Right by the exit, Asteria’s curled up, too, and right next to her, nestled in a pile of blankets, is Jade.Her chest is rising and falling, her eyes closed.Asteria’s not smiling like an idiot, but she looks wistful.
I understand now,Asteria says.It’s...you just want to take care of them.Doing so makes you feel...satisfied.Complete.
“I think it’s like that because you’re both happy with the bond,” Liz whispers.“It’s certainly not always like that.”
Shh, Asteria hisses.Don’t wake her up.
“They’re bonded now, dummy,” Liz whispers.“As brights, they could always hear your telepathic hissing.”Which is why I was using the private communication with you.
That hurts a little—I thought she was using it with me because she wanted to, not because she didn’t want to wake her siblings.But why do I care?I’m shaping up to be just as bad as Gordon.
I don’t hiss.I sound elegant.But Asteria lowers her tone quite a bit, I notice.
“You can go,” I say.“I’ll be just fine here.”
I look pointedly at Asteria and Gordon, responding to her privately.I don’t want to sleep in some communal opening while you just disappear.
Liz rolls her eyes.“Well, too bad.”
We’re bonded now.That means I can stay.
Yes, we all know,Asteria says.You don’t have to brag.I’m sure you’ll be entwined again any moment.
But how did we entwine?Did we do it quickly?
His missing memory annoys even me,Asteria says.It’s made him an idiot.
She’s changed—the old Asteria was never crabby.They’ve all changed—Hyperion, Gordon, Rufus.They’re all different than they were when we came here.I might not have noticed before, since I was changing too, but the humans—Liz—has changed them all.Jade, Coral, and Sammy, they’ve changed us too.
Now that I’m finally catching up, I don’t hate it.
I’m not leaving.I land and follow Liz.I wish you’d stay on this side.
She stops and turns, placing her hand on my leg.Azar.
When she touches me, I like it.
But when she says my name, Ireallylike it.
She yanks her hand away.Stop being so clingy.She glares.You only bonded me so I wouldn’t die.I understand that.Believe me.And you can’t follow me through that door.You’re too big.
I shift into Axel.
She rolls her eyes again.Still too big.
I drop to the floor, my head now on level with hers.You almost died today.I want to say more—I want to tell her that it scared me.I want to tell her that I can’t have her walk away, not when I just got her back.I want her to touch me again and say my name.I want her to curl up next to me if she’s cold, and I’ll keep her warm.
I want the chance to incinerate anyone who threatens her, and I can’t do that if she’s not beside me.
“Apparently my near-death turned you into a golden retriever.”
A golden what?
“It’s a dog, Axel.A dog that won’t leave its owner alone.”
As if her words called it, the little dog in the other room starts barking.Liz whips the door open and crouches, and Fluff Dog leaps into her arms, licking her face.
Stupid lucky punk.
