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Vyrian cocks his head. ‘Why? I am just curious.’

‘Harm could befall you if you ask the wrong companion. We can be…possessive. Not all will understand that it is merely curiosity.’

‘Even if I am a prince?’ he asks, and Eissa sighs.

My eyes flick from Eissa to Vyrian. I had no idea he was a prince. Did I offend him by saying no? I don’t think so. But then again, if he’s related to Jyrion…

‘Yes, even if you are a prince,’ Eissa says, speaking candidly. There’s something in the way he addresses him that tells me Vyrian is nothing like Jyrion.

Perhaps he is more like Quilliyn.

Vyrian considers Eissa’s comment a moment and then gives a nod. ‘Then I apologize for saying something I should not have. Forgive me.’

‘We accept. We shall speak no more about it. Luca,’ Eissa begins. ‘Vyrian is very curious about humans.’

‘I can tell,’ I say with a small smile.

‘You do not have much with you, but perhaps you would like to go up to your room and bring down anything you have from Earth. Even the smallest items I’m sure Vyrian would enjoy.’

Vyrian’s ears flutter in excitement, and his eyes widen. ‘I would like this very much.’

I grin and turn toward the stairs, rushing up them to grab what I can. When I return, Vyrian and Eissa are speaking to one another, their lips moving in a way I cannot understand, which leads me to believe they are speaking in Eretharian.

I don’t mind and set the small satchel down on the end table, letting them finish what they’re conversing about. But I can see that Vyrian is anxious to move on to other things, and Eissa must sense it because he smiles and shakes his head, beckoning me over to sit beside him.

I go quickly, letting myself sink back against Eissa as I set the small bag between us. Eissa’s tail wraps around me and pulls me close.

‘Go ahead. You can look.’

Vyrian’s eyes are wide, his hands trembling as he pulls the bag up to his chest and peers inside. Then he pulls out a small container of lip balm. The kind you unscrew and place your finger in.

‘What is it?’ he asks, turning it this way and that.

‘It’s for your lips. To make them smooth.’

‘I have heard of this!’ He holds it out to me. ‘I have one, but it is a different shape. Show me how this one works.’

I take it from his trembling hand and show him how to use it, unscrewing the cap, dipping my finger in and smoothing it across my lips. When I’m done, I hold it out to him. ‘Try.’

He is nearly vibrating with excitement as he takes it from me and mimics my movement, smearing it across his mouth a little too roughly, leaving a streak of balm behind. He smacks his lips and then makes a face when his tongue pokes out to run along them.

‘It tastes odd.’

‘You’re not supposed to lick it.’

He looks alarmed. ‘Will I grow ill?’

‘No. You’ll be fine.’

He sighs happily and then caps it and places it gingerly back into the bag. He pulls out two coins, a dime and a nickel, money I had in my pocket when I was injured. His eyes flash as he holds them in his palm, one finger petting them gently. ‘This looks like a treasure.’

‘It’s money…coins.’

‘Human money. I have read about these. They have value.’

‘You can have them,’ I say, and he looks like he’s about to faint.

‘I cannot. It is too much.’