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The Draxdan entered the room. He nodded a greeting at Nell. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Saunders.”

Nell stared at him with wide eyes. She didn’t have a clue what she was supposed to do with this Draxdan. Her first instinct was to run.

She didn’t blink as she watched Doctor Non take a seat.

Doctor Kingsbury placed the tablet back on her knee as she sat. “Nell, I can sense you’re panicked. Remember, this is a safe environment.”

Nell took a deep breath in an attempt to calm her thudding heart. “Sure, a safe environment.”

“Doctor Non is here for you.”

Nell slid a glance his way. “What am I supposed to do with him?”

“You are to immerse yourself in him.”

Nell’s mouth opened, but nothing came out.

The doctors shared a knowing, sympathetic glance as the crazy patient dropped another level in her sanity.

“Doctor Kingsbury tells me you have an aversion to all things alien,” Doctor Non said. “I hope to help you remedy that. I have worked with other humans who have a similar concern about aliens. I am safe to be around, and I will cause you no harm.”

“That’s good to know.” Nell cleared her throat. “I’m still not sure why you’re here. How am I supposed to immerse myself in you?”

“You start by touching him,” Doctor Kingsbury said.

“Touching him?” Nell balled her hands into fists on her lap.

“My face, my hands, my legs, where you feel comfortable,” Doctor Non said pleasantly as if that wasn’t the weirdest thing anyone had ever asked her to do. “My job is to show you there is nothing to be concerned about. Aliens won’t harm you.”

“That’s not true,” Nell said. “There was that time when aliens took over Prodigy. They were going to take the humans and put them in an auction. And what about the time the—”

“All in the past,” Doctor Kingsbury said, “and all rare exceptions. Most aliens want peace. They are not dangerous, and they do not want to probe you.”

Nell’s ears rang, and her heart raced.

“One way you can get over your fear is to discover that aliens are not so powerful.”

“I have to touch Doctor Non to do that?”

“Wherever you like,” Doctor Kingsbury said.

Doctor Non glanced at her. “Well, perhaps there should be a couple of areas off-limits.”

Doctor Kingsbury raised her eyebrows. “This is full immersion therapy. If Nell desires to touch you, then she will do so.”

Doctor Non bowed his head. “As you wish.”

Nell frowned. That was odd. He’d deferred to Doctor Kingsbury as if he was scared of her. She was the least scary person Nell knew. Nell had a tiny girl crush on her therapist and totally believed in her ability to fix her messed-up head.

“Go ahead, Nell, touch him.” Doctor Kingsbury sat forward in her seat.

Nell’s knees felt shaky as she stood. This had to be a good thing. Her therapist wouldn’t get her to do anything that wouldn’t help her.

She took a step forward, stretched out her hand, and touched the tip of a finger to Doctor Non’s arm.

“How does that feel?” Doctor Kingsbury asked.

Nell withdrew her finger. “Not terrible.” She kept her gaze fixed on Doctor Non’s face, checking for any signs of him going feral.