Page 61 of Ava Stargazer

A gentler tone came from Rhutg.“It is good for you both that this is happening. Do not interfere now that this has presented itself. On Xai, no males would approach her while she dwelled in your house and she was too skittish to venture far. This ship is neutral territory for it to happen.”

“Stop looking even,” Rhutg added aloud, shifting his arm to put it back on the flat exam table. “This is not your moment.”

Rhutg’s message finally penetrated as Vox sat looking at the medical scanner resetting itself, green colors flashing now that the error code was cleared out.

Ava’s vulnerability. How she lived before. The reality of her life flashed through his mind, coupled with the wonder on her face when she first saw him, her initial hesitation, and then herdesperation for contact and touch. Even now, sometimes, he felt urgency when he held her in how she curled into him. Burrowing into him for more than just intimacy.

Vox spoke in a lower voice, his eyes closing as he thought it through. “Do you think Ava cares for me only because I was the first to be kind to her? That is why she chose me? Even on the ship?”

Rhutg’s voice was brisk. “Of course, you idiot. She was not in a good place. She still loves that Phor bug even though he kept her isolated and manipulated her for cycles. You were the first good thing in her life, of course she fell for you hard.”

“I'm nothing like Ebel.”

“Yes. You aren't. That is why you will let her choose. That is why this thing with Zeed is good. Allow her this moment of actual freedom.”

Vox grumbled, his eyes flashing. He heard the logic in Rhutg’s words, but his emotion of thinking of Ava being elsewhere, with someone else, overrode it. “If I had known that Zeed would do this, I would have kept him out of this journey.”

Rhutg didn’t say anything, and Vox’s eyes narrowed on him, still full of fury.

Vox’s tone became accusatory. “You knew Zeed’s intent. You are stronger and can see farther than me.” Even as he said it, he felt ashamed of his reaction.I would not want to keep her attached to me just because she had no other choice.

Rhutg just positioned his arm again on the table and attempted to restart the scans. “It is hard to do this scan alone.”

Vox looked back at him with hurt eyes. His twin hearts panged in his chest, thinking of Ava leaving to be with another. “Even if she chooses differently, I will still help her at Cipra. I will not stop helping her find her Humans.”

Rhutg threw his head back to stare at the ceiling, crossed his arms, and sighed. “You fool. How are you such a fool? You did itbefore on Torga trying to overprotect her, and are trying to do it now as well. Violie would have tried to castrate me if I attempted to hold her so tight. Give Ava some of your faith, and some space.”

Vox looked down and away, breathing heavily to get a handle on his emotions.Have I been in the wrong this entire time?He hunched forward in a posture of defeat.Rhutg is right. She even attached to that bug, Ebel, as if he is family. And he kept her captive. Do Humans just unnaturally attach like this?Anxiety rose within him as her face swam in front of his mind.

Vox flushed a deep purple and breathed deep to try to calm himself. He was agitated, as if in the heat of battle. He breathed until he could think rationally enough to process Rhutg’s words. Eventually he said, “I worry about what you said before. That she is attached to me now simply because I was the first one to be kind to her and she knows nothing else. I worry that it is not the same as it was for you and Violie.”

Rhutg stared at him unhappily. “You should become attached to those who are kind to you. And her feelings have only grown. If there was nothing genuine there, then I would be forcing you to let Ava go myself, because I care for her well-being now too.”

“You care too?”

“In a different way than you, yes.” Rhutg clapped him on the shoulder. “Remember, Lirell and your brother were also kind to her initially, and she does not pine for them.” He chuckled. “I was an ass to her at first.”

Vox didn’t answer, keeping his silence for himself as he clenched his hands at his side.

He watched Rhutg turn the machine back on and position the scanner over his arm more firmly before saying, “At least if we’re going to spy from afar, you should keep scanning my arm to see how that affects the tremors.”

Vox flushed purple and moved to press his head to Rhutg’s to express his gratitude.

Rhutg frowned and pushed him away after a second. “None of that. You feel too much.”

Ava stood, feeling overwhelmed and confused, looking at the back of Zeed’s neck. Her heart was thunderous as it pounded, body flushed with anxiety. Zeed’s words rang in her mind as she tried to process them in her confusion.But Vox isn’t like that, he wouldn’t lie to me. It’s not like how Zeed says.

It would be a lie to say that she was not curious about other Vorbax males, but the thought of anyone other than Vox made her soul ache. Especially if she thought in reverse of him with someone else. Her mind returned to the women’s communal hall, and she felt an echo of jealousy to think they had considered Vox in the same way before.No.

She wrung her hands and answered, her eyes wide with emotion, “I can not, Zeed.”

Zeed tilted his head, his frills moving elegantly with the motion. “Can not? Or will not? They mean different things. One implies that you would, if barriers were removed.”

Voice crackling from the strain, she said quickly, “Both. It is both.”

Zeed lifted his head and regarded her with hooded eyes. “I would be a good coupling for you, Ava. I have been in battle. I would be able to protect our young.”

“I’m sure you would. But I care for Vox too much to want to be with someone else.”

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