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He did look a little green around the gills, but at least he was still standing.

I looked up at the sky, which was similar to Earth’s, so I didn’t have to look at him, still on his two feet. After a few more seconds, I got my arms underneath me and pushed myself to a sitting position. Being the weak one was becoming old.

“Do you need me to carry you?” he asked.

Oh no, this was not happening. “I’ve got this.”

He held out his hand. I hesitated for a second but took it, letting him pull me to my feet. I didn’t want to give eventhatsmall concession of weakness, but I wasn’t sure I’d have been able to get up on my own. Being carried would’ve been much worse, though, and he wasn’t beyond scooping me up if I took too long.

I let go of his hand quickly. My legs were made of jelly and my hands were shaking from exertion, but I managed to stay upright.

Kaden glanced in the distance and then back to me. There was clearly something weighing on him.

“There’s a settlement not far from here, but we need to cover a few details before we get there.”

He was staring at me, waiting for some acknowledgment.

“I’m listening,” I said, as if he thought I was too down and out to comprehend. How bad did I look?

“We need to pretend we have every intention of being together, or we won’t be welcome anywhere. You don’t have to say you like being mated to me, but don’t utter a word about trying to dissolve it.”

Again, he was staring at me as if trying to impart the seriousness of the situation.

“Why would the people here care?” I asked.

“There are Kradix who live here, and some of them have been waiting for this mating for a long time. They have some notion that it will heal the race, be the salvation of the Kradix. We’re going to need all our resources, and we can’t afford to alienate anyone. You made a choice when you decided to transition that we are both going to have to live with,” he said, looking like he was ready to go to the mat on this one.

All I could hear was “Kradix.”

“There are Kradix here? In hiding?” I said.

“Yes. Now, are you going to stay quiet or not?”

This was some sort of hideout for Kradix? What did that mean, exactly?

I shook my head and pointed my finger. “Let’s get something straight. I’ll go along with whatever you want me to say while we’re here, but I have no intention of hiding indefinitely. I came here because I know I’m not ready to fight at this moment, but Iamgoing to fight.”

He was shaking his head at me in return. “Didn’t you hear me? I said we’re going to need all our resources. What do you think we need them for if not to fight?”

I kept staring at him. He waited as what he said sank in.

“So we’re on the same page? We’re going to kill this bastard? You didn’t just bring me here to hide?” Whereverhereturned out to be.

“No. We have to get ready to fight. There’s no choice left.” He spoke like a man resigned to the truth.

“I’d never thought there was, but it’s nice hearing we’re on the same page.”

“You wanted this. Well, now you’re going to get it. Be ready, because war is not fun.”

It might not be, but killing Herrick would be.

“Come on.” He started walking.

“Hang on,” I said, not moving.

“What?” He turned around, clearly done with this conversation.

“Just to clarify, I’m the one that’s going to kill him. You can be there, but I get to do it.”