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  Another nudge. I pull my knees to my chest, but when I lower my arms to complete my protective bubble, I can’t bring them apart. They’re tied—tight. Whatever they’ve bound me with digs into the skin at my wrists. My fingertips are numb. The pulse in my thumb throbs.

  “UP!”

  I’m grabbed by the arm and yanked onto my butt. This time, I can’t stop the startled yelp that flies from my mouth.

  “It does no good to harm her if he cannot see it.”

  If who can’t see it? If they’re talking about Ah’dan, he barely sees me when I’m right in front of him.

  “Open your eyes, female!”

  My lids spring apart at the same time my face turns up.

  “Female?”

  My stank face falters when my vision settles on the hulking dude in front of me. He’s bigger than I remember in my wonky memory. Behind the safety of my eyelids, he’s a skinny muppet with a Pacman mouth. In real life, his face is wide and covered in warts. The slit of his mouth extends across his flat face and parts to show double rows of razor sharp teeth. I whimper and drop my face to my knees.

  “No, no. I can’t.”

  The air directly in front of me cools as he kneels down. I tuck my head.

  “Lift your head, human.”

  I tuck it lower.

  “Perhaps she cannot understand you.”

  The other voice makes the same garbled sounds, but it’s slightly softer in pitch. It’s almost feminine.

  Dear lord, I’m about to get eaten by a family of frog people. Why!

  “Well, if she cannot understand us, then we are free to discuss the best way to torture and kill her.”

  My head snaps up. Kermit’s mouth pulls even wider. His milky eyes crinkle at the corners.

  “She can understand us.”

  I’ve seen other beings besides Lyqa. I’ve spotted one or two strange looking dudes walking around, so I’m not totally caught off guard by the appearance of my captors, but more caught off guard that they’ve captured me at all.

  “Where am I?”

  Kermit tilts his head. Lashless lids close slowly over his chalky eyes.

  “It is curious the Somii has come to care for you. This is not usually their way, you understand?”

  “Who?”

  I don’t know what they’re talking about. I don’t even know what a Somii is.

  Kermit stares at me. The clouded eyes make a cootie shiver dash over my skin. He’s tough to look at.

  Across from us is a stout female. She leans against the stone wall with her arms crossed. Her wide, warty face is placid as she watches me. She gurgles.

  “Do you think he will come?”

  “Did you see the way he reacted on Lyqa? Have you ever seen a Somii show that much care for anything? He will come. Is that not right?”

  Kermit angles his head down like he’s waiting for an answer. I shrug.

  “I have no idea what the hell you’re talking about.”

  “What has she said?”

  The heavy ridge of frog lady’s brow creases. The dude is quiet. He watches me intently, like he’s not sure how to answer. He looks confused. It seems like every time I say something, he looks confused. The only reason this could be dawns on me, and I have to work extra hard to keep it from showing on my face.

  They don’t speak English. I can understand them but, apparently, they have no idea what I’m saying back. I pull my lips in and mentally shake my head. I’m about to talk so much shit.

  SOLUANITIAT’TI SOMIITI’UN

  How did this happen?

  My late father’s advisor brings his hands to his sides.

  I do not know, sire. We thought they were living peacefully.

  I drop my pack to the floor and circle the desk. I activate the comm station and pull up a map of the dense wood that the Zefr chose as their home when my father granted them asylum. The tops of the trees sway in the live feed. Sheh is somewhere there.

  Why was I not notified at the moment of uprising?

  You were on furlough. As you have not yet ascended, we did not see it as prudent to alert you.

  As I stare at the impassive face of the man I have known my entire life, something rises in me. It is not the same sensation as when Sheh laughs or smiles or happens to glance toward the darkened alcove where I stand watching her. This sensation is like glass beneath my skin. It is an agitation.

  Sire?

  Oni’at looks curiously at me.

  It is my duty to protect our kingdom. I should have been informed, ascension or not.

  Oni’at nods.

  Pardon my oversight, sire.

