it could put us both in danger.
But I can’t just let this stand. I have to risk it.
‘When Eissa upsets you next, will you kill me like you killed his other human?’
Jyrion’s face shifts, his skin fluttering, ears twitching. He tilts his head to the side as if he’s studying me, and then he folds his arms in front of him. On the side, near his elbow, I catch sight of much darker skin, like a bruise.
When he sees me staring, he puts his arm behind him, and I know—at least in that moment—that the shame on his face is real.
‘What did Eissa tell you about his human?’
This has to be a test. I take a deep breath. ‘You were displeased with him, so Kori was executed, and Eissa was permanently scarred.’
‘You have seen the scars.’ The way Jyrion signs that is a statement, not a question. But I don’t know if it’s just because he doesn’t understand how to ask a question in ASL.
