“I do not care to see him.”
Dante huffs a laugh and walks crooked to the kitchen, where he grabs a towel and quickly wipes up the mess he made. It is tragic that this is being disposed of. I should not make him cum without consuming it. But even though Quilliyn said I should—that I do not need to listen to what my jailors said—I do not feel I am worthy of it.
“Why do you look like that?” Everest asks, facing me once more. “Oh my god, were you…were you two…” He slaps a hand over his mouth.
“We were done,” Dante says, sounding happy, which in turn makes me happy.
“Congrats? We’re saying congrats, right?”
I nod, but I feel a small prickle of fear knowing that Rathyn is aware of this information. I am not meant to find joy in this punishment.
But his face appears in the screen again beside Everest’s, and his gaze meets mine. “I am pleased for you,” he says in Eretharian. “You deserve some peace. And human cum brings great peace.”
I bow my head as I feel Dante’s arm cinch around my waist. “Thank you.” I do not tell him that I am still not consuming cum from my human.
Everest’s face fills the screen again, and his eyes are soft. “You look good.”
“Thannnnk you,” I say.
He brightens. “Your English sounds amazing, too! Have you been practicing?”
“Prraccccctssss.”
He laughs. “Yeah, awesome. Anyway, I’m glad you have a phone now. We can text. Dante can show you how,” he says when I frown in confusion. “And selfies. Send me selfies when you’re bored! Oh, and I can send you?—”
“My Everest, those are photographs for my eyes only,” Rathyn growls.
“Oh my god, relax. I’m not going to send him a dick pic. Jesus.” He smiles back at me, and I don’t ask what any of those words mean. “Dante will help you figure it all out. I, uh…” He goes quiet, and for a second, his face looks sad. “I’ve been worried. I know your injuries are still healing, but I just…I want you to know you can be happy here. And safe.”
Unthinking, I lift Dante’s hand from my waist and press the back of it to my lips in a kiss. I very much like kissing all the parts of him. “Saaaafffe,” I murmur.
Everest sighs. “Yeah. And happy,” he repeats again.
I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately, but I’m still too afraid to say that word aloud.
“Anyway, I’ll let you two get back to, ah, whatever you were doing. See you later, Dante!”
“Bye!” Dante pulls his hand from mine and hits a red button on the screen, and the image fades to black. I stare down at the device, still having no idea how to use it, but Dante pulls it frommy fingers and sets it down. “I can show you later. I’m, ah…I’m not feeling so hot right now.”
The moment he says it, I can sense it. It’s like an irritated pulse under my skin, firing along my nerves. But I know it’s not my pain.
It’s his.
I don’t know how I can feel it, but I don’t wish to worry about it now. I turn to him and pull him against my chest and allow my thrymm to rumble from my chest into his.
Dante sags in my arms, and I lift him, then carry him into his bedroom and lay him on the bed. He attempts to smile, but the pain is written all over his face as he curls on his side.
“I’m fine,” he says. I make an annoyed noise at the lie, and he gives me a strained laugh. “Okay, okay. I’ll be fine in a bit. Just come purr all over me. Or maybe you can make me some tea?”
The zitha. I lean down to kiss his forehead, then lope to the kitchen, where I find the collection of herbs Everest and Rathyn left behind. I don’t bother looking at what else Everest left behind; the only thing that matters is the healing herb, and unfortunately, it’s running low now. From my use, and now from Dante’s.
Normally, I would go through the portal and procure some for him, but I am no longer allowed. The ache settles in my chest as I select a large, full leaf and stare down at it.
The last time, I made a tea out of it, but it will be more effective like this. I carry it back to the bedroom where he’s waiting, unmoving, exactly how I left him.
He groans as I crouch on the floor beside the mattress, and I stroke a touch down his jaw as I wait for him to look at me. “Danteeee,” I hum.
His eyes peel open, and he blinks at me. “That was fast.” I hold up the herb, and he bites his lip for a second. “Everest said it’s better in a tea. Should I risk this? What if it tastes bad?”