  I sigh and nod back. He has no way of knowing what has happened to Sheh. A young Somii attendant stands at the door. I turn to him.

  You, do we have any weapons?

  His eyes flicker to Oni’at briefly before settling on me.

  We do not, sire. Should I acquire some?

  A weapon would be useful, but Somii have lived peacefully for our entire existence. Introducing such things into our way of life, even for protection, would not do well.

  Do not. There is no need. The attendant bows and resumes his silent post. I return my attention to Oni’at. They mean to make me fight.

  He shrugs.

  It matters not. Our entire region is protected. Any attempt to cross the barrier will result in detainment. You do not have to accept the Zefr general’s challenge.

  He is right, of course. I could stay within the protection of our barrier and evade all risk, but Sheh is there. Who knows what they are doing to her.

  They have taken someone—a female. They will hurt her unless I agree.

  They have captured a Somii? There were no reports—

  Not Somii. She is a woman—a human—of Earth.

  Oni’at stares.

  How could hurting this Earth female be of any consequence to us?

  Again, that agitation tingles my skin.

  I have formed an attachment to her. She is important.

  Important to whom?

  My face shifts and my brows twitch together. It is uncomfortable.

  To me.

  I look back to the live feed. Sheh is there with the Zefr. I know they will hurt her to get me to do their bidding. I will not be able to withstand it. In this way, the Zefr was correct. Still, something lingers beneath the instinct to protect myself that will not allow me to leave her there.

  I must go to her.

  I stand, grabbing my pack on the way to the door.

  Oni’at’s hands raise as a barrier to stop me.

  You cannot.

  His voice is as urgent as a Somii’s can be.

  I am your king. I believe I can do as I wish.

  Oni’at’s hands falter before dropping to his side. He steps out of the way, bowing his head low in respect.

  As you wish, sire.

  ***

  At the edge of the barrier between my land and the wood where the Zefr reside, the trees sway gently in the warm breeze. It is a deceptive calm that belies my own rising discomposure. The journey to the Zefr reservation is a half day’s trek. I can feel the energy of our protective shields, and I know the moment I step beyond them, I will be vulnerable in a way I have been taught my entire life to avoid. Somii do not walk into danger, we do not fight. It is not our way.

  The thought stops my foot in midair over the barrier. As I consider the consequence of leaving the protection of Somii land, I know this risk is one I will no longer be able hide from.

  Sheh’s laughing face flashes in my mind, and that agitation flares in my gut. I still do not know what it is, but it overrides the seventy summers of life that have taught me to turn away from danger.

  My foot breaks the barrier and settles on unprotected land. Safety is now a thing behind me, and all I can do is move forward, toward Sheh.

  CHAPTER 3

  LASHAY

  “Haven’t you heard? Snitches get stitches.”

  I’ve always wanted to say that. The fa
ct that they have no idea what I’m saying makes this moment even sweeter.

  Kermit grabs a handful of my twists and yanks them to the side, contorting my neck and forcing me to pull against the tension of what feels like my head being ripped off.

  Garble.

  “Why hasn’t he come!”

  His breath is weirdly cold, and it smells like ass. It makes me turn into the pain. Anything to get away. He flings my head loose, and my neck recoils. I try to lift it, but the muscles are weak, and my chin dips to my chest.

  “First, you need about fifty ‘leven Mentos. Second, how many times do I have to tell you, I have no idea who you’re talking about? Do you even know who you’re talking about.”

  Kermit’s eyes narrow on my face. Even though he clearly can’t understand me, I should probably shut up. I snort. Who am I kidding? Shutting up isn’t in my nature.

  He grabs my shirt, pulling me close and nearly killing me with his booty breath as he garbles into my face.

  “You should hope that he comes. If he does not, then we have no use for you. And if we have no use for you, then we might well kill you, after all.”

  My next breath catches. Kermit smiles, flashing those pointy teeth.

  “Do you have an idea of what I speak now?” he finishes in perfect English.

