I love him, Lainey thought, looking at the desperate, melancholy lines that had appeared on his face.
Those words sprung into her mind, out of nowhere and yet they were completely expected.
She loved him.
There was no denying it anymore.
And she knew, right at that moment, standing frozen in that house, surrounded by thick tension…she knew that she would never leave him.
The older male approached Kirov, placed a hand on his shoulder, murmured something in Luxirian. And with the help of the other guard, both males lifted his father and carried him from the living room, into what she knew was the back bedroom, in the same place that the kitchen was in their own home.
The older Luxirian male stayed in the living room with her and he turned his attention to her, his head cocked to the side.
Inclining his head, he pressed a hand to his chest and said, “Lixron.”
She realized he didn’t have the English language implant and assumed that Lixron was his name. Giving him a small wobbly smile, she mirrored his gesture and said, “Lainey.”
“Lani,” he repeated.
Her smile widened. “Yes.Tev.”
Kirov reappeared shortly, though the guard did not. He came to her side immediately, their eyes connecting. He was trying to read her, she realized, and something else occurred to her.
Perhaps Kirov thought his father would scare her away, would give her another reason to leave him. Was that why he’d put it off for so long? Because he thought she’drun?
Lixron spoke in Luxirian and Kirov inclined his head in acknowledgement, though he said nothing in response. Then he led her over to the front door, passed the other guard stationed at the entrance, and out onto the open terrace again.
They’d only been inside for less than ten minutes, but it felt like they’d been in there longer. Much longer.
When the door shut behind him, some of the tension left his body and her heart ached, now realizing just how much he carried on his shoulders when it concerned his father.
He walked them over to their house, but he hesitated in going inside. Lainey squeezed his hand and asked, “Can we go down to the lake?”
Kirov nodded and they got into the hovercraft parked just a few steps away. Once inside, Kirov guided them off the terrace and over the valley of Troxva, flying towards the peaceful, still water that reflected the slight sliver of the Luxirian moon.
He landed them in their normal spot, on a private little shore of the lake that led up into the forest of trees. It was quiet and the slight breeze felt cool on her overheated skin.
Kirov led her off the hovercraft, guiding her to sit down next to him at the shore. Lainey poked her big toe into the water as it lapped towards them slowly, wondering what to say as she digested everything that she’d seen, everything that she’d realized.
Kirov was looking out over the lake as she asked softly, “How long?”
He knew exactly what she was asking and he replied, “Since my mother died from the virus.”
Lainey nodded, pressing her lips together. Not only had he lost his mother to the Jetutians, but he’d lost his father as well. Or at least the male he used to be.
“It did not happen immediately, but the descent was gradual and steady,” he continued, rubbing the spot near his temple where his father had elbowed him. “It has become worse in the past rotation. Most of the time, he does not remember me, who I am. He speaks nonsense sometimes. Other times, he will speak in perfect Luxirian. He does not like other beings to touch him, or bathe him, or feed him. He tolerates it if I do it, but he fights me at first.”
“Kirov,” she whispered, reaching out to run her hand down his back in a soothing, slow motion. She wanted to comfort him in any way she could.
“My sire was a great mind of his generation,” Kirov admitted, looking over at her, his eyes pained. “He was brilliant.”
“Like you,” she said softly.
He shook his head and said, “There is very little of that mind left now. Memories, knowledge...it is all lost.” He hesitated and then admitted, “Sometimes, I wonder if I will share his fate. I wonder if that same madness will pass to me, if it will destroy my mind too. My memories. If it will destroyyou.”
Lainey’s breath hitched, her hand pausing on his back. She rose up to her knees before positioning herself in his lap, wanting to be closer to him. She sat on his upper thighs, her legs straddling his hips.
“Tell me why you kept this from me, Kirov,” she said softly, reaching out to cup his jaw. “Tell me all your reasons because I am sure there are many.”
