The Use of Heavy Water by D'Arcy Arden

Author:D'Arcy Arden [Arden, D'Arcy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Aliens; Erotic; Gay; Polyamory; Science Fiction
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2022-06-22T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Before

The sound of ocean waves couldn’t reach Pet at the top of the island, but the smell still found him. Half an hour passed as he sat on the low wall overlooking the cliff edge. From this vantage, he could see the shadow of another island on the horizon, the fourth in this chain of five.

Out of all the people on those islands, were there any décor like him, halfway between object and person?

Probably not.

“Pet, what’re you doing out here?”

While Pet had been lost in thought, watching sunlight tap-dancing on the waves, Desmodian entered the lobby unnoticed. He stood in the entryway rather than the elevators. It seemed no one had returned to their suite since the fight.

Desmodian approached with the hesitancy of someone not certain of their welcome, barely making a sound as the handle of his hammer tapped the floor with each step.

Pet closed the distance between them, rushing to Desmodian’s side. “Where have you been?” He regretted the question the moment he spoke. It sounded like an accusation.

Desmodian transferred his hammer to the other hand so he could wrap an arm around Pet. “Walked around for a while. Found a bar that’s open all night. Just needed some time to think. Why’re you sitting out here?”

Just beyond Desmodian’s shoulder Pet could see the décor posted at the entryway. He remembered standing in their position, eavesdropping on people’s conversations, and wanting to roll his eyes at their drama. Hopefully, the pair were too far away to hear them.

With one hand he gave an unenthusiastic gesture toward the elevator. “I couldn’t get into the room. The elevator needs a key.”

Desmodian flicked his tail, mimicking an irritated cat. “Have you been out here all night?”

Pet pressed close to Desmodian’s side, mindful of the frill along the underside of the Dhen’in’s arm. The partial embrace gave Pet a sense of stability, and he pulled the room key from Desmodian’s pocket. “No. I went to the Vanguard. Xavis was there.”

The elevator dinged when Pet swiped the key over the sensor, and the doors opened.

When they reached the suite, elevator music was replaced by the much more soothing sound of running water.

Desmodian left Pet to search out a drink from the well-stocked kitchen.

Pet scowled. Alcohol didn’t seem like an appropriate response. It wasn’t going to fix anything. At least Desmodian wasn’t drunk. He’d seen Desmodian drunk plenty of times, and it always made the Dhen’in more affectionate. This silent stoicism was an entirely sober reaction.

Setting aside his package from the clothing shop, Pet squared his shoulders and joined Desmodian in the kitchen. He chose a stool at the counter that fit human proportions and fortuitously set him right across from Desmodian. “You need to tell me what’s going on.”

With a heavy sigh Desmodian reached to refill his already-empty glass.

Pet grabbed the alcohol bottle and set it on the other side of the counter. “Des, please. I’m in the dark here. Xavis told me some things, but nothing about you and Brog. That’s for you to tell me.

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