Page 67 of Border Control

I get dressed, throwing clean casual clothes on. What else should I bring? My laptop, to maintain the facade. My fingerssteal over my silk sleeping mask, and my daydream pops into my head. Folding it carefully, I smile. I certainly won’t be able to use this again without thinking of what I’m about to do with him.

As I go out into the misty garden heading for the barn, I lean toward Dom, mentally and physically. His mind ticks over with quiet but constant chatter:

‘You’re getting tired, Arik.’

‘Negative.’

‘I can feel the effort you’re putting in.’

‘Stop trying to send over your strength, keep it for yourself.’

Through the mental connection flows a surge of energy, a give and take. Dom always gives his all to his wave brothers with no rest. No time for himself.

Searing pain streaks up the mental link before it severs.‘HELP,’Arik blasts.

Kicking off my heels, I break into a run. What happened?

Is Dom okay?

I run into the barn. Arik’s shoulder and upper right arm lies trapped underneath a beam of wood, pinned to the floor. His yellow eyes meet mine, then cut away. Arture gets to his feet next to him; thankfully he didn’t get caught underneath, metal arm flexing as he tries to lift the beam.

“Shit,” I say. “I'll call…” Shit, we can't call an ambulance.

From behind me, Dom grabs hold of the beam and wrenches it upwards, triceps standing firm. Arik shimmies out and Dom lets go, the wood thudding to the concrete. Dom gets to his knees next to his wave brother, breathing erratic.

Arik’s upper arm and chest darken to blue-black as I watch, his face twisted in a grimace as he attempts to get to his feet.

“Do not move, Arik.” As if in sympathy, Dom’s arm turns black as well. I edge closer to him, his mind waves washing over me.‘Stupid, should have sent him more strength, should have taken it all. Pull his pain in…’Dom's shoulders tense as if he'slaboring under another heavy load, knees bending and thighs taut. His lilac lips press together as if he's biting them.

Arture sits back on his heels, glancing between Arik and Dom. “Is Dom taking the pain?”

“Of course.” Arik glares at Dom, then shakes his head. His scales lighten back to blue-purple as Dom’s continue to get heavier and darker.

Sweeping his scanning device over Arik, Dom’s shoulders lower. “You’ll be fine with a few Earth hours of rest.”

Arik beckons to him. “It won’t hurt for long, so give it back.”

Dom pretends not to hear, bunching his fists. A prickling sensation crawls under his skin, building. ‘Can’t fail can’t let them get hurt. Can’t fail my?—’

My stomach twinges again, bringing me back to my own body, and Dom’s eyes lock on mine. He inhales, and the pain in my midsection ebbs. Arik glances his way, then at me.

Wait. Did Dom take that on himself, too?

‘Find Nevare. Secure.’Dom’s thoughts shift, always on mission. Always giving. Always silent for himself. He takes on the burdens of others, he never complains, and he does it all while looking cool as a cucumber. He seems so emotionally stable from the outside.

But this close, the prickling inside him builds, jarring against me like a discordant note. He’s getting overwhelmed, scales tight.

I know what he needs.

Smoothing my hair, I say, “Well, seems like everyone’s fine, and it’s close to lunchtime. I have a favor to ask you.”

Arture gives me a wary look, like I might tell him to jump in a lake of sharks. “How can we assist?”

“I need a volunteer to help me scope out the next project Ellen wants planning permission for. I’ll get the paperwork in early. It’s the Roadhouse, about a mile down the main road.”

“Right now?” Arture gestures at the injured Arik.

And yeah, it seems like poor timing when something’s just happened to one of them. But he doesn’t sense what I feel, the turmoil building up in Dom’s mind, the static tension coiling off him.