Chapter 31
Chapter
Thirty-One
TIA
M orning comes far too early, and there are no more signs of sky-claw. Since we’ll be climbing, we decide to keep the rope ties and after breakfast, head up into the ship. My eyes feel gritty and hot from a night full of crying, but I pin a bright smile to my face. If anyone asks, I’ll just blame hormones.
Rukh goes up the long rope ladder first, ensuring that it’s safe before he allows his mate Harlow to come up. Once she disappears into the ship, Rukh heads back down and picks up his daughter Daya. Rukhar is old enough that he wants to climb on his own, so Rukh ties the two of them together, and they go up slowly. After they reach the top, the two brothers go up the side of the ship speedily.
“That sure is high up,” Colleen comments as Noj’me ties herself to Colleen again. Colleen’s hands are on her hips as she gazes up at the entrance to the ship fifty feet into the air. “Has anyone tested the weight limit on these ropes?”
“You don’t have to go up,” I say as Rem’eb secures our ties around my waist. “You have the language chip already. There’s nothing up there for you to learn.”
“Yeah, but I have to see for myself.”
“See what?” Natalie asks, unblinking, as Chalath ties her tightly to him, perhaps on a shorter lead than normal. Natalie doesn’t object, though, and I don’t have the mental strength to argue about it. Maybe I’ll say something to Harlow if he starts getting possessive of Natalie on the return trip.
Colleen bites her lip. “If there’s no hope of going home, ever.”
“You don’t have a home,” Chalath points out, securing Natalie to him. “You’re a clone. This is your home now, and you should be glad for it.”
“Oh, fuck off,” Colleen tells him, a scowl on her face. “No one asked you.”
“Must one be asked before one offers common sense?” He gives her a menacing smile full of sharp teeth. “I am not afraid to go up. Are you, Natalie?”
“Worst that can happen is that we die,” Natalie agrees. “Hopefully we’ll be high enough that a fall will be an instant death.”
“Thanks for that,” Colleen says sarcastically.
“You’re welcome.” Natalie gives the rope at her waist a tug. “Shall we go up, Chalath?”
He gives Colleen a triumphant look and slides an arm around Natalie’s waist, and I make a mental note that the talk with Harlow needs to be sooner rather than later. “I can carry you if you hold on to me,” he tells the human in his arms.
She pats his chest. “Just don’t drop me.”
Chalath climbs like he was born to rope ladders, and Natalie’s arms remain linked tight around his neck. I watch them disappear up, and then Noj’me gives her partner Colleen an expectant look.
“Okay, fine, we’ll go up,” Colleen grumbles.
“I can carry you,” Noj’me says to her, flexing all four arms. “I have no trouble climbing. You can hold on to my front.”
To my surprise, Colleen blushes and demurs. “I’ll climb, I’ll climb.”
They head up, Colleen whimpering with every rung, and then it’s just me and Rem’eb at the bottom.
Our eyes meet.
He cups my face in his hands, holding me close. I gaze up at him, waiting for him to say something. To tell me that he’s changed his mind. That he doesn’t want to do this after all. I know it’s selfish to want, but I can’t help myself.
Rem’eb leans in, presses the gentlest kiss to my forehead, and turns toward the ladder.
I can’t be disappointed. I can’t.
Stepping in front of him, I gesture at the ladder. “Shall we go, then?”