There’s only one way to find out what’s going on.
16: Tessi
Sunlight warms the blankets and backlights Radar’s fur, making him look extra soft. I wrap an arm over him and pull him close, giving him a kiss between his ears, grateful we are somewhere warm and safe and dry. Radar’s amber eyes smile up at me as he rolls onto his back, paws in the air, and licks my face.
He looks happier than I’ve seen him since he first cuddled against my chest as just a tiny, soaked puppy.
His action brings back a memory of the Mindoran, Zorin.
The last thing I can remember is talking with him at the bar. A sore spot near the back of my neck brings back an image of Zorin, confusion on his face.
Sitting up in bed, I reach back and find a bandage with my fingers.So that was real. What happened?
As I blink and take in the room, I notice a huge shirtless blue Mindor lying on my sofa. His muscled back is to me, and his body is curled up into a cramped position between the armrests. The sofa wasn't built with his kind in mind, and it makes him look monstrous.
That can’t be comfortable.
He clearly could’ve jumped into bed with me, but he didn’t. And it makes me wonder why when he seemed so turned on the night before.
Motioning an open hand to Radar, I silently signal for him tostay. He does as I request even though I climb out of bed and walk to the sofa to see if it is for sure Zorin.
It is.
Radar didn’t bark loudly enough to wake me, which makes me think they must’ve made peace.
I take a blanket off my bed and cover Zorin. As I do, I get a much closer look at all of his scars. They break up the marbled blue layers of his very short fur.
Curiosity gets the better of me, and I trace a scar on his back in the shape of the barbs on a shock baton, something Geist tagged me with once, hard enough to leave a permanent mark.
His hand suddenly whips back. Zorin rolls toward me in a flurry of arms and legs, knocks me off of my feet with a growl, and throws me to the ground, pressing me down.
My whole body goes rigid. I strain to breathe under his weight. Radar gets down and starts barking and snapping.
Zorin’s gaze fills with the same fear that surges through me.
He immediately releases me and lifts his body off of mine. “Tessi… I’m…”
The door bursts open, and another Mindoran stalks inside. He stops when Zorin scrambles back and lifts his hands while struggling to catch his breath.
Radar immediately places himself between us, growling.
“Radar…Heel.”
He backs up and sits beside me, grumbling.
“Are you okay?” The Mindoran male in tactical armor with a medical patch asks me.
My wrist hurts as well as my back from the sudden tumble to the floor. But they’re light throbs that will soon fade. “Fine. It was my fault. I startled him while he was sleeping.”
The Mindoran straightens and relaxes, then turns to Zorin with disapproval. “Best get her caught up at breakfast. We will stay close.”
He walks out and closes the door.
Zorin gets up and offers me a hand. Radar growls at him, but I think Zorin means well, he just has the same knee jerk reaction that I do, which is to consider things that wake you up as threats. Radar is my only exception.
“Next time, I’ll lick you on the face,” I joke.
Zorin blushes a deeper blue gray. “Why do you say that?”
