Page 86 of Avelina

Aaron shook his head. “It is strange.” He eyed the men as they ate. The oardoo tasted like turkey, except its body was roughly ten times the size and had to be cooked in filets within the hearth. The men would likely finish every bite of it. “You all like the meal, I see.”

“I had no idea food could taste this good,” Shane said with his mouth full. Wrapped in Terik’s hat and coat, he was like a new man. He was still skeletal, but with a clean face, he looked like a human instead of a zombie. They all did.

I noticed for the first time that none of the men had beards. I doubted they’d had access to a razor during their thralldom, revealing that Aaron was the only one who could grow one. That was odd.

“Yes, thank you for your hospitality, Aaron,” Fitch said. This was the first time I’d heard him speak, and his voice was rougher than a pack-a-day smoker. He sounded like he chewed up his words before he spit them out. “We won’t forget it. I’ve never eaten oardoo before.” He paused, then added, “And thank you for saving us.”

He hadn’t said it so much to me as near me. His words floated in the air like an unfinished sentence. Perhaps one that ended with “instead of killing us.”

“You’re welcome,” Aaron said. He turned to me and said quietly, “Oardoo is a delicacy here. We rarely butcher it for meat. The feathers are too valuable.”

Ellis knit his brows together as Aaron explained, glanced at me, then back down at his plate again. None of the other men met my eyes.

I reached over and rested my fingers on Aaron’s forearm to connect. He’d found his belongings and had donned his bracelet again, though a few of the stones were missing. I slid my hand underneath the bracelet, toying with it idly.

Are they allowed to talk to me? I asked. I was the one who released them from that awful trance, and no one has acknowledged my presence except Ellis.

They’re embarrassed, Aaron thought to me. Don’t you remember how I was when we first met? You healed them even more quickly than you did me.

I know, but it wasn’t the same as when I healed you. I don’t think it felt like sex to them, more like a massive dose of jarring weed.

That may be, but healing usually takes place in private. It’s—

Frowned upon, I know. I don’t suppose I can show them why it’s okay in exactly the same way I showed you.

Aaron snorted. I smiled at him, remembering that glorious event. Everyone looked up from their plates, then down at Aaron’s arm where I touched him, then at each other, then back down to their plates.

What’s going to happen when they see us heading toward the same bedroom?

Aaron glanced at me, sighed, then said aloud, “You’re right. We should address that.” The men all looked up expectantly.

“Okay,” Aaron said. “I’m sure you’ve all noticed that Lina is not from around here. She’s a greater connector and protector, and she has three other reservoirs as well.”

“Four,” I corrected him. They all glanced at me, their eyes narrowed, then back at Aaron. My Protection reservoir was actually ascendant, not greater, but it was probably best not to dwell on that. I supposed that the only other people they knew about with so many reservoirs were their dear leaders, Eve and Seleca. It wasn’t exactly a welcome comparison.

“Right. Four now.” Aaron paused, gazing down at me, then said, “She’s also my beloved. I will defend her from anyone who tries to harm her.”

I gaped at Aaron. I hadn’t known the men might need that kind of warning. He’d made a public declaration of his love for me, even though I hadn’t technically said it back to him.

I opened my mouth to speak but nothing came out. We stared at each other for a moment.

Finally, Aaron’s eyes drifted back to the men. “I also warn you that she’s dangerous in her own right and could kill any one of you.” He sniffed, then said casually, “Ask your questions.”

After a short, awkward silence, Ellis asked, “Who are you?”

I took a deep, steadying breath and said, “My name is Avelina Silva. I’m from Earth.” The Eboros brothers finally looked at me, their eyes wide. Falondeitric dropped his fork on the floor. I raised one eyebrow at him. “Ever heard of it?”

“It’s real? How did you get here?” Falondeitric asked. Though he was slightly taller than the rest, he seemed young, maybe eighteen or nineteen. Markinius couldn’t have been more than a year or two older than that.

I glanced at Aaron. The Eboros brothers know about Earth, I thought to him. Aaron shrugged.

“Seleca picked me up and threw me onto a bridge like a fish at market,” I said. The Smite brothers nodded, clearly familiar with the concept.

“Where is Earth?” asked Ellis, who sat to my left.

“You mean, like, directionally speaking?” I asked, turning to him. “I have no idea. I don’t even know how far away it is. It’s another planet.”

The Smite brothers looked up with roughly the same expression the Eboros brothers had a moment ago.

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