  ***

  “Aw, come on!”

  I yank on the strange rope binding my hands. It’s like a Chinese finger trap. The harder I pull, the tighter it gets. My wrists are raw from the past half hour of me trying to get loose. Out of energy, I slump back against the jagged wall, breathing heavily.

  “Ugh!”

  The muscles in my shoulders ache, but I really want to get out of here. I don’t even know what’s outside the room where they’re keeping me, but I hate being restrained, and the anxiety of being tied up is starting to get to me.

  I focus on taking deep breaths and keeping the thought that I might never make it back home from working forward in my brain.

  “You’ll be fine, Shay. Fuck these froggy ass motherfuckers.”

  Have they hurt you?

  The easy voice rumbles in my head. I jerk around, swinging from one side of the small room to the other. It’s quiet. The only sound is the trickle of water from somewhere outside. I shake my head before remembering my sore neck and groan.

  “I’m going crazy.”

  You are not insane. I have come for you, but I must know if they have hurt you.

  I think about my throbbing neck before I realize I’m listening to a voice in my head.

  “Don’t go crazy, Shay. Save it for when you get home.”

  I think about my family on Lyqa. I’m sure they’ve realized I’m gone by now. I hope for a second they gave Ah’dan shit for leaving me, but just as quickly I feel guilty. I really do love that Legro.

  I will get you back to Lyqa, but you must listen.

  I pause. The voice is too clear to be a hallucination. I search the wall, looking for a hole or an intercom where it could be coming from.

  “H-hello? Is someone there?”

  I whisper because if I’m about to be rescued, I’m not gonna be stupid and let everyone know.

  I am here for you.

  “Are you a frog person, too?”

  I look toward the door, almost expecting one of my captors to come waltzing in, but it’s relatively quiet outside.

  No, I am Soluanitiat’ti Somiiti’un.

  I blink into the empty room.

  “You got a nickname?”

  It gets quiet, and I miss the company right away. A moment later, that gentle voice sounds out again.

  You may call me Sol.

  A bell rings in the back of my mind, but this isn’t the time to chase it.

  “So, Sol. You gonna spring me?”

  I do not know what this means.

  I sigh.

  “Don’t worry about it. Are you going to get me out of here, yes or no?”

  Yes.

  Feet shuffle outside the door, and I freeze. I forgot I’m dealing with aliens. Lyqas can hear a fucking pin drop in the next room. Who’s to say these frog dudes don’t hear me whispering to myself?

  Do not fear they have heard you. You do not have to speak out loud. Whatever you think, I will hear.

  “What do you mean?”

  I try to keep my voice low. It’s barely a whisper.

  I mean that I can hear and see your thoughts. I am not speaking to you from this intercom. I am sending my thoughts to your head.

  “You’re in my head?”

  My voice is sharp in the quiet, and I automatically shrink down, as if that will draw back the echo.

  Speak inside. Try.

  Almost on its own, my brain goes crazy. The idea of someone inside my head makes every ridiculous, embarrassing thing I’ve ever had happen in life start a rapid rotation through my brain. The time I slipped on some ice and my skirt flew up, flashing my Monday panties on Tuesday. Fifth grade picture day when a bird shit in my hair and no one told me until after I had taken my picture. When I finally got Sharmaine Johnson to invite me to her house so I could low key drool over her brother Justin only to get a bad case of the bubble guts and flood their bathroom. My first kiss—me and Little Chris underneath the jungle gym.

  Shit that’s never even happened starts to pop up. Me and Ah’dan cuddling in bed. Me and Ah’dan making out. I heard they have long tongues. In my mind, it slips between our mouths, silky and smooth, before things go crazy and it wraps around our heads, sealing us together. I groan. Why can’t I just think like a normal person.

  I will get you back to Lyqa. Please, if you can, try to speak in your mind.

  I close my eyes and put all my effort into clearing my thoughts. Still, that earlier image of Ah’dan between my legs blips before my mind goes blank. When I finally have myself together, I do what the voice in my head says.

