“We’ll be here. Or somewhere else,” I say, not sure if we should stick around. “But he knows where to find me.”
Dante gives me a salute, and Cielo stares at me until I give him a nod of approval before letting Dante lead him away. When they’re gone, Zane leans back in his chair and stares at the latte puddle Cielo left behind.
“Are they always this messy?” he asks, rolling his eyes.
I elbow him hard. “Dude, you saw how graceful he was in class. They’re all like that. I just think Cielo has a crush.”
Zane makes a face, but I think he’s more jealous than anything, considering he looked like a total ass in the Zumba class. “Whatever. So, this thing…I don’t need to stage a rescue operation or anything, do I?”
“You make it sound like we’re actual monsters,” comes a voice from our right.
I turn my head and see Quilliyn walking toward us. His blue hair hangs down his back, and his graceful limbs don’t look real. He seems…different from the other Vyastil, and now that I’m staring at him, I see an odd resemblance between him and the asshole prince. It’s something about the ears.
And the piercings.
And also the way they move.
Like they own everything they touch.
But I can’t ask about it because Zane still can’t know.
“I mean, you guys tear open a portal into our world and basically hypnotize the government into signing away cum from humans—who can’t even properly consent…”
“Zane,” I tell him firmly.
“No. It’s fucking bullshit. The choice is an illusion, and half the people who refuse end up in jail.”
Quilliyn bows his head. “He isn’t wrong.”
I stare at him. “What?”
“He isn’t wrong. It’s…complicated, but the humans who are resisting have a point. It should be more voluntary.”
“Yeah. Whatever the fuck you need it for,” Zane spits, “is obviously worth the bullshit you all pull.”
I lick my lips. “You know, it’s not all that bad, right?”
“For you. The lap dog,” Zane bites.
That hurts. A lot. I wince and feel my throat get tight, and I see immediate regret on Zane’s face. But his remorse isn’t enough. I hate it because I can’t tell him what Rathyn means tome. Or what I mean to him. He won’t understand, and Quilliyn isn’t allowed to know either.
He seems like a good guy, but I can’t trust that he won’t go running to his superiors or whoever to tell them that Rathyn and I have broken some major social codes. Even if I don’t really understand what those are.
“I’m sorry,” Zane starts. “I didn’t mean…”
“It’s fine,” I say. I steal a glance at Quilliyn, who’s staring at me with a strange expression I can’t read.
“It isn’t. I didn’t mean to call you a dog. I mean, I’m glad it’s good for you, but I’ve seen those guys outside the clinic, Ev. I’ve seen people getting arrested. You might enjoy it, but it’s not fair to everyone.”
“Yeah. Only a monster-fucker freak would get off on that shit,” comes a deep voice from behind me.
Quilliyn immediately stands at attention, and I’m out of my seat alongside Zane before anyone can speak. Two massive roid-heads are standing in front of us. They’re pink in the face and sweating, their veins are poking out from obvious dehydration.
“I beg your finest fucking pardon?” I say.
The guy on the right with the blue eyes rolls them. “You heard me, monster-fucker.”
Quilliyn sucks in a breath. “Everest. Don’t.”
