Page 5

5

Endless Summer

*Ren*

I tugged the neck of my skinsuit as we wove through the crowded streets. “Fuck, this planet is like a sauna.”

Despite the humidity, I couldn’t deny the place was charming, with the same small-town vibes you’d expect from any off-the-beaten-path vacation spot on Earth. We’d landed close to the city center of Dionus’ capital, Harlxston, and so far there hadn’t been much to see besides neatly swept roads and throngs of scantily clad blue-haired Dionions roving the streets.

Their species resembled humans enough that you might mistake them for one from afar. But only if you ignored how their skin shone like metal in the sun, in a shade of bronze no human had ever been born with. Their oddly shaped teeth flashed when they talked, the canines so long and sharp they made chills run down my spine.

The people gave us a wide berth, wandering past us with bundles on their backs, likely on their way to some market. Others eyed us warily as they disappeared into airy wooden structures lining the roads.

Arda chuckled, shading her eyes from the blazing sun. “At least we’re not stuck waiting for nightfall.” We’d been forced to leave Lux on the ship. His species was vulnerable to strong sunlight, making it impossible for him to walk outside during daylight hours.

Karsen tipped her face to the sky. “Apparently, it’s like this all year round. Endless summer.” She grinned. “I could get used to it.”

I gave the buildings lined with windows by the dozen a closer inspection—every window was wide open. I buried the groan that tried to fight its way out of my throat. “Doesn’t look like air conditioning is a thing here.”

Arda clapped my shoulder. “Relax, we have the Verne , remember? You can hop on board if you need to cool down.”

I nodded, fighting to brush off the discomfort swarming me. A bead of sweat trailed down my forehead, but my skinsuit took care of the rest. The planet’s temperature wasn’t what was truly bothering me. I just didn’t want to talk about what was.

“Ren?” A high-pitched squeal pierced my ears.

Crap. Speak of the devil…

“Cassidy.” I spun around just before my sister thudded into my chest, wrapping her arms around me like a vise. I wiggled, unable to escape, so I settled for freezing in place until she saw fit to set me free.

“I was so excited when I heard you were coming!” She pulled away, and pale-blue eyes brimming with tears met mine.

My heart twinged. I wasn’t sure what I’d been expecting, but a tearful welcome wouldn’t have been my first guess.

“Holy shit. It’s like looking in a mirror.” Arda’s gaze darted between our faces.

We were identical, with the same high cheekbones, slim stature, and tanned skin, but that was where the similarities ended. Cassidy wore a dainty sundress like the natives favored, her long blonde hair styled in a waterfall of curls hanging down her back.

Me? I looked like I’d spent all day wrestling with an engine—as always.

Cassidy stuck out her hand. “Hi! I’m Cassidy.”

Arda shook it with a smile. “I’m Arda, captain of the Verne . And this is Karsen, our medical officer.”

Karsen grabbed Cassidy’s hand next. “You can call me Kar.”

“It’s so nice to meet you! Come on, let’s get out of the heat.” Cassidy flashed a blinding grin as she led us down a curving side street. “When I heard Ren was working as a ship’s mechanic, I knew she’d found her calling. She’s always had a knack for fixing things—even as a kid.”

I cleared my throat. “Where did you hear about my job?” Last time we’d talked, I was still stuck on Oraxis Station, and we hadn’t exactly kept in touch since then.

“From Demetri,” Cassidy explained. “He accepted my invitation to visit Dionus way before you did. You might even see him if you stick around long enough.”

“For real?” Guess that explained why Demi hadn’t been at Oraxis when we’d swung through.

“Well, if he ever drags himself out of the jungle.” She glanced at Arda and Kar. “Our brother is studying to be a linguist. He’s been working with tribes all over the planet to better understand the nuances of the Dionion language. It’s his work that’s helped the translators become a thousand times more accurate.”

Arda nodded. “We uploaded the language upgrade to our devices you sent to the Verne earlier this week.”

Cassidy’s eyes lit with pride. “That was all Demi’s doing.” She leaned in conspiratorially. “When I first met Rhelt, half the things he said came out like grunts. If it weren’t for the pair bond, I would’ve likely never given him a chance.”

“Pair bond?” Karsen asked.

“It’s what happens to Dionions when they find their mate.” Cassidy stopped in front of a wooden house with bright red and yellow potted plants hanging in the windows. “To be honest, I’m not entirely sure how it works. Something to do with pheromones… All I know is the minute I met Rhelt, I knew he was the one, even though he scared the pants off of me.”

Scary sounds about right. Shivers coursed down my arms.

Karsen’s brows lifted. “So the pair bond affected you even though you’re different species?”

Cassidy giggled. “That’s putting it mildly, but yeah. I’ve chatted about it with a few of the women here, and they described everything I experienced perfectly.”

