He meets my gaze, holds it, then nods. The moment is shattered by Everest appearing beside him, and I immediately lose Rathyn’s attention as he pulls Everest close and wraps his tail around him.
I want that. So much. I want Cielo all over me in front of everyone. I shouldn’t have told him to hold back in front of my parents. I should have just talked to them first, so they knew what to expect.
I feel like such an asshole.
“I just got a message from Eissa,” Everest says. “He’s dropping by in a few to talk to you about an option you have for being removed from the clinic rotation for good.”
“Oh.” My heart leaps. “Yes. Amazing.” As I take a breath, pain shoots through me, and I wince.
“You okay?” Everest asks.
“Yeah. It’s…it’s nothing.”
He leans closer to me. “I’ll leave the zitha in your bag, okay? It’s the purple one by the door?” I nod, and he adds. “I was able to get everything I needed, so I got you a decent amount. Some of it’s fresher than others, so don’t freak out if the color’s a little off.”
“Thank you,” I murmur.
Luca appears a second later when it’s obvious my private conversation with Rathyn is done. ‘You okay?’
I nod. ‘I’m going to be in pain tonight,’ I tell him. ‘Oh, and Cielo’s drunk.’
He barks a laugh. ‘Drunk?’
‘Nonna gave him grappa.’
He laughs harder and louder. ‘Oh my god. Where is he?’
‘Passed out in Gia’s bedroom. I wanted to carry him back to the apartment and put him to bed, but I don’t think I’m strong enough.’
He flexes his bicep to be annoying. It even catches Everest’s eye for a split second, and Rathyn growls. ‘I can carry him. I’ll make Gia help me. This is her fault. I told her to hide her liquor better.’
‘Thanks.’ I sign it with both hands tipped from my chin.
He ruffles my hair the way he’s done since he grew taller and bigger than me, and I shove him off before he turns and snags Gia’s hand, pulling her toward the back bedroom.
“Your brother’s…an interesting guy,” Everest says.
I roll my eyes. “He’s a shit. But we’re close.”
“Was his defect from birth?” Rathyn asks.
My gaze snaps to him. “Fuck you. He doesn’t have a defect.”
“He does not hear,” Rathyn says pointedly. “On Erethar, that is considered a defect. Is it not considered the same for humans?”
“Okay, babe,” Everest says, his voice tight, “I will explain why what you said is all kinds of fucked up later on. But for now, just don’t call it that, yeah?”
Rathyn is silent for a moment, then nods. “I accept this.”
I breathe through it. I know he’s not trying to be offensive. I know he just doesn’t understand, and it’s going to take time being with Everest to understand how certain things—like tact—work on Earth.
The moment passes, and shortly after, Luca and Gia appear with Cielo hoisted between them. His eyes are barely cracked open, and his clawed feet are barely touching the carpet, but it’s obvious he’s at least trying to give them some help.
I will be with you soon, I think, aiming it at him.
I feel a pulse—almost like an answer—full of affection and need, but that could all just be in my head.
Still, I let it sink into my chest and carry it with me as Cielo is escorted out of Gia’s and back to our place. I hope they know to put him in my bed, but if they don’t, it’s fine.
