Page 128 of The Alien in the Archive

He points toward the kitchen. “Food. Do you have any?”

“I…Riley, I don’t need?—”

“You’re grieving, Page,” Thalara says softly. She comes closer, her voice low and calm. “You’re allowed to grieve. But you don’t need to do it alone.”

Ashlan chirps again, winding his way toward Thalara with the regal confidence of someone who knows he’ll beadored. Riley’s already crouching down with an excited, “Hey, little guy!” as Ashlan brushes against his shins, purring like he’s been reunited with an old friend.

Thalara pauses mid-step, staring at Ashlan with a kind of reverent awe. Her eyes go wide, her satchel slipping from her shoulder to land on the floor with a muffledthud. “Is that… alumivix?” she breathes.

Ashlan chirps again, clearly pleased by the attention, and trots over to nuzzle her boot. Thalara crouches to meet him, one hand hovering just above his head like she’s afraid to touch him.

“You can pet him,” I say, a little amused. “He loves the attention.”

She blinks up at me, as if I’ve given her permission to touch a god. “I haven’t seen one since I was a child,” she murmurs, finally scratching just behind Ashlan’s ears. He rewards her with a deep, rumbling purr, pressing into her hand. “They’re so rare. How—wheredid you find him?”

I hesitate, glancing at Riley, who’s grinning ear to ear as he scratches Ashlan’s back like they’re old pals. “It’s a long story,” I say. “He found Thorne, actually.”

Thalara’s face softens. “Of course he did.” She strokes Ashlan again, this time under his chin, and her voice shifts to Merati—soft and melodic, like she’s murmuring a lullaby. Ashlan tilts his head, clearly enchanted, and I could swear his purring gets louder.

“What are you saying to him?” I ask.

“Just telling him how extraordinary he is,” Thalara replies, still in awe. “And how lucky you are to have him.”

“We’relucky,” Riley corrects, grinning as he ruffles Ashlan’s fur. “He’s the perfect little mood booster.”

Thalara stands, gently cradling Ashlan in her arms like he’s some ancient artifact, and looks back at me with an expression that’s somewhere between wonder and warmth. “I can see why Thorne wouldn’t leave him behind,” she says softly. “He’s special.”

Ashlan chirps again, practically glowing under the attention, and settles into her arms like he’s chosen a new favorite. Thalara laughs under her breath, shaking her head. “I’m sorry, Page, but I might be stealing him.”

“Join the club,” Riley says, standing up with a stretch. “He’s got fans everywhere.”

“I’m not joking,” she mutters, still cuddling Ashlan as she heads for the couch. The little lumivix nuzzles under her chin, and I can’t tell who’s happier about the situation—Thalara or him.

I watch them for a moment, some of the tension in my chest loosening despite everything. Thorne might not be here, but Ashlan is, and apparently he’s made himself an emotional support animal for everyone involved.

I can work with that.

She finally gets done petting Ashlan—which, surprisingly, was a welcome reprieve from the morning’s drama—and goes back to her bag.

“I brought research,” she says, lifting the satchel. “Anything I could find about Borean-Merati relations, dissenters, historical records. If we’re going to get Thorne back, we need to make our case now.”

My chest tightens. “Thalara…”

She holds up a hand. “We’ll talk about it in a minute. Sit down first.”

I don’t argue. There’s no point. Riley’s already rifling through my cupboards, muttering under his breath about my “tragically empty pantry,” and Thalara starts pulling books and papers out of her bag.

I sink onto the couch, and Ashlan hops up beside me, curling into my lap. Thalara joins me a moment later, settinga thick book on the coffee table. She hesitates before she speaks.

“I don’t want to push,” she says carefully. “But…can you tell me how this started? How you and Thorne…found each other?”

Her voice isn’t prying. She’s not asking to satisfy her curiosity—she’s asking because she knows it’s part of what we’re fighting for.

I stare down at Ashlan, stroking his fur. “I found him in the Obscuary. He left me a trail of books to follow. Or…maybe I made it myself? We’re really not sure how it happened.”

Thalara’s lips curve faintly. “A trail of books…of course..”

“I didn’t even know what I was looking for,” I continue, the words coming slowly. “I just…found him. And once I did, it was like…I don’t know how to explain it. Like I’d been waiting for him. Likewe’dbeen waiting.”

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