Page 52 of Secretly Abducted
His father's expression could freeze the entire ocean. His mother's bioluminescence is cycling through so many colors I can't keep track. The brother—Kar'on—looks like he's trying very hard not to laugh.
"This is the human," his mother says. It's not a question.
"Alex," I say, because someone has to break the horrible silence. "Nice to meet you. We weren't expecting visitors."
"Evidently," his father says, tone arctic.
"Perhaps we could have this conversation after we're dressed?" Vel'aan suggests desperately.
"Have you bonded to him then?" his mother asks.
"Last night," Vel'aan admits.
"After knowing each other for how long?" his father asks.
I can feel Vel'aan's spike of anxiety through the bond. "Three days."
The silence that follows is deafening.
"Three days," his mother repeats slowly. "You formed an empathic bond with a human you've known for three days."
"It's more complex than that," I interject. "We actually met ten years ago. Vel'aan saved my life during an accident. I just didn't remember until recently."
Recognition dawns in his father's eyes. "The dying human youth. You're the one from the incident."
"Not dying anymore," I say. "Your son did an excellent job with the rescue."
"And you sought him out after a decade?" his mother asks, her patterns shifting again.
"I crossed three star systems to find him, actually."
"Why?" His father's question is sharp.
"Because he saved my life. Because I couldn't forget him, even when I couldn't fully remember. Because something in me knew he was important." I meet his gaze steadily. "Because I was supposed to find him."
"Supposed to," his mother echoes skeptically.
"We should continue this discussion clothed," Vel'aan insists. "Please. Give us a moment."
"We'll wait in the main room," his mother says. "Kar'on, come."
"But this is just getting interesting—" Kar'on protests.
"Now."
They file out, and Vel'aan immediately sinks lower in the water, only his eyes visible above the surface. Through the bond, I feel his mortification like a physical weight.
"Hey," I say, moving over to him. "It's okay."
"It's not okay. They weren't supposed to just arrive. There are protocols, announcements of visits..." He surfaces enough to speak clearly. "They must have left immediately when Kar'on told them yesterday."
"They're concerned. You're their son."
"They're going to hate you."
"They're going to be skeptical," I correct. "There's a difference. Come on, let's get dressed and face the interrogation."
We exit the pool and dry off quickly. I pull on some borrowed clothes that don't fit me well but they'll work in a pinch. Vel'aan wraps himself in a formal garment that covers most of the marks I left on him, though the one on his throat is still visible.
