Chapter 16 #2
“Thanks.” He nodded with a smile. “You’d be surprised the amount of Orbs that come and don’t realize the difference between virces and eamesr.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I don’t expect humans to know the difference, that’s what the Orb guided tour at the museum is all about. But it’s wild to me when other creatures like us don’t know much more than we’re both associated with water and can’t tell the difference between us.”
“Is there much difference?” Realizing how ignorant that sounded, I added, “If you don’t mind me asking.”
“Of course not,” Qwill leaned over so our noses we’re almost touching. “You should know more about the man longing to be in your bed again.”
Heat wrapped around my stomach and sent tendrils of pleasure straight to my cock. If he kept talking like that, I was about to lose another sexual first to him in this damn water.
He seemed a little too delighted by the state he’d put me in with his remark, but he kept talking.
“We can both breathe air and water, that much we share. But only virces have visible gills.” He lifted his hand to gesture toward the gills that decorated his neck.
“Eamesr have them, but their skin can only produce gills once they’re submerged in the water. ”
“Ahh, so they can in a sense blend in more.”
“Correct. Eamesr might have atypical skin color in comparison to humans, but they’re not covered in scales like virces either.”
“I’m sure that makes virces feel…some type of way.”
Qwill chuckled. “Some, sure. Insecure virces, definitely. I’m not one of those.”
“So I’ve noticed.” I laughed back, reaching through the water and grabbing his hand.
The squeeze I felt back made my stomach burrow itself deeper into the pit of adoration I was already feeling.
“Virces’ bodies don’t transform in water, we just are what we are. Eamesr grow webbed hands and feet, even develop fins in some cases, once they’re in the water. And from what I know, eamesr are more solitary than virces.”
“What do you mean? They don’t stick together?”
“More or less.” Qwill shrugged. “Eamesr have family and friends like everyone else, but they tend to keep to themselves out in the wild whereas virces will have tribes that they form to stick together.” Something troubling scrawled across Qwill’s usually uniform face. “Especially lately.”
Curiosity was biting at my ankles. Or maybe it was the curious tiny fish in the marsh, but I refused to be distracted when I was learning so much. “Meaning?”
“After the incidents at the blood centers,” He paused to gauge my reaction, and I nodded.
Being best friend’s with Bas, I was more than up to date about the horrible riots that had been incited at the blood centers up and down the east coast a couple months back.
“More virces started to join a tribe or even form their own out of fear that humans would decide to turn their hatred toward us next. All Orbs are on high alert after that, and after the petrylle kidnappings that are currently going on in D.C.”
My face scrunched up at that news. I hadn’t heard anything about that. Moreover, I knew that Qwill and Kroven shared their sangamar friend in D.C. and they hadn’t mentioned it over dinner. My thoughts tilted. Of course they hadn’t, they didn’t want to sour the dinner.
“What’s happening with the petrylle in D.C.?”
Qwill shook his head. “No one really knows. Exo, the sangamar friend Kroven and I know, says the newly formed ORBIT board is working on it, but they’re stumped right now.
I think they’re canvassing and trying to figure out why the hell petrylle, known as some of the strongest Orbs, are missing without a trace. ”
“Fuck, that’s really scary.”
“Which is why a little bit before I formally met you, I joined a virces tribe. That’s where I met Teme and Garth Lo.
I just felt safer living with my own kind after the acts of violence on Orbs started to seem like an ongoing matter instead of a one-off thing.
Now with the petrylle, I’m glad I decided to join. ”
I nodded, pulling in Qwill for a sincere embrace.
I hated that Qwill had felt like he’d had to upend his life just to feel safe.
From living on the streets, I knew that pain all too well.
It was horrible to feel unsafe and unprotected.
When I pulled back, I gave Qwill a tender kiss.
I didn’t want him to focus on the fear that talking about this subject must have brought up.
We were here, together, right now. I wanted him to focus on that.
“I’m glad you prioritized your safety,” I admitted freely. “And obviously I’ll help in anyway I can.”
“Oh trust me, you’re doing your part.” He mumbled, leaning down to nip at my neck, his teeth leaving light trails of pressure on me. My body arched against his touch, a moan spilling from my lips. “Keep making sounds like that and I’ll be doing my part in a second.”
“Don’t make promises you can’t keep, babe.” I smirked confidently, pressing my lips to his after a knowing glare.
Our make out started then, quieting our minds to the sensual pleasure we could offer each other. I wrapped my arms around Qwill’s neck, careful to mind his gills, and parted my mouth until I felt his tongue claiming mine.
As we kissed in the water, pressing our bodies against each other, I’d never felt safer than in the arms of this virces man. And if I wasn’t careful, I knew I was going to fall for him so hard I’d drown.