7. Firion

Chapter 7

Firion

I could tell I’d upset her. She laid the cooked root she’d been eating on the plate and lifted the rest of the food my way.

“Eat this,” she said. “I’m super full.”

“You can’t be. You didn’t eat much.”

“Firion.” A growl came through in her voice. “Eat.”

I would not eat if she was hungry. “You need the food more than me. You were very sick. You’re still healing. Without it . . .” She could die. Then I’d want to die along with her. I nudged the plate back down on the tray. “Please continue eating. I’ll be fine.”

“You’ve made yourself my protector,” she croaked.

“Always.” Until they killed me, which I hoped they wouldn’t do. I was strong, muscular. They’d see I had value. My biggest value to me would be in making sure my mate was safe and secure, both relatively unknown things in this place .

“How do you expect to stay healthy if you make me eat all the food?”

“I will be alright. You should finish it all.”

She placed the tray on the table, holding it steady until the surface stopped swaying. “I’m not eating anymore.” Her arms linked on her chest, squishing her two plump breasts that were very different than the flatter four of a Zuldruxian female. “And the next time they bring water, you’re drinking it, not me.”

“You had a fever. Water is the best treatment.” There was more in the corner, but I’d tasted it, and it had gone sour.

“I don’t have a fever any longer. Please eat.” She sounded sad. I couldn’t do anything but find a way to please her. Biting into the meat, I grimaced. But this was how fellahorns tasted. They ate refuse and probably shit. I hadn’t looked into it too closely. What they ate was reflected in their meat.

“Share it with me,” I said.

“I can’t. Sorry.” She rubbed her belly. “I’m much too full to eat anything else.”

Despite my urgings, showing her each piece of food and explaining what it was, she refused to take even one more bite.

She was right. I couldn’t protect her if I wasn’t healthy myself, so I finished the meal. But she was weak and the thought of her not having enough strength to survive what was coming was almost enough to make me lose my appetite.

After there was nothing left, I drank a bit of the water from the bucket and slid the empty plate and tray under the door for collection.

“Hey,” Brax called out, and I stood, facing him. “Glad the youngling’s awake. They’ll work him hard tomorrow.”

Just as I thought.

“How free are we when we’re working?” I asked softly, peering around, though it didn’t appear anyone else was listening. You couldn’t be too careful in a place like this. There was no telling what someone might do to gain a guard’s favor. Squealing on someone planning an escape might be enough to gain better food. More freedom. Perhaps they’d even make sure that person didn’t die here.

“They don’t chain us, if that’s what you’re asking.” Brax shrugged. “No need to. They take us down to the mine and lock the doors behind us. Guards watch us at all times, and they’re armed too well to risk injury attacking them. We have quotas to meet, or they don’t feed us enough to make us strong enough to fight.” His gaze sought Talia, and I was grateful to see only sympathy there.

“I’ll make sure he meets his quota,” I said gruffly.

“I’ll help once I’ve met mine. Don’t be seen pushing yourself too hard or they’ll increase your quota. Nothing extra.”

I nodded, grateful for the advice.

“We’ll find a way to talk again,” he added in so low a voice I could barely hear him.

Turning, he strolled over and sat on the floor with his back to the wall and his legs outstretched. His tail lay off to his side, lifting and smacking down on the floor, over and over. Tipping his head back, he closed his eyes and for all I knew, he slept. I needed to sleep myself.

I walked to the bunk and sat beside Talia. “I’ll sleep on the floor tonight.”

“The bunk doesn’t feel much softer,” she said, rubbing it with her hand.

No, but it had a blanket. It wasn’t damp stone. It got her up off the floor and away from whatever might crawl through the cell at night.

“We could share,” she said. “I . . .” She sucked in a breath and shoved it out. “If you were going to do something nasty, you would’ve tried already.” She held up her fists. “I’m no karate kid, but I’ll do my best to defend myself if you try.”

“Your protection is my role as your mate.”

“You still think we’re mates or something?”

“I know this in my heart.”

The lights snapped off overhead, leaving us in darkness.

Talia gasped.

“It’s alright,” I said, seeing her hand, squeezing it. Wishing I could reassure her. “You’re safe. I’m with you, and I won’t let anyone harm you.”

“Thank you, Firion.” Her voice shook just as much, and I hated that she was afraid and that I couldn’t do much to alleviate that beyond voicing platitudes I had no way of fulfilling. But I would make good on them as soon as I could. We weren’t staying here for long .

“I have to pee,” she whispered. “I should’ve done it while there was light.”

“I’ll help you to the excrement pot.”

“Normally, I’d complain about that. I’m hoping it looks like a toilet back home. Are they universal?” Her jagged sigh echoed in the room. “I bet they’re not. But I can get there on my own. The smell alone will guide me.”

I understood independence, but she was still weak. “It’s to your left, in the corner. If you keep your hand on the wall, you’ll come to it.”

“Can you see any better than me?”

“No.”

“Great. Just great.” She choked back a sob. “I’m sorry I’m not acting brave or strong about this. It’s . . . such a huge adjustment. I’m scared. I don’t know where my sister is, and I’m desperate to find her. I’m not complete if I don’t know where my twin is. We’ve rarely been apart.”

“I’ll help you find her. This I vow.” She couldn’t see that I pressed my fist against my chest, but I did it anyway.

“I appreciate it. I don’t know what I’d do without you, Firion.”

I needed her just as much. My heart would be a big empty lump without her.

The rustle of fabric told me she stood, and I could hear her hand hit the wall.

“There it is,” she said. “Just keep going left. You’ll find it. Ugh.”

I remained with her as she made her way closer. “It’s not far. An arm’s reach beyond the end of the bunk.”

