“I know,” Talon said. With a gap-toothed grin, he reached out for a tendril of Perry’s hair and rubbed the streaked gold between his thin little fingers. Aria had never seen anything so tender in all her life.
Perry took him by the shoulders. “Where are you?”
“In the Dweller Pod. ”
“Which one, Talon?”
“Rev. That’s what the kids here call it. ”
Perry patted Talon’s arms, took hold of his chin, touching his small neck. “They’re not hur”—Perry’s voice caught—“hurting you?”
“Hurting me? I get fruit three times a day. I can run in here. Fast. I can even fly, Uncle Perry. All we do is go around in these Realms. They even got hunting Realms, but a lot of them are too easy. You just—”
“Talon, I’m going to get you out of here. I’ll find a way. ”
“I don’t want to leave. ”
Perry’s shoulder tensed beneath Aria’s hand.
“This isn’t where you belong,” Perry said.
“But I feel good here. The doc says I need medicine every day. It makes my eyes water, but my legs don’t even ache anymore. ”
Aria exchanged a worried look with Roar and Marron.
“You want to stay?” Perry said.
“Yeah, now that you’re here. ”
“I’m still on the outside. I’m only here this once. ”
“Oh . . . ” Talon’s lower lip pushed out in disappointment. “It’s good for the tribe, I guess. ”
“I’m not with the Tides. ”
Talon frowned. “Then who’s Blood Lord?”
“Your father, Talon. ”
“No, he isn’t. He’s here with me. ”
Beside Aria, on the couch, Perry’s body jerked. Roar hissed nearby.
“Vale’s there?” Perry asked. “He was captured?”
“You didn’t know? He was trying to come rescue me and they got him. I’ve seen him a couple of times. We’ve gone hunting together. Clara’s here too. ”
“They caught your father?” Perry asked again.
Marron sat up sharply. “They’ve found him! We need to shut off. ”
Perry yanked Talon against him. “I love you, Talon. I love you. ”
The drawing of a hawk flying against the Aether sky flickered out.
The screen went dark.
For a second, no one moved. Then the couch shook as Perry jolted back, cursing. “Get this thing off!”