  “Can you hear me?”

  Yes, I hear you.

  The voice sounds different. Softer.

  “Before we get on about you springing me, can we just agree for you to forget all the shit you just saw?”

  We can agree.

  “Okay. How are you going to get me out? You gonna bust in here guns blazing?”

  I wait for a response, but there’s nothing. Where is he?

  I am here. I do not always understand what you mean. I will not, however, blaze any guns. I do not fight.

  My face turns up.

  “What do you mean, you don’t fight? Cause they fight.”

  Unconsciously, I turn my head, triggering a flash of pain in my neck. A soft grunt echoes in my mind.

  When I come for you, please, try not to show pain.

  “But, it hurts.”

  My kind cannot withstand the pain of others. Seeing one in pain will weaken me. Seeing you, especially, in pain, will undo me.

  I frown in confusion.

  “What do you mean, seeing me in pain will undo you? How?”

  It goes silent again. I wait. As the seconds tick by, I wonder if the voice is something I conjured, after all.

  Move away from the wall.

  My heart thumps when the voice comes back. He didn’t leave me.

  I will never leave you. Now move. We do not have much time.

  My arms and ankles are tied, but I push off the wall, scooting forward until I’m in the middle of the room. A second later, the ground shakes and a loud rumble vibrates somewhere beyond the place where I’m being held. It sounds like a building falling down, and the resulting tremor sends tiny shards of rock raining down on my head before everything goes quiet once again. My eyes train on the rough ceiling, and I send up a prayer that the whole damn room doesn’t cave in.

  A dull thud has me spinning back to the wall where my back rested a minute ago. The thumps get sharper and louder until they ring out in the room, making me flinch with every clang.

  “Is that you?”

  It is.

  “Oh, my god. They’re going to hear you!”

/>   I have created a distraction.

  His assurance doesn’t stop me from watching the door. I just know Kermit’s going to come busting in at any moment.

  Finally, the wall collapses, spilling rocks at my feet and sending up a cloud of dust that fills my throat and causes me to cough and squeeze my eyes tight.

  The large, oval hole is lighted by a soft glow of light from outside. I stare into the dark space, not sure if I am supposed to run out or what.

  I’m almost about to try and hop to my feet when the darkness shifts.

  “Oh, shit!”

  I scoot back as the shadow moves forward. It gets closer, and I catch a shimmer of silver and a flash of yellow. I keep scooting back until I hit the wall. Instinctively, my knees pull up, and just when I start to lower my head into the protective bubble of my arms, the shadow steps into the room and suddenly becomes a man. Well, not a man, but a dude. It’s silver guy from the alley, and I realize where I’ve seen him before. He’s the guy Bati and Tee met on Qiton. The one I saw in the market with Kwarq. KJ’s self-proclaimed “best friend.” He looked scary the last time I saw him up close, but coming from the shadows of the hole, he’s a beast, except for the bright fan of yellow feathers across his chest.

  All of a sudden, Kermit doesn’t seem so bad. Now, Big Bird Terminator? He looks like he could snap me like a twig.

  Calm yourself, little one.

  I pause in my effort to scramble away from his advancing steps, even though there’s nowhere to go. BBT stops a few feet away and raises his hands up alongside his chest.

  I will not harm you.

  His face is calm, almost too calm. It doesn’t move at all.

  “Sol. You’re the guy that knows my sister, right?”

  I am.

  “Why aren’t you talking?”

  His mouth hasn’t moved and it’s freaking me the hell out.

  I am more comfortable communicating telepathically. We must hurry. Do not be afraid of me.

  I look at the door. I can hear the distant sounds of running feet, and for a hot second, I want to say fuck it and take my chances with the froggies. Kwarq said this dude was a friend, but Lyqas think everybody is their damn friend. Out of nowhere, the image of Kermit’s razor sharp teeth flashes through my mind. I turn to BBT and hold up my bound hands.