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I swallow past the lump in my throat as Zinni slides my cup over toward me.

“Here you go, Eissa,” Zinni says. “Tell me what you think. The humans quite like it, but a lot of the Vyastil haven’t been brave enough to try the hybrid drinks.”

I put the cup up to my lips and take a sip. It is warm, and the duskroot mixed with the milk makes for an interesting combination. I do not hate it.

“It is good.”

He lets out a sigh of relief and beams at me, so unlike the Vorthex who stormed out here earlier.

“Tell your partner as well. You two are an interesting love match.”

When I say this, Zinni shakes his head. “Oh, you misunderstand. We are friends.”

My head cocks at that word. Vorthex and Vyastil are not friends.

“We are partners in this business. We met…back on Erethar,” Zinni says, like he’s too afraid to give a Vyastil of my station too much information. I don’t blame him.

“I am intrigued.”

“If you would like to come back another time, we will tell you our story, if you can be trusted.”

“On Aelvorn’s horns, I swear it.”

He beams again and then gives me a low nod.

I do the same and then let myself out of the small coffee shop, finishing off the latte quickly. I find the more I drink, the more I like it.

If I keep this up, I shall become like Cielo and consume several of these a day.

A car drives past, and I see two humans on a bicycle pedal across the street. I close my eyes and inhale, smelling the scent of him on the wind.

The coffee shop was a nice distraction, but now I am back to thinking of him. Of sensing him.

And I know that try as I might, I will not be able to stay away.

eight

LUCA

I find myself at The Anvil, my head foggy, my skin clammy. Maybe I’m coming down with something, but I don’t feel sick. I just feel tired.

I haven’t seen Eissa in weeks, but I feel him all the same. It’s infuriating. I can’t even get it up anymore, not for another man, not for porn.

I’m just…I’m fucking miserable.

I feel like he’s taken years off my life with the simple act of laying me out on the seat of a car and sucking my brains through my dick.

God, fuck him so much. I was perfectly happy before Vegas. Or, at least, I was content. Now it feels like I won’t ever be able to find peace without him, and considering he seems to be sticking by his decision to keep me out of his life, this might be what destroys me.

I attempt to shake myself out of the melancholy, nodding at the girl behind the counter of the gym, and I make my way to the locker room. I’ve already clocked the usual gym bros I hang with—Tyler, Brody, and Chadwick are working out with the free weights, and I think I’ll join them soon.

I need to feel something other than this odd sensation that has taken over me. I can’t seem to shake it. It’s like a hollow pit in my stomach telling me I’m missing something, but the only thing that’s disappeared from my life was Eissa, and he wasn’t even really in it to begin with.

God, maybe this is what the monsters do to humans. Maybe that’s why all those suck zombies are waiting in long lines all day every day, even when they’re never chosen.

I stuff my bag into a locker and then grab my water bottle and make my way out to the floor, nodding at Tyler first. He gives me one back as I slap hands with Chadwick and Brody.

They don’t know much sign, but they know enough.