“What the fuck is that?” I blurt.
Blue hair snorts and walks over to me. Pink hair stiffens and looks like he’s about to throw himself between us, but blue hair stops short of touching distance and leans past me, pointing out the window. “In that direction. Many clans live out there.”
Clans. Huh. I wonder if he’s, like, testing me or something. I look up at him. He’s towering over me, and his gaze is fixed on my cock again.
His tongue darts out, and he licks his lips.
“You are…very interesting. Your Vyastil allows you much freedom.”
I can’t help but scoff. “My Vyastil allows me to do whatever the fuck I want because I’m not his property. I’m a person.”
His eyebrows rise, and then he lifts a hand and brings it toward me. For a moment, I think he’s about to touch my face, but then he tugs at the pants I’m wearing and peers at my cock.
The shock of it all is so intense, I say nothing. I just freeze.
“Interesting,” he says again. “It is…small. It’s a wonder Rathyn has contracted you.”
“Fuck you,” I spit.
The Vyastil smirks, showing fang, and reaches for my dick. Before I can freak the fuck out, the pink guy hums something—a warning trill.
Blue hair pulls his hand back and smirks. His gaze roams me one more time before he turns on his heel, says something I can’t understand, and then they leave the room.
For the first time since this whole thing started, I feel exposed. That was definitely some kind of threat—whether it was aimed at Rathyn or me, though, I’m not sure.
I look over at the pink-haired Vyastil and let out the breath I was holding. “What’s your name?”
He blinks slowly, then bows his head. “Zynath.”
“You wouldn’t be related to Cielo, would you?”
His eyes flare wide, but he says nothing. I think that’s my answer. Yes, he is. And it’s dangerous for him to admit it. My gaze moves out to the horizon again. All I see are rolling hills and trees, but the way the blue-haired asshole said Outerlands like it was shit on the bottom of his shoe tells me I’m missing something important.
“Thanks for the backup.”
Zynath nods and says nothing, and I wonder if, like Cielo, he struggles with English. Whatever the case, I’m not going to press him on it. I know how frustrated Cielo was not being able to communicate, and it would be kind of a dick move to make him speak my language in his own home.
I look back over the horizon and wonder if Rathyn will ever take me out there. I know there’s a border somewhere. I know that war happens whenever the other species decides to attack.
I know it’s dangerous.
But obviously Vyastil live out there, so…
“My Everest.”
I jolt at the sound of his voice in my head.
“You are distressed.”
I peer over at Zynath and wonder if he knows what’s going on. When he doesn’t look at me, I conjure up the words inside my head.
“Are you coming back soon?”
“I am on my way.”
A moment later, he appears. He’s alone this time and strides over, stopping to speak with Zynath for a moment. I see it in his face when Zynath tells him about the blue-haired asshole, and I half-expect Rathyn to turn and take care of it.
I’m not sure I’m entirely opposed to whatever punishment he deserves, either. Only…he doesn’t do any of that. He looks angry, but his shoulders sag, and he holds a hand out to me.
