It takes me a second. “I…oh…I tasted different? You turned into a fiend.”
He hums, a little trill in the back of his throat. “Yes.”
“You were like one of those cum zombies at the clinic.”
His eyes flash at me, and he leans forward, grazing fangs along warm skin. “Only for you. You were different.”
“What did I taste like?”
I expect him to say like that mossy shit he eats, or maybe some kind of Eretharian sweet.
But he doesn’t.
“You tasted like mine.” My heart leaps in my chest as he rolls his body further against me and drags a single claw down the edge of my jaw. “And that night, after you were gone, I could hear you in my mind. It…it was familiar. Like I’d heard you before. Like I dreamt you,” he murmurs. I can understand his words, but he’s slipping close to his language, everything surrounded by his melodic voice. “And then your thoughts became clearer. I could feel you in my head. And I tested it the night you were at work.”
I swallow heavily. This is obviously very significant.
“I was terrified. I spoke to Eissa about it after we had signed our contract—after I knew I could trust him. He used that word.”
“VySytheh,” I say. I still don’t totally understand it, but for now, what he’s told me is enough.
He hums again. “Yes. Mine.”
My entire body goes warm. “Rathyn…”
He cups my cheek. “Generations ago, we each had one. We would find the one that was perfect for us—the one who tasted like home. Like ours. And we would know they were ours. Just as I know you are mine.”
I squeeze my eyes shut. He has to stop, or I’m going to do something ridiculous, like start crying. “You’re sure it’s not just a fluke?”
“I am sure. Eissa confirmed it. We only hear the thoughts of the ones who belong to us.” He goes quiet for a moment. “My Everest, my VySytheh, tomorrow when you face them, you cannot let them find out. Do you understand? No one caneverknow we have this connection. If they know, they will take you from me.”
A cold chill creeps up my spine because I know what he’s implying. It won’t be for just a punishment. It’ll be forever. “Cielo knows. The Tarek knows.”
Rathyn is quiet for a moment, then says, “I trust them.”
I know that’s huge for him. Especially the Tarek. I roll fully into his arms and close my eyes. “I won’t say a word to anyone else. This will be ours. Our secret.”
He hums, the sound satisfied, and then the hum turns into a song. I start to drift on the notes as they take me to a quiet, dark, safe place. And he’s there, in my head with me.
thirty-one
EVEREST
The next morning, I’m able to put my words into action. Rathyn is nervous, not that he tells me. He won’t admit it, but I can see it in the way his tail twists tightly around his thigh, the way his ears flutter. I touch his chest and peer up at him.
“I can do this. I promise.”
“They will expect humiliation. I do notwantto do this.”
“I can take it. And I know you won’t mean it. Plus, you can make it up to me later.”
“I will. I will…grovel.”
I snort. “Who taught you that word?”
“Quilliyn.”
“He’s a smart guy.” Then my mind turns to the other missing Vyastil. “Have you heard any news about Cielo?”
