Page 36 of Cosmic Soul

“Amorians,” Fyn said. “Father is currently interviewing an Amorian doctor or two who will be in charge of Seth’s health.”

Wise, but somehow I doubted Seth wanted one, let alone a team of doctors hovering over him and studying him.

Wyn didn’t remark on the new doctor and continued, “Seth thought we could do the same thing here. Search for other species that might have sensors to perceive Caleb. He’s tangible, to some degree, so he has to be occupying some plane of existence. There are photonic species that we are unable to see. They might have technology that can perceive Caleb.”

“It’s a good idea,” I said.

“I agree,” Zoltilvoxfyn added after telling them what I said. “Has it yielded anything?”

“Not yet,” NAID replied. “Technology within the Coalition is easy enough to test. It’s the independent nations that are proving difficult. They don’t share technology. The…” she made a low snap I assumed was the name of a different species, and I tried to silently practice it, “are a photonic species that I believe have what we need.”

His back tensed. I slid my fingers up and down, and he twitched before relaxing.

“What?” I asked.

“They are xenophobic. Most photonic species are, except with other photonics,” he explained.

“It’s a problem,” Wyn said. “I sent a request to Prince Kalvoxrencol regarding asking the luxnis if they have any idea of how to help us.”

“That’s going to take a significant amount of time. The request will have to go to my father, who might wish to bring it before the Cohort before sending it on to the Coalition,” Fyn said.

“Yep,” NAID replied. “But we’ll keep working. Since Caleb is present, we should run more scans.”

“I concur.” Wyn snagged a few instruments.

I moved from Fyn’s side, and his tail tried to curl around my ankle before flicking away. He directed Wyn to where I stood. I shoved my arms out, like it would make a difference. Wyn ran several different instruments over my general area. One had a flat tip with the diameter of a baseball, another had a glowing tip reminding me ofDoctor Who, and the final one was a rectangle that gave off a blue ray.

Wyn and NAID made comments back and forth about whatever the results were, but I didn’t pay much attention. My gaze remained locked on Fyn, who watched me with the slightest quirk pulling at the corner of his lips.

No matter how Wyn buzzed around me, Fyn’s green eyes never wavered, and it caused the oddest sensation deep within me. So faint I had a hard time pinpointing it or even accepting it was real, but I loved it.

“We’re done,” NAID pronounced, making me start and yank my gaze off Fyn.

“That’s good,” I replied, voice squeaking. I glanced back at Fyn, but he was facing Wyn and NAID.

We left shortly after that. Fyn was still quieter than usual, and I was still worried about whatever was bothering him. At the same time, I was skipping along the halls because he’d let me touch him. He’d acted like he enjoyed me touching him. It was a very bad idea, a fucking horrible idea, to start something with him, but I was beginning to wonder if he wanted to—like I did.

He was a candle in the darkness of my afterlife. Losing him wasn’t an option.

I whipped around, walking backward. Sunshine raised an eyebrow, and I grinned, bounding up to him. I saw his throat bob, and my smile widened. “We are going to your fighting class now, right?” I asked, not remembering the Drakconese word.

“Hand-to-hand combat class, and no.”

“But I want to watch you.”

His throat bobbed again. “Excuse me?”

“I like watching you,” I said again. I’d said as much earlier, but maybe he hadn’t understood. “Is that bad?”

“No.” He stepped even closer, making me look up at him. “It’s not.”

“Then you should go, and I’ll stare at you. You’re the only one who will know, though.”

“Not if I tell everyone.”

“Do you want to?”

“Yes, but I won’t.”

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