Page 10 of The Build Up

Their twins—Mia and Erik—are seated between them in high chairs. Mia is smooshing avocado and egg around in her tray, occasionally pausing to pop a bit in her mouth. Erik is nibblingon a piece of salmon, one tiny fang emerging from his pink gums.

As I’ve learned, in Kordolians, the fangs emerge first, followed by the other teeth.

The twins aren’t identical. If Mia is the golden bronze of a late sunset, then Erik is starlight. MiaAkiinafavors her mother. ErikTaruktakes after his father.

The interplay between our human and Kordolian genes is fascinating. I can’t wait to see how our little one turns out. Will he or she be more like Tarak or me? Or a combination of both? Ami has certainly inherited the best of both of us.

Sera takes a sip of her coffee and flicks through information on a datapad while Xal tucks into his food. Out of all the Kordolians, he’s probably the one who’s adapted most quickly to human customs.

He’s curious and open-minded, surprisingly so for a former prince of the now-extinct Kordolian Empire.

“Tarak’s out on business?” he asks between mouthfuls, a knowing smile hovering on his lips. Xal looks casually elegant in his navy blue button-down shirt, slim jeans, and leather boots. His long white hair is unbound, its moonlight-hued silkiness contrasting with his dark, curving horns.

He’s always had this ease about him; a certain gracefulness, like a cat, domesticated when he chooses to be, but not without claws and fangs. I know for a fact that he’s a highly skilled fighter—not on the same level as Tarak and the First Division guys, but certainly able to hold his own.

“Sparring with the First Division,” I inform him. “Then, a quick dip in the frigid Southern Ocean. Your kind enjoy that sort of thing, apparently.”

Sera laughs. She looks bright and refreshed—so very different from how she was in the early months after givingbirth. The demands of looking after two babies weighed on her heavily, but Xal adapted quickly, and now they’re all thriving.

Xal shrugs. “I do. The oceans here are unique. Salty. Cold—especially if you go deep enough—and filled with interesting creatures. I swam next to one of those large beasts a few rotations ago—awhale.”

I shudder. “Just be careful. There are great white sharks.”

“The ones with the sharp teeth?” Xal is nonplussed. “I’ve seen a few of those. One tried to attack me once. I gave it a thump on the nose, and it went away.”

Sera rolls her eyes good-naturedly. “You can’t warn them about anything, Abbey. Humans and Kordolians have very different standards when it comes to being afraid.”

“I want bread!” Ami announces.

I pass her a bit of buttered toast, and she dutifully goes about removing the crusts.

She’s picky when it comes to food, just like her father, who still prefers bland, boring things like gelatinous protein bars and raw meat.

He’s coming around, though. I actually think he secretly enjoys some things more than he lets on. He just downplays it so as not to appear too taken with humanfrivolities,as he sometimes calls them.

“WhatareKordolians afraid of, anyway?” I ask Xal.

He frowns. “Sunlight, for one,” he answers after a pause. “Getting caught in the ultraviolet without any form of protectant. And…extinction.”

“Go figure.” Sera grabs a cloth, wipes Erik’s chubby cheeks, and plants a kiss on his wispy white head. Then, she does the same with Mia. “You’re afraid of the sunlight, and we’re instinctively scared of the dark.”

“But you don’t have to be afraid of the dark,” Xal says. “You have us now.”

“It’s a throwback to more primitive times. These things are hard to shake off.” Sera takes Erik from his high chair as he starts to fuss and cry, getting up to bounce him on her hip. Ami has made her way to Mia’s side, waving her buttered toast. As Mia tries to grab it, Ami pulls it away, laughing.

“Ami, share,” I growl, giving her thelook.“We don’t tease. Mia’s much smaller than you. She can’t ask for things so easily.” I offer Ami another piece of toast. “Give this to Mia.”

“Okay.” Ami waddles over to me and takes the bread. “She’s littler.”

“Yes, she is. You have to be like a big sister to her. Look after her.Protecther—until she’s big enough to do things on her own.”

“Okay.”

She shuffles back toward Ami, looking adorable in her pink onesie.

I give Xal a pointed look. “Well, I don’t think you don’t need to worry about extinction whenwe’rearound. “I’m curious, though. Did Zharek ever get to the bottom of why… things got to that point on Kythia in the first place?”

A shadow crosses Xal’s elegant features. “Still working on it. Zharek knows more than he lets on, but he isn’t willing to reveal all yet.”

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