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“Is that not…what you prefer?”

He lets out a sigh. “Have you spoken to my brother at all?”

“Jyrion?”

His skin flutters, and his ears pull back sharply. Not Jyrion, then. It’s no surprise the quietest prince detests his brother as much as everyone else does. “Quilliyn.”

My chest aches with a longing for Earth. “It has been some time, but I am hoping he will visit soon.”

Vyrian twists the lip balm in his fingers again. “He always brings me such fascinating human objects.”

“Perhaps he can bring you with him to Earth some day?”

At that, he looks crushed. “I…” It’s clear he’s stopping himself from saying something. “Perhaps.”

A lie. But I will let him keep his secrets. “It was good to see you, my prince. Perhaps I will introduce you to my companion soon.”

At that, he lights up. “Yes? Truly?”

“Luca would love to meet you.”

Vyrian steps up to me and tips his forehead to meet mine. Princes never do that, but I accept the gesture for what it is and let him linger there until he pulls away. His eyes go back to Dhoryn’s window, and I hesitate only a moment before remembering I have something very important to do.

With a breath, I reach across the bond for Luca but am met with only silence. It’s just as well. If Rathyn has the answer to my problem, then there will be a lot more silence going forward.

And that is something I will need to learn to live with.

After completing a few work tasks in my office, I head to my meeting with Rathyn. As I pass Dhoryn’s, I see that his door is open and the lights are off, and there’s no sign of him or Lucie anywhere.

I still need to speak with him, but it will have to happen after I get word from Sabik on whether or not the Tarek can aid us in our mission. I fill my lungs and breathe out softly, then turn the corner toward the council hall when I come to a skidding halt.

Vyrian is standing near a window beside the massive doors, staring at his hand. As I approach, he stiffens, but I can see a bruise forming just below his wrist. He is not the same as I left him just an hour earlier.

“My prince…”

He drops his arm and then clasps his hands behind his back. “Councilman. Greetings.”

I haven’t been addressed that way in so long. “Is everything alright?”

He blinks up at me. “Where does your human companion stay?”

“Ah. With…with me.”

“Not here. At your apartment,” he clarifies. It is not a question.

Something twists in my gut. “I have a cottage. Why? Is something the matter?”

He lets out a low trill, sounding almost distressed. “My brother…is…” He stops, then shakes his head. Before I can open my mouth to ask him what he’s trying to say, he lifts a hand between us and, in painstakingly slow ASL letters, spells, ‘DANGEROUS.’

I suck in a breath.

“The modules were quite helpful. I would like to speak to your Deaf human.”

“My prince,” I say very quietly, “is there something I should know?”

His ears flick, and his eyes flash. “Guard him.” Then he turns and walks off, and I’m left with an almost burning panic in my chest.

I want nothing more than to open a portal right here and dive through to see Luca, but I know I can’t.