“Fascinating. I’d love to hear more—”

I cut Kar off before she convinced Cassidy to spill her life story. “How about we focus on the reason we’re here before we get wrapped up in research projects?”

Cassidy glanced at me. “Sure.” The wooden porch stair creaked as she climbed and then opened the door. “Come inside. I’m happy to help however I can.”

Arda and Karsen ducked in the doorway without hesitation, while I hung back with a lump in my throat.

You can do this, Ren. Maybe he won’t even be here…

Cass led us into an airy living room decorated in shades of green and blue. The open floor plan revealed a small kitchen on the opposite side of the house, complete with a food processor and wooden table and chairs. A pleasant breeze wafted around us, at least ten degrees cooler than the air outside. I scanned the ceiling, hunting for the machine responsible for it, but only spotted some ordinary fans.

“Have a seat.” Cassidy waved at two blue oversized couches that faced each other with no entertainment in sight.

What do they do for fun, stare longingly at each other all night? With how head over heels Cass acted the first time she introduced me to her mate, I wouldn’t put it past her. As for her mate… after what happened back then, I wasn’t so sure.

“Can I grab you something to eat or drink?” Cassidy asked.

“Ate before we landed.” I perched on the corner of a couch, fighting to shove the unwanted memory to the back of my mind.

Arda glanced at me shrewdly before turning to Cass. “Thanks for the offer, but we’re fine. What we really need help with is finding a jungle guide.”

Cass sat across from me. “You don’t want to go into the jungle, trust me.”

“Can’t be avoided.” Paper crinkled as Arda pulled a map out of her pocket and unfolded it. Then she sat next to Cass, spreading the page across both their laps. “We’re looking for an old facility located somewhere in this area.” She pointed to a region covered in thick foliage. “According to the Verne ’s scans, there’s nowhere close by where we can land our ship.”

“They don’t like clearing trees to make landing strips,” Cassidy explained. “The tribes are very protective of their land.”

“That’s why we need a local to guide us.” Arda pointed to a different spot. “If we land here, then it’ll be about a week’s journey on foot to the facility.”

Karsen pursed her lips. “Can’t we fly the Verne low over the trees? Then a few of us could rappel down.”

“No,” a masculine voice boomed. “I’d strongly advise against that.”

I stiffened, but luckily everyone missed it since they’d turned toward the tall, muscular Dionion emerging from a darkened doorway.

Cassidy beamed, stars in her eyes. “This is my mate, Rhelt.”

Rhelt strode into the room, dressed casually in long brown shorts that hit below the knee, and a pocketed vest that left most of his chest and abs on display. Arda smiled politely, and Kar gave him a cool once-over that would’ve likely ended with a flirtatious smirk if Cassidy hadn’t just introduced him as hers.

Honestly, I couldn’t blame her. Like most Dionion men, Rhelt was fit and stacked like a bodybuilder. But that didn’t stop a shiver from running down my spine when he finally locked eyes with me.

My brain screamed, Look away , but I viciously rejected that notion. I had no reason to hide and absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. Even so, holding his gaze burned like clasping a red-hot ember. Yet as much as I wanted to throw the fire in his face, I wouldn’t. Not when the sparks would singe Cassidy too.

Rhelt’s violet eyes flashed with some emotion I couldn’t pinpoint before he tore his gaze off mine and scanned the map. “In the time of our ancestors, when the invaders came, they dropped from the sky. After they’d been routed out, we set up a network of defensive drones to patrol the jungle.”

“Yikes. I hadn’t heard about that,” Karsen admitted.

“I did. The safe flying zones were included with the landing instructions.” Arda pointed to a cleared spot on the map. “I figure we can land here and hire a guide to take us the rest of the way.”

Rhelt frowned. “Where do you need to go?”

Arda’s finger trailed across the paper. “Here.”

“Impossible.” Rhelt’s dark brows disappeared beneath the blue bangs dangling over his forehead. “There aren’t any guides who will take you there .”

I crossed my arms. “Why not?”

Rhelt flicked a glance in my direction before returning his attention to the map. “It’s in the middle of dradhowler territory.”

“What’s a dradhowler?” Karsen asked.

“You don’t want to know.” Cassidy shuddered.

A trickle of fear wormed up my spine.

Arda cut in. “I’ve read about those, too. Sounds like they’re only a problem during certain moon cycles. Won’t the right guide know how to avoid any run-ins?”

Rhelt snorted. “There’s no one senseless enough to chance it.”

Cass tilted her head. “Are you sure about that? Because if I’m remembering correctly, there is—”

“No.” Rhelt spun on his heel and bolted into the kitchen as abruptly as he’d entered.

“Just… give me a sec.” Cassidy hopped out from under the map, the paper crinkling as we leveled dumbfounded stares at Rhelt. He poured himself something out of a pitcher, but instead of drinking it, he clenched the wooden cup so hard the sides buckled in like they might snap.

