Page 87 of Ruby
His eyes narrow slightly. “That is a threat.”
“Yes.”
I’m slowly backing away as they keep arguing.
Then, grudgingly Drasuk adds: “If they tear mid-combat, I will not carry you.”
She smirks. “If they tear mid-combat, I’ll glide down on your ego. It’s big enough.”
They posture for several long seconds. He turns away first.
Kira waits until he’s several steps off before muttering loudly, “Try to bite my wings again and I’m painting them neon.”
His voice carries back, dry and unamused. “That would make them easier to target.”
She cups her hands around her mouth. “Good! Then they’ll know exactly who’s killing them!”
Silence stretches for a long moment before I find my voice. “Holy shit, Kira. You weren’t kidding when you said you could make enemies here.”
When she turns to me, she has the crazed grin back on her face. “That idiot? Oh, no, he’s my mate and I’d kill anyone who even looked at him wrong.”
I’m still working toward a reply when Ree interjects. “We’ve left Azoeul out of the conversation long enough. Kira, take him to Liv so she can explain the nanite situation and help him make an informed decision. They were admiring the hoard last I saw them.”
Kira snorts. “Of course they were.”
Then she switches to Azoeul’s language. “Come along, Fur Ball. I have someone you should meet.”
Azoeul shares a long look with Szhe’ka before replying. “I will stay with my friends.”
“They aren’t going to want you around for where this is headed, Furby Dude,” Kira tells him. “Trust me.”
She stops suddenly. “Wait, did I read this wrong? Is it a three-way sort of situation?”
I clear my throat. “No. No it isn’t.”
“We will be well, Azoeul,” Szhe’ka tells him. “I think they plan to offer you something you will need.”
With a long breath, Azoeul relents and moves off with Kira.
35
Ani
The shoreline hums with too many heartbeats. Ree feels it too.
She straightens, the softness gone from her posture, and her voice shifts back into command. “Disperse,” she says, firm but not sharp. “We’re too clustered and it’s putting her choice at risk.”
“Szhe’ka, you need to wash yourself thoroughly,” Ree commands. “Eli will explain.”
He moves toward the water. Eli hands Szhe’ka a metal canister and starts rambling about cleanser and contamination and full application. Szhe’ka hums his agreement and walks into the water.
Now it’s just me and Ree. “I need you to listen,” she says.
“I am listening.” My voice is tight.
She studies me for a second. Measuring. “You need to make a choice.”
My jaw sets. “About what?”
