Page 54 of Sky Song
“Well, my offer stands.”
Hipper growled, and the growl quickly turned into a long soulful howl. Paloma whirled around.
One second he was nowhere to be seen, in another Lyle loomed over her petite frame. “Hello, Cricket’s neighbor.” A lazy smile stretched his lips but he showed no teeth. He meant to startle Paloma but not to scare her.
“What are you doing here?” Cricket blurted, surprise rendering her breathless. Surprise, and that treacherous hiccup of her heart that happened every time he appeared.
Hipper wailed.
Paloma turned to Cricket. “Oh, Emma…”
“That animal is seriously pissing me off,” Lyle said. He looked no different than always, yet the energy coming off him was more forceful than usual, and more disjointed, like he tried to corral it into a tight ball and failed. “Tell her,” he ordered Cricket without taking the full regard of his merry eyes off Paloma, “that I’m thrilled to make the acquaintance.”
He sounded so damn casual about it.
“Paloma…”
“I got it. I understand a bit of Universal.”
“You do?” Another surprise.
Paloma laughed in response, the sound tinged with fear. “I like to be aware.”
Lyle stood completely at ease, but Paloma held herself very still as if to avoid giving him any excuse to harm her. “Who is he?”
Cricket cleared her throat. “His name is Lyle,” she said quietly. “He’s a Rix alien, part of that symposium delegation. He kinda got stuck here.”
“Is someone going to call for a rider? I can’t stand here long.” Lyle motioned toward Mr. Sulys’ house where Hipper wouldn’t stop making a ruckus.
Cricket wrinkled her forehead. “A rider? Where are you going?”
“Weare going to Atticus. With her.” He pointed at Paloma and then smiled with his stunning carnivorous-boy smile. With teeth.
Paloma recoiled, an impact he’d clearly anticipated.
Now that the shock of his appearance was wearing off, annoyance stirred.
“You know,alien Lyle, I can’t rent a rider every time your stranded ass wants a lift around Shadush. They cost money, and I’m short of funds at the moment.”
That took him aback. “You lack trading currency?”
“Yeah, that’s what I lack. I’ve also lacked freedom because you keep showing up and hijacking my life!”
Paloma’s eyes switched back and forth between Lyle and Cricket, her lips wordlessly tracking some of the words flying between them.
“My hearts, I’m sorry you feel that way, but I can’t leave you.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “Your ploy at softening me into doing what you want won’t work.” Hipper let rip a particularly emotional howl. “Fine, I’ll get a rider.”
Atticus was situated near a lake, behind the nature preserve and well outside of Shadush’s city center. In other words, off the autopilot grid. Cricket got behind the controls, with subdued Paloma gingerly perched in the back seat next to Lyle.
They drove in silence before Paloma said, “I wish I knew you spoke Universal.”
“Everyone seems so darn surprised,” Cricket grumbled. “It’s common on Earth.”
“I should’ve realized it,” Paloma said.
“Why areyoulearning it?”
