“Is it like fruit, or honey?” I asked.
Levi tilted his head and hummed thoughtfully. “Not quite. Candy’s unnaturally sweet. So, imagine the sweetest honey you’ve ever tasted. Now imagine it’s ten times as sweet and addictive. You could probably eat it until your stomach hurts, and still keep eating it.”
That sounded dreadful. But I wanted to experience Levi’s culture, too.
“I would like to taste a candy one day,” I said.
“Maybe when I go back, I can fetch you some,” he replied.
A heavy pause hung in the air. We both felt it. Levi’s posture slumped and his mouth curved into a somber frown.
“You saidwhen,” I pointed out. “Do you intend on returning to Earth if the ship is repaired?”
Levi rubbed the back of his neck. “I was kind of hoping Jaeyoungcouldn’trepair it...”
We were alone on the edge of the village, yet Levi still spoke quietly, like he’d uttered a dark secret.
Discomfort swirled in my organs. A rare feeling cropped up within me: anger. I could’ve stormed to the ship’s wreckage and destroyed it so it could never be used again. But if returning to Earth was what Levi wanted—what hetrulywanted—then I’d stay my hand.
That didn’t stop the growl of irritation buzzing in my throat.
Levi lifted his head. “Zat’tor?”
I swallowed, calming the growl. “I am sorry for my outburst. I despise the idea of you leaving Eukaria.”
Levi paused for a moment in thought. “Can I ask you something? Earlier, when we checked on my crew, you touched me with your feelers, didn’t you?”
I’d wondered if he noticed that. “Yes.”
“I don’t exactly know what that means, but... were you worried about me?”
As if they knew we spoke about them, my feelers floated in the air. They itched to touch Levi, to burrow into his mind and senses, to feel all he felt.
“Yes,” I said. “I should have warned you beforehand. But I sensed your unease and wished to know why. You should never feel that way with me. My only desires are your safety and happiness.”
Levi’s expression softened. His green eyes became wet, shining like morning dew. “Zat’tor...” Holding the basket out of the way, he hugged my chest. “You always say the nicest things, you know that?”
“It is the truth,” I said, stroking his back. Even now, my feelers crept closer to Levi. But he was not a Maeleon, and didn’t yet know their purpose, so I kept them at bay.
Yet Levi was sharp. He noticed the urgent presence of my feelers, even if he didn’t understand.
“You can, um... touch me with them. If that’s what you want,” Levi said.
My heart lifted. He truly was my filum.
“Touching another being with your feelers is more intimate than sexual intercourse,” I explained.
Levi blushed, looking even more excited. “Really? Well, I’m ready.”
I breathed out as I finally allowed my feelers the freedom they craved. The tendrils moved independently, arching towards Levi like a hundred eager hands. Levi’s gaze flitted as he tried to take in each one. Colors danced across my feelers like prisms of light, wild with anticipation.
Levi held his breath as the tendrils vibrated closer. “Is this gonna hurt?” he asked.
“No. I would never hurt you,” I promised. “It will feel warm, and possibly strange at first.”
When I risked touching him earlier, I didn’t get far. I’d barely scraped the surface of his skin before pulling back. But now, I was free to explore.
The tips of my feelers brushed Levi’s hair. He shivered. I pressed closer...
