Page 34 of Fallen from the Stars

“I’ve been with Theo for over seven years,” Kane said. “In all that time…she’s never told anyone but me about her past. Not even the few men she’s had brief relationships with.”

“And I did not provide her what she needed. I—”

“Enough, kraken. This time,yoube quiet and listen tome. Theo had things rough in her youth. She’s never really healed from it, but she’s always been smart enough to avoid raising any red flags on her psych evaluations. If she told you even alittleabout her past, that means she trusts you, which means…” The computer released a frustrated grumble. “Which meansIhave to trust you, too.

“Thank you for helping her, Vasil.”

Vasil was unsure of what to say; there’d been more emotion in the computer’s words than many kraken expressed in their entire lives, and Vasil’s time among humans hadn’t taught him how to properly respond to it. He turned back toward the fire and nodded. “From the moment I first saw her face during the storm, I knew I would do anything to protect her.”

“You krakendomove fast,” Kane muttered. “I feel the same way about her. It was coded into my programming, of course, but it’s become more than that over the years.Muchmore. Hell, it’s even allowed me to override some of my core IDC programming.”

Closing his eyes, Vasil bowed his head and released a long breath. “You love her?” He didn’t know how it would be possible — Kane possessed no body, no physical form — but love remained a largely mysterious force to Vasil. He didn’t fully understand it, though he’d witnessed its power many times.

“Yes,” Kane replied softly.

Vasil’s chest tightened, a fire sparked in his blood.

“But not in the way you would,” Kane continued. “Theo is my family.”

The pressure within Vasil only seemed to grow, though the newly ignited flames diminished. “I understand.”

“Good. I don’t know what will develop between you two, but I want you to understand this, too: if you hurt her in any way, even a little, I will find some way to obtain a body — no matter how many natural laws or codes of ethics and morality I have to break to do so — just so I can kill you with my own hands. She is a sister to me.”

Despite everything, Vasil smiled. He would never have believed he’d one day be threatened by a computer. How could the possibility even have occurred to him? More than that, he knew Kane would make every effort to fulfill his promise should he come to believe Vasil had harmed Theo.

“Understood,” Vasil said, pulling himself forward. “Call me if she requires anything more.”

Kane made no response.

Vasil returned to the fireside, spread his tentacles, and eased himself down onto the sand. His awareness of his surroundings slowly expanded. He’d shut out the song of wind and sea for too long today already.

But as he stared at the dancing flames, calmer and yet no less confused than he’d been before, he found no peace. Instead, his memory summoned another seaside fire from only a few nights ago, though it felt like years had passed since then — the fire at which his suspicions had finally been confirmed.

Melaina was his youngling. He’d sired her.

And he’d missed so many years of her life already.

He could not help but recall Theo’s story and relate it to his own experiences. Though he knew kraken society was different, though he knew they’d always handled younglings in their own way, he couldn’t help the comparison. Theo’s father had not been in her life, and she’d never let go of her anger, her resentment. Did Melaina feel the same way toward Vasil? Was there a relationship to be formed with his daughter, or was he too late?

He looked back at the pod.

Was there a relationship to be formed between himself and Theo?

Chapter 7

Time lost much of its meaning to Theo over the five days following her freak-out. She kept herself busy almost without fail. She explored the surrounding jungle with Kane’s assistance, foraging for more fruit and keeping her water supply topped off, always keeping an eye out for new dangers. When no pressing tasks presented themselves, she tinkered with the escape pod’s internal systems on the off-chance she’d accidentally restore the comms by tweaking the right component in just the right way.

Of course, she had no such luck. The comms were fried. Even a scrapper would hesitate in taking them off her hands.

She swam in the stream and the shallow ocean waters. Playing in the waves proved an unexpected delight, even if Kane called her childish for it; the amusement in his voice diminished the effect of his admonishments.

Vasil went out early each day to scout the ocean for any familiar landmarks — or wasseamarkthe word? — that could direct him home. He returned each evening with a frown. But however low his spirits appeared, he always seemed to cheer up when his eyes met Theo’s. He’d flash her a sharp-toothed-yet-charming smile and bring his latest catch into their little camp. They chatted as they shared their evening meals, growing more comfortable with one another with each passing day.

She worried for the first day or two that he’d ask about her near-breakdown, but he never brought it up. In fact, her childhoodnevercame up during their conversations, even when they talked well into the night.

Theo had more fun over those five days than she had in as long as she could remember. There were no lectures, no schedules, no stuck-up officers or barking sergeants — just total freedom in a tropical paradise with a male kraken for company.

Andboydid she notice just how male he was.

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