Chapter 20 #3
Zane doesn’t react to that. It’s obviously not a big deal to him. “Anyway, yeah, I’ll text you everything I found out. And other links to information.”
I wait a beat, then look at him. “Why are you so niiice?” The words flow out of me almost terrifyingly clearly, though those are all words I know very well.
He glances at me. “What do you mean?”
“You hate Vyastil.”
His cheeks turn pink the way my Dante’s do, though not for the same reason. “I don’t…look. It’s complicated, okay? Can we just say that I don’t hate you and drop it?”
I haven’t anything to drop except my pussyum, and I will not be doing that. I hold him a little tighter against me, and silence falls between us. It’s not as uncomfortable as before, though, and I give myself a mental note to tell Everest that his friend is perhaps kinder than some people think.
The city flies by us, and I watch as the trees whoosh by in a blur.
There is no fast travel on Erethar—except the portals, but most of us do not have a pass to use them as freely as the Vyastil in the capital.
Walking, or riding tame axelons is a good way to traverse long distances, but even that has been forbidden since the war with the Tarek has gotten so far out of control.
The thought of home makes me ache, and I hold my pussyum up against my neck, purring so that it might feel some comfort and warmth. It makes a strange noise, then attempts to burrow against me like it has never known comfort in its small, short life.
I find that the pussyum and I are very much alike, except for playing dead. I do not do that.
“You sure your boyfriend is gonna like this?” Zane asks as he pulls the truck into an incredibly small parking space.
“I dunnnoooo.”
“Hm, well, I’ll look into some shelters or some shit if he throws it out, okay?” Then he pauses. “Actually, give me your phone. I’ll put my number in it just in case. You can call me if Dante freaks.”
I do not think Dante would forbid the pussyum from living with us, nor do I think he will do such a thing as freak, but I do not know for sure. And I do not want him to be upset, so I hand Zane my phone, and he puts his number in.
Then he’s hopping out and grabbing the bags from the back.
“Which one is your place?”
I lead him to the front door and open it, striding inside. It smells of Dante, of his cum. I find my mouth watering slightly, but now is not the time for this. Right now, I need to focus.
Zane follows me in and then asks, “Where do you want this?”
I lead him to my bedroom and push the door open with my tail. He walks inside and whistles.
“Dang, this is nice.”
“Yes,” I say as he sets the bags down. He turns around and meets my gaze.
“Do you know how to put this shit together?” he asks, and I shake my head. “Right, if it’s cool with your boyfriend, I can stay and do it for you.”
I would like that very much, because I just want to hold my pet and comfort him. He is dying less and less each passing minute. Right now, he’s blinking his eyes open at me.
“Why don’t you give it some food while I’m building this enclosure.”
He pulls out a package of something he calls blueberries.
This makes sense to me. They are blue and small like berries.
We even have these on Erethar. Not these exactly, but the shape and color closely resemble the vorune, a sweet fruit that we can forage in the forests near the Outerlands.
They are a sweet sustenance and are often used for a special treat.
As Zane empties the metal pieces onto the ground, I take a seat, my tail curling around my waist, the pussyum still in my arms. I grab a blueberry and hold it above its nose.
Those gleaming eyes blink up at me, and then I watch as it leans forward, sharp teeth taking the fruit from me.
Its pink tongue peaks out, and its whiskers flutter just like my ears as it enjoys the food.
When it is done, I feed it another.
“So, how long have you and your boyfriend been together?” Zane asks me.
Dante and I are not boyfriends, but I do like the idea of him being mine.
I glance at him and open my mouth, trying to explain. “He’s not mieeen.” Even if it feels like he is. “Not lyyyk that. He’s….” I struggle with the word.
“Ah, shit, I figured you were like…partners or whatever. So just friends with benefits then?”
I open my mouth to say something else, but then Dante answers for me.
“We’re more than friends with benefits.”
I turn around, my ears fluttering in excitement. Dante is here, and I cannot contain my excitement. His eyes move from Zane to the pussyum, and his eyes widen.
“Cielo, oh my god. Babe, why do you have an possum in my apartment?”
My ears fold downward, and I feel his shock and displeasure through the bond we share. I do not like that.
“No, no, don’t do the ear thing,” he groans. “I’m not mad, just…it’s a wild animal. And this is not what I was expecting to find on my break.”
“That’s what I said,” Zane murmurs as he picks up the cage and sets it against the wall. He built it quickly. If he lived in Erethar, he would be quite valued. He is good with his hands.
“Sorry, why are you here again?” Dante asks, his tone slightly rude.
“He heeeelped me.”
Dante’s annoyed gaze softens. “Oh, well, in that case, thank you. Sorry, I get overprotective of Cielo sometimes.”
That makes my hearts flutter. I like that he is possessive of me.
Zane gives him the same sort of nod I have seen Brody and Tyler give each other in greeting. “Yeah, you’re good.”
Dante smiles and then looks at the pussyum once more. “Are we really going to keep this?”
I stare up at him and send something through the bond, something like yearning.
He sighs. “Alright, I’m assuming you did some research?”
I nod, and Zane huffs a laugh. “Yeah, let me tell you all about it.”
Dante peers at Zane and then tilts his head toward the door. “How about you fill me in over a glass of wine?”
“Got any beer?”
“Sure do. Menabrea?” he says, then adds, “Italian beer. That cool?”
“Never had it, but yeah. Sounds good.”
He follows Dante into the other room, and I pull myself up, holding onto my pet gently as I follow them out.