Page 231 of Monsters in Love

“Otoki, will you help me into the pool?” His deep, rich voice breaks me free of my thoughts immediately. There is a slight hint of exertion there that breaks my heart.

“Of course, but, Xakiras, why are they treating you like that?” Slowly we walk to the pool’s edge, and he bends down with my help to sit on the edge, dipping his feet in.

“The Volese are themaaorji. They farm for us and are our servants.” He doesn’t seem to care about the implications of that. Instead Xakiras eases into the waters with a grunt.

I hesitate at the edge, worrying at the bottom of my lip. So, they have slavery here? When I dip my toes into the water, I’m shocked by how warm it is, and how it tingles at the bottoms of my feet. Xakiras moves to the back end of the pool, leaning against one of the larger rocks, forcing me to squint to see him.

“Come in,otoki;it will help.” He beckons me closer with a wave of his hand, but I can’t see the look on his face from here.

With a sigh, I slide my ripped and disgusting come-covered shirt over my head, only to pull my legs out of the water to shimmy my skirt down. “It does feel really good.”

“The bruise on your face,otoki, did he hurt you anywhere else?” Xakiras moves through the water, back toward my end of the pool, until I can finally see his face.

“No, I’m fine.” It isn’t a lie, but I’m not sure my racing heart has slowed yet.

The glowing lights make him appear ethereal. With the shimmering blue lamps, it makes his eyes brighter, and the subtle glint of mischief there isn’t unnoticed. Once my feet are back in the pool, his hands are on my thighs, holding me like I’m an anchor.

“If I were notarcanil, I could have protected you.” He lets out a rush of air from his nostrils before his lips find the inside of my left thigh.

My hands find the tops of his shoulders, and I settle them there, playing in the little ruff around his neck. “What does that mean?”

Xakiras looks up at me, closing his eyes momentarily. “Anarcanilis someone without magick. I was born without the gift, which does not allow me many comforts, but I do own my own home.”

“So you are in a caste system here on this planet? Does this mean you have kings and queens?”

I’m enraptured by the history surrounding it, but Xakiras seems so saddened by his lack of magical prowess. How hard could it be forarcanilhere?

“We have the thekunisket;they are a family who rules us alongside the caliphate. Why do you ask, Echo?” His hands continue to trail my legs, and I narrow my eyes.

“Stop distracting me. I have a lot of questions. Like the Volese, they are a slave class?” I kick my leg at him, and he grabs it with another hand.

“They are not slaves. They work for our protection. Without us, they would have been murdered by the Sagath when they took their territory. This forest is very unsafe for most of our people. Only hunters and the Volese farmers come here. It is far too easy to get lost or lose your life in the forest. This area especially is a labyrinth. TheAmae’silshift and move. One area may look entirely different the next time you venture inside. It is very easy to die in the forest.” His fingers rub small circles on my leg with a tender look on his face.

I’m flabbergasted by how adorable he looks.

“I’m glad you rescued me, then. I would have hated being eaten by those trees or potentially being lost forever.” I finally slide into the water in front of him.

Xakiras’s hands come up to brush away my hair that has stuck to my face. “I would not allow you to die regardless of our differences. I hope the caliphate will allow you to find your people soon.”

“We were supposed to be here to terraform your planet for us to live on. We had no idea there was sentient life here, but I worry that they’re gone for good. What if all of them are dead?” I bite at the edges of my lips and look up into his eyes, finding that he’s turned away from me.

“Otoki,they are likely all dead. The Krel leave nothing alive, and if they do, then it will not be a pleasant experience for them.”

I can feel the tears sting at my eyes, and the weight in my stomach overrides the lump in my throat. “They can’t all be dead. Someone has to be alive—”

Finally Xakiras looks back at me, shaking his head. “They are gone.”

“If I tell the Imperium about this, they will go to war with whoever murdered my crew. Your planet will never be the same.” I try to swallow back the tears, instead replacing them with actionable plans for what might be coming for us. I can’t cry. If I cry, then I’ll have given up.

Xakiras sighs, folding me into his large, strong arms. “Echo, do not ever say that to theKugitauriwhen you meet them. We will never speak of that again.”

His grip on me forces those emotions to come all at once. “It’s unfair; we had no idea there was sentient life here.”

The tears come full force, and I clutch Xakiras more tightly while he strokes my back and hair. I’ll never be able to live with myself if the Imperium comes here to destroy this place.

Echo clings to me in the waters, her body melded to mine. Stars, all I can think about is never letting her go. As her shoulders shake with her tears, I continue to stroke her hair, telling her things will be alright, though I do not really know if that is true.

While we are holding one another, the sound of tiny feet pitter-patter on the cave floor, signaling the Volese are back with the food as promised. They are kind enough not to announce themselves and set it near the edge of the pool before leaving.

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