Page 25 of Veras
CHAPTER 11
My first fullnight’s sleep in years… maybe. Because I couldn’t see the sky, I had no idea of the time of day. But it made me happy to imagine I made it through the night in Veras’ arms. I was reluctant to move, so I snuggled into his chest.
“Veras, are you dying?” I asked. In the hazy time between wake and sleep, I tended to ask the most inappropriate questions. In this case, there wasn’t anything more pressing than my survival. My sole focus for the last five years. His little pronouncement about killing everything on the planet had been shoved to the back of my mind. But now, after a shower, a meal, toe-curling sex, and sleep, my imminent survival came back front and center.
“What?” My sleepy alien’s mohawk stood on end, flowing over his head and down his back. So beautiful. Shiny and black, his hair reflected the mist coming off his body. “No. Why? Do your people have the ability to make such predictions? Will I die before I can exact my revenge?” He stretched, not overreacting for once.
Dios. Such a confusing alien. “No, of course we don’t. I was just trying to figure out why you have a death wish.” I propped myself up on an elbow. “Wait a minute. Icanmake that prediction because you literally told me you were going to murder everyone on the planet.”
He flopped onto his back and crossed his arms, refusing to look at me. “Iwouldn’t be killing anyone. It would be the Guardians. Which is their right.”
I hated this Nozarocanlooking-awaything he did when he was upset. I crawled on his stomach and straddled him, refusing to be ignored. “But you’re not even trying to stop it. You’ll be responsible for the death of… everyone.” I had no idea how many damn aliens lived on this rock, but it had to be a lot.
“They killed my people.” He sat up and gripped my thighs, kneading them in his agitation. “This is our way. A system set in place in case our defenses were ever breached. It protects the Oro as well as the creatures of this planet.”
“After what we shared, you’re going to let me die?”
“No. I will not.” He finally turned to me. “Never.”
“How—”
A roar sounded through the outpost, reminding me we weren’t completely out of danger up here.
“You are fine. The forcefield is in place.”
“But it doesn’t matter because I’ll be dead soon, anyway. By a beast out there or giant golden tornadoes.”
“Guardians.”
I clenched my fists and took a deep breath.Think, True.That’s what you do best.Plan your way out of this like you always do. First step, gather information.
“You’re shouting your thoughts again. I can’t be responsible for hearing them.”
“I want you to hear them. Tell me what happened.” I slid off his stomach and sat next to him, gripping his hand and pressing it against my chest. “We can figure it out together. I know it doesn’t seem like it, but I’m smart. If we plan—”
“It is done.” He let me go and gave me serious alien side-eye. “You are brilliant, of this I have no doubt. But it is destined.”
Again, with thecarajodestiny. I wanted to make my own choices. Had wanted little else forfiveyears. “At least tell me why. I deserve that, don’t I?” When he nodded, a short lift of hischin, I let out a breath and centered myself, ready to get down to business. “The Guardians. What are they exactly?”
“They protect our world.”
“Your people created them?”
“No, they are the keepers of this treasure. Our planet. A living, breathing extension of the Oro. My people, in ancient times, were allowed to reside on this planet because we respected it. We cherish the gift of the Oro. Along with the consequences.”
“And they’re really going to attack us? The Guardians?”
“Yes. Of course.” Veras said as he adjusted himself. So far, Vinny hadn’t shrunk much, but he was quiet. For now. “Did I not say this already?”
“Not in detail.”
Veras sighed and sat up. “I find it difficult. All this talking. If you would just open your mind, we could communicate much more quickly.”
“No.”
“Fine. Where was I?” He sighed and scratched the side of his head. “Ah, yes. Everything will be dead. Anything not native to Nozaroc.”
Anything… Like me?
