Page 71 of Into Orbit

I didn’t think it was normal to love someone for asking about another female’s health, but I did. I loved that he cared, loved that he’d asked, loved that his hand was still cupping my nape even as his eyes were on Elswyth, his expression concerned.

‘She’s as well as can be expected,’ I answered. ‘Willow?’

He dragged his eyes back to me. ‘Yes?’

‘You’re mine,’ I said.

‘Yes.’ He paused, and with his characteristic calm seriousness, said: ‘Maeve, your eyes have changed. And …’ He ran his fingertips over the shell of one ear. ‘By the green gods. What is this?’

‘Not the most romantichello, but not the worse one I’ve ever heard, either,’ I told him.

He made atsknoise, then pulled back and stared into my eyes. ‘Maeve, your irises have green in them. And the shell of your ear is hardening. There are tiny points beneath the skin there. Can you feel?’ He pressed gently down on the shell of my ear.

‘I … I think?’ I faltered. ‘Wait. What the fuck are you saying?’

‘You’ve been on the ship for months. What if …’ He trailed off and bit his lip.

‘Willow,’ I said, as calmly as I could manage. ‘Are you trying to tell me that I’m becoming Tirian?’

‘No!’ he protested. ‘Well, maybe. A bit. If the change was gradual, I might have overlooked it. But Maeve …This doesn’t usually happen to humans, does it?’

‘No. But I guess humans don’t usually hang out with a bunch of space tree-elves,’ I answered, pinching at my ear. ‘Ouch.’

‘I need to take some samples,’ he muttered.

‘You can scan me any time, Willow.’ I took his hand. ‘But first, there’s something we have to tell you.’

‘Cedardidwell.Betterthan I might have managed. And whatever Elswyth did … The scans show that his skull is healing, and his shoulder is almost fully set. All he needs is time.’

I frowned. That voice … I knew that voice.

Lovedthat voice.

That voice wasimpossible.

I tried to lift my hand, tried to open my eyes. My fingertips fluttered against something soft.

‘He’s moving more.’

‘Yes. Some of the movements will be involuntary, but it’s possible that he’s starting to respond.’

I can hear you, I wanted to say crossly.I’m right here. Responding.

‘Maybe you should sing to him again, beautiful.’

There was a short silence, then the sound began again, the one that made the pain go away, the one that made me sleep.

I slipped back into blackness.

‘Ashton, if you can hear me, I’m losing my patience.’

This voice was sharp and amused all at once. As if its owner was joking, but not entirely.

I shifted my fingers.

‘I know you can hear me, elf-boy. I’m not made to wait in a sick room, Ash, and you’re not made to be sick in one. So hurry up and heal so we can move you elsewhere.’

I wanted to wrap my arms around that voice. Or perhaps have it wrapped around me. Either way, I didn’t want to be able to tell where that voice ended and I began.