“Os asked me why it scared me for him to sit by me at the piano bench. I thought about this boy at school, that Hawkins boy, how he stared at me and—I just felt naked! There was this girl, Farrah, who said I needed to loosen up and enjoy it, because it means I’m pretty. She helped me sign up on Tinder and he—talked about sitting in the moonlight. Full of poetry and scenes from Disney movies. I couldn’t wait to meet him. So he said he’d be at Virtue and they had a live band. I thought, during the day, in a public place—and Farrah went with me. She was older. But she got a mixed drink and an extra tiny glass. When the waitress wasn’t looking—she got that shot of anise liqueur and poured it in my iced tea. I thought, it was such a small amount I wouldn’t feel it, in a big iced tea.

But I drank it all because I was thirsty and felt stupid and sleepy. He came and I liked him. Talkative and romantic. We had a nice dinner and he got Farrah another Irish coffee and an extra shot of anise liqueur. And, she put that in my tea that waitress kept filling up.

They didn’t take me home. I fell asleep.

I woke up and we were in a house. I looked out the windows, and all I saw was pastures and cows.

He was there but Farrah wasn’t. “Oh, she’s with her boyfriend. Wanna pet a cow?”

We went horseback riding, all sorts of frozens I’d never seen before to eat, and all the candy I wanted. But, there wasn’t a phone. My backpack wasn’t there. He got mad if I mentioned calling anyone. No computer. The TV had internet, but he never left me alone to try to figure that out.

One day he slept late and I tried, but I didn’t know any of my passwords. He came in and beat me up. Put a handcuff on my ankle with a chain soldered to it. I just made my ankle raw trying to break it.

“Os held my ankle and cried. His healer had to come. We didn’t sit together on the piano bench, after that.” She shuddered. “He’s—not like that! I was thinking too loud, and Daddy thought he did something.”

I hugged her and she got tense so I loosened up. That must’ve been terrifying! Oh, I wanted to hurt that cad!

“Osanor will comfort you, Sa. If you are frightened, he will bring your parents or Ella, or his parents.”

She hugged us. “Thanks, Ba! I just need to remember that. I’m with my family.”

We went to walk in the festival, but Stacy and my family had to put little ones down for a nap. I tried not to think about—everything!

Tom and I walked with Fa and Mea. But they had to leave because their parents got upset. Their parents are Farley’s grandparents, too. Fae was a slave. He startles a lot.

“I should’ve known that!” I looked down.

Tom’s blue eyes turned dark. “Becky, there are many of my family. Nae this—you went to Rahn Estar?”

I shared seeing Rahn Estar and Calladia, and his eyes went colorless blue! “O, you are well for your role as Yea! Perhaps tomorrow, Lan will let me go with you.” We watched a scientist explain how they were improving crops.

Lan didn’t say much. When Tom yawned, he insisted we go back to the yellow building. I enjoyed holding Tom, but I reached out with my telepathy. Kind of scared some other Elshar would drop dead!

On a bed near us, my family sat with Os’ family. Rilley petted Os’ brown curls. Both Vera and Christine slept in her lap.

Mama and Daddy had smiles, so I relaxed. A little. Os’ parents were sleeping holding him, a lock of his hair in their fingers. He had their hair in his. Brown hair, like his.

We’ll have our revenge on these Zheien, even without Benach.

I resisted the urge to turn my head. Let me telepathy see them for my eyes.

Five Elshars sat on a bed in back. Did you do it?

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

Pach ay, these progs! Every time I think I’m through, they change the code! That girl Ella is my next target. And her friend Elsie.

Watch your telepathy. No more mistakes.

With Mican hiding us, no one knows we’re here, so we can relax.

Slopfahi, if you--

Five male screams startled me! Another Elshar, a healer, ran over there. “What happened? Bahie!”

I hugged sleeping Tom and didn’t look. They can’t know I can hear ‘em! That last voice was Mican!

That healer wept. “I will have my revenge! I’m slopfah Keris’ healer! I’ll—aaaahhh!”

Healers all over the building startled! The first one to reach ‘em touched a forehead and cried. “Did they port from space? Ejis nae! Did anyone see what happened to these men? Surely they ported, but this is nae stasis!”

An Ishah ran to that bed. “Ejae nes! Asha! He heals Keris Pos in the night when I sleep! What befell him, Eiros?”

“I bring Pirad!”

Pirad touched each of them, then looked at me. I heard the whoosh of a portal. The bodies weren’t there.

Tom held me. “What is it?”

Pirad came over here. “They cannot hear us. Show me what you did.”

I opened up, all the way to my Inner Circle! Didn’t mean for Tom to see all of it, but stupid me showed him, too. I shook all over, and he was scared I’d need healing again!

He closed my mind up so just the stuff Pirad needed showed. Now this Pirad knows, he’s going to die trying to tell—but he showed it all to host Pirad.

Do you see what she is doing? Mican tries to change a timeline, and she prevents it. And, she finds their death in a future self and brings it here and now. I wish she would find Mican’s.

And I am glad she did not! Rentappenen cannot know of this yet. If Mican suspects, he will report it to Rentappenen. Becky, stop this! I felt his frown.

How do I stop? Wasa Mai wants me to find our enemies--

Wasa Mai does not know what I am doing, and Via only has a healer’s cube. He cannot help us. You can. But, I warn you, stop trying to find any more of them! Mican already suspects someone here is finding his men. If he acts earlier than you already saw, we will lose far more than your 5 cities.

I cried. Tom held me and hummed until I calmed down. How can I stop, Tom?!

I think even Pirad nae knows. I am frightened, Becky. Terminals! If I survive, Love, feel nae guilt if you must sever our marriage--

Tom, don’t say that! Don’t think it! I will never leave you! I hugged him tighter.

The next day, Lan let Tom and Fa stay awake longer. Mea looked really happy. Fae and Meae, too. Ella and Farley wanted to walk with us, but his healer made him sleep after breakfast of festival pastries. Tom was really sad, and so was their friend Nathanhai. My Earthan family went to Piedmont Park, where it was quieter for Rilley, and Tom designed a beautiful white wedding dress for Rilley.

“Isn’t it like, bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding?” Rilley shook all over. Her brown hair was in seven braids around the front of her head with colorful beads that made rainbows. Beautiful, with a veil.

Mama laughed. “That’s an old wives’ tale! You two will make your own happiness. Just communicate and work at compromising. Zheien are experts at that. We have to work harder, but we can do it. Your father and I are proof! Oh, you look beautiful!”

“Nothing can make me—I don’t feel right in white!” Tears started.

Os’ father took her hand. “Sae, the sin is with him, nae with you. This is what I tell my bae, also. Be calm. Josh, are you and Jamie well?” They both had green eyes, too.

Daddy laughed. “Well? My youngest daughter’s getting married! I guess I’m a nervous Daddy, but I’ll get over it. I love my new son! Oh, here come my employees! We were talking about reforming my company, but I found out, they love music, too! So we’ll be doing our very first performance here, Ladies and Gentlemen! Jamie, you ready?”

She giggled. “I haven’t done anything like this since I took drama in college! But, here goes!” They all wore hot pink, Os’ family color. My parents ran to meet their friends. Two couples who’ve been friends since Daddy formed the company. His work was fun until he hired the wrong person.

I felt uneasy. Tom kept his arm around me.

Stacy and Het brought their little angels to strew rose petals. Of course, the two youngest dumped their baskets before Daddy’s group gathered behind the white trellis with roses of all colors growing on it. Most were that hot pink. This area had a round part that jutted into Lake Clara Meer. Swans gathered, and Rilley watched ‘em.