Page 125 of Citrine

We have to eventually switch to English because we're terrorizing poor Rannek. He's settled down at the base of Amethyst's chamber, still taking his role to protect her seriously.

These women are absolutely amazing and my mind races, thinking of their plans. "So Drasuk thinks there must be a space elevator? But we need to find the rest of the women and protect as many prey males as we can before we can get to it?"

Ree nods. "They should all be on this continent, I think, which he said will have been terraformed to not be all that large. We need to kill all the vermin. It will take a while, though, and so I am so grateful for this island. I wasn't sleeping very well in the cave, just waiting for it to be found."

It makes me happy that, even though I had no idea what the heck was going on out there, I still managed to play a key role.

We spend a while longer discussing the changes we can make to the cove to make things more comfortable for them, since no one will want to stay in a cave forever. Ree asks me to convince Wroahk to patrol me around the lake shore on the opposite side of the island once Rannek finishes building protections.

Not just to kill hunters, which Wroahk is going to absolutely love, but to also look for any prey and try to speak to them.

I'm excited by the idea of building a community, though sad that it has to turn into an army soon. She's right, though. Until we take over the planet somehow, they will just keep coming, and at some point they will figure out we are on this island.

With a start, I realize that I put us at risk making that fire. "We'll need to build something to hide flames and only cook at night," I muse aloud.

"That's smart," Kira comments. "Cooking might attract prey, but from what the guys say, none of the hunters have heightened senses."

Ree wrinkles her nose. "Lucky for them. I'd give that one up in a heartbeat."

"What about Silver?" I ask her, then regret it when her face falls.

"All I can do is keep going back and asking the snake man to give her up. So far, he's protecting the area really well. Plenty of dead hunters, most of them crushed. I can smell her cryo chamber,but she must still be in it because even Thivoll can't smell her. I'll tell the male about our island the next time I visit, but pretty much all I get from him is 'moon daughter is mine,' the irritating serpent."

Movement catches my eye and my jealousy spikes again. She's got kitty claws.

What the hell? Why did I land on an island with a shark-octo thingy?

Though, fine… yes, I wouldn't trade Wroahk, even if it means I'm stuck in the water.

Kira glances over. "Silver's safe, Ree. You did well."

Ree lets out a huff.

Wait. I'm stuck in the water, which means I can't be of much help in this whole war campaign craziness.

"I don't think Wroahk and I will be able to help. We can't be out of water very long or it's… really bad."

Ree looks over at me, eyes roaming to take in my features. "We'll figure something out. There's a river not all that far from here and those tend to lead to the sea. We could always keep you covered in wet blankets and have one of the big guys run you."

I let out a laugh. "Oh, Wroahk is going to absolutely love that. Let's not let him know about that plan just yet."

"Well," Kira breaks in, "like Thivoll likes to say, he just hasn't figured out yet that you're the one in charge of him."

I laugh. "Oh, Ree, you get the polite one and the smart one? Look at you."

She really must have picked up a cat trait or two because she… preens. Literally fluffs up her hair like she's trying to make her fur more presentable.

Kira and I share a look and both start laughing. Ree's startled for a moment, then looks down at her hands and joins us.

Thinking of all of our males makes me realize I have another question… fear, really. "Ree?" I say hesitantly. "Uh, you're the nurse. So, uh, can we get pregnant? Because octopi lay eggs and I'm… not into that idea."

Both of their eyes widen. "I hadn't thought of that," Ree admits. "Which, of course, is completely crazy. My mom would be yelling at me so loud right now. It's been so crazy, but that sounds like an excuse a fifteen-year-old would make."

She pinches the bridge of her nose, then keeps talking. "Whatever. I don't know, Eli. I would say no way based on genetics, but those have clearly been altered."

Kira clears her throat. "Not to give the genali too much credit or anything, but I doubt they would sell sex slaves without including contraceptive. I mean, probably one that's easy to extract or, I guess, reprogram or something if it's nanite-based, but I just don't see most buyers wanting a bunch of half human babies."

We all let out a long sigh of relief. It makes sense, but none of us looks fully settled about it, either. I know I'm not.

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