“Yes, you are,” I confirmed with a certainty unmatched by any other. I felt it in my blood and in my bones as I pulled him close and gripped him tightly to me. I buried my nose in his curls and inhaled him, my favorite scent, my favorite person. “You are mine.”
SIXTEEN
KITTEN
“You like cats,”I said to Cipher. We were two weeks into his recovery, and we had this game we played at mealtimes in the mess hall to help bring back his memories. Sort of like True or False.
He gave me a suspicious look. “Do Ilikecats or do I simply tolerate them becauseyoulike cats?”
I smiled, caught again. “Probably the second,” I admitted, “though you do let Little Miss Purrfect sleep on your ankles every night.”
“LMP is an exceptional mouser. A fierce and mighty huntress. And you’re not going to change my mind through the power of suggestion,” he said with a devastating smile.
I shrugged. “Worth a try.”
“Your favorite color,” he began, dipping his spoon in his custard before putting it to his mouth. I watched the silverware make its journey and was wildly jealous of the destination. We hadn’t done anything more than hug since Cipher contracted the virus. He was still worried about infecting me through his saliva, even though Dr. Godara said he was no longer contagious. Regardless, we were taking it slow. I’d wait for him forever.
“What?” I said, so focused on his mouth that I’d forgotten the topic entirely.
“Your favorite color.” He licked his lips, very distracting. “It’s not blue, though you’ve said before that it was. It’s…” He pointed at me with his spoon, a look of triumph on his face. “It’s pink, isn’t it?”
“Yes,” I said, a little embarrassed, even now, to admit it.
“Why are you so shy about it?” he asked.
“It’s not very manly.”
He rolled his eyes. “It’s a color. Colors are meant for everyone to enjoy. Besides, who cares what other people think?”
I sighed, falling in love with him all over again. Cipher didn’t judge me for my love for “girly” things or my need to let my emotions out. He’d always encouraged me to express myself without trying to change me. “I’ve always liked that about you. You do your own thing, even if other people think you’re weird,” I said.
“Do people think I’m weird?” he asked, completely demolishing that custard.
“You definitely think outside the box. You’re a leader.”
“A leader?” he said, sitting up a little straighter.
“Yes, King Asshole. Does that ring any bells?”
He laughed and nodded. “Actually, it does.”
“Artemis is your number two,” I told him again. “You rely on her because she’s brave and strong like you. Teresa is your baby girl. You spoil her with candy and treats even though good dental hygiene is also very important to you. Macon is like a brother to us both, and Gizmo and Wylie, they’re our sounding board. The voices of reason.”
“Yes,” Cipher nodded. “Wylie and Gizmo’s workshop is a safe space.”
“That’s right. Safety is important to you,” I said.
“Safety is everything,” he said emphatically as if I needed convincing. He glanced around and lowered his voice. “Here’s a question. Do I like the military?”
“No,” I told him honestly. “There was a fire in DC, where you're from.”
“At the Admiral,” he said soberly.
“Yes, and the military, they didn’t do anything to stop it. In fact, I think you believe they were the ones responsible.”
He took a moment to digest that, nodding slowly. “Their uniforms make me nervous,” he said.
I took a deep breath because I’d been holding back the news from him for some time now, but I couldn’t put it off much longer. I’d sworn to never lie to him and even delaying it felt like I was being dishonest. “There’s something I need to tell you,” I said.
