Quilliyn’s ears flick, telling me he has some idea about Dante’s condition. “Is the zitha helping?”
My skin heats, and I can’t meet his gaze. The mention of zitha makes me think of last night and what we did. And the rules I broke. And how much I wish to break them again with my Dante.
“I can feel that,”I hear Dante say in my head.
“I miss you,”I send back.
My body erupts with warm affection for him.
Quilliyn is watching me carefully. Studying me. I cannot hide from him, and I am grateful he cannot hear my thoughts the way Dante can.
After a short while, his ears droop a bit. “Do you want a job?”
I blink at him. “A…job.”
“To help with Dante’s bills. It would be tricky. With the banishment, I wouldn’t be allowed to make it official. But no one checks in with me about that sort of thing. And no one would question me on who I hire.”
I’m not sure I understand, and I hum a trilling note to show him my confusion.
He beckons me along through the gym, then stops at the entrance where the little café sits. The smell of coffee makes my stomach rumble.
“I would pay you,” he says. “But it would be bending some rules. And it might be difficult as you can’t speak the human tongue?—”
“I ammm,” I tell him slowly, “gettinnnng bettr.”
His eyes go wide. “I see.” He’s quiet for a moment, then says, “I could have you trained on making the coffee drinks so you won’t have to interact with the customers too much.”
I stare at him. I don’t fully understand what he’s offering me.
“It would only be a few hours a week, but I could give you cash at the end of the day, and you can use that to help Dante.Or put money away for yourself if you want to have your own home?—”
I let out a possessive, growling hiss. I do not mean to make this sound. Never in my life have I ever made such a noise at a member of the royal family. It’s surely a torture sentence, if not death.
I’m ready to prostrate myself in my humiliation, but Quilliyn erupts into laughter and curls a hand around the back of my neck, knocking his forehead into mine again.
“I understand.”
Does he?
“Againstttt rulessss,” I say in English.
“I don’t give a fuck about the rules,” he answers me in Eretharian. “You must know that by now.”
I suppose I do, though it is still hard to believe.
He gives me a slow up and down, then says, “I’m happy for you. Now, let me introduce you to Rosie. She can show you what to do, and then she can fit you in the schedule.” He gestures to a very pretty human woman with long, curly black hair tied back, light brown skin adorned with ink, and red lips that I think are perhaps painted that way.
For a moment, I hesitate. Will she hate working with a Vyastil? A monster?
But then she smiles when Quilliyn walks me over and says, “I found you a new afternoon barista. This is Cielo.”
She leans over the counter and offers me her hand. I know what to do with this now. As I take hers in mine and squeeze it gently.
“Thank god. Cielo, you’re saving my life.”
I don’t know if I am saving anyone’s life, but I am happy to feel useful.
I move around the counter and nod at Quilliyn. He returns the gesture and then walks away, leaving me to listen to Rosie,who speaks very fast. Luckily, our kind are able to absorb information quickly, and I do love a latte, so I am eager to learn.
