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They are bugged, of course. As part of his punishment, he’s not allowed any real semblance of privacy, but he’s found ways around it.

And we need to speak soon. My breeding time isn’t too far away—I’m scheduled to take my herbs and procreate soon—that is, if it doesn’t happen randomly with Luca first. I need to figure out if they’ve made any headway with the rebellion on Earth.

The safest place for Luca to be is home on Earth and out of this companion contract, but I can’t do that unless I know I’m not sending him off to be hurt worse. I cannot lose him. Losing Kori was bad enough. It nearly ruined me.

Losing Luca would destroy me completely.

I am mostly put together by the time Everest lets me into their quarters. He has mastered the Vyastilian greeting, going high up onto his toes to press his forehead to mine. He feels like family much in the way that Rathyn does, and it comforts me to see them together.

Rathyn approaches, wrapping his tail around Everest as he tips his forehead to mine, and we linger for just a moment before Rathyn walks over to the table and takes out a tablet, tapping a button in the center.

The recording has begun—a pointless, boring conversation we recorded a long while ago back in my office on Earth.

Everest grins, then beckons me to the farthest room in the apartment where the portal is waiting, and I step through, blinking as the lights around me go dim. I realize we’re deep in a cave not too far from the Outerlands—if the scent and the presence of githyn are anything to go by.

There’s a fire burning in the corner of the room, and Rathyn has laid out a space for all of us to sit. Everest gets comfortable on the xinhar as Rathyn and I take seats at the carved table near the wall.

“We are free to speak. I have an alarm set that will let us know when the recording is two minutes away from ending,” Rathyn says.

It’s not a lot of time, but it’s enough.

“I would like to know if there has been any progress with the human rebellion being eradicated. I know m—that Luca,” I nearly give myself away, “is eager to see his family.”

Everest’s face falls. “He seemed okay after the whole meeting, even after Jyrion the Dickhead made you suck him off in front of everyone. But yeah, he ah…he seemed sad underneath it all.”

My hearts twist in my chest. “Did he say anything to you?”

Everest shrugs. “Not really. He asked about his family, wanted to know if Dante and Cielo were doing okay. But that really fucking grumpy-looking Vyastil came and took Luca’s friend away, and yeah…”

“Dhoryn,” I say.

Rathyn looks surprised, but of course he does. I very much doubt he’s spoken to anyone about his relation to Dhoryn. Even I avoid thinking about it, let alone speaking his name in polite company. I have seen him a few times during council affairs—sometimes with his human and sometimes not.

But I was surprised he had a human at all after, well…after seeing what happened to Kori.

“Would you like me to speak to him?” Rathyn asks, interrupting my thoughts. “He may be of some help. His work in the archives might prove to be useful, and we both know how he feels about the royal family and most of the council.”

Rathyn is not wrong. Dhoryn has spent most of his life as a historian, and while his job title was misleading—he was not asked to study, but to erase—he still has knowledge that most Vyastil do not possess. He could be a help to our cause.

But it would take a lot of convincing to get him on our side. Especially after everything.

“Perhaps.” I stroke a claw over my chin. For now, it’s best to change the subject. “And the rebellion?”

Rathyn gestures to Everest, who lets out a long-suffering sigh. “I’m not allowed to see Zane more than once a month right now. He’s under some pretty tight restrictions as he’s awaiting trial. I tried to call his parents, but they told me they knew what I was up to,” his voice falls, “monster fucking, and hung up on me.”

“I do not understand why you worry so much for Zane. He used his friendship with you to get close to Cielo and steal from him,” Rathyn says. He doesn’t sound angry, but Everest flinches anyway, and I can see the guilt on his face.

“I was hoping…” He stops and sighs. “Never mind, it doesn’t matter. Zane’s under constant surveillance and his calls are being recorded, so he’s not going to tell me anything, even if he wanted to. He doesn’t look happy, though.”

“Prison isn’t for happiness,” Rathyn says.

Everest glowers at him. “Thank you, genius. I fucking know that. I’m just saying if he’s miserable enough in there, maybe he’ll take some time to reflect and see that he’s gone a little too fucking far to the other side.”

“My Everest,” Rathyn says, his tone flat, “Zane has been that far to his side the entire time you have known him.”

Everest’s cheeks pinken, and he folds his arms, looking angrier with each passing second.

It’s not an argument I wish to get between, so I turn my attention back to Rathyn. “If there’s any kind of resolution, please let me know right away. The sooner I can dissolve this contract, the better.”