Sevani’s voice was barely more than a dull hum in my ears. I had gone numb to emotion and reason, cognizant only of the present down to the very millisecond. In fact, the only thing in the room of which I was acutely aware was the blonde beauty at the far end of the table. She was listening to the Elder speak with attentiveness, but there was distress on her lovely features. I did not blame her in the slightest. To do what one could to save a life and to fail would be trying for even the toughest of individuals, and I had seen in those few moments beside Kharid that she truly cared for his fate. I sympathized with her.

“This will be your new home.” Sevani’s words ripped my attention from Phoebe, and I started with disbelief. Mutters of displeasure and incomprehension circled the table, and several expressions became angry. Sevani was not deterred in the least. He stretched his arms outward to the walls on either side and continued, “Several Novai patients will be brought here for your observation and care. There are residential quarters on the south side, and laboratories and examination rooms on the west. A morgue has also been constructed in the northwest corner in the event one or more of your patients should perish. Food shall be delivered daily, though you will be responsible for cooking your own meals.”

“What about our things?” one of the human nurses called out. I recognized her, both from the incident at the palace and around the colony. “Clothes and keepsakes and stuff?”

“Any items of necessity will either be delivered within a week's time or provided by Dhal’at,” Sevani answered. “I assure you, your well-being during your service will be closely monitored and tended.”

I smirked. It mattered not how Sevani glorified the task we were assigned; it was still a gruesome, dangerous responsibility with a real likelihood that everyone around this table now would fall victim to the Novain disease. Yet, I felt no fear. In fact, I was exhilarated, excited. Why I was included amongst medical professionals, healers and doctors and nurses alike, as part of the team charged with finding a cure for a disease nobody knew existed was unbeknownst to me. However, it seemed like the ideal chance to acquire evidence in favor of my brother that proved he acted with justified defense, and that Kharid’s death was truly an accident.

“The Council will be around in a few days to give you further information,” Sevani said. “You need not expect Novai to arrive for at least a week. In that time, I suggest you become comfortable with your new residence and think of any questions you may have for the Council.”

With that, he inclined his head to those around the table, myself included, and then he swept from the room without further word. Silence fell in his wake. Glances were exchanged from one person to another, some worried and others angry, but all appeared equally confused. I, miraculously, was not confused. While I understood very little about medical science, I certainly understood the benefits to my brother in my being here.

Phoebe, at the opposite end of the table, was wearing the exact same expression as everyone else. She met my eyes, and I felt a warmth spread through me. Though the lighting was dim, I saw her smile slightly. The warmth grew to a soothing heat, boiling first in my belly before spreading upward to my fingertips. She was so beautiful that, even after having such a chaotic day, I found myself enchanted by her. In that split second, it occurred to me that there was another benefit of being assigned to the team.

I would be living with Phoebe.

Had this never arisen, had the Novi never contracted the strange disease, I still would have had the opportunity to get to know her. Being that I was the Interplanetary Affairs Officer, I frequented the colony on a daily basis. It was not unusual for me to wander through the streets speaking with the colonists, nor was it unusual for me to stop into the infirmary and ensure that everything was running smoothly and they had plenty of supplies. I would have been able to approach her easily. However, this was an opportunity presented to me on a platter. In a room of eight humans and thirteen A’li-uud, becoming acquainted with her was now not only a desire but an obligation.

It was an obligation I was pleased to have.

A wink of flame caught her malachite iris, and, for a moment, I was unable to read her expression. Humans’ sight was not nearly as well-developed and sensitive as A’li-uud, and I was certain she could not clearly see me, but I flipped my gaze away briefly to avoid staring too boldly. When I no longer felt her stare upon me, I allowed myself to resume studying her. The flame that had flashed in her eye was no longer present as one of the humans opposite her had shifted and doused her in shadow, but my view of her was not impeded. Her expression was readable again. Her mouth, that lovely, plump mouth, was turned down slightly, and her cheeks were concave as she sucked them in. I saw a small bulge where her tongue dragged from one side to the other. She was visibly anxious, even bouncing in her seat just enough to send her tresses into a gently swaying dance. I wanted to know what was on her mind, if she was frightened of the Novain disease or worried about failing the critical task at hand. I wondered if she felt this could be her chance for redemption after this afternoon.

These were not questions I could ask, however. Though I was not one to bend to the notions of social propriety, there were limits even I had to honor. And, if I was to be honest with myself, I did not wish to offend her. Disregarding my physical attraction to her, Phoebe had shown herself to be quite possibly the most compassionate being I had ever encountered—save for my mother, of course. While her healer counterparts cowered in the corner after the Novai attack, she thought nothing of herself and leaped into action to do everything she could to save my honorable Elder from an imminent demise. I had only witnessed an act of such selfless purpose once before, and it had been from Kharid himself when an impish Ka’lik-et child scaled a palace wall on a dare and nearly fell to his death.

The newly-established team members and I remained seated around the table for several long minutes in silence before one of the humans, the doctor who had insisted on remaining behind in the infirmary earlier when I had been ordered to summon the colonist healers, said uncertainly, “Should we get settled, then?”

There were mumblings of agreement, and chairs scraped against tile floor as everyone rose to their feet. I stood as well, but I was unable to tear my eyes from Phoebe. She lifted her arms over her head and stretched so vigorously her top rode up slightly, revealing the smooth curve of her lovesome waist. I inhaled so sharply in response that the A’li-uud nearest me, a healer decades my senior I knew only by name, Petas, turned around in surprise. I pretended to cough to cover my display, and he returned to forward-facing as, one-by-one, we filed from the room.

This day had been one of nightmares, but striding quietly behind Phoebe sparked a whisper of faith within me I had long lacked. Perhaps the Grand Circle had finally dipped its hand into the course of my life.