After Cass crossed the room and rubbed her hands across the big guy’s shoulders while speaking softly, Arda leaned in, lowering her voice. “You know what that was all about?”

“No clue.” My eyes narrowed. “When were you planning to tell us about those howler things? What the hell are they?”

Arda shrugged, seeming unperturbed even when the mere mention of visiting the creatures’ territory had sent a local man running—literally. “Some big beasties that prowl around the jungle when it’s fully dark.”

“Beast?” Karsen blanched. “Oh, hell no. I am not in the mood to be mauled.”

“Could’ve fooled me. Weren’t you just saying you wanted to get up close and personal with a new species?” From the way Kar’s lips pressed into a thin slash, I gathered she wasn’t amused by my quip.

Arda muffled a chuckle behind her fingers. “Relax. There won’t be any mauling going down. Did you two forget this planet has three moons?”

“What’s that got to do with anything?” I asked.

“The dradhowlers only come out when it’s fully dark, which doesn’t even happen every night. They’re easily avoided by seeking shelter during the rare times when none of the moons are visible.”

Karsen drummed her nails on the armrest. “If that’s true, then why did Rhelt freak out when you brought it up?”

We turned our gazes to the kitchen as Cassidy clapped and let out a delighted squeal. “Thank you, babe. This’ll work out great.” She rocked up on her toes and planted a peck on Rhelt’s chin.

A small smile painted Rhelt’s lips while he gazed at his mate, but the moment Cassidy sauntered in our direction, his face hardened. Then he slipped out of a side door without bothering to say goodbye.

Cassidy sat beside Arda again. “We have the perfect guide for you.”

My pulse raced. I was not expecting it to be so easy. Judging by Rhelt’s reaction, I’d thought Cass would tell us to pack up and go home.

“That’s fantastic!” Arda grinned. “So, when can we meet? And where?”

“May I?” At Arda’s nod, Cassidy grabbed the map and carried it to a nearby desk. Picking up a pen, she scrawled some directions on the back. “I’m writing you directions to his cabin. It’s a short walk from the landing site you chose.”

“That’s convenient,” Karsen said.

“And he knows the way?” Arda asked.

“Mm-hmm.” Cassidy’s pen stopped scratching. “He’s definitely your best shot at making it in and out in one piece.” She held the map out but stopped before she reached Arda’s side and scanned her with a serious stare. “It’ll still be dangerous. Are you sure—”

Arda snagged the map. “I am. Thank you, Cassidy.”

“Anything for a friend of Ren’s. You should wait a few hours before you head over there. Rhelt’s out hiring a runner to send your guide a message with the trip details.”

“Not a problem.” Arda folded the map neatly. “It’ll give me time to pack for the hike.” She stuffed the paper into her pocket and thrust out a hand. “I really appreciate your help. Let me know how I can return the favor.”

Cassidy ignored Arda’s hand and pulled her into a hug. “It’s nothing. But I wouldn’t mind a few moments alone to catch up with my sis.”

My heart stuttered as Cassidy’s words bounced around my skull. What do we have to catch up on? Does she know? Did Rhelt tell her?

Arda met my eyes. “You cool with that, Ren? We can wait for you on the porch.”

Might as well get it over with… “Yeah. Meet you outside in a few.”

Cassidy sank onto the couch beside me as the front door swung closed. “I’m not even going to ask why you came. It doesn’t matter. I’m just so glad to see you, Ren.”

Oh, fuck . Were those tears in her eyes? “It’s nice to see you too.”

Not like I didn’t see her face every time I looked in the mirror. Who cared if I spent half my life wondering where she’d disappeared to? It was like she expected all that hurt to slide away when she grabbed my hand.

But things weren’t always so simple. And twins weren’t always inseparable, ready to finish each other’s sentences. Especially not when they spent their childhoods in vastly different places.

“Did you have something else you needed to say to me?” I asked cooly.

Cassidy retracted her hand. “You’re not going with Arda, are you?”

I eyed her warily. “Why? You don’t think I can handle a hike through the jungle?” Honestly, I hadn’t planned on it. There was plenty for me to do on the Verne while Arda was off searching for that facility. But seeing Cassidy so leery about it almost made me want to dig out my hiking boots.

“It’ll be a rough trek. And the guide is a little… eccentric. I don’t want you getting hurt.”

Wow. How clueless can she be?

I scoffed. “Trust me. I can handle whatever I need to just fine on my own—like always.” I stood, ready to race out the door, but Cassidy snagged my sleeve.

“Wait. I didn’t mean—” She shook her head. “I’m sorry, Ren. Just be careful, okay? And maybe when your friend finds what she’s looking for, you’ll come back for a longer visit? There’s still a lot of stuff I’d love to talk about with you.”

I tugged my arm free. “Sure… maybe.” With one last nod, I fled through the door, hoping Cass was smart enough to realize that maybe was really a no .