He whispered something softly before he kissed the top of my head, then proceeded to rub his forehead all over my hair, face, and neck. A blush surged from his attention, but I didn’t move because I felt him shaking.
“How did you find me?” I asked when we started back. At least he could still understand me.
He gestured to the jellyfish alien.
“Thank you,” I told the pink alien.
“Of course, Child. I saw you separated from your caretaker,” they said in an airy voice perfectly suited to them.
“My what?” I asked, then realized I understood them. “How do I understand you?
“Gaptu speaks all languages.”
I had no idea if that was their name or species. “Thank you.”
“So small,” they said, patting my head.
“They think I’m a kid,” I whispered.
Kal grumbled something before speaking to Gaptu again.
The alien patted my head again with their slimy tentacle.
Shaking them off, I glanced at Kal—his expression hadn’t softened in the slightest. “Thanks for coming for me.”
He held me close and took a shaky breath.
Chapter 20
Two steps back.
I was shaking as I directed Seth to a bench at the back of the shuttle where we would have privacy. I squeezed him, trying to banish the fear lodged in my soul. Light was blazing in my gut and heating my scales.
Seth whispered, “Breathe.”
I took in a shuddering breath.
He kissed my bare shoulder. “I’m fine.”
“I know,” I replied in a strangled voice. Thankfully, NAID could translate my words to him once again.
“I’m fine.”
But he could havenotbeen fine.
That had been my greatest fear when the Crystal directed me to a person across the universe on an unsanctioned planet. I’d been terrified something would happen to him before I got there, before I could protect him. That was why I’d rushed my parents to allow me to leave as soon as possible.
Seth clambered onto my lap and settled against my chest. My arms surrounded him, keeping him as close as possible. His familiar weight was comforting. His face pressed against my neck, and his breath evened with sleep. I kissed the top of his head, breathing in a lungful of his heady fragrance before rubbing my forehead against his to scent mark him.
“My Seth,” I whispered.
He muttered something, not fully awake.
He will be fine, I told myself.But he could’ve not been. I tightened my hold on Seth. I was never going to let him out of my sight again.
When we disembarked from the shuttle, I kept an arm around Seth’s waist to support some of his weight. As we entered the lift, I jabbed the button for deck eight.
Seth asked, “Where are we going?”
