48
Kira
Not long after, we are scaling a cliff and entering their cave. It's full of lovely, lovely supplies. It only takes me a few minutes to bristle with weapons again. Once I am, I let out a sigh of relief and take a better look around.
There are two exits and two rooms that lead off the main one. Someone carved doorways and shelves a very long time ago. One of the rooms is obviously their bedroom, so I stay out, but I do take the time to visit Amethyst in the other one.
She looks peaceful.
Ree comes up behind me. "We can move her out to the main area so you two can be in here. It felt wrong before, but it wouldn't be fair to you."
She doesn't let me respond, just calls out to Thivoll and not long after they've set up a pile of blankets in here instead of a cryochamber. I'd love to take a nap on them, but I want some more answers.
They may not know much, but Ree might have some insights into what's happening with my body, since it's clearly also happening to hers.
I go out to where she's working on getting Amethyst covered back up. Then she places a note next to her chamber. A quick glance lets me know its instructions to stay in the cave.
I'm not sure what to ask, so I just blurt out an observation. "You only look like you have Thivoll's traits. Why?"
Ree purses her lips. "Now that I think about it, I haven't picked up any traits from anyone else and I've had plenty of exposure. From the dull ache and itch on my lower back, I assume another change is coming, but I'm confident it will be one of his traits."
"Really? I'm a walking science experiment over here."
She stills, her eyes darting back and forth. I assume sifting through memories. Then she makes a sound that lets me know she's figured it out.
"One of the slimes covered this in an advertising-slash-torture session," she says as my lips quirk up at her voicing the keyboard function.
I can see why Thivoll is utterly smitten. She's such an interesting mix of softness, quirk, and spine of fucking titanium. If I was interested in women, I'd totally make a play.
I glance over at the giant cat-man. Okay, maybe not.
I like living.
Ree's voice pulls my attention back to her. "I'm pretty sure it's because Thiv and I, uh. Because we..."
She looks so cute with her face burning hot I almost don't bail her out, but bitches need to have each other's back, right?
"Because you made the beast with two backs?"
She chokes out a laugh. "Wait. Is that from Hamlet?"
"Close. Othello."
"Ah. Right. Well, yes. That."
She still won't say it, and my usual wicked streak won't let it go.
"Dipped the wick? Hid the sausage? Parked the yacht in hair harbor?"
"What the hell?" she chokes out. "Hair harbor? Just stop."
"Are you kidding? I'm a marine. I could do this all fucking day. And you can't even say a tame version."
I open my mouth to keep listing, and she lets out a little yelp, tears of mirth in her eyes. "Okay. Yes. We banged."
"Seriously, Ree? That's such a boring euphemism. I'll need to—"
"Stop," she chortles, holding her ribs.
