I patted Zoltilvoxfyn, sliding through his shoulder. “Tell him about me. Hurry up. I want to talk to him.”
He glanced at me before focusing on his younger brother and Seth. “His name is Caleb Smith.”
Seth’s mouth dropped open. “He’s human?”
“Yes.”
“How’s that possible?” Kal asked.
Zoltilvoxfyn answered, “The story is Caleb’s to tell.”
Seth nodded.
I bounced on my toes in excitement. I was going to speak to Seth. He was the first human I would talk to since my death. Yes, it was via Zoltilvoxfyn, but I didn’t care.
A sudden longing started, making me ache, like a physical ache, which had never happened before. Ifeltsomething.Physically.It was so distant and faint that it took me a bit to identify the emotion attached to it. Loneliness. I was lonely.
The prickle disappeared as quickly as it came, leaving me wondering if it had happened at all. I’d probably imagined it. Feeling something physical was impossible.
When Zoltilvoxfyn stared at me, gesturing to Seth, words clogged my throat. I was desperate to speak to him, yet at the same time, it wasn’t actually him I was lonely for. I missed myfamily. My brothers. My cousins. My parents. My nana. I wanted to be on Earth. I wanted to be alive again, but that would never happen.
Swallowing it down, I focused on Seth. A human was here, in front of me, wanting to talk. Instead of being sad about my death or not seeing my family, I was going to seize this opportunity and talk to him.
Chapter 6
Two humans converse.
Caleb beamed at Seth, and something dark and hot curled in my gut at his expression. It was possible that Caleb had grown fond of Seth over their six-month journey from Earth on the Admiral Ven. Maybe more than fond. The tightness returned with more force this time, but I banished it.
Seth was mated to Kalvoxrencol. That would never change. Drakcol mated for life. That fact didn’t comfort me. Though why would his possible infatuation with Seth bother me? It shouldn’t. It didn’t.
“Tell him I said hello,” Caleb said.
What an illustrious start to a conversation, but I dutifully translated.
“Where is he?” Seth asked. I gestured to the space beside him, and he said, “Hi. How old are you?”
“Twenty-one.”
“I’m twenty-nine,” Seth replied. “How long have you been dead?” He paled. “I’m sorry. That was rude. You don’t have to tell me.”
Caleb patted his arm, though his fingers slid through Seth’s bulky black jacket. “Don’t worry about it. I’m not sure how long it’s been. The cycles have blurred together.”
“What year did you die?”
He rattled off some numbers that had no meaning to me, but I told Seth, who bobbed his head. “So twenty-three years depending on what time of year you died.”
“It’s been that long?” His eyes turned distant while his voice radiated sadness.
Unable to stop it, I slid off the stool and crouched in front of him. “Are you alright, Caleb?”
His gaze lifted to mine, and a sudden urge to cup his cheek or wrap my tail around his wrist burned through me. My hands fisted at my sides while my tail flicked. Touching him was impossible.
“I’m fine,” he said. Caleb turned toward Seth, who stared in his general direction. “What do you miss most about Earth?”
Seth leaned against Kalvoxrencol, who in turn wrapped his arms around his waist. “It’s hard to pick. I miss a lot, and not so much, if that makes sense.”
“It does.” Caleb bounced, standing in front of Seth. I pointed so Seth would know where he was. “I miss...” I had no idea what that word was, but I did my best to imitate the same sounds, forcing out abeear.
