Page 155 of Tempt

He huffs and turns, his ears fluttering. “I do not mean it. It is silly and fragile, but it is from him, so I find I quite enjoy it.”

“What is it?” I ask, my curiosity getting the better of me.

He pulls out a small chain with what looks like half a heart on the end. “He says it is a relationship necklace.”

He holds it out for me, and I see that Everest has had his name engraved on half the heart. “It is only half a heart.”

“I did not understand it. I thought that he was leaving me when it was presented to me. But he has the other half of the heart. So when we are together, they are whole.”

My eyes widen, and I touch it softly. “That is very…”

“Odd, but he says it is romantic.”

Romance, romantic. “Would Luca want one?”

Rathyn lets out a grunt, and he takes the necklace back, putting it in his tunic pocket. “I believe so. Humans are sentimental beings who like to wear half hearts around their necks.”

My eyes meet his, and I see something soft in his rainbow gaze. It has been there ever since he met Everest at the clinic. “I would like one. Can Everest procure one for me?”

“Yes. I shall ask. Then we can be ridiculous together.”

I let out a small laugh, and he grins at me. “The things we do for our humans.”

“And their tiny cocks.” My grin widens, and then Rathyn’s dies. “I did not come here to talk about tiny cocks and half hearts, but to let you know that Everest has met with Zane several times in prison.”

My mouth turns down. “And you are okay with this?”

“I must be. They are friends, from hatchlings. Everest loves him like a brother.”

“I understand.” And I do. I would not be able to cope with the knowledge that I was hurting Luca by forbidding him from seeing someone he cared so deeply about.

“And when he was there, he learned that Zane is still in contact with his family.”

“The same ones who have plotted against our kind?”

“Yes. He has not cut ties.”

That makes something angry well up inside of me. “Will Everest help us?”

“He will. He has decided, for the moment, that not speaking with Zane is the better option.” Rathyn’s words sound almost melancholy, like he’s hurting for his VySytheh. “He believes Zane is good, but there is too much conditioning on the surface.”

“I suppose that is something we can understand,” I tell him, and he nods. It is something all Vyastil are familiar with, even if so many of them are not yet aware of it.

Rathyn shifts restlessly. Sabik is late, and I’m starting to feel overly anxious. The herb still hasn’t taken effect, but I can feel the heat building at the base of my tail. It will linger there for some time, but it will not stay that way.

I have mere hours, if I’m lucky, to get back to Luca and take the suppressant herb. And there is no guarantee that will work.

“You seem troubled,” Rathyn says.

I turn to face him. “I am worried Jyrion is becoming aware of my…plans,” I say slowly. “He’s forced me to take tolyian to bring about my breeding rut.”

Rathyn’s eyes widen. “You ingested it?”

“I wasn’t given a choice. I had no way to refuse him. There were no more excuses. I am far past the breeding time, and I knew that if I tried to say anything against him, he would make a move to take Luca from me.”

Rathyn growls. “Then we must hope to Aelvorn that Sabik is willing to align with us.”

“I am willing,” comes a voice.