Page 38 of 20% Blood 80%
“Because d’ew need lots of nitrogen and the nitrogen in that growing medium is pink.”
I held his hand and walked him over to the trays of sala seedlings that needed to be transplanted. “How would you plant this?” I held one out.
He let out a long-suffering sigh. “Brush out the roots, shock them with cold, then pile small rocks around them.” He took the sala seedling and placed it back on the tray. “I’m not an idiot. I know what you’re doing.”
I smiled anyway. Point proven. “You won’t be a burden. I promise.” I ran my fangs over the pulsing vein in his neck. “I’ll make sure you’re never bored.”
D’iver intruded right as I was making headway, walking straight into our space. He snatched the tray of seedlings before scowling at Silver. “If you don’t come, D’alton will crave your blood and only your blood until his or your life ends. Anytime he has to accept blood from me or another member of his family, he’ll feel disloyal, dirty, like he’s doing something wrong.”
He eyed Silver up and down and frowned as if taking his measure and finding him wanting. “I see how you look at my brother. Do you wish that kind of life for him?”
“D’iver!” I yanked at his arm and shoved him back toward the door. “Go do something productive. Grab some seedlings from the Earther dome.”
“I wouldn’t wish that level of cruelty on my worst enemy.” He raised his voice as he left the biodome with another load of supplies.
Silver clasped my elbow. “Look at me.”
I lifted my gaze from my feet.
“Is what your brother said true? You’ll only want my blood?”
“I’m sure it’s not as bad as all that.” But I recalled how skinny third fata, D’immer, my fata’s youngest brother, had become when he’d been thrown in jail. And my aunt had nearly withered away, refusing to visit him because she was so shamed. “The new moon would be pretty painful, though.” Honestly, I never wanted to go without blood for more than a month again. I’d lost my mind, hunting mutated mantu in the middle of a sandstorm, driven by the need for blood.
Silver lifted my chin with his calloused fingers, his voice gruff with nerves. “I’ll come, but there are going to be conditions.”
“Anything.” I jumped up and wrapped my arms around his neck.
“I’m paying for shit with my own money. I have savings, and I’m going to charge Intermed with every safety violation I can think of. They can fucking afford to pay me for a year of pain and suffering, and…” He leaned his forehead on mine. “I’m building us a media room.”
“Build whatever you want,” I said while peppering his face with kisses. “But what is that?”
“A place to watch movies together.”
He might’ve been a bit growly on the outside, but inside he was all soft and mushy. “I like our movie time too.” I scratched the silky hairs at the nape of his neck. “Snuggling close to you in your little pod.”
“I’ll make it cozy, then.”
Silver’s declaration sent a shiver down my spine.
D’iver thumped me on the shoulder, jerking Silver’s gaze from mine. “With that settled, let’s get moving.” D’iver ducked as he scanned the ceiling overhead. “This place gives me the creepy crawlies.”
“Try being trapped down here alone for eight months, buddy.”
I shrugged at Silver. If I started apologizing for my brother’s intrusive behavior, we’d never get off this planet.
D’iver continued to gather his favorite fruits. “Plus, once the Intergalactic Federation Responsible for Catastrophic Events gave me clearance to land on Tern, they insisted I take the new mayor and lead enforcer to the old city. They’re currently scouting where to place the poor suckers who sign up to recolonize this wasteland, and let me tell you, the hack they got for mayor—he’s a piece of work.”
My brother rattled on as I stared into Silver’s eyes, ecstatic that he’d be coming with me.
Silver smacked my ass. “We’d better get moving. I didn’t make the best first impression with your brother.” He strode with purpose toward theterratherm hub, and my ravenous gaze tracked him as his long legs ate up the distance.
I followed him and watched as he took a drive port and slotted it into the display screen. “Did I forget to mention we’re bringing C?”
“Well, what would we do without C?” I smiled, beyond charmed that he would think to take the AI with him.
Loading the shuttle took no time at all once Silver unearthed a hoverbike from beneath a pile of sand, and in less than two suns we were safely ensconced in my brother’s largest shuttle. Minutes later, we picked up the lead enforcer and mayor at the destroyed city center where D’iver had dropped them off earlier that rotation. Both were Tigs with tawny ears topping their heads.
The lead enforcer was pleasant, but when the mayor started going into detail on where he would erect the first statue of himself, I dragged Silver to the cargo bay passenger area.
