Page 5 of Finding Her
“We’re different species.” He looked up and took note of my confused expression. “You don’t have the same mark as me and my kind.”
“What mark?”
He lifted his hair from his neck to reveal a faint glow of orange peeking through his skin, as if providing a window to a deeper light. The branding consisted of two vertically swooping gashes, one longer than the other. Smaller golden veins branched from their crevices, creating the impression the mark was cracking around the edges, threatening to split open and reveal a throat of fire.
He watched me closely and again realized I wasn’t catching on. “There are seven species that qualify as ‘people’ in Trebianna. I’m a Pyran.”
“What makes Pyrans different from humans?” The applied medication seemed to have a numbing effect; I felt the tension in my body begin to melt away.
Graysen set down the rag he’d been using to clean my wounds. He held his hand palm up, and to my surprise, a tiny spark spat awake, and a flame came to life. I watched it closely, marveling as it danced from the light breeze of his breath. “We’re filled with the gift of fire.” A flirty wink accompanied the flowery word choice. Warmth flickered in his cool gray eyes.
“That’s amazing.” I reached towards the flame in fascination.
“It can also give you a nasty burn.” He snapped his fist closed, and the fire extinguished with a hissing noise. “I don’t think you need any more injuries, at least not until your current ones heal.”
Fair enough. “What are the other six species?”
“Who did you see outside?” he asked, returning his focus to wrap my now clean foot. His voice hummed softly as he continued his task, as if to soothe me. Or perhaps himself.His view must have been gruesome; I’d found myself avoiding looking below my ankles.
“There was a man with green markings all over him. They glowed like lava.” I had thought he was another human for a moment, perhaps with intricately colored tattoos. It wasn’t until that liquid had moved under his skin that I knew better. The ear holes and black tongue confirmed his inhumanity.
“Mercurian,” he said. “That glowing you saw is a plasma that is exceptionally poisonous if touched.” He chuckled to himself. “So, steer clear if they get a papercut.” He seemed pleased with his mediocre joke.
“A man with claws and horns.”
“Thornian. They’re actually relatively harmless, sparing their primitive appetites. They tend to be a gentle species. Their sharp edges are strictly there for hunting purposes; at least they once served that means. Now they can go to the market and get their food. All those scary features are vestigial.”
“What about a woman with scales?”
“An Arielna.” The corners of his lips spread into a grin. “My best friend, Mykie, is one. They’re quite nasty-tempered, but harmless. You won’t find any fire or poison on them. Just a lot of scales and attitude.”
“That’s four of seven. What are the other three I didn’t see?” I asked.
“All in good time, my dear.” He began to wrap my second foot. “Ask me as you see them and I’ll be happy to tell you.”
There was a short silence before I spoke up again. “Graysen, am I dreaming?”
“I don’t think so,” he answered softly, beginning to stand up. “But maybe that’s what you need. Sleep in my bed, I’ll stay on the couch.”
“Oh no,” I protested immediately. “I really am comfortable here and don’t want to put any stress on my feet by walking back up those stairs. I’ll sleep on the couch.”
His brows furrowed with a frown. “I’m not letting you sleep on the couch while I sleep in a bed upstairs. I’ll carry you.”
“But would you force me to move from where I’m comfortable?” I probed, kicking up my feet to emphasize my desire to stay put.
There was a stubborn silence before he responded, “Alright.” He seemed irritated by this. I’d never met someone so set on being a gracious host. “Allow me to go fetch you a pillow and blanket.”
Graysen returned with a thick woven throw of pinks, purples, and blues and a white pillow. “Is there anything else that would be comforting?”
“No, thank you.” I took the pillow from him and shoved it under my head at the edge of the couch. I hoped he wouldn’t try to tend to me further. This freshly rescued pet was more than happy to sink into her guarded sleep without being fussed over.
He spread the blanket over me. “Call out to me if you need anything.”
Faeryn
I existed in the essence of nothingness, surrounded by a blinding white light. I felt heat and soft pressure against my shoulder blades, lower back, and behind my knees, creating the sensation of lying down despite my impression that I was standing. The soft touch moved with me as I rotated, trying to locate the source of the light or, even better, a tangible object to ground myself to.
“Come home,” a woman’s voice gently whispered in my ear.
