“That’s good then.” Exo clasped his hands together. “There’s thirteen known human-like creatures, but only twelve that are applicable.”
“Why not the thirteenth?”
Both Kroven and Exo glared at Wallace, ending their gaze to share a knowing look. Kroven reached over and grabbed my hand, almost like just the thought of this thirteenth species made Kroven either want to protect me with affection or seek comfort from his boyfriend.
Which was really worrisome.
“We don’t talk about a certain species.” Exo explained. “There’s only one of them known to exist and….well, it doesn’t matter.”
Neither Wallace nor I were going to probe further on that matter. If there was a creature species that made the other Orbs antsy, we’d not want to deal with them anyway.
“Alright, then.” Wallace continued. “I’ll just need a list of the species. And I guess I can start canvassing for nominees from the respective communities.”
Exo and Kroven went back and forth naming the twelve applicable species. They rattled them off so fast my brain didn’t cling to the names for safe keeping. It didn’t help that my mind was wandering to this forbidden number thirteen. Why was it on the outs with the other Orbs? Was there only one left by design or by chance?
Wallace took the names of the species down, Exo correcting his spelling when needed. Looking up from his completed list of twelve, Wallace eyed Kroven with a look that said something that I could tell he wasn’t going to like.
“Speaking of the nominees,” Wallace gave Exo a nod. “Exo’s recommending you as the sangamar representative.”
Boisterous laughter absorbed the walls as Kroven cackled with abandon, squeezing our hands together as he waited for everyone to join in. No one did.
“You’re not serious, right?”
“Why not?” Exo shrugged, but regarded me quickly before adding, “I’m not sure what you’ve shared with yourboyfriend,” The word sizzled on Exo’s tongue, and I wasn’t keen to think it was a compliment.
“If you’re talking about the bite,” Kroven squared his eyes with Exo. “Then he knows all about it. I have nothing to hide from him.”
“Great,” Exo huffed. “Then even he can see why you’d be the perfect candidate. Look how far you’ve come. You represent the good, the bad, and the in-between of the sangamar experience. Your insight is invaluable, Kroven.”
“I agree.”
Shock doused my face. I knew that Kroven felt beholden to Exo for how he’d helped him through his former addiction to biting humans. But he’d never given any indication that he’d want to be a part of something like this. In fact, he’d seemed pretty dead set against it.
“But there’s no way in hell I’m going to be the shining light of the sangamar community.” Kroven stood up abruptly. “All it would do is bring me out of obscurity, my self-chosen obscurity, and I don’t want anything to disrupt my life.”
“The life of a recluse, you mean.” Exo sighed.
“You may not agree with my lifestyle, Exo, but that doesn’t make it wrong.” He didn’t sound angry, but his words held heft. “I don’t want to argue with you. I want to move past the feelings of anger and debt I have towards you. That’s not going to happen if I do something like this.”
Exo stood as well, but he looked more hurt than anything. Wallace and I remained seated, just in case. “You don’t owe me anything, old friend. I never meant for you to feel this way towards me.”
“It’s not your fault,klashayf.” Whatever that word meant in sangamar, I could tell it meant a lot to Exo to hear it, his eyes bubbling with emotion. “It’s mine. It’s something I need to work through. And if this garners the attention I imagine it will, other sangamar will have me being the face of their fate. My oldcommunity would know exactly where I am. Myparentswould know exactly where I am. And I’d rather die than give them access to me again.”
My heart hurt for Kroven. He still had so much hatred toward the past, for good reason, but all I wanted was to help him release it so he’d be able to truly move on. By his own words, he wanted that more than anything and wanted nothing to get in the way of that future healing.
“Exo, you’re the best candidate and you know it.” Kroven closed the space between them to clasp a hand on his shoulder. “You’re the strongest and kindest creature I’ve ever met. What you did for me…your knowledge of how you helped me move past the bite,that’swhat this board needs. It needs you.”
Tears fell down Exo’s cheeks as he forced Kroven into a hug. Laughing, Kroven accepted it and patted Exo’s back as the beefy sangamar sobbed like a baby. I shared a smile with Wallace. It was comforting to see creatures be so human. There really wasn’t that much difference between us besides some scales here and some blood dependency there.
The friends separated, and Wallace stood. “For what it’s worth, I agree with Kroven.” Kroven sauntered backwards and I lifted myself off the couch to meet him in front of the company. “What do you say, Exo? Want to officially work together and be the sangamar representative for ORBIT?”
He nodded, sniffling as he playfully shoved Kroven away. Laughing as he was rocked onto his heels, Kroven shaking his head. “Not a great start to our working relationship by you seeing me lose my cool.”
“Actually, it was nice to see.” Wallace snickered. “Made the veil between humans and Orbs seem very thin.”
“Agreed.” I said with a smile.
“Well,” Wallace scratched nervously at his beard. “We should get going. I want to get some more pictures and video of the blood center before we plan our trip back to D.C.”
