Kinan looked washed out and exhausted. Cormal cursed himself for getting so excited with these tests that he hadn’t considered the most important thing, which was obviously Kinan’s health.
“I’m all right,” Kinan said, but he sounded labored and not at all like everything was fine.
Perian had an expression of concentration on his face, and Trill had come to sit on Kinan’s other side. It was clear they were both trying to give him energy. But Trill made a face.
“I don’t know how to direct the energy if I’m not touching someone.”
“It was my understanding that touch was necessary,” Yannoma said.
Perian was still focused, and from the way Kinan was becoming more solid-looking, it was working. Cormal could have melted into the floor in relief.
“I’m all right,” Kinan repeated, thankfully sounding a little better.
He reached out and patted Cormal’s leg. And they both froze as Kinan’s hand made contact with Cormal’s trousers.
Their eyes flew to one another, and then Cormal reached out and laid his hand over Kinan’s. For the first time since Kinan was sixteen, Cormal could feel him. They quickly realized that it was only the part that had been immersed in the shield; soon after his wrists, Kinan became intangible once more.
Tears had begun to slide down Kinan’s face.
“I can feel you,” he said as he dissolved into sobs.
Cormal clutched at those hands, doing his best to soothe the man with words and touch on those precious inches of skin.
“I’m right here. We’re going to figure this out. I promise, Kinan, we’re going to figure this out.”
Cormal had no idea of what the actual next steps would be. It had become obvious that it was dangerous to Kinan, and they needed to proceed with caution.
But they really did have hope now.
Kinan was clutching at Cormal like he was afraid Cormal would leave. Cormal wasn’t going anywhere.
“I think that’s enough for today,” Brannal said.
He was crouched with Perian, who Cormal realized belatedly was swaying a little. He’d clearly given Kinan a lot of energy.
“Yeah, I think we’d better go lie down,” Cormal agreed. “Kee?”
Kinan allowed himself to be led. Cormal absently said goodnight to everyone else as they left the room. A few minutes later, Kinan climbed into bed with Cormal, the two of them still touching.
“Are you all right?” Cormal asked, though that was probably a stupid question.
“I don’t know what I feel,” Kinan said, staring down at their clasped hands, still clutched too tight. “It’s amazing. I didn’t really think it was going to happen, you know? But it also took a lot of effort, and at the end, it felt… not good.”
It sure hadn’t looked good to Cormal either.
“But it’s still more than we’ve done before,” Cormal pointed out. “Think how much we’ve discovered in a short time thanks to Perian and your friends.”
Kinan blew out a breath. “That’s true.” He was silent for a moment, and then he corrected, “Our friends.”
Cormal was beginning to think that might be true again, so he agreed softly, “Our friends.”
They lay there for a few minutes, their grasp finally loosening so they could run their fingers over one another.
“I never realized how sensitive my hands were,” Kinan whispered.
Cormal felt the same, and he’d had the use of them for his entire life.
Kinan bit his lip.
