I sigh. “I mean, are you going to use it to hurt the Vyastil?”
Sabik’s eyes narrow, and he huffs loudly. “Us? Hurt the Vyastil? Is that what you were told?”
I cock an eyebrow and roll my lips between my teeth.
“Yeah, I mean. Kind of.”
Sabik glances at Rathyn and then back at me. “Remember, human. There are always two sides to a story, but this, unfortunately, is not one I can tell. You do not have the time. You are not supposed to be here.”
I really dislike that answer. I mean, why can’t he tell me? Is it some kind of state secret? But he’s right. Now isn’t the time. I need to get out of this world before someone catches me here. What I’ve done is dangerous enough.
“Well, I will be waiting to hear the whole story. Both of them,” I point at Rathyn and then back at Sabik, who reaches out a tentacle and pokes at my finger. I feel that telltale suck, and I pull away quickly.
“But we do need to go. I don’t think it’s safe for me to hang around here.” I glance at Cielo and then Rathyn. “Can you walk now?”
Cielo moves quickly to his side, leaning down and helping him stand.
I pluck my robe off the ground and pull it on, tugging the hood over my head to disguise myself as best I can.
Rathyn grunts and then pushes himself to his full height. “I will manage.”
He doesn’t seem as injured as he was just moments before, so I know my cum is working. He’ll definitely need more when we get back home, though. Much more.
I nod at Sabik, and he stares at Rathyn.
There is a hum of something pulsing between them, and then Rathyn utters something in his language. Sabik replies, almost looking shocked, but then nods, turns, and disappears.
“What was that?” I ask Rathyn as I move toward the entrance of the cave. Cielo is holding on to Rathyn, his arm and tail around him, supporting him as he walks.
“An agreement. He saved my life. I will not bring him in.”
I stare at him as I rush to keep up. Even injured, they move faster than me. “Wait, you’d bring him in?”
“He is a Tarek. He was out after curfew. Yes.”
“Rath. Honestly. That is, like,supershitty…”
But I’m cut off by Cielo making a noise in his throat. A warning. My mouth closes, and I pull the robe tighter around me. We’re nearing the entrance of the cave and about to start the dangerous journey back to the portal. I need to stay quiet so as not to be spotted.
And we manage it. We do. We make it to the portal undetected.
As we step through, my heart in my throat, I blink as we appear in the shitty shed at the bottom of the hill.
And that’s when I realize we’re probably, most likely, fucked.
twenty-six
EVEREST
Eissa is waiting for us, his white robe billowing around him, his eyes set in a stern stare.
That sight alone has my heart in my throat.
Then I blink and see several Vyastil behind him, and based on the way they’re dressed, I assume they’re guards.
And of course, there’s the prince—Jyrion. Doesn’t he have better things to do? Like an empire to rule or some shit? Why the hell is he concerning himself with this?
My eyes meet his, and I see a sneer on his lips. I have to curl my fingers into my palm to keep myself from slapping that smirk off his face. I don’t think that would go over well.
