“I wasn’t going to let it hurt Gemini,” Zenith growled, still staring off in the direction the vine had come from with a glare on his face.
The electric blue fur along his back was raised, and a smile tugged at Gemini’s lips as she pressed her cheek to Apodis’ chest.
“Thank you, Zenith. I truly appreciate it.”
“Good job, Z,” Apodis agreed, and the caerulian bristled with pride, shaking out his fur as his tail finally slowed its agitated twitching.
As the adrenaline waned, Gemini realized her ankle was throbbing once more, and she winced as she pulled away from Apodis.
“Are you in pain?” he asked, concern furrowing his brow.
He steadied her with his hands, so large she felt dwarfed in his presence.
“My ankle hurts again,” she said, and without another word he scooped her into his arms, carrying her through the front door like the first day they’d met.
Zenith followed as Apodis settled her onthe couch, removing her boot and sock with tender care. A tentacle coiled around her ankle, the suckers attaching and sending a jolt through her as her sprain was chilled.
Her breathing was finally steadying, and though her ankle was feeling better, Apodis didn’t unwind his tentacle from her skin.
“Gegon roots aren’t usually active this late in the season. If I had known, I wouldn’t have let you and Zenith go out there alone.”
“Nonsense!” she said, sensing the guilt in his voice. “It’s not your fault. I know the power of the natural world is not to be underestimated. Honestly, I thought it was a snake or something when it grabbed me.”
“I’m just glad you’re okay,” Apodis murmured, his bright eyes glued to her before glancing at Zenith. “Both of you.”
“We were never in any danger. I made sure of that,” Zenith said.
Gemini bit her lip hard, trying to stifle the giggle bubbling in her throat, and it almost burst forth when Apodis eyed her with a similar look.
Zenith curled up next to the blue flames, apparently exhausted from his encounter with the gegon root, and Apodis lifted her into his arms and carried her to the bathroom.
“Let’s get you cleaned up.”
“I think Zenith is trying to get us together,” Gemini said as she lay in bed, eager to spend another night cuddled up with Apodis despite the nagging feeling that she should be getting back to camp.
“Get us together?”
“Like a relationship or something…”
Apodis’ eyes widened, then an amused smile curled his lips.
“He really loves to meddle. What exactly did he say?”
“Um, well, he essentially invited me to stay. He said I shouldn’t go back to Earth…”
She wasn’t being weird. It wasn’thersuggestion or idea. She was just repeating what the caerulian had said.
Apodis nodded, though a smile curled his lips, his face flushing maroon as if she’d embarrassed him.
“Did he? But your life is on Earth. He should know better.”
Was Apodis fishing for information? It was difficult for her to tell whether he wanted to know more or was trying to end the conversation.
“Not much of a life…” she muttered, regretting the statement a moment later.
“What do you mean? What about your family?”
Gemini shrugged.
