Page 95 of Interion

“I think I've found an excellent punishment for students who slack off,” Zion exclaimed, lying on his side. I turned to him, still holding my legs against my chest.

We looked at each other in that pathetic state: two adults curled up in fetal positions on the stone floor, covered in sweat and dust. With my eyes still watery, I started laughing like a madwoman, and he joined me. We laughed so hard my stomach hurt.

If I could keep any moment of my life in a little jar, that afternoon would be one of them. Even a blind person could see how euphoric I felt that Zion was finally letting me get close enough to see the cracks in his shield, just as he saw mine. It was enchanting to hear his laughter, to watch that wide, genuine smile and know I was part of it.

When we finally stopped laughing, Kiara came through the half-destroyed portal, jumping and whipping her tail in all directions, trying to scare off a dozen butterflies that were chasing her.

“What's going on here?” Zion asked, frowning at the chimera who had just tried to snap at a blue butterfly that had the audacity to land on her snout.

“The butterflies love the chimera,” I replied, laughing as she jumped and rolled, trying to catch them with her paws. “But Kiara absolutely hates them, and they seem to know it, because they chase her everywhere.”

Zion snorted and got out of the way when she whipped her tail in his direction. We watched the butterfly saga until they all fled. When Kiara finally stopped, tongue hanging out—a sign she was thirsty—I got up and dusted off my clothes, and he did the same.

The chimera snorted, rubbing her snout against Zion's leg.

“Go drink from the river,” he said.

The chimera scratched at the ground as if arguing.

“There's no one around, just go. It's close by.”

She shook her head in protest, and Zion turned to me.

“Kiara wants us to go with her to a spring nearby.”

“You can hear what she thinks?” I'd never understood how their psychic bond worked.

“Yes, it's like a mental conversation.”

That was pretty strange, but it explained a few things. Then I remembered an important detail.

“So that's how you know when I'm home or not!” I shouted indignantly. They both looked at me, alarmed. I turned to Kiara. “You're a traitor.”

A sinister gleam appeared in her sky-colored eyes. Zion laughed and seemed to be conversing with her.

“What is she saying?” I asked curiously. He laughed even more.

“You don't want to know.”

I shifted my weight anxiously.

“I want to know!”

He looked at Kiara, then at me.

“She said, 'the female finally understood the obvious.' Now that you understand, she says she wants two bowls of kibble per meal and that you're a cruel owner for letting her starve.”

I looked at the chimera incredulously and pointed at her little protruding belly.

“I can't believe you have the nerve to say that when you're overweight.” The chimera snorted and trotted innocently around Zion. “What did she say?”

He was reluctant to tell me but eventually gave in.

“She says it's not her fault your ideal body type is flat as a board.”

My mouth fell open. I was horrified.

“Half a bowl—that's what you deserve.”