“So we’re the humans,” I said.
“Team Human,” Caleb announced, bouncing, then he froze with a grimace.
“You okay?”
“Yeah, I sometimes forget that this body doesn't like sudden movements. Yolkeltod, this body, was in an accident with his sister Tinlorray before me. Oh, Tinlorray. Shit. I forgot tomessage her. She’s going to be worried and angry. I can’t believe I forgot. We’re sort of siblings. I mean my body is her brother. I’m not, but I am, you know.”
That sounded very confusing, so I nodded along as Seth watched his baby, smiling. My life had suddenly gotten very odd.
“So Team Human?”
“Yep,” Caleb said. “Seth’s the leader.”
“That makes sense.”
“How?” Seth asked, dropping the tablet. “How? Explain it to me like I’m five. In what world am I a good choice?”
I chuckled, but Caleb replied, “You are. Besides, the Maykians think you’re the supreme leader.”
“Which is your fault.”
“So? We’re not dead. It’s a win. Not dying is always a win. You have to agree with that.”
“But lying has a bad habit of biting me in the ass, like the cats.”
“I can’t believe I’m allergic to Lucy. It’s not fair. I want a cat, but the doctors and Fyn are concerned about me taking allergy meds all the time with my other health problems.”
“I’m allergic to all this pollen,” I remarked. Klars had given me an injection to help, and it did, but I still got sniffly and sneezed more than I liked. Damn plants everywhere.
“That does suck,” Seth commented.
“But you have a pet,” Caleb said. “I want one so bad, but after the cat incident, Fyn is worried. He likes to worry about me. A lot. I swear it’s a favorite pastime for drakcol and their mates.”
Seth nodded.
“Mindy does that too.”
“Not shocking,” Caleb said. “But I want a squishy pet, and Lucy doesn’t like me, even if I could squish her.”
“Pookie does.”
Caleb grinned, and Seth’s ruddy face lost all color; he peeked over his shoulder, but she hadn’t moved from her nest.
“Do drakcol drink?” I asked, needing some kind of fortification, not to mention a subject change before Seth fled in terror. My world had altered so suddenly over the last couple years. First abducted, then sold, then kidnapped, then stranded, and now in an instant family. Drinking seemed like a good idea. Besides, friends did that, drinking and playing cards. “Do you have cards too?”
“Yes to both,” Seth said. “You’ve got to try this drink.”
Caleb laughed. “You asked for it.”
I was probably about to get very drunk, but I didn’t care. This was my new family, my brothers-in-law, and I wanted to get along with them. Though as Seth walked to the dispenser, talking, my thoughts went back to my moms and sisters. I missed them. When I was on Xome, I’d never thought about them, let alone missed them. Now, it was like I couldn’t go two seconds without thinking about them.
What was wrong with me?
“Oh,” Seth said, startling me. “You might have to touch the Crystal.”
“For soul testing, right? But it’s like a mate finder, isn’t it? I already have Serlotminden.”
Caleb laughed. “Mate finder? God, you’re funny. No, remember it’s their religion, and it’s what stuck me in this body, by the way. And soul testing isn’t done by touching the Crystal unless you’re part of the royal family. Anyway, humans are special regarding the Crystal.”
