Page 19

Don’t trash the house. Don’t trash the house. Do not, under any circumstance, trash the house.

I repeat the mantra the entire time I’m walking back toward the house I was hoping to share with Simone—well, Simone and Rallan if he was willing. Surprise, surprise, neither one of them seems to be my biggest fan right now. Why would they be?

I could feel my power source dropping to death levels of low as Rallan told me what happened to Simone when she was brought to this planet. We knew the storms were causing issues with our technology. That’s why I advocated for sending Simone and two others early. I was told multiple times by multiple different Hands in the transportation department that all three females sent were safe. I was told they were all taking to being in the tribe easily.

I felt like something was off. I could feel it in the way their minds tried to block something from me. I assumed it wassomething else that might’ve happened in their life, and to be honest I cared very little for anything in their lives. I didn’t check the shared consciousness because I didn’t want anyone to see me snooping around thoughts about Simone. I should’ve done that. I see that now, but even if I did, what was I to do?

No, I know what I would’ve done. I would have broken every single law that the collective mind has. I would’ve torn the universe in two to get to Simone, and when I did, I would’ve brought about the destruction of this planet. It would’ve been worth it to hold her in my arms, to be the one who protected her when she was scared and alone.

It wasn’t me, though. I huff with irritation as I throw the door to my house open. I wasn’t there for her. Even worse, I was the reason she was sent here in the first place.

I hate everything right now, and the anger sizzling underneath my human skin is itching for me to grab the nearest piece of furniture and slam it against the wall. Instead, I flex my hands at my sides and practice the meditative humming of my energy I haven’t had to do since I was a child. Why couldn’t I have been the one to protect her?

“This is a large house for just one male.”

I spin around to find Rallan standing in the open doorway to my home. He’s leaning against the frame with his arms crossed in front of his chest. I don’t know why I’m flustered to be speaking with him, considering we just spoke for the last few hours. I was able to compartmentalize things. That’s why.

Now I’m looking up at the male Simone found after I abandoned her on this planet. I should hate him, but I meant it when I said I was happy she found someone. She deserves happiness. I wish I were a part of that happiness, though.

“Did you not hear me because of the glowing?” Rallan tilts his head to the side, waving a hand in front of my face as though I’m catatonic. “Simone has told me much about you, but I do notknow of any hearing impairments. That is something I will need to know.”

“What?” I ask, my mind catching up with what’s happening.

You wouldn’t know that I’m a full-grown male from a species so much more advanced than even Simone’s that it would take a multitude of years to explain it all to her in ways that she probably still wouldn’t understand. I sound like an idiot, and I’m starting to think that I am one.

“Can you hear me?” Rallan asks, his lip ticking up in the corners. I’m almost positive this guy hates me, but I wouldn’t know it from the look on his face or the way I’m pretty sure he’s messing with me.

“Yes,” I answer with a bit more bite than he deserves. He gives me an unimpressed raise of his brows and it makes me even more flustered. “What do you want?”

“Well, I came here to speak with you. Then I saw that you are housed in a large home, and so now I am more curious about why this is the home you chose for yourself.”

I narrow my eyes at him, unsure if he’s genuinely curious or if he knows that I got it for the three of us. Is he waiting for me to admit it to rub it in my face that Simone wants nothing to do with me? That must be it. So, instead of answering him, I turn on my heels and make my way to the back of the house to grab some of my things.

“I’ll be leaving, don’t worry,” I call behind me. I’m not surprised that Rallan has invited himself in and is following me the short distance to my room.

“So, is this not your home?”

Rallan peeks his head into one of the other bedrooms that I have outfitted with a plush bed and a dresser filled with as many shirts and shorts as I could manage to create for Simone while planning everything with Ralleth during the storms. There are also a few bonnets tied up on a hook in the wardrobe made outof the closest thing to silk I could get on this planet. I had to bribe the other Hand here to get for me since I don’t have the ability to transport myself anywhere until I’m given control of this planet’s future.

“It’s not my home anymore,” I say, my words biting as I try to force down the swell of anger surging inside of me.

“You cleaned this home and made it livable, yes?”

This time, he’s right behind me. Way too close to me. His species is weirdly close to each other. Not just with their bodies but with their emotions and relationships. It’s been good for the humans because they’re also an emotional species. It’s still something I’m getting used to. I take a step back from Rallan so I can glare up at him.

“Of course I did.”

I push past him and make my way back to the front of the house so I can leave with at least some shreds of dignity. The meager little scraps will be what I use to lick my wounds in the great hall tonight while I try to figure out somewhere else for me to live.

I can probably convince Kal and Brirk to let me bunk with them until I find somewhere else. I don’t even need much, considering I don’t need to sleep. I just need somewhere that isn’t right here in the space that’s soon to be occupied by Simone and Rallan.

“And you are now leaving for what purpose?” Rallan keeps a steady pace behind me. And I’m just about to put my hand on the door when I can’t take the questions he’s not asking but slightly alluding to.

“I made this house for all of us to share!” I shout the words so loud that I know anyone outside can hear. I should be embarrassed, but I think those shreds of dignity are even smaller than I realized. “I thought, like an idiot, that when I saw Simone again, she’d understand why I sent her here, and she’d comeback to me. I knew she found you, so I was going to find a way to be okay with you here, too. I rebuilt this house in my free time and hoped you two would like it. There, are you happy?”

Rallan stares at me with an odd expression on his face before his eyes narrow into small slits. He leans closer toward me, his eyes tracing over what I’m sure is a very disfigured mask at this point since my emotions are all over the place. The human skin takes a lot of concentration to keep in place.

“How long were you mated to her?” Rallan asks, as though I didn’t just yell at him. His voice is calm and even with a teasing quality.