Page 63 of Fallen from the Stars

“And if they come in search?”

“They will not.”

Dracchus shook his head slowly. “No. We cannot risk our people.”

“She has a computer inside her, Dracchus, and it does not know our world. They have forgotten this place. Forgotten our people.”

“And we should not remind them.” Dracchus’s firm tone offered no space for argument, but that wasn’t what fanned the flames inside Vasil.

It was the coldness, the detachment, of Dracchus’s expression that ignited Vasil’s rage. The unwillingness to consider a change of position. The sense that he didn’t care what Vasil had to say, that he was an unmovable object set in place against the entire universe.

Vasil drew in another breath, seeking balance and calmness to counter his roiling agitation. “I trust her, Dracchus.”

“We cannot risk our people,” the big kraken repeated.

The fires in Vasil’s belly flared, blazing across his chest, up into his throat, and out to the tips of his fingers and tentacles. “And what did you do by bringing two hunters to this place?” he growled as crimson spread over his skin. “Your mate was one of those who captured us!”

“And the one who freed us,” Dracchus roared, skin turning red as he advanced. “Shesavedus.”

Vasil gave no ground. He raised himself higher and held Dracchus’s gaze. “And I did not question your choices then. I trusted your judgment.”

“You saw her,” Dracchus said, “her kindness.”

“And I see Theodora. So donottell me you act for the good of our people now unless you are willing to say you actedagainstus when you brought Randall and Larkin here.”

Dracchus clenched and relaxed his jaw. “I could not allow them back to their people, or we would have been further exposed. The IDC has capabilities the hunters did not. Bringing the female here will lead them directly to us.”

“If they were to look, Dracchus, they would find us whether she is here or not. They are more advanced now than we can imagine.”

“That is only more reason not to—”

“Would you leave your Larkin?” Vasil demanded, moving closer to Dracchus. Tension crackled in the air between them, but he barely noticed; his entire body thrummed with anger, passion, and desperation. He would not settle for defeat, not when it came to Theo.

Dracchus pressed his lips into a tight line.

“I have ever followed,” Vasil said. “I have always done my duty. And what have Ieverasked of you, Dracchus? Even when things were at their worst, I trusted your leadership. I have trusted you for as long as I can remember, and that trust has never felt misplaced. Now you must trust me. I do not ask you to endanger the lives of our people. Only to help protect hers.”

Vasil forced his skin back to its normal gray and released a heavy breath through his nostrils. “She is mine, Dracchus. My mate. Help me keep her safe, or I will find a way to do so without you.”

The crimson slowly faded from Dracchus’s skin, but his expression remained tight.

“I need a suit,” Vasil continued. “If I must challenge you for it, I will. If I must search every room in the Facility, I will. If I must go to The Watch to obtain one, Iwill. But she is alone in a dangerous place, and I do not want to be away any longer than necessary. So help me, fight me, or stay out of my way, for I willnotbe stopped.”

Dracchus made a sound that was at once a grunt and a groan and turned to move away from Vasil again. “Everyone comes tomefor help.”

“Because you are good. You have given everything for our people, and only with Larkin have you taken for your own happiness. Now it is time for me to take what is mine. Tell me where the spare diving suits are, and I will ask no more of you. I will go.”

“They are in a room down the hall. We moved them so they can be easily accessed by our mates.” Stopping beside the table, Dracchus rested a hand on its surface, keeping his gaze downcast. “I will go with you, and we will escort her here together.”

Some of the flames within Vasil snuffed out, leaving an odd, hollow sensation behind. “You do not need to come. The journey is mine to make.”

“She is your mate, Vasil.” Dracchus met Vasil’s gaze. “That means she is one of us. We will be better able to protect her if there are two of us, should the need arise.”

Vasil moved into the room, halting within arm’s length of Dracchus. He extended his hand like he’d seen so many humans do. Like Theo had done.

Dracchus turned to face him slowly, glancing down. He took Vasil’s hand, clasping firmly.

“Allow me a few moments to clean the mess,” Dracchus said, gesturing to the table. Scraps of paper littered the table top, along with a few larger pieces cut into kraken-like shapes. Dracchus released Vasil’s hand. “Aymee taught me to make chains of paper dolls in different shapes. The younglings always seem to enjoy them.”

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