Alexa pushed away from the door and sat heavily on the sofa because deep down she knew that it didn’t matter how much time passed, nothing was actually going to change.
Because she loved Hysterian so much it hurt.
She shuddered.
She needed to talk to Pigeon. She needed someone to tell her what to do.
She needed her dad. She wanted to know why he’d been involved with Raphael and Hysterian at all. She’d always wondered, but it had been eclipsed by his murder. She’d convinced herself that he’d been killed out of cruelty, malice.
That he’d been a victim of a hate crime or that he’d been in the wrong place at the wrong time.
She needed Pigeon. Alexa shook. But she wanted Hysterian.
Alexa pulled at her hair and groaned.
He kills people when he touches them…Was that how Hysterian killed her dad? And a frog? She had no idea what a frog was. She assumed it was some Earth creature they didn’t have on Elyria. Still, she wished she had her wristcon so she could look it up. Of all the things she’d learned, out of all the training she’d had to get where she was right now, she realized how very little she actually knew.
Alexa untangled her fingers from her hair. Hysterian had given her a reason to forgive him, and she held onto it because, to her surprise, she was still alive.
Heseemedto care. That he’d told her all he had because he was trying to earn her trust. She wanted to believe he cared just as much as she wanted a reason to forgive him. But once she gave him what he wanted, would he change and kill her then?
Was it all an act?
Didn’t he just say he was a master at getting people to speak? That he was specifically created for the intention of covert warfare and punishment?
Why else would he tell her about his skin? His animal? His time on Elyria? He’d told her more just now than what she’d gathered about him all these years she’d obsessed over him.
Is he biding his time? Are we both?
She hadn’t killed him yet; she hadn’t even tried.
The door to the cabin opened, and Alexa swiveled. Pigeon appeared, exhausted.
“Pigeon?” she whispered, taking a step forward, not sure if what she was seeing was real. “Hysterian let you come?”
Pigeon glanced to his side at something she couldn’t see beyond the door and stepped into the room. He shut the door behind him.
She rushed forward and threw her arms around him. “I’m glad you’re safe! I’ve been worried.”
He hugged her back, patting her hair. “Now that’s a dumb thing to go and do. No need to worry about me.”
“Why didn’t you leave when you had the chance?” She was so happy to see him. Alexa held onto Pigeon as if he might slip from her arms. For a moment, he was her dad. The scent of Elyrian sands and Sunwater flowers filled her nose.
For a few more moments, he remained her dad.
“And be stranded on Libra?” He huffed, patting her head again. “I think not. Anyway, I wasn’t going to leave you with him knowing what you are. Especially when you were so sick.” He pulled from her arms, grasping her shoulders so he could look at her. Alexa wiped her cheeks. “You look well, if not tired. Has he hurt you? Are you okay?”
She nodded. “Yeah. I’m okay. I’m better now. I’m just so glad you’re here.”
“Good. Captain told me you were asking for me.” Pigeon squeezed her shoulders then dropped his hands. He followed her to the seating area and sat down next to her. “I don’t know how much time we have,” he said, lowering his voice. They leaned into each other. “He’s been keeping me in the brig.”
“I know. I’m so sorry. Has he hurt you?”
“He hasn’t yet. I made my own choices, Dear, but I’m worried about you. Never saw someone so sick before. It’s been bothering me. You were fine at Termites. What happened?”
“I…” Her tongue suddenly felt too big for her mouth. Pigeon didn’t know it had been Hysterian who made her sick. She still didn’t know how she felt about that herself. “I must’ve caught the flu on Libra.”
“Nothing I’ve ever seen. I may be a mechanic, but I’ve seen my share of illness. That wasn’t the flu.”
