Only Aehako’s strong hand on my back keeps me from running away like a coward. I don’t understand why he supports me through all this, but I’m grateful for it. So, so grateful.
“Have you heard them again?” Georgie asks. Her voice is calm but there’s a furrow of worry on her brow. As I watch, Vektal tangles his hand in her curly hair, as if to anchor her to him.
I shake my head. “It’s better to be safe than sorry, though. I want this thing out of my ear, and all traces of them gone. If the elders’ ship can do that, it’s worth a try.”
“And if it doesn’t work?” Georgie’s voice is gentle, even though her question pierces me to my soul.
I don’t know what I’ll do if I can’t remove it. I can’t come back and be a danger to others. “I’ll cross that bridge when I get there, I suppose.”
“Bridge?” Vektal asks.
“Figure of speech, love,” Georgie pats his shoulder. “It’s nothing to worry about.”
“Whatever happens, I won’t bring them back here, I promise,” I tell her. Even upon pain of death – or worse, my own re-captivity, I won’t sell out the others. I just hope the aliens will leave well enough alone.
She bites her lip and looks at her mate, the chief. Then, Georgie looks back to me. “I don’t want to tell the others if we don’t have to. I don’t want to worry them over nothing. Ariana’s no longer crying at the drop of a hat and Claire isn’t cringing when I talk to her. And Megan…”
I nod. Megan just mated with Cashol. She’s radiating happiness. I can’t take that from her. “I’ll tell the others that plans have changed and we no longer need them to go.”
“I’m still going,” Aehako says, stubborn. “I will not let Kira leave my side. I shall keep her safe.” He looks down at me, and I have to fight hard to keep the blush off my face, remembering what happened last night. “I suspect Haeden will accompany me, if I ask. He has no family to endanger.”
“I can go by myself,” I protest. I don’t like the thought of putting others in jeopardy. “Just point me at the ship—“
Aehako frowns fiercely at me, stunning me into silence. “I will not allow it,” he says. “I will keep you safe.”
“So protective,” Vektal comments. “Are you sure there is no resonance between the two of you?”
“If hope was enough to waken my khui, my chest would be thundering, my friend,” Aehako says easily.
I say nothing. I just sit there and blush. “I’ll, um, let Claire and Harlow know that plans have changed.” At Georgie’s worried look, I amend, “Don’t worry. I won’t say the truth. I’ll sugar-coat it.”
I wouldn’t wish the knot of fear in my stomach on anyone else.
We separate a few minutes later and I head off to the human ‘bachelorette’ cave to talk with Claire and Harlow. Claire is fine with not going, especially once I tell her Bek’s no longer heading off with us.
Harlow, however, is stubborn. She shakes her head and shoulders her bag, her manner unchanged. “I’m going with you.”
I take her by the elbow and steer her to a corner of the room, where I’m sure Claire won’t overhear us. “Harlow, it’s not that I don’t want you to come along, it’s that…things might be a bit more dangerous than we originally anticipated. It’s best to keep the party small.”
She stares at me with her bright-blue glowing gaze, evidence of the khui strong inside her. It looks odd against her red hair and pale, freckled skin. “The elders’ cave. You said it’s a space ship, right?”
“Well, y-yes, but it’s several hundred years old and it doesn’t fly anymore,” I stammer. “The computer inside it is still working but I don’t know that much else is—“
“Then I’m going,” Harlow says. “You can’t really stop me.”
I frown at her, frustrated by her pig-headedness. “It might not be safe,” I stress again.
“Because of the weather?”
“Because of other things,” I hedge.
She considers for a moment and then shakes her head. “I’m still going. I’ll take my chances. I need to see that ship.”
For a moment, I stare blankly at Harlow. Does she have a listening device somewhere too? Or is something else going on? “Anything you want to talk about?”
“Nope.” She hoists her pack and adjusts the strap against her shoulder. “When do we leave?”