Chapter 27
Billie!
Hannah
I was just starting to think I wouldnt see my sister after all, considering all the bright colours, the many moving bodies, and the loud music.
This would be stimulus overload. No, she would shut down long before making it through the doorway.
I settle back with a sad smile, resound to the fact that I’m not going to see Billie after all-
-when I see her!
They are high up, so she’s hard to make out at first, but she’s peering out from behind Izule.
I smile, my eyes watering, so damn proud of my sister.
Billie is here. She’s dressed in some sort of green skirt and chest wrap, no jewellery aside from her com-gem necklace and a strange looking green headdress.
It looks like an elasticity wide fabric gold headband.
Her hair is held back beneath it and it hugs her forehead and stops above her eyebrows.
Green and black feathers pheasant looking feathers splay backward to make it look like she has feathers for hair.
I can’t see her ears but the golden fabric is bulging in a very recognisable way.
She’s wearing her ear defenders. Her glasses catch the light and she looks far from being comfortable, but her eyes are open.
She’s also holding Izule’s right hand with both of hers.
Like she used to hold mine.
His muscular arm covers her protectively and his tail coils to make a circle around her feet.
“He is very protective of her.” Tumva comments. “See how he put’s himself between her and his family, and the rest of the hall? The way he surrounds her with his tail? It’s classic protective behaviour.”
“…” I’m not sure how to feel about that.
I’m trying to take in everything I can about Billie’s body language.
She’s tense and she’s clinging to Izule’s hand, but she’s looking around his arm to take in the hall.
If she wasn’t comfortable with him, or in the moment, she wouldnt be stood there and taking in the sea of colours below.
Any apprehension I felt about if Billie was in good hands, or not, was robbed from me.
Billie’s lips moved and Izule half turned his head to give her his attention.
He didn’t look her in the eye. He seemed to know not to.
I saw his lips moving, and they did so softly.
She nodded and pressed her left cheek to his bicep and smiled up at him… .
My heart jumped into my throat and it took a moment for me to smile.
I have never seen Billie cuddle up to anyone other than me before, and that wasn’t a regular occurrence.
Not simply for the affection of it. But right now, up on that platform above a bustling, noisy, colourful hall of massive snake aliens…
Billie seemed happy. Again, not totally comfortable, but she was happy to be there.
She was smiling and looking up at the sandy coloured Royal and his wide cowl with spikes on the edges, and her cheek was pressed to his arm.
When Izule turned his head a bit more to slowly rest his chin on her head, and she didn’t flinch, I surrendered.
My sister doesn’t need me to rescue her.
She doesn’t need me to protect her. When she told me on the call that Izule was taking care of her now, she meant it gladly.
My sister is happy. It’s all I’ve ever wanted for her.
She doesn’t need me for that happiness anymore.
I am happy for her, even if it makes me feel a little bit lonely knowing the chances of her coming back to me once her sponsorship is over just went up in smoke.
Then again? I was planning to make a go of it with Tumva so…
this may be the best for us both. To both have our own adventures with new people.
Still? I’m going to miss my little bumblebee.
I watch as she presses a shy kiss against his arm and Izule’s throat scales darken so deeply I can make it out from here.
Oh? My bumblebee and a Royal Prince huh?
You always have been an all or nothing kind of girl B.
As long as Izule is good to you, I’ll be happy for you.
But if he isn’t, i’m going to taser him and cut his scales off. “Hannah.”
My chin is turned against my will and Tumva is licking my face. It is weird as hell, and I’m squirming my ass off and squinting, because he’s aiming for my eyes.
“Tumva what the hell are you doing?!”
“Taking your tears. Did I upset you? I’m sorry.” He’s fussing and I can hear the worry in his voice.
“Cut it out!” I fling my hands up and connect with his cheeks. I push him backward and rub my face on my sleeve. I blink at look at him like he’s lost his damn mind, to see he looks close to tears himself.
“Did I do it wrong? I know you don’t normally want comfort, but you were crying so I had to take your tears.
You’re supposed to feel better, by being groomed.
I…did it wrong didn’t I?” I have no idea what he’s talking about, but he seems really sad.
“It was my first time and I did it wrong.” He closed his fathomless black eyes and his cheeks weigh a bit heavier in my palms.
“First time what?” I’m still lost. This madness has distracted me from Billie.
“Taking your tears so you feel better.”
“Is that what you were doing when you started to lizard lick my damn face?” I gawked and snorted a laugh when I finally realised what had happened. “So, just so I’m clear, is it a cultural thing for Ucfeni to lick the tears away from people they care about?”
“Yes. O-only people we care deeply for. You wouldn’t take the tears of a stranger or a friend.
” He still looked dejected and lifted his face away from my hands.
Aww, he was trying to do something tender and I freaked out.
I mean, understandably as I had no idea why he was trying to lick my eyeballs, and the urge to snigger was great, but I contained it behind a smile.
Billie didn’t need me anymore, but this guy sure as hell does. For a terrifying Death Striker, he has a massive case of low self esteem. Billie doesnt need me, but Tumva does. And if i’m being totally honest? I need him too.
“Come here.”
“Why?” He questions but obediently leans his face back down into my hands.
“Because I’m about to be a little bit insubordinate, so don’t tell Ezid that I broke the professional conduct policy.
” I use my hands on his cheeks to bring him close enough to kiss.
It’s a gentle press of my thin warm lips to his smooth scaly ones, but he’s warm too.
I feel the slightest tremble to his lips against mine, and he exhales sharply with disappointment when I quickly lean back.
He even lulls forward for more. “Billie seems really happy up there.” I smile brightly and stroke his glossy black scales.
From his cheeks down to his neck and shoulders.
“I’m going to have to figure out a way to talk to her one day very soon, or I might have to storm back into the palace to see her, elite guard and politics be damned.
” He huffs a chuckle and then groans, knowing I’m not kidding.
“But seeing her happy and comfortable with Izule has taken a weight off my shoulders. Thank you.” His apprehensive smile melts me and I do something very dorky and quite embarrassing.
I lean forward and lick his cheek. Like, with the tip to try and mimic what it’s like when he flicks his tongue out at me.
Only, I probably resemble more of a clumsy puppy than a snake scenting someone.
I know I’ve embarrassed myself when he chews his black scaly lips together and between his gums, and his shoulders start bouncing. “I was trying to be cute.”
“Oh, it was cute.”
“It was embarrassing.”
“Yes it was.” I gasp and smile at him! “In future I wouldnt do that in public.” He isn’t one to tease me, normally, so this is a big step.
“Oh? But I bet if I licked you in the privacy of our own home you wouldn’t mind, ay?
” And there go his throat scales again. I snigger, knowing exactly where his mind just went when he averts his bottomless eyes from me.
“Well now that’s a promise.” I purposefully look away when he snaps his head to look at me.
Now I’m chewing my lips to contain my amusement.
Tumva will soon learn that if he wants to tease me, I’m not only game, but I will win.
Especially when he’s so inexperienced and easily flustered.
My smile stays on my face as I locate Billie, still on the platform with Izule right hand clasped in both of hers.