Page 94

When he’s gone, I turn to Everest. ‘Why?’ I know he doesn’t have the lexicon to understand more than that. But he doesn’t need to. His face tells me he understands exactly what I’m asking.

He shakes his head. ‘It’s hard to explain, and I can’t tell you everything here. I’ll ask Rath if we can stop by before we go back to Earth.’

That feels possibly dangerous, but I would love the company. ‘Okay.’

Everest nods, then stands up. ‘Eissa’s on his way over here. I’ll talk to you later.’

I feel it the second after Everest signs it—the presence of my monster. My Vyastil. It’s a gentle, barely there caress that turns warmer and more intense the closer he gets. I want to jump to my feet and fling myself into his arms, but I know better than that.

I rise slowly, hooking my hands behind my back, and I wait for Eissa to approach. His tail touches me first, coasting up my calf where it curls around my thigh in a possessive hold. I would think it was something special, but I have seen all the Vyastil do this to their humans—even the ones who refuse to drink from them.

I dart a glance up to his face.

You are safe?

Odd question, but I answer him anyway. I am safe. I spoke with Everest and another companion.

His tension rises. My Luca, it is not wise to⁠—

I know, I cut him off. I didn’t tell him anything. We just talked. He was nice.

Who is his Vyastil?

Dhoryn. I send a quick image of both Lucie and Dhoryn through our connection, and I feel Eissa’s surprise shudder through me, but he doesn’t tell me why.

More secrets, I guess. Eissa’s sigh ripples across the short distance between us and ghosts across my face. Then he lifts his hand and presses something against my palm. It takes me a moment to realize it’s the portal key, and another moment to realize why he’s giving it to me.

“No,” I say aloud without thinking. I stop myself. ‘I’m not going home alone.’

His irritation silences me immediately. There are things I must attend to here, and I do not want you with me while I do them.

But—

Please.

I get the impression he doesn’t say please very often. Not like that. Not like he means it. My chest aches with how lonely it will be once again without him near me, but there’s a good chance that Everest will show up and maybe then I can get some answers.

The key is programmed to take you back to my cottage. You will be safe there.

Safe, yes. But completely alone and ignored. I don’t really know what’s worse. But it’s not like I can argue with him. It’s not like he’ll be willing to change his mind and stay with me.

He hasn’t so far.

Today, even after everything, is proof that he still intends to keep me at arm’s length.

Curling my fingers around the portal key, I give a single nod and turn away. I feel a small pulse of regret coming from Eissa, but I use everything in my power to shut him out until our connection is ice cold.

Eissa’s tail squeezes around me, but I don’t look back. Eventually he guides me through a door and to a waiting portal. It’s flanked by two stoic, bored-looking guards who don’t give me a single glance as I press the key to the side and watch it open.

I brace myself as Eissa’s tail slowly slips from my leg. Between us, it feels like a cavernous echo, but I don’t look back. Instead, I step forward and let the portal take me, hoping that at some point, for him, I become worth something.

The adornments from the meeting at the capital sit on the small table beside my bed. I’m wrapped in the tunic and pouting with my face in the pillow, buried under blankets Eissa brought from Earth, but I don’t get to wallow long.

A hard shove against the bed shakes me completely awake, and I peer over to see Gerald’s strange face looking up at me, blinking slowly.

‘Do-do?’ I sign.

He blinks, then shoves the bed so hard it moves several inches.