Species Traitor: A Science Fiction Dystopian Novel by Kate Mary (universal ebook reader .TXT) 📗

before turning her gaze on me. “You shouldn’t leave the District tonight. The crowd is angry, and they’re liable to kill you for being a species traitor.”

“I know,” I said, “but it doesn’t matter, anyway. I don’t have anywhere else to go.”

Melora’s eyebrows lifted in surprise.

“Her mom kicked her out,” Finn explained. “She’s staying with me.”

“With you?” The hair on my scalp prickled as his mother looked between us, and I was grateful when she chose to focus on her son. “Do I have to warn you about what can happen?”

Finn swallowed. “No.”

“Good.” Melora’s gaze flicked to me, and while her expression softened, the serious light in her eyes made my heart beat faster. “I think you are a very rare and special person, Ava, even if I have not yet had the chance to really get to know you. Do not take my words personally, because they are not meant to be. But you and my son must think very carefully about what you are getting yourselves into before you make any big decisions. Understand?”

“I do,” I replied, “more than I can say.”

She glanced at Finn, who nodded.

“Good.” Melora exhaled, suddenly looking tired and sad. “Now I must go home so I can think. There is a big decision to be made, and I do not want to take it lightly.”

She lifted herself on her toes and planted a kiss on Finn’s cheek then gave my arm a pat. “Goodnight.”

“Goodnight,” we murmured in unison.

We stayed quiet the way we had when Ione and Rye left, but once Melora was gone, Finn turned to face me. “Are you tired?”

“I am.” Like his mother had a moment ago, I let out a deep sigh. “Not as tired as Ione looked, though.”

He took my hand as he began walking. “Pregnancy with a half-Veilorian baby is difficult for some humans. Ione seems to be one of them.”

There were so many half-humans running around the District that until our conversation the night before, it had never occurred to me that Ione might be in danger. Now, though, Finn’s words filled me with a fear strong enough to overshadow even my sorrow over my father. My cousin was so small, and Rye so big. How would she manage it?

“She’s going to be okay, right?” I asked.

He looked over his shoulder as we descended a staircase. “The midwife is keeping a close eye on her. Don’t worry.”

“Finn,” I said, moving faster so we were walking side by side once we’d reached the pathway to his house, “she’s the only family I have left now. Of course I’m going to worry.”

That wasn’t entirely true, but I didn’t know if I’d ever see Lena again, as much as it hurt to admit it. It wasn’t like I could visit, and she wouldn’t come here. Even for me.

Finn stopped in the middle of a walkway, so we were suspended above the main road, and turned to face me. “It will be okay. It’s been over a decade since a human died giving birth. We’ve perfected things over the years, and the midwives know when to take the baby, so the human mother isn’t at risk.”

I swallowed, trying to let his words comfort me but failing miserably.

“It’s okay,” Finn said again, leaning forward.

He planted a soft kiss on my forehead, his lips gentle and warm, and it was quite possibly the only thing that could have distracted me from my worries, because it brought to mind the kiss we’d shared just before Ione barged in. Our first kiss. Our only kiss.

He pulled back, but just a little, his face less than an inch from mine. Like me, I could tell he was thinking about the moment we’d shared, and his eyes searched mine before moving down to caress my lips with a fiery look. A second later, he was closing the distance between us again, pressing his mouth against mine and pulling me closer until my body was flush with his. My arms went around his neck as I lifted myself so I was standing on the tips of my toes, while his hands held my hips, steadying me. Our lips moved together, faster and more urgent than they had before, our hearts beating in perfect unison.

We stayed like that for only a few minutes, and when Finn broke the kiss, I knew why without him having to explain. He held my hand as he walked, pulling me toward his house.

The second we were inside and the door was shut, his mouth once again covered mine. Like before, I clung to him as we kissed. The room was dark, nearly pitch black, but I didn’t care. Not as long as he was here to keep me steady.

Before long, Finn lifted me, and I wrapped my legs around his waist as we continued kissing. Then we tumbled to the couch, him on top of me, his body warmer than usual and mine needy. I wanted him so badly, more than I’d ever wanted anyone before, but when I started to undo the button on his pants, he broke the kiss and put his hand on top of mine.

“What is it?” I asked, the words coming out breathless.

“We need to talk about a few things,” he said. “Has Ione told you what happens when humans and Veilorians are together?”

I swallowed as the memories of everything she’d told me came rushing back. In the heat of the moment, with Finn so close, I’d forgotten all about it. Thank God he’d had the presence of mind to remember. Ninety percent was what Ione had told me. If Finn and I took this step, there was a ninety percent chance I’d get pregnant. It was a lot to consider even during normal times, but there was nothing normal about the times we were living in. Mayor Waters wanted to stop half-Veilorians babies from being born, wanted to eradicate them completely.

“She told me,” I managed to get out.

Finn shifted, moving to a sitting position and urging