“Alright.” She rounded the end of the bunk and moved closer to the wall, keeping both hands on it as she slowly made her way toward the pot. “I’ll be careful not to stub my toe on it.”

“Good idea.”

“Ah, there it is. Hard. Metal?”

“Probably. Back home, they’re made of stone.”

“Where’s home for you, Firion?” She pawed around. “Yuck. No seat. I’ll perch.” Her clothing shifted and now that my eyes were adjusting to the dark, I could make out her shadowy shape as she lowered herself close to the surface.

I jerked my body around quickly, wanting to give her privacy, as much as I could while standing nearby. “I’m here to make sure you don’t fall. I’m not . . . watching.”

“You’re a good guy, Firion.”

Was I? I tried to be. I made sure everyone in my clan had enough food and a secure shelter, that others were treating them as they should. That everyone was happy. It was only this instant that I realized there was no one to make sure I was equally happy.

It didn’t matter. I was happy enough without someone else watching out for me.

“I’m from the Dastalon Clan,” I said. “As I mentioned, we live on floating islands above the sea.”

“Above?”

“They hover in the sky.”

“How? Don’t they fall?”

“Not so far.”

“I’m going to take your word on that.” She paused. “Describe it for me?”

“Vines dangle from below, some dipping down into the water. That’s how the vegetation drinks.”

“Salty water?”

“It thrives on it.”

“I assume there’s purple vegetation?” she asked.

“Like everywhere, yes.”

“Everything’s varying shades of green where I come from. Well, mostly. Close enough.”

I’d heard that from the other women. “I can’t imagine such a thing.”

“I would’ve agreed with you on purple, but I’ve seen it.”

“If we travel from the mainland, we take a vine up to the top of the main island where most of my clan live. We have lush vegetation there, trees, deep grass, flowers, and gardens. Most have built within the stone walls surrounding our small city, where we commune with our gods.”

“The stone gods,” she said.

“Yes. Our gods prepare food for us and provide clothing. Weapons. Many things.”

“How is that possible?”

“It just is. It’s always been that way.”

“I’m tired. I want to hear everything, but I can barely keep my eyes open.”

“Then let’s get you back to bed.”

“Yes, bed.” I sensed she stood. “No paper. I can drip dry but eventually, this isn’t going to be pretty.” The last of her words came out jagged. “Fuck. Why should it matter if I stink? It might keep the lizards away.”

Was she crying? I wouldn’t blame her if she was. She had every right to be frightened and sad.

When she started back toward the bunk, her cry rang out.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“I just . . .” She cut off a sob. “I scraped my hand on the wall.”

“Let me help you?”

“I should do this on my own.”

“Why, when I’m here, offering to help?”

“Because . . .” I swore her body shuddered. “Alright. Thank you. I’ll take your offer of help because I’m so freaking weak.” Utter defeat came through in her voice.

“I’m going to carry you.”

“It’s only a few feet.”

Her people measured by how long their feet were? Wouldn’t that vary based on the person? No matter. I lifted her and strode to the bunk, where I gently laid her on the surface.

“I wish I could shower,” she said, sniffing. “I reek now, and it’s only going to get worse. We have to drink what they give us. We can’t use it to wash up.”

One of the other women had mentioned a shower, which was a form of bathing. I’d try to find something like that for her here, though I didn’t have much hope I’d find it. Mine wasn’t one of the water gods, although . . .

“Sleep,” I said softly, leaning over to stroke her forehead. Cool. Good. “I’ll watch over you.”

“Lay on the bunk with me? I meant my earlier offer.”

I couldn’t breathe for an instant. Then I realized she was scared. She wasn’t asking me, her fated mate, to lay with her. Anyone who offered protection would do.

It didn’t matter. I was hers, and I’d give anything to help her feel safe if only for one moment.

“I’ll have to lay beneath you,” I said. “The bunk is too narrow for us to lie side by side.”

“I’m heavy,” she said.

“You’re tiny. Lush. Beautiful.”

“You’re sweet to say that. You’re pretty cute yourself.”

Coot? Kerry had used the term with Nevarn, and from it, I believed she meant she found him attractive. A good word, then. I’d take it.

She shifted on the bed. “I’ve made room.”

I gingerly sat and stretched out beside her, urging her up to lay across my chest. “I’ll hold you in my arms. It gets cold here at night and if you lay against the wall, the stone will suck away your heat. You should be able to settle and find rest.”

She nodded, and her yawn stretched out.

“Although,” I said, “I’m made up of hard edges. I’m not plump like many, which would make me more comfortable to lie on. I wish I was plump.”

Her low laugh rang out. “I like you the way you are, and even if you were plump, you’d still be cute.”

“You’re kind to say this. A larger framed male is considered more attractive in the Dastalon Clan. I’m busy all day, though. I forget to eat. If only I made sure to eat all the meals and do less, I might fill out more.”

“This is amazing. You’re saying someone having extra fat on their bodies is more appealing?”

“Isn’t it that way on Earth?”

“For some cultures.” She yawned again.

“Sleep.” My chatter was keeping her awake when she needed rest. “I’ll keep you safe. Warm. I promise. We can talk about my lack of plumpness in the morning.”

“Thank you again, Firion.”

It wasn’t long before her breathing stretched out to long, slow, and even.

I was grateful she could rest. She needed it.

After tugging the blanket up over us both, I carefully reached out and laid my palm on the stone wall and hummed. Would the stone gods hear me so far from my home?

I could only try.

And my effort was rewarded. I couldn’t see, but I felt them answer my request. In the morning, she’d see.

Would my simple gesture help make her happy?