Because they would never show us weakness either.
“I’m not entirely convincedanygemstone is needed for the Hydrassians’ rituals,” I carefully said. “But I understand better than most that thepullfrom karnilianis very real. When I was attempting to figure out what our… what this Trol was,” I reached up to absently run a gloved hand through Pedro’s fur, “I opened some sort of channel between us. The stone is all I can think about when Micah lowers their shields—like a maddening drumbeat. Therefore, I understand how some might stop at nothing to claim it for themselves, no matter how rare it is. No matter how one mustkilla Trol in order to…”
My words lodged in my throat like the stone in question, but my stellar collision stepped in to support me.
As always.
“Can I please have Pedro, Zig?” he gently asked, and I gladly obeyed, snatching the squawking creature from my shoulder and handing them off to my partner.
I’d assumed Micah was simply giving me breathing room from my shame, but then he held the Trol aloft, so Pedro’s owlish yellow eyes could meet mine.
Then, he lowered their shields.
I gasped, leaping backward as a wave of uncontrollable desperation washed over me, luring me toward my prize, promising me everything…
“MICAH! You need to shield them… No, shield ME! Trap my tendrils inside me, please…”
“No.”
“PEDRO IS IN DANGER?—”
“No, they’re not,” Micah brusquely made our conversation public, shoving the creature closer to me despite the obvious risk. “What are you feeling right now, Zig?”
Feeling?!
“What?” I snapped, my frantic gaze darting to our audience. “I… I do not believenowis the time for a session with Dr. Micah…”
Because that is a level of vulnerability I refuse to display in front of my enemy.
Former enemy…
Unfortunately, Dr. Micah’s methods were unforgiving. “Is the first thing that comes to mind how you want tocutPedro open and violentlytearthe karnilianfrom their chest with your tendrils?”
BY STELLARIA!!!
It absolutely wasnotwhat came to mind. In fact, the thought of harming one hair on Pedro’s tiny body had my tendrils retracting so far inside my Earthling form, they practically disappeared into my core.
“No,” I choked out, my body shaking with the effort needed not to snatch the creature away from someone willing to even suggest it. “I could never?—”
“Because what you’re experiencing isn’t the blinding need to covet the stone for yourself,” Micah calmly cut in. “It’s called a protective instinct—specifically, aparentalprotective instinct.”
WHAT?!
“B-but, Pedro is not my… our…” I sputtered, backing away.
“No, Pedro isnotbiologically yours.” Micah smiled. “Or ours.”
Ours…
“Buuuut…” my relentless mate continued. “I actually think by coming in contact with the stone, you activated a kind of reverso imprint on Pedro—making your true form believe they’re actually your offspring.”
Excuse me?
“Fascinating…” Krunk murmured, seemingly captivated by the free show they were receiving. “Do you believe that is the original purpose of the stone being embedded in this species, My-kuh?”
My scientifically-minded mate eagerly nodded his head. “I do! I’m also protective of the Trol, and they’re obviously comfortable with me, but the bond between Ziggy and Pedro has been super strong since day one?—”
“I disagree,” I attempted to argue, but Micah was uninterested in granting me mercy.
