CHAPTER 18
“Don’t,” Harry said as soon as they were alone in the flat.
Seyn shook his head. “Harry—”
“And don’t you dare do that to Adam again,” Harry said, glaring at him. “It was a violation of his privacy. You had no right to read his mind.”
Before Seyn could say anything, Harry turned and disappeared into Adam’s room.
Seyn sighed and massaged his head, trying to get rid of the headache that he had developed when Harry gave him a massive telepathic blow for prying into Adam’s mind. Seyn still wasn’t used to how strong Harry’s telepathic abilities had become after his bond had broken. Seyn had always been the stronger telepath and empath between the two of them, and their role reversal took him aback. Sure, Seyn had witnessed Harry use his newfound powers on humans, but being on the receiving end of them was different. For the first time, Seyn felt a little unnerved. He now understood better why Harry was so disturbed by his increased abilities.
Telepathic races had always been regarded with certain wariness and suspicion by other races in the galaxy. But everyone knew not all telepaths were equally dangerous. The Standard Telepathic Test was invented by the Ministry to classify telepaths, with Class 1 the most harmless and Class 7 the most dangerous. Harry had been a Class 1 telepath on the STT, the weakest telepathic class besides t-nulls, but Seyn’s head was still ringing from the force of Harry’s telepathic blow—and he had his mental shields on! Harry was at least Class 3 now. At the very least.
It made him a little uneasy, because Seyn was classified as Class 2 even with the bond restricting his telepathic core. He tried not to think how he would be classified on the STT when his bond to Ksar finally broke. He also tried not to think about the ancient Calluvians who could kill with their minds. It was probably a bullshit urban legend, but if it was true... those mutants would have been classified as Class 7.
Seyn pushed the thought away with a chuckle. He was being silly. Class 7 telepaths no longer existed in the galaxy. Everyone knew that.
He had more pressing things to worry about anyway.
Like the fact that his best friend had clearly lost his mind.
Seyn felt his skin go warm as he remembered what he had seen in Adam’s mind before Harry shoved him out of it. Even with Adam’s memories and all the noise he had heard last night, it was still hard to believe Harry had really engaged in... sexual intercourse with his human.
There was a part of Seyn that gleefully cheered Harry on for going against all the archaic stifling traditions of their people. That part of him was immensely curious about what it felt like. That part of him was determined to try the sex thing as soon as his stupid bond finally broke. But, unlike Harry, he had no intention of becoming so besotted with a member of a pre-TNIT civilization.
How could Harry be so stupid? He was already too attached to his human. Adding sex on top of that was a terrible idea.
Seyn might not entirely understand romantic love, but he had a good idea what it was like from his friends from other planets. If he understood it correctly, intense attachment and sexual attraction were the main components of romantic love for sexual sentient beings.
Harry had already been too attached to his human. Adding sex into the mix had exponentially increased his chances of getting hurt when their parents inevitably found them and dragged them home. The Ministry’s laws forbade them to have a permanent residence on pre-TNIT planets. Harry and his human had no future.
Seyn shook his head. He didn’t know what Harry was thinking.
If he was thinking at all.
Sighing, Seyn walked to Adam’s room and knocked shortly before pushing the door open.
Harry was sprawled on his back on the bed. His eyes flicked to Seyn and a frown appeared on his face. But he said nothing, waiting for Seyn to speak first.
Seyn walked over and sat on the bed.
They looked at each other.
“You know, when I was on planet Sivaxu last year,” Seyn started. “They tried to teach me their ways. They were not religious, but they were believers. They believed that everyone had a path written in the stars. That no matter what you did, you couldn’t change your path in a significant way if the change wasn’t already written in the stars.”
Harry pursed his lips. “I don’t understand.”
“You know it can’t end well,” Seyn said carefully. “He’s a human and you’re you. You know it’s hopeless. He has his own path to travel, Harry. You were never meant to cross it or change it. End it before it’s too late. He’s not for you. He’s not yours and he’ll never be yours.”
Harry dropped his gaze, his long dark eyelashes suspiciously moist against his pale cheeks. It made Seyn’s chest hurt, but he knew the words needed to be said. Harry was such a gentle soul. He tended to ignore the harsh reality, determined to believe in the best outcome, no matter how unrealistic it was.
“You think it’s so easy?” Harry whispered tightly. “To turn off your emotions? To end things when all you want is him?”
Seyn opened his mouth and closed it without saying a word. The truth was, he really had no idea what Harry was going through. He had no idea what wanting to be with someone felt like. And he was so, so curious.
Seyn nudged Harry’s knee. “What is it like?” he said, adopting a lighter tone. He’d done his duty and warned Harry; he was allowed to indulge his curiosity.
Harry blinked and then blushed when Seyn smirked.
“Come on, Harry,” he said. “Spill! Is sex as good as they say?”
“It’s very private, don’t you think?”
“Oh come on!” Seyn said, pouting. “It wasn’t very private when you were moaning and begging Adam to do you harder last night.”
Harry flushed and covered his face with a pillow. “Shut up!”
Seyn grinned. “What? I have ears! It’s not my fault you’re such a whore in bed!”
Harry kicked him. “I hate you,” he mumbled into his pillow. “And maybe you’re more of a whore in bed than me. You just don’t know it yet.” Harry lifted his pillow off his face and smiled innocently at Seyn. “I’ll ask Ksar after your wedding night.”
That little shit.
Harry started giggling at the look on Seyn’s face.
“Never going to happen,” Seyn bit off, lifting his chin.
Over his dead body.