And, as with most decisions, we don’t have to discuss anything. Risk already knows the outcome, I see how it plays out, and Arc hears it in our thoughts.
So Chrys and I are alone in the car as we drive into Ilidi City.
“I’ve seen a lot of pictures and, I mean, it’s always outside the window behind Mary, but I don’t think I really understood howbigthe city was until right this second.”
“It’s tall. But it’s one of the smaller cities on this continent by footprint at least. Kaveter takes up about twice the amount of land. Gongii is even bigger.”
“Do the others at least know what color is?” she asks, looking up and wincing. “It’s so white and boring.”
“The buildings are made of a self-cleaning composite. No one has to get up there to clean them.”
“Oh. I guess I can give them a pass if it’s a safety issue.”
I don’t know that that’sexactlywhy, but I’ve never really thought about the city’s color—there’s plenty of color hidden inside and between the buildings. From the highest floors, the ground is a patchwork of art… but at a distance, it’s just white pillars glittering against the dark sky.
That’s what makes me take her on a quick detour.
She murmurs approvingly when we pause at one of the windows on the seventy-third floor of the medical building to look down.
Then, I sit in the waiting room while she disappears inside. There are several other men sitting with me. They have bonds… they can feel that their mates are safe, even if they’re out of sight. Resentment pokes at my chest and squeezes my gut.
Even though I can see that she’ll return to me, every moment that passes while she’s inside prickles at my skin.
When she comes out, she’s rubbing at her jaw, and I tense my muscles. I know no one hurt her in there, but still.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, better than? I’ve had this weird thing with a tooth for years and they just… fixed it? It was kind of amazing.”
I wait until we’re in the elevator before I ask. “And there’s nothing else wrong?”
She frowns. “There’s something wonky with my bloodwork, but they think it’s just the lingering stuff from whatever I was drugged with.”
I don’t like that.
“She told me to come back in a week to get another draw and see if they’re still there and whatnot.”
When the door opens again, we’re not on the ground floor. A cheery tune plays overhead and Chrys looks around like the small room we step into needs more than a cursory glance.
The place seems empty, until a woman pops up from behind the only opening in the wall, clutching a pen like it’s a trophy. She sees us and sets it quickly aside.
“Hello, hello! My name’s Kari. How can I—Oh my god. I love the tattoos. They are so cute!”
“Thank you. I am my own personal sticker book.” Chrys laughs and laces her inked fingers together, placing her arms on the counter and leaning across. “Ineedto know where you got those earrings.”
Kari reaches up and touches the fuzzy pink creatures dangling from her ears. “My friend makes them. I’ll give you her info once I get your script.”
“Perfect!”
Kari takes Chrys’ information and then scowls at the screen. “I show you in here, but… I already know it’s not where it says it is.” She slips from her seat and pats the counter top. “Wait right here. I’ll be back in a jiffy.”
When she’s gone, I watch Chrys for a moment—a soft smile on her face, dancing to the music—and say, “It feels like you came here on purpose.”
“What?” she asks, a little laugh preceding the word.
“Just… Nothing seems to… phase you. I think that’s the way they say it on Earth.”
“Oh.” She laughs again, smiling up at me. “I tend to live by some simple rules that make things like this… easier than I think they might be for other people?”
