He’s smiling now, but it isn’t reaching his eyes.
“Okay, well, I need to talk to Rathyn for a second. Nonna got Cielo drunk.”
“Ah, mamma mia,” she whispers, shaking her head. “She’s amenace.”
“She’s your mom,” I remind her.
“I’m well aware.” She snags my arm before I can pull away. “Bring Cielo over for the next family dinner, yes? I’m assuming he doesn’t have family here.”
I shake my head, feeling an ache in my chest that doesn’t really belong to me. “No, he doesn’t.”
“Then we will stand in until he does.”
I don’t tell her that it’s not likely he’ll ever see his family again. I have no idea what their dynamics are like. I know from basic information that Vyastil are hatched from eggs, and they don’t always grow up with others related to them by blood.
I have a feeling family means something different in their world.
I lean over and kiss her cheek. I love her so much. “I’ll be back in a bit.” Crossing the room, I wave my hand to get my brother’s attention. ‘I need to interrupt. I need Rathyn for something.’
Luca nods and turns to Rathyn. ‘Learn more later?’
Rathyn nods and watches with careful eyes before turning his attention to me. “You appear anxious.”
“Yeah, uh…” I rub the back of my neck, one of my rings getting caught on the hair under my braid, and I wince. “Can Vyastil process human alcohol?”
Rathyn stares at me for another moment. “Are you asking if you may feed me human alcohol?”
“No. I’m asking if it’s dangerous for your system.”
He scoffs. “We do not have weak constitutions like humans.”
“Uh-huh, but there might be stuff your bodies can’t tolerate since we live in literally a different universe than you,” I remind him. “But I’m going to assume that’s a no.”
“No,” he repeats. His eyes narrow further. “You are behaving suspiciously. Why?”
I groan. He might kill me for this—for not taking better care of one of his people. “My nonna gave Cielo some grappa and uh…well. He’s kind of drunk and passed out.”
Rathyn stands still like he’s processing my words, then he sighs. “He will be fine.”
“Yeah? There’s nothing I need to do?”
“He will metabolize quickly.”
I let out a huge, relieved breath and take a step back. “Thank fuck.” As I turn, Rathyn makes a loud humming growl as if to get my attention, and I turn back. “Yeah?”
“You…care for him.” It’s not really a question, but I nod anyway. “In the same manner I care for my Everest—in the same manner he cares for me.”
“I…” I bite my lips. “I know that’s technically not allowed. I know he’s in trouble and…”
“I do not ask this to have him further punished,” Rathyn clarifies. His voice drops, almost like he’s scared of being overheard. “I do not agree with his banishment. I do not wish to see him suffer any longer. He is important to my Everest; therefore, he is important to me. I wish…I wish him to know the same joy that I do.”
“I don’t know if he will. He won’t accept anything from me,” I tell him quietly.
“He has spent his life being conditioned to serve the capital. Perhaps one day he will break their rules, but be kind if he does not.”
An ache rushes through my body, half from the emotional pain, and half from a flare I can feel coming on. This party has been a lot. This week has been a lot.
I take a deep breath to cope. “I’ll never let anything hurt him again so long as I can help it.”
