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I am not yours.

I flip him off in my mind, and I can feel the amusement emanate from him. I don’t like that, not at all. But then he’s stepping forward, and that leaves me in a rush to follow. Tingling tears through my body, my ears popping as I step through. It’s cold and then hot and then something spins, and I fall forward before I even know I’ve moved.

And now, I’m in his arms, my stomach twisting, nausea moving up my throat. I heave and feel his tail wrap around me protectively. I want to move away from him, but the world is still spinning.

Then something presses against my lips.

It’s that herb again. Zitha.

I don’t refuse it, letting the bitter taste dissolve on my tongue. I feel the rush of comfort as it hits my system, and peace moves through my body. My roiling stomach settles, and the dizziness dissipates.

Standing up straight, I step away from him, and my eyes finally take it all in.

I’ve heard from Dante what Erethar looks like. The way he used classifiers to describe it…it was almost like I was there, touching it, tasting it on the edges of my tongue. It’s crisp and light and floral, and I swear air moves through my lungs so much easier.

I glance around, seeing the large purple trees bursting up from the ground, blue and silver leaves waving in the breeze. The bright orange sky shines in the background, several moons hanging on the horizon. I see a creature float past, its long, sharp amber-and-jade wings fluttering as it soars, like a gemstone in the sky.

It twists and dips, a long tongue flicking out and catching something from one of the trees.

I inhale deeply again, steadying my hands when something deep and earthy hits my nose. It’s warm and tight, like the feel of a mother’s hug when you’re sick or absent for too long.

‘This is where you live?’ I manage to ask.

‘Yes. Well…’ he hesitates, almost like he’s nervous. His ears flicker, and he gestures in front of me. ‘My house is just up there.’

I glance down at the gray rocks beneath my feet, seeing one move and scurry to the other side. I jump and feel Eissa’s amusement drift off him. Only this time it doesn’t annoy me. I’m too overwhelmed by it all to be anything other than amazed.

I have no idea why he lives on Earth when he can live here.

‘No,’ Eissa says, his hands lifting in that beautiful dance they do. ‘It is beautiful, but Earth is more…free.’

I don’t know what he means, but I am too distracted by what I see as we continue to traverse the path. There are bright flowers popping up from the ground, roots clinging to the ground like fingers digging into the earth. And then I see it: the petals changing colors.

I gasp, almost stumbling as I stop to take it in.

‘That is so cool.’

‘Yes, but come. You are still not fully recovered, and you need to rest.’

I don’t want to rest. I want to explore, but Eissa’s right. I’m still exhausted from the beating my body took, and while I did heal quite nicely, I can still feel the weakness in my bones.

We turn a corner, and I see a structure sitting before us made of something that isn’t like the concrete we have on Earth. It’s strong, and shines in the light, almost iridescent, like geodes or gemstones. The orange of the sky hits it as we move, and it almost glows. As we get closer, I can practically feel the vibration of it humming beneath my feet, like the feel of someone’s chest as they sing.

The roof is pointed, almost like a witch’s hat, the door not rectangular, but hinging on just one point, like a triangle. There are large what I think are windows until we get closer and I see that there is no glass, just open air, with a soft film floating around it. It looks like a fog or mist. I can’t help but reach out as we pass, and my hand touches it.

It’s freezing, and I draw my hand back, curling my fingers into my palm.

‘It is to keep the wind and creatures out while allowing air to come in,’ Eissa explains.

I nod as he pushes against the side of the door and it twists open, like a top tilting on a table. I hold my breath as I stop on the threshold, then I place my foot inside and look around. The first thing I notice is the light. It doesn’t come from torches or some kind of bulb, but the space seems to be illuminated by the gemstones in the walls. I glance upward and see a cone-shaped roof spiraling above me.

I gasp as it gives the illusion of going on forever.

My eyes cross, and I force my gaze back down, taking in the angled walls and the smooth, slick floors. And that’s when I notice it.

The mess. It is not what I was expecting from someone like Eissa. I expected cold and orderly, but what I see here is oddly shaped furniture pushed this way and that, as if something shoved it out of the way on purpose.

I can feel frustration moving off of Eissa as he stalks forward, his body bent as if looking for something. Or someone.