“Another one?” Chief questions.
“Another one,” I confirm.
The female’s gaze flicks between me and the rest of the beings in the compound, lost, not understanding the importance of what I’m saying. More of my family crowds forward, wanting to see the new visitor. Meanwhile, my female doesn’t know she’s just walked up to a stranger’s door and turned his entire life upside down.
“That’s seven,” Leah says, delighted. “Seven humans now. How do you miners keep?—”
“Welcome,” Lila calls out, warm and huge.
The female flinches at the volume and shrinks back again.
I shift on instinct, putting more of myself between her and the noise, blocking it like I can block sound with my body. “She stays,” I declare, loudly for all to hear. It comes out of me as a growl. I have never growled at my family in my life.
“Of course she stays,” Chief answers, without a half-second’s pause. No question in it. Just my brother, backing me, the way he always has.
“Obviously,” Scar says, dry as dust.
The rest of them murmur their agreement.
The female blinks up at me. “I…” she starts. “I have come here, to meet the Fever Brothers, because I have information, about Chronos. I didn’t know where else to go,” she whispers. “Someone told me the Fever Brothers would—” She stops and swallows. The bag tightens against her chest again.
“You’re safe here,” I remind her. “You were right to come to us.”
“Okay,” she breathes.
Jana stands up briskly. “Right. Food. You look like you haven’t eaten in two days.”
“Three,” the human admits in a small voice.
“Three.Okay.” Jana is already moving. “Rook, bring her in, sit her down. Somebody get the med kit. Lila, a clean towel. Naomi, there’s a blanket on the back of my chair, pass it over. Move, people.”
The compound erupts into the familiar choreography of taking care of someone new.
I guide my human further into the dining room with one claw at the small of her back, making sure to only touch her throughtwo layers of fabric. Luckily, she already wears the gloves of the unmated.
She sits down, still holding her travel bag against her chest like someone might take it from her.
I crouch down beside her chair. “I am Maxon of Twenty-Four,” I tell her quietly. “My crew name is Rook.”
“Maxon,” she repeats.
“What is your name?”
She swallows. Looks at me for a long moment. “Hallie,” she finally says. “Hallie Longwell.”
“Hallie Longwell,” I repeat back to her. “You are safe here now.”
She exhales shakily.
Chapter 2
Hallie
I’ve arrived. I did it.
I’ve traveled all the way from my former, cushy job on Chronos, to this remote mining colony on Timbur, the place where the famous Illibrium crystals are mined. And as far as I can tell, I wasn’t followed. My employer is probably only right now realizing I’ve truly left. And I’m sure all hell is breaking loose. I did my job quietly and efficiently and they are learning that life without Hallie Longwell will be difficult. I won’t be easy to replace.
But I did the right thing, leaving. I’m sure of it.
