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“Is that safe? There might be bacteria.”
“I’ve been drinking and washing with that water for months. It’s safe.” Lenore peered at her foot. Until she washed away the mud, she couldn’t tell if the thorn was still embedded in her sole. It felt like it was.
Sarah returned with the water, followed by another alien who carried in supplies. He did not look thrilled to be there but crouched down next to the cot and reached for her injured foot.
Lenore batted his hand away. “Excuse me? I can do it myself.”
He ignored her and grabbed her foot, tilting his head as he inspected. Up close, there was no way to escape the fact that this man was not human. The four eyes were difficult to ignore. The front eyes were a cloudy gray, and the side eyes were a vivid blue. His ears were elongated and pointed. The shape of his face shared similarities with Baris, like the nose profile and the judgy look on his face. Were they related, or did all aliens look the same to her?
He said something that sounded fairly rude.
“Well, no one asked you,” Lenore grumbled.
Sarah set the pail down next to him, along with a clean rag. “Lenore, this is my husband, Prince Vekele. He’s trying to be helpful.”
Lenore’s brows went up in surprise, but she said nothing. When Sarah mentioned her husband, she assumed he was human. Well, that’ll teach her about assumptions.
Because Lenore’s people skills were rusty beyond belief, she asked, “Is he a real prince, or is that a made-up title like the Emperor of Ice Cream?”
A sharp pain in her foot interrupted her. Prince Vekele held up a thorn, speaking in a manner that suggested he gave instructions.
“He says that’s…not poisonous, but it will cause an allergic reaction. You’ll need an injection,” Sarah said while the prince opened the med kit. He held up a lethal-looking syringe.
“No needles.” Lenore shook her head. She wasn’t squeamish about needles, but she was wary of strangers wanting to poke her. She didn’t know these people and only had their word that they had good intentions. “That’s safe for humans, right? Also, you two aren’t planning to harvest my kidneys, kidnap me, or sell me to a collector? I am not cut out for life in a menagerie.”
Sarah laid a hand on the prince’s shoulder. “Okay, let’s slow down. I’m Sarah. This is Vekele. We’re rescuing other people who got stranded by the portals.”
“You said that. And are you going to take me to a farm upstate with all the candy I’d ever want to eat, no bedtime, and everyone gets a puppy?” Sarcasm and doubt laced every word.
“It’s not a farm. It’s an old palace.”
Oh, now that was just preposterous. A palace?
“Get out. Right now. I’m doing fine on my own.” Lenore lurched to her feet. The injured foot was numb, but she expected it. This wasn’t her first encounter with the thorns. After a brief wobble, she folded her arms over her chest.
“You don’t look like you’re doing fine. You look hungry,” Sarah said, opening another box to display what looked for all the world like a turkey sandwich, apple slices, and a drink carton with a foil lid.
She hated turkey sandwiches, having choked down too many dry and bland abominations in the hospital cafeteria, and yet her stomach still rumbled. The traitor.
“There’s fish in the river,” Lenore said.
“How are you getting to the river with no shoes?”
“I’ll figure it out.”
“Just take the sandwich.” When Lenore didn’t comply, Sarah rolled her eyes and muttered, “For fuck’s sake.”
She dragged a chair over to the cot, grabbed half the sandwich, and took a large bite. With her mouth full, she asked, “Happy?”
“And the fruit. You might have poisoned it.” Lenore looked pointedly at the lunch box until Sarah took an apple slice.
When the woman didn’t choke or start foaming at the mouth, Lenore accepted the remaining half of the sandwich. Before taking a bite, she eyed the so-called prince. She didn’t entirely trust Sarah, and this guy just loomed.
“He can leave,” Lenore said, jerking her chin in his direction.
Sarah translated. The prince said something in reply that did not sound flattering and closed the med kit with more force than necessary.
Untroubled by the little temper tantrum, Lenore ate her sandwich. It was the best damn thing she’d ever eaten. Thank heaven it wasn’t a bland turkey sandwich. Honestly, Lenore wouldn’t have cared. All she had for the last two months was fish and whatever fruit she found in the forest. Choices were slim.
